Browser Extension Payment Autofill for Secure Merchant Checkout

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing online payment systems require users to manually input extensive personal and payment information, which is cumbersome and insecure, and integrating an expedited payment service across various merchants involves significant technical challenges.

Innovation Solution

A browser extension that integrates with a payment processing network, securely stores authentication and payment data, and auto-fills fields using biometric or password authentication, offering a user-friendly and secure payment experience by mimicking merchant websites and supporting multiple payment devices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If users manually input personal and payment information for each online transaction, then payment data can be accurately submitted to merchants, but the process becomes cumbersome and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of payment inputVSAvoidtime for data entry
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-stores payment device information and authentication data in secure storage during setup. When a transaction occurs, this pre-stored data is automatically retrieved and populated into payment fields, eliminating the need for users to manually re-enter information for each transaction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The extension creates and populates payment form fields by copying pre-stored payment device data and authentication credentials into the merchant's payment interface. This copying mechanism allows rapid population of payment forms without manual user input.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Reliability

If users manually enter payment information on each merchant site, then transactions can be completed, but security risks increase due to exposure of sensitive data

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepayment securityVSAvoiddata exposure risk
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The browser extension acts as an intermediary layer between the user's stored payment data and the merchant's payment form. The extension securely manages authentication data and payment device information locally, then automatically populates merchant forms without requiring users to manually expose sensitive credentials. This intermediary approach minimizes data exposure while maintaining transaction capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs self-service by automatically retrieving and populating payment information from secure storage without requiring user interaction. This eliminates the security risk associated with users manually entering sensitive data, as the extension handles data retrieval and form population autonomously using pre-stored credentials.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If an expedited payment service is integrated across multiple merchants, then payment convenience is improved, but technical integration challenges increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemerchant compatibilityVSAvoidintegration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The browser extension is designed as a universal solution that works across multiple merchant websites by detecting and interacting with standard payment form elements. Rather than requiring separate integrations for each merchant, the extension provides multi-functional capability to handle various payment interfaces through automated form detection and population, achieving broad merchant compatibility through a single unified implementation.

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

Data Source

PatentEP4220520B1Browser extension with additional capabilities
Publication Date: 2025.10.22 VISA INTERNATIONAL SERVICE ASSOCIATION
  • EP4220520B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4220520B1 patent drawingFigure 2a
  • EP4220520B1 patent drawingFigure 2b

AI summary

In one aspect, an expedited payment service is accessed through a browser extension. As an extension operates in a manner in which it has access to the underlying merchant data, the extension may allow an expedited payment service to work with virtually any merchant web site.