Multi-Channel Verification Message Delivery System

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing two-factor authentication methods face challenges when delivering verification messages, such as PIN numbers, to users via phone numbers, especially when primary channels fail to deliver within a specified time period, leading to incomplete identity verification.

Innovation Solution

A system that identifies and utilizes multiple communication channels for delivering verification messages based on performance data and local regulations, automatically failing over to secondary channels if the primary channel fails, ensuring message delivery and user verification through a single application program interface.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a single primary communication channel is used for delivering verification messages, then the system is simple to operate, but the reliability of message delivery decreases when the primary channel fails

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemessage delivery reliabilityVSAvoidcommunication channel management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The communication channel is segmented into a primary channel and multiple secondary channels. The system attempts delivery through the primary channel first, and only if that fails does it segment the delivery process by switching to secondary channels. This segmentation allows the system to maintain simplicity while operating on the primary channel while providing reliability through the segmented fallback mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system prepares secondary channels in advance as a cushion against primary channel failure. Before actual delivery is needed, the system identifies and stands by multiple secondary channels that can be activated if the primary channel proves unreliable. This beforehand cushioning ensures that when the primary channel fails, the system already has pre-positioned alternatives ready to maintain delivery reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

2Reliability

If multiple communication channels are prepared as backups, then the reliability of verification message delivery improves, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveverification completion rateVSAvoidchannel selection and management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically selects communication channels based on real-time conditions rather than using a static predetermined sequence. When a conversion event occurs on the primary channel, the system dynamically adapts by switching to appropriate secondary channels. This dynamic approach allows the system to maintain high verification completion rates while managing complexity through adaptive rather than rigid channel selection logic.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms to monitor the success or failure of message delivery attempts on each channel. When the primary channel fails to produce a conversion event within the specified time period, the feedback triggers automatic switching to secondary channels. This feedback-driven approach improves verification reliability by responding to actual channel performance while managing complexity through automated decision-making based on observed outcomes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If the system waits for a conversion event within a specified time period, then the authentication security is maintained, but the verification time increases when the primary channel fails

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveauthentication securityVSAvoidverification time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-identifying multiple secondary channels before actual verification is needed. When the primary channel fails to deliver a conversion event within the specified time period, the system can immediately activate pre-prepared secondary channels without needing to search or evaluate options during the verification process. This preliminary preparation maintains authentication security through the specified time period constraint while reducing verification time by eliminating channel selection delays.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3225053B1Identity and phone number verification
Publication Date: 2020.06.03 NEXMO INC
  • EP3225053B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3225053B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3225053B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for receiving, from a computer system, a request comprising a phone number, identifying a primary channel and one or more secondary channels based on, at least in part, respective performance data of the primary and secondary channels, sending a first message comprising a first text string via the primary channel to a destination device associated with the phone number, after sending the first message, determining that a conversion event for the message and the primary channel did not occur within a specified time period, and based on the determining, sending a second message comprising the first text string via a particular secondary channel to the destination device.