Payment Card Account Information Display System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users of payment cards, such as prepaid, credit, or debit cards, often lack easy access to their account information, requiring them to use the card for transactions or mentally track balances, which is inconvenient and unsatisfactory, especially for infrequently used cards.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a card reader and a display device, connected to an information terminal, that scans a payment card, verifies its authenticity, and displays account information items without transmitting sensitive data like the account number, using a separate action information coding area on the card to facilitate secure and independent access to card balance, limit, and transaction details.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If users perform a transaction using the payment card, then account information can be obtained, but the user must use the card for a transaction which is inconvenient and increases transaction processing
Solution Approach 1:
The payment card information is segmented into two separate coding areas: a first coding area containing verification data (account number, security code) and a second coding area containing action codes. This segmentation allows the system to retrieve account information without processing a full transaction, as the action code can trigger an information retrieval request separately from payment processing.
Solution Approach 2:
An intermediary system (payment card information system) is introduced between the card reader and the account information storage. This intermediary receives the action code from the card, verifies the card using data from the first coding area, and retrieves the appropriate account information without requiring a full transaction processing chain, thus improving convenience while maintaining security.
2Loss of information
If account information is stored and transmitted, then users can access their card balance and limit, but sensitive information like account numbers may be exposed
Solution Approach 1:
Sensitive verification data and action codes are stored in separate, distinct coding areas on the card. The verification data (account number, security code) remains on the card in the first coding area and is never transmitted to the information display system, while only the non-sensitive action code is transmitted to retrieve information, thereby preventing exposure of sensitive information.
Solution Approach 2:
The action code that triggers information retrieval is extracted from the sensitive verification data. This extracted action code can be safely transmitted to the information system without compromising the security of the account number and other sensitive information, which remain securely stored on the card.
3Loss of information
If the payment card is used infrequently, then users may forget to track account information, but mental tracking is difficult and error-prone
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides self-service functionality where the card itself contains all necessary information (verification data and action codes) to retrieve account information. The cardholder simply needs to present the card to a reader, and the system automatically processes the information retrieval request based on the action code, eliminating the need for manual tracking or complex user actions.
Data Source
AI summary
A payment card information system according to one embodiment of the invention includes a card reader that scans a payment card and a display device that displays account information items. The payment card information system further includes an information terminal in communication with the card reader and the display device. The information terminal is configured to receive verification data from the card reader, verify the payment card using the verification data, receive an action code from the card reader, obtain one or more predetermined account information items corresponding to the action code, and display the one or more predetermined account information items on the display device.