Proximity Donation Payment Verification in Boundary-Less Commerce
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing charitable donation systems face challenges in boundary-less commerce environments, such as theft, lack of verification, and the shift from cash-based to cashless transactions, particularly in online and hybrid retail settings.
Innovation Solution
A payment system utilizing a computer server and user computing devices to establish proximity zones, verify legitimate charitable organizations, and facilitate electronic payments through an order interface with automatic processing and confirmation, ensuring anonymity and ease of use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If cash-based donation collection is used in traditional retail settings, then donations can be collected from people with spare change, but theft of donations and lack of verification of the collection container occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the physical cash-based donation system with an electronic payment system. Users make donations through electronic transactions via mobile devices or contactless payment methods, eliminating the need for physical collection containers. This substitution resolves the contradiction by maintaining ease of donation while ensuring reliability through electronic verification and tracking of all transactions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary payment processing system that mediates between donors and charitable organizations. This intermediary system verifies the legitimacy of charitable organizations, processes electronic payments securely, and provides transaction records, thereby resolving the verification problem while maintaining ease of donation through automated processes.
2Adaptability or versatility
If electronic payment systems are implemented in boundary-less commerce environments, then cashless and contactless transactions are enabled, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal payment system that can operate across multiple commerce environments (brick-and-mortar, online, mobile, pop-up stores, farmers markets) through a single platform. The system supports various payment methods (contactless, mobile, online) and adapts to different charitable organization types, thereby achieving boundary-less commerce capability without proportionally increasing complexity through standardized protocols.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables self-service donation capabilities where users can independently initiate and complete donations through mobile devices or contactless payment methods without requiring manual intervention from charitable organization staff. This automation reduces operational complexity while enhancing adaptability to various commerce settings.
3Ease of operation
If proximity-based automatic payment systems are used, then ease of purchase with minimal contact is achieved, but automatic connection and processing requirements increase system complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary actions by pre-establishing proximity zones around charitable organization locations and pre-configuring payment interfaces. When users enter these zones, the system has already prepared the connection parameters and payment options, enabling seamless automatic connection and processing. This preliminary setup reduces the complexity of real-time decision-making while maintaining ease of purchase.
Data Source
AI summary
A charitable payment system is provided for use in boundary-less commerce. The system includes a computer server having a memory storing charitable organization or other organization data and user data and a user computing device coupled to the computer server. The system establishes a proximity zone around a business area. When a user computing device enters the proximity zone, a connection between the server and the user computing device is established. The computer server may be programmed to receive from the user computing device a signal activating a payment, the signal including user data and payment data, including user identifying information and a payment amount. The computer server may be programmed to process the payment and account for the payment amount.