Temporary Virtual Payment Card for Seamless Fund Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing payment systems fail to provide seamless access to user funds when events, such as outages with issuer processors, disrupt the use of payment card numbers, leading to inaccessible funds despite sufficient account balances.
Innovation Solution
A payment service system that assigns temporary virtual payment card numbers, allowing users to access their funds without a physical card, maps transactions to the original card number, and updates balances across issuer processors and banks, ensuring continuous transaction processing even during network connectivity issues.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a payment card number is assigned to a user account, then the user can access funds through transactions, but if an event disrupts the payment card number, the user loses access to funds
Solution Approach 1:
The system proactively assigns a backup payment card number to the user account before the original card number becomes unavailable. When a disruption event is detected, the backup card number is already in place and can be immediately activated, eliminating access interruptions. This preliminary preparation ensures continuous fund access despite external disruptions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the payment card number parameter by generating and assigning alternative card numbers (second, third, fourth backup card numbers) when the original card number becomes unavailable. This parameter substitution allows the payment system to continue functioning with different card number values while maintaining the same user account and fund access capabilities.
2Reliability
If a temporary virtual payment card number is assigned, then user access to funds is maintained during disruptions, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The payment service system acts as an intermediary between the user account and the payment network. It manages multiple payment card numbers (original and backup) and automatically switches between them based on system conditions. This intermediary layer abstracts the complexity from the user, who simply experiences continuous access without needing to understand or manage the multiple card numbers themselves.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates virtual copies of payment card functionality through temporary virtual payment card numbers. These virtual card numbers replicate the access function of physical cards without requiring physical media. The virtual cards are generated and managed digitally, allowing multiple copies of payment access to exist simultaneously for the same user account.
3Ease of operation
If multiple payment card numbers are managed, then seamless access is ensured, but transaction processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors the status of payment card numbers and automatically detects when disruptions occur. This feedback mechanism triggers automatic switching to backup card numbers. The system also monitors transaction success rates and can proactively switch card numbers before complete failure occurs, maintaining seamless user experience through continuous status monitoring and automatic response.
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, a method includes, by one or more computing devices associated with a payment service (PS), assigning a first payment card number of a first plurality of payment card numbers to an account of a user, wherein the first plurality of payment card numbers is issued from a first issuer processor. The PS detecting an event affecting the use of the first payment card in a transaction. The PS, in response to detecting the event, accessing a second plurality of payment card numbers issued from a second issuer processor and assigning a second payment card number of the second plurality of payment card numbers to the account of the user. The PS receiving an indication that a status of the event has changed. The PS, in response to receiving the indication, automatically enabling, the first payment card number for use in transactions for the account of the user.