Volatile Memory Application Management for Contactless Payment Cards

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current contactless payment systems face issues with memory degradation due to frequent updates in non-volatile memory and limitations in supporting multiple users with static proximity payment system environments.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of application management services that store payment card profiles in volatile memory, allowing for dynamic updates and temporary use of contactless payment cards, avoiding the need for persistent memory storage and enabling multiple users to share the same device for transactions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Duration of action of stationary object

If payment card profile information is stored in non-volatile memory, then data persistence is improved, but memory degradation occurs due to frequent updates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata persistenceVSAvoidmemory degradation

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces volatile memory as an intermediary storage layer between the payment card profile information and the non-volatile memory. The volatile memory buffer absorbs frequent update operations, preventing direct write operations to the non-volatile memory and thus avoiding memory degradation while maintaining data persistence through periodic synchronization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a copy of the payment card profile information in volatile memory that can be freely updated without affecting the original data in non-volatile memory. This copying mechanism allows multiple users to have their own copies of card profiles temporarily stored in volatile memory, enabling frequent updates without degrading the persistent storage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Reliability

If a single device is dedicated to a single user with provisioned card credentials, then security is improved, but device versatility deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesecurityVSAvoiddevice versatility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the payment card profile information into separate user-specific profiles stored in volatile memory. Each user's card credentials are isolated in their own data structure, allowing multiple users to share the same device while maintaining security through logical separation. The system manages multiple segmented profiles simultaneously without compromising individual user security.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transforms the static one-to-one mapping between device and user into a dynamic many-to-many relationship. The system dynamically loads and unloads user profiles from volatile memory based on active users, allowing the device to adaptively serve multiple users with different card credentials. This dynamic profile management enables versatile multi-user support while maintaining security through controlled access to each user's credentials.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If payment card profiles are stored in volatile memory, then memory degradation is prevented, but data persistence deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvememory degradation preventionVSAvoiddata persistence

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic synchronization between volatile memory and non-volatile memory. The system periodically commits updated payment card profile information from volatile memory to non-volatile memory, ensuring data persistence without requiring continuous write operations. This periodic action maintains data integrity while minimizing wear on the non-volatile memory.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentUS11803838B2Application management for simulated contactless payment cards

Publication Date: 2023.10.31 MASTERCARD INT INC

AI summary

Application management services for simulated contactless cards support applying payment when a provisioned card (cardholder profile) is stored in volatile memory of a computing device by maintaining a first channel open between a payment application and a provisioning service while communicating payment information to a point of sale terminal over a second channel.