BILL PAYMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD
A system and method to use quick response (QR) codes encoded with a bill from a merchant, such as, for example, provided by a restaurant. A code scanner ( 106 ) can scan a QR code that encodes a merchant identification code that identifies a merchant. A user can select a payment instrument on the code scanner for paying the bill. The code scanner can transmit to an application server ( 102 ) data pertaining to the payment instrument. The code scanner can receive from the application server status data indicating whether the bill was successfully or unsuccessfully paid.
1 . A method comprising:
scanning, using a code scanner, a quick response (QR) code that encodes a merchant identification code that identifies a merchant;
decoding, using the code scanner, the QR code to recover the merchant identification code;
displaying, on the code scanner, information pertaining to a bill from the merchant;
selecting, using the code scanner, a first payment instrument for paying the bill, and authorizing the bill for payment;
transmitting from the code scanner to an application server the merchant identification code, data pertaining to an amount due on the bill, and data pertaining to the first payment instrument; and
receiving, at the code scanner from the application server, status data indicating whether the bill was successfully or unsuccessfully paid.
2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
generating the QR code at a point of sale terminal.
3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving the QR code at a point of sale terminal.
4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
printing, at a point of sale terminal, a hardcopy of the QR code.
5 . The method of claim 4 ,
wherein the hardcopy of the QR code is printed with a hardcopy of the bill.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the bill and the QR code are displayed on a point of sale terminal, and wherein scanning the QR code further comprises:
scanning the QR code from an electronic display on the point of sale terminal.
7 . The method of claim 1 ,
wherein the QR code further encodes a bill identification code that identifies the bill, and wherein decoding the QR code further recovers the bill identification code.
8 . The method of claim 1 ,
wherein the QR code further encodes data pertaining to details of the bill, and wherein decoding the QR code further recovers data pertaining to details of the bill.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the QR code further encodes (i) a bill identification code that identifies the bill and (ii) data pertaining to details of the bill, and wherein decoding the QR code further recovers the bill identification code and data pertaining to details of the bill.
10 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
entering, on the code scanner, data pertaining to the amount due on the bill.
11 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
entering, on the code scanner, data pertaining to the amount due on the bill, data pertaining to a waiter identification, and data pertaining to a table number.
12 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
displaying, on the code scanner, data pertaining to the amount due on the bill, data pertaining to a waiter identification, and data pertaining to a table number.
13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the code scanner further scans an image of the bill, and further comprising:
transmitting, from the code scanner to the application server, the merchant identification code, and requesting from the application server a template specification of bills for the merchant;
receiving, at the code scanner from the application server, the template specification of bills for the merchant; and
at the code scanner, performing optical character recognition on the image of the bill to recover data pertaining to a waiter identification, data pertaining to a table number, and data pertaining to the amount due on the bill.
14 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
modifying, on the code scanner, information pertaining to the bill.
15 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
adding, on the code scanner, a tip to the bill.
16 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
transmitting, from the application server to a payment processor, data pertaining to an amount due on the bill and data pertaining to the first payment instrument; and
receiving, at the application server from the payment processor, status data indicating whether the bill was successfully or unsuccessfully paid.
17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the application server also transmits to the payment processor data pertaining to the merchant identification code.
18 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
displaying, on the code scanner, an indication that the bill has been paid.
19 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
displaying, on the code scanner, an indication that the bill has not been successfully paid;
selecting, using the code scanner, a second payment instrument for paying the bill, and authorizing the bill for payment; and
transmitting, from the code scanner to an application server, data pertaining to the second payment instrument.
20 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
scanning, using a merchant terminal, the QR code that further encodes (i) a bill identification code that identifies the bill and (ii) data pertaining to details of the bill;
decoding, using the merchant terminal, the QR code to recover the bill identification code and data pertaining to details of the bill; and
provisioning a bills database with the bill identification code and data pertaining to details of the bill, and identifying a status of the bill as unpaid.
21 - 63 . (canceled)