Unified Transit Payment Account for Multi-Provider Subscription Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current mobility as a service (MaaS) hosts face challenges in contracting with multiple transit service providers across different geographic regions, limiting their ability to offer appealing subscription services to consumers without establishing direct contracts with each provider.
Innovation Solution
A system that utilizes a common account managed by a service host, allowing consumers to pay for transit services from various providers through a mobile application, even without direct contracts between the host and providers, by issuing a payment account funded at intervals based on subscription types and using merchant category codes for transaction verification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a host establishes direct contracts with each transit service provider to offer subscription services, then the service reliability and provider cooperation are improved, but the device complexity and administrative burden increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a payment network and processing service as intermediaries between the host and transit service providers. The payment network establishes a common account with the host and processes transactions with providers, eliminating the need for the host to directly contract with each provider. This intermediary layer handles the complexity of multiple contracts while maintaining reliable service delivery.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a host expands geographic coverage by engaging additional transit service providers, then the adaptability and service coverage are improved, but the device complexity and contracting requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal payment account system that can interact with multiple different transit service providers across various geographic regions through a standardized interface. The common account funded by the host can universally access different providers without requiring separate contractual arrangements for each geographic expansion, enabling scalable growth.
3Measurement precision
If a host manually manages contracts with multiple transit service providers, then the measurement precision of transaction tracking is improved, but the loss of time and productivity decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements automated systems where the payment network and processing service automatically track, verify, and settle transactions between the host, payment network, and transit providers. Merchant category codes are automatically verified, and reimbursements are automatically processed based on subscription types, eliminating manual intervention while maintaining precise transaction tracking.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are provided for facilitating network requests regarding transit by users. One exemplary method includes receiving, at a computing device, a network request for a subscription plan from a user and requesting, by the computing device, issuance of a transit account from an issuing entity, whereby, upon issuance of the transit account, a credential associated with the transit account is provisioned to a transit application associated with the user. The exemplary method also includes directing, by the computing device, funds from a common account to the transit account, at the issuing entity, based on the subscription plan, thereby permitting the user to engage in transit services funded by the transit account consistent with the subscription plan at multiple different transit providers.