Patent Abstract:
A method of processing a retail transaction includes processing a plurality of items for purchase using a point-of-sale terminal, which is part of a transaction approval system at a point of sale in a retail store. Processing the plurality of items includes using the point-of-sale terminal to determine associated price information for each item. Processing the plurality of items begins when information regarding an identifier of a first one of the plurality of items is entered into the point-of-sale terminal and ends when the information regarding the identifiers associated with all of the plurality of items has been entered into the point-of-sale terminal. The method further includes, before processing the plurality of items ends, electronically receiving an identification of a financial account to pay for the plurality of items, and after electronically receiving the identification of the financial account, determining a total cost of the plurality of items.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/884,014, filed Sep. 16, 2010, which is a continuation U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/413,733, filed Mar. 30, 2009, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,801,764, issued Sep. 21, 2010, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/942,742, filed Sep. 16, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,512,547, issued Mar. 31, 2009, all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Payments for goods and services with data cards, such as credit cards and debit cards, has become increasingly popular in recent years due in part to the ease and speed of performing data card transactions. For example, in retail settings, goods and/or services to be purchased are first entered into a cash register or point-of-sale terminal to determine their total cost. Once the total cost is determined, a consumer or a retail establishment associate swipes the consumer&#39;s data card to access consumer financial account information linked to the data card. The consumer provides approval, typically by providing a signature, thereby confirming intent to authorize payment from the consumer financial account for the goods. Following approval, funds are transferred from the consumer financial account to a financial account associated with the retail establishment. Although faster than traditional payment methods, such as payment by check, the time needed to swipe the data card and to approve the transaction contributes to the overall time each consumer spends in the checkout line waiting to purchase goods. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     One aspect of the present invention relates to a method of processing a retail sales transaction including processing a plurality of items for purchase using a point-of-sale terminal, wherein the point-of-sale terminal is part of a transaction approval system at a point of sale in a retail store. Processing the plurality of items for purchase includes using the point-of-sale terminal to determine associated price information for each item included in the plurality of items for purchase based on identifiers associated with the plurality of items for purchase. Processing the plurality of items for purchase begins when information regarding an identifier of a first one of the plurality of items for purchase is entered into the point-of-sale terminal and is ends when information regarding the identifiers associated with all of the plurality of items for purchase have been entered into the point-of-sale terminal and all the associated price information for each item included in the plurality of items for purchase has been determined. The method further includes, before processing the plurality of items for purchase ends, electronically receiving, via the transaction approval system, an identification of a financial account that will be used by a consumer to pay for the plurality of items for purchase, and after processing the plurality of items for purchase ends and after electronically receiving the identification of the financial account, determining a total cost of the plurality of items for purchase. Other embodiments, features, and advantages are also disclosed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Embodiments of the invention will be described with respect to the figures, in which like reference numerals denote like elements, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating one embodiment of a transaction approval system, according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a flow chart illustrating one embodiment of a method of sale, according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a top view illustrating a portion of the transaction approval system of  FIG. 1  during the method of sale of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a top view illustrating a portion of the transaction approval system of  FIG. 1  during the method of sale of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 5  is a top view illustrating a portion of the transaction approval system of  FIG. 1  during the method of sale of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 6  is a top view illustrating a portion of the transaction approval system of  FIG. 1  during the method of sale of  FIG. 2 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A process and system for approving and confirming financial card transactions, according to embodiments of the present invention, decrease overall consumer time spent in checkout lines. Decreasing the overall time each consumer spends in the checkout line provides a more attractive shopping environment and experience, increases overall efficiency of the retail establishment, decreases the labor necessary to handle consumer purchases, and improves the bottom line of the retail establishment or other entity from which goods and services are purchased. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates one embodiment of a transaction approval system  10  including a cash register or point-of-sale terminal  12 , a financial transaction terminal  14 , and a stylus  16 . In one embodiment, point-of-sale terminal  12  is electrically coupled with financial transaction terminal  14  via a cord  18  or wireless connection, and stylus  16  is coupled with financial transaction terminal  14  via a cord  20 . Alternatively, stylus  16  is not mechanically coupled with financial transaction terminal  14 . Purchases by a consumer are processed or entered into point-of-sale terminal  12  to arrive at a total cost to be charged to the consumer for the entered purchases. Purchases include goods and/or services being sold to the consumer. 
     Financial transaction terminal  14  is configured to receive a financial transaction card  22  to access a related consumer financial account or source of funding and to charge the total cost of the purchases to the financial account by way of financial transaction card  22 . Financial transaction card  22  is one of a credit card, a debit card, or a stored-value card such as a gift card, to name several examples. Stylus  16  allows a user to enter a user signature and/or other confirmation indicator into financial transaction terminal  14 , to approve or confirm the transfer of funds from the financial account to complete the purchase and ultimately perform the associated financial transaction or withdrawal. 
     Point-of-sale terminal  12  includes a keyboard  30 , a scanner  32 , a monitor  34 , and a printer  36 . Item barcodes or other product information can be entered into point-of-sale terminal  12  via keyboard  30  or scanner  32 , which, in one embodiment, is capable of reading UPC or bar codes off of the purchases. Alternatively, point-of-sale terminal  12  includes a radio frequency identification (RFID) device capable of reading and/or registering cost data and other purchase data. The information entered into point-of-sale terminal  12  can be viewed by a worker or associate of the retail establishment and/or a consumer via monitor  34 . Finally, upon completion of the financial transaction or upon each addition of a new purchase or item to the point-of-sale terminal  12 , printer  36  prints transaction details to a receipt  38  including a list of the purchases processed as well as the cash or amounts charged to the consumer&#39;s financial account to pay for the registered purchases. In one embodiment, receipt  38  includes a printout of a digitally captured signature, as will be further described below. 
     Financial transaction terminal  14  is a financial transaction card reader in communication with at least one financial institution network. As such, in one embodiment, financial transaction terminal  14  includes a financial transaction card reception slot  40  for at least partially receiving financial transaction card  22 . In particular, financial transaction card  22  includes a magnetic strip  24  along one side of financial transaction card  22  including a magnetic representation of the information necessary to access the consumer financial account linked to or associated with financial transaction card  22 . Accordingly, reception slot  40  extends along a side of financial transaction terminal  14  and includes a reading mechanism capable of accessing magnetic strip  24  to obtain necessary information from financial transaction card  22 . Financial transaction terminal  14  is configured to selectively receive financial transaction card  22  as financial transaction card  22  is slid from a first end  42  of reception slot  40  to a second end  44  of reception slot  40 . As financial transaction card  22  is slid from first end  42  to second end  44  of reception slot  40 , the information on magnetic strip  24  is read by financial transaction terminal  14  and the associated financial account is electronically accessed based upon the information from the magnetic strip  24 . 
     Alternatively, in one embodiment, financial transaction terminal  14  includes an alternative financial transaction card reception slot  46  instead of financial transaction card reception slot  40 . Financial transaction card reception slot  46  is positioned at one end of financial transaction terminal  14  and is configured to receive financial transaction card  22  and to pull financial transaction card  22  fully within financial transaction terminal  14  for reading information from magnetic strip  24  of financial transaction card  22  to access the associated financial account. 
     Financial transaction terminal  14  additionally includes a user interface, monitor, or touch screen  48  on a top surface  45  of financial transaction terminal  14 . Touch screen  48  is configured to relay information to the consumer or to the worker or associate of the retail establishment utilizing financial transaction terminal  14 . In one embodiment, touch screen  48  also is configured to be contacted by stylus  16  to enter information into financial transaction terminal  14 . In particular, financial transaction terminal  14  may exhibit buttons such as button  62  in  FIG. 3  on touch screen  48  that can be pressed or otherwise selected with stylus  16 . In one embodiment, stylus  16  is an elongated, pencil-like member including a pointed end configured to contact touch screen  48 . In addition, touch screen  48  may display boxes for receiving written information or signatures. Touch screen  48  is capable of presenting different touch buttons and messages to a user throughout the transaction approval process. 
     One embodiment of a method of sale  50  is generally illustrated with reference to  FIG. 2 . At  52 , the purchases to be sold to the consumer begin to be processed. In particular, in one embodiment, at  52 , the product codes of the purchases are entered into point-of-sale terminal  12  by the worker of the retail establishment or the consumer via scanner  32 , manually via keyboard  30 , RFID device, or other entry device or system. 
     While purchases are being processed for sale at  52 , touch screen  48  displays a message giving the consumer an option to initiate the financial transaction. In one embodiment, the message notifying the consumer that they may initiate the transaction is a message such as “PLEASE INSERT CARD” as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . If, at  54 , the consumer decides to initiate the transaction, the consumer slides financial transaction card  22  through reception slot  40  or inserts financial transaction card  22  into reception slot  46  of financial transaction terminal  14  at  56 . In one embodiment, only one financial transaction card reception slot  40  or  46  exists and, therefore, financial transaction card  22  must be inserted into or slide through the financial transaction card reception slot  40  or  46  existing in the particular financial transaction terminal  14  of transaction approval system  10 . 
     Once the financial transaction card  22  is inserted, financial transaction terminal  14  interfaces with magnetic strip  24  to read information from magnetic strip  24 . More specifically, financial transaction terminal  14  reads the information from magnetic strip  24  to remotely identify the financial institution or a financial network associated with the consumer financial account linked to financial transaction card  22 . In one embodiment, transaction approval system  10  uses the information to determine the type of financial transaction card  22  that has been inserted, more specifically, whether the financial transaction card  22  is a debit card, a credit card, stored-value card, etc. Alternatively, upon insertion of financial transaction card  22 , in one embodiment, transaction approval system  10  prompts the consumer to identify the type of financial transaction card  22  that has been inserted. 
     Accordingly, following insertion of financial transaction card  22  into financial transaction terminal  14 , at  58  the consumer decides whether he or she wishes to begin the transaction approval process. In particular, at  58 , touch screen  48  presents the consumer with confirmation approval page or graphical interface  59  indicating that upon approval by the consumer, the consumer agrees to pay for all charges incurred in accordance with the cardholder agreement with the financial institution holding the financial account linked to financial transaction card  22 , as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . In one embodiment, graphical interface  59  on touch screen  48  includes a signature block  60 , for receiving a consumer signature, and/or a transaction confirmation button  62 . 
     In one embodiment, graphical user interface  59  additionally includes a charge box  64  for indicating whether the total charges or cost of purchases have been determined and, if so, what the total charges are. At  58 , charge box  64  is empty, indicating that the total charges for the purchases have not yet been determined (i.e. purchases are still being processed and a final, total charge has not yet been determined). In one embodiment, the empty charge box  64  is yellow or another bright color to draw consumer attention to the fact that the total charges are not yet determined. In one embodiment, once the total charges are computed, the color of charge box  64  is changed or removed. Alternatively, in one embodiment, charge box  64  remains a consistent color when empty and when displaying the total cost. Graphical interface  59  displayed by financial transaction terminal  14  as illustrated in  FIG. 3  allows the consumer to determine whether or not they wish to continue approving the transaction at  58 . 
     More specifically, the objects displayed on touch screen  48  at this point allow the consumer to decide whether or not to provide a consumer signature within signature block  60  immediately or to wait until a subsequent time in the method of sale  50 . In particular, if the consumer chooses to continue approving the transaction, then at  70  the consumer provides and transaction approval system  10  receives a signature  72  within signature block  60  as illustrated with reference to  FIG. 4 . If the consumer chooses not to continue approving the transaction at this time, the method  50  continues to  78  where processing of the purchases is completed, as will be further described below. Once signature  72  of the consumer is provided, the consumer determines whether or not they wish to finalize approval of the transaction at  74 . 
     If the consumer decides to continue the transaction approval process, then at  76  the consumer provides and the transaction approval system  10  receives final transaction approval or confirmation. If the consumer decides not to continue the transaction approval process, method  50  continues to  78  to complete processing of the purchases, as will be further described below. In one embodiment, the consumer provides final transaction approval by contacting confirmation button  62  of graphical user interface  59  with stylus  16 . Contacting confirmation button  62  also signifies to financial transaction terminal  14  that the consumer has finished providing signature  72 . At  78 , following receipt of the final transaction approval, processing of the purchases is completed and the total cost of the processed goods is displayed in charge box  64  as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . In one embodiment, display box  64 , once colored to indicate that total charges had not yet been determined, optionally changes or removes the color once the cost is displayed in box  64 . In other embodiments, box  64  remains yellow or otherwise highlighted. 
     Following calculation of the total cost of purchases, the financial transaction terminal  14  uses the information from magnetic strip  24  of financial transaction card  22  to access the financial institution or network associated with the inserted financial transaction card  22  at  79 . The financial institution or network provides the financial transaction terminal  14  with an indication of whether the financial account is sufficiently funded or authorized to support the current transaction. In particular, the financial institution or network provides an authorization to use the financial account or an indication that use of the financial account is declined. If the financial institution or network authorizes the current transaction the method of sale  50  continues. 
     At  80 , data terminal  14  determines whether transaction approval is complete. If transaction approval is determined to be complete, then at  82  the transaction is completed by transferring funds, or at least an electronic representation of funds, or by authorizing such a transfer, from the consumer financial account linked to financial transaction card  22  to a financial account associated with the retail establishment. Upon conclusion of the financial transaction printed receipt  38  is created or finished and provided to the consumer detailing the purchases and the financial transaction. In one embodiment, printed receipt  38  includes a printed form of signature  72  digitally provided to financial transaction terminal  14 . Upon completion of the financial transaction, the consumer is free to take the purchases from the retail establishment to their car or other desired location outside of or away from the retail setting. 
     If, at  54 , the consumer decided not to begin the authorization process  50  or if at  58  or  74  the consumer decided not to continue the transaction approval process, the method of sale  50  continues directly to step  78  in which, as described above, processing of the purchases is completed and the total cost of the processed purchases is provided to the consumer, for example, by display of the cost within cost display box  64  as illustrated in  FIG. 6 . At  80 , transaction approval system  10  determines if transaction approval is complete. 
     If, at  80 , transaction approval system  10  determines that the transaction authorization is not complete (as it will if the consumer chose not to begin or finish the transaction or approval process at  54 ,  58 , or  74 ), the method of sale  50  continues to  84 . At  84 , transaction approval system  10  determines whether financial transaction card  22  has or has not yet been inserted into financial transaction terminal  14  to initiate the transaction. If financial transaction card  22  has not yet been inserted into financial transaction terminal  14 , transaction approval system  10  will continue to prompt the consumer to enter financial transaction card  22  into financial transaction terminal  14  via touch screen  48 . At  86 , a consumer eventually inserts financial transaction card  22  into financial transaction terminal  14 . 
     As described above, upon insertion of financial transaction card  22 , financial transaction terminal  14  interfaces with magnetic strip  24  to read the information from magnetic strip  24  to remotely identify the financial institution or at least a financial network associated with the financial account linked to financial transaction card  22 . In one embodiment, transaction approval system  10  uses the information to determine the type of financial transaction card  22  that has been inserted, and more specifically, whether the financial transaction card  22  is a debit card, a credit card, a stored-value card, etc. Alternatively, upon insertion of financial transaction card  22 , in one embodiment, transaction approval system  10  prompts the consumer to identify the type of financial transaction card  22  that has been inserted. 
     At  88 , following insertion of financial transaction card  22  into card terminal  14 , the consumer is prompted to provide consumer signature  72  via graphical interface  59  in a similar manner as described above with respect to receiving consumer signature  72  at  70 . Following  88 , in one embodiment, the consumer is presented with graphical interface  59  on touch screen  48 , such as that illustrated in  FIG. 5 . At  90 , the consumer provides and transaction approval system  10  receives final transaction approval, and the consumer acknowledges consumer signature  72  is complete by contacting touch screen  48 , more particularly, by interaction with final approval button  62  via stylus  16 . At  82 , the funds are transferred or authorized to be transferred and receipt  38  is printed to complete the transaction. Once the transaction is complete, the consumer is free to leave the retail establishment with the purchases and receipt  38  in hand. 
     Alternatively, if at  84  it is determined that financial transaction card  22  has already been inserted into financial transaction terminal  14 , transaction approval system  10  determines, at  92 , whether consumer signature  72  has yet been received. If the consumer signature has not yet been provided, the method of sale  50  continues to  88  where consumer signature  72  is provided in signature box  60 . Continuing once again to  90 , final transaction approval is provided for receipt by transaction approval system  10  via consumer contact with approval button  62  via stylus  16 , and the transaction is completed at  82  as described above. 
     If, at  92 , transaction approval system  10  determines that a consumer signature  72  has already been received, the method of sale  50  continues directly to  90  where final transaction approval is provided by the consumer as described above. Once again, following final transaction approval, the transaction is completed at  82 , and a consumer is provided with receipt  38 , thereby leaving the consumer free to leave the retail establishment with the purchases and receipt  38  in hand. 
     A transaction approval system and method of sale, according to embodiments of the present invention, allow the consumer to decide when to start and finish consumer approval of a financial transaction. In particular, in order to speed the transaction process, a consumer can provide a signature and final transaction approval prior to the final processing of all the purchases. However, in other instances, a consumer may provide a signature while the purchases are being processed, but wait to provide final transaction approval until the total charges have been determined. In yet another instance, a consumer may wait until the total charge for the purchases is determined before providing a signature and a final transaction approval. 
     Although the invention has been described with respect to particular embodiments, such embodiments are for illustrative purposes only and should not be considered to limit the invention. Various alternatives and changes will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. For example, other display screens or buttons may be presented to a consumer in order to provide the consumer with a two or three point transaction approval process that can be entered into at a time chosen by the consumer. In addition, one or more retail employees can prompt the consumer to complete one or more tasks in the process. Additional modifications and changes will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art.

Technology Classification (CPC): 6