In-flight Payment Authorization via Blockchain Ledger

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing in-flight payment systems face reliability and consistency issues in processing payment authorization and capture settlement, particularly in offline modes, due to unreliable data transfer and lack of standard file exchange formats, leading to delayed settlement and increased penalty charges.

Innovation Solution

A blockchain-based system utilizing distributed ledger technology in a closed-loop configuration for validating and recording payment transactions, with onboard and ground-based blockchain servers operating in validator and observer modes, respectively, to ensure seamless data synchronization and protection, even without continuous data transfer links.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If traditional payment processing systems are used in offline mode, then payment transactions can be processed without continuous connectivity, but data transfer reliability deteriorates and settlement delays occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoffline payment processing capabilityVSAvoiddata transfer reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by establishing the blockchain distributed ledger and validator/observer server architecture before offline payment processing begins. Transaction validation rules are pre-configured, and the ledger is prepared to receive and validate transactions locally, eliminating the need for real-time connectivity while ensuring reliable processing through pre-established cryptographic validation mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The blockchain distributed ledger acts as an intermediary between the payment terminal and external payment processors. It locally validates transactions using pre-stored validation rules and stores transaction data in an immutable manner, mediating between offline transaction needs and eventual settlement without requiring continuous direct connection to payment networks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If standard file exchange formats are used for data transfer, then system compatibility is improved, but data loss and duplication increase due to unreliable transfer

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem compatibilityVSAvoiddata loss and duplication

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system creates cryptographic copies of transaction data stored in the blockchain distributed ledger. Each transaction is hashed and stored in an immutable chain, creating verifiable copies that prevent data loss. The validator server and observer servers maintain synchronized copies of the ledger, ensuring data integrity across multiple nodes without relying on unreliable file transfer protocols.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces traditional mechanical file transfer mechanisms with cryptographic validation and blockchain storage. Instead of relying on file exchange formats and physical data transfer reliability, the system uses cryptographic hashing, digital signatures, and distributed ledger technology to ensure data integrity and prevent loss or duplication during transfer.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Productivity

If blockchain validation is performed onboard, then transaction processing speed is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransaction processing speedVSAvoidonboard blockchain server complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments blockchain functionality into distinct components: a lightweight validation client on the payment terminal, a validator server for transaction validation, and observer servers for ledger synchronization. This segmentation allows fast local validation while distributing computational complexity across multiple specialized components rather than requiring full blockchain implementation onboard.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The validator server acts as an intermediary that handles complex blockchain validation logic, allowing the payment terminal to perform simple local validation. The validator server mediates between the terminal and the distributed ledger, managing the complexity of blockchain operations while enabling fast transaction processing at the terminal level through pre-configured validation rules.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS11222333B2In-flight fiat payment authorization and capture settlement

Publication Date: 2022.01.11 PANASONIC AVIONICS CORP

AI summary

A system for offline transaction processing has a payment terminal capturing payment credentials and a payment amount as a transaction data set. A first blockchain server has a first copy of a transaction ledger to which the transaction data set is committed as a ledger entry in response to a validation against one or more rules stored in an offline database. A second blockchain server has a second copy of the transaction ledger, and is in sporadic communication with the first blockchain server over a temporary data transfer link. The transaction data set previously committed to the first copy of the transaction ledger is propagated to the second copy of the transaction ledger over the temporary data transfer link. A payment gateway retrieves the transaction data set in the second copy of the transaction ledger and translates the same to a settlement request transmitted to the remote payment processor.