WO2016008019A1

WO2016008019A1 - A method for determining the location of a plurality of devices, a method for updating applications in pos devices, a method for creating a list of neighboring devices, a method for communication through fallback link, a method for choosing the communication mode between a device and one of an acquirer and a service provider, and a communication system

Info

Publication number: WO2016008019A1
Application number: PCT/BR2015/050088
Authority: WO
Inventors: Plinio CARDOSO DA COSTA PATRÃO; Luiz Adolfo GRUPPI AFONSO; Renato DE MELO FARIA; Adriane MAIA INSUELA GARCIA; Rodrigo Vinícius COSTA RIBEIRO; Pedro Henrique VALVERDE GUIMARÃES
Original assignee: Cielo S.A.
Priority date: 2014-07-18
Filing date: 2015-07-08
Publication date: 2016-01-21
Also published as: AR101224A1; BR102014017796A2

Abstract

The present invention provides a communication system comprising at least two POS devices (1, 10a, 10b, 11) which communicate by means of at least one communication protocol. In another embodiment, the proposed commu- nication system comprises at least two docking stations (15) which communi- cate with each other through at least one communication protocol. Moreover, methods to solve problems through the suggested communication system are described. These methods are: a method for creating a list of neighboring devices; a method for determining the location of a plurality of devices (1, 10a, 10b, 11, 4a, 4b,4c, 15); a method for choosing the communication mode between a device (1, 10a,10b, 11, 4a, 4b, 4c, 15) and an acquirer (12a) or a service provider (12b); a method for updating applications in POS devices (1, 10a, 10b, 11); and a method for communication through fallback link.

Description

Patent Specification for "A METHOD FOR DETERMINING THE LOCATION OF A PLURALITY OF DEVICES, A METHOD FOR UPDATING APPLICATIONS IN POS DEVICES, A METHOD FOR CREATING A LIST OF NEIGHBORING DEVICES, A METHOD for communication THROUGH FALLBACK LINK, A METHOD FOR CHOOSING THE COMMUNICATION MODE BETWEEN A DEVICE AND ONE OF AN ACQUIRER AND A SERVICE PROVIDER, AND A COMMUNICATION SYSTEM".

[001 ] The present invention refers to a communication system comprising a telecommunication network which interconnects two or more POS ("Point of Sale") devices with each other, or to two or more POS docking stations to other devices, for instance, cellular mobile devices, tablets, among others. The POS device or its docking station acts as a terminal element, using the communication system to execute methods or as an intermediate element, using telecommunication technologies to interconnect other elements of the system. The docking stations of POS devices and other devices such as cellular mobile devices, among others, can also act as terminal or intermediate elements. The elements exchange information through multiple technologies and communicate with acquirers or service providers.

[002] The communication between the elements of the system occurs due to the formation, in each device, of a list of devices located in the vicinity of each device of the system, referred to as neighboring devices.

[003] Furthermore, the present invention refers to methods for determining the location of devices, communicating through fallback link and updating device applications. Said methods use said list of neighboring devices of each device.

Description of the PRIOR art

[004] The challenge of the information exchange in the market of payment cards reflects the structure of said market, developed along the years, according to the business needs of each member of the chain, resulting in several interconnected components. Each component of this chain is provided with equipment and methods to execute their tasks automatically as the information is received or forwarded to other components of the chain. The main components of this market are:

[005] Buyer/cardholder: consumer of goods, services, among others, who has a card (physical or virtual) or other device capable of performing transactions;

[006] Issuer: an organization, usually a bank, which manages the relationship with the buyer/cardholder. It is in charge, for instance, of issuing cards, granting credits and collecting invoices;

[007] Seller/establishment: trader, service provider, professionals, and others who sale through acquirer services;

[008] Acquirer: company responsible for providing the seller/establishment with the POS device. The Acquirer is in charge of two main activities: i) authorization, which consists in performing security checks at the moment of the sale, and ii) financial settlement, operation where the value is transferred from the issuer bank of the buyer/seller to the bank account of the seller/establishment. It also provides other services for these sellers/establishments such as, for instance, solutions to recharge prepaid cellular devices, loyalty programs for their customers or promotion management system for seller/establishments;

[009] Flag: Organization which holds the trademark, defines parts of the rules and functioning of the business, and mediates the relationship between the Issuer and the Acquirer; and

[0010] Service Provider: company or organization in charge of providing services for at least one of the parties involved in this business.

[001 1 ] At the beginning of the card market, the POS device was a manual reader which copied the information contained in cards into a sheet. Such sheets were used in financial settlement operations (last financial operation of the transaction, the money transfer from the issuer bank of the card to the seller/establishment). In order to avoid fraud, the authorization operation was performed at the purchase, when the seller/establishment checked the validity of the card information in different ways: by comparing the information present in the card with that of ID documents, comparing the signature on the back of the card with the signature presented or calling to confirm the information and the balance. With the advances in technology, the operations of authorization and settlement have become electronic and the POS device has gained the function of interconnecting with acquirers to process the authorization during the transaction. The paradigm shift to the electronic processing of the authorization and settlement reduced the transaction execution time and increased the system security, becoming indispensable for the functioning of the market.

[0012] The devices of the payment means can be split into two categories: POS ("Point of Sale") and sale stations. POS devices are autonomous devices and are connected with the acquirer when a seller/establishment initiates a financial transaction. A POS device has methods and systems required to open a secure connection with the acquirer and initiate a transaction. Moreover, POS devices can provide several other services such as, for instance, loyalty programs or promotion control. POS devices can also connect with third Service Providers to exchange information relevant to certain services.

[0013] POS devices can be fixed (i.e., connected to the power source and using wired communication methods) or mobile. Mobile POS devices such as, for instance, POS devices based on GPRS technology, have docking stations. POS docking stations have two functions: i) charge the battery of the POS device, and ii) extend the communication methods present in the POS device.

[0014] POS devices and docking stations have specific methods and systems, thus allowing a POS device to recognize a direct connection with the docking station (both through physical interface and wireless connection) and access, in a transparent manner, communication means available only in the docking station. An example of this functionality is that a POS device can be connected with its docking station via Bluetooth and the application connects directly through an Ethernet connection with the acquirer, present only in the docking station. [0015] Sale stations consist of several different devices offering a plurality of services to the seller/establishment. An exemplary embodiment of sale stations can be found in large supermarkets, mainly composed of a computer, a barcode reader, a conveyor belt for products, a fiscal printer, among others, and a device for specific payment means. Sale stations are usually controlled by operators and have a plurality of applications and allow, for instance, stock management, cash control, etc.

[0016] The device for payment means which is connected to the sale stations is known in the market as Pinpad. Differently from POS devices, financial transactions of a sale station are initiated in the master device, which may be a computer, a tablet or a smartphone. At the time of reading the necessary sensitive information of the buyer/cardholder, the master device initiates the Pinpad.

[0017] During data reading by the Pinpad, the sale station communicates with at least one server, which can be the seller/business or any other component of the chain such as, for instance, the service provider. This server mediates the communication with the suitable acquirer. Sellers/establishments using sale stations have agreements with multiple acquirers and their payment means devices should contain methods and systems suitable to communicate with each acquirer in a safe way.

[0018] Currently, a POS device is endowed with several technologies to connect with the acquirer: broadband, dial-up, GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) connections, among others. The use of wireless technologies has allowed a POS device to gain a new feature: mobility.

[0019] Mobility was a crucial factor and transformed the POS GPRS device in the current standard of the Brazilian electronic payments market. However, mobility also made the POS device dependent on the cellular network, which does not have the availability standards required by the electronic payment market. The communication between the POS device and the card issuer bank lasts a few seconds. Nevertheless, delays may occur due to the telecommunication network or the transaction may fail due to network unavailability while the transaction is being carried out. [0020] Due to the need to avoid the infrastructure problems existing in cellular networks, the acquirers developed various methods and "fallback" systems (or fallback link). When the first attempt to connect with an acquirer returns an error, the POS device enters the fallback link flow and seeks other ways to connect with the acquirer, according to some pre-established criteria. Fallback link flows involve new communication strategies such as, for instance, transferring data through a cell call.

[0021 ] The communication between POS devices and other devices to perform financial transactions with the acquirer has already been explored. Currently, POS devices may exchange information on financial transactions with the acquirer through their docking stations or smartphones. The present invention presents solutions using the communication between POS devices and other devices for fallback link flow. In this new embodiment, when the POS device enters in the fallback link flow, it searches a neighboring device to mediate its communication with the acquirer.

[0022] The POS device, as well as the neighboring devices thereof, should have methods and systems to: i) recognize the initiation of the fallback link flow, ii) search the best neighboring device, according to certain predefined parameters, iii) inform said neighboring device that a device to mediate its communication is required, and iv) the neighboring device uses its methods and systems to mediate the communication between the POS device and the acquirer.

[0023] Solutions described in the prior art which address the problem of telecommunication infrastructure propose new types of fallback links, the main focus of such solutions being the sale station.

[0024] The communication of POS devices among themselves, fixed stations among themselves, and the communication between POS devices, docking stations and other communication devices facilitates the acquirer in three ways: First of all, it provides the creation of an fallback link for the acquirer.

[0025] Secondly, the software of the devices is updated. An acquirer in a certain country can have more than one million POS devices. Said POS devices are rented to seller/establishment and the acquirer maintains both the hardware and software of such devices. Hardware maintenance implies to keep the POS device in good physical conditions or to replace it with a newer model. Software maintenance implies updating the software of these devices, which should be performed remotely.

[0026] Currently, each POS device must connect with the acquirer in order to individually receive software update. Due to the communication between POS devices, a device may transmit the update of the software to other neighboring devices, thus, aiding the acquirer.

[0027] The third facility is to calculate the device relative location. For management and especially security reasons, the acquirer has an interest in knowing the position of POS devices. Due to the communication between POS devices, a device may know which are its neighboring devices and transmit this information to the acquirer. In turn, the acquirer may come across different sources of information and find the real location of a POS device.

[0028] The present invention differs from the solutions described in the prior art, since it uses the communication between POS devices and other devices as part of the described communication system to form fallback links, calculate the relative location of the devices and enhance the strategies to update the software of these devices.

Brief Description of the Invention

[0029] The present invention provides a communication system comprising at least two POS devices which communicate by means of at least one communication protocol. In another embodiment, the proposed communication system comprises at least two docking stations which communicate by means of at least one communication protocol.

[0030] Furthermore, the present invention provides a method for generating a list of neighboring devices. This method comprises the steps of: sending periodically, from a first device, a message containing an identified or said first device to a plurality of second devices neighboring said first device; receiving in the plurality of second devices the message sent by the first de- vice; sending to the first device, from each second device, a message containing the identifier of said second device; create, in the first device, a list of second devices neighboring the first device; and storing, in the first device, the list of its neighboring devices.

[0031 ] Moreover, the present invention provides a method for determining the location of a plurality of devices, which comprises the following steps: sending periodically, from a first device, a message containing an identifier of said first device, to a plurality of second devices neighboring said first device; receiving, in the plurality of second devices, the message sent by the first device; sending to the first device, from each second device, a message containing the identifier of said second device; generating, in the first device, a list of second devices neighboring the first device; sending, from the first device, the list of its neighboring devices to either the service provider or the acquirer; receiving, in either the service provider or the acquirer, the list of the devices neighboring the first device; storing, with either the service provider or the acquirer, the periodically-received list of the devices neighboring the first device; comparing, with either the service provider or the acquirer, the stored lists of the device neighboring the first device; and calculating, in either the service provider or the acquirer, the location of the first device based on the stored lists of devices neighboring the first device.

[0032] Furthermore, the present invention refers to the communication method through fallback link. In a first embodiment, this method comprises the following steps: sending periodically, from a first device, a message containing an identifier of said first device to a plurality of second devices neighboring said first device; receiving, in the plurality of second devices, the message sent by the first device; sending to the first device, from each second device, a message containing the identifier of said second device; generating, in the first device, a list of second devices neighboring the first devices; sorting, in the first device, the list of second devices neighboring the first device, according to predefined criteria; in case of communication loss between the first device and either the service provider or an acquirer, selecting in the first device, the first one placed in the list of second devices neighboring the first device, in order to perform communication through fallback link; and establishing a link between the first device on the list of second devices neighboring and the first device to provide communication between the first device and either the service provider or the acquirer.

[0033] In another embodiment, the communication method through fallback link comprises the following steps: connecting a POS device to a computer equipment having communication connection with either a service provider or an acquirer; performing communication between said POS device and either the service provider or said acquirer by said computer equipment when said POS device loses its connection with either the service provider or the acquirer.

[0034] A method for choosing the communication mode between a device and either an acquirer or a service provider is also described. This method is based on the determination of the fallback link communication method to be used by the device, among the fallback link communication methods proposed, according to predefined criteria.

[0035] Moreover, the present invention refers to a method for updating application in POS devices, comprising the following steps: receiving in a first device a message informing that updates are available; sending, from the first device to a plurality of second devices neighboring the first device, a message to verify whether any of the devices of the plurality of the second devices neighboring the first device have been already updated; receiving, in the first device, a confirmation message from each of the devices of the plurality of second devices neighboring the first device which have already been updated; sending from the first device to said updated second devices a message requiring a first update package; receiving, in the first device, the first update package; after the first device receives said first update package, sending a message requiring a second update package to one of said already updated second devices; and repeating the previous steps until all the update packages are received.

Brief Description of the Drawings [0036] A more detailed description of the present invention, based on one embodiment represented in the figures is given below. The figures show:

[0037] Figure 1 - represents a POS device with a telecommunication module;

[0038] Figure 2 - represents a POS device with a telecommunication module connected with a docking station having a telecommunication module;

[0039] Figure 3 - represents a communication system formed by the interconnection of POS devices with docking stations through telecommunication modules, where POS devices and docking stations can be interconnected through a third network;

[0040] Figure 4 - represents a communication system formed by the interconnection of POS devices and docking stations through telecommunication modules, wherein some elements of the communication system are connected with either acquirers or service providers through a third network;

[0041 ] Figure 5 - represents a communication system formed by the interconnection of POS devices, docking stations and communication systems, wherein some elements of the communication system are connected with the acquirer through third networks;

[0042] Figure 6 - represents a communication system formed by the interconnection of POS devices, docking stations and communication devices, wherein some elements of the communication system are connected with either an acquirer or a service provider directly or through third networks;

[0043] Figure 7 - represents a POS device connected to an external telecommunication module by wire or wireless interface, wherein an external telecommunication module allows the communication between the POS device and its neighboring devices;

[0044] Figure 8 - represents a communication system with a plurality of POS devices connected through two sub-networks, wherein the POS devices act as gateways between sub-networks; [0045] Figure 9 - represents a communication system with a plurality of POS devices connected with each other and connected through a third network;

[0046] Figure 10 - represents a communication system with a plurality of POS devices and communication devices connected through two subnetworks, wherein one POS device and one communication device act as gateways between said sub-networks;

[0047] Figure 1 1 - represents a communication system with a plurality of POS devices and other communication devices connected with each other and connected through a third network;

[0048] Figure 12 - represents a connection between a POS device with either an acquirer or a service provider through fallback link by means of a POS device and third networks;

[0049] Figure 13 - represents a connection between a POS device with either an acquirer or a service provider through fallback link by means of a communication device and third networks;

[0050] Figure 14 - represents a connection between a POS device with either an acquirer or a service provider through fallback link by means of a docking station and third networks;

[0051 ] Figure 15 - represents a connection between a POS device with either an acquirer or a service provider through fallback link by means of a communication device and third networks;

[0052] Figure 16 - represents a connection between a POS device with either an acquirer or a service provider through fallback link by means of multiple jumps and third networks;

[0053] Figure 17 - represents a communication between the POS device and its neighboring devices through a plurality of telecommunication technologies and protocols;

[0054] Figure 18 - represents a system wherein a POS device receives updates; and

[0055] Figure 19 - represents a system wherein multiple devices communicate with neighboring devices. Detailed Description of the Invention

[0056] The following description of the present invention is based on the embodiments represented in the drawings.

[0057] The present invention provides a communication system which interconnects two or more POS devices among themselves and/or with docking stations and/or with other communication devices present in the system. The POS device or its docking station acts as a terminal element, using the communication system to execute different methods or as intermediate element, using its telecommunication technologies to interconnect other elements of the system.

[0058] Furthermore, other devices such as cellular mobile devices may act as terminal or intermediate elements, exchanging information by means of multiple technologies.

[0059] The present invention also refers to methods for determining the location of the communication devices through fallback link and for updating the applications of POS devices. Therefore, a solution to the prior art problems previously described is presented herein.

[0060] The POS device is the element responsible for the interconnection between the seller/establishment and the buyer/cardholder. The POS device comprises hardware and software which allow a secure exchange of messages with either acquirers or other service providers. These communications are defined according to security specifications. Thereunto, POS devices are endowed with methods and systems which allow them to connect with a plurality of networks such as, for instance, GPRS, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.

[0061 ] POS devices may also be provided with docking stations. Docking stations have connectors allowing the connection with the POS device. Docking stations are primarily used to charge the battery of the POS device, but they can also extend communication features, providing access to technologies not available for the POS device. Moreover, the POS device and the docking station can also communicate through wireless technologies.

[0062] Figure 1 shows a POS device 1 comprising a telecommunication module to exchange (transmit and/or receive) messages with other devices, as well as third networks. The third networks are telecommunication networks which mediate the communication between the POS devices and servers, wherein the servers are provided either by service providers or by the acquirer such as, for instance, the transaction authorization services of the acquirer or recharge prepaid cellular devices services.

[0063] Figure 2 shows a POS device 1 which can communicate with a docking station 15 either through at least one connector 13 or through wireless technology. The docking station 15 comprises a telecommunication module 14 which allows the communication with third networks and allows the communication with the POS device 1 through the connector 13, besides supplying energy to POS 1 device through said connector.

[0064] As shown in figure 2, the docking station 15 comprises a telecommunication module 14 which allows the communication with POS device 1 , other communication devices or third networks.

[0065] Moreover, the docking station 15 makes it possible to charge the battery of the POS device 1 through at least one connector 13. When connected with the base 15, either through at least one connector 13 or by wireless technology, the POS device 1 can communicate with the docking station 15 and can use the technologies of the telecommunication module 14 to communicate with either an acquirer or service providers.

[0066] Hence, according to the present invention, two or more POS devices (with or without the aid of docking stations) can communicate with each other.

[0067] Accordingly, the interconnection between POS devices can create a communication system which works in parallel or complementarily to the already existing networks. The communication system can be quite useful, for instance, when the connectivity between the POS device and the acquirer is not possible.

[0068] Figure 3 shows a configuration of a communication system 3 which comprises a plurality of POS devices 1 and docking stations 15 which communicate with each other. This communication can be performed through in several manners, using several technologies such as, for instance, USB port, serial ports, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, QR code reading and sound.

[0069] As it can be observed, each POS device 1 contains at least one internal communication module 2 and each docking station 15 contains at least one internal telecommunication module 14 capable of creating links between the POS devices 1 , between the docking stations 15, or links linking POS devices 1 and docking stations 15, forming the communication system 3, consisting of wired or wireless links.

[0070] POS devices 1 and docking stations 15 can act as intermediate elements within the communication system 3 or can communicate with an acquirer 12a through the third network 8. The communication with the third network 8 occurs through a plurality of technologies such as, for instance, broadband communication and GPRS network.

[0071 ] The acquirer 12a has servers communicating with POS devices 1 . These servers execute different methods such as, for instance, receiving and processing financial transactions and updating the software of POS devices 1 . Servers of the acquirer 12a provide a plurality of services for POS devices 1 , buyer/cardholder and seller/establishments.

[0072] Figure 4 shows a communication system 3 which comprises a plurality of POS devices 1 and docking stations 15 which can communicate through links. POS devices 1 and docking stations 15 communicate with an acquirer 12a, a plurality of service providers 12b, or act as intermediate elements between a service provider 12b and a POS device 1 or docking station 15.

[0073] Service providers 12b provide services for the devices of the communication system 3 or the users of these devices.

[0074] The communication between POS devices 1 and the acquirer 12a can occur by means of telecommunication technologies such as, for instance, broadband communication or Wi-Fi.

[0075] It is worth pointing out that the acquirer 12a and the service providers 12b communicate with the communication system 3 through the third networks 8a, 8b, respectively. [0076] Figures 5 and 6 show the systems of figures 3 and 4 wherein the communication system 3, besides POS devices 1 and docking stations 15, comprise the communication devices 4a and 4b.

[0077] As shown in figure 5, POS devices 1 , docking stations 15 and the communication devices 4a and 4b connect with each other through links, and can further connect with the acquirer 12a. The connection with the acquirer 12a can be performed through the communication system 3 which, in turn, connects in some moments with at least one third network 8.

[0078] The communication devices 4a and 4b can be other devices provided with telecommunication technologies which allow them to connect with the communication system 3. Exemplarily, the communication devices 4a, 4b can be cellular mobile devices, tablets, computers, hubs (provided by the acquirer to improve communication between POS devices and the acquirer), among others.

[0079] In figure 6, POS devices 1 , docking stations 15 and communication devices 4a and 4b interconnect so as to make out the communication system 3. Communication devices 4a and 4b can act as intermediate elements in the communication of a certain device of the communication system 3 and the acquirer 12a or the service provider 12b.

[0080] POS devices 1 , docking stations 15 and communication devices 4a and 4b connect with acquirer 12a or with a plurality of service providers 12b through the communication system 3 or third networks.

[0081 ] Figure 7 shows a POS device 1 which is not provided with the telecommunication technology required to interconnect with devices located in its vicinity, herein referred to as neighboring devices. In this case, an external telecommunication module 6 is connected to the POS device 1 , either through a physical interface 5 such as, for instance, a USB port or a network port, or through a wireless interface which connects the internal telecommunication module 2 to the external telecommunication module 6.

[0082] The external telecommunication module 6 allows the connection 7 with its neighboring devices or the communication system 3. Therefore, the architecture extends the communication possibilities of the POS device 1 , through the external communication element 6.

[0083] In an alternative embodiment, the POS device 1 can comprise a SD card which can enable the POS device 1 to communicate using Wi-Fi protocol. In this embodiment, the POS device 1 does not provide the resources required to communicate via Wi-Fi.

[0084] This embodiment can be carried out in several ways. Exemplari- ly, an SD card containing at least one antenna and processing capacity for the entire Wi-Fi protocol is executed by the card itself. In this case, the POS device transfers only data to the card through the interface with the SD card.

[0085] In another alternative embodiment, part of the logics required for the Wi-Fi protocol is present in the POS device 1 itself. The information exchange between POS device 1 and SD card can occur in two ways. The first way involves the use of at least a file exchange protocol, for instance, FAT (File Allocation Table). In this case, the POS device records the data to be transmitted in a file within the folder tree of the SD card. The SD card reads this file and sends the data. The data received by the card through Wi-Fi network, in turn, are recorded in the same file or in a different file and the POS device reads this file. In the second way, the POS device uses the physical interface to communicate with the SD card, for instance, SDIO (Secure Digital Input Output).

[0086] As shown in figure 8, the communication system can be divided into sub-networks 9a and 9b, and said sub-networks 9a and 9b comprise POS devices, docking stations and communication devices.

[0087] The division of the system into sub-networks facilitates the end- to-end addressing of its elements and allows the adoption of multiple technologies within the same communication system, for example, Wi-Fi, USB ports, serial ports, QR codes reading, sound, Bluetooth, among others. The division of the communication system 3 in sub-networks is not mandatory.

[0088] Figure 8 also shows a communication system 3 consisting of two sub-networks 9a and 9b which communicate through POS devices. POS de- vices 1 1 are present in sub-networks 9a and 9b and act as gateways interconnecting the two sub-networks.

[0089] Figure 9 shows the communication system 3 where POS devices 1 , 10a and 10b also communicate through third network 8. In the system shown, a plurality of POS devices 1 , 10a and 10b interconnects through another communication system 3. Additionally, a first POS device 10a is connected to a third network 8 (for instance, a wired network or a cellular network) communicating with a second target POS device 10b through the third network 8. The first and second POS devices 10a and 10b which connect with the third network 8 must be capable of detecting other elements of the communication system 3 and exchange information between the elements.

[0090] Figures 10 and 1 1 show different architectures of the communication system 3, as shown in figures 8 and 9, respectively. However, in the systems depicted in figures 10 and 1 1 , POS devices 21 communicate with each other and also with the other communication devices 4a (e.g. cellular mobile devices, tablets, computers). Furthermore, in figure 10, besides being connected with two other POS devices 1 and 21 , the communication device 4a is acting as gateway between the sub-networks 9a and 9b of the communication system 3 described in the present invention.

[0091 ] In figure 1 1 , the communication device 4a is connected with both the third network 8 and with another device, which in this case is a POS device 1 , also connected with the third network 8.

[0092] Figure 12 shows a connection between POS devices with either an acquirer 12a or service provider 12b through fallback link, wherein the first POS device 10a can connect with neither the acquirer 12a nor the service provider 12b through the third network 8a, while a second POS device 10b can connect with the acquirer 12a through the third network 8b.

[0093] The first POS device 10a connects to the second POS device 10b and, by this, connects with either the acquirer 12a or the service provider 12b through the third network 8b.

[0094] Figure 13 shows a connection between the POS device 1 and either the acquirer 12a or the service provider 12b through fallback link. The POS device 1 can connect with neither the acquirer 12a nor the service provider 12b through third network 8a, while the communication device 4a can connect with either the acquirer 12a or the service provider 12b through the third network 8b. The POS device 1 connects with the communication device 4a and, by this, connects with either the acquirer 12a or the service provider 12b through the third network 8b.

[0095] Figure 14 shows a connection between the POS device 1 with either the acquirer 12a or the service provider 12b through fallback link. The POS device 1 can connect with neither the acquirer 12a nor the service provider 12b through the third network 8a, while the docking station 15 can connect with either the acquirer 12a or the service provider 12b through the third network 8b. The POS device 1 connects with the docking station 15 and, by this, connects with either the acquirer 12a or the service provider 12b through the third network 8b.

[0096] Figure 15 shows a connection between POS device 1 with either the acquirer 12a or the service provider 12b through fallback link. The POS device 1 can connect with neither the acquirer 12a nor the service provider 12b through the third network 8a, while the computer 4c can connect with either the acquirer 12a or the service provider 12b through the third network 8b. The POS device 1 connects with the computer 4c and, by this, connects with either the acquirer 12a or the service provider 12b through the third network 8b.

[0097] Figure 16 describes the connection between the POS device 1 with either the acquirer 12 or the service provider 12b through fallback links through multiple jumps in the communication system 3. The POS device 1 can connect with neither the acquirer 12a nor the service provider 12b through the third network 8a, while another device nearby, but not its neighboring device, can connect with either the acquirer 12a or the service provider 12b through third network 8b. The POS device 1 connects with a neighboring device such as, for instance, a communication device 4b which, in turn, connect with a docking station 15 which connects to another device; thus, by multiple jumps of the communication system 3, the POS device 1 can con- nect with either the acquirer 12a or the service provider 12b through third network 8b.

[0098] Figures 12 and 16 show different examples of connection between the POS device 1 and either the acquirer 12a or the service provider 12b through fallback links with two third networks 8a and 8b. These cases can be extended to situations wherein the POS device 1 can be connected with neither the acquirer 12a nor the service provider 12b through the third network 8a, but other neighboring device connects with the acquirer through the same network 8a. In this case, the connection through fallback link does not use a different third network 8b.

[0099] Figure 17 shows the use of a plurality of technologies of the POS device 20 to communicate with neighboring devices. The POS device 20 searches for neighboring devices for communication purposes. The POS device 20 uses a smaller-range technology 17a to communicate with the other POS device 1 and the communication device 4a. A medium-range technology 17b allows the POS device 20 to communicate with docking station 15, and two other communication devices (a tablet 4b and a computer 4c), and also to reach neighboring POS device 1 and neighboring communication device 4. The high-range technology 17c allows the POS device 20 to communicate with an access point of the third network 8 which, in turns, allows communicating with either the acquirer 12a or the service provider 12b.

[00100] Devices 1 , 4a, 4b, 4c, 20, 15 and their respective neighboring devices should share the same telecommunication technologies and should be in reach of such technologies. By means of these technologies, devices 1 , 4a, 4b, 4c, 20 and 15 find their neighboring devices and generate lists of neighboring devices. Lists of neighboring devices take into consideration some criteria allowing the classification of the neighboring device.

[00101 ] The communication between POS devices, between docking stations and/or other communication devices and the creation of lists of neighboring devices, described in the present invention, provide the acquirers with solutions to some recurrent problems with POS devices such as device loca- tion, communication through fallback links, mainly for transactions, and updates of the device applications.

DEVICE LOCATION

[00102] The present invention provides a method for determining the relative location of electronic devices based on lists of neighboring devices of each device. The determination of the relative location is carried by the connection of the device to be located with at least another neighboring device. Furthermore, the position of some devices is known through, for instance, a GPS module (Global Positioning System).

[00103] Exemplarily, in the embodiment shown in figure 6, an electronic device 1 , 4a, 15 (herein referred to as control device) sends a message containing its identifier to its neighboring devices. The neighboring devices receive said message and reply with a message containing their respective identifiers. This message exchange is conducted through at least one communication protocol shared with the control device and its neighboring devices 1 , 4a, 4b and 15.

[00104] Afterwards, the control device sends the list of its neighboring devices 1 , 4a, 4b and 15 to either the acquirer 12a or the service provider 12b. The behavior of each device of the system is identified by the processing of the lists of neighboring devices. Exemplary, this processing consists in analyzing the list of neighboring devices of a given POS device 1 and comparing said list with a predetermined list of neighboring devices or an expected list for this POS device 1 .

[00105] Moreover, the profile of change can be analyzed, since there is a dynamic turnover of POS devices 1 in the installed system due, for example, to the replacement with new models of POS devices 1 or to its own mobility.

[00106] In another embodiment, a seller/establishment has a control device (e.g. a cellular mobile device, a "tablet", among others) which, by an installed application, can communicate with POS devices of its establishment, through at least one communication protocol in common. [00107] The seller/establishment executes the method for determining the location through its control device. This embodiment allows verifying if POS devices in their establishment are authentic.

[00108] Therefore, through an application installed therein, the control device sends a message to all the neighboring devices. Upon receiving the message from the control device, these devices respond by sending a message containing their respective identifiers. Then, the control device receives the identifiers from its neighboring devices and verifies if there are, among them, the identifiers of POS devices registered for the seller/establishment. If they are not present, the control device creates a warning message informing which POS devices of the seller/establishment were not found. Besides, the control device creates and sends messages containing information on all the found neighboring devices to the acquirer.

[00109] Based on both foregoing embodiments, either the acquirer 12a or the service provider 12b receives lists of neighboring devices from all the devices. Based on all the received lists of neighboring devices, either the acquirer 12a or the service provider 12b calculates the relative location of the plurality of devices.

[001 10] The relative location can be calculated, for instance, by cross- referencing the information of the lists of neighboring devices, the address of the sellers/establishments possessing POS devices found in the lists and also specific information on the communication between the devices such as, for instance, power of the signal received by each device upon attempt to communicate with its neighboring devices or information deriving from geolo- calization technologies present in these devices such as, for instance, the GPS.

[001 1 1 ] In an exemplary embodiment, each device connects with either an acquirer or a service provider and sends its list of neighboring devices containing information such as, for instance, the time the message is received, the intensity of the received signal, as well as the information on ge- olocalization: intensity of the signal received from Wi-Fi networks and from surrounding cellular network antennas, GPS information, registration ad- dress, among others. Either the acquirer or the service provider cross- references the information of interest, taking into consideration a certain time window (for instance, the power signal received in the different lists of neighboring devices in the last hour) and produces a relative localization for each device.

[001 12] Furthermore, it is possible that a plurality of devices communicate with each other through a plurality of technologies having different ranges such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, sound, among others. Two technologies are shown in figure 19, one of smaller-range 17a and one of broader-range 17b. These technologies 17a, 17b allow a main device to access and communicate with different devices located in the vicinity thereof.

[001 13] Hence, the information on the reception of signal from neighboring devices to a main device, on the technologies used in the communication, on the known positions of seller/establishments having POS devices, among other information, allow defining the relative location of the devices.

COMMUNICATION THROUGH FALLBACK LINK

[001 14] One of the main challenges for POS devices using, for instance, GPRS/GSM technology, are the conditions of the third network available. POS devices lose their connection to the base-station and are unable to carry out any transactions, causing damage to the sellers/establishments.

[001 15] The present invention provides that POS devices detect the absence of connectivity with third network and re-transmit the transaction through an fallback link. In turn, the fallback link transmits the transaction to either the acquirer or the service provider. Some embodiments of arrangements of interconnection through fallback link are described below.

[001 16] One of the main objects of this invention is the provision of alternative solutions so that the POS devices can send financial transactions when the third network is unavailable. Upon unavailability of the third network, the POS device must recognize it and search one of its neighboring devices suitable to mediate the connection with either the acquirer or the service provider. [001 17] In a first embodiment, a POS device, temporarily without communication with the acquirer through third networks, performs the transactions through a second POS device. The communication between the two POS devices is performed using at least one technology and at least one communication protocol available in both such as, for instance, Bluetooth.

[001 18] Figure 12 shows a case of fallback link wherein, upon unavailability of the third network 8a, a first POS device 1 communicates with either acquirer 12a or service provider 12b through a second POS device 1 and a second network 8b. Accordingly, the following communication method through fallback links is proposed:

[001 19] First of all, a main POS device periodically sends a message containing its identifier to its neighboring POS devices. The neighboring POS devices return a message containing their respective identifiers each time they receive a message from the main POS device. Afterwards, the main POS device creates a list of its neighboring POS devices and classifies said list according to predefined criteria such as, for instance, passband, communication latency, amount of collisions and packet loss, type of technology available for communication, among others. The classification defines the priority order in which the main POS device will access to the neighboring devices to create the fallback link.

[00120] In the case of loss of communication with either an accrediting or a service provider which makes transactions impossible, the main POS device chooses the best candidate in its list of neighboring POS devices, according to the aforementioned predefined criteria, and establishes a link with this device through at least one communication protocol common to both. Upon establishment of this link, the main POS device executes its transaction by means of the neighboring POS device chosen.

[00121 ] In a second embodiment, a main POS device, temporarily without communication with either an acquirer or a service provider, performs transactions through a neighboring communication device. This neighboring communication device can be a cellular mobile device or tablet belonging to a buyer/cardholder or a seller/establishment, a specific device to this function and installed by the acquirer, a docking station of the POS device or any other type of device capable of performing this function.

[00122] Exemplarily, figures 13 and 14 show cases of use of fallback link for this embodiment. A main POS device 1 connects with either a neighboring communication device 4a or a neighboring docking station 15 and uses the third network 8b to communicate with either an acquirer 12 or a service provider 12b.

[00123] Therefore, the communication method through fallback link described in this second embodiment is analogous to the previously described method in that a main POS device performs transactions through a second neighboring POS device. In this case, the difference lies in that the main POS device, temporarily without communication with either the acquirer or the service provider, performs its transactions through a neighboring communication device and not through a second neighboring POS device.

[00124] In a third embodiment, the main POS device, temporarily without communication with either the acquirer or the service provider, is connected with a neighboring communication device, in the specific case, a computer, a USB port, a network wire, or any other type of physical or wireless connection. Hence, the main POS device uses the available connection of the computer to forward the transaction to either the acquirer or the service provider.

[00125] The computer acts as an intermediate element between the main POS device and the acquirer or service provider through a third network it can access.

[00126] Figure 15 shows this case of fallback link. A main POS device 1 , temporarily without communication with third network 8a, communicates with either an acquirer 12a or a service provider 12b through the computer 4c and the third network 8b. The method described in this embodiment is analogous to the method of the previous embodiment in that a main POS device is connected with a computer.

[00127] The previous embodiments show a POS device communicates with another neighboring device and either the acquirer or the service provider. The fourth embodiment extends this concept, allowing devices to com- municate and the message to travel through multiple devices before reaching either the acquirer or the service provider.

[00128] The fourth embodiment uses a communication system as an fallback link. In this embodiment, a main POS device, which could connect with neither an acquirer nor a service provider, through third networks, connects through any of its neighboring devices of the communication system.

[00129] The devices of the communication system act as intermediate elements of the communication, forwarding the messages between the main POS device and either the acquirer or the service provider. Accordingly, the following communication method through fallback link is proposed:

[00130] Upon loss of connection with an acquirer or a service provider, the main POS device searches the best-classified neighboring device among its neighboring devices of the communication system in order to forward the message. As mentioned above, the classification of the neighboring devices is based on several criteria. The selected neighboring device receives the message and forwards it according to the classification of its neighboring devices or forwards it directly to the acquirer or the service provider through a third network. Each device receiving the message follows these steps and the message is forwarded by multiple jumps to the acquirer or service provider.

[00131 ] Exemplarily, as shown in figure 16, upon loss of connection with either the acquirer 12a or the service provider 12b through the third network 8a, a main POS device 1 connects with them, through multiple devices of the communication system 3 and of the third network 8a, 8b.

[00132] Each message exchanged between the main POS device 1 and either the acquirer 12a or the service provider 12b does not necessarily follows the same path in the communication system 3. As it was previously described, the path the message has to follow is decided jump by jump, wherein the device receiving the message chooses its better-classified neighboring device to reach the destination and forwards said message to this neighboring device. [00133] Evidently, the embodiments are not mutually exclusive, allowing the same POS device to communicate with either the acquirer or the service provider through fallback links, through any type of neighboring device. This aims at decreasing the chances of failure in the transaction due to network unavailability.

[00134] Moreover, the present invention makes provides a seller/establishment to choose to communicate through fallback link. This option makes the communication through fallback link a standard in the communication with either the acquirer or the service provider.

UPDATE OF DEVICE APPLICATIONS

[00135] POS devices of the installed system of an acquirer should have their applications constantly updated. When a POS device connects to the acquirer to perform a financial transaction, the acquirer notifies the POS device whether it requires updating. Upon receipt of the notification, the POS device connects to an update server at the time and date informed in the notification. Currently, such updates pose a significant challenge to some acquirers, since the installed system consists of millions of POS devices.

[00136] According to the present invention, the POS devices can benefit from the exchange of messages with other neighboring devices, as proposed in the present invention, in order to decrease the number of accesses to the acquirer. Accordingly, a method for updating the applications of POS devices is proposed and described as follows.

[00137] The acquirer or some neighboring devices warn a main POS device that it requires updates. Thus, it exchanges messages with its neighboring devices in order to check if any of them have already been updated. If one of the neighboring devices already has been updated, the main POS device requests the update from this neighboring device which transmits said update.

[00138] The update is divided into parts, herein referred to as packets, which can be transmitted independently. If none of the neighboring device has been updated, the main POS device requests the acquirer to be updated directly. Upon receipt of the entire first packet, the main POS device requests the acquirer 12a or some neighboring device to send the next packet and, thus, successively until all the update is received.

[00139] Furthermore, for each received packet, the main POS device sends a control message to its neighboring devices, notifying that a new update packet is available to be sent. Upon request from a neighboring device, then the main POS device transmits the update packet. If the neighboring POS device does not obtain the update packet from the main POS device, the neighboring POS device can connect with either the acquirer 12a or the service provider 12b in order to obtain said update packet.

[00140] Figure 18 shows a POS device 1 receiving an update 18 from its acquirer 12a. The update 18 is divided into four parts, 18a, 18b, 18c and 18d, and each part is sent to the POS device 1 through messages 19.

[00141 ] The POS device 1 has already the first part of the update 18a and an acquirer 12a sends the second part 18b through a message 19. Upon connection to its neighboring devices, the POS device 1 recognizes that its neighboring devices also need the update 18 and that they have not received the first part 18a of said update yet. Therefore, the POS device 1 sends the first part of the update 18a to its neighboring devices. The foregoing process can be performed until all the devices receive the complete update.

[00142] As shown in figure 18, the POS device 1 also comprises a memory 190, wherein the update packets 18a, already received, are stored.

[00143] In a second embodiment, upon receiving the first packet, the POS device 1 notifies its neighboring devices that a new packet is available. In the notification, the POS device 1 informs a time and date schedule when the neighboring devices should connect with the POS device 1 to get the update packet.

[00144] In a third embodiment, upon receiving the first packet, the POS device 1 notifies its neighboring devices that a new packet is available. The neighboring devices connect with the POS device 1 and require the new packet. In turn, the POS device 1 replies with a schedule message informing the time and date when the neighboring devices should connect and receive the packet. Although only the foregoing preferred embodiments have been described, it should be understood that the scope of the present invention covers other possible alternatives and that it is limited only by the content of the claims, the possible equivalents being included therein.

Claims

I . A method for determining the location of a plurality of devices (1 , 10a, 10b,

II, 4a, 4b, 4c, 15, 20, 21) characterized by comprising the steps of:

a) sending periodically, from a first device (1, 10a, 10b, 11, 4a, 4b, 4c, 15, 20, 21) a message containing an identifier of said first device to a plurality of second devices (1, 10a, 10b, 11, 4a, 4b, 4c, 15, 20, 21) neighboring said first device (1 , 10a, 10b, 11 , 4a, 4b, 4c, 15, 20, 21 );

b) receiving the message sent by the first device (1, 10a, 10b, 11, 4a, 4b, 4c, 15, 20, 21 ) in the plurality of second devices (1 , 10a, 10b, 11, 4a, 4b, 4c, 15, 20,21);

c) sending, from each second device (1, 10a, 10b, 11, 4a, 4b, 4c, 15, 20, 21) a message containing the identifier of said second device, to the first device (1, 10a, 10b, 11, 4a, 4b, 4c, 15, 20, 21),

d) creating in the first device (1,4a, 4b, 4c, 15) a list of second devices (1, 10a, 10b, 11, 4a, 4b, 4c, 15, 20, 21 ) neighboring the first device;

e) sending, from the first device (1 , 10a, 10b, 11, 4a, 4b, 4c, 15, 20, 21 ) a list of its neighboring devices (1 , 10a, 10b, 11, 4a, 4b, 4c, 15, 20, 21 ) to one of a service provider (12b) and an acquirer (12a);

f) receiving, in one of the service provider (12b) and the acquirer (12a), the list of neighboring devices (1 , 10a, 10b, 11, 4a, 4b, 4c, 15, 20, 21 ) of the first device (1 , 10a, 10b, 11 , 4a, 4b, 4c, 15, 20, 21 );

g) storing, in one of the service provider (12b) and the acquirer (12a), the periodically-received list of neighboring devices (1, 10a, 10b, 11, 4a, 4b, 4c, 15, 20, 21 ) of the first device (1 , 10a, 10b, 11 , 4a, 4b, 4c, 15, 20, 21 );

f) comparing, in one of the service provider (12b) and the acquirer (12a), the stored lists of neighboring devices (1, 10a, 10b, 11, 4a, 4b, 4c, 15, 20, 21) of the first device (1 , 10a, 10b, 11 , 4a, 4b, 4c, 15, 20, 21 );

i) calculating, in one of the service provider (12b) and the acquirer (12a), the location of the first device based on the stored lists of the neighboring devices (1 , 10a, 10b, 11 , 4a, 4b, 4c, 15, 20, 21 ) of the first device (1 , 10a, 10b, 11 , 4a, 4b, 4c, 15, 20, 21).

2. The method, according to claim 1 , characterized by further comprising the steps of:

a) receiving, in a first device (1, 10a, 10b, 11, 4a, 4b, 4c, 15, 20, 21) a request to locate a device (1 , 10a, 10b, 11, 4a, 4b, 4c, 15, 20, 21 ) from a user; b) searching, in one of the service provider (12b) and the acquirer (12a), the location of the first device and of the device linked to a certain establishment; and

c) displaying the position of all the devices (1, 10a, 10b, 11, 4a, 4b, 4c, 15, 20, 21) linked to said establishment.

3. The method, according to claim 1 , characterized by further comprising the steps of:

a) sending, from a user, a localization request to one of the service provider (12b) and the acquirer (12a);

b) verifying, in one of the service provider (12b) and the acquirer (12a), if said previously-registered user is authentic;

c) searching, in a database, which devices (1, 10a, 10b, 11, 4a, 4b, 4c, 15, 20, 21) are linked to said user; and

d) informing the user about the position of the devices (1, 10a, 10b, 11, 4a, 4b, 4c, 15, 20, 21) linked to said user and the devices (1, 10a, 10b, 11, 4a, 4b, 4c, 15, 20, 21) in the vicinity of the user.

4. A method for updating applications in POS devices (1, 10a, 10b, 11, 20, 21) characterized by comprising the steps of:

a) receiving, in a first device (1, 10a, 10b, 11, 20, 21), a message warning that an update is available;

b) sending, from the first device (1 , 10a, 10b, 11, 20, 21 ) to a plurality of second devices which are located in the vicinity of the first device (1, 10a, 10b, 11 , 20, 21), a message to verify if any device of the plurality of second devices which is located in the vicinity of the first device (1, 10a, 10b, 11, 20, 21) already has the update;

c) receiving, in the first device (1, 10a, 10b, 11, 20, 21), a confirmation message from each one of the devices of the plurality of second devices located in the vicinity of the first device (1 , 10a, 10b, 1 1 , 20, 21 ) which already has the update;

d) sending, from the first device (1 , 10a, 10b, 1 1 , 20, 21 ), to one of the second devices which already have the update, a message requesting the sending of a first update packet;

e) receiving, in the first device (1 , 10a, 10b, 1 1 , 20, 21 ) the first update packet;

f) after the first device (1 , 10a, 10b, 1 1 , 20, 21 ) receives said update packet, sending to one of said second devices which already have the update, a message requesting the sending of a second update packet; and

g) repeating step f) until all the update packets are received.

5. The method, according to claim 4, characterized in that the update packets are sent according to a schedule.

6. The method, according to claim 5, characterized in that the message received from the first device warning that an update is available is sent by at least one among one of the service provider (12b) and the acquirer (12a), and a second device (1 , 10a, 10b, 1 1 , 4a, 4b, 4c, 15, 20, 21 ) located in the vicinity of the first device.

7. The method, according to claim 4, characterized by further comprising the steps of:

for each update packet received by the first device, sending from the first device to its neighboring devices a message informing that a new update packet is available; and

if the first device receives an update request, sending from the first device the available update packet to the device which requested the update (1 , 10a, 10b, 1 1 , 4a, 4b, 4c, 15, 20, 21 ).

8. The method, according to claim 4, characterized by further comprising the steps of:

a) for each update packet received by the first device, sending from the first device to the second neighboring devices (1 , 10a, 10b, 1 1 , 4a, 4b, 4c, 15, 20, 21 ) a message informing that a new update packet is available; b) if the first device receives an update request, scheduling by the first device a time to send the update packet and sending the scheduling request to the second devices (1 , 10a, 10b, 1 1 , 4a, 4b, 4c, 15, 20, 21 );

c) if the second devices (1 , 10a, 10b, 1 1 , 4a, 4b, 4c, 15, 20, 21 ) which have sent update requests receive a scheduling request, deciding, by said second devices (1 , 10a, 10b, 1 1 , 4a, 4b, 4c, 15, 20, 21 ), whether to accept or not the schedule and sending this decision to the first device; and

d) if the first device receives at least one acceptance for the schedule, when the scheduled time comes, sending from the first device the update packet to the second neighboring devices (1 , 10a, 10b, 1 1 , 4a, 4b, 4c, 15, 20, 21 ).

9. The method, according to claim 4, characterized by further comprising the steps of:

a) if none of the devices of the plurality of second devices located in the vicinity of the first device (1 , 10a, 10b, 1 1 , 4a, 4b, 4c, 15, 20, 21 ) has the update, sending, from the first device, a message requesting the first update packet for one of the service provider (12b) and the acquirer (12a);

b) receiving, in the first device, a message from one of the service provider (12b) and the acquirer (12a) on the first update packet; and

c) upon receipt of the first update packet, sending, from the first device, a message requesting the next update packet for one of the service provider (12b) and the acquirer (12a);

d) repeating step (c) until all the update packets are received by the first device.

10. A method for creating a list of neighboring devices characterized by comprising the steps of:

a) sending periodically, from a first device (1 , 10a, 10b, 1 1 , 4a, 4b, 4c, 15, 20, 21 ), a message containing an identifier of said first device to a plurality of second devices (1 , 10a, 10b, 1 1 , 4a, 4b, 4c, 15, 20, 21 ) neighboring said first device (1 , 10a, 10b, 1 1 , 4a, 4b, 4c, 15, 20, 21 );

b) receiving the message sent by the first device (1 , 10a, 10b, 1 1 , 4a, 4b, 4c, 15, 20, 21 ) in the plurality of second devices (1 , 10a, 10b, 1 1 , 4a, 4b, 4c, 15, 20, 21 ); c) sending, from each second device (1, 10a, 10b, 11, 4a, 4b, 4c, 15, 20, 21), a message containing the identifier of said second device to the first device (1, 10a, 10b, 11, 4a, 4b, 4c, 15, 20, 21),;

d) creating, in the first device (1, 4a, 4b, 4c, 15, 20, 21), a list of second devices (1 , 10a, (1 , 10a, 10b, 11, 4a, 4b, 4c, 15, 20, 21 ) in the vicinity of the first device; and

e) storing, in the first device (1, 10a, 10b, 11, 4a, 4b, 4c, 15, 20, 21), the list of its neighboring devices (1 , 10a, 10b, 11 , 4a, 4b, 4c, 15, 20, 21 ).

11. The method, according to claim 10, characterized in that the steps (a) to (e) are carried out for each device present in a communication system (3).

12. The method, according to claim 10, characterized by further comprising the step of sending, from the first device (1, 10a, 10b, 11, 4a, 4b, 4c, 15, 20, 21 ), the list of its neighboring devices (1 , 10a, 10b, 11, 4a, 4b, 4c, 15, 20, 21 ) to one of the service provider (12b) and the acquirer (12a).

13. A method for communication through fallback link characterized by comprising the steps of:

a) sending periodically, from a first device (1, 10a, 10b, 11, 4a, 4b, 4c, 15, 20, 21), a message containing an identifier of said first device to a plurality of second devices (1, 10a, 10b, 11, 4a, 4b, 4c, 15, 20, 21) neighboring said first device (1 , 10a, 10b, 11 , 4a, 4b, 4c, 15, 20, 21 );

b) receiving the message sent by the first device (1, 10a, 10b, 11, 4a, 4b, 4c, 15, 20,21 ) in the plurality of second devices (1 , 10a, 10b, 11, 4a, 4b, 4c, 15, 20,21);

c) sending, from each second device (1, 10a, 10b, 11, 4a, 4b, 4c, 15, 20, 21) to the first device (1 , 10a, 10b, 11, 4a, 4b, 4c, 15, 20, 21 ) a message containing the identifier of said second device ;

d) creating, in the first device (1,4a, 4b, 4c, 15) a list of second devices (1, 10a, 10b, 11, 4a, 4b, 4c, 15, 20, 21 ) neighboring the first device;

e) sorting, in the first device (1 , 10a, 10b, 11, 4a, 4b, 4c, 15, 20, 21 ) the list of second devices (1, 10a, 10b, 11, 4a, 4b, 4c, 15, 20, 21) neighboring the first device based on predefined criteria; f) in the event of loss of communicating between the first device and one of a service provider (12b) and an acquirer (12a), selecting, in the first device (1 , 10a, 10b, 1 1 , 4a, 4b, 4c, 15, 20, 21 ) the first device of the list of second devices (1 , 10a, 10b, 1 1 , 4a, 4b, 4c, 15, 20, 21 ) neighboring the first device (1 , 10a, 10b, 1 1 , 4a, 4b, 4c, 15, 20, 21 ) in order to provide the communication through fallback link; and

g) establishing a link between the first device of the list of second devices (1 , 10a, 10b, 1 1 , 4a, 4b, 4c, 15, 20, 21 ) neighboring the first device (1 , 10a, 10b, 1 1 , 4a, 4b, 4c, 15, 20, 21 ) and the first device (1 , 10a, 10b, 1 1 , 4a, 4b, 4c, 15, 20, 21 ) in order to provide communication between the first device and one of the service provider (12b) and the acquirer (12a).

14. The method, according to claim 13, characterized in that if the first device of the list of second devices is unavailable, the following device is selected until a device available to be linked with the first device is identified.

15. A method for communication through fallback link characterized by comprising the steps of:

connecting a POS device (1 , 10a, 10b, 1 1 , 20, 21 ) to a computer equipment having communication connection with one of a service provider (12b) and an acquirer (12a);

establishing communication between said POS device (1 , 10a, 10b, 1 1 , 20, 21 ) and one of the service provider (12b) and the acquirer (12a) through said computer equipment when said POS device (1 , 10a, 10b, 1 1 , 20, 21 ) loses its connection with one of the service provider (12b) and the acquirer (12a).

16. The method, according to claim 15, characterized in that the connection between said POS device (1 , 10a, 10b, 1 1 , 20, 21 ) and said computer equipment is one of a physical connection and a wireless connection.

17. A method for choosing the communication mode between a device (1 , 10a, 10b, 1 1 ,4a, 4b, 4c, 15, 20, 21 ) and one of an acquirer (12a) and a service provider (12b), characterized by comprising the steps of:

a) determining the method of communication through fallback link to be used by the device (1 , 10a, 10b, 1 1 , 4a, 4b, 4c, 15, 20, 21 ) among the methods defined in claims 13 and 15 and based on predetermined criteria.

18. The method, according to any of claims 1 , 4, 10, 13, or 17, characterized in that the communications between the first device and said second devices and between the first device and one of the service provider (12b) and the acquirer (12a) are conducted through a communication protocol.

19. The method, according to any of claims 1 , 4, 10, 13, or 17, characterized in that the first device is a POS device (1 , 10a, 10b, 1 1 , 20, 21 ).

20. The method, according to any of claims 1 , 4, 10, 13, or 17, characterized in that said second devices are selected from the group comprising a POS device, a docking station (15), a computer equipment, a cellular device and a tablet.

21 . A communication system, characterized by comprising at least two POS devices (1 , 10a, 10b, 1 1 , 20, 21 ) which communicate with each other through a communication protocol.

22. The system, according to claim 21 , characterized by further comprising at least one service provider (12b) which communicates with said at least two POS devices (1 , 10a, 10b, 1 1 , 20, 21 ).

23. The system, according to claim 21 , characterized by further comprising: at least a communication device (4a, 4b, 4c, 15);

at least one of an acquirer (12a) and a service provider (12b)

wherein the at least one communication device (4a, 4b, 4c, 15) communicates with said at least two POS devices (1 , 10a, 10b, 1 1 , 20, 21 ) and with the at least one of an acquirer (12a) and a service provider (12b) through at least one communication protocol.

24. The system, according to claim 21 , characterized by further comprising at least two docking stations (15) connected with POS devices (1 , 10a, 10b, 1 1 ,20, 21 ) and which communicate through at least one communication protocol.

25. The system, according to claim 24, characterized by further comprising at least one service provider (12b) which communicates with said at least two docking stations (15).

26. The system, according to claim 24, characterized by further comprising: at least a communication device (4a, 4b, 4c, 15); at least one of an acquirer (12a) and a service provider (12b),

wherein at least one communication device (4a, 4b, 4c, 15) communicates with said at least two docking stations (15) and with at least one of an acquirer (12a) and a service provider (12b) through at least one communication protocol.

27. The system, according to claim 21 , characterized by further comprising: a docking station (15) which connects with at least one of said POS devices (1 , 10a, 10b, 1 1 , 20, 21 ) through one of a connector (13) and a wireless link.

28. The system, according to claim 27, characterized in that the docking station (15) comprises a telecommunication module (14) which provides communication with at least one of: the POS device (1 , 10a, 10b, 1 1 , 20, 21 ), the at least one communication device (4a, 4b, 4c, 15), the acquirer (12a) and the service provider (12b) through at least one communication protocol.

29. The system, according to claim 28, characterized in that the docking station (15) can charge the battery of said POS device (1 , 10a, 10b, 1 1 , 20, 21 ).

30. The system, according to claim 21 or 27, characterized by further comprising an external telecommunication module (6) connected with at least one of a POS device (1 , 10a, 10b, 1 1 , 20, 21 ) and a docking station (15) through at least one of a physical interface (5) and a wireless interface.

31 . The system, according to claim 27, characterized in that the external telecommunication module (6) provides communication with at least one of said POS devices (1 , 10a, 10b, 1 1 , 20, 21 ), with at least one communication device (4a, 4b, 4c, 15), and with the service provider (12b) through at least one of communication protocol.

32. The system, according to claim 21 , characterized in that said at least two POS devices (1 , 10a, 10b, 1 1 , 20, 21 ) communicate with each other through a third network (8).

33. The system, according to claim 23, characterized in that one of said POS devices (1 , 10a, 10b, 1 1 , 20, 21 ), said at least one communication device (4a, 4b, 4c, 15), said acquirer (12a) and said service provider (12b) communicate with each other through a third network (8).

34. The system, according to claim 21 , characterized in that the POS device (1 , 10a, 10b, 1 1 , 20, 21 ) further comprises a SD card which allows said POS device to communicate through Wi-Fi protocol.

35. The system, according to claim 34, characterized in that said SD card executes all the Wi-Fi protocol, while said POS device only transfers data to the card through an interface with said SD card.

36. The system, according to claim 35, characterized in that a portion of the logic required for the Wi-Fi protocol is present in said POS device.

37. The system, according to claim 36, characterized in that the information exchange between said POS device and said SD card can occur in one of the following ways:

(a) using at least one file exchange protocol, wherein said POS device records the data to be transmitted as a file in the SD card; said SD card reads said file and sends the data; wherein said data which reach the SD card through the Wi-Fi network are recorded in one of the same file and a second file, and the POS device reads said data in one of said same file and said second file; and

(b) the POS device uses a physical interface to communicate with the SD card.

38. A communication system characterized by comprising at least two docking stations (15) which communicate with each other through at least one communication protocol.

39. The system, according to claim 38, characterized by further comprising at least one service provider (12b) which communicates with said at least two docking stations (15).

40. The system, according to claim 38, characterized by further comprising: at least one communication device (4a, 4b, 4c, 15);

at least one of an acquirer (12a) and a service provider (12b),

wherein said at least one communication device (4a, 4b, 4c, 15) communicates with said at least two docking stations (15) and with at least one of an acquirer (12a) and a service provider (12b) through at least one communication protocol.

41 . The system, according to claim 38, characterized by further comprising an external telecommunication module (6) connected with at least one docking station (15) through at least one of a physical interface (5) and a wireless interface.