Exiting standby for an electronic payment terminal

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for exiting a standby state for a communication terminal (10) that is configured to occupy at least a standby state and is able to communicate with a remote electronic device (50) using the Bluetooth Low Energy protocol, the method comprising the following steps: - a step (E32) of receiving a connection request on a Bluetooth peripheral (11) of the communication terminal (10), said request being sent by the electronic device (50) using the Bluetooth Low Energy protocol; - a step (E41), implemented by the Bluetooth peripheral (11), of transmitting a message to a central control unit (15) of the communication terminal (10), said message comprising information according to which a connection request has been received on the Bluetooth peripheral (11); - a step (E42) of the central control unit (15) receiving the message comprising the information according to which a connection request has been received on the Bluetooth peripheral (11); - a step (E43) of exiting the standby state of the communication terminal (10).

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] TITLE: WAKE-UP OF AN ELECTRONIC PAYMENT TERMINAL

[0003] Technical field

[0004] The present invention, which belongs to the field of electronic means of payment, relates in particular to the management of the operation of a communication terminal. More particularly, the invention relates to a communication terminal of the electronic payment terminal (EPT) type.

[0005] Preamble

[0006] Among the components of the customer experience, payment has become a major element of satisfaction or dissatisfaction which cannot now be neglected by a merchant.

[0007] In physical stores, checkout wait times can indeed have an impact on footfall in the medium term, as excessively long wait times can discourage some customers from returning regularly. Furthermore, a limited range of available payment methods can also encourage some potential customers to frequent other establishments.

[0008] At the same time, the gradual dematerialization of payment procedures is streamlining checkouts by making change, almost systematic in the case of cash payments, less and less frequent, as are identity checks inherent in check payments. In addition, the democratization of electronic payment methods is making electronic payment terminals (EPTs) more widespread in stores and points of sale.

[0009] Since their first introduction in the early 1980s, POS terminals have evolved towards greater simplicity of operation in order to improve the user experience, both on the merchant side and on the end customer side.

[0010] At the same time, EFTs have also developed technically, so that recent EFTs are now able to implement different payment procedures: payment with insertion of a bank card, contactless payment (with presentation, but without insertion, of a bank card), or payment without direct presentation of a bank card, i.e. by means of an electronic communication device, such as a smart mobile phone for example, allowing the dematerialization of a bank card or the implementation of an online payment application, banking or not, capable of communicating directly with the EFTs. ​​In addition, EFTs must systematically comply with strict security requirements, in order to guarantee the confidentiality and protection in all circumstances of the banking data and funds they collect and transmit.In particular, it is appropriate to protect VSEs from possible cyber attacks and to restrict their accessibility to authorized electronic devices only.

[0011] Finally, while using an EFT brings many advantages for a merchant, it remains true that such use generates costs related to the price of purchasing or renting the EFT, subscribing to certain banking services or even relating to the electricity consumption linked to the operation of the EFT. It is therefore appropriate to seek to reduce the consumption of electrical energy by EFTs, in order to reduce their operating costs.

[0012] More generally, it is appropriate to limit the energy consumption costs of electronic devices, and in particular the costs relating to the electrical energy consumption of a communication terminal.

[0013] Some retailers turn off their EFT at certain times of the day, corresponding to off-peak hours when very few customers visit their store. This prevents the EFT from consuming unnecessary electricity during periods when there are no checkouts. However, this option has the disadvantage of requiring the retailer to turn their EFT back on if necessary at different times of the day, just before peak hours but also during off-peak hours, during an occasional checkout. However, turning on an EFT takes a certain amount of time because the device must then completely restart, which results in a time-consuming reset of its operating system, and this waiting time imposed on customers will have a negative impact on their satisfaction. In addition, the retailer may forget to turn off their EFT at the appropriate times, which will lead to unnecessary overconsumption of energy.Furthermore, it is sometimes difficult, or even impossible in some businesses, to predict in advance the number of people passing through the checkout, which means that the TPE cannot be left switched off during certain periods.

[0014] It is therefore necessary to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks by providing a method for managing the operation of a communication terminal, and for example an EFT, which is energy-efficient and simple to implement for users.

[0015] General description

[0016] It is indeed appropriate to limit the electrical energy consumption of communication terminals, and for example EPTs, at times when they are not or are little used, and this without negative impact on their operation, their availability, the user experience and the security of the data transmitted therein. To achieve the aforementioned objectives and overcome the disadvantages of the prior art, it is appropriate to take advantage of the use of a standby mode, or standby state (as opposed to the normal operating mode or the normal operating state), which a communication terminal, such as for example an EPT, can occupy and in which, although switched on, the terminal consumes very little electrical energy in comparison with what is consumed when it operates normally (i.e. in normal operating mode or state).

[0017] Conventionally, communication terminals are in fact able to occupy a normal operating state in which they are immediately available to carry out the functions for which they were designed, and a standby state in which their electrical energy consumption, but also their availability, are reduced.

[0018] More specifically, in normal operating mode or state, an EFT is immediately available to carry out transactions, while in standby mode or sleep state, it is necessary to wake it up, i.e. to bring it out of its sleep state in order to use it.

[0019] Generally, when a communications terminal is in standby mode, some, if not most, of the terminal's electronic components are turned off, allowing the communications terminal to reduce its power consumption.

[0020] According to one possibility, the standby mode or state is triggered manually, that is to say that a user will manipulate the communication terminal in such a way as to make it enter a standby state and make it consume less energy than if it were in normal operation.

[0021] Alternatively, standby mode may also be triggered automatically, particularly following a period of inactivity of the terminal during which no action on the terminal has occurred: the terminal, having remained inactive for a predetermined period of time that can be configured by the user, then automatically enters standby mode. This automatic transition to standby mode is advantageous.

[0022] Furthermore, waking up a communications terminal from standby, in other words its transition from the standby state (or standby mode) to the normal operating state (or normal operating mode) generally takes less time, and consumes less electricity, than switching on, which results in a complete start-up of the terminal and initialization of its operating system.

[0023] It is therefore necessary to allow a communication terminal, and in particular an EPT, to occupy a standby state when it is not intended to be used for a certain time, while allowing a rapid, or even immediate, exit from the standby state if it is necessary to use it.

[0024] To this end, the present application relates, according to a first aspect, to a method for exiting a standby state of a communication terminal configured to occupy at least one standby state and comprising a Bluetooth peripheral capable of communicating according to the low-energy Bluetooth protocol with a remote electronic device, the method comprising the following steps:

[0025] - a step of receiving, at the Bluetooth peripheral of the communication terminal, a request for connection to the communication terminal, said request being sent by the electronic device according to the low-energy Bluetooth protocol;

[0026] - a step of transmitting, implemented by the Bluetooth peripheral, a message to a central control unit of the communication terminal, said message comprising information according to which a connection request has been received at the Bluetooth peripheral;

[0027] - a step of reception, by the central control unit, of the message comprising the information that a connection request has been received at the Bluetooth peripheral;

[0028] - Following the reception step, a step of exiting the standby state of the communication terminal.

[0029] According to the method of the invention, the communication terminal is exited from standby mode without contact or direct manipulation on the communication terminal. The exit from standby mode is carried out remotely by means of a message exchange implemented between the communication terminal and an electronic device.

[0030] The communication terminal and the electronic device both support the Bluetooth communication protocol, and are in particular capable of communicating with each other via the Bluetooth low energy protocol, also known as Bluetooth low energy (designated BLE, for Bluetooth Low Energy, in English terminology).

[0031] The communication terminal therefore includes a Bluetooth peripheral compatible with BLE. Similarly, the electronic device includes a Bluetooth peripheral compatible with BLE.

[0032] In one case, the communication terminal is a smart mobile phone (also referred to as a smartphone, according to the established terminology in English). In another case, the communication terminal is a tablet computer.

[0033] Alternatively, the communication terminal is a computer, for example a portable computer (also referred to as a laptop, according to the established terminology in English).

[0034] According to yet another possibility, the communication terminal is an electronic payment terminal, or EPT. According to this possibility, the electronic device is controlled by the merchant who operates the EPT, the latter can therefore manually control the exit from standby of his EPT via said electronic device.

[0035] According to one possibility, the electronic device is able to automatically command the TPE to wake up from standby when necessary. According to one possibility, the electronic device is an electronic cash register installed in a business and having a Bluetooth peripheral compatible with BLE. According to this possibility, the electronic cash register is therefore able to communicate in BLE with the TPE. The electronic cash register is also able to wake the TPE from standby automatically, when the electronic cash register determines that a payment by bank card must be made.

[0036] An electronic cash register is typically coupled with a cash drawer arranged to collect cash, and a scanner configured to scan barcodes on product labels.

[0037] Alternatively, the electronic device is a communication terminal such as a smart mobile phone.

[0038] According to yet another possibility, the electronic device is an electronic tablet.

[0039] Finally, according to another possibility, the electronic device is a laptop.

[0040] According to a non-limiting possibility, the electronic device operates via the iOS operating system.

[0041] According to another non-limiting possibility, the electronic device operates via the Android operating system.

[0042] TPEs generally have a user interface including a numeric keypad configured to allow the entry of information such as a bank PIN or a sum of money to be debited, for example, and a screen configured to display different information for different users.

[0043] Most POS terminals also include a battery allowing them to operate autonomously, i.e. without needing to be continuously connected to the mains.

[0044] Most POS terminals can also be placed on a stand or base when not in direct use, in particular to allow for electrical recharging of their battery. When they need to be used, such POS terminals can be removed from their base in order to be presented to a customer, for example so that the latter can insert their bank card or enter their PIN.

[0045] Most modern POS terminals are wireless, meaning they are not permanently connected to their base by an electrical cord or wire. These POS terminals therefore have the advantage of being able to be used remotely from their base and include a battery to ensure their energy autonomy.

[0046] Other, older TPEs are wired to their base and do not necessarily include a battery. The invention applies, according to one possibility, to any type of TPE, and as explained previously, the invention applies in particular to all TPEs including a Bluetooth peripheral compatible with BLE.

[0047] More generally, the invention applies to any communication terminal capable of occupying a standby mode and comprising a Bluetooth peripheral compatible with BLE.

[0048] The use of the Bluetooth communication standard is particularly advantageous insofar as the implementation of the invention does not require any infrastructure or equipment other than an electronic device compatible with the Bluetooth standard.

[0049] A wake-up call, or a wake-up call, of the communication terminal via WIFI, on the other hand, would require the presence of a WIFI terminal to which the communication terminal would be connected, and such a terminal is not necessary for Bluetooth.

[0050] One of the advantages of the invention is therefore to allow savings in terms of equipment necessary for its implementation, which generates cost savings (linked to the purchase of such equipment), and energy savings (linked to the electricity consumption of such equipment and the necessary data exchanges between the latter and the communication terminal).

[0051] In addition, the use of BLE (i.e., as a reminder, Bluetooth low energy) is particularly advantageous, for various reasons explained below.

[0052] When the communication terminal is in the standby state, its Bluetooth device is also in the standby state and it is only the reception of the message including the connection request from the electronic device that will wake the Bluetooth device from its standby state.

[0053] Thus, the method of the invention allows the Bluetooth peripheral of the communication terminal to occupy the standby state when the latter is in the standby state while being able to exit this standby state at any time following the reception of a simple connection request message from an electronic device.

[0054] Indeed, and contrary to what would be the case if the wake-up of the communication terminal were controlled by sending a message according to the classic Bluetooth standard (as opposed to Bluetooth low energy, or BLE), no Bluetooth connection must necessarily be maintained between the communication terminal and the electronic device when the communication terminal is in the sleep state. Maintaining such a connection would also consume electrical energy, and it is therefore particularly advantageous to do without it. The wake-up, or waking-up, of the communication terminal by Bluetooth low energy also has the advantage of not requiring pairing between the communication terminal and the electronic device. In the case of the wake-up of an EPT, in particular, no manual pairing that must comply with the security requirements related to the use of EPTs must be performed.It is indeed particularly advantageous to avoid the need to carry out such manual pairing, which entails the need for manual validation, carried out by the user both on the TPE and on the electronic device. Such manual pairing, which should be implemented when using classic Bluetooth mode to wake up the TPE, has the disadvantage of taking a significant amount of time, of the order of 20 to 30 seconds, in addition to consuming a significant amount of electrical energy.

[0055] Applied specifically to TPEs, the invention therefore allows, compared to a solution using classic Bluetooth, a saving of time and a reduction in electrical energy consumption when waking up the TPE, and businesses with several TPEs that need to wake up from standby simultaneously will be able, in particular, to benefit from the invention.

[0056] At the same time and more generally, the use of BLE implies, compared to classic Bluetooth, a reduction in the power of the signals emitted by the communication terminal and by the electronic device, and therefore an overall reduction in the electrical energy used for the emission of these signals. A connection via BLE requires that the communication terminal and the electronic device intended to communicate via this connection be sufficiently close to each other.

[0057] Thus, in the context of the invention applied to TPEs, the electronic device intended to wake up the TPE must be sufficiently close to the TPE, which in practice is generally the case.

[0058] An electronic cash register and the EPT associated with it are, in practice, sufficiently close to each other to be able to communicate via a BLE link. According to one embodiment, the communication terminal is configured to also occupy a normal operating state, and the step of exiting the standby state corresponds to a transition of the communication terminal from the standby state to the normal operating state. By normal operating state, we mean a state in which the communication terminal is able to carry out the operations for which it was designed.

[0059] More specifically, in a normal operating state, an EFT is able to immediately implement bank card payments, with or without contact, dematerialized or not.

[0060] According to one embodiment, the electrical power consumption of the communication terminal in the standby state is lower than the electrical power consumption of the communication terminal in the normal operating state.

[0061] Specifically, the power consumption of an EPT in the standby state is very low compared to the power consumption of the same EPT operating normally. It is therefore advantageous to put the EPT into standby mode as much as possible, during periods of inactivity of the EPT. According to a specific embodiment, the Bluetooth peripheral of the EPT is in the standby state when the EPT occupies the standby state. This advantageously makes it possible to reduce the electrical energy consumption of the EPT in the standby state.

[0062] According to one embodiment, the method for exiting a standby state of a communication terminal comprises, following the step of exiting the standby state of the communication terminal, the following steps:

[0063] - a transmission step, implemented by the central control unit to the Bluetooth peripheral, of a message refusing the connection requested by the electronic device;

[0064] - a step of receiving, at the Bluetooth device, said refusal message;

[0065] - a step, implemented by the Bluetooth device, of sending a notification message of the refusal of the connection.

[0066] According to one embodiment, the transmission of the connection refusal notification message, implemented by the Bluetooth device, causes the interruption of the connection between the Bluetooth device and the electronic device.

[0067] The connection request sent by the electronic device therefore only serves to wake the communication terminal from sleep mode. Maintaining the BLE connection between the electronic device and the communication terminal is in fact not necessary, and would in any case be detrimental in terms of energy consumption and immediate availability of the communication terminal.

[0068] According to one embodiment, said connection is secure.

[0069] According to a second aspect, the present application relates to a method for managing the standby of a communication terminal configured to occupy at least one standby state and comprising a Bluetooth peripheral capable of communicating according to the low-energy Bluetooth protocol with a remote electronic device, the method comprising the following steps:

[0070] - a step of switching the communication terminal from a normal operating state to a standby state;

[0071] - the steps of the method for exiting a standby state of the communication terminal as described above.

[0072] According to one embodiment, the transition of the communication terminal from the normal operating state to the standby state is subsequent to at least one manual action by a user on the communication terminal.

[0073] According to one possibility, the user of the communication terminal can put his communication terminal into standby mode by performing a predefined operation on the numeric keypad of the communication terminal. According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, the transition of the communication terminal from the normal operating state to the standby state is implemented automatically.

[0074] According to one embodiment, the transition of the communication terminal from the normal operating state to the standby state is implemented automatically following a predetermined period of time during which the communication terminal has remained inactive. Said predetermined period of time is configurable by the user of the communication terminal. According to one embodiment, the method for managing the standby of a communication terminal comprises, before the step of transitioning the communication terminal from a normal operating state to a standby state,

[0075] - a step of transmitting a control message, implemented by a central control unit of the communication terminal to the Bluetooth peripheral, aimed at having the Bluetooth peripheral announce itself on the BLE network by means of a BLE advertisement;

[0076] - a step of receiving, at the Bluetooth device (11), the control message;

[0077] - Following the step of receiving the control message, a step of starting a BLE advertisement implemented by the Bluetooth device.

[0078] According to one embodiment, the method for managing the standby of a communication terminal comprises a step of sending, implemented by the central control unit to the electronic device, an identifier of the communication terminal.

[0079] Thus, the method of the invention comprises a step of sending, to the electronic device, an identifier of the communication terminal allowing the latter to communicate with the communication terminal according to the Bluetooth standard, and in particular via the BLE protocol.

[0080] According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, said identifier is the Bluetooth address of the communication terminal.

[0081] According to one embodiment, the Bluetooth address of the communication terminal is dynamic, and changes each time the communication terminal is reset or restarted. This embodiment is particularly advantageous when the communication terminal is an EPT.

[0082] According to one embodiment, the Bluetooth address of the communication terminal is static, and remains the same if the communication terminal is restarted.

[0083] According to one embodiment, said step of sending an identifier is carried out by means of a USB connection, or USB link. By thus transmitting the identifier of the communication terminal by wire, it is ensured that the electronic device, and only it, knows the identifier of the communication terminal, which subsequently allows it to send a connection request to the communication terminal via Bluetooth. This embodiment is particularly advantageous when the communication terminal is an EPT. According to a third aspect, the present application relates to a method for controlling the exit from a standby state of a communication terminal, said method being implemented by an electronic device and comprising the following steps:

[0084] - a step of receiving an identifier of the communication terminal;

[0085] - a step of transmitting, to the communication terminal, a request for connection to the communication terminal, said request being transmitted according to the low-energy Bluetooth protocol;

[0086] - a step of receiving, from the communication terminal, a connection refusal message.

[0087] According to one embodiment, said requested connection is of the secure connection type.

[0088] According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, said identifier is the Bluetooth address of the communication terminal.

[0089] According to one embodiment, the Bluetooth address of the communication terminal is dynamic, and changes each time the communication terminal is reset, or restarted.

[0090] According to one embodiment, the Bluetooth address of the communication terminal is static, and remains the same if the communication terminal is restarted.

[0091] According to one embodiment, said step of sending an identifier is carried out by means of a USB connection, or USB link. By transmitting the identifier of the communication terminal by wire, it is ensured that the electronic device, and only it, knows the identifier of the communication terminal, which subsequently allows it to send a connection request to the communication terminal via Bluetooth.

[0092] According to a fourth aspect, the present application relates to a communication terminal configured to implement the method for exiting a standby state as described above and / or configured to implement the standby management method as described above. The communication terminal of the invention comprises a Bluetooth peripheral capable of communicating according to the Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) protocol.

[0093] According to one embodiment, the communication terminal comprises a USB port.

[0094] According to one embodiment, the communication terminal comprises a micro USB or pUSB port.

[0095] According to one embodiment, the communication terminal comprises an electronic payment terminal. In other words, the communication terminal to which the methods of the invention are applied is an electronic payment terminal, or EPT.

[0096] According to a fifth aspect, the present application relates to an electronic device configured to implement the method for controlling the exit from a standby state as described above. The electronic device of the invention comprises a Bluetooth peripheral capable of communicating according to the Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) protocol.

[0097] According to one embodiment, the electronic device comprises a USB port.

[0098] According to one embodiment, the electronic device comprises a micro USB or pUSB port.

[0099] According to one embodiment, the electronic device comprises an electronic cash register. In other words, the electronic device implementing the steps of the method for controlling the exit from a standby state of a communication terminal is an electronic cash register.

[0100] According to an alternative embodiment, the electronic device is a communication terminal of the smart mobile phone (smartphone), tablet, or laptop type.

[0101] Brief description of the figures

[0102] [Fig. 1] describes the hardware environment of the invention according to a non-limiting embodiment. [Fig. 2] represents, according to a non-limiting embodiment of the invention, at least some of the messages exchanged between a communication terminal and an electronic device, during the implementation of the methods of the invention.

[0103] [Fig. 3] shows schematically, according to a non-limiting embodiment of the invention, the steps of a method for exiting a standby state of a communication terminal.

[0104] [Fig.4] represents, according to a non-limiting embodiment of the invention, the steps of a method for controlling the exit from a standby state of a communication terminal.

[0105] [Fig.5] represents, according to a non-limiting embodiment of the invention, the steps of a method for managing the standby of a communication terminal.

[0106] Detailed description with reference to figures

[0107] In the following, the invention is described in detail and in a non-limiting manner, according to a particular embodiment applied to an electronic payment terminal or EFT coupled to an electronic cash register. Obviously, those skilled in the art will understand that the methods of the invention can be applied to communication terminals other than EFTs, as well as to electronic devices other than electronic cash registers.

[0108] In Figure 1, there is shown schematically, on the one hand, an electronic payment terminal, or EPT 10, which comprises, in a non-exhaustive manner, a Bluetooth peripheral 11 compatible with the Bluetooth low energy protocol or BLE, a screen 12 arranged to display information such as an amount of money to be paid or information messages relating to a payment procedure in progress, and a user interface 13, for example a numeric keypad, arranged to allow a user of the EPT 10, for example the merchant operating the EPT 10, to enter information such as for example an amount of money to be debited. The EPT 10 also comprises a USB port 14, of the micro USB type, arranged to allow the connection to the EPT of a cable comprising a micro USB male connector.The TPE also comprises a central control unit 15, also shown in Figure 2, which, in a known manner, directs the operation of the TPE. Figure 1 also represents an electronic cash register 50, which comprises, in a non-exhaustive manner, a Bluetooth peripheral 51 compatible with the Bluetooth low energy or BLE protocol, a screen 52 arranged to display information such as, for example, products or product references and associated prices, and a user interface 53 arranged to enter information such as a payment type or the ordering of a receipt printing. The electronic cash register 50 also comprises a USB port 54 arranged to allow the connection to the electronic cash register 50 of a cable comprising a USB male connector.The cash register 50 also comprises a central control unit 55 which, in known manner, directs the operation of the electronic cash register 50.

[0109] The TPE 10 and the electronic cash register 50 are therefore able to exchange messages via BLE, using their respective Bluetooth peripherals 11 and 51.

[0110] The TPE 10 and the electronic cash register 50 are also capable of exchanging messages via a USB 60 link.

[0111] The TPE 10 and the electronic cash register 50 are therefore arranged to communicate with each other in wired or wireless mode.

[0112] Figure 2 shows the various message exchanges between the TPE 10 and the electronic cash register 50 during the implementation of the invention. In addition, some of the messages shown in Figure 2 are exchanged, within the TPE 10 itself, between the Bluetooth peripheral 11 of the TPE 10 and the central control unit 15 of the TPE 10.

[0113] During step En, the central control unit 15 of the TPE 10 transmits, via the USB link 60, the Bluetooth address of the TPE 10 to the electronic cash register 50 which receives said address in a step E12. The transmission of the address of the TPE 10 to the electronic cash register 50 is therefore carried out by wire.

[0114] Following this reception step E12, the electronic cash register 50 therefore knows the address of the TPE 10 and is therefore capable of sending messages, and in particular a connection request, according to the BLE standard from its Bluetooth peripheral 51 to the Bluetooth peripheral 11 of the TPE 10.

[0115] In a step E21 carried out just before the TPE enters standby at step E23 following a period of inactivity of predefined duration, the central control unit 15 of the TPE 10 sends a command to the Bluetooth peripheral 11 of the TPE 10 so that the latter announces itself on the network by means of BLE advertising (“BLE advertising” according to the established English language terminology). In step E22, the Bluetooth peripheral 11 of the TPE 10 receives said command and starts to transmit BLE advertising messages while the TPE 10 occupies the standby state.

[0116] In a step E31, the electronic cash register 50 sends a connection request to the EPT 10 in BLE. The sending of such a connection request is carried out after a payment by bank card is initialized at the electronic cash register 50. In step E32, the Bluetooth peripheral 11 of the EPT 10 receives the connection request sent by the electronic cash register 50 and a BLE connection is established between the Bluetooth peripheral 11 of the EPT 10 and the Bluetooth peripheral 51 of the electronic cash register 50. In step E41 carried out immediately after the reception step E32, the BLE peripheral 11 of the EPT 10 transmits a message to the central control unit 15 of the EPT 10 informing it of the receipt of a Bluetooth connection request from the electronic cash register 50.

[0117] The central control unit 15 of the TPE 10 therefore receives, in step E42, the message informing it of the receipt of a Bluetooth connection request from the electronic cash register 50, which has the consequence of immediately taking the TPE 10 out of the standby state in a step E43. In other words, the TPE 10 goes from the standby state to the normal operating state in step E43. Immediately after the TPE 10 has exited the standby state, the central control unit 15 of the TPE 10 sends, in step E51 and to the BLE peripheral 11 of the TPE 10, a command message for refusing the BLE connection with the electronic cash register 50. In step E52, the BLE peripheral 11 of the TPE 10 receives the command message for refusing the BLE connection requesting it to reject the BLE connection established with the BLE peripheral 51 of the electronic cash register 50.Consequently, the Bluetooth peripheral 11 of the TPE 10 transmits, in a step Eei, a message to the electronic cash register informing the latter of the refusal by the TPE 10 of the requested BLE connection, a message that the electronic cash register 50 receives in step E62, as a result of which the BLE connection between the Bluetooth peripheral 51 of the electronic cash register 50 and the Bluetooth peripheral 11 of the TPE 10 is interrupted immediately.

[0118] In addition, Figure 3 schematically represents the steps of the method for exiting a standby state of the TPE 10, said steps being implemented by the TPE 10 initially occupying a standby state. More specifically, in step E32, the Bluetooth peripheral 11 of the TPE 10 receives a connection request sent by the electronic cash register 50, and a BLE connection is established between the Bluetooth peripheral 11 of the TPE 10 and the Bluetooth peripheral 51 of the electronic cash register 50. In step E41 performed immediately after the reception step E32, the BLE peripheral 11 of the TPE 10 transmits a message to the central control unit 15 of the TPE 10 informing it of the receipt of a Bluetooth connection request from the electronic cash register 50.During step E42, the central control unit 15 of the TPE 10 receives the message informing it of the receipt of a Bluetooth connection request from the electronic cash register 50, which has the consequence, in step E43, of immediately bringing the TPE 10 out of its standby state. Figure 4 schematically represents the steps of the method for controlling the exit from a standby state of the TPE 10, said steps being implemented by the electronic cash register 50. More precisely, in step E12, the electronic cash register 50 receives the BLE address of the TPE 10 via a USB link. Consequently, the electronic cash register 50 knows the address of the TPE 10 and is therefore capable of transmitting messages, and in particular a connection request, according to the BLE standard from its Bluetooth peripheral 51 to the Bluetooth peripheral 11 of the TPE 10.Thus, in step E31, the electronic cash register 50 issues a connection request to the EPT 10 in BLE. The issue of such a connection request is carried out after a payment by bank card is initialized at the electronic cash register 50. Finally, in step E62, the electronic cash register is informed of the refusal by the EPT 10 of the requested BLE connection, via a message that the electronic cash register 50 receives in step EB2 from the Bluetooth peripheral 11 of the EPT 10, following which the BLE connection between the Bluetooth peripheral 51 of the electronic cash register 50 and the Bluetooth peripheral 11 of the EPT 10 is interrupted immediately.

[0119] Finally, Figure 5 schematically represents the steps of the standby management method of the TPE 10, said steps being implemented by the TPE 10. More precisely, in step En, the central control unit 15 of the TPE 10 transmits, via the USB link 60, the Bluetooth address of the TPE 10 to the electronic cash register 50 which receives said address in a step E12. The transmission of the address of the TPE 10 to the electronic cash register 50 is therefore carried out by wire. In step E21 carried out just before the TPE goes into standby at step E23 following a period of inactivity of predefined duration, the central control unit 15 of the TPE 10 sends a command to the Bluetooth peripheral 11 of the TPE 10 so that the latter announces itself on the network by means of BLE advertising (“BLE advertising” according to the established English language terminology).In step E22, the Bluetooth peripheral 11 of the TPE 10 receives said command and starts to transmit BLE advertising messages while the TPE 10 is in the standby state. In step E32, the Bluetooth peripheral 11 of the TPE 10 receives the connection request sent by the electronic cash register 50 and a BLE connection is established between the Bluetooth peripheral 11 of the TPE 10 and the Bluetooth peripheral 51 of the electronic cash register 50. In step E41 carried out immediately after the reception step E32, the BLE peripheral 11 of the TPE 10 transmits a message to the central control unit 15 of the TPE 10 informing it of the reception of a Bluetooth connection request from the electronic cash register 50.

[0120] The central control unit 15 of the TPE 10 therefore receives, in step E42, the message informing it of the receipt of a Bluetooth connection request from the electronic cash register 50, which has the consequence of immediately taking the TPE 10 out of the standby state in a step E43. In other words, the TPE 10 goes from the standby state to the normal operating state in step E43. Immediately after the TPE 10 has exited the standby state, the central control unit 15 of the TPE 10 sends, in step E51 and to the BLE peripheral 11 of the TPE 10, a command message for refusing the BLE connection with the electronic cash register 50. In step E52, the BLE peripheral 11 of the TPE 10 receives the command message for refusing the BLE connection requesting it to reject the BLE connection established with the BLE peripheral 51 of the electronic cash register 50.Consequently, the Bluetooth peripheral 11 of the TPE 10 transmits, in a step Eei, a message to the electronic cash register informing the latter of the refusal by the TPE.

[0121] 10 of the requested BLE connection, as a result of which the BLE connection between the Bluetooth device 51 of the electronic cash register 50 and the Bluetooth device

[0122] 11 of TPE 10 is interrupted immediately.

[0123] Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments presented in the detailed description and in the figures, and other embodiments will become clear to those skilled in the art. In particular, the invention is not limited to the management of the monitoring of a TPE type communication terminal coupled to an electronic cash register, and other types of communication terminals, such as smart phones, tablets, laptops may advantageously apply the methods described above.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Method for exiting a standby state of a communication terminal (10) configured to occupy at least one standby state and comprising a Bluetooth peripheral (11) capable of communicating according to the low-energy Bluetooth protocol with a remote electronic device (50), the method comprising the following steps: - a step (E32) of receiving, at the Bluetooth peripheral (11) of the communication terminal (10), a request for connection to the communication terminal (10), said request being sent by the electronic device (50) according to the low-energy Bluetooth protocol; - a step of transmitting (E41), implemented by the Bluetooth peripheral (11), a message to a central control unit (15) of the communication terminal (10), said message comprising information according to which a connection request has been received at the Bluetooth peripheral (11); - a step (E42) of reception, by the central control unit (15), of the message comprising the information that a connection request has been received at the Bluetooth peripheral (11); - Following the reception step (E42), a step (E43) of exiting the standby state of the communication terminal (10). - a step (E51) of transmission, implemented by the central control unit (15) to the Bluetooth peripheral (11), of a message refusing the connection requested by the electronic device (50); - a step (E52) of receiving, at the Bluetooth peripheral (11), said refusal message; - a step (Eei), implemented by the Bluetooth peripheral (11), of sending a notification message of the refusal of the connection to the electronic device (50).

2. Method for exiting a standby state of a communication terminal (10) according to claim 1, in which the transmission of the connection refusal notification message, implemented by the Bluetooth peripheral (11) in step (Eei), causes the interruption of the connection between the Bluetooth peripheral (11) and the electronic device (50).

3. Method for managing the standby of a communication terminal (10) configured to occupy at least one standby state and comprising a Bluetooth peripheral (11) capable of communicating according to the low-energy Bluetooth protocol with a remote electronic device (50), the method comprising the following steps: - a step (E23) of switching the communication terminal (10) from a normal operating state to a standby state; - the steps of the method for exiting a standby state of the communication terminal (10) according to one of claims 1 to 2.

4. Method for managing the standby of a communication terminal (10) according to claim 3, which comprises, before the step (E23) of passing the communication terminal (10) from a normal operating state to a standby state, - a step (E21) of transmitting a control message, implemented by a central control unit (15) of the communication terminal (10) to the Bluetooth peripheral (11), aiming at the Bluetooth device (11) announcing itself on the BLE network by means of a BLE advertisement; - a step (E22) of receiving, at the Bluetooth peripheral (11), the control message; - Following step (E22), a step of starting a BLE advertisement implemented by the Bluetooth device (11).

5. Method for managing the standby of a communication terminal (10) according to one of claims 3 or 4, which comprises a step (En) of sending, implemented by the central control unit (15) to the electronic device (50), an identifier of the communication terminal (10).

6. Method for controlling the exit from a standby state of a communication terminal (10), the method being implemented by an electronic device (50) and comprising the following steps: - a step (E12) of receiving an identifier of the communication terminal (10); - a step (E31) of transmitting, to the communication terminal (10) occupying a standby state, a request for connection to the communication terminal (10), said request being transmitted according to the low-energy Bluetooth protocol; - a step (E62) of receiving, from the communication terminal (10), a connection refusal message.

7. Communication terminal (10) configured to implement the method for exiting a standby state according to one of claims 1 to 2 and / or configured to implement the standby management method according to one of claims 3 to 5.

8. Communication terminal (10) according to claim 7, which comprises an electronic payment terminal.

9. Electronic device (50) configured to implement the method of controlling the exit from a standby state according to claim 6.

10. The electronic device (50) of claim 9, which comprises an electronic cash register.

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