Digital Wallet Transit Payment System with Real-Time Fare Calculation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current digital wallet systems for transit payments lack efficient and secure methods for calculating fares, verifying traveler identities, and managing disputes, particularly in real-time and across different transportation modes.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for digital wallet transit payments that involves receiving payment instrument identification from a traveler's mobile device, calculating fares based on trip distance, and submitting transactions, with real-time monitoring and dispute resolution mechanisms, using NFC-capable receivers and mobile applications for authentication and communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If digital wallet systems are implemented for transit payments, then payment security and efficiency are improved, but system complexity and implementation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The digital wallet system is designed to handle multiple transit payment scenarios (different transportation modes, fare structures, and trip types) through a single unified platform. The mobile application serves multiple functions including payment processing, trip monitoring, fare calculation, and dispute resolution, eliminating the need for separate systems for each transit mode and improving payment security while managing system complexity through consolidation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a receiver as an intermediary component that facilitates communication between the mobile device and the transit payment system. The receiver receives communications from the mobile device, processes payment instrument information, and interfaces with the fare calculation system, thereby simplifying the overall system architecture and reducing implementation difficulty while maintaining payment security.
2Measurement precision
If real-time fare calculation and monitoring are implemented, then payment accuracy and transparency are improved, but processing time and computational requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by receiving fare structure information in advance and pre-configuring payment instruments before the trip begins. The mobile application is pre-loaded with fare structures and payment methods, allowing the system to quickly calculate fares in real-time during the trip without requiring complex processing of payment instrument details during the actual fare calculation, thereby improving accuracy while minimizing processing time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements continuous monitoring of trip progress and fare calculations throughout the journey. The mobile application continuously tracks trip data and updates fare estimates in real-time, ensuring payment accuracy is maintained throughout the trip. This continuous action allows the system to process fare calculations efficiently by building on previously processed information rather than recalculating from scratch, reducing overall processing time while maintaining precision.
3Reliability
If biometric authentication and identity verification are implemented, then traveler identification reliability is improved, but authentication complexity and processing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service authentication where the traveler's mobile device automatically performs biometric verification and identity confirmation without requiring manual intervention. The mobile application handles the entire authentication process autonomously, comparing biometric data with stored information and completing verification in the background, thereby improving identity reliability while keeping the user interface simple and reducing perceived complexity for the traveler.
4Productivity
If automatic dispute resolution mechanisms are implemented, then payment processing efficiency is improved, but system complexity and automation requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the mobile application automatically monitors trip data and fare calculations, compares actual charges with expected fares, and initiates dispute resolution when discrepancies are detected. The system provides continuous feedback between trip monitoring, fare calculation, and dispute management functions, allowing automatic resolution of payment issues without manual intervention. This feedback loop improves dispute resolution efficiency by catching and addressing issues automatically while managing complexity through integrated system design.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for digital wallet transit payments are disclosed. According to one embodiment, a method for managing transit payments using a digital wallet may include (1) receiving, at a receiver associated with a vehicle and at a first vehicle location, a first communication from a mobile electronic device associated with a traveler comprising an identification of a payment instrument from a traveler's digital wallet, the first communication received before the traveler begins a trip in the vehicle; (2) receiving, at the receiver and at second vehicle location, a second communication from a mobile device at a conclusion of the trip; (3) a computer processor calculating a fare based on a travelled distance between the first vehicle location and the second vehicle location; and (4) the computer processor automatically submitting a transaction request for the fare to an issuer of the payment instrument.