WO2013171765A2

WO2013171765A2 - Interactive kiosk system

Info

Publication number: WO2013171765A2
Application number: PCT/IN2013/000290
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mandar Agashe
Original assignee: Sarvatra Technologies Pvt Ltd
Priority date: 2012-04-30
Filing date: 2013-04-30
Publication date: 2013-11-21
Also published as: TW201346798A; AR090899A1; WO2013171765A3

Abstract

An interactive kiosk system enabling a customer to perform transactions in co¬ operation with a retailer at whose premise the interactive kiosk system is installed. The kiosk system includes a rotatably mounted Point Of Sale (POS) terminal adapted to validate the retailer and the customer credentials by connecting to an Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) system via a GPRS connection. Firstly, the retailer is validated by a bank or a merchant and on successful validation the kiosk system is activated. Secondly, the customer is validated and permitted to enter a transaction for which system displays the applicable transaction fee. Once the customer approves the transaction fee, the kiosk system electronically transfers funds between the customer's financial account and the retailer's financial account and completes the selected transaction. The kiosk system is maintained and is replenished with cash by the retailer.

Description

INTERACTIVE KIOSK SYSTEM

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates to the field of a kiosk system. DEFINITION

The expression 'transaction' referred to herein in the specification refers to but is not limited to cash transactions, purchases, payments, refunds and other financial transactions related to a customer's financial account and a retailer's financial account.

The expression 'debit' refers to but is not limited to a cash withdrawn transaction by a customer, purchasing of a product by the customer, purchasing of discount coupons, train tickets, air tickets, movie tickets and the like by the customer.

The expression 'credit' refers to but is not limited to a cash deposit transaction by a customer, funds transfer transaction by the customer, redemption of cash coupons and the like.

The expression 'fund' refers to the amount of money debited from a financial account or credited to the financial account in response to any transaction performed by a customer or a retailer.

The expression 'authorization card' refers to but is not limited to an ATM card provided by the bank to its customers or a card exclusively provided by a merchant to its customers.

These definitions are in addition to those expressed in the art. BACKGROUND

Automatic currency dispensing machines / Automatic Teller Machines (ATM) are used widely by banks to provide their customers with ready cash without the expense of branch banking. Banks have installed ATMs that make cash available to customers on a twenty-four hour basis. Various banks have installed more and more ATMs for customer convenience. The different type of transactions provided by ATMs typically includes cash withdrawal, cash deposit, check deposit, funds transfer, and the like. However the most common transaction is cash withdrawal.

A disadvantage of such ATMs is the difficulty in finding and acquiring a suitable location in dense urban cities and for installing of the ATMs. The installation, maintenance and operation of a large number of ATMs are expensive and unprofitable. Another disadvantage of such ATMs is the availability of cash within the ATM. Every few days the ATM has to be replenished with cash. This involves physically transferring a huge amount of cash from the bank to the different locations where the ATMs are located resulting in a time consuming and expensive exercise. Another disadvantage of such ATMs is that the ATM cannot be operated without the use of an ATM card. Also these ATMs have to be continuously connected to an online network, typically a high speed network. In case of a loss of connectivity, the ATM cannot perform any transactions rendering the ATM unusable and resulting in a loss of time. Moreover, when a customer performs a cash transaction, typically at a retail shop and is in need of urgent cash, the customer has to lookout for the nearest ATM and has to go there to fetch cash. It can be a tedious work for the customer in case the ATM is far away from the customer's location.

Hence there is need for a system that can be located at a convenient location for the customers. There is a need for a system that can be operated without an authorization card under certain circumstances. There is also a need for a system which can be operated without being continuously connected to an online network. There is also a need for a system that can be used to. perform . transactions other than cash transactions, such as retail merchandising.

OBJECTS

Some of the objects of the present disclosure are listed herein below.

It is an object of the present disclosure to ameliorate one or more problems of the prior art or to at least provide a useful alternative.

An object of the disclosure is to provide an interactive kiosk system that can be located at a convenient location for customers.

Another object of the disclosure is to provide an interactive kiosk system that can be operated without a customer authorization card under certain circumstances.

, Another object of the disclosure is to provide an interactive kiosk system that can be operated without being continuously connected to an online network.

Another object of the disclosure is to provide an interactive kiosk system that can be used to perform transactions other than cash transactions, such as retail merchandising.

Other objects and advantages of the present disclosure will be more apparent from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying figures, which are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. SUMMARY

In accordance with the present disclosure, there is provided a method for performing at least one transaction through an interactive kiosk system located at a retailer's premise, the method comprising the steps of:

• authorizing a customer for use of the interactive kiosk system;

• validating the retailer;

• activating the interactive kiosk system;

• validating the customer's credentials;

• connecting to an Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) system;

• receiving selected transaction type by the customer;

• checking whether the transaction is a credit or a debit transaction;

• displaying a transaction fee applicable for the selected transaction;

• completing transaction on approval of the transaction fee by the customer; and

• disconnecting the Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) system.

Typically, the step of authorizing a customer includes checking photo identification of the customer.

Furthermore, the step of validating the retailer is performed by at least one of swiping an authorization card and entering an authorization code.

Again, the step of validating the customer's credentials is preceded by the step of pre-determining at least one of number of transactions and time limit for transactions. In accordance with the present disclosure, the step of validating the customer's credentials includes the step of validating authorisation card details and Personal Identification Number (PIN) of the customer by connecting to an Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) system via a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) connection.

In accordance with the present disclosure, the step of checking whether the transaction is a credit or a debit transaction is followed by at least one of:

• checking status of a financial account of the customer to meet the transaction requirement for a debit transaction; and

• checking status of the financial account of the retailer to meet the transaction requirement for a credit transaction.

Typically, the step of completing transaction is preceded by at least one of:

• transferring debited amount including the transaction fee from the customer's financial account to the retailer's financial account; and

• transferring credited amount excluding the transaction fee from the retailer's financial account to the customer's financial account.

In accordance with the present disclosure, there is provided an interactive kiosk system, the system comprising:

• a kiosk body;

• a Point Of Sale (POS) terminal movably connected to the kiosk body, the Point Of Sale (POS) terminal comprises:

o first validating means configured to validate a retailer;

o second validating means configured to validate a customer;

o receiving means configured to receive transaction type selected by the customer; o display means configured to display transaction fee applicable for the received transaction type selection;

o processing means configured to electronically transfer funds between the customer's financial account and the retailer's financial account on approval of applicable transaction fee by the customer; and

• a dispensing unit operatively coupled to the Point Of Sale (POS) terminal, the dispensing unit configured to complete transaction selected by the customer.

In accordance with the system of the present disclosure, the system further comprising an ear-phone connection for providing an audio interface to the customer, wherein the audio interface supports the local language selected by the customer.

Furthermore, in accordance with the present disclosure, the interactive kiosk system further comprises a lock system and a handle attached to said kiosk body.

Typically, the first validating means and the second . validating means are communicably connected to an Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) system via a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) connection.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

The disclosure will now be described with the help of the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1A illustrates a perspective view of an interactive kiosk system in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

Figure IB illustrates a partial perspective view of an interactive kiosk system in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure;

Figure 2 illustrates a block diagram of an interactive kiosk system in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; and

Figure 3 illustrates a flow chart for a method of performing a transaction through an interactive kiosk system in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

The interactive kiosk system of the present disclosure will now be described with reference to the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. The embodiments do not limit the scope and ambit of the invention. The description relates purely to the exemplary preferred embodiments of the disclosed system and its suggested applications.

The interactive kiosk system herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained with reference to the non-limiting embodiments in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should hot be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.

The description hereinafter, of the specific embodiments of the interactive kiosk system will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein.

An interactive kiosk system enables a customer to perform a variety of transactions in an easy and secure way. The interactive kiosk system of the present disclosure is installed at any convenient location such as retail store or any commercial property. The interactive kiosk system is operated by the customer in co-operation of the retailer or a trader at whose commercial property the system is installed. Unlike the ATM where the cash has to be replenished by the bank staff by physically transferring a huge amount of cash from the bank to the different locations where the ATMs are located, each retailer at whose retail store the interactive kiosk system is installed, replenishes the kiosk system with the cash resulting in cost and time saving for the bank and reduces the overhead of the bank. The interactive kiosk system and the method of performing through the interactive kiosk system in accordance with the present disclosure is described herein below with respect to Figure 1 A through Figure 3 wherein key components of the interactive kiosk system are generally referenced by numerals as indicated.

Figure 1A illustrates a perspective view of an interactive kiosk system in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. As illustrated by the figure, the interactive kiosk system (100) comprises a kiosk body (101), and a wireless Point of Sale (POS) terminal (102). The Point of Sale (POS) terminal (102) includes but is not limited to a card reader, a tablet, a computer, a barcode scanner, a biometric scanner, and the like. The Point of Sale (POS) terminal (102) is rotatably connected to the kiosk body (101) and rotates at an angle ranging up to 360 degrees. In accordance with one aspect, the Point Of Sale (POS) terminal (102) is pivotably connected to the kiosk body (101). The Point of Sale (POS) terminal (102) is wirelessly connected to an Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) system for transferring funds electronically. The Point of Sale (POS) terminal (102) comprises a SIM card and is connected to the Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) system via a GPRS connection. The kiosk body (101) houses a dispensing unit (103), utilized to complete the transaction selected by the customer.

Figure^' IB illustrates a partial perspective view of an interactive kiosk system in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure. As illustrated in the figure IB, the interactive kiosk system (100) includes a kiosk body (101), a Point Of Sale (POS) terminal (102), a dispensing unit (103), a lock system (105) and a body handle (104). Further, the system includes at least one connecting plate (107) that is detachably connected with the kiosk body (101) and at least one holding plate (106) that is provided to securely hold the Point Of Sale (POS) terminal.

Figure 2 illustrates a block diagram of an interactive kiosk system in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. As illustrated by the figure, the interactive kiosk system (200) comprises a kiosk body (202) that accommodates a Point Of Sale (POS) terminal (204) and a dispensing unit (214). The Point Of Sale (POS) terminal (204) further comprises first validating, means (205) and second validating means (206) to validate the interactive kiosk system (200) and the customer respectively. The validating means (205 and 206) typically comprises a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card, wherein SIM card provides connectivity between the Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) system and the Point Of Sale (POS) terminal (204) via a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) connection. After validating the customer credentials, receiving means (208) receives the selection of the type of transaction desired by the customer, whether a debit or a credit. For the selected transaction, the customer has to pay the applicable transaction fee that is displayed by a display means (210) typically, an LCD screen, an LED screen, a TFT screen and the like. On approval of the transaction fee by the customer, a processing means (212) electronically processes the transaction between the retailer's financial account and the customer's financial account. Once the fund transfer process is completed, a dispensing unit (214) completes the selected transaction.

Figure 3 illustrates the flow chart for a method of performing a transaction through an interactive kiosk system in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. For performing a transaction through an interactive kiosk system (100), a customer has to be authorized by a retailer. In accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure, authorization is done by physically checking the identity proof of the customer by the retailer or a trader at whose premise the interactive kiosk system (100) is located. The identity proof includes but is not limited to PAN card, driving license, voter ID card, and the like. The retailer after authorizing the customer swipes an authorization card or enters a unique authorization code to confirm that the customer can now use the interactive kiosk system (100). The authorization code or the authorization card details of the retailer are validated by a bank or a merchant and after successful validation of the credentials of the retailer the interactive kiosk system (100) is activated by the bank or the merchant. The authorization card referred herein above is an exclusive authorization card provided by the bank or the merchant to each retailer at whose retail store the interactive kiosk system (100) is installed.

Once the interactive kiosk system is activated by the bank. or the merchant, the number of transactions allowed to the customer or the period of time for which the customer can perform the transaction is determined based on a pre-defined criteria. After activation of the interactive kiosk system (100), the customer swipes his authorization card and enters his authorization code. After the customer has entered his authorization code, the wireless Point Of Sale (POS) terminal (102) of the interactive kiosk system (100) connects to an Electronic Funds- Transfer (EFT) system via a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) connection to further validate the customer's credentials with the customer's respective bank or the merchant. After validation of credentials, the customer proceeds to select his transaction and according to the selected transaction further validation is done to check whether there is enough balance in the financial account of the customer or the financial account of the retailer to meet the transaction requirements. After confirming the availability of balance, the Point Of Sale (POS) terminal (102) also checks whether the required amount of cash is available in the dispensing unit (103) in a case customer has selected a debit transaction. The Point Of Sale (POS) terminal (102) further displays a transaction fee that would be charged to the customer for performing the transaction. After approval of the transaction fee by the customer, the amount of the transaction is electronically transferred from the customer's financial account to the retailer's financial account or vice-versa depending on type of the transaction selected by the customer. For a debit transaction, debited amount is transferred from the customer's financial account to the retailer's financial account including the transaction fee. For a credit transaction, credited amount is transferred from the retailer's financial account to the customer's financial account excluding the transaction fee. Simultaneously, the Point Of Sale (POS) terminal (102) issues a command to the dispensing unit (103) to complete the transaction as desired by the customer. The wireless Point Of Sale (POS) terminal (102) is then disconnected from the Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) system until another customer comes and the process is repeated. Thus, a customer can conveniently perform transactions using the interactive kiosk system (100) of the present disclosure, at the same time providing incentive to the retailer in the form of transaction fee.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure, the interactive kiosk system can be installed at any convenient location such as but not limited to retail stores, grocery shops, restaurants, and the like.

In accordance with another embodiment, the interactive kiosk system can also be used for retail merchandising including but not limited to issuing product discount coupons, train tickets, air tickets, movie tickets, and the like. For instance, a customer wants to purchase movie tickets for a movie. The customer swipes his authorization card, enters his authorization code and proceeds to select his transaction of purchasing movie tickets. In accordance with one embodiment, the authorization card can be used only for merchant purchase and not for banking transactions. The dispensing unit then prints the movie tickets as desired by the customer after the deduction of ticket amount to be paid from the customer's account.

In accordance with another embodiment, the customer visits the website of the particular theatre where the movie is being played. A token number for that particular movie would be displayed on the website. The customer after noting down the said token number informs the retailer of the token number and pays the ticket price to the retailer for the number of tickets he would like to purchase. The retailer then swipes an authorization card and proceeds to select his transaction of merchant purchase by entering the said token number. In accordance with one embodiment, the authorization card can be used only for merchant purchase and not for banking transactions. After the retailer has swiped his authorization card, the wireless Point Of Sale (POS) terminal of the interactive kiosk system prints the movie tickets as desired by the customer after deduction of ticket amount to be paid from the retailer' s account.

In accordance with another embodiment, the interactive kiosk system comprises an ear-phone connection for local language support. During the transaction process the customer can hear each step of the transaction that is going on in his local language.

TECHNICAL ADVANCEMENTS AND ECONOMIC SIGNIFICANCE

The technical advancements offered by the present invention include the realization of:

• an interactive kiosk system that can be located at a convenient location;

• an interactive kiosk system that can be operated without a customer authorization card under certain circumstances; an interactive kiosk system that can be operated without being continuously connected to an online network; and

an interactive kiosk system that can be used to perform transactions other than cash transactions, such as retail merchandising.

While considerable emphasis has been placed herein on the particular features of this invention, it will be appreciated that various modifications can be made, and that many changes can be made in the preferred embodiment without departing from the principles of the invention. These and other modifications in the nature of the invention or the preferred embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the disclosure

herein, whereby it is to be distinctly understood that the foregoing descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of the invention and not as a limitation.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A method for performing at least one transaction through an inter-active kiosk system located at a retailer's premise, said method comprising the steps of:

• authorizing a customer for use of the interactive kiosk system;

• validating the retailer;

• activating the interactive kiosk system;

• validating the customer's credentials;■:

• connecting to an Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) system;

• receiving selected transaction type by the customer;

• checking whether the transaction is a credit or a debit transaction;

• displaying a transaction fee applicable for the selected transaction;

• disconnecting the Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) system.

2. The method for performing at least one transaction as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of authorizing a customer includes checking photo identification of the customer. -

3. The method for performing at least one transaction as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of validating the retailer is performed by at least one of swiping an authorization card and entering an authorization code.

4. The method for performing at least one transaction as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of validating the customer's credentials is preceded by the step of pre-determining at least one of number of transactions and time limit for transactions

The method for performing a transaction through an interactive kiosk system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of validating the customer's credentials includes the step of validating authorisation card details and Personal Identification Number (PIN) of the customer by connecting to an Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) system via a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) connection.

The method for performing at least one transaction as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of checking whether the transaction is a credit or a debit transaction is followed by at least one of:

• checking status of the financial account of the retailer to meet the , transaction requirement for a credit transaction.

The method for performing at least one transaction as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the step of completing transaction is preceded by at least one of:

An interactive kiosk system, said system comprising:

• a kiosk body;

• a Point Of Sale (POS) terminal rotatably connected to said kiosk body, said Point Of Sale (POS) terminal comprises:

o first validating means configured to validate a retailer;

o second validating means configured to validate a customer; o receiving means configured to receive transaction type selection made by the customer;

o display means configured to display transaction fee applicable for the received transaction type selection;

• a dispensing unit operatively coupled to said Point Of Sale (POS) terminal, said dispensing unit configured to complete transaction selected by the customer.

9. The interactive kiosk system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising an ear-phone connection for providing an audio interface to the customer, wherein audio interface supports the local language selected by the customer.

10. The interactive kiosk system as claimed in claim 7 further comprising a lock system and a handle attached to said kiosk body.

11. The interactive kiosk system as claimed in claim 7, wherein said first validating means and said second validating means are communicably connected to an Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) system via a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) connection.