Methods and systems for self-service checkout

Abstract

In an embodiment, a self-service checkout computer receives checkout data from a mobile device of a consumer. The checkout data includes merchant identity data, transaction details and payment account data. The transaction details and the payment account data are transmitted to a merchant server or a gateway server for purchase transaction authorization. If the purchase is authorized, the self-service checkout computer transmits a purchase transaction authorization message to the consumer's mobile device for display on a display screen. In some embodiments, if a transaction declined notification is received instead of a purchase transaction authorization, the self-service checkout computer transmits the transaction declined notification to the consumer's mobile device for display.

1 . A method, comprising:
 receiving, by a self-service checkout computer, checkout data from a mobile device of a consumer, the checkout data comprising merchant identity data, transaction details and payment account data;   transmitting the transaction details and the payment account data to one of a merchant server or a gateway server for purchase transaction authorization;   receiving a purchase transaction authorization; and   transmitting, by the self-service checkout computer, a purchase transaction authorization message to the mobile device of the consumer.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, prior to receiving a purchase transaction authorization:
 receiving a transaction declined notification; and   transmitting, by the self-service checkout computer, the transaction declined notification to the mobile device of the consumer.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 transmitting, by the self-service checkout computer, merchant instructions to the mobile device of the consumer.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, prior to receiving checkout data, receiving merchant registration data. 
     
     
         5 . Them method of  claim 4 , wherein the merchant registration data comprises at least one of merchant store location data, product data, pricing data, 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising storing the merchant registration data in a database. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 updating the merchant registration data; and   storing the updated merchant registration data in a database.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, prior to receiving checkout data, receiving consumer registration data. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the consumer registration data comprises at least one of consumer identification data, mobile device identification data and payment account data. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising storing the consumer registration data in a database. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising transmitting a self-service checkout application to the mobile device of the consumer. 
     
     
         12 . A computer readable medium storing non-transitory instructions configured to cause a processor to:
 receive checkout data from a mobile device of a consumer, the checkout data comprising merchant identity data, transaction details and payment account data;   transmit the transaction details and the payment account data to one of a merchant server or a gateway server for purchase transaction authorization;   receive a purchase transaction authorization; and   transmit a purchase transaction authorization message to the mobile device of the consumer.   
     
     
         13 . The computer readable medium of  claim 12 , further comprising, prior to the instructions for transmitting the transaction details, instructions configured to cause the processor to:
 receive a transaction declined notification; and   transmit the transaction declined notification to the mobile device of the consumer.   
     
     
         14 . The computer readable medium of  claim 12 , further comprising instructions configured to cause the processor to transmit merchant instructions to the mobile device of the consumer. 
     
     
         15 . The computer readable medium of  claim 12 , further comprising, prior to the instructions for receiving checkout data, instructions configured to cause the processor to:
 receive merchant registration data; and   store the merchant registration data in a database.   
     
     
         16 . The computer readable medium of  claim 12 , further comprising, prior to the instructions for receiving checkout data, instructions configured to cause the processor to:
 receive consumer registration data; and   store the consumer registration data in a database.   
     
     
         17 . The computer readable medium of  claim 12 , further comprising instructions configured to cause the processor to transmit a self-service checkout application to the mobile device of the consumer. 
     
     
         18 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a processor;   a communication device operatively coupled to the processor; and   a storage device operatively coupled to the processor, the storage device storing instructions configured to instruct the processor to:
 receive checkout data from a mobile device of a consumer, the checkout data comprising merchant identity data, transaction details and payment account data; 
 transmit the transaction details and the payment account data to one of a merchant server or a gateway server for purchase transaction authorization; 
 receive a purchase transaction authorization; and 
 transmit a purchase transaction authorization message to the mobile device of the consumer. 
   
     
     
         19 . A method, comprising:
 initializing, by a processor of a consumer mobile device, a self-service checkout application;   receiving, by the processor, input data concerning at least one item selected for purchase;   displaying information concerning the at least one item for purchase on a display screen of the consumer mobile device;   receiving, by the processor, an indication that shopping is completed;   transmitting, by the processor to a self-service checkout computer, transaction details and payment account data;   receiving, by the processor from the self-service checkout computer, at least one of a transaction authorization message or a transaction denied message; and   displaying, by the processor on the display screen of the consumer mobile device, one of the transaction authorization message or the transaction denied message.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein initializing comprises one of automatically recognizing, by the processor, a merchant retail store based on merchant location data in relation to the position of the consumer mobile device and running the self-service checkout application, or receiving input data concerning at least one of a merchant store and a location of the consumer mobile device and in response to the input data running the self-service checkout application. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising, subsequent to receiving input concerning item data:
 transmitting, by the processor to a self-service checkout computer, the input data; and   receiving, by the processor from the self-service checkout computer, item information including at least one of an item name, an item price and an item description.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising, subsequent to displaying the transaction denied message:
 displaying, by the processor on the display screen of the mobile device, a prompt to select an alternative payment account;   receiving, by the processor, a selection of an alternative payment account; and   transmitting, by the processor to a self-service checkout computer, the transaction details and the alternative payment account data.   
     
     
         23 . A computer readable medium storing non-transitory instructions configured to cause a processor to:
 initialize a self-service checkout application;   receive input data concerning at least one item selected for purchase;   display information concerning the at least one item for purchase on a display screen of a consumer mobile device;   receive an indication that shopping is completed;   transmit transaction details and payment account data to a self-service checkout computer;   receive at least one of a transaction authorization message or a transaction denied message; and   display one of the transaction authorization message or the transaction denied message.   
     
     
         24 . The computer readable medium of  claim 23 , further comprising, subsequent to the instructions for receiving input concerning item data, instructions configured to cause the processor to:
 transmit the input data to a self-service checkout computer; and   receive item information including at least one of an item name, an item price and an item description.   
     
     
         25 . The computer readable medium of  claim 23 , further comprising, subsequent to the instructions for displaying the transaction denied message, instructions configured to cause the processor to:
 display a prompt to select an alternative payment account on the display screen of the mobile device;   receive a selection of an alternative payment account; and   transmit the transaction details and the alternative payment account data to a self-service checkout computer.   
     
     
         26 . A self-checkout service system, comprising:
 a self-service checkout server computer;   a gateway server operably connected to the self-service checkout server computer and to a payment network;   a consumer mobile device operably connected to the self-service checkout server computer; and   at least one merchant server computer operably connected to the self-service checkout server computer;   wherein the self-service checkout computer is operable to receive and store merchant registration data and consumer registration data, and is operable to receive checkout data from the consumer mobile device that includes merchant identity data, transaction details and payment account data; and   wherein the self-service checkout computer transmits the transaction details and the payment account data to one of a merchant server or the gateway server for purchase transaction authorization, receives one of a purchase transaction authorization or a transaction denied indication, and transmits one of a purchase transaction authorization message or a purchase denied message to the mobile device of the consumer.   
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 26 , further comprising a database operably connected to the self-service checkout server, the database storing at least one of consumer registration data and merchant registration data.