GB2500544A

GB2500544A - Offline interface between a POS and tax refund system, using 2D codes

Info

Publication number: GB2500544A
Application number: GB1312272.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Seng Chezk Low
Original assignee: Global Blue Holdings AB
Current assignee: Global Blue Holdings AB
Priority date: 2013-07-09
Filing date: 2013-07-09
Publication date: 2013-09-25
Also published as: GB201312272D0

Abstract

A method for interfacing a point of sale system to a tax refund system. The method comprises generating a 2D code, such as QR code, corresponding to a sale transaction, the 2D codeencoding at least transaction information for tax refund purposes. The 2D code is output 300 and subsequently; scanned by a scanner 310. The 2D code is decoded into a data stream and a tax refund form 320 is generated and output based on the data stream. The 2D code may be output by printing, displaying or by sending to parties. The interfacing of the POS to tax refund system is done offline which can simplify the POS and infrastructure requirements.

Description

Offline interface with 20 codes

Field

The present disclosure relates in particular to offline interface with 20 codes.

Background

In order to reduce the time taken to issue a Tax Refund Form ("TRF") and minimize error due to manual entry, a tax refund application can interface with a merchant's point of sale ("POS") server to retrieve purchase information. However, this requires the solution to be online and each the P05 server and/or P05 machine to be connected directly or indirectly to a tax refund system.

Summary

According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for interfacing a point of sale system to a tax refund system. The method comprises generating a 2-dimensional "2D" code corresponding to a sale transaction, the 2D code encoding at least transaction information for tax refund purposes; outputting the 20 code; scanning of the 2D code by a scanner; decoding the 20 code into a data stream; generating a tax refund form based on the data stream; and outputting the tax refund form.

With such a method, transaction data can be efficiently transferred from the P05 system to the tax refund system, without the P05 system having to be connected to the tax refund system.

The tax refund information can be transmitted using a 20 code rather than via a connexion, i.e. can be transmitted offline.

Figures The invention will now be discussed by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like-numbered elements represent like parts.

Figures 1 and 2 are examples of 2D codes.

Figures 3 and 4 are illustrations of a method for interfacing a P05 system to a tax refund system.

Figures 5 and 6 are illustrations of a conventional arrangement and of an arrangement in

accordance with the present disclosure.

Description of example embodiments

Quick Response (QR) Code is the trademark for a type of matrix barcode or two-dimensional (l120) barcode. The code consists of black modules (square dots) arranged in a square grid on a white background. The information encoded may be made up of four standardized types of data (numeric, alphanumeric, byte/binary, Kanji), or through supported extensions. Figures 1 and 2 illustrate two examples of OR codes with codes 100 and 200. There are different versions of 2D and OR codes available. For example with a OR code version 40 with low error correction (Level L"), the code can contain up to 1,817 characters or 7,089 characters for numeric only as illustrated in the table below.

QR Code Data capacity (version 40, Low error correction) Numeric only Max. 7,089 characters Alphanumeric Max. 4,296 characters Binary (8 bits) Max. 2,953 bytes Kanji, full-width Kana Max. 1,817 characters Also OR codes and other 2D codes can have an error correction capability such that data can be restored even if the symbol is partially dirty or damaged. In some 2D codes examples, up to 3O% of coded symbols can be restored. Also OR codes and other 20 codes can provide for 360 degree (omni-directional) and/or high speed readings, for example using patterns and pattern detection. In the OR code examples, the code includes patterns at three corners of the code and the reader performs patterns detection for identifying these three patterns.

With the use of OR code or other 2D codes, transaction goods item detail can be captured without interfacing each FOS system (e.g. P05 server and/or machine) to a tax refund application using a connexion (e.g. wired or wireless connexion). A POS machine can for example print out the receipt detail as per normal. The POS machine can also encode transaction data into a 2D code or transmit the relevant transaction data to an encoding element for encoding into a 20 code. The 2D code can then be printed on a receipt (e.g. receipt 300 in Figure 3) and/or output in any other suitable manner (e.g. sent to a customer using SMS, emails, a wireless connexion, displayed so that it can be scanned and stored on a device, etc.).

A reading device (e.g. scanner 310) can then scan the 2D code and decode the 20 code into a data stream. The example scanner 310 of Figure 3 can be connected to other elements via cable 311 and/or physical interface or plug 312, e.g. via a USB connexion. The data stream can then be used to generate a TRF, for example to print a pre-filled TRF including transaction data obtained from the decoded data stream as illustrated with the example TRF 320 of Figure

3, where some of fields A-H have been pre-filled.

Figure 4 illustrates a flowchart for another example method of interfacing a POS with a tax refund system, where a tax refund application can use data read from a 2D code for example to send transaction data to a tax refund server and/or to print a TRE.

There are several advantages in the use of 20 codes such as OR codes: 2D codes are capable of encoding the same amount of data in approximately one-tenth the space of a traditional barcode * With a OR code and in case of Japanese, one full-width Kana or Kanji character is efficiently encoded in 13 bits, allowing QR code to hold more than 20% data than other 2D codes.

* Error correction capabilities can allow data to be restored even if the 2D code is partially dirty or damaged.

* 2D codes may be read at any angle (0-360 degrees).

* 2D codes can allow for high speed reading.

* The merchant's POS no longer require to each have a connexion to a tax refund system Also, the size (area) of OR Code can be selected based on the amount of information to be encoded and/or to generate a code readable on an intended scanner. For example, it can be decided by determining one or more of a symbol version (e.g. based on data capacity, character type and error correction level) and an expected performance of a printer (for printing) and/or a scanner (for reading).

The encoded data may be in any relevant format, for example in an xml format which can be useful for describing the transaction. An example of the data stream to be encoded by the 2D code is: <?xml version='i.O encocling="utf-8"?> <Rece±ptResponse> <PurchaseDate>20130620</PurchaseDate> <CorpID>44</CorpID> <Store ID> 12</St. ore ID> <TerrninalNo>700 0</Terrninaiflo> cTransactionlD>00123K/TransaotionlD> <PurchaseDatelime>2013-06-20114:00: OOK/Purchasesatelirne> <Purchaselterns> <Furchaseltem> <FroductlD>0006-OO1-00i</ProductlD>

<Quantity>2 K/Quantity> <GrossAmount>11497</GrossAmount> <NetAmount>1 0950</NetAmount> <VatAmount>547</VatArnount> <VatRate:'b. 00</VatRate> <IsTaxpreeRefundable>true</ IsTaxPreeRefundable> </Purchaseltem> <Furchaseltem> <ProductlD>2055-OO1-OO1</ProductlD>

<Quantity>i< /Quant±ty> <GrossAmount>13125</GrossAmount> <NetAmount>12500</NetAmount> <\TatAmount>625</VatArnount> <VaLRaLe>5.OO</VaLRaLe> <IslaxpreeRefundabie>false</IslaxpreeRefundable> </Purchaseltem> </ Put chase Items> </ReceiptResponse> In some examples, the encoded data may be in binary, text (e.g. ASCII, UTF-8), or hexadecimal, with or without data compression of the stream, as deemed appropriate. If the data stream has been processed prior to the generation of the 2D code, the data decoded from the 20 code may be processed to revers fully or partially the initial processing. For example, if the data stream has been previously encoded and/or compressed, the decoded 2D data may then be decoded and/or decompressed accordingly so as to obtain the original data stream.

In the present disclosure, there has been disclosed a method for interfacing a point of sale system to a tax refund system. This interfacing can be done offline, which can for example simplify the point of sale devices and infrastructure requirements.

The method comprises generating a 2-dimensional "2D" code corresponding to a sale transaction, the 20 code encoding at least transaction information for tax refund purposes. For example the 2D code can be a OR code and may also in some example include codes sometimes referred to as "1 D" codes such as barcodes. The OR code may for example encode or represent transaction data which can be useful for tax refund purposes, for example: the transaction amount; the VAT amount; for each item, the number of item, the unit price and the VAT rate; time information; traveller's information; payment information (e.g. type and/or brand of card; card issuer; cash payment; cheque payment; etc.); etc. The method comprises outputting the 2D code. For example, it may be printed at a FOS device or any other suitable location. If printed, it may be printed separately or on a receipt for the transaction (e.g. shop and/or payment receipt). Also, the code can be output in different ways.

In some examples it can be displayed on a screen (e.g. so that the traveller can scan the code and store it on its own personal device), sent to one or more parties (e.g. via a wired connection, a wireless connection, email, SMS, etc.).

The method comprises scanning of the 2D code by a scanner. The scanner may be adapted to read one or more types of codes. The scanner can otherwise be provided by a conventional scanner. The 20 code can be scanned from different supports, depending for example on the preceding outputting step. In some example it may be scanned from a printed document while in other example it may be scanned from a display of an electronic device (e.g. a mobile phone, a table or an electronic book).

The method comprises decoding the 2D code into a data stream. The original data stream represented by the code may be obtained based on the representation standard and/or rules used for creating the 2D code. For example, a OR code used to encode alphanumeric characters contains an indicator (0010") that alphanumeric characters are encoded. The code read by the scanner can thus be translated or decoded into a stream of alphanumeric characters (e.g. an xml data stream). Other types of representation may also be used. This step will generally involve translating a 2D visual representation (e.g. black lines, squares, etc.) into a chain of characters (e.g. numeric, alphanumeric, byte, kanji, etc.).

The method comprises generating a tax refund form based on the data stream. For example an electronic and/or paper TRF may be generated and partially and fully filled based on the data stream. For example the transaction information comprised in or represented in the data stream can be used to fill a corresponding TRF.

The method comprises outputting the tax refund form. The TRE may for example be outputted by being printed (e.g. at tax refund facilities, at customs, at home, at a hotel, etc.), or be outputted electronically. For example, it can be displayed on a screen or sent to one or more parties (e.g. via a wired connection, a wireless connection, email, SMS, etc.). In some example, it can be outputted in different ways, at the same or different time: it may for example be printed for the traveller to use and also be sent to a remote server, for example to keep electronic records of generated or output TRE.

As illustrated in Figure 5, in a conventional arrangement, one or more elements of a POS system are connected to one or more elements of a tax refund system. In the example illustrated in Figure 5, a POS terminal is connected to a tax refund server. On the other, in an arrangement according to the present disclosure, the POS system does not have an online connection to the tax refund system for transmitting transaction information but has instead an "offline connection" to the tax refund system, i.e. transaction information transmitted from the P05 system to the tax refund system is transmitted offline using a 2D code, as illustrated by the dotted line between the P05 terminal of the P05 system and the scanner of the tax refund system. In this example, the offline connection is between the P05 terminal and the scanner but in other examples, the connection could be between different elements of the POS system and/or of the tax refund system. Also, in the example of Figure 6, the scanner is then connected to a tax refund server which may for example be operable to process tax refunds. In other examples, it may be connected to a tax refund or customs officer station, to a printer (e.g. for printing a TRE), or any other suitable element.