Dual/multiple pin payment account

1. A method of authorising a transaction process, said method comprising the steps of:

establishing a communication between a payment device and a payment processing network;

initialising a transaction at the payment device, wherein the transaction is initialised by a first user associated with a first User Identification Metric (UIM);

applying a first set of rules;

requesting input of the first UIM based upon the application of the first set of rules to an amount of the initialised transaction;

applying a second set of rules;

requesting input of a second UIM associated with a second user based upon the application of the second set of rules to the amount of the initialised transaction;

verifying the first UIM;

verifying the second UIM; and

proceeding with the transaction process if both UIMs are verified.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first UIM is Personal Identification Number (PIN) and/or a predetermined biometric identification.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second UIM is a PIN and/or a predetermined biometric identification.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second UIMs is input directly to the payment device.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second UIMs is input remotely of the payment device and communicated to the payment device.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first set of rules includes a rule specifying that the input of the first UIM is not required if the transaction amount is below a first predetermined threshold amount.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second set of rules includes a rule specifying that the input of the second UIM is not required if the transaction amount is below a second predetermined threshold amount.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the set of rules includes a rule specifying that the input of the second UIM must be within a predetermined time period after the input of the first UIM.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the steps of verifying the first and second UIMs is executed at the payment device.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the steps of verifying the first and second UIMs is executed over the payment processing network.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein verifying at least the first or the second UIM comprises comparing and matching the input UIM(s) to reference values and/or data stored in a secure element of the payment device.

12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the preliminary steps of assigning the first UIM to a first party and assigning the second UIM to a second party.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of requesting input of a first UIM includes requesting a first biometric identification input and, wherein the step of verifying the first UIM input includes verifying the first biometric identification input.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of requesting input of a second UIM includes requesting a second biometric identification input and, wherein the step of verifying the second UIM includes verifying the second biometric identification input.

15. A payment device comprising:

a processor; and

a memory in communication with the processor and storing program instructions;

wherein the processor is operative with the program instructions to perform the actions of:

establishing a communication between the payment device and a payment processing network;

initialising a transaction at the payment device, wherein the transaction is initialised by a first user associated with a first User Identification Metric (UIM);

applying a first set of rules;

requesting input of the first UIM based upon the application of the first set of rules to an amount of the initialised transaction;

applying a second set of rules;

requesting input of a second UIM associated with a second user based upon the application of the second set of rules to the amount of the initialised transaction;

verifying the first UIM;

verifying the second UIM; and

communicating with the payment processing network to proceed with the transaction if both UIMs are successfully verified.

16. The payment device of claim 15 , wherein the first UIM is a Personal Identification Number (PIN) and/or a predetermined biometric identification.

17. The payment device of claim 15 , wherein the second UIM is a PIN and/or a predetermined biometric identification.

18. The payment device of claim 15 , wherein the payment device is a portable electronic device, further comprising a user interface, and wherein at least one of the first and second UIMs is input via the user interface.

19. A transaction authorisation system comprising:

a payment processing network; and

a payment device according to claim 17 in communication with the payment processing network.

20. The transaction authorisation system of claim 19 , wherein the payment device is an Integrated Circuit Card (ICC).

21. The transaction authorisation system of claim 20 , further comprising a terminal communicatively coupled with the payment processing network, wherein the ICC is insertable into the terminal in order to establish a communication between the ICC and the payment processing network.

22. A processor-readable medium comprising a set of program instructions, wherein execution of the program instructions by a processor causes the processor to perform the actions of:

establishing a communication between a payment device containing the processor and a payment processing network;

initialising a transaction at the payment device, wherein the transaction is initialised by a first user associated with a first User Identification Metric (UIM);

applying a first set of rules;

requesting input of the first UIM based upon the application of the first set of rules to an amount of the initialised transaction;

applying a second set of rules;

requesting input of a second UIM associated with a second user based upon the application of the second set of rules to the amount of the initialised transaction;

verifying the first UIM;

verifying the second UIM; and

communicating with the payment processing network to proceed with the transaction if both UIMs are verified.

23. The processor-readable medium of claim 22 , wherein the first UIM is a Personal Identification Number (PIN) and/or a predetermined biometric identification.

24. The processor-readable medium of claim 22 , wherein the second UIM is a PIN and/or a predetermined biometric identification.

25. The processor-readable medium of claim 22 , wherein the set of program instructions further includes instructions that cause the processor to perform the actions of:

establishing whether the transaction amount is below a first predetermined level; and, if so,

bypassing the actions of requesting input of the first UIM and verifying the first UIM.

26. The processor-readable medium of claim 22 , wherein the set of program instructions further includes instructions that cause the processor to perform the actions of:

establishing whether the transaction amount is below a second predetermined level; and, if so,

bypassing the actions of requesting input of the second UIM and verifying the second UIM.

27. The processor-readable medium of claim 22 , wherein the set of program instructions further includes instructions that cause the processor to perform the action of establishing whether the second UIM has been input within a predetermined time period after the input of the first UIM.

28. The processor-readable medium of claim 22 , wherein verifying at least the first or the second UIM comprises comparing and matching the input UIM(s) to reference values and or data stored in a secure element of the payment device.