Proximity Check-in Using WebSocket for Contactless Payments
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing proximity-based check-in systems for point-of-sale transactions are often merchant-specific, require additional hardware, and can be unreliable due to connectivity issues, limiting their versatility and accuracy.
Innovation Solution
A proximity-based check-in system that uses a payment service provider server with full-duplex communication protocols, such as WebSocket, to establish communication channels between user and merchant devices, allowing for independent operation and enhanced security, and relies on location determinations to facilitate contactless transactions without the need for specific merchant hardware.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If merchant-specific proximity-based check-in systems are used, then the system can facilitate contactless transactions at the merchant location, but the system requires additional hardware and is limited to specific merchants, reducing versatility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal proximity-based check-in system where the same core functionality can be used across multiple merchants without requiring merchant-specific hardware. The system uses standard mobile device sensors (camera, GPS, accelerometer) and communication protocols (WiFi, Bluetooth, NFC) that are already present in consumers' devices, eliminating the need for specialized merchant hardware while maintaining contactless transaction capability across different merchants.
2Reliability
If additional hardware is deployed for proximity-based check-in, then the system can improve transaction accuracy and reliability, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the self-service principle by utilizing sensors and communication capabilities that are already built into consumers' mobile devices. Instead of requiring merchants to deploy additional hardware, the system leverages the mobile device's existing camera, GPS, accelerometer, and wireless communication modules to perform proximity detection and check-in functionality, thereby reducing overall system complexity and hardware requirements.
3Ease of operation
If connectivity-based proximity detection is used, then the system can enable contactless transactions, but connectivity issues can cause unreliable check-in
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs parameter changes by using multiple detection parameters and thresholds to determine proximity and check-in status. Instead of relying on a single connectivity signal, the system combines WiFi connection status, Bluetooth signal strength, GPS location data, and device sensor information to make a comprehensive proximity determination, thereby improving reliability despite potential connectivity issues.
Data Source
AI summary
A payment service provider device determines that a first geolocation of a user device is within a predetermined proximity to a second geolocation associated with a merchant Point-Of-Sale (POS) device that is coupled to a network and provides, via the network to the merchant POS device, a communication that includes a user identifier associated with a user of the user device, such that the communication causes the user identifier to be displayed on a display device associated with the merchant POS device and the user is checked-in at a merchant location associated with the merchant POS and the second geolocation. The payment service provider device receives, via the network, a payment request that is associated with the user identifier, and then completes the payment request using a user account associated with the user identifier.