Apparatus and method for integrated payment and electronic merchandise transfer

• US 20070012763A1
• Filed: 06/29/2006
• Published: 01/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mastercard International Incorporated (MasterCard Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Mastercard International Incorporated (MasterCard Incorporated)
• Inventors: Smets, Patrik, Roberts, David, Van de Velde, Eddy
• Granted Patent: US 7,374,082 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/380
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/045 using payment protocols involving tickets
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals

Abstract

Payment transactions using a payment infrastructure are efficiently combined with e-merchandise transactions using an e-merchandise infrastructure, while allowing each infrastructure to concentrate on its primary function. An electronic payment device configured according to the payment infrastructure is interrogated by a payment module (also configured according to the payment infrastructure) of a first terminal to obtain financial data. Electronic merchandise-related information is generated by an electronic merchandise module (configured according to the electronic merchandise infrastructure) of the first terminal, and such information is transferred to the electronic payment device within a transaction conducted in accordance with the financial data and the payment infrastructure.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for integrated payment and electronic merchandise transfer via a payment infrastructure in association with an electronic merchandise infrastructure, comprising the steps of:

facilitating interrogation of an electronic payment device by a first terminal to obtain financial data, said electronic payment device being configured according to the payment infrastructure, said first terminal having a first terminal payment module configured according to the payment infrastructure and a first terminal electronic merchandise module configured according to the electronic merchandise infrastructure and coupled to said first terminal payment module, said interrogation of said electronic payment device being performed by said first terminal payment module;

facilitating generation of e-merchandise related information by said first terminal electronic merchandise module; and

facilitating transfer of said e-merchandise related information to said electronic payment device via said first terminal payment module, within a transaction conducted in accordance with said financial data and said payment infrastructure.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein in said step of facilitating interrogation:

profile data pertaining to a holder of said electronic payment device is obtained; and

said e-merchandise related information is generated by said first terminal electronic merchandise module based on said profile data.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said profile data includes information identifying said holder of said electronic payment device as a member of a class having at least one of a plurality of entitlement categories associated therewith, said entitlement categories relating to said e-merchandise.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said entitlement categories comprise transportation fare categories and said e-merchandise related information comprises transportation ticket information.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said steps are executed in connection with entrance of a holder to a controlled access system and said e-merchandise related information comprises initial entry point information.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said first terminal is an entrance terminal, further comprising the additional steps of:

facilitating interrogation of said electronic payment device by an exit terminal upon exit of said holder from said system, to obtain said initial entry point information, said exit terminal having an exit terminal payment module configured according to the payment infrastructure and an exit terminal electronic merchandise module configured according to the electronic merchandise infrastructure and coupled to said exit terminal payment module; and

facilitating at least one of;

providing a ticket to the holder, and

charging a fee to the holder,

via said exit terminal payment module, based upon said initial entry point information and a location of said exit terminal.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said entrance terminal and said exit terminal are the same.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein said entrance terminal and said exit terminal are distinct.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein in said step of facilitating interrogation, profile data pertaining to a holder of said electronic payment device is obtained, said profile data including information identifying said holder of said electronic payment device as a member of a class having at least one of a plurality of entitlement categories associated therewith, said entitlement categories relating to said e-merchandise.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said entitlement categories comprise transportation fare categories and said e-merchandise related information comprises transportation ticket information.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said electronic payment device is a contactless radio frequency (RF) proximity card.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said electronic payment device is a contacted card.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein said electronic payment device is a dual-interface card having both contactless radio frequency (RF) and contacted interfaces.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein said electronic payment device has a non-card form factor.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising the additional steps of:

facilitating interrogation of said electronic payment device by said first terminal to obtain a transaction counter and an account number;

facilitating calculation of an authentication code including said transaction counter and said account number;

facilitating determining whether said transaction counter and said account number obtained from said electronic payment device match said transaction counter and said account number included in said authentication code; and

facilitating refusal of storage of said authentication code by said electronic payment device, responsive to said determining revealing that said transaction counter and said account number obtained from said electronic payment device do not match said transaction counter and said account number included in said authentication code, whereby a likelihood of replay fraud is reduced.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the additional step of:

facilitating skimming detection, based on said account number, said authentication code, and a unique data authentication signature associated with said transaction, said authentication code including said account number, said account number being signed by said unique data authentication signature.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising the additional steps of:

facilitating interrogation of said electronic payment device by said first terminal to obtain a transaction counter, an electronic payment device identifier, and an electronic payment device-generated random number;

facilitating calculation of an authentication code based on said e-merchandise related information, said transaction counter, said electronic payment device identifier, and said electronic payment device-generated random number;

facilitating detection of replay fraud via said transaction counter and said payment device-generated random number.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the additional step of:

facilitating skimming detection, based on linkage of said e-merchandise related information to said electronic payment device identifier.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising the additional step of facilitating payment for said e-merchandise, said payment occurring after said transfer of said e-merchandise related information to said electronic payment device.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising the additional step of facilitating fraud detection substantially contemporaneously with an attempted usage of said e-merchandise related information.

21. A terminal for integrated payment and electronic merchandise transfer via a payment infrastructure in association with an electronic merchandise infrastructure and in conjunction with an electronic payment device configured according to the payment infrastructure, said terminal comprising:

a payment module configured according to the payment infrastructure and configured to interrogate the electronic payment device to obtain financial data; and

an electronic merchandise module configured according to the electronic merchandise infrastructure and coupled to said payment module, said electronic merchandise module being configured to facilitate processing of e-merchandise related information;

wherein said payment module is further configured to facilitate transfer of said e-merchandise related information to the electronic payment device, in a transaction conducted in accordance with said financial data and said payment infrastructure.

22. The terminal of claim 21, wherein:

said payment module is further configured to interrogate the electronic payment device to obtain profile data pertaining to a holder of said electronic payment device; and

said first terminal electronic merchandise module is configured to process said e-merchandise related information based on said profile data.

23. The terminal of claim 21, wherein said processing of said e-merchandise related information comprises generating said e-merchandise related information.

24. The terminal of claim 21, wherein said processing of said e-merchandise related information comprises reading said e-merchandise related information.

25. The terminal of claim 21, wherein said processing of said e-merchandise related information comprises updating said e-merchandise related information.

26. A computer program product comprising a computer useable medium including computer usable program code for integrated payment and electronic merchandise transfer via a payment infrastructure in association with an electronic merchandise infrastructure, said computer program product including:

computer usable program code for facilitating interrogation of an electronic payment device by a first terminal to obtain financial data, said electronic payment device being configured according to the payment infrastructure, said first terminal having a first terminal payment module configured according to the payment infrastructure and a first terminal electronic merchandise module configured according to the electronic merchandise infrastructure and coupled to said first terminal payment module, said interrogation of said electronic payment device being performed by said first terminal payment module;

computer usable program code for facilitating generation of e-merchandise related information by said first terminal electronic merchandise module; and

computer usable program code for facilitating transfer of said e-merchandise related information to said electronic payment device via said first terminal payment module, within a transaction conducted in accordance with said financial data and said payment infrastructure.

27. The computer program product of claim 26, further comprising computer usable program code for obtaining profile data pertaining to a holder of said electronic payment device, wherein said e-merchandise related information is generated by said first terminal electronic merchandise module based on said profile data.

28. The computer program product of claim 27, wherein said profile data includes information identifying said holder of said electronic payment device as a member of a class having at least one of a plurality of entitlement categories associated therewith, said entitlement categories relating to said e-merchandise.

29. An electronic payment device for facilitating integrated payment and electronic merchandise transfer via a payment infrastructure in association with an electronic merchandise infrastructure, said electronic payment device being configured according to the payment infrastructure, said electronic payment device comprising:

a memory; and

at least one processor coupled to said memory, said processor being operative to;

facilitate interrogation of said electronic payment device by a first terminal to obtain financial data, said first terminal having a first terminal payment module configured according to the payment infrastructure and a first terminal electronic merchandise module configured according to the electronic merchandise infrastructure and coupled to said first terminal payment module, said interrogation of said electronic payment device being performed by said first terminal payment module;

facilitating generation of e-merchandise related information by said first terminal electronic merchandise module; and

facilitating transfer of said e-merchandise related information to said electronic payment device via said first terminal payment module, within a transaction conducted in accordance with said financial data and said payment infrastructure.

30. The electronic payment device of claim 29, wherein said processor is further operative to facilitate said terminal obtaining profile data pertaining to a holder of said electronic payment device, wherein said e-merchandise related information is generated by said first terminal electronic merchandise module based on said profile data.

31. The electronic payment device of claim 30, wherein said profile data includes information identifying said holder of said electronic payment device as a member of a class having at least one of a plurality of entitlement categories associated therewith, said entitlement categories relating to said e-merchandise.

32. The electronic payment device of claim 29, wherein said processor is operative to perform said steps in connection with entrance of a holder to a controlled access system and said e-merchandise related information comprises initial entry point information.

33. The electronic payment device of claim 32, wherein said first terminal is an entrance terminal, wherein said processor is further operative to:

facilitate interrogation of said electronic payment device by an exit terminal upon exit of said holder from said system, to said initial entry point information, said exit terminal having an exit terminal payment module configured according to the payment infrastructure and an exit terminal electronic merchandise module configured according to the electronic merchandise infrastructure and coupled to said exit terminal payment module; and

facilitate at least one of;

providing a ticket to the holder, and

charging a fee to the holder,

via said exit terminal payment module, based upon said initial entry point information and a location of said exit terminal.