Remote Feature Upgrade Authorization for Payment Terminals
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Solution Overview
Problem
Managing hardware feature upgrades for multiple payment system devices in a distributed network is complicated, requiring users to know specific serial numbers and physically move devices, which is inefficient and difficult to scale.
Innovation Solution
A method using a web service and upgrade utility program that allows users to select devices and apply feature upgrades without knowing serial numbers, enabling remote, serial-number-agnostic upgrades by creating and applying request and response files for entitlements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If users provide serial numbers and physically move devices for feature upgrades, then device upgrades can be authorized and applied, but the process becomes complicated and difficult to manage for multiple decentralized devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an authorization service as an intermediary between users and payment system devices. This service receives upgrade requests, generates authorization files with entitlement information, and enables remote device upgrades without requiring users to manually provide serial numbers or physically move devices. The authorization service mediates the complex process of managing multiple decentralized devices, simplifying user operations while maintaining security and control.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the system supports upgrades for multiple decentralized devices, then device functionality can be enhanced across the network, but users must know and provide specific serial numbers which increases operational complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service functionality where the authorization service automatically discovers devices on the network, retrieves their serial numbers, and processes upgrade requests without requiring users to manually input serial numbers. The service autonomously manages the complexity of identifying and upgrading multiple devices, allowing users to simply specify which devices should receive upgrades through a simplified interface.
3Reliability
If physical device movement is required for upgrades, then authorization can be properly verified, but the process becomes tedious and inefficient for field upgrades
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical process of physically moving devices with an electronic/digital authorization system. Instead of requiring physical device movement for verification, the system uses network communication to transmit device identifiers, retrieve authorization files, and apply upgrades remotely. This substitution maintains authorization reliability through cryptographic verification while dramatically improving upgrade efficiency and eliminating the need for physical device handling.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for controlling feature upgrades on a plurality of payment system devices, onsite, in a distributed network, involves a web service at each of the plurality of payment system devices. An upgrade utility program communicates with the web service at each of the plurality of payment system devices, and presents a list of available payment system devices to the user. The list of available payment system devices identifies each device by location. A group of payment system devices is selected for receiving feature upgrades, and for each payment system device in the selected group, at least one feature upgrade is selected. A request file is created that contains information indicative of the payment system devices selected for receiving feature upgrades and indicative of the at least one feature upgrade for each selected payment system device.