System and method for providing contactless payment with a near field communications attachment

• US 9,183,490 B2
• Filed: 04/06/2012
• Issued: 11/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Capital One Services LLC (Capital One Financial Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Capital One Financial Corporation
• Inventors: Moreton, Paul, Poole, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsvey, Gennadiy
• Application Number:
  US13/441,505
• Publication Number:
  US 20130095754A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,313 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.1, 455/557
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0727 the arrangement being a circuit facilitating integration of the record carrier with a hand-held device such as a smart phone of PDA
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07769 the further communication means being a galvanic interface, e.g. hybrid or mixed smart cards having a contact and a non-contact interface
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• 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 20/306 using TV related infrastructures external card used for payment with client device H04N21/4185
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/308 using the Internet of Things
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3226 Use of secure elements separate from M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3278 RFID or NFC payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/367 involving electronic purses or money safes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 2220/00 Business processing using cryptography postage metering system using cryptography G06Q2250/05
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/77 for interrogation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

A system and method in accordance with exemplary embodiments may include an attachment with a near field communication antenna, a secure element, a plug capable of connecting the attachment to an audio jack on a mobile device. Further, a system and method in accordance with exemplary embodiments may include receiving a payment initiation instruction from a customer, using a near field communication antenna, sending payment information to a point of sale device, using one or more computer processors, encoding data related to the payment as audio data, and transmitting the data related to the payment through an audio jack.

Claims

1. A contactless payment attachment, comprising:

a secure element that securely stores an account number upon account provisioning, wherein the account number is used to identify a financial account and is transmitted from the contactless payment attachment when processing a financial transaction initiated by an account holder using a mobile device;

a near field communication antenna connected to the secure element that transmits the account number to a point of sale device when processing the financial transaction;

an audio encoder/decoder that encodes information related to the financial transaction as financial audio data and decodes financial audio data, the audio encoder/decoder receiving an account provisioning signal that includes the account number;

an encryption/decryption module that facilitates encryption of information being transmitted to a mobile device and facilitates decryption of encrypted information received from the mobile device; and

a plug that connects the contactless payment attachment to an audio jack on the mobile device, and facilitates transfer of power to the contactless payment attachment from the mobile device when the plug is connected to the audio jack on the mobile device;

an audio jack that receives an audio plug;

an audio transmission channel between the plug and the audio jack; and

a host controller interface operatively connected to the secure element, near field communication antenna, audio encoder/decoder, and encryption/decryption module, wherein the host controller interface controls certain operations of the contactless payment attachment, including enabling audio data other than the financial audio data to pass through the contactless payment attachment via the audio transmission channel.

2. The contactless payment attachment of claim 1, further comprising an input/output module.

3. The contactless payment attachment of claim 1, wherein the secure element comprises at least one computer processor and at least one secure storage module.

4. The contactless payment attachment of claim 1, further comprising a mechanical switch to enable functionality of the contactless payment attachment.

5. The contactless payment attachment of claim 1, further comprising a mechanical button to enable functionality of the contactless payment attachment.

6. A method for initializing an attachment, comprising the steps of:

receiving, via a network, a secure element provisioning signal including an account number from a trusted service manager, the secure element provisioning signal being used to initialize the attachment, wherein the attachment includes;

a secure element that securely stores the account number, wherein the account number is used to identify a financial account and is transmitted from the attachment when processing a financial transaction initiated by an account holder using a mobile device;

a near field communication antenna connected to the secure element that transmits the account number to a point of sale device when processing the financial transaction;

an audio encoder/decoder that encodes information related to the financial transaction as financial audio data and decodes financial audio data;

an encryption/decryption module that facilitates encryption of encoded information being transmitted to the mobile device and facilitates decryption of encrypted information received from the mobile device; and

a plug that connects the attachment to an audio jack on the mobile device, and facilitates transfer of power to the attachment from the mobile device when the plug is connected to the audio jack on the mobile device;

an audio jack that receives an audio plug;

an audio transmission channel between the plug and the audio jack; and

a host controller interface operatively connected to the secure element, near field communication antenna, audio encoder/decoder, and encryption/decryption module, wherein the host controller interface controls certain operations of the attachment, including enabling audio data other than the financial audio data to pass through the attachment via the audio transmission channel;

using one or more computer processors, encrypting, encoding as audio data, and sending at least one provisioning instruction including the account number through an audio jack of the mobile device to the attachment, thereby causing, upon receipt of the at least one provisioning instruction through the plug of the attachment, the attachment to decode, decrypt and store the account number in the secure element;

provisioning the mobile device for use with the financial accounts; and

binding the attachment to the mobile device upon determining that the audio jack of the mobile device is coupled to the plug of the attachment.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the at least one provisioning instruction comprises additional data related to the financial account.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the provisioning comprises sending to the attachment information related to a plurality of accounts.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of restricting software functionality on the mobile device if the attachment is disconnected from the mobile device.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein binding the attachment to the mobile device further comprises binding that attachment to at least two mobile devices.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein binding the attachment to at least two mobile devices further comprises binding that attachment to at least two devices selected from the group of cellular phones, personal computers, and home gaming systems.

12. A method of providing a contactless payment transaction, comprising the steps of:

receiving, at a computer processor of a mobile device, a payment initiation instruction from a customer;

transmitting an encrypted and encoded payment execution instruction from the mobile device to a contactless payment attachment that includes;

a secure element that securely stores an account number upon account provisioning, wherein the account number is used to identify a financial account and is transmitted from the contactless payment attachment when processing a financial transaction initiated by an account holder using a mobile device;

a near field communication antenna connected to the secure element that transmits the account number to a point of sale device when processing the financial transaction;

an audio encoder/decoder that encodes information related to the financial transaction as financial audio data and decodes financial audio data, the audio encoder/decoder receiving an account provisioning signal that includes the account number;

an encryption/decryption module that facilitates encryption of information being transmitted to the mobile device and facilitates decryption of encrypted information received from the mobile device; and

a plug that connects the contactless payment attachment to an audio jack on the mobile device, and facilitates transfer of power to the contactless payment attachment from the mobile device when the plug is connected to the audio jack on the mobile device;

an audio jack that receives an audio plug;

an audio transmission channel between the plug and the audio jack; and

a host controller interface operatively connected to the secure element, near field communication antenna, audio encoder/decoder, and encryption/decryption module, wherein the host controller interface controls certain operations of the contactless payment attachment, including enabling audio data other than the financial audio data to pass through the contactless payment attachment via the audio transmission channel;

transmitting payment information, including the account number, to a point of sale device via the near field communication antenna in the contactless payment attachment;

receiving, at the mobile device, data related to the payment; and

providing the data related to the payment to a display on the mobile device.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of receiving a transaction confirmation from the point of sale device.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of presenting additional information about the financial transaction to the customer.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the additional information comprises information about a consumer product related to the financial transaction.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of presenting a loan offer to the customer at the time of the financial transaction.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of utilizing reward or loyalty points to pay for the financial transaction.

18. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of generating a dynamic card security code at the time of the financial transaction.

19. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of receiving a payment confirmation.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of encoding a payment confirmation message as an audio signal.

21. A method of claim 20, further comprising the step of outputting the encoded payment confirmation message through an audio jack of the mobile device.

22. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of receiving, at a computer processor, an unlock instruction from a user.

23. A method of providing data exchange, comprising the steps of:

receiving at least one activation signal at a first NFC-ready device, wherein the at least one activation signal comprises the first NFC-ready device being placed near a second NFC-ready device, and wherein the first NFC-ready device includes;

a secure element that securely stores an account number upon account provisioning, wherein the account number is used to identify a financial account and is transmitted from the first NFC-ready device when processing a financial transaction initiated by an account holder using a mobile device;

a near field communication antenna connected to the secure element that transmits the account number to the second NFC-ready device when processing the financial transaction;

an audio encoder/decoder that encodes information related to the financial transaction as financial audio data and decodes financial audio data, the audio encoder/decoder receiving an account provisioning signal that includes the account number;

an encryption/decryption module that facilitates encryption of information being transmitted to the mobile device and facilitates decryption of encrypted information received from the mobile device; and

a plug that connects the first NFC-ready device to an audio jack on the mobile device, and facilitates the transfer of power to the first NFC-ready device from the mobile device when the plug is connected to the audio jack on the mobile device;

an audio jack that receives an audio plug;

an audio transmission channel between the plug and the audio jack; and

a host controller interface operatively connected to the secure element, near field communication antenna, audio encoder/decoder, and encryption/decryption module, wherein the host controller interface controls certain operations of the first NFC-ready device, including enabling audio data other than the financial audio data to pass through the first NFC-ready device via the audio transmission channel;

retrieving outgoing data from memory of secure element of the first NFC-ready device;

using the near field communication antenna of the first NFC-ready device, sending outgoing data to the second NFC-ready device;

using a near field communication antenna of the second NFC-ready device, receiving the outgoing data as incoming data;

using one or more computer processors of the second NFC-ready device, encoding the incoming data as audio data and encrypting the encoded data; and

transmitting the encrypted, encoded data through an audio jack of a mobile device that is coupled to the second NFC-ready device via the audio jack of the mobile device that is coupled to the second NFC-ready device.