Method and apparatus for utilizing a smart card to maintain a retail application on a number of portable, wireless hand-held computing devices

摘要

A retail system includes a smart card for use by a customer. The smart card has a card memory device for maintaining a customer profile associated with the customer. The retail system also includes a retail checkout terminal which includes a first smart card interface device. The first smart card interface device is operable to update the customer profile based on use of the retail checkout terminal by the customer when the smart card is inserted in the first smart card interface device. The retail system yet further includes a portable, wireless hand-held computing device which includes a second smart card interface device. The handheld computing device is configured to perform a customer-specific retail function based on the customer profile when the smart card is inserted in the second smart card interface device. A method of operating a retail system is also disclosed.