Wireless Content Distribution System Eliminates Physical Kiosk Terminals

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional Kiosk terminals are costly to operate and maintain, occupy valuable space, and cannot serve multiple users simultaneously, while also posing security risks due to their unmonitored locations.

Innovation Solution

A contents distribution system that allows Kiosk terminal services to be provided directly to wireless devices via a network, enabling users to purchase, receive, and pay for digital content without the need for a physical Kiosk terminal, using a wireless device with purchase request, payment information acceptance, and payment data transmission capabilities, along with a contents server and settlement server for transaction processing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a traditional Kiosk terminal is used to provide contents services, then users can access and purchase digital contents, but the operational cost and maintenance cost increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontents service accessibilityVSAvoidoperational and maintenance cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the Kiosk terminal hardware and replaces it with a wireless device-based system. The contents distribution apparatus communicates with users' wireless devices (smartphones, tablets) via wireless communication, eliminating the need for physical Kiosk terminals in public facilities. This extraction of the terminal hardware significantly reduces operational and maintenance costs while preserving contents service accessibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses wireless communication to create a virtual copy of the Kiosk terminal service. Instead of requiring a physical terminal for each user interaction, the system transmits contents and processes transactions through wireless connections between the contents distribution apparatus and users' wireless devices, effectively copying the terminal function without the hardware infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Ease of operation

If a Kiosk terminal is deployed in public facilities, then contents services can be provided, but valuable floor space is occupied

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontents service availabilityVSAvoidfloor space occupation

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the physical Kiosk terminal from public facilities and relocates the service delivery to users' wireless devices. The contents distribution apparatus can be installed in minimal space (e.g., on walls or ceilings) compared to traditional floor-based Kiosk terminals, thereby freeing up valuable floor space for other purposes while maintaining contents service availability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Device complexity

If only one user can use the Kiosk terminal at a time, then the terminal structure is simple, but sales are lost during peak hours

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveterminal structure simplicityVSAvoidsimultaneous user service capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements multi-functionality by allowing multiple users to simultaneously access contents services through the same contents distribution apparatus via wireless devices. The system handles multiple purchase requests, content transmissions, and transactions concurrently, transforming a single-user terminal into a multi-user service platform without significantly increasing structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from a single-user sequential access model to a multi-user parallel access model by utilizing wireless communication dimensions. Instead of physically expanding the terminal to serve multiple users, the system adds a wireless communication dimension that enables simultaneous service delivery to multiple users through their respective wireless devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

4Ease of operation

If Kiosk terminals are placed in unmonitored areas, then service accessibility is improved, but security risks increase due to vandalism and theft

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice accessibilityVSAvoidsecurity risks from vandalism and theft

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the vulnerable physical Kiosk terminal hardware from unmonitored public areas and replaces it with a wireless communication-based system. The contents distribution apparatus can be installed in secure locations or minimal-space locations, while users interact with the service through their wireless devices, eliminating the security risks associated with physical terminals in unmonitored areas.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS7549578B2Contents distribution system, method thereof, accounting device, contents distribution apparatus, and program

Publication Date: 2009.06.23 RAKUTEN GROUP INC

AI summary

A contents distribution system capable of using contents from a wireless device without using a Kiosk terminal, its method, an accounting device, a contents distribution apparatus, and a program. A wireless device 10 issues a purchase request for contents to a contents server 30. The wireless device 10 accepts payment information about contents based on the payment data of the contents received from the contents server 30 at the purchase request, and transmits payment data to the contents server 30. The contents server 30 transmits the contents to the wireless device 10 by way of the access point 20.