System and methods to prevent unauthorized usage of card readers

1. A card reader comprising:

a contactless card reader front-end coupled to a processor;

a communications module coupled to the processor;

a set of sensors coupled to the processor, the set of sensors determining parameters related to a location, orientation and motion of the card reader; and

the processor receiving the parameters from the set of sensors and utilizing the parameters and scenario configuration data to evaluate a rule, wherein the result of the evaluation of the rule results in a limitation on the operation of the card reader, wherein said scenario configuration data is based on a classification of a mobility of the card reader, and wherein the classification of the mobility of the card reader comprises selection of a usage location of the card reader either being static or in motion.

2. The card reader of claim 1 wherein the communications module intermittently receives the scenario configuration data from external sources.

3. The card reader of claim 2 wherein the evaluation of the rule is performed by a backend host accessed through the communications module.

4. The card reader of claim 1 wherein an external device is tethered to the card reader via the communications module, the external device comprising a second set of sensors, the second set of sensors determining parameters related to the location, orientation and motion of the card reader, the processor receiving the second set of parameters through the communications module.

5. The card reader of claim 4 wherein the evaluation of the rule is performed on the external device.

6. The card reader of claim 1 , wherein

the classification of the mobility of the card reader comprises selecting the usage location being in motion; and

the rule is based on a range of velocities.

7. The card reader of claim 1 , wherein

the classification of the mobility of the card reader comprises selecting the usage location being in motion; and

the rule is based on matching a plan or a route.

8. The card reader of claim 1 , wherein the classification of the mobility of the card reader comprises selecting the usage location being static; and

the rule is based on a range of velocities.

9. A method of operating a card reader in one or more usage locations, the one or more usage locations comprising a first usage location, the method comprising:

installing the card reader in the first usage location, the installation comprising classifying a first mobility of the card reader;

configuring the card reader with a first scenario, wherein the first scenario is based on the classifying of the first mobility of the card reader, wherein

said classifying the first mobility of the card reader comprises selecting the first usage location either being in motion or being static;

reading a first set of parameters from a first set of sensors located within the card reader, the first set of parameters related to a location, orientation and motion of the card reader; and

evaluating a first rule based on the first set of parameters, the first rule based on the first scenario, wherein the result of the evaluation of the first rule results in a first limitation on the operation of the card reader.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the configuration of the card reader comprises accessing the card reader through a communications module integrated with the card reader.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising tethering an external device to the card reader, the external device comprising a second set of sensors, the second set of sensors determining a second set of parameters related to the location, orientation and motion of the card reader, the card reader receiving the second set of parameters through the communications module.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the evaluation of the first rule is performed on the external device.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein the evaluation of the first rule is performed by a backend host accessed through the communications module.

14. The method of claim 9 , further wherein the one or more usage locations comprises a second usage location, said method further comprising

installing the card reader in the second usage location, the installation comprising classifying a second mobility of the card reader.

15. The method of claim 14 , the method further comprising

configuring the card reader with a second scenario, wherein the second scenario is based on the classifying of the second mobility; and

evaluating a second rule based on the first set of parameters, the second rule based on the second scenario, wherein the result of the evaluation of the second rule results in a second limitation on the operation of the card reader.

16. The method of claim 9 further wherein

the installation comprises classifying a first portability of the card reader; and

the first scenario is further based on the classifying of the first portability of the card reader.

17. The method of claim 16 , further wherein said classifying the first portability of the card reader comprises selecting one of fixed, mobile or handheld.

18. A method of operating a card reader in a plurality of usage locations, the method comprising performing at each of the plurality of usage locations:

classifying a mobility and a portability of the card reader, further wherein

the classifying of the mobility comprises selecting between the corresponding usage location either being in motion or static, and

the classifying of the portability comprises selecting one of fixed, mobile or handheld;

configuring the card reader with a scenario based on the classifying of the mobility and portability;

reading at least one of

a first set of parameters from a first set of sensors located within the card reader, or

a second set of parameters from a second set of sensors located on an external device tethered to the card reader, wherein

the first and second sets of parameters are related to a location, orientation and motion of the card reader; and

evaluating a rule based on least one of the first and second set of parameters, the rule based on the scenario, wherein the result of the evaluation results in a limitation on the operation of the card reader.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the evaluation of the first rule is performed either by

the external device, or

a backend host accessed through a communications module integrated with the card reader.