Vehicle NFC Tag Unlocking for Contactless Fuel Payment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fuel payment systems at fuel stations require manual interactions, leading to inefficiencies and potential fraud risks, as they often necessitate customers to physically insert cards or devices for contactless payments, which can be cumbersome and vulnerable to unauthorized access.
Innovation Solution
A contactless fuel payment system that includes an NFC tag near the vehicle's fuel tank, paired with a vehicle communication device capable of short-range wireless communication, allowing authorized users to initiate transactions without manual card insertion by verifying user devices and securely transmitting payment information to the POS terminal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If contactless payment cards with NFC interface are used, then transaction speed is improved, but security vulnerability increases due to potential fraud by nearby devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a vehicle communication device as an intermediary between the NFC tag and the POS terminal. This intermediary verifies the user's identity and authorization status before allowing the NFC tag to transmit payment information, thereby preventing fraud while maintaining contactless transaction speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary verification of the user device's authorization status with the vehicle communication device before the NFC tag can transmit payment information. This preliminary action ensures that only authorized users can complete transactions, addressing the security concern while preserving the speed advantage of contactless payments.
2Reliability
If manual card insertion and positioning is required, then transaction security is improved through physical presence verification, but operation convenience deteriorates due to additional customer steps
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service by automatically detecting the user's presence through the vehicle communication device and initiating the verification process without requiring manual card insertion. The NFC tag automatically transmits payment information once authorization is confirmed, eliminating cumbersome customer steps while maintaining security through automated verification.
3Ease of operation
If NFC tag is always unlocked for communication, then ease of operation is improved, but security vulnerability increases due to unauthorized access
Solution Approach 1:
The NFC tag's communication state is made dynamic rather than static. It transitions from a locked state (preventing unauthorized access) to an unlocked state (enabling communication) only when authorization is verified by the vehicle communication device. This dynamic state change ensures security while allowing convenient operation for authorized users.
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 system eliminates the need for manual payment interactions, enhances transaction security by verifying authorized users, and reduces fraud risks by ensuring only authorized devices can initiate payments, thereby streamlining the fueling process while protecting user data.
Implementation Method 1
a near field communication (NFC) tag disposed at a fixed position proximate a fuel tank of a vehicle
Implementation Method 2
configured to selectively pair with one or more devices (e.g., the authorized user's smartphone) positioned within a predefined distance of the vehicle communication device to enable short-range wireless communication
Data Source
AI summary
A system may receive, via an NFC tag disposed proximate a vehicle fuel tank, a fuel transaction request from a third-party POS NFC reader positioned proximate a fuel pump. The system may detect a user device being paired with a vehicle communication device of the vehicle to enable a short-range wireless communication. The system may determine that the user device is associated with an authorized user of the vehicle. The system may unlock the NFC tag to enable the NFC tag to communicate with the third-party POS NFC reader for a predefined time limit responsive to determining that the user device is associated with the authorized user. Responsive to unlocking the NFC tag, the system may retrieve account payment information associated with the authorized user, and may transmit, via the NFC tag, the account payment information to the third-party POS NFC reader to complete the fuel transaction.