Appliance Management Subsystem for Remote Payment Control

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems for managing user devices remotely and ensuring timely payments are complex and costly, often requiring multiple hardware units and mobile communication capabilities in the devices themselves, making them difficult to deploy and manage economically.

Innovation Solution

A remote device management system that embeds a hardware subsystem, such as a microcontroller, in appliances to control activation and deactivation based on payment status, using a mobile phone or internet-capable device to communicate with the subsystem via a USB port, and a third-party infrastructure for payment verification, allowing remote management without embedding communication capabilities in the appliance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple hardware units are required to be connected to the device for controlling and managing usage, then payment verification capability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepayment verification capabilityVSAvoidnumber of hardware units

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the control function and payment management function into a single integrated hardware subsystem embedded in the appliance. This eliminates the need for multiple separate hardware units (one for control and another for payment management) while maintaining both capabilities, thus reducing device complexity while preserving payment verification capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The embedded hardware subsystem performs multiple functions: it controls the appliance operation and simultaneously manages payment verification. This multi-functional approach allows a single component to replace what would traditionally require separate dedicated units, resolving the contradiction between reliability and complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If mobile communication capability is embedded in the device for electronic payment verification, then payment management is improved, but ease of manufacture deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectronic payment verification capabilityVSAvoiddeployment difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a mobile device (smartphone) as an intermediary between the appliance and the payment network. The appliance itself does not require mobile communication capability; instead, the mobile device communicates with the embedded hardware subsystem via USB connection. This intermediary approach enables electronic payment verification without requiring complex mobile communication hardware to be embedded in the appliance, thus improving ease of manufacture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the need for embedded mobile communication hardware (antennas, modems, etc.) with a simple USB-based communication interface. This substitution eliminates complex wireless communication requirements while maintaining payment verification functionality, significantly improving ease of manufacture and deployment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Ease of manufacture

If a simple USB-based control system is used without embedded communication capabilities, then ease of manufacture is improved, but remote management capability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedeployment simplicityVSAvoidremote management capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a dynamic remote management system where the embedded hardware subsystem can change the operational state of the appliance remotely based on payment status. The system transitions between different states (locked/unlocked, active/inactive) controlled by remote signals received via the mobile device intermediary, maintaining adaptability despite the simple USB-based local interface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The mobile device serves as a mediator that bridges the simple USB-based control interface with remote management requirements. It receives payment verification data from the embedded subsystem and transmits control commands remotely, enabling versatile remote management functionality without requiring complex communication hardware in the appliance itself.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS10241805B2Method and system for remote management of access to appliances

Publication Date: 2019.03.26 PAYJOY INC

AI summary

Embodiments described herein include methods and systems for remotely managing appliances, including enabling communication between a user of the appliance and third party systems. The third party systems can include any entity that has a relationship with the user of the appliance, such as a payment infrastructure handling incremental payments for the appliance, and managing access to the appliance accordingly. In some embodiments, the appliance being controlled is a mobile phone that also includes third party operating system software. Various methods for preventing alteration or replacement of the third party operating system are also described.