Apple patent portfolio got a little fatter today, as the company was awarded a patent for its EasyPay solution, which allows customers to scan and buy items from Apple’s retail locations via their iOS device.
The background notes explain that the technology is designed to bridge the gap between Web and physical retail. It further explains that the growth (or indeed near-standardization) of both in-store WiFi and the ownership of connected devices, is the ideal background for the payment solution – which makes things easy for customers and staff.
The outline description for patent US 8,321,294 B2 – initially filed in January 2012 — reads:
“Techniques for improved interaction between online retailers and traditional brick-and-mortar retailers that provide patron-accessible networks are disclosed. The location and/or the fact that any given purchase was made from a particular retailer’s patron-accessible network can be tracked for a variety of purposes. The invention can facilitate partnering between online retailers (i.e. online stores) and traditional ‘brick-and-mortar’ business establishments.
The technology has been well-received, with only a few issues, such as when a New Jersey teenager was stopped leaving an Apple Store in August, and was accused of shoplifting an item that he said he paid for via EasyPay.
International expansion of EasyPay began in August when Australia came online. Canadian shoppers got the feature earlier this month, and Apple reports it is aiming to bring the solution to China soon.
