Self-Checkout Controller Error Resolution via Stepwise Countermeasures
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sales data processing apparatuses require maintenance personnel to resolve errors, which is not feasible in unmanned or understaffed retail environments, especially when errors are timing-dependent and require disconnection of the device.
Innovation Solution
A sales data processing apparatus with a controller that executes stepwise countermeasures to resolve errors, including retrying processes, resetting sub-devices, and rebooting, allowing for error resolution without maintenance intervention, enabling continuous operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the device is disconnected or taken offline to resolve errors, then the error can be resolved, but the sales data processing apparatus cannot be continuously used
Solution Approach 1:
The sales data processing apparatus automatically detects errors, determines their types, and executes appropriate countermeasures without requiring maintenance personnel intervention. The system performs self-diagnosis and self-repair by retrying processes, resetting devices, or rebooting the apparatus, thereby resolving errors while maintaining continuous operation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary error detection and classification before executing countermeasures. By identifying error types in advance and preparing appropriate responses, the system can resolve errors efficiently without interrupting continuous operation, as the countermeasures are predetermined based on error classification.
2Reliability
If maintenance personnel are required to resolve errors, then errors can be properly diagnosed and fixed, but the apparatus cannot operate in unmanned or understaffed environments
Solution Approach 1:
The system autonomously performs error detection, classification, and resolution without human intervention. The control unit automatically determines error types based on detection results and executes appropriate countermeasures, enabling the apparatus to operate in unmanned environments while maintaining reliable error resolution capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where error detection results are used to automatically determine error types and select appropriate countermeasures. This closed-loop control enables accurate error diagnosis and resolution without requiring maintenance personnel, as the system learns from detection feedback to execute precise corrective actions.
3Reliability
If the entire apparatus is disconnected to resolve errors, then all errors can be resolved, but minor errors that could be fixed quickly cause complete system interruption
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments error resolution into different levels: minor errors are resolved through quick countermeasures like process retry or device reset, while more serious errors trigger apparatus reboot. This segmented approach resolves errors appropriately without causing unnecessary complete system interruptions, minimizing time loss while maintaining comprehensive error resolution capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies partial actions (process retry, device reset) for minor errors instead of always performing the excessive action of complete apparatus disconnection. By matching the intensity of the countermeasure to the severity of the error, the system resolves minor errors quickly without causing unnecessary system interruption time loss.
Data Source
AI summary
A self-checkout apparatus includes a display screen, a product scanner to obtain a commodity code from a product being registered in a sales transaction, a storage unit to store journal data including product information for registered. A controller is configured to record product information for products registered in the sales transaction and output a notification of an error in the sales transaction when detected. The notification is output to the display screen and includes information regarding resolution of the error. The controller executes a first countermeasure for resolving the error, then stops the sales transaction if the error is not resolved. The controller then executes a second countermeasure after the sales transaction has been stopped and starts a new transaction if the error is resolved by the second countermeasure.