Method for detecting a disconnection of the main connector of an electronic payment terminal, corresponding computer program product, storage means and payment terminal

• US 9,990,640 B2
• Filed: 12/01/2015
• Issued: 06/05/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Banks And Acquirers International Holding
• Original Assignee: Ingenico Group
• Inventors: Mayer, Laurent, Chowdhary, Ferhaj
• Primary Examiner(s): LY, TOAN C
• Application Number:
  US14/955,895
• Publication Number:
  US 20160155134A1
• Time in Patent Office: 917 Days
• Field of Search: 235380
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6245 Protecting personal data, e.g. for financial or medical purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/88 Detecting or preventing theft or loss
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/08 Payment architectures
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/405 Establishing or using transaction specific rules
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0185 Product, service or business identity fraud
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1418 Removal detected by failure in electrical connection between the appliance and a control centre, home control panel or a power supply

Abstract

A method is proposed for detecting a disconnection of a main connector of an electronic payment terminal. The method includes detecting a break in a connection control loop between a central control unit, housed in the terminal, and the main connector. In the event of a positive detection of a break, configuring the terminal in a blocked state.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

detecting a disconnection of a main connector of an electronic payment terminal, wherein the detecting comprises;

detecting a break in a connection control loop between a central control unit, housed in said terminal, and the main connector; and

in the event of a positive detection of a break, configuring said terminal in a blocked state.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said detecting a break in the loop comprises:

sending a test signal to the main connector;

detecting a loop feedback signal;

said detecting a break in the connection control loop being implemented if there is no detection of the loop feedback signal.

3. The method according to claim 1 comprising, when said terminal is in the blocked state, transmission, to at least one remote server, of a message providing information that a disconnection of the main connector from said terminal has been detected.

4. The method according to claim 1, comprising, in response to a positive detection of a break, delivering a message providing information that a disconnection of the main connector of said terminal has been detected.

5. The method according to claim 1, comprising, when said terminal is in the blocked state, deactivating functions of said terminal, said functions belonging to the group consisting of:

reading an electronic payment card;

storing data;

setting up a communication with at least one remote server;

setting up a transaction;

making entries by means of a digital pad of the terminal;

restricting messages displayed on a display screen of the terminal.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein detecting a break in the connection control loop is performed:

when said terminal is in an active operating state, said terminal being supplied with energy by the main connector, or

when said terminal is in an inactive operating state, said terminal being supplied with energy by an internal power source included in said terminal.

7. The method according to claim 1, also comprising, in the event of positive detection of a break, determining a duration of break in the connection control loop and a step of verifying that said duration of break is below a predetermined duration.

8. The method according to claim 1, comprising, when said terminal is in the blocked state, configuring said terminal in a released state upon detection of at least one of the following releasing events:

introduction via said terminal of a predetermined secret releasing code;

insertion via said terminal of at least one electronic releasing card, each associated with a secret releasing code;

request for releasing sent remotely to said terminal from a remote server.

9. A computer-readable and non-transient storage medium, storing a computer program product comprising program code instructions to implement a method when the instructions are executed on a computer of an electronic payment terminal, where in the method comprises:

detecting a disconnection of a main connector of the electronic payment terminal, comprising;

detecting a break in a connection control loop between a central control unit, housed in said terminal, and the main connector; and

in the event of a positive detection of a break, configuring said terminal in a blocked state.

10. An electronic payment terminal to which there is connected a main connector, the electronic payment terminal comprising:

means for detecting a break in a connection control loop between a central control unit, housed in said terminal, and the main connector; and

means for configuring said terminal in a blocked state, activated when the detection means detect a break in the connection control loop.