Text Payment Server Bill Code URL Generation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing process of paying restaurant bills is inefficient, requiring multiple steps and involving significant time and effort for both servers and customers, especially when dealing with multiple customers, forms of payment, or complex payment instructions.
Innovation Solution
A method using a text message network to facilitate restaurant bill payments, where customers send a message with a restaurant bill code to a text payment server, which retrieves the bill data, creates a unique URL for a webpage with payment fields, and processes credit card information through a credit card processing system, allowing customers to pay and tip electronically.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the traditional multi-step payment process is used, then payment can be processed through multiple forms of payment and complex split instructions, but it requires significant time and effort for both servers and customers
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables customers to independently initiate and complete payment processes by texting their own bill codes to the server, eliminating the need for servers to manually process payments at the POS system. Customers can also independently handle complex split payment instructions through the text message interface, making the payment process self-service oriented while maintaining versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses pre-assigned bill codes that are generated before the payment process begins. These codes contain all necessary information about the bill and can be easily transmitted via text message, allowing the payment process to start immediately without requiring servers to gather or verify payment information during the transaction.
2Reliability
If servers manually process each payment at the POS system, then payment accuracy can be ensured, but it increases device complexity and operational steps
Solution Approach 1:
The text message system acts as an intermediary between the customer and the POS system. Customers send their bill codes via text message, which the server receives and inputs into the POS system. This intermediary step simplifies the customer's interaction while maintaining the POS system's role in ensuring accurate payment processing through its existing validation mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses text messages as a simplified copy or representation of the complex POS interface. Instead of requiring customers to navigate through multiple screens and options on the POS system, they simply text their bill code, which contains all necessary information in a condensed format that the POS system can process accurately.
3Ease of operation
If multiple servers need to coordinate for table service, then comprehensive service can be provided, but it increases the number of communication steps and reduces efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
Customers take responsibility for initiating the payment process by texting their own bill codes, eliminating the need for servers to coordinate payment collection. This self-service approach allows servers to focus on food and beverage service while customers handle the administrative payment initiation, improving overall service efficiency without compromising coordination quality.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are disclosed to facilitate payment of a restaurant bill via text message. For example, a text message having a restaurant bill code may be sent from a customer device to an MPS phone number. A restaurant network address may be extracted for a restaurant computing system. A query may be sent to the restaurant computing system using the restaurant network address with the restaurant bill code. In response, the restaurant computing system may send restaurant bill data that includes least one restaurant menu item, a price for the at least one restaurant menu item, and a total bill amount. A unique URL may be created that when entered into a web browser presents a webpage that includes at least the restaurant bill data. The unique URL may be used by the customer to pay the restaurant bill.