Near-field communication (nfc) method, apparatus, and system with biometric authentication

Abstract

An apparatus, system and methodology for conducting financial and other transactions using a wireless computing device are provided. The wireless device includes a display screen, a user input interface, one or more processors, and at least one memory device. The memory device has stored therein a wallet application for completing transactions based on wireless data communications between the computing device and an external electronic device. The memory device further stores at least one electronic credential. The wireless device permits transmission, via a near-field communication (NFC) module, of at least one electronic credential to an NFC reader of the external electronic device based on comparing a biometric characteristic of a user, detected by a biometric characteristic reader, with stored biometric information.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computing device, comprising:
 a display screen;   a user input interface;   one or more processors;   at least one memory device having stored therein a plurality of applications to be executed by the one or more processors, the plurality of applications including at least one wallet application for completing transactions based on wireless data communications between the computing device and at least one external electronic device, the at least one memory device further storing at least one electronic credential;   a network transceiver configured to communicate with a cellular communications network;   a short-range radio frequency (RF) transceiver to communicate with an external RF device, where the external RF device supports a predetermined communications protocol;   a near-field communication (NFC) module including a NFC antenna, the NFC module configured to transmit the at least one electronic credential to a NFC reader of the external electronic device based on the NFC antenna of the computing device being within a RF range of a NFC antenna of the NFC reader; and   a biometric characteristic reader for reading a biometric characteristic of a user,   wherein the computing device is configured to permit transmission via the NFC module of the at least one electronic credential to the NFC reader of the external electronic device based on comparing the biometric characteristic of the user with stored biometric information.   
     
     
         2 . The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the biometric characteristic is a fingerprint. 
     
     
         3 . The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the biometric characteristic reader is configured to capture the biometric characteristic from the user to store the biometric characteristic as the stored biometric information. 
     
     
         4 . The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one memory device includes a secure memory for storing the at least one electronic credential, the secure memory being tamper-resistant memory. 
     
     
         5 . The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the computing device is configured to download the at least one electronic credential wirelessly from a credential issuing server via a data network and to store the at least one electronic credential in the at least one memory device. 
     
     
         6 . The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one electronic credential includes one or more of data associated with a credit card account, a debit card account, a stored value card account, an automated teller machine card account, a bank account, a payment token card account, a membership card account, a loyalty card account, an access card account, an identification card account, a driver's license, an e-ticket, a pass, a coupon, and a certificate. 
     
     
         7 . The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one electronic credential includes at least one payment token account number of a payment token account. 
     
     
         8 . The computing device of  claim 7 , wherein the payment token account number is within a bank identification number (BIN) range that is associated with at least one of a payment card issuer and a payment network. 
     
     
         9 . The computing device of  claim 7 , wherein the computing device is configured to transmit the payment token account number to the NFC reader of the external electronic device to transmit a transaction authorization request to an issuer system via a payment network, and
 wherein the external electronic device is part of a point-of-sale system.   
     
     
         10 . The computing device of  claim 7 , wherein the payment token account is mapped to a linked payment account, including at least one of a credit account, a debit account, and a stored value account within a token management system. 
     
     
         11 . The computing device of  claim 10 , wherein the linked payment account has an associated account number within a bank identification number (BIN) range associated with at least one of a payment card issuer and a payment network. 
     
     
         12 . The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the computing device is configured to receive an interrogation message from the external electronic device based on the NFC antenna being within a RF field of a NFC antenna of the external electronic device. 
     
     
         13 . The computing device of  claim 12 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to launch the wallet application based on receiving the interrogation message from the external electronic device. 
     
     
         14 . The computing device of  claim 13 , wherein the biometric characteristic reader is configured to read the biometric characteristic of the user based on the launch of the wallet application. 
     
     
         15 . The computing device of  claim 14 , wherein the computing device is configured to provide a prompt to the user to provide input via the biometric characteristic reader based on the launch of the wallet application. 
     
     
         16 . The computing device of  claim 14 , wherein the computing device is configured to transmit to the external electronic device via the NFC module the at least one electronic credential based on comparing a read biometric characteristic with the stored biometric characteristic and determining that the user is authorized to perform the one or more transactions using the computing device. 
     
     
         17 . The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the computing device is configured to provide one or both of a tone and a visual message on the display screen to confirm performance of the one or more transactions. 
     
     
         18 . The computing device of  claim 17 , wherein confirming performance of the one or more transactions includes one or both of confirming transmission of the at least one electronic credential to the NFC reader via the NFC module and generating an electronic receipt. 
     
     
         19 . The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the user input is configured to receive a user selection to select the at least one electronic credential to be automatically transmitted to the external electronic device upon receiving the interrogation message from the external electronic device. 
     
     
         20 . The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the computing device is configured to receive from the external electronic device a reader key via the NFC module and to select the at least one electronic credential to transmit to the external electronic device based on the reader key. 
     
     
         21 . A method, comprising:
 storing in at least one memory device of a computing device at least one electronic credential and one or more applications configured to be executed by one or more processors of the computing device, the computing device including a display screen, a user input interface, a network transceiver configured to communicate with a cellular communications network, a short-range radio frequency (RF) transceiver to communicate with an external short-range RF device supporting a predetermined communications protocol, and a near-field communication (NFC) module including a NFC antenna,   transmitting, by the NFC module to the NFC reader of the external electronic device, the at least one electronic credential based on the NFC antenna of the computing device being within a RF range of a NFC antenna of the NFC reader;   reading, by a biometric characteristic reader, a biometric characteristic of a user; and   transmitting the at least one electronic credential to the NFC reader based on comparing the biometric characteristic of the user with stored biometric information.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the biometric characteristic is a fingerprint. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising capturing, by the biometric characteristic reader, the biometric characteristic from the user and storing the biometric characteristic as the stored biometric information. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one electronic credential is stored in a secure and tamper-resistant memory of the at least one memory device. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising wirelessly downloading the at least one electronic credential from a credential issuing server via a data network and storing the at least one electronic credential in the at least one memory device. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one electronic credential includes one or more of data associated with a credit card account, a debit card account, a stored value card account, an automated teller machine card account, a bank account, a payment token card account, a membership card account, a loyalty card account, an access card account, an identification card account, a driver's license, an e-ticket, a pass, a coupon, and a certificate. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one electronic credential includes at least one payment token account number of a payment token account. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the payment token account number is within a bank identification number (BIN) range that is associated with at least one of a payment card issuer and a payment network. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the payment token account is mapped to a linked payment account, including at least one of a credit account, a debit account, and a stored value account within a token management system. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the linked payment account has an associated account number within a bank identification number (BIN) range associated with at least one of a payment card issuer and a payment network. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising transmitting, by the computing device to the NFC reader of the external electronic device, the at least one electronic credential to transmit a transaction authorization request to an issuer system via a payment network,
 wherein the external electronic device is part of a point-of-sale system.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising:
 transmitting, by the external electronic device, data associated with the at least one electronic credential to a payment network;   transmitting, by the payment network, the data associated with the at least one electronic credential to an issuer of the electronic credential;   transmitting, by the issuer to the payment network, response data based on the data associated with the at least one electronic credential; and   transmitting, by the payment network, the response data to a merchant system associated with the at least one external device.   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising receiving an interrogation message from the NFC reader of the external electronic device based on the NFC antenna being within a RF field of a RF antenna of the external electronic device. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising launching, by the one or more processors, the wallet application based on receiving the interrogation message from the NFC reader of the external electronic device. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the biometric characteristic reader is configured to read the biometric characteristic of the user based on the launch of the wallet application. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising generating a prompt to request the user to provide an input to the biometric characteristic reader based on the launch of the wallet application. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising transmitting to the external electronic device the at least one electronic credential based on comparing a read biometric characteristic with the stored biometric characteristic and determining that the user is authorized to transmit the at least one credential via the NFC module of the computing device. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising providing one or both of a tone and a visual message on the display screen to confirm performance of the one or more transactions. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein confirming performance of the one or more transactions includes one or both of confirming transmission of the at least one electronic credential via the NFC module and generating an electronic receipt. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising receiving, via the user input, a user selection to select the at least one credential to be automatically transmitted to the external electronic device upon receiving the interrogation message from the external electronic device. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 receiving from the external electronic device a reader key via the NFC module; and   selecting the at least one credential from among a plurality of stored electronic credentials to transmit to the external electronic device based on the reader key.   
     
     
         42 . A computing system, comprising:
 an electronic device including a near-field communication (NFC) reader; and   a portable computing device including a display screen, a user input interface, one or more processors, at least one memory device having stored therein at least one electronic credential and a plurality of applications to be executed by the one or more processors, a network transceiver configured to communicate with a cellular communications network, a short-range radio frequency (RF) transceiver to communicate with an external short-range RF device supporting a predetermined communications protocol, a NFC module including a NFC antenna, the NFC module configured to transmit at least one electronic credential to the NFC reader of the electronic device based on the NFC antenna of the portable computing device being within a RF range of the NFC reader, and a biometric characteristic reader for reading a biometric characteristic of a user,   wherein the plurality of applications include at least one wallet application for completing transactions based on wireless data communications between the portable computing device and the electronic device, and   wherein the portable computing device is configured to permit transmission via the NFC module of the at least one electronic credential to the NFC reader of the electronic device based on comparing the biometric characteristic of the user with stored biometric information.   
     
     
         43 . The computing system of  claim 42 , wherein the biometric characteristic is a fingerprint. 
     
     
         44 . The computing system of  claim 42 , wherein the biometric characteristic reader is configured to capture the biometric characteristic from the user to store the biometric characteristic as the stored biometric information. 
     
     
         45 . The computing system of  claim 42 , wherein the at least one memory device includes a secure memory for storing the at least one electronic credential, the secure memory being tamper-resistant memory. 
     
     
         46 . The computing system of  claim 42 , wherein the portable computing device is configured to download the at least one electronic credential wirelessly from a credential issuing server via a data network and to store the at least one electronic credential in the at least one memory device. 
     
     
         47 . The computing system of  claim 42 , wherein the at least one electronic credential includes one or more of data associated with a credit card account, a debit card account, a stored value card account, an automated teller machine card account, a bank account, a payment token card account, a membership card account, a loyalty card account, an access card account, an identification card account, a driver's license, an e-ticket, a pass, a coupon, and a certificate. 
     
     
         48 . The computing system of  claim 42 , wherein the at least one electronic credential includes at least one payment token account number of a payment token account. 
     
     
         49 . The computing system of  claim 48 , wherein the payment token account number is within a bank identification number (BIN) range that is associated with at least one of a payment card issuer and a payment network. 
     
     
         50 . The computing system of  claim 48 , wherein the portable computing device is configured to transmit the payment token account number to the NFC reader of the electronic device to transmit a transaction authorization request to an issuer system via a payment network, and
 wherein the electronic device is part of a point-of-sale system.   
     
     
         51 . The computing system of  claim 48 , wherein the payment token account is mapped to a linked payment account, including at least one of a credit account, a debit account, and a stored value account within a token management system. 
     
     
         52 . The computing system of  claim 51 , wherein the linked payment account has an associated account number within a bank identification number (BIN) range associated with at least one of a payment card issuer and a payment network. 
     
     
         53 . The computing system of  claim 42 , wherein the portable computing device is configured to receive an interrogation message from the electronic device based on the NFC antenna being within a RF field of a RF antenna of the electronic device. 
     
     
         54 . The computing system of  claim 53 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to launch the wallet application based on receiving the interrogation message from the electronic device. 
     
     
         55 . The computing system of  claim 54 , wherein the biometric characteristic reader is configured to read the biometric characteristic of the user based on the launch of the wallet application. 
     
     
         56 . The computing system of  claim 55 , wherein the portable computing device is configured to generate a prompt to request the user to provide input via the biometric characteristic reader based on the launch of the wallet application. 
     
     
         57 . The computing system of  claim 55 , wherein the portable computing device is configured to transmit to the electronic device via the NFC module the at least one electronic credential based on comparing a read biometric characteristic with the stored biometric characteristic and determining that the user is authorized to perform the one or more transactions via the portable computing device. 
     
     
         58 . The computing system of  claim 42 , wherein the portable computing device is configured to provide one or both of a tone and a visual message on the display screen to confirm performance of the one or more transactions. 
     
     
         59 . The computing system of  claim 58 , wherein confirming performance of the one or more transactions includes one or both of confirming transmission of the at least one electronic credential to the NFC reader via the NFC module and generating an electronic receipt. 
     
     
         60 . The computing system of  claim 42 , wherein the user input is configured to receive a user selection to select the at least one electronic credential to be automatically transmitted to the electronic device upon receiving the interrogation message from the electronic device. 
     
     
         61 . The computing system of  claim 42 , wherein the portable computing device is configured to receive from the electronic device a reader key via the NFC module and to select the at least one electronic credential to transmit to the electronic device based on the reader key.