Cardless Payment System for Group Bill Splitting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for splitting bills among groups at restaurants are cumbersome, especially when the number of credit cards that can be processed is limited, complicating the distribution of shared financial expenses among group members.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that utilize electronic reservations, waitlists, and purchase orders to identify users involved in shared expenses, allowing for the generation and apportionment of electronic bills among group members, enabling card-less payment transactions for each user's portion of the bill.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional credit card processing is used for bill splitting, then payment capability is maintained, but device complexity and operational difficulty increase due to limited number of credit cards that can be processed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses electronic copies of bills and payment information instead of physical credit cards. The system generates and transmits electronic bill copies to multiple users, allowing them to view and pay their portions without requiring multiple physical credit cards to be managed and processed simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/physical credit card processing system with an electronic system. Instead of physically handling multiple credit cards at a restaurant counter, the system uses electronic communications to transmit bill information and payment instructions to users' devices, eliminating the need for multiple physical cards and simplifying the process.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple credit cards are required for group bill splitting, then payment options increase, but ease of operation decreases due to complicated distribution of shared expenses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the bill into separate electronic bill copies, each assigned to a specific user. The system divides the total bill amount and generates individual payment portions for each user, allowing them to independently view and pay their respective shares without needing to manage multiple credit cards or complex splitting procedures.
3Productivity
If traditional bill splitting methods are used, then payment processing is possible, but loss of time increases due to cumbersome splitting process
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-generating and transmitting electronic bill copies to users before the actual payment is needed. The bill information, user assignments, and payment instructions are prepared and sent in advance, allowing users to quickly review and process their portions without time-consuming on-site splitting procedures.
Data Source
AI summary
A payment system can accept an electronic reservation for a merchant restaurant in response to a reservation request received from a user. The payment system can detect that the user is present at a location associated with the merchant restaurant based at least in part on an indication received from a mobile device associated with the user. The payment system can determine a completion of a service associated with the electronic reservation. The payment system can provide an electronic bill for the service to be displayed on the mobile device of the user. Based on receiving an authorization of the electronic bill from the mobile device of the user, the payment system can charge, through a card-less payment transaction, the user for at least an amount disclosed in the electronic bill.