METHODS, SYSTEMS AND COMPUTER READABLE MEDIA FOR STORING AND REDEEMING ELECTRONIC CERTIFICATES USING A WIRELESS SMART CARD

• US 20100030636A1
• Filed: 08/01/2008
• Published: 02/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mastercard International Incorporated (MasterCard Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Mastercard International Incorporated (MasterCard Incorporated)
• Inventors: Gudihala, Sridhar, Liu, Ming-Li, Vijayshankar, Roshan
• Granted Patent: US 8,740,073 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.330
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/045 using payment protocols involving tickets
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/308 using the Internet of Things
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3278 RFID or NFC payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/352 Contactless payments by cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3567 Software being in the reader
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/387 Payment using discounts or coupons relating to marketing G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0233 Method of redeeming a frequent usage reward

Abstract

Methods, systems, and computer readable media for storing and redeeming an electronic certificate on a wireless smart card are disclosed. According to one aspect, the method includes storing tag data on a wireless smart card that is inductively powered when brought into the proximity of an electromagnetic field and is unpowered when outside of the proximity of the field. Tag data is received from a wireless smart card at a wireless smart device reader during an electronic transaction, wherein the card is powered by an electromagnetic field generated by the device reader. The method also includes sending, from the wireless smart device reader, transaction data, which includes at least the tag data and a vendor identifier, to a back-end server. At the wireless smart device reader, an electronic certificate is received from the server, the electronic certificate being obtained by the server using the tag data and the vendor identifier.

Claims

1. A method for storing and redeeming an electronic certificate using an initially unpowered wireless smart card, the method comprising:

storing tag data on a wireless smart card that is inductively powered when brought into the proximity of an electromagnetic field and that is unpowered when outside of the proximity of the electromagnetic field;

receiving tag data from a wireless smart card at a wireless smart device reader during an electronic transaction, wherein the wireless smart card is powered by an electromagnetic field generated by the wireless smart device reader;

sending, from the wireless smart device reader, transaction data, which includes at least the tag data and a vendor identifier, to a back-end server; and

at the wireless smart device reader, receiving an electronic certificate from the back-end server, the electronic certificate being obtained by the back-end server using the tag data and the vendor identifier.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving tag data includes receiving tag data over an electromagnetic field via near field communications (NFC).

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the electronic certificate is obtained by the back-end server cross-referencing the transaction data with entries of a certificate database.

4. The method of claim 1 comprising:

applying the electronic certificate to the electronic transaction.

5. The method of claim 1 comprising:

querying the user associated with the wireless smart card as to whether the electronic certificate is to be applied to the electronic transaction.

6. The method of claim 1 comprising:

prior to receiving the tag data from the wireless smart card, interfacing the wireless smart card with a powered tag writer; and

receiving the tag data at the wireless smart card from by the powered tag writer.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the transaction comprises at least one of a coupon redemption transaction, a ticket redemption transaction, and a promotional transaction.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the wireless smart card wherein the wireless smart card includes one of a device and a card form factor.

9. A system for storing and redeeming an electronic certificate using an unpowered wireless smart card, the system comprising:

a wireless smart card that is indirectly powered when brought into the proximity of an electromagnetic field and that is unpowered outside of the proximity of the electromagnetic field and that stores tag data received from a powered tag writer;

a powered wireless smart device reader for acquiring the tag data from the wireless smart card during an electronic transaction, for sending transaction data to a backend server, wherein the transaction data includes at least the tag data and a vendor identifier; and

a back-end server for receiving the transaction data from the wireless smart device reader, for locating at least one electronic certificate associated with transaction data, and for providing the at least one electronic certificate to the wireless smart device reader.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the wireless smart device reader is configured to acquire the tag data over an electromagnetic field via near field communications (NFC).

11. The system of claim 9 wherein the at least one electronic certificate is obtained by the back-end server cross-referencing the transaction data with entries of a database.

12. The system of claim 9 wherein the wireless smart device reader is configured to apply the at least one electronic certificate to the electronic transaction.

13. The system of claim 9 wherein the wireless smart device reader is configured to query the user associated with the wireless smart card as to whether the at least one electronic certificate is to be applied to the electronic transaction.

14. The system of claim 9 wherein the wireless smart card is configured to interface with a powered tag writer to receive the tag data.

15. The system of claim 9 wherein the transaction comprises at least one of a coupon redemption transaction, a ticket redemption transaction, and a promotional transaction.

16. The system of claim 9 wherein the wireless smart card includes one of a device and a card form factor.

17. A computer readable medium having stored thereon comprising computer executable instructions that when executed by a processor of a computer performs steps comprising:

storing tag data on a wireless smart card that is inductively powered when brought into the proximity of an electromagnetic field and that is unpowered when outside of the proximity of the electromagnetic field;

receiving tag data from a wireless smart card at a wireless smart device reader during an electronic transaction, wherein the wireless smart card is powered by an electromagnetic field generated by the wireless smart device reader;

sending, from the wireless smart device reader, transaction data, which includes at least the tag data and a vendor identifier, to a back-end server; and

at the wireless smart device reader, receiving an electronic certificate from the back-end server, the electronic certificate being obtained by the back-end server using the tag data and the vendor identifier.