Contactless Payment Protocol Adaptation via Reader Interrogation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Mismatches between payment protocols supported by contactless payment devices and point of sale (POS) systems can lead to transaction declines, even when the payment device is functioning correctly and the account is valid, due to lack of uniformity in hardware and software configurations among various devices in the payment acceptance system.

Innovation Solution

A payment-enabled device, such as a smartphone or IC card, interrogates the POS reader to determine the payment infrastructure and suppresses unsupported payment protocols, requesting geographic location and reader version data to selectively expose supported protocols like EMV and MagStripe, ensuring compatibility and preventing unnecessary transaction declines.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the contactless payment device exposes all supported payment protocols to the POS reader, then the device maintains maximum versatility and compatibility with different payment systems, but transaction declines occur due to protocol mismatches between the reader component and downstream systems

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepayment protocol compatibilityVSAvoidtransaction success rate

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The payment device dynamically adjusts the set of exposed payment protocols based on real-time information about the POS reader's capabilities and the downstream payment infrastructure. The device transitions from a static approach (exposing all protocols) to a dynamic approach (selectively exposing protocols), optimizing the balance between versatility and transaction reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The payment device changes the parameter of protocol exposure by filtering and selectively presenting only those protocols that are supported by the downstream payment infrastructure. This parameter change transforms the protocol set from comprehensive to optimized, reducing mismatches while maintaining necessary compatibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If the contactless payment device selectively suppresses unsupported payment protocols based on reader data, then transaction success rate improves by avoiding protocol mismatches, but device complexity increases due to protocol filtering logic

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransaction success rateVSAvoidprotocol filtering complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The payment device performs self-service by autonomously determining which protocols to expose based on reader-provided information about the payment infrastructure. The device independently makes decisions about protocol selection without requiring external intervention or complex configuration, simplifying the overall system while improving reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The payment device uses feedback from the reader component regarding the downstream payment infrastructure to adjust its protocol exposure. This feedback mechanism allows the device to adapt its behavior based on system conditions, improving transaction success rates without requiring hard-coded complexity for every possible scenario.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Measurement precision

If the payment device requests and processes geographic location and reader version data, then protocol selection accuracy improves for compatibility, but processing time increases during transaction initiation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotocol selection accuracyVSAvoidtransaction initiation time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The payment device performs preliminary actions by requesting and processing reader capability information, geographic location data, and version data before finalizing protocol selection. This preliminary information gathering enables more accurate protocol matching while the processing occurs in the background during transaction setup rather than blocking the critical payment path.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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 approach enhances the likelihood of successful transaction handling by filtering and exposing appropriate payment protocols based on location and version data, thereby reducing transaction declines and ensuring smooth payment processing.

Implementation Method 1

the payment card account number is read by short-range radio communication between the card and the contactless reader component of a point of sale (POS) device

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectNear Field Communication (NFC): Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentUS9978054B2Acceptance quality improvement using localization data to adjust contactless payment

Publication Date: 2018.05.22 MASTERCARD INT INC

AI summary

A method may include requesting payment infrastructure data from a payment device reader. The method may further includes receiving payment infrastructure data from the payment device reader. The payment infrastructure data that is received may be indicative of a country in which the payment device reader is installed. In addition, the method may include selecting data for transmission to the payment device reader based at least in part on the received payment infrastructure data.