Store Server Load-Based Routing for POS Transaction Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
The communication quality between cloud servers and in-store apparatuses deteriorates when the communication load is high, especially during busy periods, leading to potential disruptions in sales data processing.
Innovation Solution
A store server is introduced to manage POS terminals, which determines the communication load of the cloud server and adjusts the communication destination for transaction information accordingly. When the load is high, the server instructs POS terminals to set the communication destination to the store server instead of the cloud server, thereby reducing the communication burden.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If in-store apparatuses directly communicate with the cloud server, then centralized information management is achieved, but communication load increases and quality deteriorates during busy periods
Solution Approach 1:
A local server is introduced as an intermediary between in-store apparatuses and the cloud server. The local server receives transaction information from POS terminals and other in-store apparatuses, then transmits this information to the cloud server. This intermediary structure reduces the direct communication burden on the cloud server during busy periods, improving communication quality while maintaining centralized management capabilities.
2Loss of information
If cloud server handles all transaction information directly, then centralized data collection is achieved, but communication burden increases during peak periods
Solution Approach 1:
The system is segmented into two levels: local servers at individual stores and a central cloud server. Local servers handle data collection from in-store apparatuses and preliminary data processing, while the cloud server handles centralized aggregation and analysis. This segmentation distributes the communication burden, preventing the cloud server from being overwhelmed during peak periods while ensuring complete data collection.
3Device complexity
If direct communication between POS terminals and cloud server is used, then system simplicity is maintained, but communication quality deteriorates under high load
Solution Approach 1:
The local server acts as a mediator that adds minimal structural complexity while significantly improving communication reliability. It buffers communication between POS terminals and the cloud server, ensuring that transaction information is reliably transmitted even when the cloud server is under high load, without requiring major system restructuring.
Data Source
AI summary
A store server for managing POS terminals used in a store, includes an interface connectable to the terminals and a cloud server configured to manage transaction information about a sales transaction performed by the terminals and a processor configured to: determine a communication load of the cloud server, determine whether the transaction information is to be transmitted to the cloud server based on the load, when the transaction information is to be transmitted, control the interface to output to the terminals an instruction to set a destination of the transaction information to the cloud server, and when the transaction information is not to be transmitted, control the interface to output to the terminals an instruction to set the destination to the store server, and upon receipt of the transaction information from the terminals, store the transaction information.