Third-Party Payment Facilitation for Application Subscriptions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Many users, especially in countries where credit cards are not popular or online payment services are restricted, are unable to purchase or subscribe to applications due to the reliance on electronic payment methods.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that allows a third party to initiate and facilitate payments for another user's application subscription within the application, using various payment mechanisms such as credit cards, PayPal, or digital wallets, enabling the extension or creation of subscriptions for eligible recipients without their direct action.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If electronic payment methods (credit cards, online payment services) are used for application subscriptions, then payment processing is automated and efficient, but access is restricted to users in regions where these methods are available
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a third-party payer as an intermediary who can make payments on behalf of users in regions where electronic payment methods are unavailable. This intermediary mechanism bridges the gap between regions with and without electronic payment infrastructure, allowing subscription access to extend to previously excluded users through alternative payment channels available to the third party.
2Adaptability or versatility
If third-party payment capability is added to the system, then regional accessibility is improved, but system complexity increases due to additional verification and eligibility checks
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-establishing relationships between third-party payers and recipient users, and by pre-verifying eligibility criteria before the actual payment transaction. The system checks whether users are eligible for third-party payments, verifies the payer's authorization, and validates subscription eligibility in advance, which streamlines the actual payment process and reduces complexity during transaction execution.
3Reliability
If multiple eligibility criteria are verified for third-party payments, then subscription integrity is maintained, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system conducts eligibility verifications and authorization checks as preliminary actions before the actual payment is processed. By pre-validating whether users qualify for third-party payments, whether payers are authorized, and whether subscriptions are eligible, the system ensures subscription integrity is maintained while the actual payment execution remains quick and efficient.
Data Source
AI summary
A system, apparatus, and methods are provided for facilitating payment for a third party's use of an application by a current user. The current user, or payor, initiates the process within the application by selecting one or more recipients. The system that hosts the application then determines which of the third parties are eligible. A target recipient may be ineligible because her application subscription never expires, because it doesn't expire within a threshold period of time, or for some other reason. The system identifies the target recipients that are eligible, and the payor may configure the gift payment (e.g., by choosing a duration of the subscription). The payor then chooses a method of electronic payment and, depending on the method selected, may redeem a coupon with the application host system, or the process may complete automatically. The payor and/or the recipient(s) may be notified of successful activation of the subscription(s).