Transaction Terminal UI Extensions for OS Migration and Customization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Retailers face increased expenses and difficulties in customizing transaction software, particularly the user interface, due to dynamic needs and OS updates, leading to time delays and errors during migrations.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for extending user interfaces on transaction terminals using customizable files that dynamically alter the UI's look, feel, and functionality without modifying the base code, allowing retailers to customize and enhance their interfaces independently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If third-party vendors create customized transaction software for each retailer, then retailer-specific customization needs are met, but customization costs and device complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the transaction software into a core vendor-provided portion and a retailer-specific customization portion. The customization portion is separated as distinct code modules that can be independently developed, tested, and deployed by retailers without affecting the core software infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary layer between the core transaction software and retailer-specific requirements. This intermediary customization portion acts as a mediator that translates retailer-specific needs into modifications of the core software, allowing vendors to maintain a standardized core while accommodating diverse retailer requirements.
2Adaptability or versatility
If proprietary transaction software is developed by retailers, then customization needs are met, but development costs and maintenance burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables retailers to self-customize their transaction software by providing them with access to the core software framework and tools to create their own customization portions. Retailers can independently develop, test, and deploy their customizations without requiring extensive vendor involvement or proprietary development teams.
Solution Approach 2:
The core transaction software is designed as a universal platform that can serve multiple retailers with different customization needs. The standardized core software provides common functionality that can be shared across all retailers, while each retailer can add their specific customizations on top of this universal foundation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If customizations are made to the user interface, then retailer-specific branding and layout needs are met, but migration to newer OS versions becomes more difficult and error-prone
Solution Approach 1:
The user interface is segmented into the core vendor-provided interface and retailer-specific customized portions. The customization portion is separated as distinct code modules that reside independently from the core interface, allowing them to be migrated separately and reducing the risk of migration errors.
Solution Approach 2:
The customized user interface portions act as intermediaries between the core interface and retailer-specific requirements. These intermediate modules can be independently updated or replaced during migrations, providing a buffer that protects the core interface from migration-related issues and improves overall migration reliability.
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple customized software versions are created for different retailers, then specific business needs are met, but vendor support and maintenance complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The software is segmented into a single standardized core version and multiple independent customization portions. Each retailer's customization is a separate module that can be independently managed and updated, eliminating the need for vendors to maintain and support multiple customized software versions.
Solution Approach 2:
The core software is designed as a universal platform that serves all retailers with a single standardized version. This universal core provides common functionality that is shared across all retailers, while each retailer adds their specific customizations on top, reducing the total number of versions that need to be maintained and supported.
Data Source
AI summary
A base transaction User Interface (UI) is provided that provides transaction processing for transactions at transaction terminals. The base UI can be customized through independent and decoupled customization/extension files, which provide specific UI customizations for UI screen content, UI screen styles, UI screen views, UI screen workflows, and UI screen resource functionality. Customizations or extensions are achieved without modifying the base UI. The customizations or extensions are dynamically obtained during execution of the base UI from the corresponding files and processed by the base UI as user-defined custom overrides.