Virtual Network POS Mesh Reduces Connectivity Costs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current point of sale (POS) networks are costly and unreliable, especially for remote or mobile merchants, as they require dedicated services and are susceptible to outages, limiting transaction processing capabilities in areas without high-speed infrastructure.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that interconnects multiple wireless POS devices to form a virtual network, allowing them to act as relay stations and provide multiple paths to a POS controller, reducing the need for direct connections and enhancing redundancy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If merchants use dedicated high-speed networks to connect to POS controllers, then transaction processing speed and reliability are improved, but connectivity cost significantly increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple wireless POS devices are merged into a single virtual network domain, allowing them to share connectivity resources. Instead of each device requiring its own dedicated connection, the devices collectively share the network infrastructure through the virtual domain architecture, significantly reducing per-device connectivity costs while maintaining reliable transaction processing.
Solution Approach 2:
A virtual network domain acts as an intermediary layer between individual wireless POS devices and the POS controller. This virtual domain aggregates multiple devices and manages their connectivity through a single or limited number of physical connections to the controller, eliminating the need for expensive dedicated services for each device while ensuring reliable data transmission.
2Device complexity
If wireless POS devices are used to reduce connectivity cost, then cost is reduced, but network range is limited and devices may be out of range from POS controller
Solution Approach 1:
Wireless POS devices that are out of direct range of the controller are merged into the virtual network domain established by in-range devices. The virtual domain aggregates the connectivity capabilities of multiple devices, allowing devices in remote locations to access the network through intermediate devices that have direct or indirect connectivity to the controller.
Solution Approach 2:
In-range wireless POS devices serve as intermediaries or relay nodes for out-of-range devices. These intermediary devices forward transactions and data between out-of-range devices and the POS controller, extending the effective network coverage beyond the physical range of individual wireless connections.
3Productivity
If POS devices establish direct connections to POS controller, then transaction processing is direct and efficient, but network failure affects all devices simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The network is segmented into a virtual domain comprising multiple independent wireless POS devices. Each device maintains its own independent connection path through the virtual domain to the POS controller, so that a failure in one device's connection does not affect other devices. This segmentation provides fault isolation while maintaining efficient transaction processing for each device.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the connectivity parameter from direct single-point connections to multiple paths through a virtual domain. Devices can route transactions through different paths within the virtual domain depending on network conditions, providing redundancy and fault tolerance while maintaining efficient processing through optimized routing.
4Reliability
If multiple paths to POS controller are created, then network reliability is improved, but network structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The virtual network domain serves as a managing intermediary that handles network path selection and routing. This intermediary abstracts the complexity of multiple connection paths from individual devices, presenting a simplified interface where devices simply connect to the virtual domain while the domain manages the complexity of establishing and maintaining multiple redundant paths to the POS controller.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for interconnecting multiple point of sale devices creating a mesh-like network structure which reduces connectivity costs while providing greater reliability due to multiple network paths is disclosed. By linking point of sale devices within a virtual network, the need for individual connections to a point of sale controller is eliminated and alternative network paths are provided, thereby ensuring maximum up-time and optimal connection speeds.