Funding a Radio Frequency Device Transaction

Abstract

A transponder-reader payment system includes an RFID reader for interrogating a transponder and an RFID transponder device. The RFID reader receives, from the RFID transponder device, a code that is associated with a first funding source and a second funding source. The RFID reader communicates a request associated with a transaction to a payment processor. The request includes the code and the transaction is funded using the first funding source and the second funding source associated with the code. In one embodiment, the transaction is funded according to a funding account protocol associated with the code.

1 . A method, comprising:
 receiving a code from a radio frequency (RF) transponder device, wherein the code is associated with a first funding source and a second funding source; and   communicating a request to a payment processor, wherein the request is associated with a transaction and comprises the code, and wherein the transaction is funded from the first funding source and the second funding source.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the transaction is funded according to a funding account protocol associated with the code. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the funding account protocol comprises a predetermined formula. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the funding account protocol involves the first funding source and the second funding source. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the funding account protocol comprises receiving funds from the second funding source in response to a first funding source value associated with the first funding source being less than a minimum depletion value associated with the first funding source. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the funding account protocol comprises receiving funds from at least one of the first funding source or the second funding source according to a formula determined at least partially by at least one of: a merchant system, a payment processor system, an RF reader, a transaction processing system, a transponder device user, the RF transponder device, a loyalty points system, a first funding source system, or a second funding source system. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the funding account protocol comprises receiving funds from at least one of the first funding source or the second funding source in accordance with at least one of: an amount associated with the transaction, a merchant type associated with the transaction, a first funding source value, a second funding source value, or a date of the request. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the funding account protocol is stored on at least one of: a merchant system, a payment processor system, an RF reader, the RF transponder device, a transaction processing system, a first funding source system, or a second funding source system. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein communicating the request comprises communicating with at least one of a merchant system, a point of sale device, a payment transaction processor, a first funding source system, or a second funding source system. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 encrypting, with a reader authentication key, a reader authentication signal received from the RF transponder device to create an encrypted reader authentication signal;   transmitting the encrypted reader authentication signal and an RF device authentication signal to the RF transponder device;   decrypting, with an RF device authentication key, an encrypted transponder authentication signal received from the RF transponder device to create a decrypted transponder authentication signal; and,   authenticating the RF transponder device in response to the decrypted transponder authentication signal matching the transponder device authentication signal.   
     
     
         11 . A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of instructions, the plurality of instructions comprising:
 instructions for receiving a code from a radio frequency (RF) transponder device, wherein the code is associated with a first funding source and a second funding source; and   instructions for communicating a request to a payment processor, wherein the request comprises the code, and wherein the request is funded from the first funding source and the second funding source.   
     
     
         12 . A radio frequency (RF) reader, comprising:
 a first communication device for receiving a code from an RF transponder device, wherein the code is associated with a first funding source and a second funding source; and   a second communication device for communicating a request to a payment processor, wherein the request comprises the code, and wherein the request is funded from the first funding source and the second funding source.   
     
     
         13 . The RF reader of  claim 12 , wherein the first communication device and the second communication device are the same device. 
     
     
         14 . A method, comprising
 receiving a code associated with a radio frequency (RF) transponder device, wherein the code is associated with a first funding source and a second funding source; and,   processing a request, wherein the request is funded from at least one of the first funding source and the second funding source.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the receiving comprises receiving from at least one of a radio frequency (RF) reader in communication with the RF transponder device, a merchant system in communication with the RF reader, or a point-of-sale (POS) device in communication with at least one of the RF transponder device or the RF reader. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising communicating with a first funding source system and a second funding source system. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the code is further associated with a third funding source and wherein the request is funded from the first funding source, the second funding source and the third funding source. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the code is further associated with a funding account protocol associated with the first funding source and the second funding source. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising funding the request according to the funding account protocol. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising receiving an update funding account protocol request from at least one of a user, a user system, a personalization system, a payment processor, a merchant system, a loyalty points system, a first funding source system, or a second funding source system. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising updating the funding account protocol according to the update funding account protocol request. 
     
     
         22 . A method, comprising:
 transmitting a code to a radio frequency (RF) reader, wherein the RF reader sends a request to a payment processor, and wherein the request is associated with a transaction and comprises the code, and wherein the code is associated with a first funding source and a second funding source, and wherein a request is funded from the first funding source and the second funding source.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 encrypting, with a transponder device authentication key, a transponder device authentication signal received from the RF reader to create an encrypted transponder device authentication signal;   transmitting the encrypted transponder device authentication signal to the RF reader for authentication of a transponder device by the RF reader;   decrypting, with a reader authentication key, an encrypted reader authentication signal received from the RF reader to create a decrypted reader authentication signal;   authenticating the RF reader in response to the decrypted reader authentication signal matching a reader authentication signal transmitted from the transponder device to the RF reader;   
     
     
         24 . A radio frequency (RF) transponder device, comprising:
 a code associated with a first funding source and a second funding source;   a transponder device communication interface for transmitting the code to an RF reader, wherein the RF reader sends a request to a payment processor, and wherein the request is associated with a transaction and comprises the code, and wherein the code is associated with a first funding source and a second funding source, and wherein a request is funded from the first funding source and the second funding source.   
     
     
         25 . The transponder device of  claim 24 , wherein the RF reader is in communication with at least one of: a merchant system, a point of sale device, a payment processor system, a loyalty points system, a payment processor, a first funding source system or the second funding source system. 
     
     
         26 . The transponder device of  claim 24 , wherein the request is funded according to a funding account protocol associated with the code, the first funding source and the second funding source. 
     
     
         27 . The transponder device of  claim 24 , further comprising:
 means for encrypting, with a transponder device authentication key, a transponder device authentication signal received from the RF reader to create an encrypted transponder device authentication signal;   means for transmitting the encrypted transponder device authentication signal to the RF reader for authentication of the transponder device by the RF reader;   means for decrypting, with a reader authentication key, an encrypted reader authentication signal received from the RF reader to create a decrypted reader authentication signal; and   means for authenticating the RF reader in response to the decrypted reader authentication signal matching a reader authentication signal transmitted from the RF reader to the transponder device.   means for activating the transponder device communications interface in response to the decrypted reader authentication signal matching the reader authentication signal.   
     
     
         28 . The transponder device of  claim 27 , further comprising:
 means for encrypting the code with a code key to create an encrypted code, wherein the transponder device communication interface is further configured to transmit the encrypted code to the RF reader.   
     
     
         29 . The transponder device of  claim 28 , wherein at least one of the transponder device authentication key, the reader authentication key, or the code key is a security key unique to at least one of the transponder device and the reader. 
     
     
         30 . The transponder device of  claim 28 , wherein the transponder device authentication key, the reader authentication key, and the code key are the same key.