Application Manager for Multi-Instance Wireless Payment Support

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless smart devices are limited to supporting only one instance of the same type of payment application, restricting users from having multiple accounts from the same financial institution or different types of applications on a single device, which hinders flexibility and convenience in transactions.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a system with application managers on wireless smart devices that allow multiple instances of the same application type, enabling users to have multiple accounts and applications, while maintaining compliance with existing specifications by presenting a single instance to the reader, thereby supporting multiple applications and types.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the system supports only one instance of the same application type, then compliance with existing specifications is maintained, but user flexibility and convenience are restricted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser flexibilityVSAvoidapplication management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

An application manager is introduced as an intermediary component that mediates between multiple application instances and the payment terminal. The application manager presents a unified interface to the terminal while managing multiple instances internally, thus maintaining specification compliance while enabling multi-instance support.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple application instances are merged under a single application manager that presents them as one unified application to the payment terminal. This combining approach allows multiple accounts and instances to coexist while maintaining compliance with the one-instance specification.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Ease of operation

If multiple instances of the same application are allowed, then user convenience is improved, but specification compliance becomes problematic

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoidspecification compliance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The application manager acts as a mediator that ensures specification compliance by presenting a standardized interface to the payment terminal while managing multiple application instances internally. This intermediary layer abstracts the multi-instance complexity from the terminal interaction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system segments the application layer into multiple instances managed by a single application manager. This segmentation allows multiple instances to exist internally while presenting a unified interface externally, resolving the conflict between multi-instance support and specification compliance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple applications and instances are supported, then transaction flexibility is enhanced, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransaction flexibilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The application manager provides universal functionality by managing multiple different types of applications and instances through a single unified interface. This multi-functionality approach allows diverse applications to be managed without increasing terminal-side complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple applications and instances are merged under a single application manager that presents a unified interface to the payment terminal. This merging reduces system complexity by consolidating management functions while maintaining transaction flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables users to manage multiple accounts and applications seamlessly, enhancing transaction flexibility and security by allowing selective activation and deactivation of instances, while maintaining compatibility with existing payment systems.

Implementation Method 1

a wireless smart device may communicate with a reader via inductive coupling of the reader antenna to the device antenna. The two loop antennas effectively form a transformer.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectInductive coupling: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP1939822B1Systems, methods, and computer program products for supporting multiple applications and multiple instances of the same application on a wireless smart device
Publication Date: 2022.06.08 MASTERCARD INT INC
  • EP1939822B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1939822B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP1939822B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Systems, methods, and computer program products for supporting multiple applications and multiple instances of the same application on a wireless smart device are disclosed. According to one aspect, the subject matter described herein includes a system for supporting multiple instances of the same application. The system includes a wireless smart device for communicating with a wireless reader. The wireless smart device includes multiple instances of the same application for performing wireless transactions with an external device. The wireless smart device also includes an application manager for identifying one of the instances as active, for detecting a request from a wireless reader for performing a wireless transaction, and for communicating the request to the active instance.