Payment Terminal Translator for Legacy POS Compatibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing outdoor payment terminals often cannot fully utilize their advanced functionality due to compatibility issues with older Point of Sale (POS) systems, which do not recognize all features of the terminals, leading to incomplete or improper display of media and inability to offer additional services or products.
Innovation Solution
A payment terminal system that includes a translator to interpret and execute commands from the POS while also providing additional functionalities not supported by the POS, such as displaying media and offering additional products or services, by translating commands and data between the terminal and the POS.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a POS system is used to control payment functionality of fuel dispensers, then payment transactions can be processed, but the POS system cannot recognize all functionality of the fuel dispensers leading to incomplete utilization of terminal features
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a forecourt controller as an intermediary device between the POS system and fuel dispensers. The forecourt controller receives commands from the POS system, interprets them, and translates them into appropriate instructions for the fuel dispensers. This mediator enables the POS system to control advanced dispenser features without requiring the POS system itself to understand all dispenser functionalities, thus resolving the compatibility issue while maintaining full functionality utilization.
2Reliability
If POS instructions take priority over dispenser commands, then payment transactions can be controlled, but media display and other dispenser functions are suppressed or improperly displayed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic command prioritization system where the forecourt controller dynamically adjusts which commands take priority based on the operational state of the fuel dispenser. When media display is needed, the controller allows media commands to take priority; during payment transactions, it prioritizes transaction control commands. This dynamic approach ensures both reliable transaction control and proper media display functionality without permanent suppression of either.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the POS system is upgraded to recognize all dispenser functionality, then full functionality can be utilized, but the cost of upgrading or replacing POS systems becomes prohibitive
Solution Approach 1:
The forecourt controller serves as a cost-effective intermediary that bridges the gap between legacy POS systems and advanced fuel dispensers. Rather than requiring expensive upgrades to the POS system, the forecourt controller handles the complexity of translating between POS commands and dispenser functionalities. This approach enables full utilization of dispenser features while avoiding prohibitive POS system upgrade costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the control architecture into distinct functional layers: the POS system handles high-level transaction management, the forecourt controller handles command translation and coordination, and the fuel dispensers handle execution of specific functions. This segmentation allows each component to remain relatively simple and cost-effective while the system as a whole achieves full functionality utilization.
Data Source
AI summary
Various exemplary outdoor payment terminals and methods of using outdoor payment terminals are provided. In general, data signals can be transmitted between a payment terminal configured to receive payment information from a customer and a point of sale (POS) configured to authorize the customer's payment and provide various commands, e.g., instructions, to the payment terminal. A payment terminal can include a translator configured to translate commands transmitted from the POS to the payment terminal so the payment terminal carries out the type of command requested by the POS but executes in a way that accounts for payment terminal functionality unknown to the POS.