SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR OPERATING TRANSACTION TERMINALS

• US 20110244799A1
• Filed: 03/31/2011
• Published: 10/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mastercard International Incorporated (MasterCard Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Mastercard International Incorporated (MasterCard Incorporated)
• Inventors: Rice, Enda, Carter, Ronald D., Rans, Jean-Paul Edmond, Roberts, David A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,189,786 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• 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 20/327 Short range or proximity payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3278 RFID or NFC payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/088 the card reader being part of the point of sale [POS] terminal or electronic cash register [ECR] itself

Abstract

Methods, systems and apparatus are provided including a proximity payment device reader which includes a reader control program to control a process to execute process, where a first process is executed upon receipt of an activation signal, the activation signal indicating the initiation of a transaction involving a proximity payment device with the reader, the first process causing at least a first signal to be transmitted to a second process, the second process causing the transmission of at least a second signal to the proximity payment device through a transceiver. In some embodiments, the first process and the second process each have a queue in which received signals are placed and handled in a first in first out basis allowing the processes to run concurrently with each other. In some embodiments, the processes may be executed to compare at least a portion of application data received from the payment device to data stored in a transaction log of the reader device to determine if the proximity payment device was recently involved in an interrupted transaction at said reader device, and if the proximity payment device was recently involved in an interrupted transaction at the reader, transmitting a signal to the proximity payment device to attempt to retry the interrupted transaction.

Claims

1. A reader, comprising:

at least one processor;

a memory, in communication with the at least one processor, and storing a reader control program;

an antenna; and

a transceiver, coupled to the antenna, for exchanging wireless signals via the antenna with a proximity payment device, the transceiver operating under control by the at least one processor and the reader control program;

wherein the reader control program controls the at least one processor such that;

a first process is executed upon receipt of an activation signal, the activation signal indicating the initiation of a transaction involving a proximity payment device with said reader;

said first process causes at least a first signal to be transmitted to a second process, said second process causing the transmission of at least a second signal to the proximity payment device through said transceiver;

wherein said first process and said second process each have a queue in which received signals are placed and handled in a first in first out basis allowing each of said processes to run concurrently with each other.

2. The reader of claim 1, wherein the reader control program further controls the at least one processor such that at least one process causes data received from said proximity payment device to be transmitted in a signal to said terminal.

3. The reader of claim 1, wherein the reader communicates with the terminal over a first communications channel.

4. The reader of claim 1, wherein said first process is a reader management process controlling the overall functions of said reader and managing signals received to and from said terminal.

5. The reader of claim 1, wherein the reader control program further controls the at least one processor such that at least a third process is executed upon receipt of a signal from the first process, the at least third process causing a signal to be transmitted to the proximity payment device.

6. A process for operating a reader device, the process comprising:

receiving, over a contactless interface, application data from a proximity payment device;

comparing at least a portion of said application data to data stored in a transaction log of said reader device to determine if said proximity payment device was recently involved in an interrupted transaction at said reader device; and

if said proximity payment device was recently involved in an interrupted transaction at said reader device, transmitting a signal to said proximity payment device to attempt to retry said interrupted transaction.

7. The process of claim 6, wherein said at least portion of said application data includes at least one of a primary account number and a primary account number sequence number of said proximity payment device.

8. The process of claim 6, wherein said signal transmitted to said proximity payment device to attempt to retry said interrupted transaction is a message to recover an application cryptogram from said proximity payment device, the process further comprising:

erasing said data stored in said transaction log associated with said interrupted transaction;

determining that a response signal from said proximity payment device was not received and terminating said transaction; and

transmitting a signal to a terminal device in communication with said reader device, said signal including status data associated with said interrupted transaction.

9. The process of claim 6, wherein said signal transmitted to said proximity payment device to attempt to retry said interrupted transaction is a message to recover an application cryptogram from said proximity payment device, the process further comprising:

erasing said data stored in said transaction log associated with said interrupted transaction;

receiving a response signal from said proximity payment device, said response signal including said application cryptogram;

verifying said received application cryptogram;

transmitting a signal to a terminal device in communication with said reader device, said signal including status data associated with said interrupted transaction; and

terminating said transaction.

10. The process of claim 6, wherein said signal transmitted to said proximity payment device to attempt to retry said interrupted transaction is a message to recover an application cryptogram from said proximity payment device, the process further comprising:

erasing said data stored in said transaction log associated with said interrupted transaction;

receiving a response signal from said proximity payment device, said response signal including said application cryptogram;

determining that said received application cryptogram is not valid;

transmitting a signal to a terminal device in communication with said reader device, said signal including status data associated with said interrupted transaction; and

terminating said transaction.

11. The process of claim 6, further comprising:

If said proximity payment device was not recently involved in an interrupted transaction at said reader device, analyzing at least a second portion of said application data to determine a type of data storage supported by said proximity payment device.

12. The process of claim 6, further comprising:

receiving a signal from a terminal associated with said reader device, said signal indicating that said reader device is to operate in a data storage mode of operation.

13. The process of claim 12, further comprising:

if said proximity payment device was not recently involved in an interrupted transaction at said reader device, analyzing at least a second portion of said application data to determine a type of data storage supported by said proximity payment device.

14. The process of claim 13, further comprising:

conducting a payment transaction under control of said reader device using said type of data storage supported by said proximity payment device.