Retail Ticketing System Distributed Printing Automation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Retail environments face challenges in efficiently managing and synchronizing large volumes of shelf tags, advertisement signs, and digital content across multiple locations, due to time-consuming printing, sorting, and placement processes, as well as stringent legal requirements for accurate pricing and labeling.

Innovation Solution

A retail ticketing system comprising a processing unit with associated memory and web services server, credential server, profile management server, and message broker, which integrates with POS, BOS, and ERP systems to automate the printing and display of shelf tickets, digital signage, and mobile catalogues, using intelligent templates and real-time data, while managing permissions and generating targeted advertisements based on customer data.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If centralized printing and sorting is used for advertisement signs, then printing quality and consistency are improved, but time consumption and operational complexity increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprinting qualityVSAvoidtime consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the centralized printing system into distributed printing units located at individual store locations. Each store has its own printing capability, eliminating the need to transport and sort large volumes of pre-printed materials from a central facility. This segmentation reduces time consumption while maintaining printing quality through standardized print engine specifications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system pre-generates digital advertisement content and stores it in a centralized database before distribution. When a store needs advertisement materials, the content is already prepared and can be quickly printed locally without requiring advance physical preparation or sorting at the central location.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If manual sorting and placement of advertisement signs is performed, then flexibility in positioning is improved, but labor requirements and time consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning flexibilityVSAvoidoperational efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual sorting and placement operations with an automated digital system. Advertisement content is stored digitally and can be instantly transmitted to any location in the store. The system automatically manages content distribution and updating, eliminating the need for manual handling while maintaining positioning flexibility through software-controlled delivery to various display points.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple price points are displayed for the same product, then customer choice is improved, but compliance risk and operational complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepricing flexibilityVSAvoidcompliance accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements automated feedback mechanisms that continuously monitor displayed prices across all advertisement materials. The centralized database tracks all price points and ensures they meet legal requirements. The system provides real-time feedback to operators about pricing compliance and automatically updates content when pricing changes occur, maintaining both flexibility and compliance accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a universal pricing management system that handles multiple price scenarios (different promotions, time-based pricing, location-based pricing) through a single integrated platform. This multi-functional system manages all pricing variations while ensuring compliance with consumer laws, eliminating the need for separate manual processes for each pricing scenario.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Device complexity

If traditional advertisement distribution systems are used, then system simplicity is improved, but coordination between catalogues, price tags, and advertisement signs becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem simplicityVSAvoidcoordination accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges previously separate systems (catalogue management, price tag management, advertisement sign management) into a single integrated digital platform. All advertisement content, pricing information, and promotional materials are managed through one centralized database that ensures consistent information across all channels. This integration eliminates coordination errors while maintaining manageable system complexity through unified architecture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS11599910B2Apparatus for printing, displaying, and managing documents, digital content, advertising, social media, mobile catalogues and the like for retail premises, and system thereof

Publication Date: 2023.03.07 LAST YARD PTY LTD

AI summary

A retail ticking system including a processing unit, a web services server for receiving sent messages from a terminal client device and delivering presentation data to the terminal, a credential server for receiving and verifying a processed credential access request, a profile management server for storing and retrieving user information, and a message broker adapted to receive and manage event messages.