Electronic Receipt Storage via POS and Credit Card Server Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current point-of-sale systems do not efficiently manage and store electronic payment receipts, requiring customers to manually opt-in for each transaction and lacking a standardized method for receipt storage and retrieval.
Innovation Solution
Integrating new data on credit card chips to identify users who want receipts saved, and modifying POS systems to send electronic receipts to credit card processing centers, which then store and forward the receipts to financial institutions for attachment to statements or online access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If paper receipts are used for each transaction, then customers have physical proof of purchase, but customers lose receipts and cannot easily access transaction records
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates electronic copies of physical receipts and stores them in a centralized database accessible through mobile devices. The system captures receipt data at the point of sale, converts it to digital format, and makes it available to customers anytime, eliminating the need to physically retain paper receipts while ensuring reliable access to transaction records.
2Ease of operation
If customers manually opt-in for electronic receipt delivery at each transaction, then customers can receive electronic receipts, but the process is cumbersome and requires repeated customer action
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by having customers register their email addresses and preferences in advance through a one-time enrollment process. Once enrolled, the system automatically sends electronic receipts without requiring customer intervention at each transaction, thereby simplifying the process and maintaining transaction speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service by allowing customers to automatically receive electronic receipts once enrolled. The automated system handles receipt delivery without requiring customer presence or action at the point of sale, making the process convenient and efficient.
3Ease of operation
If POS systems store receipt data locally, then merchants have immediate access to receipt information, but customers cannot easily access their receipts outside the store
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a centralized database as an intermediary between the POS systems and customer mobile devices. The POS systems send receipt data to this centralized database, which then makes it accessible to customers through mobile applications. This intermediary layer simplifies the architecture by providing a single access point while enabling remote receipt retrieval.
4Loss of information
If electronic receipts are sent via email at each transaction, then customers receive immediate notification, but there is no standardized method for storage and retrieval across different transactions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal system that combines multiple functions: automatic email delivery, centralized database storage, mobile device access, and statement attachment. This multi-functional platform provides standardized storage and retrieval methods while adapting to different customer preferences and access scenarios, making the system versatile and broadly applicable.
Data Source
AI summary
Having an option for credit card users, at the time of sale, when paying with credit or debit card, to have the store receipt included with, their monthly statement and/or emailed to the email address(es) attached to their financial institution account, the method is comprised of a point-of-sale system that registers goods and/or services, comprising a transaction receipt, and the credit card number of user, allows the credit card user to input if he/she wants the receipt saved, the point of sale systems sends data to the credit approval system for approval, upon approval the point of sales information is either sent immediately to the server associated with the credit card, or is sent to who a local server who later sends the data to appropriate credit card server, the credit card server sends the data to the credit card's financial institution who saves the receipt under the credit card user's account, and then includes the receipt in the credit card users statements, and ongoing online transaction record.