US-12626240-B2 - Wireless proximity facilitated mobile transactions

US12626240B2US 12626240 B2US12626240 B2US 12626240B2US-12626240-B2

Abstract

Computing systems and methods for facilitating mobile transactions are disclosed. An example method includes: detecting, via a hardware communication interface, a user check-in request based at least on a communication exchange between a user device and a signaling device at a location. The communication exchange corresponds to a proximity of the user device to the signaling device. The method further includes: determining a user identifier associated with the user device based at least on the user check-in request; and transmitting one or more promotional items to the user device based at least on the user identifier.

Inventors

Satish Narayan GOVINDARAJAN
John Hastings Granbery

Assignees

PAYPAL, INC.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20240103

Claims (20)

1 . A system comprising: a non-transitory memory; and one or more hardware processors coupled to the non-transitory memory and configured to execute instructions to cause the system to: receive a handshake request from a mobile device with a wireless device communicatively coupled to the system, wherein the handshake request is responsive to a first wireless signal broadcasted by the wireless device for a wireless pairing; process the handshake request for the wireless pairing with the mobile device; authorize, based on processing the handshake request, one or more uses of a user account associated with the mobile device at a location associated with the wireless device, wherein the user account is provided by a service provider in communication with the system for processing of a transaction with the mobile device at the location; broadcast, via one of the wireless device or a secondary wireless device communicatively coupled to the system, a second wireless signal in a first proximity range to a point of sale (POS) device within the location, wherein the second wireless signal enables the POS device to detect the mobile device based on at least the handshake request processed; detect the mobile device in the first proximity range to the POS device based on the second wireless signal; determine data associated with the transaction, wherein the data is associated with a checkout process at the POS device for a payment for the transaction; and communicate the data to the mobile device at the POS device via the one of the wireless device or the secondary wireless device.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein executing the instructions further causes the system to: broadcast, prior to receiving the handshake request and by the wireless device communicatively coupled to the system over a second proximity range, the first wireless signal for the wireless pairing.
3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the handshake request requests that the system perform the wireless pairing based on an identifier for the mobile device and the user account.
4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein processing the handshake request includes: requesting and receiving an account identifier for the user account from the mobile device via the wireless device; and completing the handshake request with the mobile device and the service provider using a handshake process and the account identifier.
5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the data comprises one of an advertisement or an offer associated with the transaction provided while the mobile device is at the location.
6 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the advertisement or the offer is further specific to a sub-location within the location where the mobile device is detected.
7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the data comprises transaction data for the transaction, and wherein executing the instructions further causes the system to: receive a request for processing the transaction; and process the transaction with the service provider based on the request, the transaction data, and the user account.
8 . A method comprising: receiving, from a mobile device, a request to wirelessly pair the mobile device with a wireless device, wherein the request is responsive to a broadcasted signal by the wireless device; pairing the wireless device with the mobile device; authorizing, based on the pairing, one or more uses of a user account associated with the mobile device at a location associated with the wireless device, wherein the user account is associated with a service provider that processes transactions on behalf of the mobile device using the user account; broadcasting, via a secondary wireless device, wireless signals in a first proximity range to a point of sale (POS) device within the location, wherein the wireless signals enable the POS device to detect the mobile device based on at least the request; detecting the mobile device in the first proximity range to the POS device based on the wireless signals; receiving a request for a transaction from the mobile device via the wireless signals exchanged between the mobile device and the secondary wireless device, wherein the request is associated with a checkout process for the transaction; and processing the transaction with the service provider based on the request.
9 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising: broadcasting, prior to receiving the request and by the wireless device over a second proximity range, the broadcasted signal.
10 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the request includes an identifier for the mobile device and the user account used for the pairing the wireless device with the mobile device.
11 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the authorizing includes: requesting and receiving an account identifier for the user account from the mobile device via the wireless device; and authenticating the user account for the mobile device with the service provider using the account identifier.
12 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising: transmitting data to the mobile device via the pairing.
13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the data comprises one of an advertisement or an offer associated with the transaction provided while the mobile device is at the location.
14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the advertisement or the offer is further specific to a sub-location within the location where the mobile device is detected.
15 . A non-transitory machine-readable medium having stored thereon machine-readable instructions executable to cause a machine to perform operations comprising: detecting a handshake request by a mobile device with a first wireless device communicatively coupled to a computing device associated with a location, wherein the handshake request is responsive to a first wireless signal broadcasted by the first wireless device at the location for wirelessly connecting with the computing device; processing the handshake request to wirelessly connect the mobile device with the computing device via the first wireless device; establishing an acknowledgement that the mobile device is present at the location based on processing the handshake request, wherein the acknowledgement is usable to provide one or more services to the mobile device at the location; broadcasting, via the first wireless device or a second wireless device, a second wireless signal in a first proximity range to a point of sale (POS) device within the location, wherein the second wireless signal enables the POS device to detect the mobile device based on at least the handshake request processed; detecting the mobile device in the first proximity range to the POS device based on the second wireless signal; determining, based on the acknowledgement and one or more activities associated with the mobile device performed at the location, data usable by the mobile device while the mobile device is at the location, wherein the data is usable with a checkout process for a transaction processable at the POS device; and communicating the data to the mobile device at the location after processing the handshake request.
16 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the operations further comprise: broadcasting, prior to receiving the handshake request and by the first wireless device communicatively coupled to the computing device over a second proximity range, the first wireless signal for wirelessly connecting with the computing device.
17 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the handshake request includes an identifier for the mobile device.
18 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein processing the handshake request includes: requesting and receiving an identifier for the mobile device via the first wireless device; and completing the handshake request with the mobile device using a handshake process and the identifier.
19 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the data comprises one of an advertisement or an offer provided while the mobile device is at the location.
20 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 19 , wherein the advertisement or the offer is further specific to a sub-location within the location where the mobile device is detected.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/688,874, filed Mar. 7, 2022, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/538,636, filed Aug. 12, 2019, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 11,270,287, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/269,654, filed Sep. 19, 2016, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 10,380,577, entitled “WIRELESS DONGLE FACILITATED MOBILE TRANSACTIONS,” which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/629,379, filed Feb. 23, 2015, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,471,917, entitled “DONGLE FACILITATED WIRELESS CONSUMER PAYMENTS,” which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/938,860, filed on Jul. 10, 2013, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,972,296, entitled “DONGLE FACILITATED WIRELESS CONSUMER PAYMENTS,” and which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/747,918, entitled “AUTOMATIC WIRELESS CONSUMER CHECKINS,” filed Dec. 31, 2012. All above-identified patent applications and patents are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties. TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates generally to systems and devices that facilitate consumer transactions, and more particularly to systems and devices for consumer transactions that utilize the personal mobile devices of consumers. BACKGROUND Computer systems and networks can facilitate the tasks of buying, selling and transferring goods, as technology advances have allowed for a wider variety of devices and transaction types in the retail and other marketplaces. One example of a relatively new development within the realm of electronic commerce is the ability to allow a consumer to pay for a good or service at a point of sale through the use of his or her smart phone, tablet, laptop computer, or other personal mobile device. A user merely needs to have an appropriate mobile payment application or “app” on his or her device, whereupon the user can present his or her smart phone or other similar device at an appropriate time and location at a retail or other establishment. The retailer or other seller or service provider can then “check in” the given user through some process of reading his or her smart phone or other similar device, after which the seller or service provider can accept payment or credit through some form of communication with the checked in or acknowledged device. Unfortunately, such setups are not without their own drawbacks and inconvenient features. In many instances, the current check in process can be time consuming. For example, current check in procedures often require the customer to take out his or her smart phone or other device at a point of sale in order to make a payment or provide a credit. This often involves the device searching for the appropriate wireless connection at the store, searching for the store among many possible choices on the device, and/or manual user input or selection on his or her personal mobile device, all of which can take some inconvenient amount of time. Even small amounts of time that are less than a minute can be frustrating where other consumers are waiting in line behind the user at a register or other point of sale. Although many systems and methods for facilitating consumer payments using personal mobile devices have generally worked well in the past, there is always a desire for improvement. In particular, what is desired are systems and methods that provide for faster or more convenient check ins and payment processing where smart phones or other personal mobile devices are used to facilitate consumer transactions. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The included drawings are for illustrative purposes and serve only to provide examples of possible systems and methods for the disclosed dongle facilitated wireless consumer payments. These drawings in no way limit any changes in form and detail that may be made to that which is disclosed by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure. FIG. 1 illustrates in block diagram format an exemplary computing system adapted for implementing the purchase of goods or services according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 illustrates in block diagram format an exemplary computer system suitable for implementing on one or more devices of the computing system in FIG. 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 illustrates in block diagram format an exemplary merchant layout and associated system components adapted for implementing the purchase of goods or services using automatic wireless consumer check ins according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 illustrates in various perspective views an exemplary merchant dongle adapted for implementing the purchase of goods or services using automated wireless consumer check ins according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 illustrates in various perspective views another exemplary merchant dongle adapt