Virtual Currency Wallet in Messaging Apps
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing virtual currency systems in social networks face security risks when users interact with third-party applications, particularly those written in non-secure languages like HTML5, as they may compromise user payment information and credentials.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a native messaging application that manages a virtual wallet, allowing users to purchase items from third-party applications without directly providing payment information, by verifying transactions and deducting funds securely within the trusted messaging application.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If users directly provide payment information to third-party applications, then purchasing transactions can be completed, but security risks increase as applications written in non-secure languages may compromise user payment information and credentials
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a virtual currency system as an intermediary layer between users and third-party applications. Instead of directly sharing payment information, users purchase virtual currency through a secure native application, and this virtual currency is then used within web-based third-party applications for transactions. This mediator approach allows purchasing functionality while protecting sensitive payment data from exposure to potentially insecure applications.
2Reliability
If a virtual wallet system is implemented in a native application, then payment security is improved by keeping credentials secure, but device resources and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the virtual wallet functionality with an existing native messaging application rather than creating a separate standalone wallet application. By merging these functions, the system leverages the existing trusted native application framework, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining security benefits. The virtual currency system integrates seamlessly with the messaging app's existing architecture.
3Reliability
If virtual currency is used as an intermediary, then payment information security is improved, but transaction complexity increases due to currency conversion and verification processes
Solution Approach 1:
The virtual currency system implements self-service mechanisms where the native application automatically manages currency verification, validation, and transaction processing without requiring users to manually verify each transaction. The system autonomously handles the complexity of currency conversion and verification, presenting a simplified interface to users while maintaining robust security checks in the background.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments disclosed provide a virtual currency system within a messaging application by performing operations comprising: launching, within a messaging application, a third-party application; receiving, by the messaging application from the third-party application, a request to perform an ecommerce transaction in relation to an item available for consumption on the third-party application; determining, by the messaging application, an expected attribute for the item based on accessing a database that stores expected attribute information for multiple items; verifying, by the messaging application, that an attribute of the item specified by the request corresponds to the expected attribute for the item; and processing, by the messaging application, the ecommerce transaction in response to successfully verifying that the attribute of the item satisfies a verification criterion based on the expected attribute for the item.