Apparatus and method for improved payment experience

A computer-readable storage medium storing program instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method for handoff of a transaction for completion, the method comprising:

• registering a payment instrument with a server and storing a payment token that represents the payment instrument in a payment token database record;
• storing a push notification device identifier that corresponds to the payment token in the payment token database record;
• via a point-of-sale terminal, reading the payment instrument that is presented for payment for the transaction, and transmitting the payment instrument via the internet cloud to the server, wherein the server is not collocated with the point-of-sale terminal, and wherein communications between the point-of-sale terminal and the server are transmitted and received through a gateway device that is collocated with the point-of-sale terminal;
• via the server, using the payment token to access the push notification device identifier and transmitting a push notification to a guest device that corresponds to the push notification device identifier;
• upon acceptance of the push notification, executing a proprietary application on the guest device and simultaneously displaying details for the transaction on both the guest device and the point-of-sale terminal;
• receiving transaction completion data that is entered via the guest device and transmitting the transaction completion data to the server;
• and
• completing the transaction at the server and notifying the point-of-sale terminal and the guest device that the transaction is complete.

A system for handoff of a transaction for completion, the system comprising:

• a server, configured to receive payment instrument, and configured to store a payment token that represents said payment instrument in a payment token database record, and configured to store a push notification device identifier that corresponds to said payment token in said payment token database record;
• and
• a point-of-sale terminal, configured to read said payment instrument that is presented for payment for the transaction, and configured to transmit said payment instrument via the internet cloud to said server, wherein said server is not collocated with said point-of-sale terminal, and wherein communications between said point-of-sale terminal and said server are transmitted and received through a gateway device that is collocated with said point-of-sale terminal;
• wherein said server uses said payment token to access said push notification device identifier, and wherein said server transmits a push notification to a guest device that corresponds to said push notification device identifier;
• wherein, upon acceptance of said push notification, said guest device executes a proprietary application, and wherein said details for the transaction are simultaneously displayed details on both said guest device and said point-of-sale terminal;
• wherein, said guest device receives transaction completion data that is entered and transmits said transaction completion data to said server;
• and
• wherein said server completes the transaction and notifies said point-of-sale terminal and said guest device that the transaction is complete.