Apple Pay and how NFC works in a new patent

This week, the USPTO unveiled a patent application called "How to adjust NFC in the mobile payment process." The Apple Pay feature and the NFC hardware architecture and working modes are described in detail in the patent file.

First, Apple introduces its contactless payment system in patent documents. Relying on NFC technology, such as components in the IPhone6 and 6 Plus, the user device can monitor the magnetic field formed around the merchant POS terminal. After the phone and POS terminals are verified accurately, the system uses different encodings to "transfer" user credentials and payment data. The Merchant payment processor verifies the user's credentials by connecting to a payment network and finally completes the transaction.

The patent also mentions the payment network and the issuing bank. Apple Pay is now partnering with a number of banking institutions such as Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Bank of America, Wells Fargo and more. For a user device, each subsystem is the same, and can be fused through appropriate services such as Apple Passbook application software.

In terms of payment credentials (such as credit cards), the system relies on software and hardware coding to ensure that information is safely entered and saved. In some cases, a user connects to a service provider subsystem to set up a new card on their device. The proxy template on the user's phone matches the payment network system and credentials and manages the credit voucher. At the same time, trusted service management platform will ensure the security of mobile phone POS terminal "interaction".

Using this technology, the system can remotely authorize user level two devices (such as smart watches) to download credit card instructions. Apple has announced that Apple Watch will be compatible with Apple Pay services, as confirmed in the patent document. Apple pay relies on a dedicated "security element chip" to protect sensitive user data (such as credit card information) stored in a device. Instead of sending the user's credit card account and the cardholder's name directly, the chip generates a unique digital code that can be cracked by an Apple Pay-compatible POS system. So when users are trading, they don't have to worry about hackers stealing their information.

In addition, the patent describes how user devices can identify and monitor POS terminals. When the Merchant POS terminal is monitored, the user device activates the internal NFC receiver and waits for the master to follow the instructions. After the instruction has been validated, the device establishes a compatible connection to perform the data transfer operation and shares the connection attribute information between the POS terminal and the mobile payment system.

If the distance between the user device and the POS is outside the acceptable range, the POS terminal saves the user's credit credentials, and the device tries to connect again.

In addition, Apple's new patent describes NFC working mode, power settings, time windows, and other usage protocols, all designed to provide users with a secure and convenient mobile payment experience.

Source: AppleInsider

Apple Pay and how NFC works in a new patent