Integrated Transaction Handler for Payment and Offer Processing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current systems for processing payments and redeeming offers, such as coupons and discounts, are inefficient due to separate processing systems that lead to duplicative resource allocation, time delays, and inefficient security measures.

Innovation Solution

A transaction handler is configured to determine if a payment transaction is eligible for an offer and split the transaction into multiple transactions with issuer and sponsor processors to apply the offer benefit, allowing for real-time, integrated processing of payments and offer redemption without modifying conventional transaction terminals or processors.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If separate systems are used for payment processing and offer processing, then system complexity is reduced for each individual system, but resource allocation becomes duplicative and processing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem complexityVSAvoidprocessing efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines payment processing and offer processing into a single integrated system. The transaction handler receives authorization requests for both payment transactions and offer redemptions, processes them together, and coordinates with both issuer processors and sponsor processors within one system framework, eliminating the need for separate processing systems and reducing duplicative resource allocation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The transaction handler is designed as a multi-functional component that can process both payment transactions and offer redemptions through the same interface and processing logic. It universally handles authorization requests regardless of whether they are for payments, offer benefits, or combinations thereof, making the system adaptable to various transaction types without requiring separate specialized systems

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of manufacture

If separate systems process payments and offers independently, then each system can be optimized for its specific function, but time delays occur between transaction completion and offer redemption

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem optimizationVSAvoidprocessing time delay

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-authorizing offer benefits alongside payment transactions in a single coordinated process. When a transaction is authorized, the system proactively applies eligible offer benefits immediately rather than waiting for separate post-processing, thereby eliminating time delays between transaction completion and benefit provision

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The integrated processing system maintains continuous operation by handling payment and offer processing as an uninterrupted sequence within the same transaction flow. The transaction handler continuously processes authorization requests, coordinates with issuers and sponsors, and provides benefits in real-time without the interruptions or handoff delays that would occur between separate independent systems

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Reliability

If separate systems are used for payment and offer processing, then security measures can be specialized for each system, but computation resources are inefficiently allocated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecurity measuresVSAvoidcomputation resource efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges payment processing and offer processing security functions into a single coordinated security framework within the transaction handler. The system implements unified authentication, authorization, and transaction validation that covers both payment and offer benefits in one security pass, eliminating the need for separate security checks and reducing computation resource consumption while maintaining comprehensive security coverage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS11037141B2Systems and methods to apply values from stored value accounts to payment transactions

Publication Date: 2021.06.15 VISA INTERNATIONAL SERVICE ASSOCIATION

AI summary

A system includes a transaction handler configured to communicate with a first issuer processor to maintain a balance of a stored value account, store an offer in association with the stored value account and a consumer account that is under control of a second issuer processor, detect in the consumer account a transaction satisfying requirements of the offer, apply at least a portion of the balance of the stored value account to the transaction, determine a reduced transaction amount for the transaction after applying at least the portion of the balance of the stored value account to the transaction, and communicate with the second issuer processor for an authorization response for the transaction of the reduced transaction amount in the consumer account.