POI Emulation for Payment Transaction Testing Without Hardware

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Solution Overview

Problem

The challenge of evaluating and testing software-based payment transaction systems without requiring the acquisition of upgraded hardware devices, which is often necessary for compatibility with legacy infrastructure.

Innovation Solution

The use of software-based point of interaction (POI) emulators that can be delivered electronically, allowing for the simulation of payment transactions without the need for physical hardware, and can be controlled externally to generate various transaction scenarios and data, such as PIN data and EMV card data.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If hardware devices are acquired for testing software-based payment systems, then testing capability is improved, but capital expenditure increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetesting capabilityVSAvoidcapital expenditure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a software-based POI emulator that copies the functionality of physical POI hardware devices. This emulator can be delivered electronically and provides the same testing capabilities as actual hardware without requiring physical device acquisition, thereby eliminating capital expenditure while maintaining testing reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical/physical POI hardware system with a software-based emulator system. The emulator runs on existing computing infrastructure and provides identical transaction simulation capabilities, substituting physical hardware with virtual software functionality to avoid hardware purchase costs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Adaptability or versatility

If upgraded hardware is acquired for testing new software offerings, then compatibility is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovecompatibilityVSAvoidhardware requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The POI emulator is designed as a universal software platform that can simulate multiple types of POI hardware devices and support various payment transaction types. It provides compatibility with different software offerings through configuration rather than requiring separate hardware for each scenario, reducing overall system complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The emulator uses software configuration parameters to adapt to different testing scenarios and compatibility requirements. By changing software parameters and settings rather than physical hardware components, the system achieves adaptability without increasing device complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS12475449B2Point of interaction device emulation for payment transaction simulation

Publication Date: 2025.11.18 WORLDPAY LLC

AI summary

Technologies for emulating payment transaction messaging for electronic payment transaction include a transaction management controller for receiving a transaction amount for a payment transaction from a business management engine and simulated payment card data for the payment transaction from a point of interaction emulator. The transaction management controller inserts the transaction amount and the payment card data into a test payment authorization request message, which is transmitted to a null host. A payment authorization response message is received from the null host and transmitted by the transaction management controller the business management engine Other embodiments are described and claimed.