Augmented Reality Merchant Payment Compatibility Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Merchants often do not clearly advertise their accepted payment methods, leading to consumer frustration and wasted time, especially for those with accessibility issues, as users must guess or discover at checkout whether their payment methods are accepted.

Innovation Solution

An augmented-reality system using a user device application that activates a camera to detect merchant symbols, determines if they match known symbols, and generates a virtual message indicating whether the merchant accepts predetermined payment methods, displayed on an augmented reality-enabled display.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If merchants do not advertise accepted payment methods, then device complexity is reduced, but information availability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinformation about accepted payment methodsVSAvoidmerchant information display system

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection of merchant symbols and retrieves payment method information before the user reaches the checkout point. The AR application proactively scans for merchant symbols in the environment and prepares compatibility information in advance, allowing users to know beforehand whether their payment methods will be accepted, eliminating the need for merchants to physically display this information.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The AR application acts as an intermediary between the user and merchant information. Instead of requiring merchants to display payment method information directly, the system uses image recognition to detect merchant symbols and then queries a database to retrieve payment method data, mediating the information delivery through technological means rather than physical signage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of time

If users check payment methods at checkout, then information accuracy is improved, but time consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetime to determine payment compatibilityVSAvoidpayment method compatibility information

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system determines payment compatibility in advance during the shopping process rather than waiting until checkout. The AR application continuously monitors the user's environment for merchant symbols and provides real-time feedback about accepted payment methods, allowing users to make informed decisions about which merchants to visit before reaching the payment stage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides immediate feedback to users about payment method compatibility as they move through the shopping environment. When the AR application detects a merchant symbol, it instantly queries the database and displays compatibility information through the AR interface, creating a real-time feedback loop that eliminates delays associated with checking payment methods at checkout.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Ease of operation

If payment information is not clearly displayed, then ease of operation is reduced, but accessibility for visually impaired users deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to discern payment methodsVSAvoidaccessibility issues for users with poor eyesight

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces the mechanical/visual system of physical signage with an electronic/digital system. Instead of relying on users to physically read and discern printed payment method information, the AR application uses image recognition to automatically detect merchant symbols and displays the information digitally through the device's screen and audio output, making it accessible to users with visual impairments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The AR application serves as an intermediary that translates physical merchant symbols into accessible digital information. The system captures images of merchant symbols, processes them through image recognition algorithms, and converts the detected information into accessible formats including visual displays on the device screen and audio announcements, bridging the gap between physical signage and accessible information delivery.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS20250021959A1Sytsems and methods for augmented-reality assisted determination of merchant compatibility

Publication Date: 2025.01.16 CAPITAL ONE SERVICES LLC

AI summary

Systems and methods for using an augmented-reality enabled user device to help users understand which merchants accept a predetermined group of payment methods are disclosed. A user may open a camera and point it at a merchant symbol. A user device application may determine what payment methods are accepted at the merchant and display such information as a virtual object on the display of a user device.