Gift Selection Circuitry for Collaborative Purchasing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current information handling systems for collaborative purchasing are cumbersome and time-consuming, requiring back-and-forth communication between users before an item can be purchased for a designated individual, involving multiple steps and exposing sensitive information.

Innovation Solution

An information handling system with gift selection circuitry that includes a graphical user interface, a selection processing device, and a delivery processing device, allowing users to pre-authorize funds and send a secure link to the designated individual for one-click purchasing, eliminating the need for direct communication and reducing the complexity of the purchasing process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If traditional collaborative purchasing processes are used, then users can purchase items for designated individuals, but the process becomes cumbersome and time-consuming requiring back-and-forth communication

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepurchasing process efficiencyVSAvoidtime required for back-and-forth communication

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-authorizing funds and preparing the purchasing environment before the actual purchase decision. The user sets up payment authorization, item lists, and purchasing parameters in advance, so that when the designated individual is ready to purchase, all preparatory work is already completed, eliminating the need for back-and-forth communication during the actual purchase process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service by allowing designated individuals to autonomously complete purchases using pre-configured parameters. The purchaser selects items from pre-approved lists, and the system automatically processes payments using pre-authorized funds, eliminating the need for manual intervention or communication between parties during the transaction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Ease of operation

If traditional collaborative purchasing processes are used, then items can be purchased for designated individuals, but the process involves multiple steps and exposes sensitive information

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepurchasing process simplicityVSAvoidnumber of steps in purchasing process

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts and separates sensitive operations from the main purchasing flow. Sensitive actions such as payment authorization, fund verification, and security validations are performed as background processes rather than requiring explicit user steps. This reduces the apparent complexity for users while maintaining necessary security measures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system merges multiple operations into unified processes. Payment authorization, item selection, and transaction processing are combined into a single streamlined workflow. The pre-authorization of funds consolidates what would otherwise be separate verification and payment steps, simplifying the overall process while maintaining security.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Productivity

If traditional collaborative purchasing processes are used, then purchases can be completed, but the process requires back-and-forth communication between users

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransaction completion speedVSAvoidcommunication requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system introduces an intermediary mechanism - the pre-configured purchasing parameters and automated communication channel - that mediates between the user and designated individual. Instead of requiring direct communication, the system acts as an intermediary that automatically transmits purchase options, processes selections, and coordinates transactions, eliminating the need for back-and-forth messaging between parties.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS10713705B2System and methods for collaborative purchasing in an information handling system

Publication Date: 2020.07.14 DELL PROD LP

AI summary

An information handling system includes gift selection circuitry, buying circuitry, and a graphical user interface. The gift selection circuitry includes a selection processing device, and a delivery processing device. The selection processing device receives, from a user, a request to add a list of items to a cart. The delivery processing device provides a secure link to a designated individual after the list of items is added to the cart. The graphical user interface displays the items in the cart as a list of available items in response to the secure link being selected by the designated individual. The buying circuitry confirms an order of a first item after selection of the first item from the list of available items, and sends a notification of completion of the transaction to the user.