Add-on Application Emulating User Actions for POS Transaction Processing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Point of sale systems lack seamless integration with add-on applications to facilitate advanced transaction processing, such as loyalty programs and alternative payment methods, often requiring manual intervention and limited functionality.

Innovation Solution

An add-on application monitors the state of the point of sale user interface using OCR, computer vision, or machine learning to overlay buttons and emulate user actions, enabling seamless transition of transaction processing from the point of sale application to the add-on application, facilitating rewards redemption and processing of various payment types without modifying the source code of the point of sale application.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If point of sale systems use traditional application architecture, then system stability is maintained, but functionality and adaptability are limited

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovefunctionalityVSAvoidsystem architecture

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system is divided into two independent parts: the original point of sale application and the add-on application. The add-on application runs separately and communicates with the POS application through defined interfaces, allowing new functionality to be added without modifying or complicating the core POS system architecture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

An intermediary communication mechanism is introduced between the add-on application and the POS application. This allows the add-on to monitor POS interface states and emulate user actions without direct integration or code modification of the POS application, maintaining system stability while enabling extended functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If add-on application monitors POS interface state, then transaction processing capability is enhanced, but user interface complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransaction processing capabilityVSAvoiduser interface complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The add-on application creates a virtual model or copy of the POS user interface state by monitoring and parsing its elements. This copy is used to determine when to overlay buttons and when to transition processing, allowing the add-on to function without directly modifying or complicating the actual POS interface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The interface monitoring and state determination process acts as an intermediary layer between the add-on application and the POS user interface. This intermediary mechanism enables enhanced transaction processing capability while keeping the actual user interface simple and unchanged.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If add-on application overlays buttons on POS interface, then ease of operation is improved, but interface clarity may deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of operationVSAvoidinterface clarity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The overlay buttons are dynamically displayed only when the add-on application determines that the current POS interface state corresponds to a relevant transaction scenario. This dynamic appearance and disappearance ensures that overlay buttons are present when needed for ease of operation but absent when they would interfere with interface clarity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The add-on application continuously monitors the POS interface state and uses this feedback to determine when to display or hide overlay buttons. This feedback mechanism ensures that overlay buttons are displayed only in appropriate contexts, maintaining both ease of operation and interface clarity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

4Adaptability or versatility

If transaction processing transitions to add-on application, then adaptability is improved, but system reliability may worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveadaptabilityVSAvoidsystem reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS11829984B2Add-on application for point of sale device

Publication Date: 2023.11.28 SUMUP INC

AI summary

A point of sale application may initially process a transaction between a customer and a merchant. While the point of sale application processes the transaction, an add-on application may monitor a current state of a user interface of the point of sale application. Upon recognizing a triggering event associated with the current state of the user interface, the add-on application may take over the processing of the transaction from the point of sale application. Upon completion of the processing of the transaction, the add-on application may return a result of the transaction to the point of sale application by emulating user actions on the user interface of the point of sale application.