Text Message API Mediation for Low-Overhead Merchant Ordering

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems for ordering through merchant APIs, such as apps and websites, consume significant power and processing resources and incur network, latency, and memory overhead due to frequent switching between different merchant platforms.

Innovation Solution

A unified system that allows users to interact with multiple merchant APIs using text messages, reducing the need for app or website execution by utilizing a unified interface system that processes text messages to communicate with APIs, including a machine learning model for promo code suggestions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If users interact with multiple merchant APIs through apps or websites, then ordering functionality is achieved, but power consumption and processing resources increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveordering functionalityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary system that acts as a mediator between users and multiple merchant APIs. This intermediary receives text messages from users, translates them into appropriate API requests, and returns results. By using this intermediary layer, users can interact with multiple merchants through a single text message interface rather than switching between multiple apps or websites, thereby reducing power consumption and processing resources at the user device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a universal text message interface that can handle multiple merchant APIs through a single channel. The system uses codewords in text messages to identify different merchants and routes requests accordingly. This multi-functional approach allows one communication channel (text messages) to serve multiple purposes (interacting with different merchants), eliminating the need for users to open and switch between multiple dedicated apps or websites.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If users switch between different merchant platforms for ordering, then access to various merchants is achieved, but network overhead and latency increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess to multiple merchantsVSAvoidnetwork latency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple merchant API interactions into a single text message communication channel. Instead of users switching between different merchant platforms (apps or websites), the system combines all merchant interactions through one unified text message interface. The intermediary system parses the text message, identifies the target merchant through codewords, and routes the request appropriately, reducing network overhead and latency by eliminating repeated platform switching.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Adaptability or versatility

If users switch between different merchant platforms, then access to various merchants is achieved, but memory overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess to multiple merchantsVSAvoidmemory overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The intermediary system serves as a mediator that handles the complexity of managing multiple merchant APIs on the server side rather than requiring users' devices to maintain multiple app instances or website contexts. The intermediary maintains the necessary state and routing information centrally, freeing user device memory while still providing access to multiple merchants through text messages.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS20250285136A1Text messages for interacting with integrated application programming interfaces

Publication Date: 2025.09.11 CAPITAL ONE SERVICES LLC

AI summary

In some implementations, a user device may transmit a first text message that includes a first codeword. Accordingly, the user device may receive an indication of a first confirmation of a first request associated with the first text message. The user device may transmit a second text message that includes a second codeword. Accordingly, the user device may receive an indication of a second confirmation of a second request associated with the second text message.