System, method, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media related to transactions using a mobile device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11568385-B2
Application number	US-201514880911-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 12, 2015
Priority date	Oct 12, 2015
Publication date	Jan 31, 2023
Grant date	Jan 31, 2023

Abstract

Techniques for related to retail transaction are disclosed. The techniques involve various uses of a mobile device, such as a cell phone, in authorizing payment for a retail transaction and/or receiving and/or transmitting data to/from the mobile device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system, comprising:
a communication device located relative to a retail environment, wherein:
the communication device is configured to wirelessly transmit a beacon signal;
the beacon signal comprises a retail environment code;
the retail environment code is associated with the retail environment; and
the retail environment comprises a delivery vehicle;

an electronic device located at the retail environment, the electronic device configured to receive an authorization code from a customer;
a database configured to:
store the retail environment code; and
store a customer account associated with the customer, the customer account comprising a stored method of payment and a stored authorization code comprising the authorization code from the customer;

a computer system in communication with the communication device, the electronic device, and the database, wherein the computer system is configured to process sales; and
a customer device associated with the customer and configured to:
receive the beacon signal; and
automatically transmit a customer device identification code in response to receiving the beacon signal, wherein:
the communication device is further configured to transmit the customer device identification code and the retail environment code to the computer system,
the computer system is further configured to:
(1) receive the retail environment code and the customer device identification code;
(2) associate the customer device identification code with the retail environment;
(3) receive a customer order;
(4) allow the customer to enter an entered authorization code on the electronic device; and
(5) authorize payment for the customer order utilizing the stored method of payment when:
 (a) the entered authorization code matches the stored authorization code; and
 (b) the customer device identification code is associated with the retail environment.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the retail environment further comprises a physical store.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the retail environment further comprises a plurality of communication devices, each communication device of the plurality of communication devices configured to wirelessly transmit the beacon signal.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the communication device wirelessly transmits the beacon signal using at least one of: Bluetooth Low Energy, near field communications (NFC), or a wireless local area network.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the computer system further comprises:
a computer located at the retail environment; and
a server in communication with the computer via a computer network.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the electronic device comprises a keypad coupled to the computer.

7. The system of claim 5 , wherein the electronic device comprises a mobile device carried by the customer.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the customer device comprises a mobile device carried by the customer.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein:
the stored authorization code is associated with the mobile device carried by the customer; and
the computer system is further configured to request entry of a second authorization code after entry of the entered authorization code when the entered authorization code is associated with more than one mobile device associated with the retail environment at a same time.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein:
the mobile device comprises a cell phone; and
the second authorization code comprises a telephone number associated with the cell phone.

11. A method, including steps of:
wirelessly transmitting a beacon signal, via a communication device located relative to a retail environment, wherein:
the beacon signal comprises a retail environment code;
the retail environment code is associated with the retail environment; and
the retail environment comprises a delivery vehicle;

storing the retail environment code in a database;
storing, in the database, a customer account associated with a customer, the customer account comprising a stored method of payment and a stored authorization code;
receiving, by the communication device, a customer device identification code, the customer device identification code sent from a customer device in response to receiving the beacon signal;
wirelessly transmitting, by the communication device, the customer device identification code and the retail environment code to a computer system, the computer system configured to process sales;
receiving, at the computer system, the retail environment code and the customer device identification code;
retrieving, from the database, the retail environment associated with the retail environment code;
associating the customer device identification code with the retail environment in response to receiving the retail environment code and the customer device identification code;
receiving a customer order;
allowing the customer to enter an entered authorization code on an electronic device at the retail environment; and
authorizing payment for the customer order utilizing the stored method of payment when:
(a) the entered authorization code matches the stored authorization code; and
(b) the customer device identification code is associated with the retail environment.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the retail environment further comprises a physical store.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the retail environment further comprises a plurality of communication devices, each communication device of the plurality of communication devices configured to wirelessly transmit the beacon signal.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the communication device transmits the beacon signal using at least one of: Bluetooth Low Energy, near field communications (NFC), or a wireless local area network.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the computer system comprises:
a computer located at the retail environment; and
a server in communication with the computer via a computer network.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the electronic device comprises a keypad coupled to the computer.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the electronic device comprises a mobile device carried by the customer.

18. The method of claim 11 , wherein the customer device comprises a mobile device carried by the customer.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein:
the stored authorization code is associated with the mobile device carried by the customer; and
the method further comprises:
requesting entry of a second authorization code after entry of the entered authorization code when the entered authorization code is associated with more than one mobile device associated with the retail environment at a same time.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein:
the mobile device comprises a cell phone; and
the second authorization code comprises a telephone number associated with the cell phone.

21. One or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon, wherein, when executed by at least one processor, the computer-executable instructions cause the at least one processor to:
wirelessly transmit a beacon signal via a communication device located relative to a retail environment, wherein:
the beacon signal comprises a retail environment code;
the retail environment code is associated with the retail environment; and
the retail environment comprises a delivery vehicle;

store the retail envir

Assignees

• Walmart Apollo Llc

Inventors

• Nelms David Martin
• Kieffer Bradley Joseph
• Matthews Mark
• Daniyalzade Eytan
• Atikoglu Berk

Classifications

• G06Q20/202

  Interconnection or interaction of plural electronic cash registers [ECR] or to host computer, e.g. network details, transfer of information from host to ECR or from ECR to ECR · CPC title

• G06Q20/3278 Primary

  RFID or NFC payments by means of M-devices · CPC title

• G06Q20/3224

  Transactions dependent on location of M-devices · CPC title

• G06Q20/4014

  Identity check for transactions · CPC title

• G06Q20/322

  Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices] · CPC title