Portable IoT Box for App-Free Mobile Payment and Charging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current mobile payment systems for self-checkout require users to download store-specific apps, involve additional customer actions, and lack efficient verification, leading to inefficiencies and increased staff requirements, while also causing 'battery anxiety' due to depleted device charges, which negatively impacts in-store purchases.
Innovation Solution
A portable IoT box system that enables self-checkout with cashless and cardless payments using existing Bluetooth or BLE architectures, allowing for app-free transactions across various payment systems, integrated with NFC, camera, and scanner capabilities, and includes a handheld charging device with versatile charging options to address battery anxiety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If users download store-specific apps on their mobile devices for mobile payment, then payment functionality is enabled, but user convenience decreases and privacy concerns increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a store server as an intermediary between the retail establishment and the user's mobile device. The server hosts the store app and communicates with the device via Bluetooth or BLE, enabling payment functionality without requiring the user to download the app locally. This mediator approach resolves the contradiction by providing adaptability through server-side hosting while maintaining ease of operation through automatic background communication.
2Reliability
If manual verification and scanning processes are implemented at checkout, then payment verification is achieved, but checkout time increases and staff requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service verification where the user's mobile device automatically communicates with the store server via Bluetooth/BLE to verify payment status and item scanning. The device autonomously performs verification without requiring manual staff intervention or additional customer actions, thus maintaining reliability while reducing checkout time and eliminating the need for additional control staff.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical scanning and verification processes with wireless Bluetooth/BLE communication between the mobile device and store server. This substitution eliminates the need for physical scanning at checkout stations and manual verification by staff, maintaining payment verification reliability while dramatically reducing checkout time and removing the need for additional staff.
3Ease of operation
If customers use mobile devices during shopping, then shopping convenience is improved, but battery depletion occurs causing customers to leave the store prematurely
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by automatically initiating app launches and payment processes through Bluetooth/BLE communication without requiring continuous user interaction or heavy mobile device processing. This reduces power consumption during shopping, allowing customers to maintain device charge longer while still enjoying improved shopping convenience through automated features.
4Ease of operation
If Bluetooth or BLE architectures are used for communication, then device compatibility and ease of operation are improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic Bluetooth/BLE communication rather than continuous connection. The mobile device and store server exchange data at specific intervals and only when needed (e.g., during item scanning, payment initiation, or verification). This periodic action maintains device compatibility and ease of operation while significantly reducing overall energy consumption compared to continuous communication.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Facilitates convenient, fast, and efficient self-checkout processes without additional app downloads or staff, reducing losses and increasing in-store purchase duration by eliminating the need for manual actions and providing seamless product scanning and payment through a unified digital experience.
Implementation Method 1
a portable electronic device may include a near field communication (NFC) interface for retrieving payment information
Implementation Method 2
camera, and scanner, for retrieving article information
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for conducting sales transactions are provided. Embodiments include portable, electronic, point of purchase devices configured to acquire identification information from articles to be purchased, to determine a purchase price, and to acquire payment information for the purchase price. The point of purchase devices may include one or more input devices such as a communication device, a camera, a scanner, and a sensor system for acquiring identification information and/or the payment information. The point of purchase devices also may contain an electronic display, communication interfaces (such as a near field communication interface, a local area network interface, Bluetooth® configurations, etc.) for transmitting and/or receiving information to/from connectable devices such as a mobile phone, BLE beacon and/or an external server. Additional provision is made for an embodiment that avoids battery depletion anxiety by shoppers, through the provision of a handheld portable charging point device.