Unified Bill-Pay Interface Integrating Internal and External Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems fail to provide a unified user interface for accessing and managing both internal and external financial accounts, limiting customer convenience and increasing operational costs for financial institutions.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a bill-pay engine with internal and external data source access engines, an integration engine, and a user interface module that retrieves and integrates data from both internal and external sources, presenting it in a unified graphical format to users, allowing seamless access and management of multiple financial accounts through a single interface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If companies integrate more data sources and systems to provide comprehensive services, then customer service capability improves, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary layer (integration engine with software objects) between the user interface and multiple data sources. This mediator handles the complexity of integrating internal and external systems, allowing the front-end to remain simple while supporting comprehensive services through unified access to disparate data sources.
Solution Approach 2:
The integration engine is designed as a universal platform that can access multiple types of data sources (internal databases, external financial institutions, third-party services) through a common interface. This multi-functional engine resolves complexity by providing a single point of access to diverse systems, enabling comprehensive customer service without proportionally increasing system complexity.
2Ease of operation
If companies provide access to multiple external data sources, then customer convenience improves, but data integration complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs software objects as intermediaries that standardize access to external data sources. These objects encapsulate the complexity of different external systems (different protocols, formats, authentication methods) and present a unified interface to users, thereby improving customer convenience without exposing them to integration complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The integration engine is segmented into modular software objects, each responsible for accessing specific data sources or performing specific functions. This segmentation allows independent development, testing, and maintenance of each data source connection, reducing overall integration complexity while enabling access to multiple external sources for customer convenience.
3Reliability
If companies maintain separate systems for internal and external data, then system stability is maintained, but operational efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges access to internal and external data sources through a unified integration engine, while maintaining the physical separation and independence of each data source. This combining of access pathways improves operational efficiency by allowing simultaneous retrieval from multiple sources, while the underlying systems remain stable and independent.
Solution Approach 2:
The integration engine provides universal access capabilities to both internal and external systems through a single platform. This multi-functional approach improves operational efficiency by eliminating the need for separate access mechanisms, while the engine's modular design preserves the stability of individual systems through non-intrusive integration.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for providing dynamic integration and access to disparate data sources are described. The apparatus may include an internal data source access engine, an external data source access engine, an integration engine and a user interface module. The method may comprise receiving a request for bill-pay services from a user, first retrieving internal bill-pay information, second retrieving external bill-pay information, integrating the first retrieved and second retrieved information into a single unified graphical presentation, presenting the unified graphical presentation to the user.