Mirrored Display Proximal Control Autonomous Retail
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional automated retail devices face challenges in providing private, accessible, and secure transaction experiences due to hardware and software limitations, including customer privacy concerns, accessibility issues, and security vulnerabilities, especially in public spaces.
Innovation Solution
Implementing an autonomous retail system (ARS) that allows users to connect via user equipment (UE) for end-to-end item fulfillment, enabling proximal control, authentication, and secure transactions through mobile applications, leveraging wireless protocols for communication and authentication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional automated retail devices are used in public spaces, then accessibility and transaction capability are provided, but customer privacy and security are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces user equipment (UE) such as mobile phones or tablets as an intermediary device between the customer and the automated retail device. The UE displays transaction information, product catalogs, and communication interfaces, allowing customers to interact with the retail system without exposing sensitive information on the retail device's public display. This mediator protects privacy while maintaining transaction accessibility in public spaces.
2Productivity
If traditional automated retail devices use public displays, then transaction information is visible to all, but customer privacy is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The UE acts as a private intermediary display device that receives transaction data from the retail system and presents it securely to the customer. Sensitive information such as personal details, payment information, and private communications are displayed only on the UE, not on the public retail device display, preventing information leakage while maintaining efficient transaction processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality by providing personalized, private display content to each customer through their individual UE device, while the public retail device display shows only general, non-sensitive information. This allows different parts of the system to have different privacy characteristics - public areas remain accessible while private information is localized to individual customer devices.
3Ease of operation
If automated retail devices require direct customer interaction, then transactions can be completed, but accessibility and comfort are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent leverages the universality of user equipment (UE) devices that customers already possess and are familiar with using. The UE serves multiple functions including displaying product information, facilitating communication with the retail system, processing payments, and providing transaction receipts. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for customers to learn new interaction methods while enhancing convenience and accessibility.
4Reliability
If secure authentication is implemented at the retail device, then transaction security is improved, but accessibility and ease of use are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service authentication by leveraging the UE device's existing security mechanisms such as fingerprint sensors, facial recognition, or device passcodes. The authentication process occurs on the customer's own device using methods they are already familiar with, eliminating the need to interact with complex authentication hardware at the retail device. This maintains high security while preserving ease of use and accessibility.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques for operating an autonomous retail system (ARS) are discussed herein. An ARS may include input devices, output devices, input-output (I/O) devices, and an inventory of items. The ARS may send or receive connection request with user equipment, such as a mobile device, and a connection may be established between the user equipment and the ARS. Techniques for identifying and authenticating the user equipment are discussed herein. The ARS may cause a display of the inventory of items on a display of the user equipment. The display of the ARS may be mirrored on the display of the user equipment. A user, via the user equipment, may provide indication(s) including a selection of an action such as a purchase action and selection of an item based on the action. Based on the indication(s), the ARS may dispense the item to the user. Scheduling techniques are discussed for the ARS to provide service to multiple customers.