PORTABLE ITEM FOR CONTACTLESS PAYMENT

Description

Technical field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a portable contactless object capable of participating in the execution of an electronic payment. Technological background

[0002] In the prior art, we know of wearable devices such as payment cards that incorporate near-field communication (NFC) modules for contactless electronic payments. In such devices, the NFC modules consist of an electronic chip electrically connected to an antenna. Most of the time, these devices do not require a separate power supply and are designed to communicate automatically with a reader as soon as they come into contact with it. The reader's electromagnetic field generates an induced current in the antenna, which powers the chip and allows it to transmit a signal via the antenna.

[0003] However, there is a need to offer an alternative to existing solutions, particularly when users of such portable devices have several payment cards that they wish to use for contactless electronic payments.

[0004] Patent application EP 3 654 113 A1 discloses a wristwatch with a short-range communication module configured to make an electronic payment, the short-range communication module comprising a plurality of security elements each corresponding to a bank account or payment card of the user, the wristwatch further comprising an element for activating or deactivating the electronic payment executed by the communication module and an element for selecting one of the secure elements. Summary of the invention

[0005] One of the aims of the invention is to offer a portable object whose characteristics contribute to improving its use in the context of contactless electronic payment by making this use easier and safer than prior art solutions.

[0006] The invention relates to a portable contactless payment device capable of participating in the execution of an electronic payment according to claim 1. The dependent claims define advantageous embodiments of the invention. Brief description of the figures

[0007] Further details of the invention will become clearer upon reading the following description, made with reference to the figure 1 attached which represents a schematic view of a portable contactless payment device incorporating a near field connection device. Detailed description of the invention

[0008] There figure 1This diagram shows a schematic representation of a contactless payment device 1 comprising a plurality of valid virtual payment cards 2. These virtual payment cards 2, also known as digital bank cards or virtual credit cards, are each associated with a physical bank card held by the user of this device 1, and by extension, with that user's bank account. These virtual payment cards 2 are stored in the device 1 as digital data, for example, data called a "token" in the context of electronic payment by tokenization. This tokenization is the process of replacing payment data, such as bank details (card number, etc.), with this token.In other words, this process allows critical data to be replaced by an equivalent element, in this case the "token," which will have no intrinsic value or usable meaning once it leaves the payment system. This critical data consists of the user's banking information for wearable device 1, which includes, but is not limited to: a bank card number, a card expiry date; the cardholder's personal data: name, surname, address, etc... a bank account number; etc.

[0009] In this context, the multiple virtual payment cards stored in the portable device are considered valid, validated, or assigned because each is linked to a physical bank card held by the user of that device. Therefore, these valid virtual payment cards can be used directly to make an electronic payment, unlike invalid virtual payment cards, also known as passive virtual payment cards. Indeed, these invalid virtual payment cards cannot be used because they are not linked to any physical payment card.For such invalid virtual payment cards to be usable, the portable device (PDU) that stores them must be connected to the internet to implement a validation / assignment procedure with a trusted third-party payment service provider. This allows the cards to be used and thus be valid. It should be noted that a valid virtual payment card becomes a usable virtual payment card, also called an active virtual payment card, as soon as it is selected and used to make a contactless electronic payment, as will be explained later.

[0010] The wearable object 1 storing these virtual payment cards 2 can be a wearable technology such as clothing or an accessory incorporating advanced computer and electronic components. Wearable technologies include, in particular, electronic watches, for example smartwatches, glasses, textiles, or jewelry.

[0011] Such a portable object 1 includes, but is not limited to: a near field communication module 4, for example of the NFC type; a processing unit 3 or microcontroller; a selection device 5 for a virtual payment card; a control device 6 for the communication module 4; a temporary activation device 7 for the communication module 4; a visual and / or audible device;

[0012] In this portable device 1, the communication module 4 includes a microcircuit 8, also called a printed circuit board (PCB). This microcircuit 8 has two terminals connected to the ends of an antenna 9, for example, a loop antenna. This microcircuit 8 includes an electronic chip 17, for example, an NFC chip, comprising a secure element 18 capable of storing at least one valid virtual payment card that can be used for electronic payment. This secure element 18 contains a secure processor, a storage element, and execution memory. This storage element stores the plurality of valid virtual payment cards 2. Such a secure element 18 enables secure transactions by including applications that rely on secure keys operating within this secure processor.

[0013] This communication module 4 does not require its own power supply and is designed to communicate automatically with a reader as soon as the wearable device 1 is brought near it. The reader's electromagnetic field generates an induced current in the antenna 9, which powers the unit 8 and allows it to transmit a signal via the antenna 9. As will be seen later, this electronic chip 17 stores at least one valid virtual payment card selected by the user, which can be used by this wearable device 1 to make an electronic payment.

[0014] The processing unit 3 of this portable object 1 comprises hardware and software resources, in particular at least one processor cooperating with memory elements. This processing unit 3 is connected to the near-field communication module 4, the visual and / or audio device, the selection device 5, and / or the control and temporary activation devices 7 of the communication module 4.

[0015] In this wearable device 1, the visual and / or audible device is capable of disseminating information relating to the identification of the selected valid virtual payment card and the status of the communication module 4, namely whether it is activated or deactivated. This visual and / or audible device may also disseminate information on the temporary activation of this module and the remaining duration of this temporary activation. Such a visual and / or audible device may include a visual interface such as a screen, illumination, or needles, and an audible interface such as a loudspeaker, buzzer, and / or vibrator.

[0016] When this wearable object 1 is an electronic watch, this visual interface includes: a screen arranged in the dial 16 of this watch and / or at least one hand 12a, 12b capable of moving and cooperating with indexes / appliques 13 included on a dial 16, and / or at least one hand 12a, 12b capable of moving and cooperating with indexes or numbers included on a rehaut of the watch and / or at least one hand 12a, 12b capable of moving and cooperating with the indexes and / or numbers 14 included on a rotating bezel 10 of the watch, and / or at least one window arranged in the dial 16 in which a graphic representation such as a drawing or a number can be displayed.

[0017] As we have mentioned, this wearable device 1 stores valid virtual payment cards 2 in the secure element 18 of the electronic chip 17. During the execution of an electronic payment process, the selection device 5 is then activated by the user of the wearable device 1. This selection device 5 includes a movable selection element 10, 11 which can be manipulated by the user of this wearable device 1 in the two directions S visible on the figure 1and at least one angular position and / or angular displacement sensor for this selection element 10, 11. In this configuration, said at least one sensor is capable of transmitting angular position and / or angular displacement data of the selection element 10, 11 to the processing unit 3. From this data, the processing unit 3 is capable of determining the valid virtual payment card that has been chosen by the user. This processing unit 3 then generates an instruction to select the valid virtual payment card, which is transmitted to the electronic chip 17. Upon receiving this selection instruction, the secure element 18 transmits the selected valid virtual payment card 2 to an NFC communication interface of the electronic chip 17 of the microcircuit 8. It then becomes a usable virtual payment card that can now be used to make an electronic payment.It should be noted that this communication interface of chip 17 is capable of exchanging with a reader such as a payment terminal in the context of making a contactless electronic payment.

[0018] Furthermore, based on the angular position and / or angular displacement data of the selection element 10, 11, this processing unit 3 is capable of generating information dissemination instructions relating to the identifier of the selected valid virtual payment card 2, in other words, the dissemination of the identifier of the usable virtual payment card. Such dissemination instructions are transmitted by this processing unit 3 to the visual and / or audible device.

[0019] To improve the security of this wearable device 1, it includes a control device 6 for the communication module 4 and / or a temporary activation device 7 for the communication module 4. Each of these devices helps prevent a malicious third party from retrieving, without the user's knowledge, information relating to valid virtual payment cards 2 and / or the usable virtual payment card stored on the device, for example, by using a transceiver. In this configuration, the communication module 4 is deactivated by default and can only be activated by one of these control devices 6 or temporary activation devices 7 for this module 4.

[0020] As we have just mentioned, the control device 6 is capable of activating and deactivating the communication module 4. To do this, this device 6 comprises a movable control member 10, 11 and at least one angular position and / or angular displacement sensor mentioned previously. This control member 10, 11, which can be manipulated by the user in the two directions S visible on the figure 1, may correspond to the same moving part of the wearable object 1 as the selection member 10, 11 described previously. In this configuration, when the control member 10, 11 is manipulated, said at least one sensor is then able to transmit to the processing unit 3 angular position and / or angular displacement data relating to this member 10, 11. Based on an analysis of this data, the processing unit 3 is then able to activate the communication module 4 as soon as it determines a configurable sequence of one or more angular positions and / or one or more angular displacements of this control member 10, 11. Deactivating the communication module 4 may also require the execution of such a sequence by the control member 10, 11, this sequence being able to be different from that performed for the activation of the communication module 4.In one variant, when deactivating the communication module 4, it may not be necessary to perform such a sequence; indeed, the control element 10, 11 can simply be configured in a predetermined angular position or describe a predetermined angular movement. Additionally, it should be noted that the duration of this sequence can be configured to enhance the security of this portable object 1. Furthermore, it is understood that such a sequence corresponds to a user identification code.

[0021] When communication module 4 is activated or deactivated, the visual and / or audible device may emit an audible and / or visual signal. Furthermore, this visual and / or audible device may display, at any time, the activated or deactivated status of communication module 4.

[0022] In an example where the wearable object 1 is an electronic watch, this control element can be the rotating bezel 10 which is provided with a main marker 15. When the user wishes to activate the communication module 4 in the context of making an electronic payment, they can then perform a sequence of three positions or angular displacements of the bezel 10 by successively aligning the main marker 15 of this bezel 10 with three indexes or appliques 13 corresponding to the scheduled hours defined on the dial 16. Once the electronic payment is made, the bezel 10 can then be configured in an angular position or describe an angular displacement intended for this purpose, for example an angular position in which the main marker 15 of this bezel 10 is aligned with the index / applique 13 corresponding to noon.When the communication module 4 is activated and deactivated, the watch's audio interface can emit an audio signal / message and the watch's visual interface can display the activated or deactivated status of this module.

[0023] Regarding the temporary activation device 7 of the communication module 4, it comprises a movable activation element 10, 11 and at least one angular position and / or angular displacement sensor mentioned previously. In this context, it is understood that this device 7 is therefore intended to activate the communication module 4 only for a given, configurable duration. This configurable duration should preferably correspond approximately to the time required to complete an electronic payment. In this portable object 1, the activation element 10, 11, which can be manipulated by the user in the two directions visible on the figure 1This can correspond to the same moving part as the selection member 10, 11, or even the control member 10, 11 described previously. Therefore, and in the same way, when the activation member 10, 11 is manipulated, at least one sensor is then able to transmit angular position and / or angular displacement data relating to this activation member 10, 11 to the processing unit 3. Based on this data, the processing unit 3 is then able to temporarily activate the communication module 4 as soon as it identifies an expected sequence of one or more positions and / or one or more angular displacements of this activation member 10, 11. It should be noted that the duration of this sequence can be configured to enhance the security of this portable object 1. Furthermore, it should be noted that such a sequence corresponds to a user identification code, which thus allows the communication module 4 to be temporarily activated.

[0024] In one variant, the temporary activation device 7 comprises only the activation element 10, 11. In this configuration, this element 10, 11 can be a push button within the portable object 1, capable of generating a temporary activation signal when pressed by the user. This generated signal is received by the processing unit 3, which then transmits a temporary activation instruction to the communication module 4.

[0025] During the temporary activation of communication module 4, the visual and / or audible device may emit an audible and / or visual signal. Furthermore, this visual and / or audible device may display a visual and / or audible message regarding the activated state of communication module 4, the time remaining before its deactivation, and subsequently, its deactivated state.

[0026] Furthermore, it should be noted that when the wearable object is an electronic watch, the selection organ 10, 11, the control organ 10, 11 and the temporary activation organ 10, 11 can each also correspond to a crown 11.

[0027] Furthermore, it should be noted that when the wearable device 1 is a mechanical watch, i.e., one without a battery-type power supply, in this configuration, the processing unit 3, which is connected to the selection device 5, control device 6, and temporary activation device 7, is contained within the microcircuit 8 of the near-field communication module 4. Being contained within the microcircuit 8, this processing unit 3 is electrically powered as soon as a reader, such as a payment terminal, is brought near the wearable device 1, for example, during a contactless electronic payment. Thus, in this context, once the microcircuit 8 is powered, the angular position and / or angular displacement of the selection, control, and / or temporary activation devices are determined according to the principle described previously, and consequently, the valid virtual payment card selected is identified.Furthermore, it should be noted that the active or passive state of the communication module 4 and / or the identifier of the selected valid virtual payment card which becomes the usable virtual payment card can be transmitted by this processing unit 3 to the visual and / or sound device which may be light-emitting diodes.

Claims

1. A portable contactless payment object (1) that can be used for making electronic payments, said portable object (1) comprising a processing unit (3) and a near-field communication module (4) storing a plurality of valid virtual payment cards (2) as well as a device (5) for selecting one of said valid virtual payment cards (2) used as a virtual payment card that can be used to make said electronic payments, said portable object (1) also comprising: - a device (6) for controlling the communication module (4), configured to activate or deactivate said communication module (4) and comprising a mobile control organ (10, 11) and at least one angular position sensor and / or angular displacement sensor, - a device (7) for temporarily activating the communication module (4), configured to activate this communication module (4) within a configurable time period and comprising a mobile temporary activation organ, the communication module (4) being deactivated by default and its activation only being possible from one or the other of said control device (6) or temporary activation device (7) in this communication module (4), an organ for selecting the selection device (5), the mobile control organ (10, 11) and the organ for temporarily activating said portable object (1) corresponding to the same mobile part on this portable object (1), such a control device (6) being able to activate and deactivate this communication module (4) when this mobile control organ (10, 11) is manipulated, said at least one sensor then being capable of transmitting to the processing unit (3) angular position and / or angular displacement data relating to said mobile control organ (10, 11) and on the basis of an analysis of said data, the processing unit (3) then being capable of activating the communication module (4) as soon as it determines an expected configurable sequence of several angular positions and / or angular displacements of said mobile control organ (10, 11).

2. The portable object (1) according to the preceding claim, characterised in that the selection device (5) and the temporary activation device (7) on said portable object (1) each comprise at least one sensor for the angular position and / or angular displacement of the selection organ and the temporary activation organ, respectively.

3. The portable object (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that it is an electronic watch, in particular a smartwatch.

4. The portable object (1) according to any of claims 1 to 2, characterised in that it is a mechanical watch in which the processing unit (3) is comprised in the communication module (4).

5. The portable object (1) according to the preceding claim, characterised in that the selection organ, the control organ and the temporary activation organ each comprise a pivoting bezel (10) or a crown (11).

6. The portable object (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the processing unit (3) is connected to the selection device (5), the control device (6) and the temporary activation device (7) on said portable object (1).

7. The portable object (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that it can be used for electronic payment tokenization.

8. The portable object (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises a visual and / or audio device for transmitting a signal or message relating to: - the identification of the selected valid virtual payment card, and / or - the activation of the communication module (4), and / or - the deactivation of the communication module (4), and / or - the temporary activation of the communication module (4), and / or - the remaining temporary activation time of the communication module (4), and / or - the activated or deactivated state of the communication module (4).