Method and apparatus having multiple identifiers for use in making transactions
A payment device is provided for use in transactions such as credit purchases at a retail store. The device includes a non-volatile memory containing a set of multiple identifiers that are associated with a customer account. The multiple identifiers are also known to an agency that provides the customer account. The device further includes a processor operable to select one identifier out of the set of multiple identifiers for use with any particular transaction involving the device and the customer account. This identifier is then conveyed from the device, typically via a store terminal, to the agency that maintains the account.
1. An apparatus for communicating with a first terminal and a second terminal distinct from the first terminal, each terminal communicatively coupled to a credit card company computer system, the apparatus comprising:
an RF receiver and transmitter, a processor, and memory comprising a unique number and program instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to perform:
generating, based on the unique number and one or more random or pseudo-random variables, a seed;
creating, based on the seed, a public-private key pair, and storing the key pair in memory;
exchanging, via an RF connection to the first terminal, public keys with the credit card company computer system, and storing the credit card company public key in the memory;
receiving, via the RF connection with the first terminal, a plurality of identifiers associated with the credit card company and storing the identifiers in the memory;
establishing communication with and receiving purchase data from, the second terminal, the purchase data comprising bill total, merchant ID, transaction ID, a date, and a time;
selecting an identifier from the plurality of identifiers;
generating a transaction record that includes the received data and the selected identifier;
digitally signing, based on a private key of the key pair, the transaction record;
encrypting, based on the public key from the credit card company computer system, the digitally-signed transaction record and transmitting the encrypted, digitally-signed transaction record to the credit card company computer via the second terminal; and
receiving, via the second terminal, confirmation of completion of a transaction for the transaction record.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising: inert packaging.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a first and a second power circuits.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the first power circuit and the second power circuit have different AC supply frequencies, power levels or physical contacts.
5. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the second power circuit is for write-enabling the memory to store account information.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the program instructions when executed by the processor cause the processor to perform:
storing, for distinct accounts, different key pairs for asymmetric encryption.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein to perform said selecting the identifier from the plurality of identifiers, the program instructions when executed by the processor cause the processor to perform randomly selecting the identifier from the plurality of identifiers.
8. A method, comprising:
generating, by a processor and memory of an apparatus, a seed, wherein the apparatus is for communicating with a first terminal and a second terminal distinct from the first terminal, each terminal communicatively coupled to a credit card company computer system, and wherein said generating the seed is based on a unique number stored in memory of the apparatus and one or more random or pseudo-random variables;
creating, by the processor and the memory and based on the seed, a public-private key pair and storing the key pair in the memory;
exchanging, by one or more components of the apparatus via an RF connection to the first terminal, public keys with the credit card company computer system, and storing the credit card company public key in the memory;
receiving, by one or more components of the apparatus via the RF connection with the first terminal, and from the credit card company computer system, a plurality of identifiers, and storing the identifiers in the memory;
establishing, by one or more components of the apparatus, communication with and receiving purchase data from, the second terminal, the purchase data comprising bill total, merchant ID, transaction ID, a date, and a time;
selecting, by the processor and the memory, an identifier from the plurality of identifiers;
generating, by the processor and the memory, a transaction record that includes the received data and the selected identifier;
digitally signing, by the processor and the memory and based on a private key of the key pair, the transaction record;
encrypting, by the processor and the memory and based on the public key from the credit card company computer system, the digitally-signed transaction record, and transmitting the encrypted, digitally-signed transaction record to the credit card company computer via the second terminal; and
receiving, by one or more components of the apparatus via the second terminal, confirmation of completion of a transaction for the transaction record.
9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
storing, by one or more components of the apparatus, one or more credit organization preferences in the memory; and
establishing, by one or more components of the apparatus and based on the one or more preferences stored in the memory, a credit organization of a plurality of credit organizations for the transaction.
10. The method of claim 8 , wherein said selecting the identifier from the plurality of identifiers comprises randomly selecting the identifier from the plurality of identifiers.
11. The method of claim 8 , comprising:
engaging, by one or more components of the apparatus, the apparatus with the first terminal and updating, by the one or more components, the account information stored in the memory of the apparatus.
12. The method of claim 8 , comprising:
engaging, by one or more components of the apparatus, the apparatus with the second terminal and performing, by the one or more components, consumer transactions.
13. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
storing, by one or more components of the apparatus, and for distinct accounts, different key pairs for asymmetric encryption.
14. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
storing, by one or more components of the apparatus, the plurality of identifiers in a portion of the memory or
implementing, by one or more components of the apparatus, a maximum transaction rate for delaying a transaction.
15. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
selecting, by one or more components of the apparatus, different ones of the of the plurality of identifiers for at least some of a plurality of different transactions.
16. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
selecting, by one or more components of the apparatus, at least some identifiers of the plurality of identifiers for more than one of a plurality of different transactions.
17. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing program instructions that when executed by a processor perform:
obtaining a unique number from a memory;
generating a seed based on the unique number and one or more random or pseudo-random variables;
creating, based on the seed, a public-private key pair, and storing the keys in the memory;
exchanging, via an RF connection to a first terminal public keys with a credit card company computer system, and storing the credit card company public key in the memory;
receiving, via the RF connection with the first terminal, and from the credit card company computer system, a plurality of identifiers, and storing the identifiers in the memory;
establishing communication with and receiving purchase data from, a second terminal, the second terminal distinct from the first terminal, the purchase data comprising bill total, merchant ID, transaction ID, a date, and a time;
selecting an identifier from the plurality of identifiers;
generating a transaction record that includes the received data and the selected identifier;
digitally signing, based on a private key of the key pair, the transaction record;
encrypting, based on the public key from the credit card company computer system, the digitally-signed transaction record, and transmitting the encrypted, digitally-signed transaction record to the credit card company computer system via the second terminal; and
receiving, via the second terminal, confirmation of completion of a transaction for the transaction record.
18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17 , comprising program instruction that when executed perform:
selecting at least some identifiers of the plurality of identifiers for more than one of a plurality of different transactions.
19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17 , comprising program instruction that when executed perform:
selecting different ones of the of the plurality of identifiers for at least some of a plurality of different transactions.
20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17 , comprising program instruction that when executed perform:
storing, for distinct accounts, different key pairs for asymmetric encryption.