Multi-Account Payment Card Digital Wallet Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing payment systems at point of sale (POS) terminals require users to manually enter payment card account information for each transaction, which is inconvenient and risks storing sensitive information on merchant computers, especially when users have multiple accounts.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a digital wallet system where a payment card with a wallet flag can access a user's centrally stored digital wallet data, allowing the POS terminal to download and display enrolled payment accounts for user selection, thereby enabling the use of multiple accounts with a single card without storing account information on the terminal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If users manually enter payment card account information for each transaction, then the transaction process is simple, but user convenience deteriorates and the risk of storing sensitive information on merchant computers increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by storing multiple payment account information in a centralized database before the actual transaction. When a user initiates a transaction, the system automatically retrieves the stored account information, eliminating the need for users to manually enter details for each transaction. This preliminary storage and automatic retrieval mechanism significantly improves user convenience while maintaining system manageability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a wallet service provider and a centralized database as intermediaries between the user and the merchant's POS terminal. Instead of directly storing sensitive payment information on the merchant's computer or requiring manual user input, the system uses the wallet service provider's database as an intermediary layer. This intermediary mechanism protects user data while enabling automatic account selection and retrieval.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple payment accounts are stored on the POS terminal, then access to multiple accounts is enabled, but the risk of sensitive information storage on merchant computers increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the storage function of multiple payment accounts from the POS terminal and relocates it to a centralized database controlled by a wallet service provider. The POS terminal only temporarily holds account information during the transaction process and does not store it permanently. This extraction of the storage function from the terminal eliminates the security risk of storing sensitive information on merchant computers while maintaining multi-account access capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The wallet service provider acts as an intermediary that securely manages multiple payment account information. Instead of the POS terminal directly storing and managing user payment data, the intermediary wallet service provider handles the secure storage, retrieval, and management of multiple accounts. This intermediary layer protects user information from being stored on merchant systems while enabling versatile multi-account access.
3Ease of operation
If a single card stores multiple account information, then user convenience is improved, but the card's information storage capacity requirement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a nested structure where a single payment card (such as a digital wallet application) contains a reference or identifier that links to a larger database of multiple payment accounts stored on the wallet service provider's server. The card itself does not need to physically store all account information; instead, it nests a reference to the centralized storage, allowing users to access multiple accounts through a single card interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a two-dimensional storage model (storing all account information directly on the card) to a three-dimensional model where the card exists in one dimension as a access interface, while the actual account information is stored in another dimension on the centralized database. This dimensional separation allows the card to remain simple and portable while providing access to extensive account information stored remotely.
Data Source
AI summary
A method includes reading a card number from a payment device at a point of sale (POS) terminal. The method further includes transmitting a message from the POS terminal to a remote host computer, where the message includes the card number. Still further, the method includes receiving wallet data at the POS terminal from the host computer. The wallet data indicates a plurality of payment accounts associated with the card number. In addition, the method includes displaying the wallet data at the POS terminal and receiving a selection indication from a user at the POS terminal, where the selection indication is for selecting one of the payment accounts.