Payment Transaction Processing

Abstract

At least one datum is received from a point of sale terminal indicating an event that has occurred with respect to the terminal. A usage statistic is calculated for a specified period of time based on at least (1) a predetermined value relating to the event, and (2) at least one of (a) a number of transactions processed by the terminal in the specified period and (b) an amount of time that the terminal was in a sleep mode.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 receiving at least one datum from a point of sale terminal indicating an event that has occurred with respect to the terminal; and   calculating, in a computer, a usage statistic for a specified period of time based on at least (1) a predetermined value relating to the event, and (2) at least one of (a) a number of transactions processed by the terminal in the specified period and (b) an amount of time that the terminal was in a sleep mode.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the event is one of the point of sale terminal being awakened from a sleep mode and a paperless receipt being sent for a transaction processed through the terminal. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined value is an average amount of paper used in a printed receipt for a transaction processed by the terminal, the calculating further comprising multiplying the predetermined value by a number of transactions processed by the terminal in a specified period of time, whereby the usage statistic is an estimated amount of paper saved in the period of time. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising providing a report that includes the usage statistic. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined value is an average amount of energy used by the terminal in a unit of time, the calculating further comprising determining a number of the units included in the amount of time that the terminal was in the sleep mode and multiplying the number of the units by the predetermined value, whereby the usage statistic is an estimated amount of energy saved in the time that the terminal was in the sleep mode. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising providing a report that includes the usage statistic. 
     
     
         7 . A system, comprising:
 a computing device configured to:
 receive at least one datum from a point of sale terminal indicating an event that has occurred with respect to the terminal; and 
 calculate a usage statistic for a specified period of time based on at least (1) a predetermined value relating to the event, and (2) at least one of (a) a number of transactions processed by the terminal in the specified period and (b) an amount of time that the terminal was in a sleep mode. 
   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the event is one of the point of sale terminal being awakened from a sleep mode and a paperless receipt being sent for a transaction processed through the terminal. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the predetermined value is an average amount of paper used in a printed receipt for a transaction processed by the terminal, the computing device being further configured to calculate the usage statistic at least in part by multiplying the predetermined value by a number of transactions processed by the terminal in a specified period of time, whereby the usage statistic is an estimated amount of paper saved in the period of time. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , the computing device being further configured to provide a report that includes the usage statistic. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the predetermined value is an average amount of energy used by the terminal in a unit of time, the computing device being further configured to calculate the usage statistic at least in part by determining a number of the units included in the amount of time that the terminal was in the sleep mode and multiplying the number of the units by the predetermined value, whereby the usage statistic is an estimated amount of energy saved in the time that the terminal was in the sleep mode. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , the computing device being further configured to provide a report that includes the usage statistic. 
     
     
         13 . A computer-readable medium including computer-readable instructions tangibly embodied thereon, the instructions being executable by a processor and including instructions for:
 receiving at least one datum from a point of sale terminal indicating an event that has occurred with respect to the terminal; and   calculating a usage statistic for a specified period of time based on at least (1) a predetermined value relating to the event, and (2) at least one of (a) a number of transactions processed by the terminal in the specified period and (b) an amount of time that the terminal was in a sleep mode.   
     
     
         14 . The medium of  claim 13 , wherein the event is one of the point of sale terminal being awakened from a sleep mode and a paperless receipt being sent for a transaction processed through the terminal. 
     
     
         15 . The medium of  claim 13 , wherein the predetermined value is an average amount of paper used in a printed receipt for a transaction processed by the terminal, the instructions further including instructions for performing the calculating by multiplying the predetermined value by a number of transactions processed by the terminal in a specified period of time, whereby the usage statistic is an estimated amount of paper saved in the period of time. 
     
     
         16 . The medium of  claim 15 , the instructions further including instructions for providing a report that includes the usage statistic. 
     
     
         17 . The medium of  claim 13 , wherein the predetermined value is an average amount of energy used by the terminal in a unit of time, the instructions further including instructions for performing the calculating by determining a number of the units included in the amount of time that the terminal was in the sleep mode and multiplying the number of the units by the predetermined value, whereby the usage statistic is an estimated amount of energy saved in the time that the terminal was in the sleep mode. 
     
     
         18 . The medium of  claim 17 , the instructions further including instructions for providing a report that includes the usage statistic.