POS Third-Party Payment Interface for Rapid Modality Deployment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing POS terminals require costly and time-consuming software or firmware updates to accommodate new payment modalities, hindering the deployment of third-party payment options.

Innovation Solution

Implementing an embedded controller with a processor, memory, network interface, and display for third-party payment provider integration, allowing authentication through consumer indicia like images or QR codes, and using a third-party payment provider display area that updates without modifying the terminal's instructions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If POS terminals are updated via software or firmware to accept new payment modalities, then new payment options are enabled, but the process is difficult and costly to implement

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepayment modality supportVSAvoidimplementation cost and complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

A third-party payment provider interface is introduced as an intermediary layer between the consumer's mobile device and the POS terminal. This interface handles all payment-specific operations, allowing the POS terminal to support new payment modalities without modifying its core software or firmware. The third-party provider acts as a mediator that translates between different payment systems and the terminal's existing capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The POS terminal is designed with a universal interface that can accommodate multiple payment modalities through a single third-party payment provider display area. Instead of requiring separate dedicated interfaces for each payment type, the system uses a unified approach where the same terminal hardware and base software can serve various payment purposes by dynamically loading different third-party interfaces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If POS terminals are updated via software or firmware to accept new payment modalities, then new payment options are enabled, but deployment is slowed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepayment modality supportVSAvoiddeployment time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The third-party payment provider interface is pre-configured and pre-tested before being deployed to the POS terminal. All payment processing logic, authentication mechanisms, and communication protocols are prepared in advance by the third-party provider, eliminating the need for time-consuming on-site configuration or testing when the terminal is updated.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

By using a third-party payment provider as an intermediary, the deployment process is simplified. The third-party provider manages all the complexity of integrating new payment modalities centrally, and the POS terminal simply needs to display the third-party interface and forward transaction data. This separation of concerns dramatically reduces the deployment time at individual terminals.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If third party payment provider display area is used, then new payment modalities are supported without modifying terminal instructions, but the terminal must communicate with external networks

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepayment modality supportVSAvoidnetwork communication requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The third-party payment provider serves as an intermediary that handles all complex network communication and payment processing. The POS terminal's role is simplified to displaying the third-party interface and exchanging basic transaction data. The third-party provider manages the complexity of communicating with various payment systems, authentication servers, and banking networks, shielding the terminal from these complexities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS12591867B2Systems and methods for third party payment at point of sale terminals

Publication Date: 2026.03.31 WORLDPAY LLC

AI summary

A point of sale terminal of a merchant includes a third party payment provider display area for payment using a third party payment provider. The point of sale terminal receives an authentication notification for a consumer from the third party payment provider. The consumer is authenticated using one or more of a personal identification number, an image of the consumer, a quick response code scanned from a mobile device of the consumer, or a code received via near field communications with the mobile device of the consumer. The point of sale terminal requests payment from the third party payment provider for a transaction with the consumer using the transaction amount and authentication information. The third party provider display area allows new payment modalities to be used at the point of sale terminal without requiring modification of the instructions for the point of sale terminal.