HK1179393B

HK1179393B - Method, device and system for securing payment data for transmission over open communication networks

Info

Publication number: HK1179393B
Application number: HK13106200.8A
Authority: HK
Inventors: Craig Glendenning
Original assignee: Bluechain Technologies Limited
Priority date: 2010-01-19
Filing date: 2011-01-19
Publication date: 2019-09-27

Description

Cross-Reference to Related Applications

The present application claims priority from AU2010900195 .

Technical Field

This invention concerns a method, device and system for securing payment data for transmission over open communications networks.

Background Art

Figure 1 schematically illustrates a typical four-party network showing the institutions participating in a transaction over an open network. The network includes the card issuers and the merchant acquirers plus the cardholders (customers) and the merchants. The card issuer distributes cards to consumers, bills them, and collects payment from them. The merchant acquirer recruits merchants to accept cards and provides the front-end service of routing the transaction to the network's processing facilities. The acquirer is responsible for delivering the transaction to the appropriate card issuer so that the customer is billed and the merchant receives funds for the purchase.

The transactions process typically has two major parts. The first is authorisation, and the second is clearing and settlement. Authorisation is the process of obtaining permission from the bank that issued the card to accept the transaction and card detail for payment. Authorisation begins when a consumer presents his or her card to the merchant for a purchase (1). Traditionally, securing of the transaction occurs for authorisation which happens at the point of sale, though more recently transactions are being done in "card not present" situations (for example, online). In recent years, chip and contactless technologies have become increasingly widespread. With particular reference to the payment industry, contact and contactless transactions have advantages over traditional magnetic stripe technologies as chip based technologies have the ability to store and process data more securely.

In contact and contactless situations, merchants usually obtain the transaction information for authorisation electronically, either by having the consumer swipe or insert the card through a terminal at the point of sale or by bringing the card into the vicinity of a terminal or reader. Having obtained card information, the merchant's terminal compiles an authorisation request containing the card information, the transaction amount and the merchant's identification number and sends the authorisation request to the acquirer (2). The acquirer reads the information and sends the authorisation request to the specific issuing bank through a clearing card network (3). The issuing bank conducts a series of checks for fraud and verifies that the cardholder's available funds or credit line is sufficient to cover the purchase before returning a response (4), either granting or denying authorisation. The merchant acquirer receives the response and relays it to the merchant (5).

Acquirer banks, merchants and consumers are demanding that transactions over the internet and other open networks are more secure. Whilst current contact and contactless transactions offer increased security over traditional magnetic stripe technology they do not sufficiently address the level of security required to secure a transaction over the internet or other open networks.

Current systems are prone to "man-in-the-middle attacks" which compromises the authenticity of a transaction. Man-in-the-middle attacks prey on the difficulty of verifying both the authenticity of a transaction as well as the authenticity of the merchant who initiates it. Such attacks act to intercept communication between two devices. In this type of attack malicious software embedded on a computer operates such that it appears to be the merchant to the customer device whilst also appearing to be the customer device to the merchant. Such software may be operable to change the details of the receiving party or the value of the transaction.

US-7024395-B1 discloses a method in which a customer making a credit card transaction inserts their smart card into a card reader attached to the merchant's system. The card reader activates the customer's card and passes certain merchant information. The merchant's system then requests a "billing digest" from the customer's card. The billing digest is returned to the merchant's card reader that forwards it (and the transaction information which includes customer information and merchant information) to the corresponding credit card issuer, which maintains the customer's credit card account. In one embodiment, the customer information and the merchant information are encrypted. Upon receiving the billing digest, transaction information is decrypted if necessary and the credit card issuer looks up the customer's master key using the customer's account number. The credit card issuer then uses the transaction information to re-compute the billing digest (an authentication billing digest) and compares this new value with the billing digest submitted by the merchant. If authentic, the billing digest and authentication billing digest values are equivalent, then funds are transferred and an acceptance notification is returned to the merchant. If not authentic, a denial notification is returned to the merchant. Security is further enhanced by utilizing a unique reference for each transaction in the unique customer information used for creating the billing digest.

US-2008/208759-A1 discloses methods and systems for executing financial transactions between customers and merchants. An identifier of a financial account is received from the customer at a merchant system. A one-time password is also received from the customer at the merchant system, with the customer having been provided with the one-time password by a mobile electronic device or contactless presentation instrument. A cryptogram is generated including the identifier of the financial account encrypted using the one-time password. An authorization request is formulated at the merchant system. The authorization request includes the cryptogram and transaction information describing at least a portion of the financial transaction. The authorization request is transmitted from the merchant system to an authorization processor for authorization of the financial transaction.

US-2009/216680-A1 discloses a secure computing module (SCM) configured for connection with a host device. The SCM includes a processor for performing secure processing operations, a host interface for coupling the processor to the host device, and a memory connected to the processor wherein the processor logically isolates at least some of the memory from access by the host device. The SCM generates a secure digital signature for a financial transaction and enables controlled content received through the host device. File distribution is performed from a content provider to a buyer or from a reseller to a buyer. The file distribution includes a financial transaction using secure digital signatures and possibly message encryption. The digital signatures and transaction details are communicated to appropriate financial organizations to authenticate the transaction parties and complete the transaction. The controlled content is transferred to the buyer from either the content provider or the reseller.

Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a method to secure payment data transmitted over open communication networks, the method comprising: selectively configuring a first transceiver device as a merchant device for a first payment transaction; establishing a data connection between the first transceiver device and a second transceiver device configured as a customer device , each of the first and second transceiver devices being selectively configurable as either a merchant device or a customer device ; the merchant device transmitting a first data package to the customer device over the data connection, the first data package comprising a unique static merchant identifier issued by an acquirer, transaction request data and a unique dynamic value; the customer device forming a merchant authentication request and transmitting the merchant authentication request to the merchant device to request from the merchant device a signed certificate of an issuer which holds the unique static merchant identifier and merchant public key, and a signature of the unique dynamic value using the merchant's private key; the customer device receiving from the merchant device a second data package comprising the issuer's signed certificate and a signature of the unique dynamic value using the merchant's private key; the customer device authenticating the legitimacy of the merchant device by verifying the issuer's signed certificate using a certification authority's public key and, once verified, authenticating the signed unique dynamic value against the unique dynamic value received in the first data package using the merchant public key; the customer device transmitting the received unique static merchant identifier and a cryptogram to the merchant device only if the signed unique dynamic value is authenticated against the unique dynamic value received in the first data package using the merchant public key, the cryptogram having been generated using a secret key unique to the customer device, a counter value, the received unique static merchant identifier and the transaction request data; the merchant device checking whether the unique static merchant identifier received from the customer device matches the unique static merchant identifier issued by the acquirer, and if so forming an authorisation request comprising the received cryptogram, the unique static merchant identifier and the transaction request data and submitting said authorisation request to at least one of an issuer and an acquirer to facilitate authorisation and processing of said transaction request data; the merchant device receiving a response from the issuer indicating whether the transaction has been successful; and the merchant device notifying the customer device whether the transaction has been successful; wherein a copy of the unique static merchant identifier is securely retained by the acquirer to verify that a merchant affiliated with the merchant device is a valid merchant.

The open network may be a mobile or an Internet Protocol (IP) network.

Ensuring that the merchant device transmits the unique merchant identifier to the customer transceiver device, for inclusion in the cryptogram, binds the merchant and the consumer to the transaction and minimises the number of exchanges involved in authorisation of a transaction. This is principally due to the acquirer no longer being required to verify the authenticity of the merchant, only that it is a valid merchant. Advantageously the opportunity for third party fraud is substantially reduced.

The step of establishing a data connection between the first and second transceiver devices may comprise establishing a contactless connection or a contact connection. The contactless connection may utilise NFC, Bluetooth, WiFi, SMS, another like contactless technology or a combination thereof. The contact connection may utilise electrical connectivity as is well known by those skilled in the art.

The method may further comprise maintaining a counter embodied in the customer transceiver device.

Other relevant data may be included in the cryptogram, including, but not limited to data associated with a transceiver device's technical capability.

The method may further comprise receiving an account selection request from the user of the customer transceiver device. The account selection request may be received via a user interface of either device. In an embodiment in which the account selection request is received via a user interface of the customer transceiver device the method may further comprise transmitting the user selected account selection to the merchant device over the data connection. In an embodiment in which the account selection request is received via a user interface of the merchant device the method may further comprise storing data representative of the user selected account in the memory of the merchant device. The method may further comprise transmitting data representative of the user selected account over the data connection to the customer transceiver device.

Optionally, the method may further comprise retrieving a predetermined default account. The predetermined default account may be stored to memory in the customer transceiver device.

The method may further comprise retrieving the transaction request data, said transaction request data comprising an amount for the transaction, and at least one of a currency code, a time stamp, data representative of the user selected account, and a customer identifier such as a PIN or biometric and a merchant identifier value.

The step of the merchant device transmitting a first data package to the customer transceiver device over the data connection may be preceded by the customer transceiver device requesting the unique merchant identifier and transaction request data.

The step of authenticating the legitimacy of the merchant device enables the consumer transceiver device to ensure that it is communicating with an authentic merchant device (one that has been issued by an approved issuer within a defined scheme). It also ensures that the unique identification number provided as part of the transaction request is the same as that signed by the issuer in the signed secure module certificate.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of operating a first transceiver device selectively configured as a merchant device to secure payment data for a first payment transaction transmitted over an open communication network, the method comprising: establishing a data connection with a second transceiver device configured as a customer device , each of the first and second transceiver devices being selectively configurable as either a merchant device or a customer device ; transmitting a first data package to the customer device over the data connection, the first data package comprising a unique static merchant identifier issued by an acquirer, transaction request data and a unique dynamic value; receiving from the customer device a merchant authentication request requesting a signed certificate of an issuer which holds the unique static merchant identifier and merchant public key and a signature of the unique dynamic value using the merchant's private key; and transmitting to the customer device a second data package comprising the issuer's signed certificate and a signature of the unique dynamic value using the merchant's private key; wherein if the customer device authenticates the legitimacy of the merchant device by verifying the issuer's signed certificate using a certification authority's public key and, once verified, authenticates the signed unique dynamic value against the unique dynamic value received in the first data package using the merchant public key, the method further comprises: receiving from the customer device the unique static merchant identifier and a cryptogram, the cryptogram having been generated using a secret key unique to the customer device, a counter value, the unique static merchant identifier and the transaction request data; checking whether the unique static merchant identifier received from the customer device matches the unique static merchant identifier issued by the acquirer, and if so forming an authorisation request comprising the received cryptogram, the unique static merchant identifier and the transaction request data and submitting said authorisation request to at least one of an issuer and an acquirer to facilitate authorisation and processing of said transaction request data; receiving a response from the issuer indicating whether the transaction has been successful; and notifying the customer device whether the transaction has been successful; wherein a copy of the unique static merchant identifier is securely retained by the acquirer to verify that a merchant affiliated with the merchant device is a valid merchant.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of operating a second transceiver device selectively configured as a customer device to secure payment data for a first payment transaction transmitted over an open communication network, the method comprising: establishing a data connection with a first transceiver device configured as a merchant device , each of the first and second transceiver devices being selectively configurable as either a merchant device or a customer device ; receiving from the merchant device a first data package over the data connection, the first data package comprising a unique static merchant identifier issued by an acquirer, transaction request data and a unique dynamic value; forming a merchant authentication request and transmitting the merchant authentication request to the merchant device to request from the merchant device , a signed certificate of an issuer which holds the unique static merchant identifier and merchant public key, and a signature of the unique dynamic value using the merchant's private key; receiving from the merchant device a second data package comprising the issuer's signed certificate and a signature of the unique dynamic value using the merchant's private key; authenticating the legitimacy of the merchant device by verifying the issuer's signed certificate using a certification authority's public key and, once verified, authenticating the signed unique dynamic value against the unique dynamic value received in the first data package using the merchant public key; transmitting the received unique static merchant identifier and a cryptogram to the merchant device only if the signed unique dynamic value is authenticated against the unique dynamic value received in the first data package using the merchant public key, the cryptogram having been generated using a secret key unique to the customer device, a counter value, the received unique static merchant identifier and the transaction request data; and receiving from the merchant device a notification indicating whether the transaction has been successful; wherein the cryptogram enables the merchant device on receipt to check whether the unique static merchant identifier received from the customer device matches the unique static merchant identifier issued by the acquirer, and if so form an authorisation request comprising the received cryptogram, the unique static merchant identifier and the transaction request data and submit said authorisation request to at least one of an issuer and an acquirer to facilitate authorisation and processing of said transaction request data; and wherein a copy of the unique static merchant identifier is securely retained by the acquirer to verify that a merchant affiliated with the merchant device is a valid merchant.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention there is provided a first transceiver device operable to secure payment data transmitted over open communication networks, the first transceiver device being selectively configurable as either a merchant device or a customer transceiver device , the first transceiver device comprising: an interface module operable to enable data communication with other transceiver devices ; and a processor coupled to a memory , the memory being operable to store processor control code; wherein when the first transceiver is selectively configured as a merchant device the processor control code is operable to selectively control the processor and the interface module , when running to: establish a data connection with a second transceiver device configured as a customer device ; retrieve from memory a unique static merchant identifier, the unique static merchant identifier having been issued by an acquirer ; transmit a first data package to the customer device over the data connection, the first data package comprising the unique static merchant identifier, transaction request data and a unique dynamic value; receive from the customer device a merchant authentication request requesting a signed certificate of an issuer which holds the unique static merchant identifier and merchant public key and a signature of the unique dynamic value using the merchant's private key; and transmit to the customer device a second data package comprising the issuer's signed certificate and a signature of the unique dynamic value using the merchant's private key; wherein if the customer device authenticates the legitimacy of the merchant device by verifying the issuer's signed certificate using a certification authority's public key and, once verified, authenticates the signed unique dynamic value against the unique dynamic value received in the first data package using the merchant public key, the processor control code is operable to selectively control the processor and the interface module, when running to: receive from customer device the unique static merchant identifier and a cryptogram, the cryptogram having been generated using a secret key unique to the customer device, a counter value, the unique static merchant identifier and the transaction request data; check whether the unique static merchant identifier received from the customer device matches the unique static merchant identifier issued by the acquirer, and if so form an authorisation request comprising the received cryptogram, the unique static merchant identifier and the transaction request data and submit said authorisation request to at least one of an issuer and an acquirer to facilitate authorisation and processing of said transaction request data; receive a response from the issuer indicating whether the transaction has been successful and notifying a user of the customer device ; and notify the customer device whether the transaction has been successful; wherein a copy of the unique static merchant identifier is securely retained by the acquirer to verify that a merchant affiliated with the a merchant device is a valid merchant; or wherein when the first transceiver device is selectively configured as a customer device the processor control code is operable to selectively control the processor and the interface module , when running to: establish a data connection with a second transceiver device configured as a merchant device ; receive from the merchant device a first data package over the data connection, the first data package comprising a unique static merchant identifier issued by an acquirer, transaction request data and a unique dynamic value; form a merchant authentication request and transmit the merchant authentication request to the merchant device to request from the merchant device , a signed certificate of an issuer which holds the unique static merchant identifier and merchant public key, and a signature of the unique dynamic value using the merchant's private key; receive from the merchant device a second data package comprising the issuer's signed certificate and a signature of the unique dynamic value using the merchant's private key; authenticate the legitimacy of the merchant device by verifying the issuer's signed certificate using a certification authority's public key and, once verified, authenticating the signed unique dynamic value against the unique dynamic value received in the first data package using the merchant public key; retrieve from the memory a counter value and a stored customer device private key; transmitting the received unique static merchant identifier and a cryptogram to the merchant device only if the signed unique dynamic value is authenticated against the unique dynamic value received in the first data package using the merchant's public key, cryptogram having been generated using the retrieved secret key unique to the customer device, the retrieved counter value, the received unique static merchant identifier and the transaction request data; and receive from the merchant device a notification indicating whether the transaction has been successful; wherein the cryptogram enables the merchant device on receipt to check whether the unique static merchant identifier received from the customer device matches the unique static merchant identifier issued by the acquirer, and if so to form an authorisation request comprising the received cryptogram, the unique static merchant identifier and the transaction request data and to submit said authorisation request to at least one of an issuer and an acquirer to facilitate authorisation and processing of said transaction request data; and wherein a copy of the unique static merchant identifier is securely retained by the acquirer to verify that a merchant affiliated with the merchant device is a valid merchant.

The first transceiver device may be incorporated into a mobile communication device such as a mobile phone, cell phone or iPhone. Optionally, the first transceiver device may be separated from but in communication with a mobile communication device. Optionally, the first transceiver device may be incorporated into a point of sale device (POS) or separated from but in communication with a POS. In still other arrangements the transceiver device may be integrated into a personal computing device (such as a laptop, PDA, pager) or a device that is separated from but in communication with a personal computing device.

The interface module may be in the form of a contact interface module, a contactless interface module or a dual contact and contactless interface module. In an embodiment utilising a contactless interface module, the interface module preferably incorporates the requisite mechanisms to enable the transfer of data between two devices (such as ISO 7816, NFC, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, SMS etc). For example, one such contactless interface module may comprise a transponder and an antenna.

The transaction request data may comprise an amount for the transaction, and at least one (or more) of a currency code, a time stamp and a customer identifier such as a PIN or biometric and any other relevant data.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The prior art has been described with reference to Figure 1, which illustrates a typical four-party network participating in a payment transaction over an open network.

An example of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 2 is a block diagram that schematically illustrates components of a transceiver device for securing transactions over open networks;
Figure 3 is a block diagram that schematically illustrates components of a system for securing transactions across open networks;
Figure 4 is a flow chart of the steps involved in securing transactions over open networks; and
Figure 5 is a flow chart of a specific step shown in Figure 4.

Best Mode of the Invention

Figure 2 illustrates components of a transceiver device 10 for securing transactions over open networks. It should be appreciated that the term open network, or open communication network, is broadly defined as any wireless, generally unsecured, network, such as the Internet Protocol (IP) network. For instance, the open network infrastructure may comprise the networks commonly referred to as the Internet backbone and each of a local area network (LAN) and a wide area network (WAN). Each of the LAN and the WAN is coupled to the Internet by a router or Network Address Translation (NAT) server and each is capable of transferring IP frames.

The transceiver device 10 is any device that is configured to communicate with another transceiver device. In this example the transceiver device 10 is a device that is incorporated into a mobile communication device in the form of a mobile phone.

As illustrated, the transceiver 10 comprises an interface module in the form of a contact or contactless interface module (CIM) 12. In this example the CIM 12 is a contactless interface module. The CIM 12 may be any mechanism for transferring data between two devices (such as ISO 7816, Near Field Communication (NFC), Bluetooth, SMS etc) and in this application utilises NFC. NFC is a short-range wireless connectivity standard (Ecma-340, ISO/IEC 18092) that uses magnetic field induction to enable communication between the device 10 and a neighbouring device when they're-brought within a few centimetres of each other. The standard specifies a way for the respective devices to establish a peer-to-peer (P2P) network to exchange data. Once the P2P network is configured, another technology such as Bluetooth can be utilised to enable longer range communication.

Coupled to the CIM is a central processing unit 14 which controls operation of the device 10 and memory 16. Transaction module 18 is implemented as a software application, computer programs, etc., utilizing any suitable computer language (C, C++, Java, Perl, PHP, etc.) The software is stored as a series of instructions or commands written to memory 16 such that when processor 14 reads the memory, the functions described here-in are performed.

In addition to the programmable portion of memory 16, the memory may include different types of memory, such as volatile and non-volatile memory and read-only memory.

Figure 3 illustrates a system 20 in which an embodiment of the invention may be used in order to secure transactions across open networks. Like numbers refer to like components. The system 20 comprises a first transceiver device 10 which in this example is configured as a "merchant device" and a second transceiver device 22 which in this example is configured as a "customer device". In this example, the merchant device 10 and the customer device 22 are mobile enabled NFC capable devices and each is configured to communicate with the other via their respective contactless interfaces 12. Each device 10, 22 is equipped with components described with respect to Figure 2.

The memory unit 16 of the merchant transceiver device 10 securely stores the unique merchant identifier which identifies the merchant to whom the amount of the transaction is to be credited. The merchant identifier is embedded into the memory of the device 10 during the issuing process, and a copy is retained securely by the acquirer. The memory unit 16 of the customer transceiver device 22 securely stores the user's primary account number ("PAN"), the users personal identification number ("PIN"), an application transaction counter (ATC) and a secret key. The secret key is embedded into the memory of the device 22 during the issuing process, and a copy is retained securely by the issuer 30.

The merchant device 10 communicates with an acquirer 28 and/or an issuer 30 over a network 26. The device may be attached to the network in any suitable manner known in the art. The network 26 may include any type of delivery system including, but not limited to a local area network, wide area network, telephone network, and/or any wired communications network configured to transfer data.

Figure 4 illustrates steps of a method 40 for securing transactions over open networks. The method may be implemented by the system illustrated in figure 3. The method comprises the general steps of preliminary transaction processing - step 42, discovery processing - step 44, application selection step - 46, application processing - step 48, and transaction authorisation - step 50.

The preliminary transaction processing step 42 involves the merchant device 10, collating the variable data (which includes the transaction amount and the currency code) and static transaction data which is required to be sent to the customer device 22. In addition the CIM 12 is enabled for communications with customer device 22.

The discovery processing in step 44 follows the preliminary transaction processing in step 42. Once the customer's device 22 is within range of the merchant device 10, communication is established via the device's respective CIMs 12. The merchant device 10 energizes its CIM 12 and establishes a connection with the customer device 22 via its CIM 12. If the merchant device 10 detects multiple contactless devices within its field of range then merchant device 10 may indicate this condition to the holder of the customer device 22 and request that only a single device be presented for the transaction.

Once communication is established between the respective devices, the merchant device 10 compiles and transmits an application selection message to the customer device 22.

The application selection step 46 follows the discovery processing step 44 and involves forming a response to the application selection message. The application selection step (shown in more detail with reference to Figure 5) involves application discovery 62, actual application selection 64, and PIN presentation 66.

The application selection 60 may employ one of two methodologies. If the customer device 22 is an intelligent device which is capable of building a list of accounts then the customer device proceeds to build a list of available accounts and the customer device displays the list of accounts on the device's display for customer selection (step 62). In response, the user of the customer device 22 selects an account step 64, possibly by entry via a keypad on the body of the device 22. It should be appreciated that the keypad may be either a physical keypad or a virtual keypad. The user in response to selecting an account then enters a PIN step 66, possibly on the same keypad on the body of the device 22, the value of which is then checked against a stored reference value in memory.

The customer device 22 then responds to the application selection message and transmits the selected account information to the merchant device 10. In addition, the customer device 22 sends a request to the merchant device 10 for specific information required to complete the secure transaction.

If the customer device 22 does not have the required intelligence then in response to receiving the application selection message, the customer device 22 builds a list of available accounts and transmits the list of available accounts to the merchant device 10. The merchant device 10 then compares the accounts listed received from the customer device 22 against that which the merchant device 10 supports. The list of accounts which the merchant device 10 supports is then presented to the user of the customer device 22 on the merchant device's display, step 62. In response the user selects an account which is to be debited the value of the transaction possibly via a keypad on a user display on the body of the merchant device 10, step 64. The user in response to selecting an account then enters a PIN step 66. Data indicative of the selected account is subsequently stored to memory in the merchant device 10. In addition, the data indicative of the selected account and the presented PIN is transmitted from the merchant device 10 to the customer device 22. The customer device then checks the PIN entered data against a stored reference value in the customer device's memory. As in the first methodology, in response to the account selection request, the customer device 22 sends a request to the merchant device 10 for specific information required to complete the secure transaction.

Irrespective of the methodology employed, the specific information subsequently compiled will include various details about the capabilities of the merchant device 10 together with specific data required to process the transaction.

The application processing step 48 follows the application selection step 46 and involves compiling a command message. In response to the customer transceiver device's 22 request for specific information required to complete the secure transaction, the merchant device 10 compiles a command message which is then transmitted to the customer transceiver device 22.

The command message comprises a number of data elements or fields. A first field is populated with a unique value identifying the merchant. This value will be known to the acquiring organisations. A second field is populated with data representative of an amount for the transaction. A third field is populated with data representative of the transaction's currency code. A fourth field is populated with data representative of the customer selected account from which the transaction amount is to be debited. Additional fields may be populated with data associated with a unique number which is provided to further secure the transaction, data representative of the user selected account, and a PIN which may have been captured at the time of account selection, be this on the customer device 22 or the merchant device 10.

The merchant device 10 performs a number of risk management processes to ensure that PIN verification attempts have not been exceeded and to protect against man-in-the-middle attacks and transaction tearing. Transaction tearing describes the situation whereby a transceiver device is removed from the coupling field with another transceiver device before the transaction has completed. The transaction module application must ensure that it always knows where the process is up to should the two devices re-establish a data communication path to complete the transaction. In effect, either the respective devices assume that the transaction has not completed and all values are reset to the values prior to commencement of the transaction, or the respective devices assume that the transaction has completed with respect to the other device and each device stores data associated with any changes at the point of tearing to memory. In the later case, such data is forward to the Issuer who is responsible for resolving any discrepancies.

Following completion of the risk management process the processor 14 of the customer's device 22 builds the appropriate secure response to the command message and transmits the secure response to the merchant transceiver device 10.

The secure response is based on a cryptogram computed using a key unique to the customer device 22 together with the unique merchant identifier and all required information to process the transaction. As with the command message, the authorisation response comprises a number of data fields, the first three of which are populated with data previously received from the merchant device, those being the unique merchant identifier, the transaction amount and currency code. In addition, further fields of the secure authorisation response to the command message are populated with the Customer device's PAN or issuer application data track 2 which correspond to the user selected account, an application transaction counter (ATC) and PIN verification information indicative of a right/wrong response. The customer device 22 manages a counter value referred to as the Application Transaction Counter (ATC). The ATC is included in the cryptogram computation and incremented with each transaction, as a defence against replay attacks.

The secure response is transmitted to the merchant device 10. Included with the secure response may be the unique value identifying the merchant. Once the response is received the merchant checks the response and if the response includes a value identifying the merchant then the merchant device 10 checks that that received value corresponds to the unique identification value identifying the merchant securely stored in the merchant device's memory. On the condition that the received value identifying the merchant and the unique value identifying the merchant is one and the same the secure response is then ready to be sent to the acquirer/issuer.

The customer transceiver device 22 may now be removed from the field of range of the merchant transceiver device 10.

The authorisation step 50 follows the application processing step 48. The merchant transceiver device 10 sends the secure response to the acquirer and then to the issuer for verification. On receiving a transaction, the issuer is able to re-compute the cryptogram using their copy of the customer device's key. Based on a response subsequently received from the issuer, the merchant transceiver device 10 notifies the user of the customer transceiver device 22 if the transaction has been successful.

Assuming the re-computed data from the cryptogram is intact, the issuer will debit the user selected account the value of the transaction. The acquirer/issuer has the assurance of the identity of the merchant and the identity of the customer since the customer device 22 returns to the merchant device 10 the information it previously received, as well as other information obtained from its system to process the transaction. If a man in the middle were present, the merchant device will be subsequently alerted.

The methodology in accordance with the invention may in addition, authenticate the legitimacy of the merchant. This may be achieved by the asymmetric signing of a unique dynamic value.

When transceiver devices 10, 22 are issued they are loaded with the public key of the issuer 30, in a certificate signed by the private key of one or more certification authorities (CA). In addition, the transceiver devices 10, 22 are loaded with the public key for the one or more certification authorities in order to verify the issuer's 30 public key embedded in the certificate.

In addition, the secure module 24 of each transceiver device 10, 22 has its own pubic/private key pair loaded. The public key of each respective secure module 24 is held in a certificate unique identification value which is signed with the private key of the issuer 30.

The customer transceiver device 22 requests from the merchant transceiver device 10 the Issuer's 30 signed certificate holding the unique identification number. In addition it requests that the merchant transceiver device 10 sign a unique dynamic value using the secure module's 24 private key.

The customer transceiver device 22 verifies the CA signed Issuer certificate using the CA public key, and once authenticated, the customer transceiver device 22 authenticates the Issuer's signed secure module certificate using the public key of the Issuer and then authenticates the signed unique dynamic value using the public key loaded into the merchant's issuer signed certificate.

As should be evident to those persons skilled in the art, embodiments of the invention are advantageously much simpler in their implementation than known techniques, for instance those which utilise EMV (Europay, Mastercard and VISA). EMV does not contemplate binding the merchant and the consumer to a single transaction, in contrast EMV merely identifies that a valid card is used in a transaction. Subsequently, embodiments of the invention do not rely on the merchant device needing to secure a particular transaction, nor does it rely on the condition of a pre-existing relationship to have been established between the merchant, consumer and issuer.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown in the specific embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention as claimed. Furthermore, embodiments of the invention are suitable not only for a domestic market but for payment schemes within an international context. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.

Claims

A method to secure payment data transmitted over open communication networks, the method comprising:
selectively configuring a first transceiver device (10) as a merchant device (10) for a first payment transaction;

establishing (44) a data connection between the first transceiver device and a second transceiver device configured as a customer device (22), each of the first and second transceiver devices being selectively configurable as either a merchant device (10) or a customer device (22);

the merchant device (10) transmitting (48) a first data package to the customer device (22) over the data connection, the first data package comprising a unique static merchant identifier issued by an acquirer, transaction request data and a unique dynamic value;

the customer device (22) forming a merchant authentication request and transmitting the merchant authentication request to the merchant device (10) to request from the merchant device (10) a signed certificate of an issuer (30) which holds the unique static merchant identifier and merchant public key, and a signature of the unique dynamic value using the merchant's private key;

the customer device (22) receiving from the merchant device (10) a second data package comprising the issuer's signed certificate and a signature of the unique dynamic value using the merchant's private key;

the customer device (22) authenticating the legitimacy of the merchant device (10) by verifying the issuer's signed certificate using a certification authority's public key and, once verified, authenticating the signed unique dynamic value against the unique dynamic value received in the first data package using the merchant public key;

the customer device (22) transmitting (48) the received unique static merchant identifier and a cryptogram to the merchant device (22) only if the signed unique dynamic value is authenticated against the unique dynamic value received in the first data package using the merchant public key, the cryptogram having been generated using a secret key unique to the customer device, a counter value, the received unique static merchant identifier and the transaction request data;

the merchant device (10) checking whether the unique static merchant identifier received from the customer device (22) matches the unique static merchant identifier issued by the acquirer, and if so forming an authorisation request comprising the received cryptogram, the unique static merchant identifier and the transaction request data and submitting (50) said authorisation request to at least one of an issuer (30) and an acquirer (28) to facilitate authorisation and processing of said transaction request data;

the merchant device (10) receiving a response from the issuer indicating whether the transaction has been successful; and

the merchant device (10) notifying the customer device (22) whether the transaction has been successful;

wherein a copy of the unique static merchant identifier is securely retained by the acquirer (28) to verify that a merchant affiliated with the merchant device (10) is a valid merchant.
A method according to claim 1, wherein establishing (44) a data connection between the first and second transceiver devices (10) comprises establishing a contactless connection or a contact connection.
A method according to claim 2, wherein establishing (44) a data connection between the first and second transceiver devices (10) comprises establishing a contactless connection and said contactless connection utilises at least one of NFC, Bluetooth and WiFi technologies.
A method according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising maintaining a counter embodied in the customer device (22).
A method according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising receiving an account selection request from the user of the customer device (22).
A method according to claim 5, wherein the account selection request is received via a user interface of the customer device (22), the method preferably further comprising transmitting the user selected account selection to the merchant device (10) over the data connection and storing data representative of the user selected account in a memory of the merchant device (10).
A method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein an account selection request is received via a user interface of the merchant device (10), the method preferably further comprising retrieving a predetermined default account from a memory (16) of the customer device (22).
A method according to claim 6, further comprising transmitting data representative of the user selected account over the data connection to the customer device (22).
A method according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising retrieving the transaction request data, said transaction request data comprising an amount for the transaction, and at least one of a currency code, a time stamp, data representative of the user selected account, and a customer identifier such as a PIN or biometric and a static merchant identifier value.
A method of operating a first transceiver device (10) selectively configured as a merchant device (10) to secure payment data for a first payment transaction transmitted over an open communication network, the method comprising:
establishing (44) a data connection with a second transceiver device (10) configured as a customer device (22), each of the first and second transceiver devices being selectively configurable as either a merchant device (10) or a customer device (22);

transmitting (48) a first data package to the customer device (22) over the data connection, the first data package comprising a unique static merchant identifier issued by an acquirer, transaction request data and a unique dynamic value;

receiving from the customer device (22) a merchant authentication request requesting a signed certificate of an issuer (30) which holds the unique static merchant identifier and merchant public key and a signature of the unique dynamic value using the merchant's private key; and

transmitting to the customer device (22) a second data package comprising the issuer's signed certificate and a signature of the unique dynamic value using the merchant's private key;

wherein if the customer device (22) authenticates the legitimacy of the merchant device (10) by verifying the issuer's signed certificate using a certification authority's public key and, once verified, authenticates the signed unique dynamic value against the unique dynamic value received in the first data package using the merchant public key, the method further comprises:
receiving from the customer device (22) the unique static merchant identifier and a cryptogram, the cryptogram having been generated using a secret key unique to the customer device, a counter value, the unique static merchant identifier and the transaction request data;

checking whether the unique static merchant identifier received from the customer device (22) matches the unique static merchant identifier issued by the acquirer, and if so forming an authorisation request comprising the received cryptogram, the unique static merchant identifier and the transaction request data and submitting (50) said authorisation request to at least one of an issuer (30) and an acquirer (28) to facilitate authorisation and processing of said transaction request data;

receiving a response from the issuer indicating whether the transaction has been successful; and

notifying the customer device (22) whether the transaction has been successful;
wherein a copy of the unique static merchant identifier is securely retained by the acquirer (28) to verify that a merchant affiliated with the merchant device (10) is a valid merchant.
A method of operating a second transceiver device (10) selectively configured as a customer device (22) to secure payment data for a first payment transaction transmitted over an open communication network, the method comprising:
establishing (44) a data connection with a first transceiver device configured as a merchant device (10), each of the first and second transceiver devices being selectively configurable as either a merchant device (10) or a customer device (22);

receiving (48) from the merchant device (10) a first data package over the data connection, the first data package comprising a unique static merchant identifier issued by an acquirer, transaction request data and a unique dynamic value;

forming a merchant authentication request and transmitting the merchant authentication request to the merchant device (10) to request from the merchant device (10), a signed certificate of an issuer (30) which holds the unique static merchant identifier and merchant public key, and a signature of the unique dynamic value using the merchant's private key;

receiving from the merchant device (10) a second data package comprising the issuer's signed certificate and a signature of the unique dynamic value using the merchant's private key;

authenticating the legitimacy of the merchant device (10) by verifying the issuer's signed certificate using a certification authority's public key and, once verified, authenticating the signed unique dynamic value against the unique dynamic value received in the first data package using the merchant public key;

transmitting (48) the received unique static merchant identifier and a cryptogram to the merchant device (22) only if the signed unique dynamic value is authenticated against the unique dynamic value received in the first data package using the merchant public key, the cryptogram having been generated using a secret key unique to the customer device, a counter value, the received unique static merchant identifier and the transaction request data; and

receiving from the merchant device (10) a notification indicating whether the transaction has been successful;

wherein the cryptogram enables the merchant device (10) on receipt to check whether the unique static merchant identifier received from the customer device (22) matches the unique static merchant identifier issued by the acquirer, and if so form an authorisation request comprising the received cryptogram, the unique static merchant identifier and the transaction request data and submit (50) said authorisation request to at least one of an issuer (30) and an acquirer (28) to facilitate authorisation and processing of said transaction request data; and

wherein a copy of the unique static merchant identifier is securely retained by the acquirer (28) to verify that a merchant affiliated with the merchant device (10) is a valid merchant.
A first transceiver device operable to secure payment data transmitted over open communication networks, the first transceiver device being selectively configurable as either a merchant device (10) or a customer transceiver device (22), the first transceiver device (10) comprising:
an interface module (12) operable to enable data communication with other transceiver devices (10); and

a processor (14) coupled to a memory (16), the memory (16) being operable to store processor control code;

wherein when the first transceiver is selectively configured as a merchant device (10) the processor control code is operable to selectively control the processor (14) and the interface module (12), when running to:
establish (44) a data connection with a second transceiver device configured as a customer device (22);

retrieve from memory (16) a unique static merchant identifier, the unique static merchant identifier having been issued by an acquirer (28);

transmit (48) a first data package to the customer device (22) over the data connection, the first data package comprising the unique static merchant identifier, transaction request data and a unique dynamic value;

receive from the customer device (22) a merchant authentication request requesting a signed certificate of an issuer (30) which holds the unique static merchant identifier and merchant public key and a signature of the unique dynamic value using the merchant's private key; and

transmit to the customer device (22) a second data package comprising the issuer's signed certificate and a signature of the unique dynamic value using the merchant's private key;

wherein if the customer device (22) authenticates the legitimacy of the merchant device (10) by verifying the issuer's signed certificate using a certification authority's public key and, once verified, authenticates the signed unique dynamic value against the unique dynamic value received in the first data package using the merchant public key, the processor control code is operable to selectively control the processor (14) and the interface module (12), when running to:
receive (48) from customer device (22) the unique static merchant identifier and a cryptogram, the cryptogram having been generated using a secret key unique to the customer device, a counter value, the unique static merchant identifier and the transaction request data;

check whether the unique static merchant identifier received from the customer device (22) matches the unique static merchant identifier issued by the acquirer, and if so form an authorisation request comprising the received cryptogram, the unique static merchant identifier and the transaction request data and submit (50) said authorisation request to at least one of an issuer (30) and an acquirer (28) to facilitate authorisation and processing of said transaction request data;

receive a response from the issuer indicating whether the transaction has been successful and notifying a user of the customer device (22); and

notify the customer device (22) whether the transaction has been successful;

wherein a copy of the unique static merchant identifier is securely retained by the acquirer (28) to verify that a merchant affiliated with the a merchant device (10) is a valid merchant; or

wherein when the first transceiver device is selectively configured as a customer device (22) the processor control code is operable to selectively control the processor (14) and the interface module (12), when running to:
establish (44) a data connection with a second transceiver device configured as a merchant device (10);

receive (48) from the merchant device (10) a first data package over the data connection, the first data package comprising a unique static merchant identifier issued by an acquirer, transaction request data and a unique dynamic value;

form a merchant authentication request and transmit the merchant authentication request to the merchant device (10) to request from the merchant device (10), a signed certificate of an issuer (30) which holds the unique static merchant identifier and merchant public key, and a signature of the unique dynamic value using the merchant's private key;

receive from the merchant device (10) a second data package comprising the issuer's signed certificate and a signature of the unique dynamic value using the merchant's private key;

authenticate the legitimacy of the merchant device (10) by verifying the issuer's signed certificate using a certification authority's public key and, once verified, authenticating the signed unique dynamic value against the unique dynamic value received in the first data package using the merchant public key;

retrieve from the memory (16) a counter value and a stored customer device private key;

transmitting (48) the received unique static merchant identifier and a cryptogram to the merchant device (22) only if the signed unique dynamic value is authenticated against the unique dynamic value received in the first data package using the merchant's public key, cryptogram having been generated using the retrieved secret key unique to the customer device, the retrieved counter value, the received unique static merchant identifier and the transaction request data; and

receive from the merchant device (10) a notification indicating whether the transaction has been successful;

wherein the cryptogram enables the merchant device (10) on receipt to check whether the unique static merchant identifier received from the customer device (22) matches the unique static merchant identifier issued by the acquirer, and if so to form an authorisation request comprising the received cryptogram, the unique static merchant identifier and the transaction request data and to submit (50) said authorisation request to at least one of an issuer (30) and an acquirer (28) to facilitate authorisation and processing of said transaction request data; and

wherein a copy of the unique static merchant identifier is securely retained by the acquirer (28) to verify that a merchant affiliated with the merchant device (10) is a valid merchant.
A first transceiver device (10) according to claim 12 wherein the interface module (12) is in the form of a contact interface module, a contactless interface module or a dual contact and contactless interface module.
A first transceiver device (10) according to claim 13, wherein the interface module (12) is in the form of a contactless interface module which incorporates near field communications technology.
A first transceiver device (10) according to any one of claims 12 to 14, wherein the transaction request data comprises an amount for the transaction, and at least one of a currency code, a time stamp and a customer identifier such as a PIN or biometric.
A mobile communication device, personal computing device or point of sale device having incorporated therein, a first transceiver device (10) as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 15.