Systems and methods for performing transactions at a point-of-sale
AssigneeFirst Data Corporation
InventorsEarney Stoutenburg, Cassandra J. Mollett, James Price, Charles A. Fillinger, Eric M. Nelson, Dean A. Seifert, Jeffrey Singleton
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Abstract
A point-of-sale device useful in relation to a variety of circumstances and/or utilization methods. Various implementations of such point-of-sale devices are disclosed. For example, one particular point-of-sale device includes a base unit adapted for performing merchant functions and a peripheral unit adapted to perform customer functions. The base unit can include a base unit housing with a processor disposed therein and capable of supporting a variety of transaction types.
Claims52
A point-of-sale device comprising:
- a base unit adapted for performing merchant functions at a point-of-sale, wherein the base unit includes:
- a base unit housing;
- and
- a processor disposed within the base unit housing and configured to process a plurality of transaction types, wherein one of the plurality of transaction types is a check acceptance transaction;
- and
- a peripheral unit in communication with the base unit, the peripheral unit including a peripheral unit housing and being adapted to perform customer functions at the point-of-sale.
A point-of-sale device comprising:
- a housing;
- an external communications interface located on the housing;
- and
- a processor disposed within the housing and in communication with the external communications interface, the processor being configured to:
- process a plurality of transaction types at a point-of-sale;
- and
- receive and process Internet communications over the external communications interface.
A point-of-sale device comprising:
- a base unit adapted for performing merchant functions at a point-of-sale, wherein the base unit includes:
- a base unit housing having a document slot adapted for receiving a document;
- a processor disposed within the base unit housing and configured to process a plurality of transaction types;
- a magnetic-ink character recognition device positioned with respect to the document slot and adapted to read a string of magnetic-ink characters on the document when the document is inserted within the document slot;
- and
- a docking station integral with the base unit housing;
- and
- a peripheral unit in communication with the base unit and adapted for docking with the base unit, the peripheral unit including:
- a peripheral unit housing;
- and
- a display on the peripheral unit housing.
A method for processing a transaction, the method comprising:
- capturing information related to the transaction at a point-of-sale with a peripheral unit, wherein the information is requisite for at least one of a plurality of predefined authorized transaction types that includes check processing;
- transmitting the information to a base unit positioned locally with respect to the peripheral unit;
- and
- processing the transaction in accordance with the at least one predefined authorized transaction types using the transmitted information.
A point-of-sale device comprising:
- means for performing merchant functions at a point-of-sale, such means including:
- housing means;
- and
- processor means disposed within the first housing means for processing a plurality of payment types that includes check processing;
- and
- means for performing customer functions at the point-of-sale, wherein the means for performing merchant functions and the means for performing customer functions are in communication.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.