Retail Data Standardization Server for Legacy System Interoperability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Legacy retail systems generate proprietary data formats that are not easily interoperable, requiring custom software development to utilize their data in other applications, which is time-consuming and costly.
Innovation Solution
A system that converts proprietary retail data into standardized formats, allowing retailers to provide customized in-store experiences across different legacy systems without the need for custom software development, by using a server that receives and standardizes customer data from various sources, including retail and social media platforms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If proprietary data formats from legacy retail systems are used directly, then data can be stored and processed by the original systems, but the data cannot be easily utilized in other applications or by different systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a data standardization service that acts as an intermediary between legacy retail systems with proprietary formats and modern applications. This service receives data in various proprietary formats, converts it to standardized formats, and provides it to applications needing specific data. This mediator eliminates the need for custom software development for each legacy system while maintaining data interoperability across different platforms and applications.
2Adaptability or versatility
If custom software development is performed for each legacy system to utilize its data, then the data can be used in new applications, but it requires a great deal of time and money to develop
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal data standardization service that handles multiple proprietary formats from different legacy retail systems through a single platform. This service provides multi-functional capabilities by supporting various input formats (NCR, Micros, and other proprietary formats) and output formats, eliminating the need to develop separate custom software for each legacy system. The universal service reduces development time and costs while maintaining the ability to utilize data from any legacy system.
3Adaptability or versatility
If custom software development is performed for each legacy system to utilize its data, then the data can be used in new applications, but it requires significant financial resources to develop
Solution Approach 1:
The data standardization service serves as a cost-effective intermediary that eliminates the need for expensive custom software development for each legacy system. By implementing a single service that handles multiple proprietary formats through standardized conversion processes, organizations can reuse data from various legacy systems without significant financial investment in custom development projects for each system.
4Reliability
If proprietary data formats are maintained without standardization, then each system can process its own data, but the data cannot be easily shared or used across different retail systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by transforming data from various proprietary formats into standardized formats. The data standardization service modifies data parameters (formats, structures, schemas) while preserving the underlying data integrity and meaning. This allows systems to maintain their own proprietary formats for reliable local processing while enabling cross-system data sharing through standardized conversion, thus achieving both reliability and adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
A system, method and server are described for creating customized, in-store customer experiences. In one embodiment, a method is described, comprising receiving proprietary retail data from a first retail establishment over a wide-area network, the proprietary retail data comprising customer purchasing information formatted in a first proprietary format, converting the proprietary retail data into a standard retail data format to produce standardized retail data, receiving an indication from the first retail establishment over the wide-area network that an event relating to the first retail establishment has occurred, and in response to receiving the indication, retrieving standardized retail data relating to the customer from a memory, and providing at least some of the standardized retail data related to the customer to the retail establishment for presentation to the customer.