Consumer Device Presence Detection for Offline Transaction Sessions

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current point-of-sale systems relying on mobile devices lack efficient and secure methods for enhancing consumer and merchant interactions beyond the payment stage, particularly in environments with limited internet connectivity.

Innovation Solution

A system that enables consumer devices to initiate transaction sessions with merchant devices using wireless communication, secure wallet identifying data, and proximity scoring to manage transactions, allowing real-time interaction and secure data exchange without constant internet connectivity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If point-of-sale systems use mobile devices for payments, then convenience and security at payment stage are improved, but consumer experience quality in merchant-consumer interaction remains limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepayment convenienceVSAvoidinteraction quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The mobile device is transformed from a single-payment tool into a multi-functional communication platform. The system enables the mobile device to perform both payment processing and real-time order management, menu browsing, and interactive communication with the merchant, thereby resolving the contradiction between payment convenience and interaction quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If real-time interaction between consumer and merchant is enabled, then consumer experience is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinteraction capabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A communication module acts as an intermediary between the mobile device and the merchant system. This module handles real-time data exchange for order updates, menu changes, and communication without requiring complex direct integration between all system components, thus enabling rich interaction while controlling system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If wireless polling for proximity scoring is implemented, then transaction security is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransaction securityVSAvoiddevice energy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements periodic wireless polling at optimized intervals rather than continuous monitoring. The merchant device polls the consumer device at predetermined times during the transaction session to determine proximity scores, balancing security requirements with energy conservation by avoiding unnecessary frequent communications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

4Reliability

If continuous connectivity is required for transaction processing, then data exchange reliability is improved, but system adaptability to limited connectivity environments deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata exchange reliabilityVSAvoidconnectivity environment flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by establishing the transaction session and exchanging essential data before internet connectivity is required. Orders, menu items, and transaction details are communicated and confirmed during the session establishment phase, allowing the system to operate reliably even when continuous connectivity is unavailable during the actual transaction execution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enhances consumer and merchant interactions with improved convenience, security, and efficiency by enabling real-time order management, secure payment processing, and reduced transaction fees in environments with limited connectivity.

Implementation Method 1

wirelessly poll the consumer device to determine a merchant proximity score between the consumer device and the merchant device

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectWireless communication: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentUS20250335898A1Consumer device presence-based transaction session

Publication Date: 2025.10.30 BYTEDANCE INC

AI summary

Systems, apparatus, and methods for providing a consumer device presence-based transaction sessions are discussed herein. Some embodiments may provide for an apparatus configured to establish consumer device presence-based transaction sessions. The apparatus and consumer device may wirelessly communicate for a variety interactions within the transaction session. For example, consumers may be allowed to provide one or more instances of consumer approval data for payment. The transaction session may be closed upon receipt of consumer approval data or may be kept open based on wirelessly polling for consumer device presence. Based on the lack of consumer device presence, the apparatus may be configured to close the transaction session and subsequently facilitate a transaction. In various embodiments, the apparatus may be a merchant device or a server. For example, the apparatus may be a server of a central system configured to facilitate transaction sessions between merchant devices and consumer devices.