Mobile Sales Robot Transaction Tracking for Store-External Checkout
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mobile sales systems only support shopping within a retail store and do not facilitate seamless purchasing experiences outside the store.
Innovation Solution
A mobile sales system comprising self-propelled robots that can transport and sell commodities, integrated with user terminals and a server device for managing transactions, enabling easy purchase and settlement processing through user identification and commodity tracking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a mobile robot is used to support shopping inside the store, then customer service quality is improved, but the system cannot support purchasing outside the store
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile sales device is designed to perform multiple functions: it can operate as a shopping assistant inside the store and as a mobile checkout counter outside the store. The device includes a commodity storage section, a display section, and a settlement section that can function in different locations, enabling the same device to serve both indoor and outdoor shopping needs without requiring separate systems
Solution Approach 2:
The server acts as an intermediary that coordinates between the mobile sales device, the store management system, and payment processing systems. It manages the device location, commodity information, and settlement data, allowing the mobile sales device to operate seamlessly in different locations without increasing its own complexity
2Ease of operation
If traditional fixed checkout counters are used, then settlement processing is reliable, but customer convenience and shopping efficiency are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile sales device enables customers to complete their shopping and settlement process at the location where they finish selecting items, eliminating the need to return to a fixed checkout counter. The device autonomously handles commodity tracking, price calculation, and payment processing, providing convenient self-service checkout experience while maintaining reliable settlement through server coordination
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements real-time feedback mechanisms where the mobile sales device continuously communicates with the server to report location, commodity selection, and settlement status. The server processes this information and provides feedback on payment status and inventory updates, ensuring reliable settlement processing while enabling mobile checkout convenience
3Loss of information
If mobile sales devices are deployed outside the store, then purchasing flexibility is improved, but tracking and managing transactions becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile sales device and server implement continuous feedback communication where the device reports its location, selected commodities, and settlement status to the server in real-time. The server maintains accurate transaction records and provides feedback on payment status, enabling reliable transaction tracking despite the device's mobile operation outside the store
Solution Approach 2:
The server acts as an intermediary that centralizes transaction management functions. It receives data from the mobile sales device, processes payment information, updates inventory records, and maintains transaction histories. This intermediary role simplifies the mobile device's function while ensuring accurate transaction tracking across different locations
Data Source
AI summary
According to one embodiment, a mobile sales system includes a mobile sales robot and a server. The robot includes a first processor that acquires user identification information from a user, detects when an item is removed from the robot and acquires a corresponding commodity identification, and transmits the user identification information and commodity identification to the server. The server stores the user identification information and the commodity identification in correlation with each other. Each commodity identification is associated with a settlement flag indicating whether the item has been paid for. The server transmits the commodity identifications stored in correlation with the user identification information to an external device that sends the user identification information to the server when the settlement flag indicates the corresponding item has not yet been paid for and executes settlement (payment) processing using user settlement information when a request is sent from the external device.