NFC Payment Module with Automatic Recharging for Offline Transit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for paying transportation fares using mobile devices, such as NFC or two-dimensional codes, are cumbersome as they require manual recharging and operation, causing inconvenience when fares are insufficient, especially in situations without network connectivity.
Innovation Solution
A device with a recharging module and a transportation fares payment module that performs near field communication to automatically deduct fares and send recharging requests to a transaction server when the fare amount falls below a threshold, allowing for seamless and convenient fare payment even without a network connection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual recharging is required for transportation fares, then the system can maintain simple architecture, but user operation becomes complex and inconvenient
Solution Approach 1:
The recharging module automatically monitors the transportation fare amount and initiates recharging operations without user intervention. The system self-services by detecting low balance conditions and autonomously completing recharging transactions, eliminating manual operation steps while managing complexity through integrated automation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary monitoring of the transportation fare amount and initiates recharging actions before the user experiences insufficient funds. By detecting low balance conditions in advance and automatically recharging, the system prevents service interruption and eliminates the need for user intervention at the point of need.
2Extent of automation
If automatic recharging is implemented, then user convenience is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The recharging module and transportation fares payment module are integrated within the same device, sharing common resources such as the near field communication interface and processing unit. This merging approach enables automatic recharging functionality while minimizing additional hardware complexity through resource sharing and modular integration.
3Reliability
If transportation fare payment requires network connection, then transaction security is improved, but service availability deteriorates in offline conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The payment system is segmented into two independent modules: the transportation fares payment module that can operate offline using stored credentials, and the recharging module that handles online transactions. This segmentation allows the payment function to maintain security through isolated offline operations while the recharging function provides secure online transaction capabilities when network is available.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enables automatic recharging of transportation fares, eliminating the need for manual recharging and ensuring users can continue to use public transportation without interruptions due to insufficient funds, while also allowing fare payments in offline conditions.
Implementation Method 1
the transportation fares payment module is configured to perform near field communication with a transportation charging terminal
Implementation Method 2
the recharging module is configured to perform near field communication with the transportation fares payment module to read the transportation fares amount
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for paying transportation fare. One of the methods includes: communicating to a toll terminal based on near field communication (NFC) technology, for paying a fare of using a transport system associated with the toll terminal; deducting, through a user account, the fare from an account balance associated with the user account; recording a remaining account balance associated with the user account after the fare is deducted; determining that the remaining account balance is less than a predetermined threshold; and providing the remaining account balance to a second mobile device over the NFC in response to determining that the remaining account balance is less than a predetermined threshold to trigger a request from the second mobile device to a transaction server to add balance to the user account.