# US 10,504,100 B2 · Point of sale virtual customer session

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 10,504,100 B2
- Document ID: US10504100B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/847,435
- Filed: 2010-07-30
- Published: 2012-02-02
- Granted: 2019-12-10
- Earliest claimed: 2010-07-30
- Assignees: NCR Corporation
- Applicants: Nathaniel Christopher Herwig
- Inventors: Nathaniel Christopher Herwig
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10504100B2

## CPC

- G06Q 20/202: {Interconnection or interaction of plural electronic cash registers [ECR] or to host computer, e.g. network details, transfer of information from host to ECR or from ECR to ECR}
- G06Q 20/047: {using payment protocols involving electronic receipts}
- G06Q 20/20: Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
- G06Q 20/326: {Payment applications installed on the mobile devices}
- G06Q 20/3278: {RFID or NFC payments by means of M-devices}
- G06Q 30/0238: at point-of-sale [POS]
- G07G 1/0036: {Checkout procedures}
- G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G07G: REGISTERING THE RECEIPT OF CASH, VALUABLES, OR TOKENS

## Abstract

A terminal and methods are presented for displaying customer information about a transaction occurring on a point of sale terminal on a customer's portable computing device. Creating a virtual session on the portable computing device permits additional information to be presented to the customer. The invention allows the virtual session to be started and ended without the need for assistance by an operator for the point of sale terminal.

## Claims

### Claim 1

In a point of sale terminal, a computer implemented method for communicating with a customer using a portable computing device, the method implemented as executable instructions residing in a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for execution on the point of sale terminal, the method comprising:
starting, on the point of sale terminal, a purchase transaction for the customer where one or more items are presented to the point of sale terminal for identification and purchase;
determining, the point of sale terminal, the presence of the portable computing device;
establishing, by the point of sale terminal, wireless communications with the portable computing device, wherein establishing further includes establishing the wireless communications as a customer session for the purchase transaction between the point of sale terminal and the portable computing device;
receiving, by the point of sale terminal and from the portable computing device a token that identifies the portable computing device and the customer;
authenticating, by the point of sale terminal, the token and the identity of the portable computing device and the customer;
receiving, by the point of sale terminal and from the portable computing device a request, initiated by the customer, to transmit transaction information being displayed on a customer display of the point of sale terminal to the portable computing device where the transaction information includes information that identifies each item presented for purchase;
transferring, by the point of sale terminal, complete electronic control of where the transaction information is being displayed during the customer session to the portable computing device and dynamically switching back and forth between displaying that transaction information on the portable computing device and the point of sale terminal in response to selectable options presented on the portable computing device being activated on the portable computing device during the customer session; and
transmitting, by the point of sale terminal and in response to the request, the transaction information being displayed on the customer display and additional information about the transaction that is not part of the transaction information displayed on the customer display where the information is transmitted in real-time as the one or more items are presented for purchase.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
receiving an electronic coupon for one of the one or more items presented for purchase from the portable computing device;
adjusting the price of the item using information from the received electronic coupon; and
transmitting the updated transaction information for the item to the portable computing device.

### Claim 3

The method of claim I further comprising:
transmitting a total price of all presented items to the portable computing device; and
receiving from the portable computing device payment information for the total price of the presented items.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein the payment information includes information to confirm that a payment for the total price has been made by the portable computing device without involving the point of sale terminal.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein the payment information includes information used by the point of sale terminal to complete the payment without requiring additional input from the customer.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein the payment information includes credit card information.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein the payment information includes debit card and. PIN information.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the transacting information further includes where the point of sale terminal provides only an electronic receipt for the purchase transaction.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
receiving from the portable computing device a second request, initiated by the customer, to stop transmitting transaction information to the portable computing device; and
displaying, in response to the second request, the transaction information on the customer display of the point of sale terminal and stopping the transmitted of transaction information to the portable computing device.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the point of sale terminal is an operator assisted terminal.

### Claim 11

A point of sale terminal for conducting a transaction where items are presented to the terminal by a customer for purchase and a payment is received for the purchased items, the terminal comprising:
a scanner and scale configured to identify and the items presented for purchase;
an operator display configured to display operator related information;
a customer display configured to display standard transaction information to the customer;
a magnetic stripe reader and PIN pad;
a cash drawer;
a network controller;
a wireless transceiver configured to wirelessly communicate with a portable computing device where the device is operated by a customer conducting the transaction at the point of sale terminal; and
a computer configured to execute code from a non--transitory computer -readable medium to control the point of sale terminal and the components attached to it and where executing the code causes the point to sale terminal to perform a plurality of functions, the functions comprising:
starting a purchase transaction on the point of sale terminal for the customer where one or more items are presented to the point of sale terminal for identification and purchase;
determining the presence of a portable computing device;
establishing wireless communications with the portable computing device, wherein establishing further includes establishing the wireless communications as a customer session for the purchase transaction between the point of sale terminal and the portable computing device;
receiving from the portable computing device a token that identifies the portable computing device and the customer;
authenticating the token and the identity of the portable computing device and the customer;
receiving from the portable computing device a request, initiated by the customer, to transmit transaction information being displayed on a customer display of the point of sale terminal to the portable computing device where the transaction information includes information that identifies each item presented for purchase;
transferring, by the point of sale terminal, complete control of where and how the transaction information is presented during the customer session to the portable computing device and dynamically switching back and forth between displaying that transaction information on the portable computing device and the point of sale terminal in response to selectable options presented on the portable computing device being activated on the portable computing device during the customer session; and
transmitting, in response to the request, the transaction information being displayed on the customer display and additional information about the transaction that is not part of the transaction information displayed on the customer display where the information is transmitted in real-time as the one or more items arc presented for purchase.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The terminal of claim 11, wherein the functions further include:
receiving an electronic coupon for one of the one or more items presented for purchase from the portable computing device;
adjusting the price of the item using information from the received electronic coupon; and
transmitting the updated transaction information for the item to the portable computing device.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The terminal of claim 11, wherein the functions further include:
transmitting a total price of all presented items to the portable computing device; and
receiving from the portable computing device payment information for the total price of the presented items.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The terminal of claim 13, wherein the payment information includes information to confirm that payment has been made.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The terminal of claim 13, wherein the payment information includes information for the point of sale terminal to complete the payment without requiring additional input from the customer.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The terminal of claim 15, wherein the payment information includes credit or debit card information.

### Claim 17 (depends on 11)

The terminal of claim 11, wherein transmitting the transacting information further includes where the point of sale terminal provides only an electronic receipt for the purchase transaction.

### Claim 18 (depends on 11)

The terminal of claim 11, wherein the functions further include:
receiving from the portable computing device a second request, initiated by the customer, to stop transmitting transaction information to the portable computing device; and
displaying, in response to the second request, the transaction information on the customer display of the point of sale terminal and stopping the transmitted of transaction information to the portable computing device.

### Claim 19 (depends on 11)

The terminal of claim 11, wherein the point of sale terminal is an operator assisted terminal.

### Claim 20

In a point of sale system, a computer implemented method for a point of sale terminal to communicate transaction information to a customer using a portable computing device, the method implemented as executable instructions residing in a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for execution on the point of sale terminal, the method comprising:
starting, on the point of sale terminal, a purchase transaction for the customer where one or more items are presented to the point of sale terminal for identification and purchase;
determining by the point of sale terminal the presence of the portable computing device;
establishing, by the point of sale terminal, wireless communications between the point of sale terminal and the portable computing device, wherein establishing further includes establishing the wireless communications as a customer session for the purchase transaction between the point of sale terminal and the portable computing device;
receiving, by the point of sale terminal and from the portable computing device a token that identifies the portable computing device and the customer;
authenticating, by the point of sale terminal the token and the identity of the portable computing device and the customer by the point of sale terminal;
receiving, by the point of sale terminal and from the portable computing device a request, initiated by the customer, to transmit transaction information being displayed on a customer display of the point of sale terminal to the portable computing device where the transaction information includes information that identifies each item presented for purchase;
transferring, by the point of sale terminal, complete electronic control of where and how the transaction information is presented during the customer session to the portable computing device and dynamically switching back and forth between displaying that transaction information on the portable computing device and the point of sale terminal in response to selectable options presented on the portable computing device being activated on the portable computing device during the customer session; and
transmitting, by the point of sale terminal in response to the request, the transaction information being displayed on the customer display and additional information about the transaction that is not part of the transaction information displayed on the customer display where the information is transmitted in real-time as items are presented for purchase.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The method of claim 20, further comprising:
displaying, after establishing wireless communications, an alert on the portable computing device signaling it is connected to the point of sale terminal.

### Claim 22 (depends on 20)

The method of claim 20, further comprising saving in the portable computing device the transaction information received from the point of sale terminal.

### Claim 23 (depends on 20)

The method of claim 20, further comprising:
storing one or more electronic coupons by the portable computing device; and determining, by the portable computing device, that an item scanned by the point of sale terminal matches a stored electronic coupon and sending the stored electronic coupon to the point of sale terminal.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

The method of claim 23, further comprising:
receiving an electronic coupon by the point of sale terminal;
adjusting, by the point of sale terminal, the price of the item using information from the received electronic coupon; and
transmitting the updated transaction information for the item to the portable computing device.

### Claim 25 (depends on 20)

The method of claim 20, further comprising:
transmitting a total price of all presented items to the portable computing device; and
receiving from the portable computing device payment information.

### Claim 26 (depends on 25)

The method of claim 25, wherein the payment information includes information to confirm that a payment for the total price has been made.

### Claim 27 (depends on 25)

The method of claim 25, wherein the payment information includes information for the point of sale terminal to complete a payment without requiring additional input from the customer.

### Claim 28 (depends on 20)

The method of claim 20, wherein transmitting the transacting information further includes where the point of sale terminal provides only an electronic receipt for the purchase transaction.