Payment Terminal Ticket Printing Parallelization

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Solution Overview

Problem

The time required to print tickets for electronic payment transactions is typically long, which hampers efficiency in processing multiple transactions.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a method where tickets are partially printed with invariant information before transactions, allowing for simultaneous printing of multiple tickets after each transaction using a terminal equipped with multiple printing heads and a bidirectional motor, enabling parallel printing and reducing the need for repeated information printing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If tickets are printed completely after each transaction, then all transaction information is accurately recorded, but the printing time becomes long

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprinting timeVSAvoidinformation completeness
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-printing invariant information (such as merchant name, address, and static ticket details) on tickets before transactions occur. This allows the printing system to only add variable transaction-specific information during the transaction, significantly reducing printing time while maintaining complete and accurate information recording.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If multiple tickets are printed sequentially, then each ticket receives complete information, but the total printing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransaction processing speedVSAvoidtotal printing time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

By pre-printing invariant information on multiple tickets in advance, the system enables parallel processing of multiple transactions. When transactions occur, only the variable portion needs to be printed, allowing multiple tickets to be quickly processed simultaneously or in rapid succession, thereby improving productivity and reducing total printing time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If all information is printed during the printing step, then complete transaction details are captured, but printing equipment wear increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation accuracyVSAvoidprinting equipment wear
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent reduces printing equipment wear by pre-printing invariant information on tickets before they are used. During actual transactions, the printing system only needs to add variable transaction-specific information, significantly reducing the frequency and duration of printing operations, thereby minimizing wear on printing heads and related equipment while maintaining complete information accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2084678B1Method for printing tickets
Publication Date: 2015.06.17 COMPAGNIE INDUSTRIELLE ET FINANCIERE D INGENIERIE INGENICO SA
  • EP2084678B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for printing tickets for an electronic payment terminal, said method comprising: carrying out payment transactions with the terminal; after each transaction, simultaneously printing several tickets concerning the transaction made. The invention also relates to an electronic payment terminal. Accordingly, when several transactions are carried out successively, the time required for printing the tickets is shortened since the tickets are printed at the same time.