Subscriber Account-on-File Billing Updater System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for managing and updating payment card information in account-on-file transactions lack effective authorization controls, leading to potential fraud and delayed updates, as they do not guarantee merchant authorization and fail to timely transmit updated information.
Innovation Solution
A subscriber account-on-file billing updater (ABU) system that verifies merchant authorization using subscription rules, stores updated account data and rules, and transmits updates only to authorized merchants, reducing fraud and ensuring timely information dissemination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If merchants store payment card information in databases to facilitate account-on-file transactions, then transaction convenience is improved, but security risks and fraud potential increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a central account data system as an intermediary between merchants and payment card issuers. This system receives account data from issuers, verifies merchant authorization through subscription rules, and selectively transmits updated information to authorized merchants. The intermediary prevents direct merchant access to sensitive card data while maintaining the convenience of account-on-file transactions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where subscription rules are applied to verify merchant authorization status. The central account data system continuously monitors and updates merchant access rights based on these rules, providing feedback control to ensure only authorized merchants receive sensitive account information, thereby reducing fraud risks.
2Loss of information
If the system transmits updated account data to all registered merchants, then information availability is improved, but unauthorized access and fraud increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating information access rights based on individual merchant authorization status. Not all registered merchants receive updated account data - only those who pass verification against subscription rules. This selective information dissemination ensures data is available where needed while preventing unauthorized access.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary verification of merchant authorization against subscription rules before transmitting updated account data. This advance screening action prevents unauthorized merchants from accessing sensitive information, ensuring that information transmission only occurs to properly authorized parties.
3Measurement precision
If the system requires manual verification of updated payment card information from accountholders, then accuracy is improved, but processing time and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by having payment card issuers automatically transmit updated account data to the central account data system without requiring manual verification from accountholders. The system automatically processes and verifies this information against subscription rules, eliminating manual intervention while maintaining accuracy and reducing processing time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system establishes continuous automated communication between issuers and the central account data system for receiving and processing account updates. This continuous operation eliminates interruptions from manual verification processes, ensuring timely and accurate information processing without time loss.
4Stability of the object's composition
If the system uses centralized databases to store account data, then data consistency is improved, but system complexity and security burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal central account data system that serves multiple functions: receiving account data from issuers, storing standardized account information, verifying merchant authorization through subscription rules, and selectively distributing updates to merchants. This multi-functional approach consolidates complexity into a single system rather than requiring separate mechanisms for each function.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer-implemented method for managing access to data stored within a data source is provided. The method includes receiving updated account data including an updated account identifier, and at least one subscription rule for verifying that a merchant is authorized to receive updated account data. The method also includes storing the updated account data and the at least one subscription rule. The method further includes receiving a registration request from a requesting merchant including at least one candidate account identifier and one merchant identifier identifying the requesting merchant, and retrieving the at least one subscription rule after matching the candidate account identifier to the updated account identifier. The method further includes applying the at least one subscription rule to the requesting merchant, determining that the requesting merchant is authorized to receive the updated account data, and transmitting an update response to the requesting merchant including the updated account data.