Transaction Terminal Multi-Language Interface Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Credit card transaction terminals often fail to accommodate customers and merchants who speak different languages, leading to difficulties in completing transactions due to language barriers, as they typically only display one language.

Innovation Solution

A credit card and debit card transaction terminal equipped with a processor, display, memory, and language identification module that allows for the selection and display of different languages for the operator and customer interfaces, enabling the terminal to display information in the merchant's language while printing receipts in the customer's language.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the terminal displays only one language (merchant's language), then the merchant can operate the terminal comfortably, but the customer cannot understand the transaction process

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemerchant operation comfortVSAvoidcustomer understanding

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal interface is segmented into separate language displays: the operator interface displays information in the merchant's language while the customer display shows information in the customer's language. This allows each party to receive information in their preferred language simultaneously, resolving the contradiction between merchant operation comfort and customer understanding.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Loss of information

If the terminal displays only one language (customer's language), then the customer can understand the transaction process, but the merchant cannot understand operating instructions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecustomer understandingVSAvoidmerchant operation comfort

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal interface is segmented into separate language displays: the operator interface displays information in the merchant's language while the customer display shows information in the customer's language. This allows each party to receive information in their preferred language simultaneously, resolving the contradiction between customer understanding and merchant operation comfort.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Device complexity

If the terminal is programmed to display only one language per transaction, then the device complexity is low, but the adaptability to multi-ethnic environments is poor

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveterminal programming simplicityVSAvoidmulti-language support

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal is designed with multi-functionality to support multiple languages simultaneously. The system can identify customer language preferences and automatically switch between displaying information in the merchant's language and the customer's language, making the terminal adaptable to multi-ethnic environments while maintaining reasonable programming complexity through standardized language modules.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Reliability

If the terminal displays different languages for operator and customer interfaces, then both parties can understand the transaction, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransaction completion successVSAvoidterminal structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A language identification module acts as an intermediary between the transaction processing system and the display system. This module automatically detects the customer's language preference and routes appropriate language versions of the interface to the customer display, while the operator interface continues to use the merchant's language. This intermediary approach enables multi-language support without significantly increasing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS8087580B2Method and apparatus for multi-language user selection and currency conversion

Publication Date: 2012.01.03 GOLDMINE WORLD INC D B A WORLD BANKCARD SERVICES

AI summary

A method and apparatus for facilitating a business transaction wherein a merchant/operator is presented with transaction-related information in the operator's preferred language and currency, wherein the customer is presented with transaction-related information in the customer's preferred language and currency, and wherein the customer's language and currency are different from the operator's language and currency. This allows persons who speak different languages and who are used to conducting transactions in different currencies to readily engage in business transactions. The method and apparatus can be employed, for example, in a credit card or debit card terminal, thereby allowing a merchant to easily accommodate tourists from foreign countries. The customer's language and/or currency preferences may be obtained from a credit card/debit card, cellular telephone, smart card, or other portable memory medium prior to or during the transaction, thereby obviating the need to manually select a preferred language and currency for each transaction.