API Intermediary for Receipt Transaction Data Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems lack an efficient method to utilize transaction information printed on receipts from sales transactions across external devices, limiting the ability to easily access and process this information for store operations and management.
Innovation Solution
An information processing device with APIs that communicates with printers, stores transaction information in a database, and executes processes based on API requests from external devices, allowing for the retrieval of specific information such as batch identification, product details, payment amounts, discounts, and taxes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If transaction information is stored in a database and accessed through multiple interfaces, then the ability to utilize transaction information through external devices is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an information processing device as an intermediary between printers and external devices. This mediator receives transaction information from printers, stores it in a database, and provides standardized API interfaces for external devices to access the data, thereby enabling versatile utilization while managing system complexity through abstraction
Solution Approach 2:
The information processing device provides multiple API interfaces (RESTful API, GraphQL API) that enable various external devices to access transaction information in different formats and methods. This universal interface design allows the same underlying data storage to serve multiple purposes and device types without increasing complexity at each access point
2Ease of operation
If multiple API interfaces are provided for accessing transaction information, then the ease of operation for external devices is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the interface layer into distinct API types (RESTful API for simple key-value access, GraphQL API for complex querying) while maintaining a unified database backend. Each API type is optimized for specific use cases, allowing external devices to choose the appropriate interface without exposing the complexity of the underlying data structure
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates multiple interface copies (different API protocols) that all map to the same underlying transaction information storage. Each API interface is a simplified copy tailored to specific access patterns, allowing external devices to interact through their preferred protocol without dealing with the complexity of data retrieval and transformation
Data Source
AI summary
[Problem] To enable easily using transaction information printed on receipts through an external device.[Solution] A control server 15 that can communicate with a printer 12 that produces receipts printed with transaction information related to a transaction, has a plurality of APIs registered thereon, and has: a control server storage unit 42 that stores a transaction information manager database 421; and a control server control unit 40 that receives transaction information from the printer 12, stores the received transaction information in the transaction information manager database 421, and when response request information requesting a response and including API call information specifying an API is received from a management device 17, executes a process through the API specified by the API call information based on the transaction information stored in the transaction information manager database 421, and sends information indicating the process result to the management device 17.