NFC Payment Terminal Contactless Transaction Security

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Solution Overview

Problem

Third-party payment applications require cumbersome operations and are slow when used for payments, especially when scanning quick response codes, and they may pose security risks such as fund loss due to malicious code replacement or capture.

Innovation Solution

Implementing an NFC payment method that allows third-party payment applications to facilitate contactless payments between NFC-enabled terminals, reducing user operations and enhancing security by eliminating the need for code scanning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If third-party payment application scans quick response code to make payment, then payment can be completed, but user operations are troublesome and payment speed is slow

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepayment speedVSAvoiduser operations
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical scanning operation (using camera to scan QR code) with NFC wireless communication technology. The terminal uses NFC module to automatically communicate with payment terminal through electromagnetic field coupling when in proximity, eliminating the need for manual scanning operations and significantly speeding up the payment process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables the terminal to automatically initiate and complete payment operations through NFC technology. When the terminal approaches the payment terminal, the NFC module automatically establishes communication, performs authentication, and completes payment without requiring user to manually scan codes or navigate through application interfaces, making the system serve itself.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If third-party payment application is used to make payment, then payment function is achieved, but security risks exist due to malicious code replacement or capture

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepayment securityVSAvoidmalicious code risks
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces NFC technology as an intermediary layer between the user terminal and payment processing. The NFC module handles communication and authentication through standardized electromagnetic field protocols, creating a secure intermediate channel that reduces direct exposure to potential malicious code threats in third-party applications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the code-based payment verification mechanism (scanning and processing QR codes that could contain malicious code) with NFC's electromagnetic field-based communication. This substitution eliminates the vulnerability to malicious code injection that exists in code-based systems, as NFC communication relies on standardized physical layer protocols rather than executable code.

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 streamlines the payment process by allowing NFC-enabled terminals to complete transactions with a simple contact operation, reducing user interactions and enhancing security by eliminating the risks associated with code scanning.

Implementation Method 1

NFC (Near Field Communication) is a short-range wireless connection technology based on a radio frequency identification (RFID) technology. Two NFC terminals can exchange information and content and implement transaction in a fast, secure, and contactless manner by touching them together or bringing them into proximity.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic field coupling: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP3633571B1NFC payment method and terminal
Publication Date: 2023.05.31 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3633571B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP3633571B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP3633571B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2b

AI summary

Embodiments of this application relate to the field of terminal technologies, and disclose an NFC payment method and a terminal, to resolve a prior-art problem that operations are troublesome when a third-party payment application is used to make payment. The NFC payment method provided in the embodiments of this application includes: displaying, by a first terminal, at least one third-party payment application based on a preset trigger condition; and determining, by the first terminal, one of the at least one third-party payment application as a target third-party payment application, and interacting with a second terminal by using the target third-party payment application, to complete NFC payment. The method provided in the embodiments of this application is applied to a process in which a user uses a terminal such as a mobile phone to make payment.