Central Bill Network for Single-Login Payment Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Consumers face inefficiencies and negative experiences when paying multiple bills online, as they must navigate separate payment platforms and remember multiple login credentials for each biller entity.

Innovation Solution

A central payment processing network that manages bills through a single access point, using a central network to receive and process identification parameters, authenticate transactions, and facilitate actions like bill retrieval and modification without requiring separate logins for each biller.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If consumers navigate to separate payment platforms for each biller entity, then they can access and manage each bill, but the process becomes unwieldy and requires remembering multiple logon credentials

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of bill managementVSAvoidcomplexity of payment process
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple separate payment platforms into a single centralized payment platform. Consumers can now access and manage bills from multiple biller entities through one unified interface, eliminating the need to navigate to separate platforms and remember multiple credentials. The system merges the functionality of multiple bill document stores into a single accessible repository.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The centralized payment platform provides universal access to manage bills from any biller entity. A single platform performs multiple functions: storing bills from different entities, authenticating consumers, enabling bill viewing, and processing payments across various biller types. This multi-functional approach replaces the need for separate specialized platforms for each biller.

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

2Reliability

If consumers use separate bill document stores for each biller, then they can access electronic bill copies, but they must remember multiple account logon credentials

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccess to bill informationVSAvoidease of access
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple separate bill document stores into a single centralized storage system accessible through one platform. Consumers can retrieve electronic copies of bills from any biller entity through this unified interface, eliminating the need to access separate document stores and remember multiple credentials while maintaining reliable access to all bill information.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The centralized payment platform acts as an intermediary between consumers and multiple biller entities. It mediates access to bill information by maintaining a consolidated repository of bills from various entities and providing a single authentication mechanism. This intermediary role simplifies consumer access while ensuring reliable retrieval of bill documents.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If consumers interact with multiple merchant platforms directly, then they can manage their bills, but the system complexity and number of access points increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveability to manage multiple billsVSAvoidnumber of access points
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The centralized payment platform provides universal adaptability to manage bills from any number of merchant entities through a single interface. The system is designed to accommodate multiple biller types and entities while maintaining consistent functionality. Consumers can add and manage bills from various merchants without needing separate access points or interfaces for each entity.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines the need to interact with multiple merchant platforms into a single centralized interaction point. The system merges access to diverse biller entities through one unified platform, reducing the number of access points from multiple separate merchant platforms to a single centralized interface while maintaining the ability to manage all bills.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP4647997A1Systems and methods for bill management via a central network
Publication Date: 2025.11.12 MASTERCARD INT INC
  • EP4647997A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4647997A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4647997A1 patent drawingFigure 3A

AI summary

A method of bill management by a central network. The method comprising the steps of: receiving, from a first system, a first message comprising: a first identification parameter; and a second identification parameter; sending, to a second system, the first identification parameter and the second identification parameter; receiving, from the second system, a first request comprising the first identification parameter, the second identification parameter, and action request data; and performing an action based on the action request data.