Shared-Database Management of Supplemental Payment Sources
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Solution Overview
Problem
Consumers face burdensome tasks in selecting and managing multiple payment sources for transactions, leading to inconsistencies in accounting and a desire for a unified management system.
Innovation Solution
A system and method using shared databases and user interfaces to manage a plurality of supplemental payment sources, linking them to a single primary account, enabling centralized accounting and transaction processing through a shared ledger.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If consumers use multiple separate accounts for different payment sources, then they can access various payment options, but the complexity of account management increases and accounting consistency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple supplemental payment source accounts under a single primary account structure. The system allows consumers to link multiple payment sources (gift cards, store credits, loyalty points) to one primary account, eliminating the need to manage separate accounts for each payment type while maintaining access to all payment options through unified authentication and management.
Solution Approach 2:
The primary account structure serves multiple functions: it acts as the central authentication mechanism, the default payment source, and the organizing framework for all supplemental payment sources. This multi-functional design allows the single account to handle diverse payment needs without requiring separate account structures for each payment type.
2Productivity
If consumers manually select and manage multiple payment sources for each transaction, then they can optimize payment choices, but the time and effort required increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by automatically selecting and applying the optimal combination of payment sources based on pre-configured consumer preferences and real-time account balances. Before the consumer needs to make a payment decision, the system has already determined the best payment mix (e.g., using gift card funds first, then supplemental accounts, then primary account) and prepared the transaction for approval.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service by allowing consumers to configure their payment preferences once, and then the system automatically manages the complex logic of selecting and combining payment sources for subsequent transactions. The consumer does not need to manually intervene in each transaction; the system serves itself by automatically optimizing payment selection based on established rules and current account states.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate accounts are used for different payment sources, then payment flexibility is maintained, but accounting consistency and uniformity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the payment structure into a hierarchical organization: one primary account containing multiple supplemental payment source accounts. Each supplemental account is clearly defined and tracked separately, allowing precise accounting of funds from each source. This segmentation enables the system to track and report the contribution of each payment source individually while maintaining overall accounting consistency under the unified primary account structure.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are disclosed for managing a plurality of supplemental payment sources of a user. One method includes: receiving a primary payment source account of a user for a purchase transaction originating at the merchant, the primary payment source account having an identifier associated with one or more supplemental payment source accounts; receiving supplemental payment source accounts of a user for applying to a payment transaction originating at the merchant; receiving, from a user device, preference settings to apply one or more of the supplemental payment source accounts to a payment transaction; receiving a transaction authorization request from the merchant or merchant acquirer for a transaction amount; and determining a combination of payment source accounts to use in the payment transaction, from a group comprising one or more supplemental payment source accounts and the primary payment source account, and any of one or more preference settings.