Biometric Payment System Using Fingerprint Rules

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing payment methods, such as credit and debit cards, require physical possession and can be lost, stolen, or subject to fraud, and do not allow for flexible association of biometric fingerprints with multiple financial accounts for convenient and secure transactions.

Innovation Solution

A method that uses fingerprints alone for purchasing goods and services, allowing buyers to associate multiple fingerprints with financial cards and accounts, using registered rules to automatically select the appropriate payment method based on conditions like purchase amount, location, and time, eliminating the need for physical cards and enhancing security.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If fingerprints are combined with financial cards or accounts, then buyer identification and payment authorization are improved, but hardware complexity at the purchase location increases due to needing both card readers and fingerprint readers

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebuyer identificationVSAvoidhardware at purchase location
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines card reading and fingerprint recognition functions into a single integrated device. The system reads account information from a financial card and simultaneously captures fingerprint data, then transmits both to a remote server for combined verification and payment processing, eliminating the need for separate card readers and fingerprint readers at the purchase location.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a remote server as an intermediary that receives both card data and fingerprint data, performs the verification and matching processes, and returns payment authorization. This transfers the computational and verification complexity from the point-of-sale device to a centralized server, simplifying the hardware needed at purchase locations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple cards are issued by different stores for fingerprint association, then payment flexibility is improved, but shopper convenience deteriorates due to needing to use store-specific cards instead of a generic card

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepayment method associationVSAvoidshopper convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables a single generic financial card to be associated with multiple different store accounts and payment systems. The system allows shoppers to load funds onto one card that can then be used across multiple retailers, eliminating the need to carry separate store-specific cards while maintaining the ability to make payments at various locations.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent separates the payment account information from the physical card medium. Instead of requiring a separate card for each store, the system divides the payment functionality into modular account segments that can be accessed through a single card, allowing flexible allocation of funds to different merchants while using one universal access device.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of operation

If cards are physically carried for payments, then transaction capability is improved, but security risk increases due to potential loss, theft, or fraudulent use

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransaction capabilityVSAvoidsecurity risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical system of physical card possession with a biometric authentication system. Instead of relying on the physical card itself as the security mechanism, the system uses fingerprint recognition - a biological characteristic that cannot be lost, stolen, or duplicated in the same way as a physical card - to authorize transactions while still maintaining card-based payment processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the security parameter from physical possession (card presence) to biological identification (fingerprint matching). This parameter change transforms the security model from something that can be physically compromised to something based on unique physiological characteristics, thereby reducing risks of loss, theft, and fraud while maintaining transaction capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS7604166B2Method and system for flexible purchases using only fingerprints at the time and location of purchase
Publication Date: 2009.10.20 ABOUYOUNES RANIA
  • US7604166B2 patent drawing
  • US7604166B2 patent drawing
  • US7604166B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A method and system for flexible payments to enable buyers to pay for goods and services using only their fingerprints at the time and location of purchase. The method is based on buyers registering their fingerprints and one or more payment methods such as financial credit cards or bank accounts and relating one or more of their fingerprints to one or more registered convenient rules that will act on behalf of buyers at the time of purchase to select the appropriate payment method based on purchase conditions such as purchase amount, purchase location and purchase time. Buyers can use their fingerprints to instantly pay for purchases where the payment system automatically matches the fingerprint at the time of purchase to registered fingerprints and uses the purchase amount, purchase location and purchase time to evaluate the conditional part of all registered convenient rules related to the matched fingerprint where the action part of one rule is used to select and further charge one or more of the previously registered payment methods.