Secure Referral Transfer via Authenticated Channel Endpoints
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing referral-based transactions face challenges such as decreased target margins due to promo codes being shared widely, high costs for co-branded websites, and the need for direct integration with authentication information, which can be complex and expensive.
Innovation Solution
A secure referral transfer service using web-based server components that facilitate transactions between a source and a target without direct integration, enabling authenticated access to target products and services through a switchboard platform that manages channel endpoints and data transfers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If promo codes are used for referrals, then customers receive discounts and referrals are facilitated, but target margins decrease and codes are shared widely beyond intended customers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a referral service as an intermediary between the source and target. This service manages the referral process centrally, validating referrals and controlling access to target services without requiring direct integration between source and target systems. The intermediary handles authentication and authorization, preventing unauthorized access while maintaining target margins.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the authentication and authorization logic from the target system and places it in a centralized referral service. This extraction allows the target to maintain controlled access to its services while the referral service handles the complex authentication tasks, preventing margin erosion from unauthorized access.
2Ease of operation
If co-branded websites are used for referrals, then select customers gain access to target services, but production and maintenance costs increase and direct integration with authentication information is required
Solution Approach 1:
The referral service acts as an intermediary that manages authentication and authorization without requiring direct integration between source and target systems. This eliminates the need for complex co-branded website infrastructure while maintaining controlled customer access to target services.
Solution Approach 2:
The referral service provides universal access management for multiple sources and targets without requiring custom integrations for each combination. The system handles authentication and authorization uniformly across different source-target pairs, reducing overall system complexity.
3Productivity
If direct integration of target offerings on source website is implemented, then referral transactions are enabled, but expense for trained technology experts increases and authentication information integration is required
Solution Approach 1:
The referral service serves as a mediator that enables transaction capability between source and target without requiring direct technical integration. The service handles authentication and authorization centrally, eliminating the need for expensive custom integration work and trained experts for each integration scenario.
Data Source
AI summary
A secure referral transfer includes receiving an offer for a connection agreement from a source, with the connection agreement defining data objects to be shared in transactions between the source and a target; receiving an acceptance of the offered connection agreement from the target; facilitating a connection between the source and the target based on the accepted connection agreement; and connecting a channel endpoint for the source and a channel endpoint for the target to facilitate a transaction. The secure referral transfer may be implemented without a direct integration of the infrastructure of the source and the target.