Item-Level Payment Card Approval System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic payment systems typically approve or disapprove transactions based on a total amount, which is inflexible and does not meet the needs of new applications in electronic commerce, lacking the ability to validate individual items.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for enabling item-level approval of payment cards, involving the facilitation of obtaining and translating indicia for individual items, allowing for item-by-item validation through a third-party transaction approver, utilizing a database to manage and translate provider-specific indicia into a unified format for validation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If total amount approval is used, then processing is simple, but flexibility and item-level validation capability are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the transaction approval process into individual item-level validations. Instead of approving a total amount as a single unit, the system breaks down the transaction into discrete items and validates each item separately against provider-specific criteria, enabling both simplicity and flexibility
2Measurement precision
If multiple provider-specific data tables are maintained, then item-level validation accuracy is improved, but processing time and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple provider-specific data tables into a single consolidated data structure. This consolidation maintains the precision needed for accurate item-level validation while reducing the time required to query and process data, as the system no longer needs to switch between multiple separate tables
3Loss of information
If multiple data tables are maintained by third party approvers, then comprehensive item tracking is achieved, but processing speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal data structure that serves multiple functions simultaneously. This single consolidated table tracks all items across different providers while enabling fast processing, replacing the need for separate provider-specific tables and achieving both complete tracking and high productivity
Data Source
AI summary
A method includes the steps of facilitating obtaining indicia identifying individual items to be purchased at a point of interaction, in conjunction with an inbound authorization request; facilitating translation of the indicia into a form understandable by a third party transaction approver, to obtain translated indicia; and facilitating transfer of the translated indicia to the third patty transaction approver for item-by-item validation on the individual items. The transfer of the translated indicia is in conjunction with an outbound authorization request. A system implementing the method can make use of an inventive transfer engine.