The system 100 includes a conventional payment card/device 102. As is familiar to those who are skilled in the art, the payment card/device 102 may be a magnetic stripe card, an IC (integrated circuit) card, a fob, a payment-enabled smartphone, etc. The payment card/device 102 is shown being carried and used by an account holder/user 103.
The system 100 further includes a reader component 104 associated with a POS terminal 106. In some known manner (depending on the type of the payment card/device 102) the reader component 104 is capable of reading the payment account number and other information from the payment card/device 102.
The reader component 104 and the POS terminal 106 may be located at the premises of a retail store and operated by a sales associate of the retailer for the purpose of processing retail transactions. The payment card/device 102 is shown in
A computer 108 operated by an acquirer (acquiring financial institution) is also shown as part of the system 100 in
One well known example of a payment network is referred to as the “Banknet” system, and is operated by MasterCard International Incorporated, which is the assignee hereof.
The payment account issuer server computer 112 may be operated by or on behalf of a financial institution (“FI”) that issues payment accounts to individual users. For example, the payment account issuer server computer 112 may perform such functions as (a) receiving and responding to requests for authorization of payment account transactions to be charged to payment accounts issued by the FI; (b) tracking and storing transactions and maintaining account records; (c) rendering periodic account statements; and (d) receiving and tracking payments to the issuer from the account holders.
The components of the system 100 as depicted in
Still further, and as is well-known, for e-commerce transactions, an e-commerce server computer (not shown) may function as the POS terminal. The e-commerce server computer may be operated by or on behalf of a merchant and may be accessed by the account holder via a browser program running on (for example) a personal computer (not shown) or a smartphone (not shown apart from payment device 102). To arrange for the payment portion of the e-commerce transaction, the account holder may manually enter a payment account number, or authorize a charge from a payment account number held on file by the merchant, or access a digital wallet, etc.
The present inventors have now recognized that there are opportunities to improve the payment transaction process, particularly in situations where a payment-enabled mobile device is employed for the transaction, and a wallet application (app) is running on the payment-enabled mobile device.
Features and advantages of some embodiments of the present disclosure, and the manner in which the same are accomplished, will become more readily apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate preferred and example embodiments and which are not necessarily drawn to scale, wherein:
In general, and for the purpose of introducing concepts of embodiments of the present disclosure, a payment account issuer may perform risk management processing with respect to payment account transactions based on transaction detail data supplied via an internet connection to the payment account issuer (or its stand-in) from a wallet app on a payment-enabled mobile device. The wallet app may have been published, and provisioned to the payment-enabled mobile device, by a merchant such as a large chain of retail stores. In some embodiments, the transaction detail data may include an identification/description of the item(s) to be purchased and/or a price range that indicates the price that is being paid for the purchased item(s). With augmented transaction data thus being made available to the account issuer, the issuer's risk management assessments may exhibit improved reliability and it may be in order to extend improved terms to the merchant relative to the payment account system handling of the transaction.
Details of the payment-enabled mobile device 202, and of relevant functionality of one or more apps running thereon, will be described below.
Also shown as part of the payment system 200 is an authentication server 206. The authentication server 206 may authenticate a transaction in response to a request submitted to the authentication server 206 from the payment-enabled mobile device 202. Details of the authentication server 206 and its functionality according to aspects of the present disclosure will be described below.
Block 208 is shown in
The system 200 may further include the payment network 110 and issuer computer 112, as referred to above in connection with
Alternatively, the authentication server may be operated by an authentication service, which—for example—may be affiliated with the operator of the payment network 110, and retained by the account issuer for purposes described herein.
As shown in
The mobile device 202 may include a housing 303. In many embodiments, the front of the housing 303 is predominantly constituted by a touchscreen (not separately shown), which is a key element of the user interface 304 of the mobile device 202.
The mobile device 202 further includes a mobile processor/control circuit 306, which is contained within the housing 303. Also included in the mobile device 202 is a storage/memory device or devices (reference numeral 308). The storage/memory devices 308 are in communication with the processor/control circuit 306 and may contain program instructions to control the processor/control circuit 306 to manage and perform various functions of the mobile device 202. As is well-known, a device such as mobile device 202 may function as what is in effect a pocket-sized personal computer (assuming for example that the mobile device is a smartphone), via programming with a number of application programs, or “apps”, as well as a mobile operating system (OS). (The apps are represented at block 310 in
Also shown in
In some embodiments, the wallet app 311 may have been downloaded to the mobile device 202 by a merchant which the user frequently visits. The wallet app 311 may, for example, be issued by a very large retailer with many stores, and for the purpose of facilitating the user's transactions at the merchant's stores, facilitating offers and advertising to the user, tracking the user's purchases, etc. For present purposes, it is assumed that the point of sale where the user 103 and mobile device 202 are present in
In some embodiments, the wallet app and/or payment account data may be stored in a secure element (SE—not shown apart from block 311, 312 or block 308), which may be provided in some embodiments of the payment-enabled mobile device 202 to provide enhanced security for the payment apps 312 and/or sensitive data associated therewith. The SE, if present, may be conventional in its hardware aspects. In addition or alternatively, security for the payment apps 312 may be enhanced by known alternatives to an SE, such as a TEE (trusted execution environment).
To the extent that the SE includes processing capabilities, it may functionally (though likely not physically) overlap with block 306; to the extent that the SE includes storage (and particularly program storage) capabilities, it may functionally (though likely not physically) overlap with block 308.
While the wallet app 311 may exhibit conventional functionality for apps of that type, it may also provide additional functionality in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure as described herein.
Although several payment accounts 312 are illustrated in
As is typical for mobile devices, the mobile device 202 may include mobile communications functions as represented by block 313. The mobile communications functions may include voice and data communications via a mobile communication network (not shown) with which the mobile device 202 is registered.
In addition, to permit the mobile device 202 to emulate a contactless payment card, the mobile device 202 may include short-range radio communications capabilities (block 314), including for example NFC (near field communication). Thus block 314 may represent a suitable antenna (not separately shown) that is appropriate for NFC communications with a POS terminal reader component as well as driving and receiving circuitry associated with the antenna. It will be appreciated that the NFC antenna may be separate and different from the antenna (not separately shown) utilized by the mobile device 202 for the mobile communication functions represented by block 313.
Also shown in
From the foregoing discussion, it will be appreciated that the blocks depicted in
It has been posited that the mobile device 202 may be embodied as a smartphone, but this assumption is not intended to be limiting, as mobile device 202 may alternatively, in at least some cases, be constituted by a tablet computer, a smartwatch or by other types of portable electronic devices.
Referring now to
The authentication server 206 may include a computer processor 400 operatively coupled to a communication device 401, a storage device 404, an input device 406 and an output device 408. The communications device 401, the storage device 404, the input device 406 and the output device 408 may all be in communication with the processor 400.
The computer processor 400 may be constituted by one or more processors. Processor 400 operates to execute processor-executable steps, contained in program instructions described below, so as to control the authentication server 206 to provide desired functionality.
Communication device 401 may be used to facilitate communication with, for example, other devices (such as customers' mobile devices). Communication device 401 may comprise numerous communication ports (not separately shown), to allow the authentication server 206 to communicate simultaneously with a number of other devices, including communications as required to simultaneously handle numerous interactions with other devices referred to in connection with
Input device 406 may comprise one or more of any type of peripheral device typically used to input data into a computer. For example, the input device 406 may include a keyboard and a mouse. Output device 408 may comprise, for example, a display and/or a printer.
Storage device 404 may comprise any appropriate information storage device, including combinations of magnetic storage devices (e.g., hard disk drives), optical storage devices such as CDs and/or DVDs, and/or semiconductor memory devices such as Random Access Memory (RAM) devices and Read Only Memory (ROM) devices, as well as so-called flash memory. Any one or more of such information storage devices may be considered to be a computer-readable storage medium or a computer usable medium or a memory.
Storage device 404 stores one or more programs for controlling processor 400. The programs comprise program instructions (which may be referred to as computer readable program code means) that contain processor-executable process steps of the authentication server 206, executed by the processor 400 to cause the authentication server 206 to function as described herein.
The programs may include one or more conventional operating systems (not shown) that control the processor 400 so as to manage and coordinate activities and sharing of resources in the authentication server 206, and to serve as a host for application programs (described below) that run on the authentication server 206.
In addition, the storage device 404 may store a software interface 410 that facilitates communication with the mobile device 202 operated by the user 103 and/or other customers' mobile devices.
Still further, the storage device 404 may store a transaction handling application program 412. The transaction handling application program 412 may control the processor 400 so as to enable the authentication server 206 to engage in transaction handling pursuant to requests from customers' mobile devices (e.g., mobile device 202) and in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. Details of the operation of the authentication server 206 pursuant to the transaction handling application program 412 will be described below.
The storage device 404 may also store, and the authentication server 206 may also execute, other programs, which are not shown. For example, such programs may include a reporting application, which may respond to requests from system administrators for reports on the activities performed by the authentication server 206. The other programs may also include, e.g., device drivers, database management programs, communications software, etc.
The storage device 404 may also store one or more databases (reference numeral 414) required for operation of the authentication server 206.
It should be noted that other computer components of payment system 200, as shown in
For purposes of the process of
At 502 in
The POS device may then calculate a transaction total, sales tax, etc., while also generating an electronic receipt for the transaction. The electronic receipt may include line items that identify the items purchased as well as the price per item. By suitable means, the POS device may communicate the electronic receipt to the wallet app 311 on the payment-enabled mobile device 202. (That is, the electronic receipt may be transmitted from the POS device to the mobile device 202.) Block 503 in
At 504, the wallet app 311, via the mobile device user interface 304 (
Step 506 may occur once the selected payment app 312 has been opened. At 506, the wallet app 311 transmits transaction data, such as transaction detail data, to the authentication server 206. The transaction detail data may include, for example, data that identifies the product items that are being purchased in the transaction. In some embodiments, the transaction detail data may also include, for each purchased product item, an indicator of a particular price range that represents the purchase price for the product item in question. In this way, it is possible to give the issuer/authentication service a useful indication of the item price without revealing the exact price of the item. It should be understood that each price range may be defined by a respective lower bound monetary amount and a respective upper bound monetary amount. The wallet app 311 may, for purposes of generating the transaction detail data, convert the actual price paid for each item into a price range for the item according to an algorithm included in the wallet app 311.
Transmission of the transaction detail data may occur via communication between the mobile device 202 and the authentication server 206. This communication may, for example, be via a mobile telecommunications network (not shown) and via the internet. In addition to sending transaction data, including transaction detail data, to the authentication server 206, the mobile device 202 may also send other data to the authentication server that may aid the authentication server in its risk management processing. For example, the other data may include the current location of the mobile device, device identification data that uniquely identifies the mobile device, and an indication that user authentication has just been performed with respect to the user 103. The indication that user authentication has been performed may specify that type of user authentication, including fingerprint verification, another biometric measure, and/or PIN entry and verification. It should be noted that the device identification data may be associated with the mobile device during manufacturing or software configuration of the mobile device, and may be different from any payment account number or payment token provisioned to the mobile device or associated with the mobile device.
At 508, the authentication server 206 may perform risk management processing relative to the current transaction. The authentication server 206 may use some or all of the information provided by the wallet app 311 in connection with step 506, as just described. With this information, including product and price range detail, the authentication server 206 may be able to run more reliable and sophisticated risk management algorithms than are typically performed by an account issuer with respect to a transaction. Thus the authentication server 206 may have an enhanced capability for detecting and preventing fraudulent transactions, due at least in part to the transaction detail data shared from the merchant wallet app 311. With this added assurance to the issuer that the transaction is legitimate, the payment transaction may proceed according to terms that are favorable to the merchant relating to factors such as interchange and/or shifting of liability to the issuer in case the transaction ultimately proves to be problematic.
Assuming that the risk management processing so indicates, the authentication server 206 may indicate the transaction is authenticated. This may involve, for example, the authentication server sending a response to the mobile device 202 to indicate authentication and/or the authentication server sending a suitable cryptogram to the merchant POS device or transaction processor (block 208), as the case may be. Block 509 in
Following and in response to authentication of the transaction by the authentication server 206, the payment credentials corresponding to the selected payment account 312 may be provided to the merchant, as indicated by block 510. For example, the wallet app 311 may transmit to the merchant's POS device a payment account number or payment token (plus related information) stored in the mobile device 202. As will be understood by those who are skilled in the art, in arrangements in which the payment credentials are stored remotely from, but accessed via, the payment-enabled mobile device 202, the wallet app 311 may take the necessary action or actions to arrange that the remotely stored payment credentials are provided to the merchant.
In other embodiments, the authentication server may provide, to the POS terminal or the merchant's payment processor, the payment credentials corresponding to the selected payment account 312.
With the payment credentials having been provided to the merchant, the transaction may proceed to completion, as indicated at block 512 in
The principles described above with respect to
If for some reason the transaction is not completed, then the electronic receipt referred to above may be canceled. For example, the POS device may in such a situation communicate with the payment-enabled mobile device/wallet app to cause the digital receipt to be deleted or marked invalid.
In some embodiments, the merchant wallet app may have only one payment account associated therewith, and the payment account may be “locked” such that the same may be used only for transactions with the merchant that issued the merchant wallet app, or may only be used with a certain group of merchants.
In some embodiments, the authentication server may be operated directly by the issuer of the selected payment account rather than as a service for one or more issuers operated, e.g., by an affiliate of the payment network.
In embodiments described above, payment accounts have been associated with a wallet app in the user's mobile device. The wallet app has been described as communicating transaction data, including transaction detail data, to an authentication server that represents the issuer of a selected payment account. In some embodiments, telecommunication capabilities/features may be associated with each payment account provisioned to the wallet app. In such embodiments, the telecommunication features for the selected account—as provisioned to the wallet app—may be in contact with the authentication server to upload the transaction data/transaction detail data.
In other embodiments, provisioning of payment accounts to the mobile device includes provisioning associated payment apps to the mobile device for association with the wallet app. During a transaction, the wallet app may pass the transaction data/transaction detail data to the selected payment app for the transaction. The selected payment app may transmit the transaction data/transaction detail data to the authentication server.
As used herein and in the appended claims, the term “processor” should be understood to encompass a single processor or two or more processors in communication with each other.
As used herein and in the appended claims, the term “memory” should be understood to encompass a single memory or storage device or two or more memories or storage devices.
The above descriptions and illustrations of processes herein should not be considered to imply a fixed order for performing the process steps. Rather, the process steps may be performed in any order that is practicable, including simultaneous performance of at least some steps.
As used herein and in the appended claims, the term “payment card system account” includes a credit card account, a deposit account that the account holder may access using a debit card, a prepaid card account, or any other type of account from which payment transactions may be consummated. The terms “payment card system account” and “payment card account” and “payment account” are used interchangeably herein. The term “payment card account number” includes a number that identifies a payment card system account or a number carried by a payment card, or a number that is used to route a transaction in a payment system that handles debit card and/or credit card transactions. The term “payment card” includes a credit card, debit card, prepaid card, or other type of payment instrument, whether an actual physical card or virtual.
As used herein and in the appended claims, the term “payment system” refers to a system for handling purchase transactions and related transactions. An example of such a system is the one operated by MasterCard International Incorporated, the assignee of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, the term “payment system” may be limited to systems in which member financial institutions issue payment accounts to individuals, businesses and/or other organizations.
Although the present invention has been described in connection with specific example embodiments, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions, and alterations apparent to those skilled in the art can be made to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/368,269 (filed on Jul. 29, 2016); the contents of which provisional application are hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes.
Number | Date | Country | |
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62368269 | Jul 2016 | US |