Virtual Card Management System for Secure Multi-Device Sharing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Consumers face difficulties in managing and securing physical gift cards, including loss, misplacement, and fraudulent use, due to the physical nature of these cards.

Innovation Solution

The development of a virtual card management system that allows for the creation and management of shared virtual cards, enabling secure sharing and control through geographic location information, periodic authentication, and selective enablement, using a virtual card engine and manager to facilitate secure transactions across multiple devices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If consumers carry multiple plastic gift cards for use, then they can access various goods and services, but they face difficulties in locating and managing the large number of cards

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess to various goods and servicesVSAvoidcard management and location

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a virtual copy of the physical gift card in the form of a mobile device application. This virtual card contains the same account information and can be used for transactions, eliminating the need to physically carry multiple plastic cards while maintaining access to various goods and services.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical physical card system with an electronic/digital system. Instead of manually searching through physical cards in a wallet, the system uses electronic storage and display on a mobile device, with automated card selection and presentation capabilities at point-of-sale terminals.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Ease of operation

If consumers do not carry plastic gift cards for use, then they can reduce the number of cards in their wallet, but they may lose the card or fail to bring it to the store resulting in frustration

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewallet card reductionVSAvoidcard availability and security

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The virtual card stored on the mobile device serves as a reliable copy that cannot be physically lost like plastic cards. The mobile device itself acts as a secure container, and the card can be instantly accessed and displayed without the risks of physical loss, misplacement, or forgetting to bring the card to the store.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The system automatically manages card availability through features like automatic card selection, instant card issuance, and integration with the mobile device's security systems. The card is always available when the mobile device is available, eliminating the need for manual card retrieval and reducing human error.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Productivity

If plastic cards are issued for use, then consumers can make purchases, but the potential for loss, misplacement, and fraudulent use increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepurchase transaction capabilityVSAvoidloss, misplacement, and fraud

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the physical card system with an electronic system that leverages the security features of mobile devices. This includes encryption, authentication mechanisms, and the ability to remotely disable or delete cards, significantly reducing the risks of loss, misplacement, and fraudulent use while maintaining purchase transaction capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Reliability

If a virtual card system is implemented, then security and convenience are enhanced, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecurity and convenienceVSAvoidsystem structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a card service provider as an intermediary that manages the complex backend systems, including card issuance, transaction processing, and security management. This allows the consumer to benefit from enhanced security and convenience without directly dealing with the underlying system complexity, as the mobile device application provides a simple user interface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS10068287B2Systems and methods to manage and control use of a virtual card

Publication Date: 2018.09.04 E2INTERACTIVE INC

AI summary

Systems and methods are provided for creating and using versions of a shared virtual card. In one example, a system for sharing stored value is provided. The system may include a virtual card manager configured to manage one or more shared virtual cards and a first computing device including a virtual card engine executable by a processor to manage the shared virtual card. The first computing device may be communicatively coupled to the virtual card manager via a network. In the example, stored value of the shared virtual card may be split between a first version and a second version. The first version may receive a first portion of the stored value and the second version may receive a second portion of the stored value; the first version available for use on the first computing device and the second version available for use on a second computing device.