Remote EMV Terminal Configuration via Portable Device
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing EMV terminal configuration methods are cumbersome and inflexible, making it difficult and expensive for smaller merchants to obtain and use smart-card terminals, limiting distribution channels and commercial activity.
Innovation Solution
A portable electronic device facilitates remote programming of EMV terminals by receiving account information from merchants, obtaining and providing merchant and terminal identifiers, and optionally a configuration file, allowing secure and flexible reconfiguration of the terminals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If EMV terminals are configured by manufacturer or distributor, then terminal configuration is standardized, but distribution flexibility and ease of deployment to smaller merchants is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal is pre-configured with a default identifier during manufacturing, but the system enables subsequent remote reconfiguration allowing the terminal to be programmed with different merchant identifiers after delivery. This preliminary setup combined with remote configurability resolves the contradiction by maintaining manufacturing simplicity while enabling distribution flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
A remote configuration system acts as an intermediary between the terminal manufacturer and the merchant. This intermediary enables flexible reconfiguration of terminal identifiers without requiring direct involvement of the original manufacturer or distributor, thus maintaining standardized manufacturing while achieving distribution flexibility.
2Reliability
If terminals are pre-configured by manufacturer, then configuration is controlled, but cost and complexity increase for smaller merchants
Solution Approach 1:
The configuration control function is extracted from the manufacturing process and transferred to a remote configuration system. This allows the terminal to be manufactured with basic functionality and then configured remotely based on specific merchant needs, reducing supply chain complexity while maintaining configuration control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from static pre-configuration to dynamic remote configuration. The terminal can be configured remotely after delivery, allowing configuration control to adapt to different merchants' needs without requiring complex pre-planned configuration pathways during manufacturing.
3Ease of manufacture
If traditional configuration method is used, then manufacturing process is simple, but deployment time and efficiency are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal is manufactured with basic configuration and a default identifier as a preliminary action. The system then enables rapid remote reconfiguration before deployment, significantly improving deployment efficiency without complicating the manufacturing process itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The manual mechanical configuration process is replaced with an automated remote configuration system. This substitution eliminates time-consuming manual programming at the point of sale and enables rapid deployment to merchants while keeping manufacturing simple.
Data Source
AI summary
During a device programming technique, a merchant provides account information associated with a smart-card terminal to a portable electronic device (such as a cellular telephone), which is coupled to the smart-card terminal. In response, the portable electronic device provides the account information to a computer remotely located relative to the portable electronic device. Then, the computer provides a merchant identifier and a terminal identifier to the portable electronic device. Next, the portable electronic device provides the merchant identifier and the terminal identifier to the smart-card terminal, thereby facilitating programming of the smart-card terminal.