Proximity-Based Transaction Device Selection Using Positioning Signals

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Mobile devices used in retail environments lack the capability to perform functions like printing receipts and receiving cash payments due to the absence of printers and cash drawers, leading to security risks and inconvenience when these functions are offloaded to distant terminals.

Innovation Solution

A proximity-based system that allows mobile devices to identify and communicate with nearby terminals equipped with necessary peripherals, enabling the transfer of unsupported transaction functions such as receipt printing and cash handling, using positioning signals and data communication transceivers to facilitate seamless transaction processing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If mobile devices offload unsupported functions to distant terminals, then transaction functions can be performed, but security risks increase and convenience decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransaction function capabilityVSAvoidconvenience

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a positioning signal as an intermediary to bridge the mobile device and terminals. The system uses positioning signals to identify nearby terminals, creating an intermediate selection layer that ensures both functional capability and physical proximity, thereby maintaining security and convenience simultaneously

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If mobile devices offload functions to distant terminals, then transaction functions can be performed, but security risks increase due to cash drawer vulnerability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecash handling capabilityVSAvoidsecurity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by requiring the terminal to be locally present (nearby) rather than distant. The positioning signal mechanism ensures that cash drawer operations occur at a locally identifiable terminal, preventing the security vulnerability that arises when cash drawers are opened at remote locations where clerks are not present

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Adaptability or versatility

If mobile devices offload receipt printing to distant terminals, then printing function is available, but user convenience decreases due to retrieval difficulty

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereceipt printing capabilityVSAvoidreceipt accessibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The positioning signal acts as an intermediary that ensures the printing terminal is physically near the user. This intermediate selection mechanism guarantees that receipt printing capability is available while the printed receipt remains easily accessible to the user, eliminating the retrieval difficulty associated with distant terminals

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS10657511B2Proximity-based transaction device selection

Publication Date: 2020.05.19 NCR VOYIX CORP

AI summary

Various embodiments herein each include at least one of systems, methods, software, and devices for proximity-based transaction device selection. One embodiment in the form of a method performed on a mobile device includes receiving a positioning signal and identifying a terminal associated with the positioning signal. An instruction may then be transmitted to the identified terminal via a wireless data communication device of the mobile device.