Distributed Payment System Using Camera and SMS for Bi-directional Transactions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current mobile payment systems are uni-directional, require additional hardware and software, and lack a secure, global, two-way payment solution that can handle graphic or text-based transactions without additional software or hardware on off-the-shelf mobile phones or merchant POS technology, and do not provide out-of-channel two-factor authentication.
Innovation Solution
A distributed payment system utilizing off-the-shelf mobile phones with keypad and camera capabilities, combined with SMS messaging, to enable bi-directional transactions through globally accepted technologies, providing secure two-way information flow and two-factor authentication, independent of mobile carrier networks, and accessible to global consumers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If additional hardware and software are added to mobile phones for payment transactions, then payment functionality is improved, but device complexity and user accessibility deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by enabling off-the-shelf mobile phones to perform payment transactions using their existing camera and SMS capabilities. The system makes the mobile phone universal by combining its photograph function with payment processing, allowing any standard mobile phone with a camera to participate in the payment system without requiring specialized hardware or proprietary software installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies self-service by utilizing the mobile phone's built-in camera and SMS messaging functions that already exist in off-the-shelf devices. The payment functionality leverages services the mobile phone already provides (photographing and text messaging) rather than requiring additional dedicated components, thus avoiding increased device complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If proprietary software is installed on mobile phones for full functionality, then transaction capability is improved, but ease of operation and accessibility deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables universal access to payment transactions by using the mobile phone's existing camera and SMS capabilities. The system processes payment information through the photograph function and transmits data via SMS messaging, allowing any standard mobile phone to participate without requiring proprietary software installation, thereby maintaining ease of operation and broad accessibility.
3Ease of operation
If conventional mobile phones are used without additional software, then accessibility is improved, but transaction functionality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves universality by combining the mobile phone's photograph function with payment processing capabilities. The system allows conventional mobile phones without additional software to perform transactions by capturing payment information through the camera and transmitting it via SMS messaging, thus maintaining accessibility while enabling transaction functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary processing system that bridges the gap between simple mobile phone operations and complex payment transactions. The system acts as a mediator by receiving photograph data and SMS messages from the mobile phone, processing the payment information through external servers, and completing transactions without requiring the mobile phone itself to have advanced processing capabilities or proprietary software.
4Device complexity
If uni-directional text-only messaging is used for payments, then system simplicity is improved, but security and automation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary automated processing system that receives photograph data and SMS messages, processes payment information through external servers, and completes transactions. This intermediary layer provides real-time automated processing and enhanced security verification while maintaining system simplicity at the mobile phone level, resolving the contradiction between simplicity and security.
5Productivity
If real-time automated processing is implemented, then transaction speed is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements real-time automated processing through an intermediary system that automatically receives photograph data and SMS messages, processes payment information through external servers, and completes transactions without manual intervention. This intermediary layer handles the complexity of real-time processing and automation, allowing the mobile phone side to remain simple while achieving high transaction speed and automated security verification.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a payment system that allows a mobile communications device (MCD) to interact with a merchant processing device (MPD) and a payment engine. A communications component associated with the payment engine can send requested barcodes to the MPD, receive barcodes or alphanumeric Universal Product Codes from customer MCDs, and handle payment authorizations and settlements. A barcode management component can generate and interpret barcodes based upon merchant offerings and client requests. A security algorithms component can employ an offset pair algorithm to convert each digit from a payment card information into an offset pair of digits to facilitate security in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.