POS Terminal Barcode Scanner Mobile Payment Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing point-of-sale systems face challenges in facilitating mobile payments without requiring changes to the terminal, merchant-acquirer payment processors, or existing portable devices, and they struggle with securely processing financial information using barcode scanners.
Innovation Solution
A point-of-sale terminal system that uses a peripheral device, such as a barcode scanner or wireless receiver, to obtain a one-time payment credential token from a portable electronic device, which includes financial information, and interacts with a service object to perform transactions with a financial institution, leveraging the UPOS standard for integration and security.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a barcode scanner is used to capture payment information from a portable electronic device, then the payment process becomes simpler and more compatible with existing terminals, but the security of financial information processing is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by generating a one-time payment credential token before the actual payment transaction. This token is created in advance based on the customer's account information and is valid only for a single transaction, thereby preparing the secure payment credential beforehand without exposing the actual financial information during the scanning process
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a disposable one-time payment credential token that is generated for each transaction and becomes invalid after use. This transient credential serves as a cheap, single-use substitute for permanent financial information, allowing the barcode scanner to process payment data without compromising the customer's actual account details
2Ease of manufacture
If existing point-of-sale terminals are used without modification, then infrastructure cost is reduced, but the ability to securely process mobile payments is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the existing barcode scanner universal by enabling it to serve dual purposes: its original function for scanning product barcodes and a new function for capturing payment information from portable electronic devices. The service object layer allows the same hardware to process both types of input without modification, eliminating the need for dedicated payment terminals
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a service object as an intermediary software layer between the barcode scanner hardware and the payment processing system. This service object acts as a mediator that translates the barcode scanner's input into appropriate payment processing actions, enabling existing terminals to handle mobile payments without physical modification while maintaining security through software-based credential validation
3Adaptability or versatility
If financial information is transmitted to a third party before the financial institution, then additional processing steps are enabled, but the transaction complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the payment processing into distinct functional layers: the service object layer handles communication with third parties and token generation, while the core payment processing layer handles financial institution communication. This segmentation allows optional third-party involvement without complicating the essential payment flow, as each layer operates independently with well-defined interfaces
Data Source
AI summary
During a financial transaction, a customer provides an identifier to a peripheral device (which may be a barcode scanner, a wireless receiver or a keyboard) coupled to the point-of-sale terminal. This identifier corresponds to a one-time payment credential token that includes financial information of the customer. Then, a service object executing on the point-of-sale terminal, which acts as a driver for the peripheral device, performs one or more operations based on at least the identifier to obtain the financial information. After providing the financial information and transaction information associated with the financial transaction to a financial institution specified in the financial information, the point-of-sale terminal receives a confirmation from the financial institution that the financial transaction has been completed.