Dynamic Transaction Card Updating via Pre-stored Shell Data

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing dynamic transaction cards have limited capabilities for updating additional accounts and account information, often requiring new cards to be issued in cases of fraud or account changes, which is inconvenient for users.

Innovation Solution

A dynamic transaction card system that allows secure updating of existing cards with additional accounts or account data using pre-stored shell data, activated via an issuer system, and transmitted to the card via mobile devices using technologies like WiFi, Bluetooth, or NFC, enabling real-time updates and account management.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a new card is issued when fraud is detected or account changes are needed, then security is improved, but user convenience deteriorates due to the need to obtain and activate a new card

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesecurityVSAvoiduser convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The card is pre-configured with multiple inactive account profiles stored in secure memory during manufacturing. When fraud is detected or account changes are needed, the system simply activates a different pre-existing profile on the same card without requiring a new card to be issued. This preliminary preparation of multiple accounts resolves the contradiction by enabling secure account switching while maintaining user convenience.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If multiple accounts are stored on a single dynamic transaction card, then user convenience is improved by allowing account switching, but device complexity increases due to additional storage and management requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser convenienceVSAvoidcard structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The dynamic transaction card is designed as a universal platform that can store and activate multiple different account profiles (credit, debit, prepaid, loyalty accounts) on a single physical card. The card's memory and processing components are configured to handle multiple accounts, eliminating the need for separate physical cards for different account types. This multi-functionality approach improves user convenience while the integrated design keeps the added complexity manageable within the card's existing structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Productivity

If account data is updated in real-time on the card, then productivity is improved by enabling immediate access to updated information, but loss of information increases due to potential data synchronization errors

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransaction processing speedVSAvoiddata synchronization accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements bidirectional real-time communication between the card and the issuer's server through the mobile device. When account data changes occur on the server, they are immediately transmitted to and stored on the card. Conversely, the card can report its status and stored data back to the server for verification. This feedback mechanism ensures that real-time updates are received without data loss or synchronization errors, as any discrepancies can be detected and corrected through the communication loop.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3284049B1A system, method, and apparatus for updating an existing dynamic transaction card
Publication Date: 2022.01.26 CAPITAL ONE SERVICES LLC
  • EP3284049B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3284049B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3284049B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A system for securely updating an electronic transaction card held by an account holder with an additional account and/or account data. A dynamic transaction card may be securely updated with an additional account by using pre-stored shell data and/or inactive data, whereby the pre-stored shell data may be populated using data received from an issuer system and/or the inactive data may be activated via an activation signal received from an issuer system. A backend server may determine, via a fraud determination, expiration determination, and/or user-request, that new account data should be transmitted to an account holder. The dynamic transaction card may receive the data associated with a notification, update a display, instruct an EMV applet to use a key associated with a received EMV key identifier for signatures, and/or update any additional data stored on the dynamic transaction card.