FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a mobile point-of-sale (mPOS) system, and more particularly, to a mobile point-of-sale system with multiple payment points.

BACKGROUND
Retail transactions are processed at a point-of-sale (POS) or checkout lane where a customer makes a payment in exchange for retail goods or services. Fixed point of sales devices can be seen in restaurants and almost all the retail stores. The fixed POS consists of a computer linked with a card swipe machine and transactions are often made by a credit cards and debit cards.

Current general fixed POS system are implemented as "one to one" cable systems, where a POS terminal is wired with a card reader, such as by a serial cable, a USB connection or by a communication lines. The installation of fixed point of sale system requires a considerable floor space. Further, due to the limitations associated with cable length, the use of fixed POS terminal is limited in a specific area.

In retail stores where floor space is limited, mobile point of sale can be used to perform POS transactions. A mPOS (mobile point of sale) is a dedicated wireless device that performs the function of a cash register or electronic point of sale terminal. The mPOS consists of a mobile device installed with an associated mPOS application that manages the transaction and a card reader unit coupled wirelessly with the mobile device. The merchant uses their card-reader enabled mPOS device to take consumer’s details. The card data and transaction details are encrypted and sent over a wireless network for authentication and authorization, and once this has been processed the consumer is sent a digital receipt or provided with a paper version via a linked printer.

In order to avoid long queue during the rush time and to provide better customer experience, merchants want to have multiple payment acceptance point. In a mobile POS system, for having multiple payment acceptance point, the merchants need to have multiple smart phones (or host devices) connected with multiple card reader units. This will increase the overall cost of implementing multiple payment acceptance point in their establishments.

Therefore, there requires a cost-effective solution where a single host device is connected to multiple card reader units and which can process the transaction requests coming from the multiple card reader units in parallel. And if the possibility to accept transactions in parallel could be achieved, having a solution that can provide a way to give preferential treatment to a particular transaction based on certain parameters would be of great help to merchants if the said solution can generate a business value.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, in an aspect, a system is provided where a single host device is connected to a plurality of card reader units and which can process the transaction requests coming from the plurality of card reader unit is parallel.

In another aspect, a method is provided where a plurality of card reader units is connected to a host device and wherein the processing requests coming from the plurality of card reader units can be processed in parallel.

In another aspect of the present invention, a system for implementing preferential routing in a mobile point of sale is provided. The system comprises a host device in session with a plurality of card reader units. The host device receives from each of the card reader units, a processing request comprising a first identifier data and a second identifier data. The host device assigns a priority value to each of the processing request based on the second identifier data and transmits each of the processing requests based on the priority value thus assigned.

In another aspect of the present invention, a method for implementing preferential routing in a mobile point of sale system is provided. The method comprises: establishing a session by a host device with a plurality of card reader units; receiving from each of the card reader units, a processing request comprising a first identifier data and a second identifier data; assigning a priority value based on the corresponding identifier and transmitting each of the processing request based on the priority value thus assigned.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
To further clarify various aspects of the invention, a more particular description of the invention will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof, which is illustrated in the appended drawings. It is appreciated that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope. The invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail with the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a flow diagram illustrating an exemplary method implementing preferential routing in a mobile point of sale system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary system for implementing preferential routing in a mobile point of sale system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 3 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary system architecture of a mobile point of sale system, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 4 is a flow diagram illustrating an exemplary method of establishing session by a card reader unit in a mobile point of sale system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 5 is a flow diagram illustrating an exemplary method of establishing session by a host device in a mobile point of sale system in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 6 illustrates a user interface of the host device with a session management module in the mPOS application, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 7 is a block diagram illustrating a process flow for implementing preferential routing in a mobile point of sale system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 8 is a block diagram illustrating encryption of transaction information in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

It may be noted that to the extent possible, like reference numerals have been used to represent like elements in the drawings. Further, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that elements in the drawings are illustrated for simplicity and may not have been necessarily drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the drawings may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of aspects of the invention. Furthermore, the one or more elements may have been represented in the drawings by conventional symbols, and the drawings may show only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the invention so as not to obscure the drawings with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having benefit of the description herein.

Detailed Description of the Invention

It should be understood at the outset that although illustrative implementations of the embodiments of the present disclosure are illustrated below, the present invention may be implemented using any number of techniques, whether currently known or in existence. The present disclosure should in no way be limited to the illustrative implementations, drawings, and techniques illustrated below, including the exemplary design and implementation illustrated and described herein, but may be modified within the scope of the appended claims along with their full scope of equivalents.

The term “some” as used herein is defined as “none, or one, or more than one, or all.” Accordingly, the terms “none,” “one,” “more than one,” “more than one, but not all” or “all” would all fall under the definition of “some.” The term “some embodiments” may refer to no embodiments or to one embodiment or to several embodiments or to all embodiments. Accordingly, the term “some embodiments” is defined as meaning “no embodiment, or one embodiment, or more than one embodiment, or all embodiments.”

The terminology and structure employed herein is for describing, teaching and illuminating some embodiments and their specific features and elements and does not limit, restrict or reduce the spirit and scope of the claims or their equivalents.

More specifically, any terms used herein such as but not limited to “includes,” “comprises,” “has,” “consists,” and grammatical variants thereof do NOT specify an exact limitation or restriction and certainly do NOT exclude the possible addition of one or more features or elements, unless otherwise stated, and furthermore must NOT be taken to exclude the possible removal of one or more of the listed features and elements, unless otherwise stated with the limiting language “MUST comprise” or “NEEDS TO include.”

Whether or not a certain feature or element was limited to being used only once, either way it may still be referred to as “one or more features” or “one or more elements” or “at least one feature” or “at least one element.” Furthermore, the use of the terms “one or more” or “at least one” feature or element do NOT preclude there being none of that feature or element, unless otherwise specified by limiting language such as “there NEEDS to be one or more . . . ” or “one or more element is REQUIRED.”

Unless otherwise defined, all terms, and especially any technical and/or scientific terms, used herein may be taken to have the same meaning as commonly understood by one having an ordinary skill in the art.

Reference is made herein to some “embodiments.” It should be understood that an embodiment is an example of a possible implementation of any features and/or elements presented in the attached claims. Some embodiments have been described for the purpose of illuminating one or more of the potential ways in which the specific features and/or elements of the attached claims fulfil the requirements of uniqueness, utility and non-obviousness.

Use of the phrases and/or terms such as but not limited to “a first embodiment,” “a further embodiment,” “an alternate embodiment,” “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “multiple embodiments,” “some embodiments,” “other embodiments,” “further embodiment”, “furthermore embodiment”, “additional embodiment” or variants thereof do NOT necessarily refer to the same embodiments. Unless otherwise specified, one or more particular features and/or elements described in connection with one or more embodiments may be found in one embodiment, or may be found in more than one embodiment, or may be found in all embodiments, or may be found in no embodiments. Although one or more features and/or elements may be described herein in the context of only a single embodiment, or alternatively in the context of more than one embodiment, or further alternatively in the context of all embodiments, the features and/or elements may instead be provided separately or in any appropriate combination or not at all. Conversely, any features and/or elements described in the context of separate embodiments may alternatively be realized as existing together in the context of a single embodiment.

Any particular and all details set forth herein are used in the context of some embodiments and therefore should NOT be necessarily taken as limiting factors to the attached claims. The attached claims and their legal equivalents can be realized in the context of embodiments other than the ones used as illustrative examples in the description below.

Figure 1 is a flow diagram illustrating an exemplary method (100) implementing preferential routing in a mobile point of sale system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The method (100) comprises: establishing (102) by a session establishment unit in a host device, a first session with a first card reader and at least one further session with at least one further card reader unit, wherein the first session and the at least one further session are substantially simultaneous; receiving (104) from each of the first card reader unit and said at least one further card reader unit during the corresponding session, a corresponding processing request, wherein the processing request comprises a first identifier data and a second identifier data, said first identifier data comprises card data in encrypted state and said second identifier data comprises data in unencrypted state; assigning (106), by a priority assigning unit in the host device, a priority value to each of the processing request based on the corresponding second identifier; and transmitting (108), by a transmitting unit in the host device, each of the processing request based on the priority value thus assigned.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the corresponding sessions are established by sending a request either at the host device or at the corresponding card reader unit.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the second identifier in the processing request data includes one or more of card reader identifier, a value under processing, a type of processing request, a type of card, a category of card holders.

In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the predefined set of values are defined by a user through a web interface or an application installed on the host device.

In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the method further comprises the step of: managing simultaneous sessions at the host device by providing measures to swap across the sessions.

Figure 2 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary system for implementing preferential routing in a mobile point of sale system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The system (200) comprises: a session establishment unit (206) in a host device (202) to establish a first session with a first card reader (204-1) and at least one further session with at least one further card reader unit (204-2), wherein the first session and the at least one further session are substantially simultaneous; a receiving unit (208) in the host device (202) to receive from each of the first card reader unit (204-1) and said at least one further card reader unit (204-2) during the corresponding session, a corresponding processing request, wherein the processing request comprises a first identifier data and a second identifier data, said first identifier data comprises card data in encrypted state and said second identifier data comprises data in unencrypted state; a priority assigning unit (210) in the host device (202) to assign a priority value to each of the processing request based on the corresponding second identifier; and a transmitting unit (212) in the host device to transmit each of the processing request based on the priority value thus assigned.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the session establishment unit (206) comprises a request receiver/sender unit to receive/ send a session establishment request and an authentication unit to authenticate the session establishment request.

In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the session is established through wireless module including but not limited to a Wi-Fi controller or a Bluetooth controller.

In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the system further comprises a session management unit (214) to manage the first session and at least one further session.

In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the session management unit (214) enables a user to swap across simultaneous sessions.

Figure 3 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary system architecture of a mobile point of sale system, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. The system comprises a plurality of card reader units (204-1), (204-2)….. (204-n) in communication with a host device (202). The host device (202) may be a dedicated wireless mobile device that has the ability to be used as a mobile point of sale device. Example of the host device may include but are not limited to a smartphone, iTAB, iPAD or any mobile device with capability of establishing wireless communication with a plurality of client devices. The host device (202) is having a mPOS application installed on it. The card reader units and the host device are installed in a commercial establishment or a store where a merchant is offering goods or services. At a single time, the host device (202) may be in communication with n number of card reader units (204-n). The card reader unit (204-1) is used as a card processing terminal for reading a credit card, debit card or stored value card to realise payment as a satisfaction of payment for goods or services provided by a merchant to a purchaser. The card reader unit (204-n) may functions either by swiping the card, or it can read the card details through near field communication.

The connection between the card reader unit (204-n) and the host device (202) is in form of a session and is established through a wireless controller such as a Bluetooth controller or a Wi-Fi controller. The session between the card reader units and the host device may be established either by a request initiated by the card reader unit or on a request sent by the host device or it can be a combination of both. At a single given time, n number of card reader units may be in session with the host device, resulting in n number of parallel sessions running on the host device.

During the checkout, merchant enters the amount, swipe/dip/tap the card on the card reader unit and presents dongle to customer for PIN entry. Once authenticated by the customer, the card reader unit send the card information and the transaction information to the host device (202). The card information which is sensitive information is in encrypted form whereas the transaction related information is in unencrypted form. The transaction related information can include the type of card, the location of issuing institution for the card, the amount of the purchase, the type of merchant, the card reader identification, the type of transaction or the type of customer.

The mPOS application installed on the host device (202) receives the information transmitted from the card reader unit (204-n) and reads the transaction related information. A set of rules are predefined by the merchant in mPOS server (302) related to the preferential treatment of a particular transaction. The pre-defined rules can be set by the merchant using a web user interface or through a user interface of mPOS application executed on the host device (202).

After receiving the transaction information from the card reader unit (204-n), the mPOS application compares the transaction related information with the pre-defined set of rules created by the merchant. In the event of a match between the transactions related information and the pre-defined set of rules, the mPOS application assign a priority tag to the corresponding transaction and processes the tagged transaction at priority over other transaction.

The host device (202) is connected to a mPOS server. The host device transfers the transaction request to payment network through the mPOS server (302). The host device (202) is connected to the mPOS server (302) through a128 bit secure SSL connection. A preferential routing layer is defined in the mPOS server (302), which enables the preferential transmission of tagged priority transaction request over general transaction request.

The mPOS server (302) is connected to a card payment network. The mPOS server transmits the transaction request to the card payment network. The card payment network comprises an acquirer (304), a card network (306) and an issuing bank (308). The issuing bank (308) handles a credit or debit card transaction for the merchant. The acquirer bank (304) transmits the transaction request coming from the mPOS server (302) to the issuing bank (308) through the card network (306). The encrypted card information is decrypted by the issuing bank (308) using the key. Thus in the whole process, security of sensitive card information is ensured. The amount from the transaction request is debited to the merchant account on authorization of the transaction request by the issuing bank.

Figure 4 is a flow diagram illustrating an exemplary method of establishing session by a card reader unit in a mobile point of sale system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Beginning at step 402, a merchant in possession of the card reader unit initiates the request to establish a session with the host device. The request is initiated when a payment has to be transacted from a customer. Advancing at step 402, the host device receives the incoming request from the card reader unit. The mPOS application in the host device authenticates the request coming from the card reader unit and a session is established between the card reader unit and the host device. Advancing at step 406, once the session is established between the card reader unit and the host device, the merchant enters the transaction amount in the card reader unit and presents the card reader unit to the customer. The customer or merchant may swipe/dip/tap the card on the card reader unit and PIN is entered. Advancing at step, 408, once the pin is entered and transaction is authorized by the consumer, the card reader unit, the card reader unit sends the payment request to the host device for further processing. Advancing at step 410, the host device authenticates the payment request and sends the response back to the card reader unit. Thus, a session is established between the card reader unit and the host device.

Figure 5 is a flow diagram illustrating an exemplary method of establishing session by a host device in a mobile point of sale system in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. Beginning at step 502, the merchant selects a card reader unit on the host device. The transaction amount for the corresponding card reader unit is entered by the merchant and a request is initiated to establish a session with the card reader unit. Advancing at step 504, the card reader unit receives the request from the host device with the transaction amount. The merchant has to swipe/dip/tap the card on the card reader unit and presents the card reader unit to the customer for PIN entry. Advancing to step 506, After authorization by the customer, the card reader unit sends the payment request to the host device for further processing. Advancing at step 508, the host device authenticates the payment request and sends response back to the card reader unit. Thus, a session is established between the host device and the card reader unit.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the host device is in session with a plurality of card reader units. The sessions between the plurality of card reader units and the host device may be either initiated by the host device, or it may be initiated by the card reader units or it may be a scenario where few of the sessions are initiated by the card reader units and rest of the sessions are initiated by the host device.

Figure 6 illustrates a user interface of the host device with a session management module (604) in the mPOS application, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The session management module (604) displays a plurality of sessions (602) with plurality of card reader units running on the mPOS application executed on the host device. While the sessions are in progress, the user can swap across two sessions running parallel on the host device. In the figure, merchant the session management module is displaying the credentials for session 1. The session management module displays a plurality of tabs for different sessions. The user can swap across different session by selecting the desired tab for desired session.

Figure 7 is a block diagram illustrating a process flow for implementing preferential routing in a mobile point of sale system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 7 shows a plurality of card reader units (204-1), (204-2) ….. (204-n) in session with the host device. The host device is in session-1 with card reader unit1 (204-1), and is in session 2 with card reader unit2 (204-2) and is in session-n with card reader unit n (204-n). The host device (202) is wirelessly connected to the plurality of card reader units (204-1), (204-2)… (204-n) through wireless controller. The wireless controller may include but is not limited to a Bluetooth controller or a Wi-Fi controller (702).

The user may define rules for preferential routing in the server through web based user interface (706) or through mPOS application. The defined rules are stored in a rule engine (704). During the session with the plurality of card reader units, the transaction processing request is received from each of the plurality of card reader units. The transaction processing request comprises the sensitive card information in encrypted form and the transaction related information in unencrypted form. The transaction related information received from each of the plurality of card reader units is compared with the set of pre-defined rules stored in the rule engine (704). If the transaction related information received from any of the card reader unit is matched with the predefined set of rules stored in the rule engine, then the corresponding transaction request is transmitted via a preferential routing layer (708) present in the mPOS server. The mPOS server transfers the transaction request to a payment processor (712) through an integration layer (710).

In an embodiment of the present invention, the system implements multi-layered security architecture for preventing any fraudulent activity.

Figure 8 is a block diagram illustrating encryption of transaction information in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. A hardware security module (HSM) (802) is utilised to generate a Base Derivation Key (BDK) and shared it with Roam Ingenico (RI) in a secure manner. RI generates two initial Pin Encryption keys (IPEKs) per terminal, one for the PIN and other for transaction related information. These IPEKs are derived from Base Derivation key (BDK). A Key Serial Number (KSN) is linked with each of the IPEKs which are used to generate future key. When a transaction is initiated at the card reader unit (204-n), the card reader unit generates a unique key for that transaction which is derived from IPEK. The unique key is used to encrypt transaction related information data. Similar process is followed for PIN and card related information, where the key is generated from the second IPEK. The card reader unit passes the encrypted data along with the KSN values for that transaction to mPOS application installed on the host device (202) which in turn passes it on to the mPOS server (302). Communication between the mPOS application on the host device and the mPOS server (302) is over https. At the mPOS server, the card data is decrypted using HSM (802) and validated PAN is extracted from the transaction related information data and masked before storing. After the card data is validated, the transaction related information and other details are encrypted using key which is unique for each MID and transmitted over HTTPS to external payment gateway (712).

While certain present preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described herein, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. Clearly, the invention may be otherwise variously embodied, and practiced within the scope of the following claims.

CLAIMS:WE CLAIM:

1. A method for implementing preferential routing in a mobile point of sale (mpos) system, said method comprising:
establishing by a session establishment unit in a host device, a first session with a first card reader and at least one further session with at least one further card reader unit, wherein the first session and the at least one further session are substantially simultaneous;
receiving from each of the first card reader unit and said at least one further card reader unit during the corresponding session, a corresponding processing request, wherein the processing request comprises a first identifier data and a second identifier data, said first identifier data comprises card data in encrypted state and said second identifier data comprises data in unencrypted state;
assigning, by a priority assigning unit in the host device, a priority value to each of the processing request based on the corresponding second identifier; and
transmitting, by a transmitting unit in the host device, each of the processing request based on the priority value thus assigned.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the corresponding sessions are established by sending a request either at the host device or at the corresponding card reader unit.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second identifier in the processing request comprises data including one or more of card reader identifier, a value under processing, a type of processing request, a type of card, a category of card holder, issuing institution of card.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the priority value is assigned to each of the processing request by comparing the second identifier data of the corresponding processing request with a predefined set of values defined in the database.

5. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the predefined set of values are defined by a user through a web interface or an application installed on the host device.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising the step of: managing simultaneous sessions at the host device by providing measures to swap across the sessions.

7. A system for implementing preferential routing in a mobile point of sale (mpos) system, said system comprising:
a session establishment unit in a host device to establish a first session with a first card reader and at least one further session with at least one further card reader unit, wherein the first session and the at least one further session are substantially simultaneous;
a receiving unit in the host device to receive from each of the first card reader unit and said at least one further card reader unit during the corresponding session, a corresponding processing request, wherein the processing request comprises a first identifier data and a second identifier data, said first identifier data comprises card data in encrypted state and said second identifier data comprises data in unencrypted state;
a priority assigning unit in the host device to assign a priority value to each of the processing request based on the corresponding second identifier; and
a transmitting unit in the host device to transmit each of the processing request based on the priority value thus assigned.

8. The system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the session establishment unit comprises a request receiver/sender unit to receive/send a session establishment request and an authentication unit to authenticate the session establishment request.

9. The system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the session is established through wireless module including but not limited to a Wi-Fi controller or a Bluetooth controller.

10. The system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the system further comprises a session management unit to manage the first session and the at least one further session.

11. The system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the session management unit enables a user to swap across simultaneous sessions.