Mobile Wallet Secondary User Spending Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current mobile banking applications lack enhanced features for greater account control, particularly in allowing primary account holders to manage and restrict secondary users' access to their accounts, leading to potential unauthorized spending.

Innovation Solution

A computer-implemented method and system that enables primary account holders to add secondary users to their accounts, receive information about these users, and set rules and limitations on their spending capabilities, using a mobile wallet system to restrict access and manage transactions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If mobile banking applications provide basic account access and simple transactions, then ease of operation is improved, but account control capability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of operationVSAvoidaccount control capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments account control by introducing multiple user roles (primary account holder and secondary users) with different permission levels. The system divides spending authority into controllable units through spending limits, geographic restrictions, and merchant-specific limitations, allowing the primary account holder to grant targeted access without surrendering full control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamic account control by allowing the primary account holder to modify spending limits, add or remove restrictions, and adjust secondary user permissions in real-time. The system transitions from static account access to dynamic, adaptable control that can respond to changing circumstances and user needs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If secondary users are granted access to spend from the account, then ease of operation is improved, but risk of unauthorized spending increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of operationVSAvoidunauthorized spending risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary anti-action by pre-establishing spending limits, geographic restrictions, and merchant-specific limitations before secondary users can make purchases. These preventive controls are configured in advance to block potential unauthorized spending before it occurs, rather than reacting after the fact.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the primary account holder receives notifications about secondary user transactions and can monitor spending against established limits. The system provides real-time or near-real-time feedback on account activity, enabling the primary account holder to detect and respond to unusual patterns.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If comprehensive rules and limitations are imposed on secondary users, then account security is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccount securityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent achieves universality by creating a multi-functional restriction framework where a single set of rules and limitations can simultaneously address multiple security concerns. The same system that sets spending limits also handles geographic restrictions, merchant limitations, and notification preferences, reducing the need for separate control mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring spending limits, geographic restrictions, and merchant-specific limitations before secondary users begin spending. The system establishes the control framework in advance, eliminating the need for complex real-time decision-making during transactions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS20250021984A1Use limitations for secondary users of financial accounts

Publication Date: 2025.01.16 WELLS FARGO BANK NA

AI summary

A system includes a processing circuit configured to receive, from a first instance of a mobile wallet application associated with a primary account holder, a request to add a secondary user to an account, receive information relating to the secondary user, receive a restriction to define the secondary user's ability to spend funds from the account based on being a threshold distance from a second computing device, enable the secondary user to download, at a user computing device, a second instance of the mobile wallet application, where the second instance of the mobile wallet application is structured to gather location data associated with the user computing device, and the location data is used to allow a transaction based the user computing device being within the threshold distance, and authorize a purchase request by the secondary user with funds from the account based on the purchase request complying with the restriction.