Mobile Payment Distance Verification Using Camera and Sensor Data

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Short range wireless transmissions, such as those used in mobile payments, often prematurely activate and timeout without authentication completion, leading to insecure information transmission and user inconvenience, particularly when the mobile device is not in close proximity to the POS terminal.

Innovation Solution

A method and system where a mobile device determines the distance to another device, such as a POS terminal, and only transmits information when within a threshold distance, using a combination of camera and sensor data to ensure secure and efficient transmission, thereby preventing unauthorized interception and reducing battery consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the mobile device initiates transmission upon authentication start, then the payment process is expedited, but the transmission may timeout or be intercepted if the device is not in close proximity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepayment transaction speedVSAvoidtransmission completion rate
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary distance verification using camera and sensor data before initiating the wireless transmission. This preliminary action ensures the device is in proper proximity, preventing timeout and interception issues while maintaining fast transaction completion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If the mobile device continuously monitors for transmission opportunities, then the responsiveness to POS terminal is improved, but the battery consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem responsivenessVSAvoidbattery consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses periodic distance monitoring through camera snapshots and sensor readings rather than continuous monitoring. This periodic approach maintains system responsiveness to POS terminal proximity while significantly reducing battery consumption compared to continuous monitoring.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

3Ease of operation

If the transmission is initiated without distance verification, then the user experience is smoother, but the security of information transmission is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser experience smoothnessVSAvoidinformation interception risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system introduces an intermediary distance verification step using camera and sensor data between user authentication and actual transmission. This intermediary measure maintains smooth user experience while preventing information interception by ensuring transmission only occurs when the POS terminal is in proper proximity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3427210B1Method and apparatus to trigger mobile payment based on distance
Publication Date: 2023.08.09 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP3427210B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3427210B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~4
  • EP3427210B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

A method, mobile device, and non-transitory computer readable medium for transmitting information. The method includes determining, by a mobile device, a distance between the mobile device and another device in response to a request for the mobile device to transmit the information. The method also includes determining, by the mobile device, whether the distance between the mobile device and the other device is within a threshold distance. Additionally, the method includes transmitting, by the mobile device, the information to the other device after determining that the distance between the mobile device and the other device is within the threshold distance.