IP Library Granted Patent US 12,443,937
Granted Patent B1
US 12,443,937 · App. 18/456,028 · Granted Oct 14, 2025

Application state transition based on instrument type

Inventors: Corey Seiderman (San Francisco, CA); Akshay Joglekar (Fremont, CA); Kevin Choi (San Francisco, CA); Patrick Belon (San Francisco, CA)
Assignee: Block, Inc.
G06Q20/206G06Q20/204G06Q20/3278G06Q20/4014
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,443,937
App. No.
18/456,028
Granted
Oct 14, 2025
Kind
B1
Abstract

Techniques described herein are directed to point-of-sale (POS) authorization and access control. A POS application operating in a first state can send a first instruction to a reader device to prepare to read payment data associated with a payment instrument and, responsive to receiving the payment data from the reader device, can process a transaction using the payment data. In a second state, the POS application can send a second instruction to the reader device to prepare to read non-payment data associated with an identification instrument of a user and, responsive to receiving the non-payment data from the reader device, can verify an identity of the user and/or grant the user permission to perform an operation. The POS application can transition between the first state and the second state based at least in part on a type of instrument to be read by the reader device.

Claims (58)

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving, by a point-of-sale application and from a reader device, a first indication of a first detection of a payment instrument;

based at least in part on receiving the first indication, enabling the point-of-sale application to operate in a first state;

sending, by the point-of-sale application operating in the first state, a first instruction to the reader device to prepare to read payment data associated with the payment instrument and, responsive to receiving the payment data from the reader device, processing a transaction using the payment data;

receiving, by the point-of-sale application and from the reader device, a second indication of a second detection of an identification instrument;

based at least in part on receiving the second indication, enabling the point-of-sale application to operate in a second state;

sending, by the point-of-sale application operating in the second state, a second instruction to the reader device to prepare to read non-payment data associated with the identification instrument of a user and, responsive to receiving the non-payment data from the reader device, at least one of (i) verifying an identity of the user using the non-payment data or (ii) granting the user permission to perform an operation using the non-payment data; and

transitioning, by the point-of-sale application, between the first state and the second state based at least in part on a type of instrument to be read by the reader device.

2. The computer-implemented method as claim 1 recites, further comprising:

receiving, by the point-of-sale application, input associated with the transaction, wherein the transaction is between a merchant and a customer; and

causing, by the point-of-sale application, a payment graphical user interface to be presented via a display of a computing device on which the point-of-sale application is operable, wherein the first state is associated with the payment graphical user interface.

3. The computer-implemented method as claim 1 recites, further comprising:

receiving, by the point-of-sale application, a request to perform the operation, wherein the operation is at least one of a log-in operation, a clock-in operation, an override operation, a refund operation, or a cancel-transaction operation;

determining, by the point-of-sale application, that authorization is required to perform the operation; and

causing, by the point-of-sale application, an authorization graphical user interface to be presented via a display of a computing device on which the point-of-sale application is operable, wherein the second state is associated with the authorization graphical user interface.

4. The computer-implemented method as claim 1 recites, wherein the non-payment data associated with the identification instrument comprises an identifier unique to the identification instrument, wherein the identifier is associated with the user, and the identifier is stored on a memory chip of the identification instrument.

5. The computer-implemented method as claim 1 recites, wherein the first instruction causes the reader device to activate a first near-field communication (NFC) frequency for reading the payment data and the second instruction causes the reader device to activate a second NFC frequency for reading the non-payment data that is different than the first NFC frequency, and wherein each NFC frequency enables the reader device to establish a unique communication session that is particular to the type of instrument to be read.

6. The computer-implemented method as claim 1 recites, wherein the identification instrument is associated with at least one of funds received from an employer of the user, loyalty data, or reward data.

7. The computer-implemented method as claim 1 recites, wherein processing the transaction using the payment data comprises sending, by the point-of-sale application, the payment data to one or more servers associated with a service provider, wherein the one or more servers process payment for the transaction using the payment data.

8. The computer-implemented method as claim 1 recites, wherein verifying the identity of the user comprises comparing the non-payment data with stored user data.

9. A system comprising:

one or more processors;

one or more one or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing instructions executable by the one or more processors, wherein the instructions cause the one or more processors to perform acts comprising:

receiving, by a point-of-sale application and from a reader device, a first indication of a first detection of a payment instrument;

based at least in part on receiving the first indication, enabling the point-of-sale application to operate in a first state;

sending, by the point-of-sale application operating in the first state, a first instruction to the reader device to prepare to read payment data associated with the payment instrument and, responsive to receiving the payment data from the reader device, processing a transaction using the payment data;

receiving, by the point-of-sale application and from the reader device, a second indication of a second detection of an identification instrument;

based at least in part on receiving the second indication, enabling the point-of-sale application to operate in a second state;

sending, by the point-of-sale application operating in the second state, a second instruction to the reader device to prepare to read non-payment data associated with the identification instrument of a user and, responsive to receiving the non-payment data from the reader device, at least one of (i) verifying an identity of the user using the non-payment data or (ii) granting the user permission to perform an operation using the non-payment data; and

transitioning, by the point-of-sale application, between the first state and the second state based at least in part on a type of instrument to be read by the reader device.

10. The system as claim 9 recites, further comprising:

receiving, by the point-of-sale application, input associated with the transaction, wherein the transaction is between a merchant and a customer; and

causing, by the point-of-sale application, a payment graphical user interface to be presented via a display of a computing device on which the point-of-sale application is operable, wherein the first state is associated with the payment graphical user interface.

11. The system as claim 9 recites, further comprising:

receiving, by the point-of-sale application, a request to perform the operation, wherein the operation is at least one of a log-in operation, a clock-in operation, an override operation, a refund operation, or a cancel-transaction operation;

determining, by the point-of-sale application, that authorization is required to perform the operation; and

causing, by the point-of-sale application, an authorization graphical user interface to be presented via a display of a computing device on which the point-of-sale application is operable, wherein the second state is associated with the authorization graphical user interface.

12. The system as claim 9 recites, wherein the non-payment data associated with the identification instrument comprises an identifier unique to the identification instrument, wherein the identifier is associated with the user, and the identifier is stored on a memory chip of the identification instrument.

13. The system as claim 9 recites, wherein the first instruction causes the reader device to activate a first near-field communication (NFC) frequency for reading the payment data and the second instruction causes the reader device to activate a second NFC frequency for reading the non-payment data that is different than the first NFC frequency, and wherein each NFC frequency enables the reader device to establish a unique communication session that is particular to the type of instrument to be read.

14. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform acts comprising:

receiving, by a point-of-sale application and from a reader device, a first indication of a first detection of a payment instrument;

based at least in part on receiving the first indication, enabling the point-of-sale application to operate in a first state;

sending, by the point-of-sale application operating in the first state, a first instruction to the reader device to prepare to read payment data associated with the payment instrument and, responsive to receiving the payment data from the reader device, processing a transaction using the payment data;

receiving, by the point-of-sale application and from the reader device, a second indication of a second detection of an identification instrument;

based at least in part on receiving the second indication, enabling the point-of-sale application to operate in a second state;

sending, by the point-of-sale application operating in the second state, a second instruction to the reader device to prepare to read non-payment data associated with the identification instrument of a user and, responsive to receiving the non-payment data from the reader device, at least one of (i) verifying an identity of the user using the non-payment data or (ii) granting the user permission to perform an operation using the non-payment data; and

transitioning, by the point-of-sale application, between the first state and the second state based at least in part on a type of instrument to be read by the reader device.

15. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media as claim 14 recites, further comprising:

receiving, by the point-of-sale application, input associated with the transaction, wherein the transaction is between a merchant and a customer; and

causing, by the point-of-sale application, a payment graphical user interface to be presented via a display of a computing device on which the point-of-sale application is operable, wherein the first state is associated with the payment graphical user interface.

16. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media as claim 14 recites, further comprising:

receiving, by the point-of-sale application, a request to perform the operation, wherein the operation is at least one of a log-in operation, a clock-in operation, an override operation, a refund operation, or a cancel-transaction operation;

determining, by the point-of-sale application, that authorization is required to perform the operation; and

causing, by the point-of-sale application, an authorization graphical user interface to be presented via a display of a computing device on which the point-of-sale application is operable, wherein the second state is associated with the authorization graphical user interface.

17. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media as claim 14 recites, wherein the non-payment data associated with the identification instrument comprises an identifier unique to the identification instrument, wherein the identifier is associated with the user, and the identifier is stored on a memory chip of the identification instrument.

18. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media as claim 14 recites, wherein the first instruction causes the reader device to activate a first near-field communication (NFC) frequency for reading the payment data and the second instruction causes the reader device to activate a second NFC frequency for reading the non-payment data that is different than the first NFC frequency, and wherein each NFC frequency enables the reader device to establish a unique communication session that is particular to the type of instrument to be read.

19. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media as claim 14 recites, wherein processing the transaction using the payment data comprises sending, by the point-of-sale application, the payment data to one or more servers associated with a service provider, wherein the one or more servers process payment for the transaction using the payment data.

20. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media as claim 14 recites, wherein verifying the identity of the user comprises comparing the non-payment data with stored user data.

Assignments (4)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 13, 2024
From: SEIDERMAN, COREY; BELON, PATRICK; CHOI, KEVIN; JOGLEKAR, AKSHAY
To: SQUARE, INC.
Reel/Frame 069254/0118 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Nov 13, 2024
From: SQUARE, INC.
To: BLOCK, INC.
Reel/Frame 069356/0565 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 25, 2023
From: SEIDERMAN, COREY; BELON, PATRICK; CHOI, KEVIN; JOGLEKAR, AKSHAY
To: SQUARE, INC.
Reel/Frame 064706/0887 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Aug 25, 2023
From: SQUARE, INC.
To: BLOCK, INC.
Reel/Frame 064729/0029 →
Continuity (1)
Division 16902671 · Jun 16, 2020
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