US 11004139

US Patent 11004139B2, titled "System and method for providing simplified in store purchases and in-app purchases using a use-interface-based payment API," was filed on October 31, 2018, and issued on May 11, 2021. The current assignee is Monticello Enterprises LLC, and the inventors are Thomas M. Isaacson and Ryan Connell Durham.

Abstract:
The patent describes applying a browser payment API (Application Programming Interface) to both brick-and-mortar and online shopping experiences. The store server communicates with a user's mobile device browser to get product identification data. The server then uses the browser API to manage the purchase. This system aims to simplify and integrate purchasing, eliminating the need for separate store apps or extensive in-store infrastructure like those found in Amazon Go stores. It enables a consistent purchasing experience across online and physical retail environments.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:

Independent Claim 1:
This claim describes a computer-implemented method for simplified in-store purchases using a mobile device with a browser. It involves receiving a request at a merchant server from the user's browser, where the user is in a physical store. The system then enables the browser to interact with a hardware component on the mobile device (like a camera or NFC module) to identify a product in the store. This product identification data is sent to the merchant server via the browser. Based on this, the server can then initiate a payment process for the identified product using a browser-based payment API. This means the browser on the user's phone acts as an intermediary for product identification and payment, reducing the need for traditional checkout systems in physical stores.

Independent Claim 12:
This claim outlines a user device (e.g., a smartphone) configured for simplified in-store purchases. The device has a processor, memory storing instructions, and a communication interface. When these instructions are executed, they cause the device to automatically launch a browser and navigate to a specific store's URL upon entering the store, potentially triggered by a wireless signal. The browser then receives user interface data from the store's server. This interface allows the user to interact with products in the physical store (e.g., by scanning codes or using NFC) to identify them for purchase. Finally, the browser is used to manage the payment process for these identified products via a browser-based payment API.

Independent Claim 17:
This claim covers a system for facilitating simplified in-store purchases. It includes a server, a database, and a communication interface. The server is configured to receive product identification data from a user's mobile device browser, where the user is physically in a store. It also establishes communication with the browser via a browser-based API to manage the payment process for the identified product. The system can also modify a user interface (sent to the browser) based on personalized user data received through an API, guiding the user in the store (e.g., to products that fit their preferences or body model). The payment is then managed through the browser-based payment API.

Litigation Status (as of 2026-05-30, based on provided text):
The patent family has ongoing litigation. Specifically, there are US cases filed in the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) with case numbers 26-1717, 26-1730, and 26-1694. There are also US cases filed in the Texas Western District Court with case numbers 6:23-cv-00763, 6:23-cv-00753, and 6:23-cv-00761.