Vending Machine Electronic Receipt Generation via Optical Encoding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Automated vending machines lack the capability to provide receipts for transactions, especially for expensive items, making it difficult for customers to document purchases for returns, reimbursement, or expense tracking.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system that allows vending machines to generate and display electronic receipts, which can be scanned or photographed by users, and stored in user accounts, enabling easy access and record-keeping of transactions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If vending machines sell expensive items, then product value increases, but transaction documentation capability remains absent
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements electronic receipt generation that creates a digital copy of the transaction record. The system generates an electronic receipt containing transaction details (item purchased, price, timestamp) and delivers it to the customer's mobile device, providing documentation without physical paper receipts.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a payment processing system as an intermediary between the vending machine and the customer. This intermediary system handles the complex transaction recording, receipt generation, and digital delivery, allowing the simple vending machine interface to maintain its ease of use while providing comprehensive transaction documentation.
2Productivity
If simple snack purchases are made, then transaction speed is fast, but receipt provision becomes unnecessary
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal receipt system that automatically adapts to different transaction types. The same electronic receipt generation mechanism serves both simple snack purchases and expensive electronic device transactions, providing documentation only when needed while maintaining fast transaction speed for all purchase types.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides self-service receipt delivery by automatically generating and sending electronic receipts to the customer's mobile device without requiring manual intervention. The customer simply receives the receipt along with their purchase confirmation, eliminating the need for paper receipts or manual documentation for any transaction type.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are disclosed herein for providing an electronic receipt for a vending machine transaction. Upon conclusion of a vending machine transaction a screen on the vending machine displays an optically encoded electronic receipt. The optically encoded electronic receipt may encode a transaction identifier and may additionally encode details of the transaction. The vending machine may also transmit transaction data to a server. A user computing device may scan the optically encoded electronic receipt and retrieve a transaction identifier. Using the transaction identifier, the user computing device may request transaction data from the server either directly or by way of a server owned or controlled by a different entity. Additional content, such as advertisements may be transmitted with or for display with transaction data.