Digital Receipt System Using Segmented Communication Channels

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing payment processing networks face resource-intensive disputes and limited communication among parties due to the lack of information and inefficient receipt communication systems, particularly affecting users who do not wish to share personal information with merchants.

Innovation Solution

A computer-implemented method and system that utilizes two separate communication channels to generate and manage digital receipts, assigning a transaction identifier and storing transaction data, allowing for efficient retrieval and communication of digital receipts between merchant, issuer, and external systems, reducing the need for extensive network communications and computational resources.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If existing payment processing networks are used for transaction communication, then transaction processing can be completed, but disputes and chargebacks become resource-intensive due to lack of information and communication among parties

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransaction dispute resolutionVSAvoidresource efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the communication process by creating separate communication channels: one for transaction processing and another for receipt delivery. This allows transaction data to be processed through the payment network while receipt delivery is handled independently, reducing the burden on the payment network during disputes and improving overall resource efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces an intermediary receipt delivery mechanism that acts as a mediator between the transaction processing system and the end user. This intermediary handles the communication of transaction details and receipt delivery, allowing the payment processing network to focus on financial transactions while disputes can be resolved with complete information available through the intermediary channel.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If users share personal information with merchants for receipt delivery, then receipts can be delivered directly, but users' personal information privacy is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereceipt deliveryVSAvoidpersonal information privacy risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses an intermediary mechanism (such as email or SMS through third-party services) to deliver receipts without requiring users to share personal information directly with merchants. The intermediary handles the communication, allowing receipt delivery while protecting user privacy by acting as a buffer between the user's personal information and the merchant system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates a copy of the transaction receipt and delivers it through an independent communication channel rather than requiring direct interaction between user and merchant. This copying approach allows the original transaction data to be replicated and sent through a privacy-protecting channel, maintaining ease of receipt delivery while eliminating the need for users to share personal information with merchants.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Device complexity

If a single communication channel is used for both transaction processing and receipt delivery, then system complexity is reduced, but information availability for disputes is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication channel structureVSAvoidtransaction information availability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments communication into two distinct channels: one dedicated to transaction processing and another dedicated to receipt delivery. This segmentation ensures that transaction information is fully captured in the first channel while the second channel provides comprehensive receipt information to users, eliminating information loss for disputes while maintaining manageable system complexity through clear channel separation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS11810086B2System, method, and computer program product for generating digital receipts

Publication Date: 2023.11.07 VISA INTERNATIONAL SERVICE ASSOCIATION

AI summary

A method, system, and computer program product is provided for generating digital receipts. The method includes receiving, through a first communication channel, a transaction request message from a merchant system for a transaction between a consumer and the merchant system using an account identifier, assigning a transaction identifier to the transaction, storing the first transaction data in association with the transaction identifier in at least one data storage device, receiving, through a second communication channel, digital receipt data comprising a digital receipt object and second transaction data, processing the transaction using the account identifier, determining the transaction identifier based on the second transaction data by matching the second transaction data to the first transaction data in the at least one data storage device, and storing the digital receipt object in association with the transaction identifier in the at least one data storage device or at least one other storage device.