POS Driver Intermediary Layer for Peripheral Adaptability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing point-of-sale (POS) software systems struggle to accommodate new peripherals and payment methods without requiring significant updates, limiting interoperability and forcing users to choose from a restricted range of compatible peripherals.
Innovation Solution
A method that allows an electronic device, such as a cash register, to trigger complementary actions by interpreting user inputs and contextual data without modifying the existing application program, enabling it to work with new peripherals like change machines or online payment platforms without additional hardware or software updates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the POS software program is updated to support new peripherals, then the adaptability of the electronic device improves, but the complexity of software maintenance and updates increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a driver program as an intermediary layer between the application program and the peripheral device. This driver program handles all communication and control signals for the peripheral, allowing the application program to remain unchanged while supporting new peripherals. The driver acts as a mediator that translates application-level commands into device-specific protocols, thereby improving adaptability without increasing software maintenance complexity for application developers.
Solution Approach 2:
The software architecture is segmented into distinct layers: the application program layer and the driver program layer. This segmentation allows independent development and updating of each layer. The application program focuses on business logic while the driver program handles peripheral-specific communications, enabling the system to adapt to new peripherals through driver updates alone, without affecting the application program.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the application program is modified to work with new peripherals, then the functionality of the electronic device is extended, but the risk of disrupting existing operations increases
Solution Approach 1:
By introducing the driver program as an intermediary, the patent isolates the application program from direct interactions with peripherals. This isolation ensures that modifications to support new peripherals occur only in the driver layer, leaving the application program unchanged and thus preserving operational stability while extending functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The driver program is configured in advance with all necessary communication protocols and control mechanisms for various peripherals. This preliminary configuration allows the application program to interact with peripherals through standardized interfaces without needing to know specific peripheral details, thereby enabling functionality extension without disrupting existing operations.
3Adaptability or versatility
If hardware interfaces are added to support new peripherals, then the interoperability of the system improves, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The driver program serves as a software intermediary that enables communication with diverse peripherals through existing hardware interfaces. Instead of adding dedicated hardware interfaces for each peripheral type, the driver program translates application commands into appropriate protocols for different peripherals, achieving high interoperability without increasing hardware complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs universal hardware interfaces that can work with multiple types of peripherals. The driver program provides multi-functionality by handling different peripheral protocols through a unified software layer, allowing a single hardware interface to support various peripherals without requiring additional specialized hardware for each device type.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for triggering one or several actions complementary to those triggered by an application method implemented by an electronic device. The invention further relates to a system including one or several electronic devices implementing said method triggering complementary actions to cooperate with one or several communicating electronic peripherals.