Priority-Based Payment Routing in Check-Out Systems

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Solution Overview

Problem

In a semi-self-type check-out system, the registration apparatus must select a payment apparatus as the destination for accounting data at each transaction, leading to delays if the shopper takes time to operate the payment apparatus, necessitating multiple payment apparatuses connected to a single registration apparatus.

Innovation Solution

The check-out system includes a registration apparatus that generates accounting data and multiple payment apparatuses connected through a network, where the registration apparatus stores and updates priority settings for each payment apparatus based on their state, transmitting accounting data to the payment apparatus with the top priority, and allows payment data transfer to another apparatus if the primary is not capable of processing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If multiple payment apparatuses are connected to a single registration apparatus, then the system can handle concurrent transactions more efficiently, but the registration apparatus must select a payment apparatus at each transaction which increases complexity and processing time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransaction throughputVSAvoidapparatus selection complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-establishing priority relationships between payment apparatuses before transactions occur. The registration apparatus stores priority information indicating the order of payment apparatuses, so when multiple payment apparatuses are available, the system can immediately route transactions to the highest-priority available apparatus without performing complex real-time selection logic.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of payment apparatus selection from dynamic real-time decision-making to static priority-based routing. By converting the selection criterion into a stored priority parameter, the system simplifies the selection process while maintaining the ability to handle multiple concurrent transactions efficiently.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If the registration apparatus waits for shopper operation at the payment apparatus, then payment processing can be completed, but subsequent transactions experience delays

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepayment processing completionVSAvoidtransaction waiting time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables continuity of useful action by allowing the registration apparatus to continuously accept and process transactions without idle waiting periods. While one transaction is being processed at a payment apparatus, the registration apparatus can simultaneously prepare for and initiate the next transaction by routing it to another available payment apparatus based on stored priority information.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary routing decisions based on pre-stored priority information, so that when a transaction is ready for processing, the appropriate payment apparatus is already identified and prepared, eliminating delays associated with real-time selection and enabling continuous transaction flow.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If the registration apparatus selects payment apparatus dynamically at each transaction, then the system can adapt to current state, but the selection process increases workload on salespersons and processing load

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem adaptability to current stateVSAvoidoperational burden on salesperson

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies self-service by enabling the registration apparatus to automatically perform payment apparatus selection using pre-stored priority information. The system serves itself by making routing decisions without requiring salespersons to manually select or evaluate payment apparatus options, thereby reducing operational burden while maintaining adaptability through automated state-aware routing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS11263635B2Check-out system and registration apparatus

Publication Date: 2022.03.01 TOSHIBA TEC KK

AI summary

A registration apparatus stores priority which is set for each of a plurality of payment apparatuses. If a condition to update the priority is established, the registration apparatus updates the priority, based on data indicating a state of each payment apparatus. The registration apparatus transmits accounting data and data on the priority, to a payment apparatus having a top priority. A payment apparatus pays a transaction by transmitting a permission response to the registration apparatus, when receiving the accounting data and the priority data in a state where the payment of the transaction is possible. The payment apparatus transfers the accounting data and the priority data to another payment apparatus having a lower priority than the payment apparatus, based on the priority data, when the accounting data and the priority data are received in a state where the payment of the transaction is not possible.