Email-Based E-Commerce Transaction via Mailto Hyperlinks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current e-commerce systems are inconvenient for customers as they require switching between email applications and entering credit card information to purchase products, making the process time-consuming and cumbersome, especially for non-profit organizations during donation campaigns.
Innovation Solution
An e-commerce system that generates and transmits advertising emails with mailto hyperlinks, allowing customers to place orders directly through email, with embedded UUIDs for authentication and security, enabling seamless product purchases and donations without the need to switch applications or enter payment information manually.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If customers use traditional e-commerce websites to purchase products, then they can access product information and complete transactions, but they must switch between email applications and web browsers, and manually enter payment information, making the process time-consuming and inconvenient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the email application and web browsing functionality into a single integrated email client application. The email client includes a built-in web browser that can directly access vendor websites without requiring the user to switch applications. This merging eliminates the need to switch between email and web browser, and the system automatically retrieves and fills payment information, significantly reducing the time and steps required to complete a purchase transaction.
2Productivity
If customers manually enter payment information for each purchase, then transactions can be completed, but the process becomes cumbersome and repetitive
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by automatically retrieving and storing payment information (such as credit card details) in the email client's memory before the purchase transaction is needed. When a customer initiates a purchase through an email link, the system automatically accesses the pre-stored payment information and fills it in the transaction form without requiring manual entry. This preliminary preparation of payment data streamlines the purchasing process and reduces repetition.
3Reliability
If e-commerce systems require switching between applications and manual data entry, then security can be maintained through controlled access, but user convenience and speed are significantly reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated email client acts as an intermediary between the user's email account and the vendor's website. It securely manages payment information locally within the email client application, automatically retrieving and transmitting it during transactions. This intermediary role maintains security by keeping sensitive data within a controlled environment while still enabling convenient automatic filling of purchase forms, thus balancing security requirements with user convenience.
Data Source
AI summary
An email payment gateway having electronic commerce (e-commerce) system may send advertisement emails to customers that are registered with the e-commerce system. The advertisement emails may include mailto hyperlinks. Each mailto hyperlink may be associated with a product that is being offered for sale, and each mailto hyperlink describes an email message that may be generated when that hyperlink is selected. When a mailto hyperlink is selected, the generated email message may include one or more parameters related to the product associated with the hyperlink, such as an identifier of the product. The generated email message may then be transmitted to the e-commerce system. The e-commerce system may receive the message and, based on the parameters in the received message, execute a transaction to purchase the identified product on behalf of the customer.