POS Network Color Printing for Timely Receipts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing POS systems lack the capability to generate and print additional information, such as color highlighting and coupons, on sales receipts in a timely and efficient manner, which limits customer engagement and inventory management.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a POS network architecture that allows a color printer to receive and process both default and second print files/data, using business rules to generate additional print information, such as coupons, and transmit them to the printer for immediate printing, ensuring timely and visually engaging sales receipts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a POS system uses traditional black ink printing for sales receipts, then the printing process is simple and fast, but the customer engagement and visual appeal are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies color changes by implementing a color printing system that can print sales receipts in multiple colors (e.g., black, red, green) to highlight different information types. The system uses color codes defined in the print file to render text and graphical objects in specific colors, making the receipt visually appealing and enhancing customer engagement while maintaining printing efficiency through standardized color rendering processes.
2Productivity
If a POS system prints only basic transaction information, then the printing process is fast and simple, but additional promotional information and coupons cannot be provided timely
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-defining color codes and their corresponding color values in the printing system before actual printing occurs. The system establishes a color code table that maps numeric codes to specific colors, and this configuration is prepared in advance, allowing the POS terminal to quickly render colored text and graphical objects during printing without real-time color processing delays, thus maintaining high printing speed while enabling rich promotional content.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a POS system integrates color printing and additional print data processing, then customer engagement improves, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the intermediary principle by introducing a print file as an intermediate data structure that contains all printing instructions including color codes, text data, and graphical object definitions. This print file serves as a mediator between the POS terminal's data processing system and the color printer, encapsulating all complex coloring and formatting logic within the print file structure, thereby simplifying the overall system architecture while enabling rich color printing capabilities.
4Quantity of substance
If a POS system uses traditional monochrome printing, then the printing cost is low, but the ability to provide visually engaging sales receipts is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by implementing selective color printing where only specific portions of the receipt use color while other portions remain in black and white. The system allows different text elements and graphical objects to be assigned different color codes, enabling targeted use of color for promotional highlights, coupons, or important information, thereby reducing overall printing costs compared to full-color printing while still providing visual engagement where most needed.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides for optional printing at a pont of sale (POS). The invention provides a system and computer implemented method for printing information at a POS relating to a purchase transaction at the POS, comprising printing a second alternative instead of a default print, or printing both a default and a second print, in both cases dependent upon the second print being timely delivered to the POS printer. Preferably, the second print depends upon processing business rules related to color in the print.