Point-of-sale terminal for dynamic mode management of multiple card readers

An apparatus for dynamic credit card reader mode management, the apparatus comprising:

• a point-of sale (POS) terminal, configured to accept employee login credentials via a magnetic stripe card, to display menu items for selection, to add selected menu items to an order, and to accept payment for said order, wherein said payment may be obtained via swipe, dip, or tap, said POS terminal comprising:
• a first card reader, configured to read first provided cards when enabled;
• a second card reader, configured to read second provided cards when enabled;
• a dual reader controller, coupled to said first and second card readers, configured to determine one or more workflow states of said POS terminal, and configured to dynamically control mode of said first and second card readers according to said one or more workflow states, said dual reader controller comprising;
• a configuration manager, coupled to said first card reader, configured to determine a type and capabilities of said first card reader upon power up of said first credit card reader;
• and
• a data translation/normalization processor, coupled to said configuration manager and said first card reader, configured to;
• receive instructions from said configuration manger indicating said type and said capabilities;
• communication with said first card reader according to said type and said capabilities responsive to a common set of commands employed by said POS terminal;
• and
• format data received from said first credit card reader into a common data format;
• and
• an order processor, coupled to said dual reader controller, configured to set said workflow state of said POS terminal based upon commands received from a backend server and entries via touchscreens that are disposed within said POS terminal.

A method for dynamic credit card reader mode management, the method comprising:

• providing a point-of sale (POS) terminal that is configured to accept employee login credentials via a magnetic stripe card, to display menu items for selection, to add selected menu items to an order, and to accept payment for the order, wherein the payment may be obtained via swipe, dip, or tap;
• via a first card reader disposed as part of the POS terminal, first reading first provided cards when fully powered and enabled;
• and
• via a second card reader disposed as part of the POS terminal, second reading second provided cards when fully powered and enabled;
• and
• via a dual reader controller that is coupled to the first and second card readers, determining one or more workflow states of the POS terminal, and dynamically controlling modes of the first and second card readers according to the one or more workflow states;
• determining a type and capabilities of the first credit card reader upon power up of the first credit card reader;
• receiving instructions indicating the type and the capabilities and communicating with the first credit card reader according to the type and the capabilities responsive to a common set of commands employed by the POS terminal, and formatting data received from the first credit card reader into a common data format.