Mediator Website Architecture for Trusted E-Commerce Payments

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electronic transaction systems face challenges in providing enhanced security and ease of transactions on merchant websites due to issues such as anonymous digital cash systems, lack of transactional trust, and vulnerability to phishing attacks, with conflicting payment applications and browser interface objects complicating the user experience.

Innovation Solution

A system architecture involving a Mediator site and a Manifest database with unique identifiers for payment entities, generating cookies to coordinate user interfaces across browsers and payment applications, ensuring secure and consistent transaction experiences by validating payment entities and using dynamic interface objects to display trusted payor information.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If digital cash systems are used to enable anonymous transactions, then user privacy is improved, but transaction security and trust are worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser privacyVSAvoidtransaction security
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a mediator website that acts as an intermediary between the user's client device and the merchant website. The mediator validates payment entities through Manifest files and coordinates the transaction process, enabling both anonymous digital cash transactions and secure verification without requiring users to directly trust the merchant website

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If payment card systems are used to provide enhanced security and authentication, then transaction security is improved, but anonymity and ease of use are worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransaction securityVSAvoidanonymity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the authentication process into separate components: the Manifest file contains payment entity information, the cookie stores validation status, and the mediator coordinates verification. This allows the system to provide security through structured verification while maintaining user anonymity by not requiring direct exposure of sensitive payment information to the merchant

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple payment applications are integrated to provide versatility, then adaptability is improved, but user interface consistency and ease of operation are worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepayment application integrationVSAvoiduser interface consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a universal mediator website that can coordinate transactions across multiple different payment applications and browser types. The Manifest file format and cookie structure are designed to be application-agnostic, allowing the same mediator infrastructure to work with various payment entities while presenting a consistent user experience

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Reliability

If phishing protection measures are implemented to improve security, then transaction security is improved, but system complexity and ease of operation are worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvephishing protectionVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action by pre-validating payment entities and storing their information in Manifest files before transactions occur. The mediator website maintains an up-to-date registry of legitimate payment entities, so during transactions, the system can quickly verify authenticity without complex real-time analysis, reducing both security risks and operational complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3966771B1Mediator website
Publication Date: 2026.03.11 MASTERCARD INT INC
  • EP3966771B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3966771B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3966771B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A system and method for secure and intuitive payment transactions at an ecommerce merchant website with a client device. The system has a trusted platform that hosts a Mediator site and Manifest database that includes a plurality of Manifest files. Each Manifest file includes a unique identifier and mapped payor information for a payment entity. The platform uses the Manifest to validate trusted payment entities and provide the Mediator site. The Mediator site generates cookies with payor information from the Manifest files, which are transmitted stored on user devices. These cookies are employed to facilitate trusted and intuitive transactions at merchant websites using dynamic interface objects presented on the user's client device interface.