Electronic Receipt Splitting via Intermediary Server
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current point-of-sale (POS) systems are limited in their ability to handle electronic receipts and facilitate their management, particularly in sharing or splitting bills or shopping carts among users of different devices, hindering the adoption of electronic receipts.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that allows customers to manage and split electronic receipts using mobile devices, enabling them to interface with POS systems and back office management systems, with features like item allocation and notification for cost sharing, facilitated by machine-readable codes and cloud computing for convenient receipt management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If current POS systems are used, then existing system compatibility is maintained, but the ability to handle electronic receipts and facilitate sharing among multiple users is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a receipt management server as an intermediary component that sits between the POS system and users' mobile devices. This server handles the complexity of electronic receipt management, storage, and sharing operations, allowing the POS system to remain relatively simple while gaining enhanced electronic receipt capabilities through the intermediary service.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates digital copies of receipts in electronic format that can be stored, transmitted, and shared across multiple devices. By converting physical receipts into digital representations that can be replicated and distributed, the system enables multiple users to access and share receipt information without requiring complex modifications to the core POS system architecture.
2Ease of operation
If electronic receipts are implemented without sharing functionality, then system simplicity is maintained, but user convenience and adoption are hindered
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables users to independently access, view, and share their own electronic receipts through mobile devices without requiring intervention from POS system operators or complex manual processes. Users can autonomously manage their receipt information, split costs with others, and receive notifications, making the system easy to operate while the backend complexity is handled automatically by the receipt management server.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal receipt management system that works across multiple devices and user accounts. The same electronic receipt can be accessed and shared by multiple users through different devices, and the system provides multiple functions including receipt storage, cost splitting, and notification delivery, all through a unified platform that simplifies user interaction.
3Adaptability or versatility
If receipt sharing among multiple users is enabled, then user convenience is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the receipt information into shareable components that can be distributed to multiple users. The system divides the receipt data into appropriate portions for different users based on their participation in the transaction, allowing selective sharing of cost information while maintaining the integrity of the complete receipt record on the server.
Solution Approach 2:
The receipt management server acts as an intermediary that manages the complexity of multi-user receipt sharing. It handles user authentication, cost calculation, notification delivery, and data synchronization between multiple devices, thereby enabling versatile receipt sharing functionality without requiring each individual device to handle the full complexity of the sharing system.
Data Source
AI summary
A method is disclosed for a customer splitting a bill with other persons. A bill may be obtained and viewed electronically on a mobile electronic device with electronic receipts software thereon. Using a device configured according to one or more embodiments of the invention, a customer is able to select the bill for splitting as well as selecting other persons to share the cost of items on the receipt. The customer may allocate item cost among those other persons and each person may pay for their individual portion of the bill. Notifications and/or receipt copies may be sent electronically to each person associated with the bill.