POS Device Wireless Tag Stock Verification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sales data processing systems using wireless tags, such as RFID tags, often incorrectly read information from unintended tags, leading to erroneous detection and registration of items at checkout or when leaving a store, causing inconvenience and confusion.

Innovation Solution

A point-of-sales data processing device that acquires article identification information from wireless tags, interrogates a server to verify if the item is in stock at the current or affiliated stores, and registers the item only if it is in stock, while updating the server information to reflect the item's new status.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the reader device reads information from wireless tags within readable range, then the reading speed and coverage are improved, but erroneous detection of unintended items occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereading speedVSAvoiddetection accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system reads the identification code from the wireless tag, checks whether the item is in stock at the store via server communication, and provides feedback to determine whether to register the item. This feedback mechanism prevents erroneous registration of unintended items while maintaining efficient reading speed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The server acts as an intermediary between the reader device and the item database. The reader device reads the identification code and communicates with the server to verify item stock status, preventing direct erroneous registration. This intermediary layer filters out unintended items while preserving fast reading capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the system checks item stock status for every read tag, then detection accuracy is improved, but processing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection accuracyVSAvoidprocessing time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs stock status verification as a preliminary action before item registration. By checking whether the item is in stock at the store before completing the registration process, the system ensures detection accuracy while maintaining efficient processing through streamlined conditional logic.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If the system registers items without verification, then transaction speed is improved, but erroneous registration occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransaction speedVSAvoidregistration accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements a feedback mechanism where the server responds to the reader device with stock status information. This feedback enables the system to maintain fast transaction processing by using simple conditional logic: if the item is in stock, register it; otherwise, do not register it. The feedback ensures registration accuracy without significantly impacting transaction speed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4102432B1Sales data processing device, security device, and program
Publication Date: 2025.04.02 TOSHIBA TEC KK
  • EP4102432B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4102432B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4102432B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A sales data processing device includes a controller that acquires article identification information from a wireless tag on an article. The controller interrogates a server for information corresponding to the acquired article identification information. The server stores information concerning individual articles handled at a first store at which the sales data processing device is located and a second store. The controller determines, based on the information returned from the server, whether the article matching the article identification information read from the wireless tag is listed as being is in stock at the first store. If the article is in stock, the controller registers the article identification information in a sales transaction, then updates the information on the first server to indicate that the article is no longer in stock.