“On September 8, 2011, the US Patent & Trademark Office published a patent application from Apple that reveals more details on their portable point-of-sales (POS) system,” Jack Purcher reports for Patently Apple.
“Apple first filed a patent application for their POS system back in Q1 2010 which was later granted to them in July 2011,” Purcher reports. “The news of such a system actually being piloted at a few of Gap Inc’s Old Navy stores first leaked to 9to5 Mac in December 2010.”
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“In today’s latest patent application Apple reveals that their POS scanning device is capable of scanning multiple barcodes in different sizes with different symbologies in a single swipe and then instantly transferring the data to an electronic sales form for processing,” Purcher reports. “Although Apple is recognized as a global leading consumer centric company, it appears that Apple’s push into a Point-of-Sale system could very well be the first of many specialized systems for both retail and enterprise markets in the years to come.”
Much more in the full article, including Apple’s patent application illustrations and diagrams, here.
Apple has been using this software running on iPod touch’s in it’s retail stores for 2 years now… it’s called EasyPay.
Barcodes? Come on that’s so last century. RFIDs are the way to go. Coupled with near field readers you don’t even have to run the item over the scanner which adds time and complexity.
Stay tune for future patents on just that point, Mr. left nut. Apple has a ton of RFID patents. Apple will be the first to use it in their stores, so it’s a developing story, not an end of one.
This will be an epidemic like explosion.
Bah!
Microsoft has been dominating in POS for years and have been doing so with very high margins.
Let’s face it. Their primary source of raw materials, fresh still steaming piles of shiiite, is readily available in large quantities for cheap…
What POS do you mean? Point of sale or piece of sh*t?
Love it!
This could be a huge market for Apple if the Gap and Old Navy kick start sales. It’s nice to read the details of the multi scan capabilities and all major retailers should look into getting a pilot program in their stores too. The Apple Store is hot and Apple eating their own dog food here is showing retailers that it’s obviously ready for prime time.
It’s certainly interesting to see that Apple is slowly thinking beyond the consumer market.
I wish Williams-Sonoma would dump those horrid POS’s and adopt iPod Touch. More selling space.
Bar coding, including IMEI and ICCID bar codes that are mentioned in the patent are currentlly being used everywhere. New fangled rfid and other methods may be coming, but they’re in the minority today. When other standards kick in, I’m sure that Apple will simply update their systems accordingly.
Apple is one of the leading retailers in the world and and when the time is right and other inventory forms of product tags are in full swing, whatever they may be, Apple will be there with the appropriate updates no questions asked.
The side note graphic on patently apple is great. I like the one relating to a possible iPhone projector. Nice way of envisioning it on a stand.
As for the POS system, I have to admit that I was pleasantly surprised to read that this Apple Store retail system is going outside of the Apple Store to other retailers like Old Navy. That’s very interesting news indeed and cool that they’re actually patenting every bit of it.
Patents do not mean any “push into new markets” at all (most patents are not even used, ever). This system is patented as invention, but Apple might use it only for itself.
@ derss
I guess you can’t read. The system was being tested at Old Navy. If it was a private system, that wouldn’t be happening or it wouldn’t have been leaked by Old Navy. Secondly, everything that Apple introduces, from every aspect of every OS and apps to new parts for a slew of hardware are all patented up the ying yang. So your statement of most patents not being used ever is as dumb as a door nob. Apple is also thinking outside the consumer box now that the iPhone and iPad are making inroads into the enterprise. So pushing into new markets is not out of the question in the least.