Print Control Device Standardizing Receipt Data via Markup Language
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic receipt systems face difficulties in analyzing sales information and customer purchasing activity due to format inconsistencies across multiple retailers and vendors, as each system uses a unique format for storing electronic receipts.
Innovation Solution
A print control device and method that converts receipt data from various languages into a markup language, such as XML, allowing for centralized collection and analysis of receipt data, enabling easy manipulation and integration with external devices without modifying existing POS terminals, and providing a receipt ID for secure customer access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If each retailer or vendor uses a specific text format or image file format for storing electronic receipts, then the electronic receipt system can be implemented with simple storage and retrieval, but analyzing electronic receipt information across multiple retailers becomes difficult due to format inconsistencies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a print control device as an intermediary component between the POS terminal and the printer. This device converts receipt data from various formats into a standardized markup language format before transmission to the printer, enabling uniform processing and analysis of electronic receipts across different retailers without modifying the existing POS terminals or storage systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by converting receipt data from different text formats and image file formats into a standardized markup language format. This format transformation enables consistent data structure and semantics across multiple retailers, making the electronic receipt information analyzable while maintaining the original storage simplicity of each vendor's system.
2Adaptability or versatility
If receipt data is converted to a standardized markup language format, then electronic receipt information from multiple retailers can be easily analyzed, but additional conversion processing is required
Solution Approach 1:
The print control device performs the format conversion action in advance, during the receipt generation process itself. By converting receipt data to standardized markup language format before printing, the system prepares the data for future analysis without requiring additional conversion steps later, thus reducing overall system complexity despite the initial conversion requirement.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a print control device is introduced to convert receipt data to markup language, then standardized analysis across retailers is enabled, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The print control device is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as a format converter and as a data transmission interface. By combining multiple functions in a single device, the patent reduces the need for separate conversion components and maintains relatively simple system architecture while achieving standardized receipt data processing across multiple retailers.
Data Source
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AI summary
Electronic receipt information managed by multiple retailers and vendors can be easily used to analyze sales information and customer purchasing activity. A print control device 10 has a receipt data acquisition unit that acquires receipt data from a POS terminal 1; an address storage unit that stores an address of a management server 4; a receipt production processor that executes a paper receipt and/or electronic receipt production process based on the receipt data; and a output unit that outputs the receipt data in markup language to the address of the management server 4.