In-Vehicle Payment Interface Using Very Short-Range POS Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicle occupants face inconvenience when making payments for goods and services while in their vehicles, as they need to carry cash or financial cards and manually exchange them at POS terminals, which is time-consuming.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle payment system where a vehicle's infotainment system stores financial cards, allowing users to select and transmit payment data via short-range communication links to POS terminals, enabling secure and contactless transactions, with electronic circuitry attached to the vehicle for secure data transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If users manually exchange cash or financial cards at POS terminals, then payment transactions can be completed, but the process is time-consuming and requires users to leave their vehicles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical system of physically handling cash and cards with an electronic communication system. The infotainment system transmits payment data electronically to the POS terminal via short-range wireless communication, eliminating the need for manual exchange of physical payment instruments and reducing transaction time.
Solution Approach 2:
The infotainment system acts as an intermediary between the user and the POS terminal. It stores financial card data, transmits selected payment information to the merchant terminal, and receives transaction confirmations, thereby automating the payment process and eliminating the need for users to manually handle cash or cards.
2Adaptability or versatility
If users carry cash and financial cards for payments, then they can make purchases, but they must constantly carry these items and exit their vehicles to pay
Solution Approach 1:
The infotainment system is designed to perform multiple functions: it serves as an entertainment system, a navigation system, and now also as a payment device. By integrating payment functionality into the existing infotainment system, the patent eliminates the need for separate payment instruments like cash and cards, allowing users to make payments directly from their vehicle.
3Reliability
If electronic circuitry is attached to the vehicle exterior for secure communication, then data transmission security is enhanced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Electronic circuitry attached to the vehicle exterior acts as an intermediary for secure communication between the infotainment system and the POS terminal. This external communication interface enables encrypted data transmission while keeping the core infotainment system architecture intact, balancing security requirements with system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, apparatus, and non-transitory computer readable media are described for using a vehicle as a payment device. Various aspects may include receiving a selection of a stored financial card or financial account at a vehicle head unit. The selected financial card or financial account may be transmitted to a point-of-sale (POS) terminal for making a payment by transmitting a tokenized card number to the POS terminal. The tokenized card number may be transmitted over a very short-range communication link to ensure that the transmission is secure. For example, electronic circuitry may be attached to the exterior of the vehicle, where the electronic circuitry may be within a threshold distance (e.g. one inch, three inches, six inches, one foot, three feet, etc.) of the POS terminal. The tokenized card number may be transmitted from the vehicle head unit to the electronic circuitry and then to the POS terminal.