Appliance Payment Management System for Cycle Credits
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Commercial appliances like washing machines and dryers often require cash-based payment systems, limiting the ability for residential appliance owners to charge users on a cycle-by-cycle basis, especially in shared living or rental situations, where a more flexible and efficient payment management system is needed.
Innovation Solution
A payment management system that enables non-cash payments through a device communicating with the appliance's controller, ensuring operation only when sufficient cycle credits are available, allowing users to purchase and authorize operating cycles using digital or virtual currency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a cash-based payment system is used in commercial appliances, then the appliance can operate immediately after payment, but the owner must deal with large amounts of small cash payments and the system lacks flexibility for cycle-by-cycle charging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical cash-based payment system with an electronic payment system. The payment management system uses a controller, memory, and communication interface to process electronic payments (credit cards, debit cards, mobile payments) instead of handling physical cash, thereby eliminating the need to deal with large amounts of small cash payments while maintaining immediate operation capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the payment parameter from physical cash to electronic credits. The system stores payment information as cycle credits in memory, allowing flexible allocation of credits to different operating cycles. This parameter change enables cycle-by-cycle charging flexibility while maintaining ease of operation through automated credit deduction
2Productivity
If residential appliances are made available for shared use with cycle-by-cycle charging, then revenue generation is enabled, but a payment management system with credits and controllers is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies multi-functionality by integrating the payment management capabilities directly into the appliance's existing controller. The same controller that manages the operating cycles also manages the payment process, stores credits, and controls cycle initiation. This eliminates the need for separate payment management hardware, thereby enabling revenue generation without proportionally increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The payment management system operates autonomously by automatically processing payments, storing credits in memory, and controlling cycle initiation without requiring manual intervention. The system self-manages the entire payment-to-operation workflow, reducing the operational burden on the appliance owner while enabling revenue generation
3Adaptability or versatility
If non-cash payments are required for each operating cycle, then cycle-by-cycle charging is enabled, but the system must verify credit availability before initiating cycles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by requiring users to purchase and store cycle credits in advance before needing to operate the appliance. The credits are pre-loaded into the appliance's memory, so when the user wants to initiate a cycle, the verification is instantaneous rather than requiring real-time payment processing. This eliminates delays while maintaining flexible payment options
Data Source
AI summary
A payment management system and a method of operating the same to receive payment before initiating an operating cycle of a cycle-based appliance is provided. The payment management system includes a payment device for receiving a non-cash payment from a user of the appliance. A payment processor communicates the payment to a controller of the appliance in the form of cycle credits, which may be stored in an encrypted credit storage bank. When a user attempts to initiate an operating cycle, the controller compares the available cycle credits to the number of required cycle credits, and only initiates the operating cycle if the number of available credits is equal to or exceeds the number of required credits. The payment management system may be included in any residential appliance and activated by the owner to enable pay-per-use functionality.