Transaction Handoff via Token Gateway for POS Bottlenecks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current electronic point-of-sale systems in retail establishments often create bottlenecks during the payment process, requiring guests to handle devices that may be unclean and inconvenient, and lack private options for tipping and feedback.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that enables transaction handoff from a point-of-sale terminal to a guest's smart device, using a server and gateway device for communication, allowing guests to complete transactions on their own devices, thereby eliminating the need to handle the POS terminal and providing a private and clean method for tipping and feedback.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a staff member presents an electronic POS terminal to a guest for payment, then the transaction can be processed electronically with accurate pricing and automated payment, but the staff member must wait for the guest to complete the transaction on the device, creating a service bottleneck and awkward hovering behavior
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the transaction completion function from the staff-controlled POS terminal and transfers it to the guest's personal mobile device. The POS terminal generates a transaction token that is sent to the guest's device via a gateway, allowing the guest to complete payment independently without staff waiting or hovering.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables guests to self-complete transactions on their own mobile devices. The guest receives a notification with a transaction token, enters payment details, and completes the transaction autonomously, eliminating the need for staff to wait or assist with the payment step.
2Productivity
If a guest uses an electronic POS terminal for payment, then automated payment processing is achieved, but the guest must handle a device that may have been touched by many previous guests, creating cleanliness concerns
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the need for guests to physically handle the POS terminal by extracting the transaction authorization function and transferring it to the guest's personal mobile device. The POS terminal only generates and transmits a transaction token, while the guest completes payment on their own clean device.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces a transaction token as an intermediary between the POS terminal and the guest's payment. The token is transmitted through a gateway device to the guest's mobile device, serving as a secure placeholder that eliminates direct physical contact between the guest and the POS terminal.
3Extent of automation
If a guest completes a transaction on a shared POS terminal, then electronic signature and tip allocation are automated, but the guest lacks privacy when providing feedback and tipping decisions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the sensitive transaction completion steps (tip allocation, electronic signature, feedback provision) from the shared POS terminal environment and relocates them to the guest's private mobile device, where the guest can complete these actions in privacy.
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile device acts as a private intermediary between the guest and the transaction system. The guest interacts with the transaction token and provides sensitive information on their own device rather than at a public POS terminal, maintaining privacy while still achieving automated transaction completion.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for handoff of a transaction for completion is provided, the system having a point-of-sale terminal and a server. The point-of-sale terminal is configured to employ a token with the server to perform the handoff of the transaction for completion on a guest device, where communications between the point-of-sale terminal and the server are transmitted and received through a gateway device that is collocated with the point-of-sale terminal. The server is configured to transmit details of the transaction for display on the guest device, and is configured to receive transaction completion data provided by the guest device, and is configured to notify the guest device and the point-of-sale terminal that the transaction is complete, where the server is not collocated with the point-of-sale terminal.