Smart Doorbell Scans Codes to Verify Delivery and Process Payment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing resource acquisition systems face issues such as users not wanting to pay until goods are delivered, potential theft, incorrect deliveries, and insufficient funds at the time of delivery, especially during peak periods or when users are not home.

Innovation Solution

An electronic notification apparatus, such as a smart doorbell, is used to receive object data from physical objects, determine if interaction data is present in a database, and initiate communication with a remote server to complete transactions, enabling payment processing and ensuring correct delivery without the user's presence.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If payment is made before delivery, then the merchant receives payment in advance, but the user risks theft or non-delivery of goods

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedelivery securityVSAvoidpayment timing flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary verification actions by checking interaction data against database records before completing the transfer. The electronic notification apparatus validates the delivery request in advance by comparing object data with stored interaction data, ensuring the delivery is legitimate before the user receives the goods, thus preventing theft or fraudulent deliveries.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If payment is made upon delivery, then the user can verify delivery first, but the transaction may be canceled if delivery is delayed or incorrect

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepayment securityVSAvoidtransaction completion rate

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback by verifying delivery information through database comparison. The electronic notification apparatus receives object data, checks it against stored interaction data in the database, and only completes the transfer when verification succeeds. This feedback mechanism ensures payment security while maintaining high transaction completion rates by automatically validating deliveries.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Measurement precision

If manual verification is required at delivery, then incorrect deliveries can be prevented, but the user must be present and the process becomes complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedelivery accuracyVSAvoiddelivery convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-service verification automatically without requiring user presence. The electronic notification apparatus independently validates deliveries by comparing object data with database records, completing the verification process autonomously. This eliminates the need for manual user intervention while maintaining high delivery accuracy, allowing convenient contactless deliveries.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

4Ease of operation

If the user is not present at delivery, then convenience is improved, but the risk of misdelivery or theft increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedelivery convenienceVSAvoiddelivery security

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The electronic notification apparatus acts as an intermediary between the delivery service and the user. It receives and validates delivery requests, checks object data against database records, and authorizes transfers without requiring the user to be physically present. This intermediary mechanism maintains delivery security while enabling convenient contactless deliveries.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

5Productivity

If payment processing is automated, then transaction speed is improved, but errors in data matching may occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransaction processing speedVSAvoiddata verification accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces manual verification mechanics with automated electronic data comparison. The electronic notification apparatus uses electronic processes to match object data with database records, eliminating human error while maintaining high processing speed. This substitution of mechanical verification with electronic validation ensures both speed and accuracy in automated payment processing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS11580486B2Electronic notification apparatus

Publication Date: 2023.02.14 VISA INTERNATIONAL SERVICE ASSOCIATION

AI summary

An electronic notification apparatus is disclosed. The electronic notification apparatus may include an image capture device which can scan a machine readable code on a physical object. A communication may thereafter be initiated to complete the transfer of the physical object to a user.