Mobile Payment Alias System for Secure Transactions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for conducting financial transactions using mobile phones are hindered by the need for payees to have cellular phones capable of receiving payments, the risk of sending payments to incorrect parties due to changing phone numbers, and the reluctance to share personal information like phone numbers.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that allows payments to be made using personal aliases associated with payees, where payment request messages from mobile phones include the alias and transaction amount, and authentication tokens are used to verify the payer's identity before initiating payments, enabling secure and efficient person-to-person or person-to-business transactions without revealing personal information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If personal information such as cellular phone numbers is shared to enable payments, then payments can be conducted, but personal information confidentiality is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an alias as an intermediary identifier that mediates between the payer and payee. Instead of directly sharing personal phone numbers, users can send payments to an alias (such as a nickname or custom identifier). The system maps the alias to the actual phone number behind the scenes, enabling payments while preserving the confidentiality of personal information.
2Productivity
If phone numbers are used as identifiers for payments, then transactions can be conducted, but reliability decreases due to frequent number changes and potential misrouting
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates an alias copy that represents the user's identity for payment purposes. This alias serves as a stable identifier that can be shared and used repeatedly without changing, even if the user's actual phone number changes. The system maintains the mapping between the alias copy and the real phone number, ensuring reliable delivery of payments while providing a stable, unchanging identifier for the user.
3Reliability
If authentication tokens are implemented to verify payer identity, then security is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements authentication where the mobile device itself generates and manages authentication tokens. The device uses built-in security features (such as SIM card authentication or device-unique identifiers) to create tokens that verify the user's identity. This self-service approach leverages existing device capabilities rather than requiring external authentication infrastructure, thereby improving security while minimizing the increase in system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems are disclosed for allowing financial transactions to be conducted using mobile phones. A payer initiates a transaction by sending a payment request message from a mobile phone which specifies the payee and amount to be paid. Payees are identified by unique aliases, which are maintained in a database. Methods for assembling the enrollment and alias database are included.