Contactless Card Interface Selection for Secure Transactions

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Solution Overview

Problem

Contactless credit card transactions face security risks such as data hijacking, pick-pocketing, and 'man in the middle' attacks due to insecure data transmission, and require methods to differentiate between contactless and contact-based interfaces and data formats for various applications.

Innovation Solution

A method for an integrated circuit card to select the payment service, interface, and data format for transactions with a point of sale terminal, allowing users to choose from supported services and formats, and informing the terminal of the appropriate data exchange profile, enabling secure and convenient transactions across both wireless and contact-based interfaces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If contactless cards are used to enable wireless transactions, then transaction convenience and speed are improved, but security risks such as data hijacking and pick-pocketing increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransaction convenienceVSAvoidsecurity risks

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a point of sale terminal as an intermediary device that mediates between the contactless card and the transaction processing system. The terminal verifies card authenticity, manages secure communication channels, and controls data exchange protocols, thereby reducing the risk of unauthorized data interception while maintaining the convenience of contactless transactions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where the point of sale terminal receives and processes signals from the contactless card, verifies transaction authorization, and provides confirmation. This feedback loop ensures that only authorized transactions are completed and that data transmission is securely managed, addressing security concerns while preserving transaction speed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple applications and data formats are supported on a single card, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveapplication compatibilityVSAvoidcard system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The contactless card is designed with multi-functionality, incorporating multiple applications and data formats (e.g., magnetic stripe data, chip data, wireless data) within a single device. This universal design allows the card to interface with different payment systems and terminals without requiring separate cards for each function, thereby improving adaptability while the integrated design keeps the overall system manageable.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The card system segments different data types and applications into distinct modules (magnetic stripe, chip, wireless interfaces), each handling specific transaction types. This segmentation allows the complex multi-functional card to organize its capabilities in a structured manner, making the complexity manageable while maintaining versatility across different payment environments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Loss of time

If contactless technology eliminates physical card exchanges, then transaction time is reduced, but security vulnerabilities to data interception increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransaction timeVSAvoiddata interception risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical contact-based card insertion and swiping process with a wireless electromagnetic communication system. The contactless card uses radio frequency waves to transmit data to the point of sale terminal, eliminating the need for physical contact. This substitution maintains transaction speed while the system incorporates security measures to protect against data interception in the wireless environment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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

This method enhances security and convenience by allowing users to select appropriate payment services and data formats, reducing the risk of unauthorized data interception and facilitating quick transactions with minimal equipment changes, while maintaining compatibility with existing environments.

Implementation Method 1

the coiled antenna inductively couples with an external electromagnetic field and serves as a power source for the contactless card

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

a modulator/demodulator for impressing data on a radio frequency wave and decoding received data

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic modulation: Phase Modulation

Data Source

PatentUS7792759B2Methods for performing transactions in a wireless environment

Publication Date: 2010.09.07 EMV

AI summary

A method of performing a transaction over a contactless interface placing a first device in wireless communication with a second device, selecting the interface over which the first and second device will communicate, selecting the application to be used to approve or disapprove the transaction, communicating to the second device the data necessary for the application to approve of disapprove the transaction.