Contactless Transaction Detection Using Sensor Intermediaries
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In contactless 'tap' transactions, failures often go undetected due to the absence of NFC chips in payment mechanisms or broken antennas, leading to user frustration and delayed transactions, as the typical reader terminal lacks information about the attempted transaction.
Innovation Solution
A computer system equipped with sensors such as image capture modules, proximity detectors, or accelerometers detects attempts to establish short-range communications, even if the short-range communications module does not receive a signal, and performs actions like providing transaction failure notifications or requesting alternative payment mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a typical reader terminal is used for contactless transactions, then the transaction processing is simple, but failed transactions cannot be detected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces sensors as intermediary components that mediate between the user's tap action and the transaction processing system. These sensors detect the physical act of tapping independently from the NFC communication success, providing failure detection capability without fundamentally changing the core transaction processing architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The reader terminal is enhanced with multi-functionality by integrating sensors that serve dual purposes: detecting user interaction (tap attempts) and providing failure detection. This allows the same device to perform both traditional NFC transaction processing and failure detection without requiring separate dedicated systems.
2Reliability
If sensors are added to detect transaction attempts, then failure detection capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs inexpensive sensors that can be easily integrated into the reader terminal. These sensors are simple components with straightforward detection mechanisms, keeping the added complexity minimal while effectively detecting tap attempts. The low cost and simplicity of these sensor components make them suitable for widespread deployment.
3Ease of operation
If no failure notification is provided, then the system operation is simple, but user frustration increases and transaction time is delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the system immediately notifies users of transaction failures through visual or audible signals. This real-time feedback prevents user confusion and enables quick corrective actions, such as trying an alternative payment method or repositioning the payment device, thereby maintaining high transaction processing speed while improving user experience.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A method at a computer system, the method including detecting, utilizing a sensor associated with the computer system, an attempt to establish short-range communications between a device and a short-range communications module coupled to the computer system; determining that no short-range communication was received by the computer system via the short-range communications module; and based on the detecting and determining, performing an action at the computer system.