Electronic Receipt Dispensing System Timing Flexibility

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electronic receipt dispensing systems face limitations in flexibility and versatility regarding the timing of electronic receipt dispensing, making it difficult to generate and dispense electronic receipts after the initial receipt processing has completed.

Innovation Solution

A system comprising a point-of-sale terminal, a transaction system server, and an electronic receipt server, which allows for the generation and storage of electronic receipt linkage data based on transaction data, enabling electronic receipts to be generated and dispensed at a later time if the customer is a member of an electronic receipt service.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If electronic receipt data is generated only during transaction processing, then the system maintains simple processing flow, but the dispensing timing flexibility is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedispensing timing flexibilityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system generates electronic receipt linkage data during transaction processing in advance, storing it in the database. This preliminary action allows the electronic receipt to be dispensed later through the electronic receipt server without reprocessing the entire transaction, thus improving dispensing timing flexibility while maintaining relatively simple system architecture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If electronic receipt linkage data is generated and stored separately, then later dispensing is enabled, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecustomer convenienceVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides the receipt dispensing function into two independent parts: the transaction system that generates electronic receipt linkage data, and the electronic receipt server that dispenses it. This segmentation allows customers to access receipts conveniently at any time through the server, while each system component remains relatively simple in structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The electronic receipt linkage data stored in the database acts as an intermediary between the transaction system and the electronic receipt server. This mediator enables the server to generate and dispense electronic receipts without direct involvement of the transaction processing system, improving customer convenience while maintaining system simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the electronic receipt server communicates with both the transaction system and terminal apparatus, then versatility is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice coverageVSAvoidcommunication architecture

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The electronic receipt server is designed with multi-functionality to communicate with both the transaction system for receiving linkage data and terminal apparatus for dispensing receipts. This universal communication capability allows a single server to handle multiple functions, improving service coverage while avoiding the need for multiple separate systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS20250078060A1Electronic receipt dispensing system, information processing apparatus, and electronic receipt dispensing method

Publication Date: 2025.03.06 TOSHIBA TEC KK

AI summary

A sales transaction processing system includes a point-of-sale terminal in a store, a printer for printing transaction receipts, and a transaction system server connected to the point-of-sale terminal via a network. The server receives a commodity code of an item being registered for purchase in a sales transaction at the point-of-sale terminal and registers the item in transaction data for the sales transaction, receives a member code for a customer, generates printing data for printing a transaction receipt for the sales transaction on the printer, and, if the received member code indicates the customer is a member of an electronic receipt service, generates linkage data from the printing data. The linkage data permits an electronic receipt to be generated for the sales transaction either presently or subsequently.