Wearable Checkout Controller Adapting POS Alerts for Wrist Displays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional mobile supervisory terminals for retail checkout systems are limited by size, display size, graphics capability, input availability, and processing capability, making them less efficient for conducting supervisory activities compared to wrist-worn wearable devices, which lack an operating system and require specific formatting for data handling.
Innovation Solution
A communication controller system that processes transaction information from POS terminals, identifies issues, and develops alert information tailored for wrist-worn wearable devices, enabling them to display notifications and receive inputs to resolve issues, while adapting to the device's specifications and limitations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional mobile supervisory terminals are used, then processing capability and display capability are sufficient, but device portability and ease of operation are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a wearable device as an intermediary between the POS terminal and the supervisor. The wearable device receives notifications from the POS terminal via the communication controller and presents them to the supervisor in an easily accessible format (wrist display), eliminating the need for the supervisor to handle or retrieve a conventional mobile terminal from a pocket or purse.
2Ease of operation
If wrist-worn wearable devices are used, then ease of operation and portability are improved, but processing capability and display capability are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The communication controller serves as an intermediary that bridges the POS terminal and the wearable device. It receives detailed transaction information from the POS terminal, processes it, and transmits only the essential notification data to the wearable device, thereby preserving information integrity while adapting to the device's limited processing capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The system extracts only the critical elements of transaction information (notification content, terminal identification, issue type) and transmits them to the wearable device, leaving the detailed processing and full information management at the POS terminal and communication controller.
3Ease of operation
If wrist-worn wearable devices are used, then hands-free operation is enabled, but data formatting requirements increase system complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The communication controller acts as an intermediary that handles all data formatting conversions. It receives data from the POS terminal in one format, processes and reformats it according to the wearable device's specific requirements, and transmits it in the appropriate format, thereby shielding the wearable device from formatting complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The communication controller automatically detects the wearable device's specifications and self-adjusts the data formatting without requiring manual configuration or intervention, enabling the system to adapt to different wearable devices seamlessly.
Data Source
AI summary
A communications controller and method is provided for use in a checkout system including at least one POS terminal and a wrist-worn wearable device. The communications controller includes an alert server and one or more adapters. The alert server receives transaction information from a POS terminal, processes the transaction information to identify the POS terminal and an issue relating to the POS terminal to be resolved. An adapter develops alert information for the wrist-worn wearable device to enable the wrist-worn wearable device to display a notification associated with the issue relating to the POS terminal and to receive an input to resolve the issue relating to the POS terminal. The alert information is based on the transaction information and specifications of the wrist-worn wearable device.