Loyalty Engine Translating POS Requests for Host Compatibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing loyalty programs in retail environments require custom interfaces to communicate with point-of-sale (POS) systems, leading to high costs and inefficiencies, as the number of loyalty programs and discount types grows faster than POS technology can adapt, and transaction fees increase.
Innovation Solution
A loyalty engine that translates loyalty requests and responses between loyalty clients and hosts, enabling compatibility without the need for custom interfaces, by determining the appropriate host and modifying request and response data to match supported protocols, thus facilitating communication between diverse loyalty programs and POS systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If custom interfaces are implemented for each loyalty program to communicate with POS systems, then compatibility with specific loyalty programs is achieved, but device complexity and implementation cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a loyalty engine as an intermediary component that sits between the POS system and multiple loyalty programs. This engine translates and adapts communication protocols automatically, allowing the POS system to maintain a single standardized interface while supporting multiple loyalty programs with different protocols. The intermediary handles the complexity of protocol translation rather than requiring custom interfaces at the POS level.
Solution Approach 2:
The loyalty engine provides a universal interface that can communicate with multiple different loyalty programs simultaneously. Instead of requiring separate custom interfaces for each loyalty program, the system uses a single universal interface that adapts to different protocols through translation, enabling one interface to serve multiple functions and programs.
2Adaptability or versatility
If POS systems are modified to support new loyalty programs and discount types, then adaptability to new programs is improved, but implementation cost and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The loyalty engine acts as a mediator that absorbs the complexity of new loyalty programs and discount types. When new programs are introduced, only the loyalty engine needs to be updated with the new protocol, while the POS system maintains its original interface. This intermediary layer isolates the POS system from changes in loyalty program protocols.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is segmented into three independent components: the POS system, the loyalty engine, and the loyalty programs. This segmentation allows the loyalty engine to be updated independently to support new programs without affecting the POS system. The POS system remains stable while the loyalty engine adapts to new protocols through modular updates.
3Adaptability or versatility
If transaction fees are paid to hosted clearing houses for loyalty program access, then access to multiple loyalty programs is achieved, but operational cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The loyalty engine enables self-service access to multiple loyalty programs by handling the communication and translation internally. Instead of relying on hosted clearing houses that charge transaction fees for each access, the system uses its own translation capabilities to directly interface with loyalty programs, eliminating or reducing the need for expensive third-party clearing house services.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to translating loyalty requests between loyalty clients and loyalty hosts. For example, one embodiment of the present invention provides a method for translating point-of-sale loyalty requests by using a loyalty request to create a translated loyalty request that is compatible with a loyalty host and by using the loyalty response to create a translated loyalty response that is compatible with the loyalty client.