Text Extraction Unit for POS Print Data Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing POS systems face challenges in extracting information from print data, particularly when the data is output as raster data, leading to accuracy issues and increased processing load, and require modifications to the printer driver or printout appearance to add new functionalities like sales analysis and electronic receipts.
Innovation Solution
A host device and printing system that acquires text data from print request data, rasterizes print content, and merges it with print data using specific commands, allowing the printer to receive and process the text data without altering the existing application, driver, or printout appearance, enabling easy extraction of information from rasterized print data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If OCR technology is used to extract information from rasterized print data, then the printer driver can be kept simple, but the information extraction accuracy deteriorates and processing load increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a text extraction unit as an intermediary component between the printer driver and the information extraction system. This unit extracts text data from the print request data before it reaches the printer, allowing accurate information extraction without requiring the printer driver to perform complex OCR processing. The text extraction unit acts as a mediator that preserves text information in the print data stream.
2Ease of operation
If text data is added to print data using printer commands, then information extraction becomes easier, but the printout appearance may change
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by selectively adding text data to specific portions of the print data without affecting the overall printout appearance. The text extraction unit identifies and extracts only the necessary text information from the print request data, and the merging unit integrates this text data into the print data stream in a way that does not alter the visual output. This allows information extraction functionality to be added locally without changing the global appearance of the printout.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the printer driver is updated to add new functionality, then information extraction capability improves, but the existing application and printout appearance are affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the functionality into separate components: a text extraction unit that operates independently of the printer driver, and a merging unit that integrates the extracted text data with the print data. This segmentation allows the information extraction capability to be added without modifying the existing printer driver or application, maintaining the stability of the original system composition while adding new functionality.
Data Source
AI summary
Text data is acquired from print request data, print content is expressed as raster data and print data is generated using a printer command based on the print request data, the acquired text data is added to the print data using the command, and the print data is sent with the text data to the printer.