Touchless Transaction Terminal Interface via Mobile QR Pairing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Touch-based transaction terminals, such as ATMs and POS systems, pose health risks due to bacterial and viral contamination from repeated user interactions, especially during pandemics, making frequent disinfection impractical and posing significant health and safety concerns for both customers and employees.

Innovation Solution

A method and system for touchless transactions using a wireless connection between a transaction terminal and a mobile device, enabling interaction through encoded QR codes or barcodes to remotely operate the terminal's interface without physical contact, utilizing a wireless transceiver for a peer-to-peer connection and remote desktop or web hosting services.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If touch-based displays and keypads are used for transaction terminals, then ease of operation is improved, but health safety deteriorates due to bacterial and viral contamination from repeated touching

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoidhealth safety
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a mobile device as an intermediary between the user and the transaction terminal. The mobile device establishes a wireless connection (via QR code scanning and Wi-Fi direct connection) to remotely interact with the terminal, allowing users to complete transactions without physically touching the terminal's touch surface or keypad. This intermediary approach maintains ease of operation while eliminating direct contact with potentially contaminated surfaces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical interaction system (physical touching of buttons and keys) with an electronic/wireless interaction system. Instead of mechanically pressing keys on the terminal, users interact through their mobile devices via wireless communication protocols (QR code identification, Wi-Fi direct connection), thereby substituting the mechanical contact-based interface with a contactless electronic interface that preserves operational convenience while ensuring health safety.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If touch surfaces are frequently disinfected to maintain hygiene, then health safety is improved, but productivity deteriorates due to operational interruptions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehealth safetyVSAvoidproductivity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action by establishing a contactless interaction mechanism before any potential contamination can occur. By enabling users to complete transactions wirelessly through mobile devices, the system proactively prevents the need for frequent disinfection, as no physical contact with surfaces is required. This preliminary establishment of contactless operation eliminates the recurring need to interrupt business for disinfection, thereby maintaining both health safety and productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Object-affected harmful factors

If disinfection procedures are implemented after each customer uses the terminal, then health safety is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional protocols and procedures

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehealth safetyVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the complex disinfection protocol system with a simpler contactless interaction system. Instead of implementing procedures for disinfecting surfaces after each use, the system substitutes physical interaction entirely with wireless communication. This substitution eliminates the need for post-usage disinfection protocols, reducing operational complexity while maintaining health safety through contactless operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Ease of operation

If transaction terminals require physical contact for operation, then ease of operation is improved, but loss of time increases due to shutdowns for disinfection during pandemics

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoidloss of time
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a mobile device as an intermediary to enable continuous operation of transaction terminals without shutdowns for disinfection. The wireless interaction mechanism allows the terminal to remain operational at all times, as no physical contact occurs that would require subsequent disinfection. This eliminates the time loss associated with closing terminals for cleaning, while the terminal maintains its user-friendly interface through the mobile device mediation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3913954B1Touchless transaction on a transaction terminal
Publication Date: 2025.12.03 CARDTRONICS USA INC
  • EP3913954B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3913954B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3913954B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A transaction is detected on a transaction terminal. A first code is presented on a display of the transaction terminal that is encoded with an identifier and a passcode for a wireless connection between the transaction terminal and a mobile device operated by a customer. The mobile device processes the code to wirelessly connect to the transaction terminal using the identifier and the passcode. A second code is presented on a display of the transaction terminal. The second code when captured by the mobile device causes a transaction interface to be remoted from the transaction terminal to the mobile device over the wireless connection. The transaction continues with interactions provided on the mobile device and processed on the transaction terminal without any customer touching of the display of the transaction terminal and without any customer touching of any keys or keypad of the transaction terminal.