Payment Card On-Off Control for Immediate Fraud Prevention

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing payment systems lack direct control by the holder over payment instruments, leading to increased fraud risk and delayed fraud mitigation, requiring external assistance and multiple transaction processing steps.

Innovation Solution

A payment vehicle with an 'on' and 'off' function that allows the holder to remotely enable or disable the payment instrument via text message or electronic means, providing control over its usage and enabling fraud prevention.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a payment instrument is always turned on, then ease of operation is improved, but security and fraud risk deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of operationVSAvoidsecurity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic control of payment instrument status by introducing an on/off switching mechanism. The payment instrument can transition between active and inactive states based on holder-initiated commands transmitted through the system, allowing the security status to change dynamically rather than remaining static.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The holder directly controls the payment instrument status by sending commands through the system without requiring customer service representative intervention. This self-service capability allows immediate activation or deactivation of the payment instrument based on the holder's security needs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If fraud mitigation requires customer service representative intervention, then reliability is improved, but loss of time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefraud mitigation effectivenessVSAvoidfraud response time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables holders to directly control their own payment instruments by transmitting commands through the system. This eliminates the need to contact customer service representatives for fraud mitigation, allowing immediate response to suspicious activity without time delays.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system allows holders to pre-configure payment instruments with control capabilities, so when fraud is detected, the holder can immediately activate protective measures by sending a command through the system rather than waiting for external intervention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Device complexity

If payment instruments lack holder control, then device complexity is reduced, but security and fraud prevention deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem simplicityVSAvoidfraud prevention

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system acts as an intermediary between the holder and the payment instrument, transmitting commands from the holder to control the instrument's on/off status. This intermediary approach allows holder control without requiring complex changes to the underlying payment instrument infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS12469025B2Payment vehicle with on and off function

Publication Date: 2025.11.11 WELLS FARGO BANK NA

AI summary

A computer-based network system and method for using a payment vehicle having an on and off function. The system comprises a payment vehicle comprising an on and off function to enable or to disable the payment vehicle in the computer-based network for processing an electronic payment transaction, a holder of the payment vehicle, and a computer payment network wherein the computer payment network comprises a transaction engine for enabling or for disabling the payment vehicle at a request of the holder of the payment vehicle.