Method of enhancing point-of-sale systems

A point-of-sale (POS) terminal comprising:

• a computer processor;
• a software module for enabling a retailer to process transactions within a transaction environment, the POS terminal being in communication with peripheral devices;
• a driver software module installed in a data communications path between the software module and the peripheral devices,
• wherein the driver software module is arranged to:
• receive data sent between the software module and a first peripheral device in communication with the POS terminal, the received data comprising transaction data;
• communicate with a further device in dependence on the data received at the driver software module and send the transaction data to the further device, the transaction data to be modified by the further device;
• receive the modified data from the further device;
• and
• output the modified data from the driver software module to one or more of the software module and a second peripheral device, wherein the data communications path comprises a software stack within the POS terminal to handle communications between the software module on the POS terminal and the peripheral devices, and the driver software module being located within the software stack.

A method of enhancing the functionality of a point-of-sale (POS) system, the POS system comprising a POS terminal having a software module for enabling a retailer to process transactions within a transaction environment, and peripheral devices in communication with the POS terminal, the method comprising:

• installing a driver software module in a data communications path between the software module and the peripheral devices, the driver software module being arranged, in use, to:
• receive data sent between the software module and a first peripheral device in communication with the POS terminal, the received data comprising transaction data;
• communicate with a further device in dependence on the data received at the driver software module and send the transaction data to the further device, the transaction data being modified by the further device;
• receive the modified data from the further device;
• and
• output the modified data from the driver software module to one or more of the software module and a second peripheral device, wherein the data communications path comprises a software stack within the POS terminal to handle communications between the software module on the POS terminal and the peripheral devices and the driver software module is located within the software stack.