POS Client Integration Platform for Device-Agnostic Payment Transactions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional multi-device POS and point of purchase systems face technical compatibility and integration issues due to the use of middleware that requires extensive on-board programming to facilitate interactions between different sub-systems, such as payment gateways, POS servers, and devices.
Innovation Solution
A POS client integration platform comprising a POS client application and a commerce client module that provides device-agnostic payment transaction operations through communication interfaces corresponding to specific protocols, enabling direct communication with payment gateways and executing transactions without the need for extensive on-board programming, thereby integrating disparate systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional middleware is used to enable interactions between different sub-systems in multi-device POS systems, then compatibility and integration between sub-systems can be achieved, but technical compatibility problems and integration complexity arise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal communication protocol that enables a single interface to work with multiple different sub-systems (payment gateways, POS servers, devices) without requiring separate middleware for each combination. This multi-functional protocol layer eliminates the need for extensive customization and integration programming, thereby reducing integration complexity while maintaining broad compatibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a standardized communication protocol as an intermediary layer between diverse sub-systems. This protocol acts as a mediator that translates and standardizes interactions, allowing different systems to communicate without direct custom integration. The protocol layer absorbs the complexity of compatibility requirements, presenting a simplified interface to applications while handling the intricacies of system integration internally.
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional middleware is built on a per sub-system basis to support interactions, then specific sub-system integrations can be enabled, but the complexity of on-board programming increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces multiple per-sub-system middleware components with a single universal communication protocol that handles integration with all sub-systems. This protocol supports payment gateways, POS servers, and various devices through a common interface, eliminating the need for separate integration programming for each sub-system combination and thereby reducing programming complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes configurable parameters within the communication protocol to adapt to different sub-systems without changing the underlying integration logic. By allowing parameter customization (such as protocol versions, communication formats, and system-specific identifiers), the same integration framework can work across multiple sub-systems, reducing the programming complexity associated with building per-sub-system middleware.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple communication protocols are supported through a single interface, then device agnostic payment transaction operations are enabled, but the interface must handle diverse communication requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a standardized communication protocol as an intermediary that sits between the application layer and diverse communication interfaces. This protocol layer mediates all communications, translating application requests into protocol-specific messages and vice versa. By centralizing protocol handling at this intermediary layer, the interface complexity is contained and managed systematically, while device compatibility is achieved through protocol configuration rather than interface redesign.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the communication architecture into distinct layers: a universal application interface layer, a protocol translation layer, and device-specific implementation layers. This segmentation allows each layer to handle its specific concerns independently - the application layer remains simple and device-agnostic, while protocol complexity is isolated to the translation layer. This modular segmentation reduces overall interface complexity while maintaining broad device compatibility.
Data Source
AI summary
A point of sale client integration platform is provided. The point of sale client integration platform includes a point of sale client application and a commerce client module that, in combination, provide a device agnostic payment transaction operation. The commerce client module includes communication interfaces, each of which corresponds to a particular communication protocol. The commerce client module receives a payment request from the point of sale client application and directly communicates, via one of the communication protocols, an authorization and capture request with respect to the payment request to a payment gateway. Through the same communication protocol, the commerce client module receives an authorization and capture response from the payment gateway. The commerce client module also drives a POS device to execute the device agnostic payment transaction operation in accordance with the payment request and the authorization and capture response.