Payment Processing via Personalized URL Tokens and QR Codes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current payment processing methods for non-profit transactions, such as child care and donation pledges, are inconvenient and often rely on manual data entry, leading to errors and low adoption of automated payment systems due to payer reluctance and lack of trust.
Innovation Solution
A payment processing system that uses personalized hyperlinks or QR codes with URL shortening to pre-populate online payment forms with payer information, eliminating the need for login credentials and minimizing data entry, while enabling secure storage and recurring payments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If payers are required to login to an online system to display charges and make payment, then security and access control are improved, but user convenience and adoption rate deteriorate due to registration requirements and memory burden
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the authentication mechanism from traditional login systems by using a token embedded in a shortened URL. Instead of requiring users to remember credentials and go through login procedures, the token itself serves as the authentication key, carried externally in the URL string. This separates authentication from the login process entirely.
Solution Approach 2:
The shortened URL acts as an intermediary that carries the token and payer information. Rather than directly presenting credentials to the system, the user interacts with this intermediary link, which then translates into authenticated access. The URL shortening service also serves as an intermediary that masks the complex destination URL while preserving access functionality.
2Reliability
If payers must enter all payment data each time they wish to make a payment, then data security is improved by not storing sensitive information, but transaction efficiency and accuracy deteriorate due to repeated manual entry and potential errors
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-populating the payment form with payer information retrieved using the token from the shortened URL. This includes pre-filling account details, billing information, and payment history, so that when the user arrives at the payment page, most fields are already completed and ready for review or minor adjustments.
3Adaptability or versatility
If ACH payments use manual entry of bank routing and account numbers, then flexibility is improved, but accuracy deteriorates due to lack of real-time validation and difficulty in verifying correct numbers
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by providing real-time validation of ACH payment information. When the token is processed and payer details are retrieved, the system can immediately verify the correctness of bank routing and account numbers against stored valid information, providing instant feedback to the user about whether the entered data is correct before submission.
4Extent of automation
If preauthorized credit card and direct bank debit payments are implemented, then automated collection is improved, but payer trust and agreement deteriorate due to reluctance to trust such methods
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by allowing payers to review and confirm all their payment information, including authorization details, before actually setting up recurring payments. The pre-populated forms show exactly what information will be used and for what purpose, allowing informed consent before automation begins.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a method and system for payment processing, including emailing a billing statement to a payer by a biller, the billing statement including an online payment hyperlink having a shortened URL personalized for the payer and a token uniquely identifying the payer. The payer may select the online payment hyperlink, at which point they are presented with the biller's online payment form without the payer logging in or preregistering. The online payment form includes data fields pre-populated with available payer information derived from the personalized shortened URL and token, which may be reviewed, completed and/or corrected by the payer and sent to a secure payment form server. Also provided is the use of Quick response (QR) codes incorporating the shortened URL in a printed format, particularly for use with a mobile communication device.