Conditional Biometric Calls for Faster Contactless Transactions

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Solution Overview

Problem

Contactless transactions using biometric verification can be slow due to the time required for fingerprint matching, which degrades user experience, especially in high-throughput environments like mass transit gates, and vary in processing speed across different user devices with diverse sensors.

Innovation Solution

Implement a method where the interaction application on a user device performs biometric verification in parallel with message processing, using conditional blocking and non-blocking calls based on the type of access device, allowing the interaction to proceed without waiting for biometric verification when not required.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If biometric verification is performed for every contactless transaction, then transaction security is improved, but transaction processing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransaction securityVSAvoidtransaction processing time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically changes the verification parameter (blocking vs non-blocking) based on the access device type. For high-risk devices, blocking verification ensures security, while for low-risk devices like mass transit gates, non-blocking verification maintains speed. This parameter adaptation resolves the contradiction by adjusting security intensity to match contextual risk levels.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The verification mechanism transitions from a static always-blocking approach to a dynamic system that adapts its behavior based on device identification. The interaction application determines whether to block or continue processing based on the access device type, creating a flexible security model that balances security requirements with transaction speed needs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If blocking call is used to wait for biometric verification result, then verification completeness is improved, but transaction throughput decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveverification completenessVSAvoidtransaction throughput
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Different verification strategies are applied to different access device types. High-security devices receive blocking verification (complete verification), while mass transit devices receive non-blocking verification (partial verification). This local differentiation allows each device type to receive appropriate verification intensity, maintaining throughput for low-risk devices while ensuring completeness for high-risk devices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

For certain access devices, the system applies partial verification action (non-blocking) instead of complete verification (blocking). This partial action is sufficient for low-risk scenarios where speed is critical, while avoiding the excessive delay that would occur with full blocking verification. The system performs only the necessary verification level required for each context.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Speed

If parallel processing of biometric verification and message processing is implemented, then transaction speed is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransaction speedVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system initiates biometric verification in advance before the interaction application needs the result. By starting the verification process early and running it in parallel with message processing, the system prepares the verification outcome beforehand, reducing wait time and improving overall transaction speed without significantly increasing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS12437045B2Method and system using conditional blocking and non-blocking query call system and method
Publication Date: 2025.10.07 VISA INTERNATIONAL SERVICE ASSOCIATION
  • US12437045B2 patent drawing
  • US12437045B2 patent drawing
  • US12437045B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A method performed by at least a user device comprising an interaction application and a biometric application is disclosed. The method comprises receiving from an access device, a message comprising interaction details. The user device may perform a biometric verification of the user operating the user device. The method may then include, if the biometric application has a biometric verification result, the interaction application receives the biometric verification result from the biometric application and continues processing the message. Or if the biometric application does not have the biometric verification result, then the interaction application either waits for the biometric verification result from the biometric application or continues processing the message without the biometric verification result.