Settlement Control System for Unstable Wireless Balance Updates

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Solution Overview

Problem

Communication failures between terminal devices and a central settlement control device can disrupt the updating of balance storage cards, especially in areas with unstable communication connections, making it challenging to perform balance updates such as deposits and withdrawals.

Innovation Solution

A settlement control system that includes a settlement control device and terminal devices capable of wireless communication, where the settlement control device distributes balance update instructions with unique identification numbers to terminal devices, allowing them to perform balance updates based on comparisons between the stored and received identification numbers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If balance update instructions are transmitted from the settlement control device to terminal devices, then the balance of balance storage cards can be updated, but communication failures may cause update instructions to be lost or duplicated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebalance update reliabilityVSAvoidupdate instruction loss

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal device stores balance update instructions in advance before executing them. When a communication failure occurs, the terminal device can retrieve and execute the stored update instruction without needing real-time communication with the settlement control device, thus preventing information loss due to communication failures

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements a feedback mechanism where the terminal device reports execution status of balance update instructions back to the settlement control device. The settlement control device tracks which instructions have been executed and manages retransmission of unexecuted instructions, ensuring that no update instructions are lost even if communication fails intermittently

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Productivity

If the terminal device executes balance update instructions without verification, then update processing is fast, but incorrect or duplicate updates may occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebalance update speedVSAvoidupdate accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal device performs verification of the balance update instruction (checking validity and execution status) in advance before executing the update. This preliminary verification ensures that only valid, non-duplicate instructions are executed, maintaining accuracy without significantly delaying the update process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The terminal device autonomously verifies whether a received balance update instruction has already been executed by checking its local execution record, and decides whether to execute or reject the instruction without needing real-time consultation with the settlement control device. This self-service verification maintains both speed and accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple terminal devices are distributed to improve service coverage, then more users can be served, but communication instability increases in remote areas

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice coverageVSAvoidcommunication stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the balance update function between the settlement control device (central management) and terminal devices (local execution). Terminal devices can independently execute updates using stored instructions, reducing dependency on continuous communication with the central device and maintaining reliability in remote areas with poor communication infrastructure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The balance update instruction acts as an intermediary carrier that transfers update information from the settlement control device to the terminal device. Once transferred, the terminal device can execute the update independently without needing continuous intermediary communication, thus overcoming communication instability in remote areas

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS11481748B2Settlement control system, settlement control device, terminal device, settlement control method, processing method, and program

Publication Date: 2022.10.25 NEC CORP

AI summary

The present invention includes: a plurality of terminal devices configured to wirelessly communicate with a balance storage medium; and a settlement control device that is communicably connected to each of the plurality of terminal devices. The settlement control device includes an update instruction distribution unit that distributes, to each of the terminal devices, balance update instruction information including a balance update instruction and an update instruction identification number corresponding to the balance update instruction. The terminal device includes an update control unit that performs balance update processing corresponding to the balance update instruction on the basis of a comparison between an update instruction identification number that has been acquired from the balance storage medium and that is recorded in the balance storage medium, and the update instruction identification number included in the balance update instruction information.