US-12620006-B2 - Multi-mode point-of-sale device

Abstract

In an embodiment, methods for managing a point of sale (POS) device are provided. Inventory information may be transmitted to the POS device. The inventory information may be associated with the physical location of the merchant. An application may be pre-loaded on the POS device. The application controls a plurality of functions that are allowed to be performed at the POS device. The application may be updated to control a new function that is allowed to be performed at the POS device. A configuration right may be provided to a merchant server. The configuration right may determine an operation that the merchant is permitted to perform to control the POS device.

Inventors

• Ranil Ignatius FERNANDO
• Kenneth North
• Jeffrey Haller
• Chatura Chamika DISSANAYAKE
• Mohammad FAREEDUDDIN
• Susan SWEI
• Ragini Rajendra PRASAD

Assignees

• ELO TOUCH SOLUTIONS, INC.

Dates

Publication Date

20260505

Application Date

20230417

Claims (20)

1. 1 . A backend system for controlling a POS device linked to a physical location of a merchant, the backend system comprising: a merchant server configured to: transmit inventory information to the POS device, wherein the inventory information is associated with the physical location of the merchant; receive a status-based notification from the POS device; and transmit, based on receipt of the status-based notification, a push notification to a management module, wherein the push notification comprises an option for transmitting a command to the POS device, wherein the command disables the POS device, and wherein the command is determined based on the status-based notification; and the management module in communication with the merchant server, the management module configured to: pre-load an application on the POS device, wherein the application is configured to control a plurality of functions that are allowed to be performed at the POS device; update the application on the POS device, wherein the updated application is configured to control a new function, different from the plurality of functions, that is allowed to be performed at the POS device, wherein a function of the plurality of functions comprises transmitting the status-based notification; receive, from the merchant server, the push notification comprising the option for transmitting the command to the POS device; transmit, to the merchant server and responsive to receiving the push notification, a selection of the option for transmitting the command to the POS device, wherein the merchant server is further configured to transmit the command to the POS device responsive to receiving the selection from the management module; and provide, based on the transmission of the selection of the option, a configuration right to the merchant server, wherein the configuration right permits the merchant server to disable the POS device.
2. 2 . The backend system of claim 1 , wherein the management module is remote from the POS device.
3. 3 . The backend system of claim 1 , wherein the configuration right allows the merchant to control the POS device through the management module.
4. 4 . The backend system of claim 1 , wherein the merchant server is further configured to: receive the inventory information from the merchant, and store the inventory information in a database.
5. 5 . The backend system of claim 1 , wherein the management module is further configured to: receive the inventory information from the merchant, and store the inventory information in a database.
6. 6 . The backend system of claim 1 , wherein the merchant server is further configured to: receive a request from a workstation controlled by a primary user associated with the merchant, wherein the workstation is separate from the POS device, and wherein the request comprises at least one of an inventory update command, an alert command, or a POS operation command.
7. 7 . The backend system of claim 1 , wherein the merchant server is further configured to: transmit the inventory information to a second POS device, wherein the second POS device is linked to the physical location of the merchant.
8. 8 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions, wherein the instructions, when executed by at least one processor of a backend POS system, cause the at least one processor to perform operations comprising: transmitting inventory information to a POS device, wherein the inventory information is associated with a physical location of a merchant; receiving a status-based notification from the POS device; transmitting based on receipt of the status-based notification, a push notification, wherein the push notification comprises an option for transmitting a command to the POS device, wherein the command disables the POS device, and wherein the command is determined based on the status-based notification; pre-loading an application on the POS device, wherein the application is configured to control a plurality of functions that are allowed to be performed at the POS device; updating the application on the POS device, wherein the updated application is configured to control a new function, different from the plurality of functions, that is allowed to be performed at the POS device, wherein a function of the plurality of functions comprises transmitting the status-based notification; receiving the push notification comprising the option for transmitting a command to the POS device; transmitting, responsive to receiving the push notification, a selection of the option for transmitting the command to the POS device; and providing, based on the transmitting the selection of the option, a configuration right, wherein the configuration right permits disabling of the POS device.
9. 9 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the backend POS system includes a management module remote from the POS device.
10. 10 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the configuration right allows the merchant to control the POS device through the management module.
11. 11 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8 , the operations further comprising: receiving the inventory information; and storing the inventory information in a database.
12. 12 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8 , the operations further comprising: transmitting the inventory information to a second POS device, wherein the second POS device is linked to the physical location of the merchant.
13. 13 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8 , the operations further comprising: receiving a request from a workstation controlled by a primary user associated with the merchant, wherein the workstation is separate from the POS device, and wherein the request comprises at least one of an inventory update command, an alert command, or a POS operation command.
14. 14 . A method for controlling a POS device linked to a physical location of a merchant, the method comprising: transmitting, by a merchant server, inventory information to the POS device, wherein the inventory information is associated with the physical location of the merchant, and wherein the merchant server is in communication with a management module; receiving, by the merchant server, a status-based notification from the POS device; transmitting, by the merchant server, based on receipt of the status-based notification, a push notification to the management module, wherein the push notification comprises an option for transmitting a command to the POS device, wherein the command disables the POS device, and wherein the command is determined based on the status-based notification; pre-loading, by the management module, an application on the POS device, wherein the application is configured to control a plurality of functions that are allowed to be performed at the POS device; updating, by the management module, the application on the POS device, wherein the updated application is configured to control a new function, different from the plurality of functions, that is allowed to be performed at the POS device, wherein a function of the plurality of functions comprises transmitting the status-based notification; receiving, by the management module, the push notification; transmitting, by the management module, a selection of the option for transmitting the command to the POS device to the merchant server, wherein the merchant server is further configured to transmit the command to the POS device responsive to receiving the selection from the management module; and providing, by the management module and based on the transmission of the selection of the option, a configuration right to the merchant server, wherein the configuration right permits the merchant server to disable the POS device.
15. 15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the management module is remote from the POS device.
16. 16 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the configuration right allows the merchant to control the POS device through the management module.
17. 17 . The method of claim 14 , wherein transmitting an inventory information to the POS device further comprises: receiving the inventory information from the merchant server; and storing the inventory information in a database.
18. 18 . The method of claim 14 , wherein communicating with the merchant server further comprises: receiving the inventory information from the merchant, and storing the inventory information in a database.
19. 19 . The backend system of claim 1 , wherein the transmission between the merchant server and the POS device uses cloud-based services.
20. 20 . The backend system of claim 1 , wherein the POS device is configured to transmit status-based notifications based on triggering of a predetermined event.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation of U.S. Nonprovisional Ser. No. 16/895,728, filed Jun. 8, 2020, titled “MULTI-MODE POINT-OF-SALE DEVICE,” which is a continuation of U.S. Nonprovisional patent application Ser. No. 15/606,918, filed May 26, 2017, titled “MULTI-MODE POINT-OF-SALE DEVICE” and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 10,679,254, which is a continuation of U.S. Nonprovisional patent application Ser. No. 14/152,643, filed Jan. 10, 2014, titled “MULTI-MODE POINT-OF-SALE DEVICE” and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,665,861, the contents of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. BACKGROUND Background Point-of-sale devices, such as cash registers, rely on physically connecting several different components to provide sufficient connectivity and functionality for customer transaction needs. For example, in recent years it has become popular to connect various peripherals to tablet computers to enable point-of-sale transactions with the tablet computers. This arrangement requires a user to purchase not only the tablet computer and related software, but also several peripherals, such as magnetic stripe terminals, barcode scanners, network connectivity, cash drawers, receipt printers, etc., at significant additional cost and inconvenience. This arrangement also requires the user to configure the tablet computer and/or the peripherals for use with each other, often a time-consuming, frustrating and difficult task, particularly for users without a technical background. Older, more self-contained cash registers did not offer the types of functionality, connectivity, software, interface components, etc. necessary in the commercial environment existing today and into the future. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying drawings are incorporated herein and form a part of the specification. FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a cloud-based point-of-sale system, according to an example embodiment. FIG. 2A illustrates a front view of a multi-mode point-of-sale device, according to an example embodiment. FIG. 2B illustrates a rear view of a multi-mode point-of-sale device, according to an example embodiment. FIG. 3 illustrates internal components of a multi-mode point-of-sale device, according to an example embodiment. FIG. 4 illustrates a block diagram of internal components of a multi-mode point-of-sale device, according to an example embodiment. FIG. 5 illustrates an internal configuration of a closed-drawer detection mechanism, according to an example embodiment. FIG. 6 illustrates an internal configuration of a closed-drawer detection mechanism, according to an example embodiment. FIG. 7 illustrates different configuration modes of a multi-mode point-of-sale device, according to an example embodiment. FIG. 8 illustrates a flowchart illustrating a process for switching between a first interface and a second interface of a multi-mode point-of-sale device, according to an example embodiment. FIG. 9 illustrates a flowchart illustrating a process for maintaining touch performance of a touch screen, according to an example embodiment. FIG. 10 illustrates a block diagram of a server system, according to an example embodiment. FIG. 11 illustrates a diagram of an exemplary system architecture, according to an embodiment. FIG. 12 illustrates an example functional block diagram of an exemplary web server, according to an embodiment. FIG. 13 illustrates an example functional block diagram of an exemplary point of service (POS) device, according to an embodiment. FIG. 14 illustrates an example functional block diagram of an exemplary interface between to peripherals of a POS device, according to an embodiment. FIG. 15 illustrates an example functional block diagram of an exemplary mobile device, according to an embodiment. FIG. 16 illustrates a flowchart providing example steps for setting up a POS device, according to an embodiment. FIG. 17 illustrates a flowchart providing example steps for managing a transaction from a POS device, according to an embodiment. FIGS. 18-20 illustrate exemplary screenshots of a POS touch screen, according to an embodiment. FIG. 21 illustrates an exemplary operation according to an example NFC (near field communication) embodiment. FIG. 22 illustrates a flowchart providing example steps for adding a store for a merchant, according to an embodiment. FIG. 23 illustrates a flowchart providing example steps for adding a POS device for a merchant, according to an embodiment. FIG. 24 illustrates a flowchart providing example steps for managing inventory and/or POS device(s), according to an embodiment. FIG. 25 illustrates an exemplary screenshot of a workstation, according to an embodiment. FIG. 26 illustrates a diagram of an exemplary advertising environment, according to an embodiment. FIG. 27 illustrates a flowchart providing example steps for providing advertisements, according to an embodiment. FIG. 28 illustrates a flowchart providi