Payment Reader Pairing Through Mapping-Based Transaction Routing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electronic payment systems require direct hardware and software customization of payment initiating devices, leading to high costs, inflexibility, and inefficiencies, and lack of compatibility with non-customized hardware, while systems without direct connections suffer from manual data entry errors, inflexibility, and increased fraud risk.

Innovation Solution

A communication router facilitates transaction data transfer between payment initiating devices and reading devices without direct connection, using a mapping table to route transactions to the correct device, supporting various communication protocols and enabling dynamic or static pairings, and integrating with cloud-based services for software updates.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If direct wired connection between payment initiating device and payment instrument reading device is used, then transaction data transfer reliability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase due to required hardware customization

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransaction data transfer reliabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a communication router as an intermediary device that mediates between the payment initiating device and the payment instrument reading device. The router receives transaction data from the payment initiating device via wireless communication, stores it temporarily, and then transmits it to the payment instrument reading device. This eliminates the need for direct wired connections and hardware customization while maintaining reliable data transfer.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Speed

If direct wired connection is used, then data transfer speed is improved, but adaptability worsens as non-customized hardware cannot be used

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata transfer speedVSAvoidadaptability

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The communication router serves multiple functions: it acts as a wireless receiver, a temporary storage device, a data formatter, and a wireless transmitter. This universal device enables both payment initiating devices and payment instrument reading devices to use standard wireless communication interfaces rather than requiring specialized wired connections, thereby improving adaptability while maintaining functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Ease of operation

If payment initiating device is customized with specific software, then control over payment instrument reading device is improved, but ease of manufacture worsens

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol capabilityVSAvoidease of manufacture

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the control software from the payment initiating device and places it on the communication router instead. The router runs the necessary software to receive transaction data, manage the mapping table, and control the payment instrument reading device. This allows payment initiating devices to be simple, off-the-shelf hardware without customization, while the router handles all complex control functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Device complexity

If manual data entry is used in systems without direct connection, then device complexity is reduced, but productivity and accuracy worsen due to errors and time consumption

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice complexityVSAvoidproductivity

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables automatic data transfer where the payment initiating device automatically transmits transaction data to the communication router, which then automatically forwards it to the payment instrument reading device. This self-service automated process eliminates manual data entry entirely, improving productivity and accuracy while keeping devices simple through the use of a router.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS12518262B2Electronic transaction processing systems and methods

Publication Date: 2026.01.06 WORLDPAY LTD

AI summary

The invention relates generally to the processing of electronic payments that involve an payment instrument. A payment instrument reading device is paired with a payment initiating device to allow transaction information generated by the payment initiating device to be automatically transmitted to its associated payment instrument reading device. This means that rekeying of transaction information is not required. In some embodiments one or more beacons are provided in a premises, to allow the location of a mobile payment initiating device to be determined. This location is used to either direct the payment initiating device to a payment instrument reading device, or vice versa. Transaction data generated by the payment initiating device is automatically transmitted to the payment instrument reading device. A pairing module is also provided, which is configured to pair a payment instrument reading device with a payment initiating device.