Modular device payment system

• US 9,275,389 B1
• Filed: 11/26/2014
• Issued: 03/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PayPal, Inc. (PayPal Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: PayPal, Inc. (PayPal Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Dides, Emil, Kamalie, Shereen
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Michael G
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gudorf, Laura
• Application Number:
  US14/555,144
• Time in Patent Office: 461 Days
• Field of Search: 235/380, 235/381, 235/492
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/16 Constructional details or arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/0658 e-cash managed locally
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/223 based on the use of peer-to-peer networks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/227 characterised in that multiple accounts are available, e.g. to the payer
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3223 Realising banking transactions through M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3227 using secure elements embedded in M-devices
• 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 20/351 Virtual cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/353 Payments by cards read by M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3572 Multiple accounts on card
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/36 using electronic wallets or electronic money safes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40145 Biometric identity checks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/405 Establishing or using transaction specific rules
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4097 using mutual authentication between devices and transaction partners
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0018 Constructional details, e.g. of drawer, printing means, input means

Abstract

A modular device payment module includes a chassis. A modular device connector is located on the chassis. A payment module database in the chassis stores funding source information and security information. A payment module engine in the chassis determines that the modular device connector has been connected to a modular device frame of a modular device, and retrieves modular device identifying information from the modular device. The payment module then determines that the modular device identifying information matches an authorized modular device identified by the security information in the payment module database and, in response, enables the transmission of at least some of the funding source information from the payment module database to conduct a payment transaction.

Claims

1. A modular device payment module, comprising:

a chassis;

at least one modular device connector located on the chassis;

a payment module database storing funding source information and security information;

a plurality of cards that each include a virtual currency wallet;

a virtual machine that is configured to provide access to the virtual currency wallet of each of the plurality of cards;

a hardware processing system coupled to the at least one modular device connector, the payment module database, and the virtual machine; and

a non-transitory memory system that includes instructions that, when executed by the hardware processing system, provide a payment module engine that is configured to;

determine that the at least one modular device connector has been connected to a modular device frame of a modular device;

retrieve modular device identifying information from the modular device; and

determine that the modular device identifying information matches an authorized modular device identified by the security information in the payment module database;

receive a request to access a first virtual currency wallet provided on a first card of the plurality of cards, wherein in response to the request to access the first virtual currency wallet provided on the first card, the virtual machine presents a first security layer, the first card presents a second security layer in response to an authentication of the first security layer, and the first virtual currency wallet presents a third security layer in response to an authentication of the second security layer;

enable the transmission of at least some of the funding source information from the payment module database to conduct a payment transaction in response to the modular device identifying information matching the authorized modular device identified by the security information in the payment module database; and

enable the transmission of virtual currency from the first virtual currency wallet in response to the authentication of the first security layer, the second security layer, and the third security layer.

2. The modular device payment module of claim 1, further comprising:

a biometric input system located on the chassis and coupled to the hardware processing system, wherein the payment module engine is configured to receive a biometric input from the biometric input system and determine whether the biometric input matches an authorized biometric input identified by the security information in the payment module database.

3. The modular device payment module of claim 1, further comprising:

a card information provisioning member extending from the chassis, wherein the card information provisioning member is configured to provide card information to a card reader.

4. The modular device payment module of claim 1, further comprising:

a wireless communication system coupled to the hardware processing system, wherein the payment module engine is configured to conduct the payment transaction using the wireless communication system.

5. The modular device payment module of claim 1, wherein the virtual currency wallets included on at least two of the plurality of cards are associated with the same type of virtual currency.

6. The modular payment device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of cards are virtual cards.

7. A method for conducting a payment transaction with a modular device payment module, comprising:

receiving, by a payment module, a virtual currency wallet on each of a plurality of cards;

coupling, by the payment module, a virtual machine to each of the plurality of cards;

determining, by the payment module, that at least one modular phone connector on the payment module has been connected to a first modular phone;

retrieving, by the payment module from the first modular phone, first modular phone identifying information;

determining, by the payment module, that the first modular phone identifying information matches an authorized modular phone stored in a database;

receiving, by the payment module from the first modular phone, a request to access a first virtual currency wallet provided on a first card of the plurality of cards and, in response;

presenting, by the virtual machine in the payment module, a first security layer;

presenting, by a first card of the plurality of cards in the payment module, a second security layer in response to an authentication of the first security layer; and

presenting, by a first virtual currency wallet in the first card, a third security layer in response to an authentication of the second security layer;

enabling, by the payment module, the transmission of funding source information in the database to conduct a payment transaction in response to the first modular phone identifying information matching the authorized modular phone stored in the database; and

enabling, by the payment module, the transmission of virtual currency from the first virtual currency wallet in response to the authentication of the first security layer, the second security layer, and the third security layer.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

receiving, by the payment module from a biometric input system that is coupled to the payment module, a biometric input; and

determining, by the payment module, whether the biometric input matches an authorized biometric input in the database.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

transmitting card information to a card reader in response to moving a card information provisioning member that extends from the payment module through the card reader.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the payment module is funding source specific such that the funding source information is associated with a single funding source.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the virtual currency wallets included on at least two of the plurality of cards are associated with the same type of virtual currency.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein at least one of the plurality of cards are virtual cards.

13. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

determining, by the payment module, that the at least one modular phone connector on the payment module has been connected to a second modular phone;

retrieving, by the payment module from the second modular phone, second modular phone identifying information;

determining, by the payment module, that the second modular phone identifying information does not match an authorized modular phone stored in a database and, in response, preventing the transmission of the funding source information in the database to conduct a payment transaction.

14. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon machine-readable instructions executable to cause a machine to perform operations comprising:

configuring each of a plurality of cards to store a virtual currency wallet;

configuring a virtual machine to manage each to the plurality of cards;

configuring a module to access the virtual currency wallet on any of the plurality of cards through the virtual machine;

configuring the module to determine that at least one modular system connector on the module has been connected to a first modular system;

configuring the module to retrieve first modular system identifying information from the first modular system;

configuring the module to determine that the first modular system identifying information matches an authorized modular system stored in a database;

configuring the module to receive a request to access a first virtual currency wallet provided on a first card of the plurality of cards, wherein in response to the request to access the first virtual currency wallet provided on the first card, the virtual machine presents a first security layer, the first card presents a second security layer in response to an authentication of the first security layer, and the first virtual currency wallet presents a third security layer in response to an authentication of the second security layer;

configuring the module to enable the transmission of funding source information in the database to conduct a payment transaction in response to the first modular system identifying information matching the authorized modular system stored in the database; and

configuring the module to enable the transmission of virtual currency from the first virtual currency wallet in response to the authentication of the first security layer, the second security layer, and the third security layer.

15. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the operations further comprise:

configuring the module to receive a biometric input from a biometric input system that is included on the module; and

configuring the module to determine whether the biometric input matches an authorized biometric input in the database.

16. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise:

configuring the module to provide card information to a card reader using a card information provisioning member that extends from the module.

17. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the operations further comprise:

configuring the module to transmit the funding source information wirelessly.

18. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the virtual currency wallets included on at least two of the plurality of cards are associated with the same type of virtual currency.

19. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 14, wherein at least one of the plurality of cards are virtual cards.

20. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the operations further comprise:

configuring the module to determine that the at least one modular system connector on the module has been connected to a second modular system;

configuring the module to retrieve second modular system identifying information from the second modular system;

configuring the module to determine that the second modular system identifying information matches an authorized modular system stored in the database and, in response, lock the module to prevent a payment transaction from being conducted.