Square, Inc.

Block, Inc.

Michael Wells White

Christopher Lang Mocko

Koun Han

David Terra

Mathew Wilson

Christopher Philip Renke

Eric Dickeson Muller

Zhimin Ren

Hsuan-Yu (Jerry) Lin

Afshin Rezayee

Andrew John Leiserson

Malcolm Smith

Martin Mroz

Jianliang Zhao

Paul Abraham Botros

Jason Holmes

Charles Nicholson

Sergei Mosends

Bruce Bell

Max Joseph Guise

Grace Huey Chen

Michael Dahn

Robert Harrison Gilliam

Thomas Templeton

Jared Travis Marr

John Joseph LaBanca, Jr

Ovidiu I Bota

Kyle Van Essen

Ovidiu Bota

Systems and methods for pairing a payment object reader with a computing device are described. An example method includes detecting, by a computing device and while in a pairing mode, a plurality of payment object readers. Each of the plurality of payment object readers is configurable to be paired wirelessly with the computing device. Each of the plurality of payment object readers outputs a signal strength representative of a location of the payment object reader relative to the computing device. The computing device tracks respective signal strengths of the plurality of payment object readers over time. Based on a determination that a change in a signal strength of a particular payment object reader of the plurality of payment object readers represents movement of the particular payment object reader relative to the computing device, a wireless communication channel is established between the particular payment object reader and the computing device.

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

A payment terminal includes multiple chips that perform different processing functions within the payment terminal. A terminal chip performs general functionality of the payment terminal while a transaction chip communicates with payment devices such as chip cards and NFC payment devices and processes payment information. The transaction chip may operate in a low power during which communications and processing are limited, and a transaction processing mode in which transactions may be processed. The transaction chip may transfer between these modes based on wake-up messages provided by other devices or circuitry of the payment terminal.

Preliminary enablement of transaction processing circuitry

A wireless communication device such as a payment reader has a wireless communication interface and is able to establish wireless pairing with an interactive electronic device such as a merchant device running a point of sale application. In order to establish pairing, the wireless communication device accesses an identifier. The identifier is transmitted to the interactive electronic device via the wireless communication interface, and the interactive electronic device sends the identifier to a pairing server. The pairing server retrieves a passkey based on the identifier and sends the retrieved passkey to the interactive electronic device via a secure connection. The wireless communication device and the interactive electronic device establish wireless pairing based on the retrieved passkey.

Server-assisted pairing for wireless communications

Techniques and arrangements for capturing payments in cases involving a failed authorization. In some instances, a point-of-sale (POS) device may process a transaction while operating in an offline mode, and then send information regarding the transaction to a remote service after transitioning to an online mode. The remote service may attempt to authorize a payment instrument tendered to satisfy a cost of the transaction. In instances in which the payment instrument is declined, one or multiple payment-capture techniques may be utilized to capture a payment that satisfies at least a portion of the cost of the transaction.

Intelligent payment capture in failed authorization requests

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.

Examples, methods and systems described herein may include determining, by a payment processing system, whether a second payment mechanism may be used to perform a payment transaction when a first payment mechanism is preferred and/or when the first payment mechanism has failed. Determining to use the second payment mechanism can be based on (i) an analysis of a communication status indicator received from a point-of-sale (POS) terminal that indicates which payment mechanisms are capable of communicating with the POS terminal, (ii) data received from the POS terminal that is associated with a read of a payment object, and/or (iii) an allowance criterion.

Technical fallback infrastructure

A payment handling system may operate to handle payments for the cost of a transaction in which one or more devices operate in an offline mode. The payment handling system may allow for merchant devices to make modifications to local versions of an open ticket while in an off-line mode. When a merchant device subsequently enters an online mode, the systems and techniques may operate to reconcile differences between the local versions of the open ticket.

Open ticket payment handling with offline mode

In some examples, a system and method for pairing a payment object reader with a point-of-sale (POS) terminal is described herein. The payment object reader includes one or more light indicators configured to display information in an optical pattern of one or more colors, brightness, lightness, and intensities, wherein the light indicators display a first optical pattern representative of an operational status of the payment object reader in a first mode, and a second optical pattern representative of a pairing code in a second mode. A display control component, executed by a processor, is configured to control the light indicators in accordance with the pairing code to generate the second optical pattern, the second optical pattern when shared with the POS terminal enables pairing between the payment object reader and the POS terminal. When paired, the payment object reader allows the POS terminal to accept payments from a customer.

A wireless communication device such as a payment reader has a wireless communication interface and is able to establish wireless pairing with an interactive electronic device such as a merchant device running a point of sale application. In order to establish pairing, the wireless communication device accesses a passkey and encrypts the passkey. The encrypted passkey is transmitted to the interactive electronic device via the wireless communication interface, and the interactive electronic device sends the encrypted passkey to a pairing server. The pairing server decrypts the encrypted passkey and sends the decrypted passkey back to the interactive electronic device via a secure connection. The wireless communication device and the interactive electronic device establish wireless pairing based on the passkey and the decrypted passkey.

A payment handling system may operate to handle payments for the cost of an open ticket transaction in which incremental authorization operations are performed. The payment handling system may receive items to add to the open ticket, payment instruments for paying the cost of the open ticket or adjustments to any bill splitting arrangement throughout the life of the open ticket. As items are added, payment instruments are received, and/or adjustments are input, the amount allocated to the one or more payments instruments may be updated. Incremental authorization values may be determined for some or all of the payment instruments. When the amount allocated to a payment instrument exceeds the incremental authorization value, an authorization of the instrument is attempted and a new authorization value is determined. At the end of the interaction, the open ticket is closed and payment is executed.

Open ticket payment handling with bill splitting

A payment terminal may run a point-of-sale application that is operated by a user such as a merchant. At a certain point in the transaction, but prior to the completion of the transaction, pre-charge requests may be sent to a chip card. The responses from the chip card may be stored such that the transaction may be completed immediately after the merchant and customer complete the transaction steps.

Preliminary acquisition of payment information

In some examples, a merchant device at a point of sale (POS) location may present information to a merchant in a first language preferred by the merchant, and may present information to a buyer in a second language preferred by the buyer. The merchant device may switch between the different languages in response to detecting a change in the physical orientation of a display. For instance, in a first orientation in which the display is viewable from a merchant direction, the merchant device may present information in the language preferred by the merchant. When the orientation of the display is changed to a second orientation in which the display is viewable from a buyer direction, the merchant device may present information in the language indicated to be preferred by the buyer. Various techniques may be used for determining the preferred language of a particular buyer.

Growing community of inventors

San Francisco, CA, United States of America

Michael Wells White