Pairing a payment object reader with a point-of-sale terminal

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11871237-B1
Application number	US-201615199388-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Jun 30, 2016
Priority date	Jun 30, 2016
Publication date	Jan 9, 2024
Grant date	Jan 9, 2024

Abstract

In some examples, a system and method for pairing a payment object reader with a point-of-sale (POS) terminal is described herein. The method includes determining, by a wireless transceiver, a first value of signal strength corresponding to a current position of the payment object reader and a second value of signal strength corresponding to a new position of the payment object reader. The POS terminal then identifies the first wireless device as an intended candidate for pairing with the second wireless device based on variation in signal strength from the first value of signal strength to the second value of signal strength. Accordingly, the POS terminal establishes a wireless communication channel between the POS terminal and the payment object reader device for exchange of information. Once paired, the payment object reader allows the POS terminal to accept payments from a customer.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for pairing a first wireless device with a second wireless device, the method comprising:
determining, by a wireless transceiver of the second wireless device, a first value of signal strength of a wireless signal of the first wireless device transmitted from a first location of the first wireless device, the first location of the first wireless device being proximate to a second location of the second wireless device;
causing, by a processor of the second wireless device, one or more visual cues to be output on a graphical user interface of the second wireless device, the one or more visual cues including instructions for a user to physically move the first wireless device in at least one direction to arrive at a third location, the third location being proximate to one or more of (i) the second location or (ii) a fourth location of a third wireless device;
determining, by the wireless transceiver of the second wireless device and based at least in part on monitoring the wireless signal of the first wireless device, a second value of signal strength of the wireless signal of the first wireless device transmitted from the third location of the first wireless device;
determining, by the processor of the second wireless device, a variation in signal strength between the first value and the second value;
identifying, by the processor of the second wireless device, the first wireless device for pairing with the second wireless device based on determining that the variation in signal strength from the first value of signal strength to the second value of signal strength indicates the first wireless device has moved in the at least one direction indicated by the instructions in the one or more visual cues; and
establishing, by the processor of the second wireless device, a wireless communication channel between the first wireless device and the second wireless device.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
configuring the first wireless device for pairing mode, wherein configuring includes receiving an indication of user engagement with a pairing button on the first wireless device; and
configuring the second wireless device for pairing mode, wherein the configuring of the second wireless device includes receiving an indication of an interaction with a mobile payment application on the second wireless device.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
detecting a plurality of wireless devices, including the first wireless device and the third wireless device, in proximity to the second wireless device;
generating, on the graphical user interface of the second wireless device and for presentation on the graphical user interface, a list of the plurality of wireless devices, including the first wireless device, wherein the list arranges the plurality of wireless devices in an order based on one or more of the proximity to the second wireless device, the first value of signal strength, or the second value of signal strength; and
re-arranging, based on the variation from the first value of signal strength to the second value of signal strength, the order of the plurality of wireless devices.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising tracking, by the processor of the second wireless device, a differential value of signal strength based at least on the first value of signal strength and the second value of signal strength, wherein the differential value of signal strength indicates movement of the first wireless device from the first location to the third location, with respect to the second wireless device; and
selecting, by the processor of the second wireless device, the first wireless device from the list of the plurality of wireless devices based at least in part on the differential value of signal strength.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first location corresponds to a current position of the first wireless device and the third location corresponds to a new position of the first wireless device, and wherein the method further comprises:
allocating, by the processor of the second wireless device, a time within which to move the first wireless device to the new position, wherein the new position is different from the current position;
receiving, by the second wireless device, an indication of user engagement in terms of movement of the first wireless device; and
receiving, by the second wireless device, confirmation that the first wireless device was moved in the at least one direction instructed by the one or more visual cues within the time, wherein the new position corresponds to the at least one direction in which the first wireless device was moved as instructed by the one or more visual cues.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:
determining that the first wireless device was either moved in a direction contrary to the instructions included in the one or more visual cues or not moved within the time; and
in response to the determination, re-starting the time and re-generating the visual cues for user engagement.

7. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:
generating one or more other visual cues to direct the user to position the first wireless device at a predetermined distance from the second wireless device, wherein the predetermined distance is determined based on a communication protocol of the wireless communication channel;
determining a third value of signal strength corresponding to the first wireless device when placed at the predetermined distance from the second wireless device;
comparing the third value of signal strength to a threshold value, wherein the threshold value is selected or calibrated based at least on hardware or software configuration of the second wireless device; and
if the third value of signal strength is greater than the threshold value, prioritizing the first wireless device over other wireless devices on the list.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying further comprises:
generating a request, for the first wireless device, for display of an optical representation of one or more pairing parameters;
capturing, by a sensor associated with the second wireless device, a sensor input of the optical representation of the one or more pairing parameters as displayed on the first wireless device in response to the request; and
in response to determining that the sensor input matches with the optical representation of the one or more pairing parameters, receiving, by the wireless transceiver, a permission from the first wireless device to establish the wireless communication channel between the first wireless device and the second wireless device for exchange of information.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
receiving an optical representation of a security token, wherein the optical representation of the security token is configured to be transmitted in one or more colors, brightness, lightness, or intensities through one or more light indicators;
capturing as one of a user input or another sensor input by the second wireless device, a second user input from the second wireless device; and
in response to determining that the second user input matches with the optical representation of the security token, receiving, by the wireless transceiver, another permission from the first wireless device to convert the wireless communication channel into a secure wireless communication channel.

10. A point-of-sale (POS) wireless device configured for pairing with a wireless payment object reader, the POS wireless device comprising one or more components storing one or more instructions that, when executed by a processor of the POS wireless device, cause the POS wireless device to:
determine,

Assignees

• Block Inc

Inventors

• Han Koun
• White Michael Wells
• Gilliam Robert Harrison

Classifications

• H04B17/318 Primary

  Received signal strength · CPC title

• H04W12/50 Primary

  Secure pairing of devices · CPC title

• 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

• G06Q20/327

  Short range or proximity payments by means of M-devices · CPC title

• G06Q20/3224

  Transactions dependent on location of M-devices · CPC title