Multi-interface processing of electronic payment transactions

• US 10,417,628 B2
• Filed: 06/29/2016
• Issued: 09/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Block, Inc. (f/k/a Square, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Block, Inc. (f/k/a Square, Inc.)
• Inventors: Terra, David, Han, Koun, White, Michael Wells
• Primary Examiner(s): Frenel, Vanel
• Application Number:
  US15/197,711
• Publication Number:
  US 20180005226A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,175 Days
• Field of Search: 705 17, 705 18, 705 21, 705 38, 705 44, 235383, 235449, 706 46, 4555521, 709227, 713156, 713168, 340 553
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0004 Hybrid readers
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/202 Interconnection or interaction of plural electronic cash registers [ECR] or to host computer, e.g. network details, transfer of information from host to ECR or from ECR to ECR
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/204 comprising interface for record bearing medium or carrier for electronic funds transfer or payment credit
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/341 Active cards, i.e. cards including their own processing means, e.g. including an IC or chip
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/347 Passive cards
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0886 the card reader being portable for interacting with a POS or ECR in realizing a payment transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0893 the card reader reading the card in a contactless manner
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/127 in which both online and offline card verification can take place

Abstract

A payment terminal may receive a request to process electronic payment information from a payment card in a swipe mode. The payment terminal may provide an opt-in request. If a user accepts, the payment terminal may receive a payment transaction request and electronic payment information of a swipe payment type from the payment card at a swipe interface. The payment terminal may determine whether the payment card is a chip card and generate a swipe mode processing indicator. The swipe mode indicator may allow processing of electronic payment information using procedures for the swipe payment type. The payment terminal may transmit the swipe mode processing indicator and electronic payment information to a payment server from a communication interface of the payment terminal, and may receive a payment approval response based on the swipe mode processing indicator.

Claims

1. A method for a payment terminal to selectively process electronic payment information through a plurality of payment interfaces, the method comprising:

receiving, at a user interface of the payment terminal, a first payment transaction request;

receiving, at a chip card interface of the payment terminal, first electronic payment information of a first electronic payment information type from a chip card in response to the first payment transaction request;

transmitting, from a communication interface of the payment terminal, the first electronic payment information to one or more payment servers;

receiving, at the communication interface of the payment terminal, a first payment approval response for the first electronic payment information;

receiving, at a user interface of the payment terminal, a request to enter a swipe mode;

providing, at the user interface of the payment terminal, an opt-in confirmation in response to the request to enter the swipe mode, wherein the payment terminal is only permitted to enter the swipe mode when the opt-in confirmation is accepted by the user;

receiving, at the user interface of the payment terminal, a second payment transaction request;

receiving, at a swipe interface of the payment terminal, second electronic payment information of a second electronic payment information type from a payment card when the payment card is swiped through the swipe interface in response to the second payment transaction request, the swiped payment card being a chip card;

receiving, at the payment terminal, a notification that the payment card is a chip card;

generating, at the payment terminal, a swipe mode processing indicator based on the payment terminal entering the swipe mode and the notification, wherein the swipe mode processing indicator allows the second electronic payment information to be processed according to procedures for the second electronic payment information type;

transmitting, from the communication interface of the payment terminal, the swipe mode processing indicator and the second electronic payment information to the one or more payment servers; and

receiving, at the communication interface of the payment terminal, a second payment approval response for the second electronic payment information, wherein the payment approval response is based on the swipe mode processing indicator.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the swipe mode processing indicator indicates that the transaction is not a technical fallback transaction, and wherein the technical fallback transaction indicates that the chip card failed to process at the chip card interface of the payment terminal.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying a delay condition during which the transmission of the second electronic payment information should be delayed;

storing the second electronic payment information at a memory of the payment terminal; and

transmitting the second electronic payment information based on the expiration of the delay condition.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the delay condition comprises a frequency of payment transactions and the expiration of the delay condition comprises the frequency of payment transactions falling below a threshold.

5. A method for a payment terminal to selectively process electronic payment information through a plurality of payment interfaces, the method comprising:

receiving, at a user interface of the payment terminal, a request to enter a swipe mode;

providing, at the user interface of the payment terminal, an opt-in confirmation in response to the request to enter the swipe mode, wherein the payment terminal is only permitted to enter the swipe mode when the opt-in confirmation is accepted by the user;

receiving, at the user interface of the payment terminal, a payment transaction request;

receiving, at a swipe interface of the payment terminal, electronic payment information of a swipe payment type from a payment card when the payment card is swiped through the swipe interface in response to the payment transaction request, the swiped payment card being a chip card;

generating, at the payment terminal, a swipe mode processing indicator based on the payment terminal entering the swipe mode and an indicator that the payment card is a chip card, wherein the swipe mode processing indicator allows the electronic payment information to be processed according to procedures for the swipe payment type;

transmitting, from a communication interface of the payment terminal, the swipe mode processing indicator and the electronic payment information to one or more payment servers; and

receiving, at the communication interface of the payment terminal, a payment approval response for the electronic payment information, wherein the payment approval response is based on the swipe mode processing indicator.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the swipe mode processing indicator indicates that the transaction is not a technical fallback transaction, and wherein the technical fallback transaction indicates that the chip card failed to process at a chip card interface of the payment terminal.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

identifying a delay condition during which the transmission of the electronic payment information should be delayed;

storing the electronic payment information at a memory of the payment terminal; and

transmitting the electronic payment information based on an expiration of the delay condition.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the delay condition comprises a frequency of payment transactions and the expiration of the delay condition comprises the frequency of payment transactions falling below a threshold.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the delay condition comprises a connection speed between the payment terminal and the one or more payment servers, and wherein the expiration of the delay condition comprises the connection speed exceeding a threshold.

10. The method of claim 5, further comprising receiving, at the payment terminal, a notification that the payment card is a chip card, wherein the indicator that the payment card is a chip card is based on the notification.

11. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

receiving, at the user interface of the payment terminal, a second payment transaction request;

receiving, at the swipe interface of the payment terminal, electronic payment information of a swipe payment type from a second payment card in response to the second payment transaction request;

determining that the second payment card is not a chip card; and

processing the second payment card according to a standard swipe card protocol based on the determination.

12. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

receiving, at the user interface of the payment terminal, a second payment transaction request;

receiving, at a chip card interface of the payment terminal, second electronic payment information of a chip card payment type from a second chip card in response to the second payment transaction request;

transmitting, from the communication interface of the payment terminal, the second electronic payment information to one or more payment servers; and

receiving, at the communication interface of the payment terminal, a payment approval response for the second electronic payment information.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein liability for the first payment transaction request is assigned to a merchant operating the payment terminal, and wherein liability for the second payment transaction request is not assigned to the merchant.

14. A payment terminal for selectively processing electronic payment information through a plurality of payment interfaces, the payment terminal comprising:

a swipe interface configured to receive electronic payment information of a swipe payment type from a magstripe payment card;

a chip card interface configured to receive electronic payment information from a chip card;

a communication interface configured to communicate with one or more payment servers;

a user interface configured to receive a request to enter a swipe mode, an opt-in confirmation, and a payment transaction request;

one or more processing elements coupled to the swipe interface, communication interface, and the user interface, wherein the one or more processing elements are configured to execute user interface instructions, swipe mode instructions, and transaction processing instructions; and

one or more memories configured to store the user interface instructions, swipe mode instructions, and transaction processing instructions,

wherein the user interface instructions cause the one or more processing elements to receive a request from the user interface to enter a swipe mode, provide an opt-in confirmation to the user interface in response to the request to enter the swipe mode, and receive a payment transaction request from the user interface,

wherein the swipe mode instructions cause the one or more processing elements to permit the payment terminal to enter the swipe mode only when the opt-in confirmation is accepted by a user and to generate a swipe mode processing indicator based on the payment terminal entering the swipe mode and an indicator that the payment card is a chip card,

wherein the swipe mode processing indicator allows the electronic payment information to be processed according to procedures for the swipe payment type, and

wherein the transaction processing instructions cause the one or more processing elements to;

(a) receive electronic payment information of a swipe payment type from the payment card when the payment card is swiped through the swipe interface in response to the payment transaction request, the swiped payment card being a chip card,

(b) transmit the swipe mode processing indicator and the electronic payment information to one or more payment servers via the communication interface, and

(c) receive a payment approval response for the electronic payment information, wherein the payment approval response is based on the swipe mode processing indicator.

15. The payment terminal of claim 14, wherein the swipe mode processing indicator indicates that the transaction is not a technical fallback transaction, and wherein the technical fallback transaction indicates that the chip card failed to process at the chip card interface of the payment terminal.

16. The payment terminal of claim 14, wherein the transaction processing instructions further cause the one or more processing elements to identify a delay condition during which the transmission of the electronic payment information should be delayed, store the electronic payment information at a memory of the payment terminal, and permit the transmission of the electronic payment information based on an expiration of the delay condition.

17. The payment terminal of claim 16, wherein the delay condition comprises a frequency of payment transactions and the expiration of the delay condition comprises the frequency of payment transactions falling below a threshold.

18. The payment terminal of claim 16, wherein the delay condition comprises a connection speed between the payment terminal and the one or more payment servers, and wherein the expiration of the delay condition comprises the connection speed exceeding a threshold.

19. The payment terminal of claim 14, wherein the swipe mode instructions further comprising receiving, at the payment terminal, a notification that the payment card is a chip card, and wherein the indicator that the payment card is a chip card is based on the notification.

20. The payment terminal of claim 14, wherein the user interface instructions further cause the one or more processors to receive, from the user interface, a second payment transaction request and wherein the transaction processing instructions further cause the one or more processors to receive, from the swipe interface, electronic payment information of a swipe payment type from a second payment card in response to the second payment transaction request, determine that the second payment card is not a chip card, and process the second payment card according to a standard swipe card protocol based on the determination.

21. The payment terminal of claim 14, wherein the user interface instructions further cause the one or more processors to receive, at the user interface, a second payment transaction request and wherein the transaction processing instructions further cause the one or more processors to receive from the chip card interface second electronic payment information of a chip card payment type from the chip card in response to the second payment transaction request, transmit the second electronic payment information to one or more payment servers via the communication interface, and receive a payment approval response for the second electronic payment information via the communication interface.

22. The payment terminal of claim 21, wherein liability for the first payment transaction request is assigned to a merchant operating the payment terminal, and wherein liability for the second payment transaction request is not assigned to the merchant.

23. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions stored therein, which when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

receiving a request to enter a swipe mode from a user interface of the payment terminal;

providing, to the user interface of the payment terminal, an opt-in confirmation in response to the request to enter the swipe mode, wherein the payment terminal is only permitted to enter the swipe mode when the opt-in confirmation is accepted by a user;

receiving a payment transaction request from the user interface of the payment terminal;

receiving electronic payment information of a swipe payment type from a payment card via a swipe interface of the payment terminal when the payment card is swiped through the swipe interface in response to the payment transaction request, the swiped payment card being a chip card;

generating, at a processing element, a swipe mode processing indicator based on the payment terminal entering the swipe mode and an indicator that the payment card is a chip card, wherein the swipe mode processing indicator allows the electronic payment information to be processed according to procedures for the swipe payment type;

providing the swipe mode processing indicator and the electronic payment information for transmission from a communication interface of the payment terminal to one or more payment servers; and

receiving a payment approval response for the electronic payment information from the communication interface of the payment terminal, wherein the payment approval response is based on the swipe mode processing indicator.

24. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 23, wherein the swipe mode processing indicator indicates that the transaction is not a technical fallback transaction, and wherein the technical fallback transaction indicates that the chip card failed to process at a chip card interface of the payment terminal.

25. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 23, wherein the instructions further comprise instructions that cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

identifying a delay condition during which the transmission of the electronic payment information should be delayed;

storing the electronic payment information at a memory of the payment terminal; and

permitting the transmission of the electronic payment information based on an expiration of the delay condition.

26. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 25, wherein the delay condition comprises a frequency of payment transactions and the expiration of the delay condition comprises the frequency of payment transactions falling below a threshold.

27. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 25, wherein the delay condition comprises a connection speed between the payment terminal and the one or more payment servers, and wherein the expiration of the delay condition comprises the connection speed exceeding a threshold.

28. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 23, wherein the instructions further comprise instructions that cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising receiving a notification that the payment card is a chip card, wherein the indicator that the payment card is a chip card is based on the notification.

29. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 23, wherein the instructions further comprise instructions that cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

receiving a second payment transaction request from the user interface of the payment terminal;

receiving electronic payment information of a swipe payment type from a second payment card from the swipe interface in response to the second payment transaction request;

determining that the second payment card is not a chip card; and

processing the second payment card according to a standard swipe card protocol based on the determination.

30. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 23, wherein the instructions further comprise instructions that cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

receiving a second payment transaction request from the user interface of the payment terminal;

receiving second electronic payment information of a chip card payment type from a second chip card via a chip card interface in response to the second payment transaction request;

providing the second electronic payment information for transmission from the communication interface of the payment terminal to one or more payment servers; and

receiving a payment approval response for the second electronic payment information from the communication interface of the payment terminal.

31. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 30, wherein liability for the first payment transaction request is assigned to a merchant operating the payment terminal, and wherein liability for the second payment transaction request is not assigned to the merchant.