Merchant Server Subscription Management via Verified Opt-In

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current systems for managing subscriptions that involve carrier billing often result in subscription loss due to the need for repeated consumer confirmation, as carrier servers require confirmation with the consumer's mobile phone for each charge, leading to missed charges and lost subscriptions.

Innovation Solution

A method and system where a merchant server executes an opt-in process with a consumer device, receiving an MSISDN and PIN code, and only initiates a charge if the PIN code is verified, using a billing server to manage subscriptions and confirm charges, thereby reducing the need for repeated consumer confirmation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If carrier server requires confirmation with consumer mobile phone for each charge, then consumer control and security are improved, but subscription reliability deteriorates due to missed confirmations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesubscription reliabilityVSAvoidconsumer confirmation requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary opt-in action where the consumer provides explicit authorization before the subscription period begins. This preliminary confirmation stored in the billing server eliminates the need for repeated confirmations during each charge cycle, resolving the contradiction between maintaining consumer control and ensuring subscription reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where the billing server communicates charge status and subscription status to both the merchant server and consumer. This feedback loop ensures that consumers are informed of charges without requiring active confirmation for each transaction, thereby maintaining reliability while reducing operational burden.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Productivity

If merchant server transmits charge request to billing server without verified opt-in status, then processing speed is improved, but charge accuracy deteriorates due to unauthorized charges

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecharge processing speedVSAvoidopt-in status verification accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary verification of opt-in status before initiating charge processing. The merchant server checks the billing server to confirm active opt-in status in advance, ensuring that only authorized subscriptions are processed. This preliminary check maintains processing speed while preventing unauthorized charges.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The billing server acts as an intermediary between the merchant server and carrier server, managing opt-in status verification centrally. This intermediary role ensures accurate verification of subscription authorization while allowing rapid charge processing, as the billing server has already validated the opt-in status before receiving charge requests.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Loss of information

If consumer must manually confirm each renewal charge, then consumer awareness is improved, but subscription continuity deteriorates due to neglected confirmations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconsumer awareness of chargesVSAvoidsubscription continuity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements automated feedback notifications that inform consumers of upcoming and completed charges without requiring manual confirmation. The billing server sends notifications to the consumer's mobile device, maintaining consumer awareness of billing activities while eliminating the need for active confirmation, thus ensuring subscription continuity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service billing where the automated billing process executes charges based on pre-authorized opt-in status without requiring consumer intervention for each transaction. Consumers can manage their subscriptions through automated interfaces, maintaining awareness through notifications while ensuring continuous service delivery.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS9003078B2Merchant managed subscriptions at a merchant server

Publication Date: 2015.04.07 BOKU INC

AI summary

A system and method is described for managing subscriptions between a consumer mobile phone, merchant server, billing server and carrier server. A charge-info method is used for the merchant server to retrieve charge elements from the billing server for constructing a user interface for the consumer mobile phone. An opt-in method is used to confirm a consumer's opt-in for a subscription. A remind-charge method is used to remind the consumer of an upcoming charge on the subscription. A charge method allows the merchant server to charge a user account on a carrier server via the billing server. A cancel method is used for the consumer to cancel the subscription.