Autonomous Refuelling Micropayments Using Pre-Assigned Digital Attributes

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Solution Overview

Problem

Mobile entities face inefficiencies in digital transactions due to lengthy verification processes, particularly when attempting to disconnect from transaction entities before network updates are completed.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus that allow for the temporary assignment of digital attributes, such as digital currency, to a selected transaction entity, enabling micropayments without requiring the mobile entity to wait for network verification, with records stored locally and updated post-disconnection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If digital attributes are verified through network database updates, then transaction security is improved, but transaction speed deteriorates due to several minutes verification time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransaction securityVSAvoidtransaction speed
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by selecting a transaction entity in advance and assigning digital attributes to it before the actual transaction occurs. This allows the mobile entity to disconnect and complete other operations while the verification process happens in the background, resolving the contradiction between security verification time and transaction speed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The verification process is segmented into separate steps: first selecting and assigning digital attributes to a transaction entity, then allowing disconnection, and finally updating the network database in the background. This segmentation allows the critical path to be shortened while maintaining security through sequential verification steps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If mobile entities wait for network database updates before disconnecting, then transaction integrity is improved, but productivity deteriorates due to operation delays

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransaction integrityVSAvoidmobile entity operational efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

A transaction entity is introduced as an intermediary between the mobile entity and the network database. The digital attributes are assigned to this intermediary, allowing the mobile entity to disconnect immediately while the intermediary handles the background verification and database updates, thus maintaining integrity without delaying operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service by allowing mobile entities to initiate transactions and disconnect automatically. The verification process and database updates are performed autonomously in the background without requiring the mobile entity to wait or remain connected, improving operational efficiency while maintaining transaction integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If digital attributes are assigned to multiple transaction entities, then versatility is improved, but security deteriorates due to potential double spending

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransaction entity selection flexibilityVSAvoiddouble spending prevention
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary assignment of digital attributes to a selected transaction entity before transactions occur. This pre-assignment creates a dedicated relationship between the mobile entity and the transaction entity, allowing versatility in entity selection while preventing double spending through exclusive attribute assignment that is verified in the background.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4002248B1Autonomous refuelling system based on blockchain
Publication Date: 2026.05.06 NOKIA TECHNOLOGIES OY
  • EP4002248B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4002248B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4002248B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5

AI summary

A method, apparatus and computer program, the method comprising: selecting a transaction entity for a mobile entity wherein a digital attribute account is associated with the mobile entity; and assigning one or more items of digital attributes from the digital attribute account associated with the mobile entity to the selected transaction entity such that the assigned items can only be used for transactions between the mobile entity and the selected transaction entity.