Assisted Online Banking Session with Natural Language Transaction Approval
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users with physical or mental disabilities, or those who are technologically challenged, face vulnerabilities when sharing access credentials for online banking assistance, as it can lead to unauthorized transactions.
Innovation Solution
The online banking system establishes an assisted session allowing both primary and assistant users secure access, with the server translating transactions into natural language for approval by the primary user, maintaining control without requiring them to understand the system's interface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If access credentials are shared with an assistant user, then the primary user can receive assistance with online banking transactions, but the primary user becomes vulnerable to unauthorized transactions
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the authentication process into two distinct phases: initial authentication of the primary user, and subsequent authentication of the assistant user through a shared secret code. This segmentation allows assistance while maintaining security by requiring separate verification steps that prevent unauthorized access.
Solution Approach 2:
A server acts as an intermediary between the primary user and assistant user. The server receives requests from the assistant user, verifies them against the primary user's account, and only performs transactions after obtaining approval from the primary user. This intermediary role enables assisted transactions while preventing unauthorized operations.
2Reliability
If the primary user must understand the online banking interface to approve transactions, then security is maintained, but users with disabilities or technophobia cannot use the system
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates a simplified copy of the transaction approval interface that is presented to the primary user. Instead of requiring the primary user to navigate the complex online banking interface, the system generates an accessible representation of transaction details that can be approved through simpler means, such as voice commands or simplified display formats.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameters of the user interface presented to the primary user based on their needs. It can adjust display formats, input methods, and interaction modes to accommodate users with disabilities or technophobia, while still maintaining secure transaction approval capabilities.
3Ease of operation
If the assistant user has full access to the account interface, then they can perform any transaction, but the primary user loses control over their account
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements dynamic access control where the assistant user's permissions change based on the transaction state. The assistant user can view account information and request transactions, but actual transaction execution is dynamically controlled by real-time approval from the primary user. This dynamic permission structure enables assistance while preserving primary user control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a feedback loop where transaction requests from the assistant user are sent to the primary user for approval before execution. The primary user receives notifications of requested transactions and can approve or deny them, providing continuous feedback control over account operations while allowing the assistant user to initiate transactions.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques are described for secure access for assisted transactions in an online banking system. A server of the online banking system is configured to establish an assisted session during which both a primary user and an assistant user have secure access to the primary user's account via their respective computing devices. The techniques enable the assistant user to request transactions with the primary user's account on the primary user's behalf, and further enable the primary user to approve the requested transactions prior to performance. The techniques include translating the requested transactions into a natural language description that is understandable to the primary user, and presenting the natural language description to the primary user for approval or denial of the requested transaction. In this way, a primary user may receive the assistance necessary to use an online banking system without giving up all control over the primary user's account.