Merchant Referral System Using Machine-Readable Codes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Consumers face difficulties in finding alternative merchant locations with similar characteristics when the initial merchant is busy or closed, as existing smartphone applications often lack sufficient detail and are cumbersome to use.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for processing consumer referrals using a mobile communication device that reads a machine-readable code to identify a referral identifier, transmitting a referral request, and receiving location data to display alternative merchant locations with similar characteristics, including features like referral payments and real-time traffic updates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If consumers use existing smartphone applications to search for alternative merchant locations, then they can find other places to go, but the applications are cumbersome, difficult, and time consuming to use
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-establishes referral relationships between merchants and alternative locations in advance. When a consumer needs an alternative, the referral information is already prepared and can be instantly retrieved by scanning a code, eliminating the need for consumers to manually search or input queries during the moment of need.
Solution Approach 2:
The system extracts only the essential referral information (alternative merchant locations with similar characteristics) and presents it in a simplified format through machine-readable codes. This removes unnecessary complexity from the search process while retaining the core functionality of finding alternative merchants.
2Loss of information
If consumers use existing smartphone applications to search for merchants, then they can find alternative locations, but the applications do not provide sufficient detail of other locations
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses machine-readable codes as an intermediary carrier that encapsulates referral information. These codes serve as a compact medium that can be scanned to retrieve detailed referral data about alternative merchant locations, including characteristics and identification information, without requiring complex application interfaces.
3Ease of operation
If consumers manually search for alternative merchants using smartphone applications, then they can find other locations, but the process is difficult and cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces the manual mechanical process of typing, scrolling, and searching through applications with an automated optical scanning process. Consumers simply point their device camera at a machine-readable code, and the system automatically retrieves and displays referral information, dramatically reducing both effort and time.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for processing a consumer referral includes: storing, a plurality of location data entries, each entry including data related to a geographic location including a location identifier and location data; storing a plurality of referral data entries, each entry including data related to a referral including a referral identifier and one or more specific location identifiers; receiving a referral request, the request including a specific referral identifier encoded in a machine-readable code displayed at a specific geographic location associated with the specific referral identifier; identifying a specific referral data entry where the included referral identifier corresponds to the specific referral identifier; identifying a specific location data entry where the included location identifier corresponds to one of the one or more specific location identifiers included in the identified specific referral data entry; and transmitting the location data included in the identified specific location data entry in response to the request.