Biometric POS System for Multi-Account Transaction Splitting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing biometric systems require users to carry multiple financial devices for different transaction accounts, increasing the risk of loss or fraud, and do not allow for efficient management of rewards, spending limits, or balances across these accounts, nor do they facilitate easy splitting of transactions among multiple users.

Innovation Solution

A point-of-sale system that uses a fingerprint scanner to register multiple fingerprints associated with different account identifiers, allowing for simultaneous scanning and processing of biometric inputs to authenticate and manage transactions across multiple accounts, with a transaction processing server determining the appropriate accounts for a transaction based on user preferences and rules.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If users carry multiple portable financial devices for different transaction accounts, then they can access different rewards and spending limits, but the risk of loss, theft, and fraud increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccess to different rewards and spending limitsVSAvoidrisk of loss, theft, and fraud
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces physical financial devices with digital representations stored in a database. Each fingerprint is associated with account information, creating a digital copy that eliminates the need for physical cards. This allows users to access multiple accounts through biometric authentication without carrying physical devices that can be lost or stolen.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical system of physical card handling with an optical/biometric system. Instead of physically presenting cards for authentication, the system uses fingerprint scanning and automated account selection, eliminating the need for users to manually handle and present multiple physical financial devices.

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

2Adaptability or versatility

If users manually manage multiple portable financial devices, then they can control different transaction accounts, but the complexity of management increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol of multiple transaction accountsVSAvoidcomplexity of managing multiple devices
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically performs account selection and transaction routing based on pre-configured user preferences and spending rules. When a user provides a fingerprint, the system autonomously determines which account to charge, splits transactions across multiple accounts if appropriate, and manages the complexity without requiring user intervention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Users pre-configure their spending preferences, account priorities, and splitting rules during setup. The system then uses these pre-configured parameters to automatically make decisions during transactions, eliminating the need for users to manually manage multiple devices and make real-time decisions about which account to use.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If existing biometric systems scan only a single fingerprint at once, then the system complexity remains simple, but the transaction processing efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransaction processing efficiencyVSAvoidbiometric scanning capability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple fingerprint scanning capabilities into a single biometric authentication process. The system can scan multiple fingerprints simultaneously or in rapid succession and process them through a unified account selection algorithm, allowing multiple users or multiple account selections to occur in one transaction flow.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The biometric system is designed to handle multiple functions: authenticating single users, authenticating multiple users for split transactions, and selecting among multiple accounts associated with a single fingerprint. This multi-functionality increases processing efficiency without proportionally increasing system complexity.

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

4Ease of operation

If users physically hand over payment devices for transaction splitting, then the transaction can be divided among multiple users, but the risk of fraud and device loss increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransaction splitting capabilityVSAvoidrisk of fraud and device loss
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the physical exchange of payment devices with a digital biometric authentication system. Users simply provide their fingerprints, and the system automatically calculates and processes the split transaction amounts for each user's account, eliminating the need to physically handle or transfer payment devices during the splitting process.

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

Data Source

PatentEP3646268B1System, method, and apparatus for processing biometric inputs
Publication Date: 2025.03.26 VISA INTERNATIONAL SERVICE ASSOCIATION
  • EP3646268B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3646268B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3646268B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

Provided is a point-of-sale system for processing biometric inputs, comprising a fingerprint reader configured to receive a plurality of fingerprints simultaneously or substantially simultaneously, an input device configured to receive transaction data, a communication device, and at least one processor in communication with the fingerprint reader, the input device, and the communication device. The at least one processor is programmed or configured to generate at least one transaction message for a transaction based at least partially on a plurality of account identifiers corresponding to the plurality of fingerprints received by the fingerprint reader and the transaction data received by the input device, the at least one transaction message comprising an apportionment of the transaction value among the plurality of account identifiers, and communicate, with the communication device, the at least one transaction message to a transaction processing server. A system and method for processing biometric inputs are also disclosed.