Disclosure of Invention
The invention is expected to provide a means for monitoring the code scanning operation executed by the merchant/service provider by using the code scanning device. By means of the method, monitoring/evaluation of code scanning operation performed by the merchant/service provider can be conveniently achieved.
In one aspect, the present invention provides an apparatus for monitoring a code scanning operation performed by a code scanning device. The apparatus includes a data collection unit configured to collect data related to the code scanning operation; and a monitoring cloud device configured to perform an analysis based on the data to determine information related to the code scanning operation; wherein the data collection unit further comprises a communication unit configured to transmit data from the data collection unit to the monitoring cloud device.
According to the invention, data related to code scanning operation performed by a merchant/service provider can be obtained firstly, and then the data is analyzed at the cloud end to determine information related to the code scanning operation. Such information can, for example, serve as a basis for evaluating code scanning operations performed by the merchant/facilitator, facilitating monitoring/evaluation of code scanning operations performed by the merchant/facilitator.
According to an embodiment, the data collection unit further comprises a data processing unit configured to process and/or analyze the collected data; the communication unit sends the processed and/or analyzed data to the monitoring cloud device; and the monitoring cloud device further analyzes based on the processed and/or analyzed data to determine information related to the code scanning operation.
According to this embodiment, simple processing/analysis, such as extraction of data of interest to the user, can be achieved at the data collection unit, thereby making it possible to reduce the amount of data sent to the monitoring cloud-end device.
According to one embodiment, the data collection unit further comprises one or more interfaces configured to enable the data collection unit to interface with the code scanning device and/or a host to transfer data obtained by performing the code scanning operation using the code scanning device between the code scanning device and the host.
According to the embodiment, the data collection unit can be conveniently communicated with the code scanning device/host, and the data collection unit can be conveniently locally used for acquiring information related to code scanning operation.
Particularly preferably, the one or more interfaces comprise a first interface for connecting with the code scanning device and a second interface for connecting with the host.
According to the embodiment, the data collection unit can be conveniently inserted between the code scanning device and the host computer in the prior art without changing the structures/functions of the original code scanning device and the host computer; moreover, the data collection units with the communication units of different configurations can be inserted to realize free selection of different communication networks so as to realize communication of the cloud.
According to a further embodiment, the first interface and the second interface are configured to enable the data collection unit to be removably connectable with the code scanning device and the host, respectively.
In this case, the apparatus for monitoring code scanning operation according to the present invention can be flexibly deployed or removed from the existing code scanning system without changing the structure/function of each component in the existing code scanning system. This facilitates removal of the monitoring device when monitoring/analysis is not required and reduces costs compared to retrofitting a host or code scanning apparatus to include the monitoring device.
In another aspect, the present invention provides a code scanning system, which includes a code scanning apparatus configured to perform a code scanning operation; the device for monitoring the code scanning operation executed by the code scanning device is disclosed; a host configured to receive and parse data obtained by performing the code scan operation using the code scan apparatus; a business cloud device configured to communicate with the host and cooperate with the host to provide services related to the code scanning operation.
In yet another aspect, the present disclosure provides a method of monitoring a code scanning operation performed by a code scanning device, including collecting data associated with the code scanning operation; sending the data to a monitoring cloud device; an analysis is performed based on the data to determine information related to the code scanning operation.
Detailed Description
Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a prior art code scanning system 10. The code scanning system 10 includes a code scanning device 11, a host 12 and a business cloud device 13. The code scanning device 11 refers to a tool for a merchant/service provider to scan a user code to complete a certain service, such as authentication and payment. The code scanning device 11 may be a code scanning gun, a code scanning module/a code scanning platform, etc. The code scanning device 11 communicates with the host 12, and when the user presents his user code for authentication or payment, for example, the code scanning device 11 scans the user code and transmits data obtained by the code scanning operation to the host 12. The host 12 receives the data and parses the data to obtain information indicative of the user's unique ID/account. The host 12 further communicates with the business cloud device 13, and cooperates with the business cloud device 13 to provide services related to code scanning operations, such as authentication or payment, based on information representing the user's unique ID/account.
The code scanning system 10 according to the prior art does not provide for monitoring the code scanning operation performed by the merchant/facilitator. However, in the current code scanning payment market, the competition is intense, and many companies consider subsidizing/incentivizing the service link of the merchant/facilitator, but there is no accurate basis for determining the standard of subsidizing/incentivizing and evaluating the effect of the current subsidizing/incentivizing.
Accordingly, the present invention improves upon current code scanning systems in which monitoring of code scanning operations performed by merchants/facilitators is introduced. Specifically, the code scanning system of the present invention incorporates an apparatus 100 for monitoring code scanning operations performed by a code scanning device 11, as shown in fig. 2. By introducing the monitoring device 100, all data related to the code scanning operation performed by the merchant/service provider by using the code scanning device can be collected. Based on these data, it is possible to monitor/analyze whether the code scanning device is deployed to a specified scenario, is actively used, is worthy of subsidy/incentive, and is helpful in paying for the number of strokes. Although the objects and effects of the present invention have been described primarily with reference to a scenario in which a code scanning operation performed by a merchant/facilitator is subsidized/incentivized, those skilled in the art will appreciate that this is not limiting, and performing monitoring in accordance with the present invention may also be beneficial for use in other scenarios, for example, where a merchant/facilitator's marketing efforts can be assessed for effectiveness based on monitored data to facilitate subsequent marketing decisions by the merchant/facilitator.
Fig. 2 is a block diagram of a code scanning system 10' including an apparatus 100 for monitoring code scanning operations performed by a code scanning device 11, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The code scanning system 10' comprises a code scanning device 11, an apparatus 100 for monitoring code scanning operations performed by the code scanning device 11, a host 12 and a business cloud device 13; the code scanning device 11, the host 12 and the service cloud device 13 are similar to the structure and function of the code scanning system 10 shown in fig. 1, and the code scanning system 10' shown in fig. 2 is mainly different from the code scanning system 10 shown in fig. 1 in that a monitoring device 100 is provided.
Specifically, the monitoring apparatus 100 includes a data collection unit 110 disposed between the code scanning device 11 and the host 12, and a monitoring cloud device 120 in the cloud. The data collection unit 110 is disposed in a link between the code scanning device 11 and the host 12, and facilitates collecting data related to the code scanning operation performed by the code scanning device 11, including but not limited to data from the code scanning device 11 obtained when a merchant/service provider uses the code scanning device 11 to perform a code scanning operation on a user code, and/or code scanning time, times, and the like; on the one hand, the data obtained by the code scanning operation is transmitted to the host 12 for analysis, and on the other hand, the collected data can be sent to the monitoring cloud device 120 for recording, processing and analysis.
Fig. 3 shows the structure of the data collection unit 110 according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in fig. 3, the data collection unit 110 comprises at least one or more interfaces 111 and a communication unit 112, optionally also a data processing unit 113 (shown in dashed lines).
The one or more interfaces 111 are configured to enable the data collection unit 110 to be coupled, preferably connected, with the code scanning apparatus 11 and/or the host 12. In one embodiment, the one or more interfaces 111 includes a first interface 111a and a second interface 111b, such that the data collection unit 110 can be connected to the code scanning device 11 and the host 12, respectively, to ensure that data related to the code scanning operation is easily acquired while data obtained by the code scanning operation from the code scanning device is transmitted to the host 12. Fig. 4 shows a data collection unit 110 according to this embodiment.
Preferably, the first and second interfaces are configured to enable the data collection unit 110 to be removably connected with the code scanning device and the host. In this way, the monitoring device 100 for monitoring code scanning operation can be conveniently deployed/removed in the current code scanning system without changing the structure/function of the code scanning device and the host.
It is also contemplated that the data collection unit 110 may be located in a code scanning device or host, as opposed to the one shown in fig. 2, thereby improving the current code scanning device or host to achieve similar functionality. In one embodiment, the current code scanning apparatus 11 can be modified to include a data collection unit 110. In this case, the data collection unit 110 only needs to transmit data related to the code scanning operation, such as data obtained by the code scanning operation, to the monitoring cloud device 120, so that the communication with the host can be realized by using the interface originally included in the code scanning device. Alternatively, without limitation, the data collection unit 110 can be made to include an interface to communicate with a host.
In another embodiment, the present host 12 can be modified to include the data collection unit 110. In this case, the data collection unit 110 also only needs to transmit data related to the code scanning operation, such as data obtained by the code scanning operation, to the monitoring cloud device 120, so that the communication with the code scanning device can be realized by using the interface originally included in the host. Alternatively, the data collection unit 110 can be made to include an interface for communicating with a code scanning device, again without limitation.
The communication unit 112 in the data collection unit 110 enables communication between the data collection unit 110 and the monitoring cloud device 120, which can be implemented by means of a network, such as an existing network of a merchant/service provider, or a network of a carrier, including but not limited to the above communication through GSM, GPRS, UMTS, CDMA, LTE, NB-IoT, WiFi, or the like. Any means of enabling the device to communicate with the server may be suitable. Specifically, by means of the communication unit 112, the data collection unit 110 sends the data it collects to the monitoring cloud device 120 for processing/analysis.
As shown in fig. 3, the data collection unit 110 optionally includes a data processing unit 113. The data processing unit 113 is capable of performing preliminary processing and/or analysis on the collected data. For example, it can process the collected data to extract or determine data of interest, such as number of code sweeps, code sweep time, and the like. Then, the communication unit sends the data obtained through the preliminary processing and/or analysis to the monitoring cloud device 120. In this case, the monitoring cloud device 120 performs further analysis based on the processed and/or analyzed data.
The monitoring cloud device 120 can analyze the collected data, including statistics/classification/summarization. In particular, the monitoring cloud device 120 can parse the collected data, process the collected data, and determine information related to the code scanning operation performed by the merchant/service provider based on the data. This information includes, but is not limited to, the proportion of each service link used by the user, the habits and/or laws of the user using the services provided by a particular merchant/facilitator. The information can be used as a basis for evaluating code scanning operation executed by merchants/service providers, can be used for business departments to make business strategies to better serve the merchants, and can be used for the merchants to make more appropriate marketing strategies.
In one embodiment, the monitoring cloud device 120 can analyze the collected data, determine the rules of the code scanning operation performed by the merchant/facilitator, such as when the code scanning operation is performed frequently, and what service links are used. In another embodiment, the monitoring cloud device 120 can also determine whether the marketing strategy adopted by the merchant/facilitator to promote sales is effective, such as whether the number of paid strokes is increased, based on the collected data. Preferably, the monitoring cloud device 120 can record and process the collected data, and further perform statistical analysis.
Code scanning systems and apparatus for monitoring code scanning operations in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to fig. 2-4. This is not limiting and certain components not relevant to the improvements of the present invention may not be shown, for example, the data collection unit 110 may include a battery to power it. Alternatively, the data collection unit 110 may take power from a host.
A flow diagram of a method 200 according to one embodiment of the invention is described below with reference to fig. 5.
At 201, data relating to a code scanning operation performed using a code scanning device is preferably collected locally, not just data directly obtained by the code scanning operation.
Optionally, at 202, the collected data is subjected to preliminary processing and/or analysis to determine data of interest.
At 203, sending the collected data, preferably the data subjected to preliminary processing and/or analysis, to a monitoring cloud device;
at 204, the monitoring cloud device analyzes based on the received data to determine information related to the code scanning operation, which can be used, for example, as a basis for evaluating the code scanning operation of the merchant/facilitator.
The present invention has been described above with reference to specific embodiments, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the technical solution of the present invention can be implemented in various ways without departing from the spirit and essential characteristics of the present invention. The specific embodiments are merely illustrative and not restrictive. In addition, the embodiments can be combined arbitrarily to achieve the object of the present invention. The scope of protection of the invention is defined by the appended claims.
The word "comprising" in the description and in the claims does not exclude the presence of other elements or steps. The functions of the respective elements described in the specification or recited in the claims may be divided or combined into plural corresponding elements or may be implemented by a single element. The terms "first" and "second" in the description and claims are used merely for names and do not denote any particular order.