Mobile Payment via Product Image Capture and PIN Verification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing in-store purchasing methods, including traditional checkout counters and self-service terminals, are inefficient due to customer unfamiliarity with self-service systems, leading to longer wait times and increased labor costs for stores.
Innovation Solution
A mobile device-based payment system that allows users to take pictures of products or barcodes to identify items, generating a unique PIN code for transactions, which can be entered into a merchant's keypad or processed via a card reader, streamlining the payment process and reducing the need for physical checkout counters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If self-service customer checkout terminals are provided, then checkout speed and customer access are improved, but customer comfort and ease of use deteriorate due to unfamiliarity with the system
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables customers to perform checkout operations independently using their mobile devices. The customer points the device camera at products to automatically identify them, views the total cost on the device screen, and completes payment without requiring assistance from checkout personnel or interaction with complex self-service terminals.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical self-service checkout terminal system with a mobile device-based system. The customer's smartphone or tablet device performs all necessary functions including product scanning via camera, price verification, and payment processing, eliminating the need for dedicated hardware terminals and their associated complexity.
2Ease of operation
If contemporary checkout counters are used, then customer comfort is maintained, but wait time and line length increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts the checkout process from the traditional counter location and enables it to occur anywhere in the store. Customers can initiate and complete purchases by simply pointing their mobile device at products, eliminating the need to queue at designated checkout counters and reducing wait times significantly.
3Productivity
If self-service terminals are deployed, then labor requirements are reduced, but system complexity and customer training needs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the customer's existing mobile device, which already contains multiple functions (camera, processor, display, payment capabilities). This universal device performs all checkout operations without requiring specialized hardware or training, as the customer simply points the device at products and follows intuitive on-screen instructions.
Data Source
AI summary
An in-store mobile payment system and method can facilitate the use of a user's mobile device to facilitate payment for products purchased at a store. The user can take a picture of a product being purchased or can take a picture of a bar code for the product. The picture can be taken with the user's mobile device and can be used to identify the product. A payment provider can provide a unique PIN code for the transaction. The user can enter the PIN code into a keypad of the merchant and/or can swipe a card with a card reader of the merchant to complete the transaction. Thus, the user can avoid the inconvenience of waiting in line at a checkout counter and the merchant can reduce the store's overhead by eliminating at least some checkout counters and checkout clerks.