Connected Car Payment Interface Using Short-Range Token Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicle occupants face inconvenience in making payments for goods and services while inside their vehicles, requiring them to carry cash and/or financial cards and engage in time-consuming processes like swiping or exchanging cards with employees.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle is used as a payment device by storing financial cards in an infotainment system, transmitting selected data to a POS terminal via short-range communication, and using electronic circuitry attached to the vehicle's exterior for secure token transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If vehicle occupants use traditional payment methods (cash or financial cards) at POS terminals, then payments can be completed, but the process requires occupants to carry physical payment tools, exit the vehicle, and manually exchange cards with employees, increasing time consumption and operational complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical system of physical card swiping and manual card exchange with an automated electronic communication system. The infotainment system automatically transmits payment data to the POS terminal via short-range wireless communication, eliminating the need for manual card handling and reducing payment time while maintaining ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service payment functionality where the vehicle's infotainment system autonomously completes the payment transaction without requiring the occupant to manually interact with the POS terminal or exchange physical cards. The system automatically transmits payment information and processes the transaction, reducing both time consumption and operational steps.
2Device complexity
If the infotainment system directly transmits financial data to the POS terminal, then payment processing is simplified, but security risks increase due to potential data exposure during transmission
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary electronic device attached to the vehicle's exterior as a secure communication bridge. This intermediary receives payment data from the infotainment system via a first short-range communication link and transmits it to the POS terminal via a second very short-range communication link, adding a security layer that prevents direct exposure of financial data while maintaining system functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The communication process is segmented into two distinct transmission stages: first from the infotainment system to the exterior electronic device, then from the exterior device to the POS terminal. This segmentation isolates the sensitive financial data transmission, limiting exposure and enhancing security while keeping the overall system architecture manageable.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables secure, contactless payments from within the vehicle, enhancing convenience and automation, particularly for autonomous vehicles, by reducing the need for physical card exchange and human intervention.
Implementation Method 1
transmitting selected data to a POS terminal via short-range communication
Implementation Method 2
transmit the received data to the POS terminal over a second very short-range communication link
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, apparatus, and non-transitory computer readable media are described for using a vehicle as a payment device. Various aspects may include receiving a selection of a stored financial card or financial account at a vehicle head unit. The selected financial card or financial account may be transmitted to a point-of-sale (POS) terminal for making a payment by transmitting a tokenized card number to the POS terminal. The tokenized card number may be transmitted over a very short-range communication link to ensure that the transmission is secure. For example, electronic circuitry may be attached to the exterior of the vehicle, where the electronic circuitry may be within a threshold distance (e.g. one inch, three inches, six inches, one foot, three feet, etc.) of the POS terminal. The tokenized card number may be transmitted from the vehicle head unit to the electronic circuitry and then to the POS terminal.