Payment Credential Recommendation Based on Merchant Context

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electronic devices struggle with efficiently selecting the appropriate payment credential for commercial transactions, often leading to inefficient processes.

Innovation Solution

The system recommends a payment credential to be used by an electronic device in a commercial transaction based on merchant information received by the device, utilizing credential availability data and merchant context data to present payment recommendation data to the user.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the electronic device presents multiple payment credential options to the user for selection, then the user has more choices and can select the most beneficial credential, but the transaction process becomes more complex and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepayment credential selection flexibilityVSAvoidtransaction process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically analyzes merchant context data and credential availability data to generate payment recommendation data without requiring manual user intervention. The electronic device self-determines the optimal payment credential by comparing merchant preferences with available credentials, then presents a simplified recommendation to the user rather than requiring the user to manually evaluate multiple options

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Payment recommendation data acts as an intermediary between the complex backend analysis of multiple payment credentials and the user's simple selection action. The recommendation data synthesizes merchant preferences, credential availability, and benefit analysis into a single guided suggestion, mediating between the complexity of credential management and the simplicity of user interaction

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If the system analyzes merchant context data and credential availability data to generate personalized recommendations, then the payment selection becomes more accurate and beneficial, but the processing time and computational resources increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepayment recommendation accuracyVSAvoidcredential selection time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-loads and stores merchant context data and credential availability data in advance of the actual payment transaction. By having this data readily available before the user needs to make a payment decision, the system eliminates the need for real-time analysis during the transaction moment, thus maintaining high recommendation accuracy while minimizing actual selection time

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously updates credential availability data based on recent transaction outcomes and user selections. This feedback mechanism allows the system to learn from past interactions and improve recommendation accuracy over time without requiring extensive analysis for each new transaction, as the system adapts based on accumulated experience

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Productivity

If the electronic device automatically selects a payment credential based on merchant preferences, then the transaction process is simplified and faster, but the user loses control over the selection and may not receive optimal benefits

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransaction processing speedVSAvoiduser control over payment selection

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the level of automation based on user preferences and transaction context. Rather than a fixed automatic or manual selection mode, the system can present recommendations with varying degrees of prominence, allow users to override recommendations when desired, and adapt its behavior based on user feedback, thus maintaining both speed and user control

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS12321916B2Recommendation of payment credential to be used based on merchant information

Publication Date: 2025.06.03 APPLE INC

AI summary

Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for providing a recommendation of a payment credential to be used by an electronic device in a commercial transaction based on merchant information received by the electronic device are provided. In one example embodiment, a method, at an electronic device that includes a secure element that includes at least one payment credential, includes, inter alia, accessing credential availability data indicative of the at least one payment credential, accessing merchant context data associated with a merchant subsystem, wherein the merchant context data is indicative of a preference for a first type of payment credential over a second type of payment credential, and presenting payment recommendation data based on the accessed credential availability data and the accessed merchant context data. Additional embodiments are also provided.