Content Distribution Server for Receipt Advertising
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing content distribution systems face challenges in efficiently managing and distributing advertising content across multiple retail stores with varying receipt issuing devices, as each device may have different specifications, requiring a technology that can accommodate these differences for large-scale advertisement implementation.
Innovation Solution
A content distribution server that stores store codes, device codes, print specifications, and additional information items, using a communication interface to transmit targeted advertising content to matching receipt issuing devices, ensuring efficient distribution based on device-specific print specifications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a central server distributes advertising content to multiple store servers with different receipt issuing devices, then large-scale advertisement distribution is achieved, but device specification differences cause distribution inefficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the distribution system into multiple regional servers, each managing a specific geographic region or store group. Each regional server handles distribution to stores within its jurisdiction, breaking down the monolithic central server into smaller, more manageable units that can better adapt to local device specifications while maintaining overall system coordination through the central server.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality by allowing each regional server to maintain local configuration data specific to the receipt issuing devices in its region. This enables tailored distribution strategies that account for regional device variations, with each server optimizing content delivery for its local device ecosystem while the central server provides overarching management.
2Device complexity
If advertising content is added to receipts using a central server system, then unified advertisement management is achieved, but communication overhead with multiple store servers increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by having the central server pre-process and prepare advertising content in advance, converting it into multiple format versions suitable for different device types before distribution. Regional servers receive these pre-processed contents and can directly distribute them to stores without requiring real-time conversion, significantly reducing communication overhead and processing time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces regional servers as intermediaries between the central server and store servers. These regional servers act as mediators that receive content from the central server, perform local format conversions and optimizations, then distribute to multiple stores within their region. This intermediary layer reduces the communication burden on the central server and enables parallel processing across multiple regional nodes.
3Reliability
If different format contents are prepared for each receipt issuing device specification, then printing compatibility is improved, but content preparation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by systematically varying content parameters (such as image resolution, text size, layout dimensions, and color profiles) based on the specific specifications of different receipt issuing devices. The system maintains a master content template and automatically adjusts parameters according to device capabilities, ensuring printing compatibility without manually creating separate content files for each device model.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements universality by creating a standardized content structure that can be adapted to multiple device types. The advertising content is designed with flexible parameters and modular components that can be configured for different device specifications through a single unified template, allowing the same content framework to serve multiple functions across diverse receipt issuing devices.
Data Source
AI summary
A content distribution server according to an embodiment includes a storage unit that stores: store codes corresponding to stores that are targets of distribution, device codes corresponding to receipt issuing devices in each respective store, print specifications corresponding to each receipt issuing device, and additional information items, each including print specifications required for printing the respective additional information. A control unit identifies at least one additional information item for transmitting to one or more of the stores having one or more receipt issuing devices with corresponding print specifications that match the print specifications of the at least one additional information item. A communication interface transmits, to the corresponding one or more stores, the identified at least one additional information and instructions causing the one or more receipt issuing devices in the one or more stores to print receipts including an image corresponding to the transmitted at least one additional information item.