IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,737,739
Granted Patent B2
US 12,737,739 · App. 18/404,955 · Granted Sep 15, 2026

Context-aware payments using indoor positioning systems

Inventor: Subil Mathew Abraham (Lewisville, TX)
Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
G06Q20/12G06Q20/40
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,737,739
App. No.
18/404,955
Granted
Sep 15, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

According to one embodiment, a method, computer system, and computer program product for context-aware payments is provided. The embodiment may include generating a set of permissions for a user. The embodiment may also include assigning the generated set of permissions to a payment account. The embodiment may further include receiving an authorization request from the payment account to engage in a commerce-based transaction. The embodiment may also include determining whether to authorize the commerce-based transaction based, at least in part, on comparing contextual information associated with the commerce-based transaction to the generated set of permissions assigned to the particular payment account.

Claims (31)

1 . A method comprising:

generating a set of permissions for a user as metadata associated with a user profile, wherein the set comprises time-based permissions, wherein the generated set of permissions further comprises contextual and location-based permissions for utilization of a payment account;

assigning the generated set of permissions to the payment account; and

displaying, via an augmented reality (AR)-based user-interface, a virtual boundary associated with one or more real-world locations for which the user is authorized to use the payment account to purchase a tangible item, wherein the virtual boundary is a super-imposed animation of a virtual fence around the one or more real-world locations, and wherein a location of the virtual boundary is determined using an indoor positioning system, and wherein the virtual boundary is displayed in a first color for items authorized under the set of permissions and in a second color for items denied under the set of permissions.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

in response to the user being within a preconfigured geo-fence, activating the payment account; and

in response to the user being outside the preconfigured geo-fence, deactivating the payment account.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the virtual boundary is displayed in a green color when the one or more locations are associated with locations or items for which the user is authorized to purchase based on the set of permissions, and wherein the virtual boundary is displayed in a red color when the one or more locations are associated with locations or items for which the user is not authorized to purchase based on the set of permissions.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the set of permissions are further selected from a group consisting of one or more geographic locations, one or more retailers, one or more manufacturers, a time of day, a period of time, one or more categories of items, or one or more types of items.

5 . A computer system comprising:

a processor set;

one or more computer-readable storage media; and

program instructions stored on the one or more computer-readable storage media to cause the processor set to perform operations comprising:

generating a set of permissions for a user as metadata associated with a user profile, wherein the set comprises time-based permissions, wherein the generated set of permissions further comprises contextual and location-based permissions for utilization of a payment account;

assigning the generated set of permissions to the payment account; and

displaying, via an augmented reality (AR)-based user-interface, a virtual boundary associated with one or more real-world locations for which the user is authorized to use the payment account to purchase a tangible item, wherein the virtual boundary is a super-imposed animation of a virtual fence around the one or more real-world locations, and wherein a location of the virtual boundary is determined using an indoor positioning system, and wherein the virtual boundary is displayed in a first color for items authorized under the set of permissions and in a second color for items denied under the set of permissions.

6 . The computer system of claim 5 , further comprising:

in response to the user being within a preconfigured geo-fence, activating the payment account; and

in response to the user being outside the preconfigured geo-fence, deactivating the payment account.

7 . The computer system of claim 5 , wherein the virtual boundary is displayed in a green color when the one or more locations are associated with locations or items for which the user is authorized to purchase based on the set of permissions, and wherein the virtual boundary is displayed in a red color when the one or more locations are associated with locations or items for which the user is not authorized to purchase based on the set of permissions.

8 . The computer system of claim 5 , wherein the set of permissions are further selected from a group consisting of one or more geographic locations, one or more retailers, one or more manufacturers, a time of day, a period of time, one or more categories of items, or one or more types of items.

9 . A computer program product comprising:

one or more computer-readable storage media; and

program instructions stored on the one or more computer-readable storage media to perform operations comprising:

generating a set of permissions for a user as metadata associated with a user profile, wherein the set comprises time-based permissions, wherein the generated set of permissions further comprises contextual and location-based permissions for utilization of a payment account;

assigning the generated set of permissions to the payment account; and

displaying, via an augmented reality (AR)-based user-interface, a virtual boundary associated with one or more real-world locations for which the user is authorized to use the payment account to purchase a tangible item, wherein the virtual boundary is a super-imposed animation of a virtual fence around the one or more real-world locations, and wherein a location of the virtual boundary is determined using an indoor positioning system, and wherein the virtual boundary is displayed in a first color for items authorized under the set of permissions and in a second color for items denied under the set of permissions.

10 . The computer program product of claim 9 , further comprising:

in response to the user being within a preconfigured geo-fence, activating the payment account; and

in response to the user being outside the preconfigured geo-fence, deactivating the payment account.

11 . The computer program product of claim 9 , wherein the virtual boundary is displayed in a green color when the one or more locations are associated with locations or items for which the user is authorized to purchase based on the set of permissions, and wherein the virtual boundary is displayed in a red color when the one or more locations are associated with locations or items for which the user is not authorized to purchase based on the set of permissions.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 5, 2024
From: ABRAHAM, SUBIL MATHEW
To: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 066027/0708 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20250225492A1 · Jul 10, 2025
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