Mobile Device Payment via Virtual Gift Card Generation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Consumers face inconvenience and risk when carrying cash, checks, or payment cards for retail transactions, as they can be lost, stolen, or lead to fraudulent activities.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that utilizes a mobile device to facilitate payments by generating a gift card for a received payment amount, displaying its identifier, and processing it at a point-of-sale system, eliminating the need for physical payment instruments and enhancing security.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If consumers use cash, checks, or payment cards for retail transactions, then payment functionality is provided, but the risk of loss, theft, or fraudulent transactions increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepayment securityVSAvoidrisk of loss or theft

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a virtual copy of the payment card as a mobile application on the consumer's smartphone. This digital replica contains the same payment functionality and credentials as the physical card, allowing transactions to be conducted electronically without carrying the actual card, thereby eliminating the risk of physical loss or theft while maintaining full payment capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical/physical payment card system with an electronic software-based system. Instead of using a physical plastic card with magnetic stripe or chip, the payment credentials are embedded in a mobile application that communicates with point-of-sale terminals through electronic interfaces, substituting the mechanical card handling system with an electronic alternative that eliminates physical vulnerabilities

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Adaptability or versatility

If consumers carry cash, checks, and payment cards, then multiple payment options are available, but convenience decreases due to the burden of carrying multiple instruments

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepayment optionsVSAvoidconvenience of carrying

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent consolidates multiple payment instruments into a single mobile application. The consumer's smartphone, which they already carry for communication purposes, is transformed into a payment device by installing a mobile application that provides card-based payment functionality, merging the phone and payment card into one device and eliminating the need to carry separate payment instruments

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The mobile application is designed to be universally applicable across different payment scenarios and locations. It can function as various types of payment cards (credit, debit, gift cards) and works at any point-of-sale terminal that accepts card payments, providing multi-functional payment capability in a single device that the consumer already possesses

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS9514455B2Mobile device payment

Publication Date: 2016.12.06 WALMART APOLLO LLC

AI summary

A method including receiving, from a mobile device, a payment method and a payment amount. The method also can include validating the payment amount. The method additionally can include generating a gift card for the payment amount. The gift card can include a gift card identifier. The method further can include sending the gift card identifier to the mobile device. The method additionally can include facilitating displaying the gift card identifier on the mobile device. The gift card can be devoid of being generated as part of a gift-card purchase transaction. Other embodiments are provided.