Portable handheld device for wireless order entry and real time payment authorization and related methods

Abstract

A portable handheld device for wireless order entry and real time payment authorization may include a portable housing, a display carried by the housing, an order entry input device carried by the housing, a transaction card input device carried by the housing for reading user sensitive information from a transaction card, a wireless transceiver carried by the housing, and a processor carried by the housing and connected to the display, order entry input device, transaction card input device and wireless transceiver. The processor may be for wirelessly sending input order information, and encrypting and wirelessly sending the user sensitive information from the transaction card without storing and without displaying. The processor may also be for wirelessly receiving and displaying payment authorization information based upon real time authorization from a transaction card issuing entity.

1 - 26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . A system for wireless order entry and real time authorization via the Internet and comprising:
 a wireless network router coupled to the Internet; and   at least one device comprising
 an output device, 
 an input device for obtaining user sensitive information, 
 a wireless transceiver, and 
 a processor coupled to said output device, input device, and wireless transceiver for
 wirelessly sending the user sensitive information to said wireless network router via said wireless transceiver and without retrievably storing the user sensitive information, and 
 wirelessly receiving authorization information related to the user sensitive information from said wireless network router via said wireless transceiver based upon real time authorization, and generating an output related to the received authorization information via said output device. 
 
   
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 27  further comprising a personal identification number (PIN) input device coupled to said processor; and wherein said processor also wirelessly sends PIN information without retrievably storing the PIN information. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 28  wherein said output device comprises a display; and wherein said processor also wirelessly sends the user sensitive information and the PIN information without displaying the user sensitive information and the PIN information on said display. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 27  further comprising a debit personal identification number (PIN) input device coupled to said processor; and wherein said processor also wirelessly sends debit PIN information without retrievably storing the debit PIN information. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 27  wherein said input device comprises a transaction device reader. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 27  wherein said wireless transceiver comprises a wireless local area network (WLAN) transceiver. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 27  wherein said wireless transceiver comprises a cellular telephone transceiver. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 27  wherein said wireless transceiver comprises a wireless Bluetooth transceiver. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 27  wherein said wireless transceiver comprises a radio transceiver. 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 27  wherein said processor cooperates with said wireless transceiver to use encryption. 
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 36  further comprising a volatile memory coupled to said processor and storing a private key for the encryption. 
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 37  further comprising at least one tamper resistant structure associated with said volatile memory. 
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 27  wherein said processor sends and receives information via a Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) protocol. 
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 27  further comprising an order entry input device coupled to said processor. 
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 40  wherein said order entry input device comprises a touch screen display. 
     
     
         42 . The system of  claim 27  wherein said input device comprises a touch screen display. 
     
     
         43 . The system of  claim 27  further comprising a memory coupled to said processor for storing restaurant menu data. 
     
     
         44 . The system of  claim 27  wherein said output device comprises a printer. 
     
     
         45 . The system of  claim 27  wherein said output device comprises a screen display. 
     
     
         46 . The system of  claim 27  wherein said output device comprises a touch screen display. 
     
     
         47 . The system of  claim 27  wherein the user sensitive information comprises a personal identification number (PIN). 
     
     
         48 . The system of  claim 27  wherein the user sensitive information comprises a password. 
     
     
         49 . The system of  claim 27  wherein said input device comprises a keypad. 
     
     
         50 . A wireless real time authorization method comprising:
 obtaining user sensitive information from an input device;   causing a wireless transceiver to wirelessly send the user sensitive information and without retrievably storing the user sensitive information, and wirelessly receive authorization information related to the user sensitive information based upon real time authorization; and   causing an output device to generate an output related to the received authorization information.   
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 50  wherein wirelessly sending also comprises wirelessly sending personal identification number (PIN) information obtained from a PIN input device and without retrievably storing the PIN information. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 51  wherein wirelessly sending also comprises wirelessly sending the user sensitive information and the PIN information without displaying the user sensitive information and the PIN information on a display. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 50  wherein wirelessly sending also comprises wirelessly sending debit personal identification number (PIN) information obtained from a debit PIN input device and without retrievably storing the debit PIN information. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 50  wherein the input device comprises a transaction device reader. 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 50  wherein the wireless transceiver comprises a wireless local area network (WLAN) transceiver. 
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 50  wherein the wireless transceiver comprises a cellular telephone transceiver. 
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 50  wherein the wireless transceiver comprises a wireless Bluetooth transceiver. 
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 50  wherein the wireless transceiver comprises a radio transmitter. 
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 50  wherein wirelessly sending comprises wirelessly sending using encryption. 
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 50  wherein the user sensitive information comprises a personal identification number (PIN). 
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 50  wherein the user sensitive information comprises a password.