Low Battery Transaction via Trusted Device Intermediary

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Solution Overview

Problem

Smart devices often run out of battery power at critical moments due to the challenge of maintaining sufficient battery levels, especially with numerous applications running concurrently, leading to situations where users cannot utilize their devices for necessary tasks.

Innovation Solution

A system that detects when a device's battery level falls below a threshold, creates a reference ID, and transmits it to a nearby trusted or untrusted device to facilitate authentication and payment processing, allowing transactions to be completed even when the device is low on power.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the device continues to operate with multiple applications running, then application functionality is maintained, but battery level drops below threshold

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveapplication functionalityVSAvoidbattery level

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by detecting battery level thresholds in advance and proactively initiating alternative transaction processes before complete battery depletion occurs. The low-power mode and alternative authentication methods are prepared and activated preemptively when battery levels drop below predetermined thresholds.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Loss of energy

If the device is shut down to conserve battery, then energy consumption is reduced, but transaction capability is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoidtransaction capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A trusted device acts as an intermediary to enable transactions when the primary device is low on battery. The trusted device receives transaction information from the low-power device and completes authentication and payment processing, allowing transactions to proceed without requiring the primary device to maintain full operational power.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If authentication processes are performed on the low-battery device, then security is maintained, but device power is depleted faster

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesecurityVSAvoiddevice power

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The authentication process is extracted and relocated to the trusted device, which has sufficient power resources. The low-power device only transmits minimal transaction information and authentication credentials, while the computationally intensive authentication and payment processing occurs on the trusted device with adequate battery power.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS11257061B2Performing transactions when device has low battery

Publication Date: 2022.02.22 PAYPAL INC

AI summary

In response to detecting that a battery level of a first computing device is below a threshold level, a computer system determines that a second computing device is within a threshold distance of the first computing device. In response to the determining that the second computing device is within the threshold distance of the first computing device, the computer system creates a reference identifier (ID) and transmits information corresponding to the reference ID to the second computing device. In response to detecting a usage of the information corresponding to the reference ID by the second computing device, the computer system transmits a request for authentication information. In response to determining that authentication is successful, the computer system transmits a payment from an account associated with a user of the first computing device to an account associated with a recipient.