Optical Payment Data Transmission via Light Sequences

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current payment systems lack efficient and secure methods for transmitting transaction data between mobile devices and point of sale terminals, particularly in scenarios requiring bi-directional communication and secure data exchange.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a transaction system utilizing mobile communicators with sequential visually sensible indicia generation and reception capabilities, where spatial patterns or images are used to represent transaction data, enabling secure and efficient data transmission between mobile devices and point of sale terminals, including the use of cameras for data extraction and processing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If magnetic stripe or RF communication is used for payment data transmission, then the system is simple to implement, but the security and reliability of data exchange is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecurity and reliability of payment data exchangeVSAvoidcomplexity of communication system

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces magnetic stripe and RF communication mechanisms with optical communication using light sequences. Mobile communicators display light sequences that encode payment data, which are captured by cameras at point-of-sale terminals. This substitution provides enhanced security through visual verification and eliminates the vulnerabilities of magnetic stripes and RF transmission.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes color-coded light sequences to encode different types of payment data. Different colors represent different data elements (e.g., card number, expiration date, coupon information), enabling secure transmission and visual verification. The color-changing light sequences provide an intuitive verification mechanism while maintaining high security.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If sequential visually sensible indicia are used for data transmission, then security and bi-directional communication capability are improved, but the complexity of data encoding and decoding increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebi-directional communication capabilityVSAvoidcomplexity of indicia generation and extraction

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments payment data into discrete visual elements (light sequences) that can be individually encoded, transmitted, and decoded. Each light sequence represents a specific data element, enabling systematic processing. This segmentation allows complex bi-directional communication to be broken down into manageable units that are easier to implement and verify.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The light sequence communication system serves multiple functions: it enables bi-directional communication, provides security verification, supports various data types (payment card data, coupon information), and offers visual confirmation. This multi-functionality is achieved through a unified optical communication protocol that can handle diverse communication needs without requiring separate systems for each function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 facilitates secure, efficient, and bi-directional communication of transaction data, enhancing the security and reliability of payment processes by using light sequences instead of magnetic or RF communication, and allowing for the integration of additional data such as payment card and coupon information.

Implementation Method 1

at least one of the at least two transaction communicators having sequential visually sensible indicia generation functionality operative to generate a time sequence of indicia

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight emission from display: Light Emitting Diode

Implementation Method 2

transaction data extraction functionality capable of extracting at least the transaction data from the time sequence of particular indicia

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOptical detection: Photoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentUS9280768B2Payment systems and methodologies

Publication Date: 2016.03.08 VERIFONE INC

AI summary

A transaction system including at least two transaction communicators, at least one of which is a mobile communicator, at least one of the at least two transaction communicators having sequential visually sensible indicia generation functionality operative to generate a time sequence of indicia which provides at least transaction data and at least one of the at least two transaction communicators having sequential visually sensible indicia receiving functionality and transaction data extraction functionality capable of extracting at least the transaction data from the time sequence of particular indicia, whereby a time sequence of indicia which provides at least transaction data is transmitted from one of the at least two transaction communicators to another of the at least two transaction communicators.