[Koha-bugs] [Bug 15654] New: Integrating a cash register system into Koha: An Example

[bugzilla-daemon at bugs.koha-community.org]

http://bugs.koha-community.org/bugzilla3/show_bug.cgi?id=15654

            Bug ID: 15654
           Summary: Integrating a cash register system into Koha: An
                    Example
 Change sponsored?: ---
           Product: Koha
           Version: master
          Hardware: All
                OS: All
            Status: NEW
          Severity: new feature
          Priority: P5 - low
         Component: Patrons
          Assignee: koha-bugs at lists.koha-community.org
          Reporter: larit at student.uef.fi
        QA Contact: testopia at bugs.koha-community.org
                CC: gmcharlt at gmail.com, kyle.m.hall at gmail.com

To my knowledge, Koha does not yet have a way to integrate cash register
systems. Here at Vaara-kirjastot, we wanted to integrate Koha with our "Ceepos"
cash registers and the cash register server provided by CPU (the awesome
company that delivers our cash registers).

Before the feature, the workflow was as follows:
Koha <-> Librarian (manual) <-> cash register

Librarians had to manually enter the fine product code and fee amount into a
cash register, and then complete the payment in Koha. This would print a
receipt with no description (item name) of the item that was paid.

With the feature, the workflow changes into:
Koha <-> Cash register server (automatic) <-> cash register

After librarian proceeds to pay Borrower's fines, product codes and fees are
automatically transferred into the cash register via the cash register server.
Payment is completed in Koha automatically. A receipt with detailed information
(Borrower name, card number, all paid items listed with their description and
amount paid) is printed.

Short description of how this works:
- Borrower comes to a counter and wants to pay his/her fees.
- Koha (with this patch) sends the cash register server a JSON-message that
contains information about the Borrower and the Products (=> Koha fines). 
- Cash registers are connected to the cash register server. They pick up the
pending payment.
- Borrower pays the fee.
- Cash register tells the cash register server that the payment is completed.
- Cash register server tells Koha that the payment is completed.
- Koha completes the Borrower's payment into accountlines.

Currently our work only supports CPU's protocol, but if others here at Koha
community have interest in a feature like this, it could be modified to make it
easily extendable and therefore to suit better the needs of the community.

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