Mobile Device Point-of-Sale Identifier Reading via RFID

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current point-of-sale systems require costly hardware and software upgrades to support contactless or NFC transactions, making it expensive for merchants to adopt mobile payment technologies.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that uses a mobile device to read an identifier from a point-of-sale device via RFID or barcode, allowing the mobile device to initiate transactions over a wireless wide area network, eliminating the need for costly hardware upgrades by using existing wireless technology to verify and process payments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If NFC readers are installed at point-of-sale devices to enable contactless transactions, then mobile payment capability is improved, but hardware cost increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemobile payment capabilityVSAvoidhardware cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a visual copy (barcode or RFID tag image) of the point-of-sale device identifier instead of requiring a physical NFC reader. The mobile device captures this visual copy through its camera or display, processes it to extract the device identifier, and uses it to initiate the transaction. This replaces the expensive NFC hardware reader with a software-based solution using existing mobile device capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical/electromagnetic NFC reader hardware with an optical system. Instead of using magnetic fields and NFC antennas, the solution uses visual display of barcodes or RFID tag images that are captured by the mobile device's camera or display screen, converting the interaction from electromagnetic to optical domain.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Adaptability or versatility

If additional NFC hardware is deployed across all point-of-sale devices, then contactless transaction support is improved, but deployment complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontactless transaction supportVSAvoiddeployment cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the mobile device universal by using its existing display screen or camera to serve multiple functions: displaying the barcode for scanning, capturing the RFID tag image, and potentially displaying the point-of-sale interface. This eliminates the need for device-specific hardware additions at each point-of-sale location, as the mobile device itself becomes the versatile interface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The point-of-sale device serves itself by displaying its own identifier (barcode or RFID tag image) that the mobile device can read. The system uses the existing display capabilities of the point-of-sale device to provide the identification function, eliminating the need for separate identification hardware or complex installation procedures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If NFC readers are integrated into point-of-sale systems, then mobile payment processing is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemobile payment processingVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the core identification function from the complex NFC hardware ecosystem and isolates it into a simple visual identifier (barcode or RFID tag image) displayed on the point-of-sale device. This extracted identifier can be read by any mobile device with a camera or display, eliminating the need for complex NFC reader integration while maintaining the essential payment initiation capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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

Enables mobile payments without requiring merchants to invest in additional hardware, reducing costs and simplifying the adoption of contactless transaction technologies by using mobile devices to read identifiers and process payments through a wireless network.

Implementation Method 1

the mobile device reads an identifier from the point-of-sale device through wireless technology such as RFID

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRFID (Radio Frequency Identification): Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

via a bar code on the point-of-sale device that the mobile device's camera can read

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBarcode optical detection: Photography

Data Source

PatentUS8955747B2Devices, systems and methods for wireless point-of-sale

Publication Date: 2015.02.17 AT&T MOBILITY II LLC

AI summary

Devices, systems and methods are disclosed which relate to executing a transaction at a point-of-sale device using a mobile device. In exemplary embodiments the mobile device reads an identifier from the point-of-sale device through wireless technology such as RFID. The identifier is an IP address, serial number, telephone number, etc. The mobile device prompts the user to input the amount of the sale, a payment method, and an authorization code. Once input, the mobile device sends the information along with the identifier to a payment server which verifies the information. Once verified, the payment server notifies the point-of-sale device that the amount has been transferred. The point-of-sale device prints a receipt for the customer or sends it back through the network to the mobile device.