Centralized POS Server Reduces Peripheral Driver Complexity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current remote and networked point-of-service (POS) terminals face challenges in maintaining compatibility and ease of management due to the need for custom software and device drivers for each peripheral, leading to increased complexity and costs in upgrading and maintaining these systems.
Innovation Solution
A method and system where networked POS units operate as remote device clusters, with a host server running POS applications and device controls, and a device communications management module that processes I/O commands, allowing the POS to be accessed and managed as if local, reducing the need for local operating systems and device drivers, and enabling centralized maintenance and upgrades.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If custom software and device drivers are installed on each remote POS unit to support network access and peripheral devices, then the POS units can control and operate attached devices, but the software complexity and maintenance difficulty increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the operating system and device driver functionality from the remote POS units and consolidates it into a server system. The server runs a complete operating system and manages all device drivers centrally, while remote POS units operate with minimal software, eliminating the need for custom software installation on each device.
Solution Approach 2:
The server system provides universal device control capabilities that can manage multiple types of peripheral devices (printers, scanners, magnetic strip readers, etc.) across multiple remote POS units through a single centralized platform, eliminating the need for device-specific software on each POS unit.
2Ease of operation
If separate software packages and device-resident drivers are installed on each POS unit, then each unit can operate independently, but the number of interfaces to learn and maintain increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functionality of multiple separate software packages and device drivers into a single centralized server system. The server consolidates all device control interfaces and software management, allowing POS units to operate independently while reducing the total number of interfaces from many distributed interfaces to a single unified interface.
3Adaptability or versatility
If custom software is written and installed on each POS unit to run specific POS packages, then the units can perform specialized functions, but upgrading and changing POS software becomes time-consuming and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts POS software packages from individual POS units and relocates them to the centralized server. This allows software upgrades and changes to be performed once on the server, automatically making them available to all remote POS units, thereby eliminating time-consuming individual software installations and upgrades at each location.
4Reliability
If remote POS units have full operating systems and device drivers installed, then they can function autonomously, but the maintenance and management of these distributed systems becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the operating system from remote POS units and consolidates it on the server. Remote POS units function autonomously for their core POS operations but rely on the server for device control and peripheral management, creating a balanced architecture that maintains operational independence while simplifying maintenance through centralized system management.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for using compatible point-of-service (POS) applications to access and control devices of a POS unit. A server runs a POS application and a set of peripheral drivers (or device controls). A networked POS unit communicates with the host server via a communication network, and the networked POS unit includes peripherals connected locally to its I/O ports. The POS unit further includes a device communications management module processing output received from the host server that is generated by the POS application and is targeted at one of the connected peripheral ports. The device communications management module transfers POS device input from the peripherals over the communication network to the host server for processing by the POS application. The POS application interfaces with the peripheral drivers, and the output is provided by one of the peripheral drivers that corresponds to the target peripheral of the networked POS unit.