Offline Cashless Payment via Mobile Credit Pre-loading
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cashless payment systems for automatic machines require both short-distance and long-distance communication to function, which can fail if long-distance communication is not available, such as in locations without internet access.
Innovation Solution
A system where a payment unit in an automatic machine communicates with a mobile phone for short-distance communication, allowing the mobile phone to store a credit for the machine operator, and where data about machine conditions and transactions can be stored and forwarded to a neutral server via short-distance communication, allowing long-distance communication to be established later.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If long-distance communication is required for cashless payment, then secure transaction verification is improved, but system availability deteriorates in locations without internet access
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-loads credit information and authentication data into the mobile device before the user visits remote locations. This preliminary action enables the device to function autonomously offline, resolving the contradiction by preparing necessary resources in advance so that secure transactions can occur without real-time long-distance communication.
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile device acts as an intermediary that stores credit information locally and can verify transactions independently of the server. This intermediary capability allows the system to maintain security while operating in locations without internet access, bridging the gap between secure verification and remote availability.
2Ease of operation
If real-time server communication is implemented, then transaction authorization is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts the essential authentication and credit verification functions from the server and embeds them directly in the mobile device. This extraction eliminates the need for complex real-time communication infrastructure while maintaining secure authorization, simplifying the overall system.
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile device performs self-verification of transactions using locally stored credit information and authentication credentials. This self-service capability removes the dependency on external server communication for basic authorization, reducing system complexity while maintaining security.
3Extent of automation
If credit information is stored on the server, then central control is improved, but data access speed deteriorates in offline scenarios
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a nested architecture where the mobile device contains a localized copy of credit verification functionality within the broader centralized server system. This nesting allows the device to operate independently with cached credit information while still being part of the centralized management structure, achieving both central control and fast local access.
Solution Approach 2:
Credit information and authentication data are pre-loaded into the mobile device before offline operations are needed. This preliminary action ensures that credit verification can occur instantly using local data, eliminating access speed delays while maintaining centralized control over the credit system.
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
A system for cashless payment of products or services is proposed, comprising: a payment unit arranged in at least one vending machine, which has at least one short-range communication transmitter/receiver, a processing unit and a memory; and at least one mobile phone, which has a transmitter/receiver for both short-range and long-range communication, a processing unit and a memory, wherein the memory of the mobile phone stores credit for the operator of the vending machine; and wherein, after selection of at least one product or at least one service, the payment unit is configured to send an amount stored in the memory of the payment unit for the selected product or service to the mobile phone via short-range communication.The mobile phone's processing unit is designed to reduce the credit stored in the mobile phone's memory by the specified amount, and the transmit/receive device sends an acknowledgment signal for the reduction of the amount to the payment unit, which then releases the selected product or service for dispensing.