A variable-step authentication system and a method for operating for performing variable-step authentication for communications in a controlled environment is disclosed. The variable-step authentication system may include a communication device and a server. The variable-step method includes steps for determining an authentication process that involves a number of authentication steps. The number of authentication steps is variable and dependent on a trust level associated with each participant in the communication.

Example embodiments relate to performing activation techniques for contactless cards. For example, embodiments may include performing a near-field communication (NFC) exchange with a contactless card, processing a message comprising data to activate the contactless card, communicating the data to a server to activate the contactless card; and receiving a response from the server, the response to indicate whether the contactless card is successfully activated or not successfully activated.

A method for realizing an EMV contact transaction without a password, wherein said method is implemented by an EMV IC card and a terminal, wherein when a terminal receives transaction information, it sets a password-free function setting; performs an offline data validation and limitation; performs terminal risk management and a behavior analysis; determines, on the basis of the password-free function setting, whether to perform online processing and performs transaction termination processing; the password-free function setting comprises: when an optional kernel configuration flag in an application parameter corresponding to the current application acquired is set and the transaction amount in the transaction information is greater than a password-free IC card transaction limitation amount, the current application is configured so that verifying the cardholder's PIN is obviated. The present invention allows password-free small-amount transactions, and obviates to upgrade IC cards.

Embodiments provide a method of facilitating a payment transaction with a payment card of a customer. The method includes receiving a payment transaction request initiated at a merchant terminal. The payment transaction request comprising at least a merchant transaction amount associated with a purchase entered at a merchant terminal, a PIN of the payment card provided by the customer via a keypad and a customer transaction amount provided by the customer via the keypad. The method includes facilitating verification of facilitating verification of the PIN with a stored PIN. The method further includes, upon successful verification, determining whether the merchant transaction amount conforms to the customer transaction amount. The method further includes facilitating a payment transaction associated with the payment transaction request if the merchant transaction amount conforms to the customer transaction amount.

A method for controlling a charge transfer of an electric vehicle using an electric vehicle charging station, a mobile device, and a cloud server is disclosed. The method includes: receiving, at a mobile device, a message for an electric vehicle of a user from the electric vehicle charging station, wherein a user of the mobile device is associated with the electric vehicle to be charged; sending, from the mobile device, the message for the electric vehicle of the user to the cloud server, wherein the charge transfer request relayed from the mobile device includes identification information; in response to a charging control signal being authorized using identification information received from the mobile device, receiving the charging control signal from the cloud server at the mobile device to be forwarded to the electric vehicle charging station, wherein the charging control signal is configured to adjust a charging parameter at the electric vehicle charging station.

The innovation disclosed and claimed herein, in one aspect thereof, comprises systems and methods of purchase approval brokering. The innovation can receive a request from a first user device to purchase a product. The request can include product information such as an image of the product or a unique identifier. The product may be identified from the request to purchase of the product. An approver may be determined from a set of approvers based on the identification of the product and information in the request. An approval for the purchase of the product may be requested and received from the approver. Upon receiving an approval to purchase the product, a virtual card number for purchasing may be generated. The purchase of the product may be completed by the user via the virtual card number.

A contactless card reader comprises a contactless card reader front-end coupled to a processor. A communications module is coupled to the processor and a set of sensors is coupled to the processor. The set of sensors determines parameters related to the location, orientation and motion of the card reader. The processor receives the parameters from the set of sensors and utilizes the parameters and scenario configuration data to evaluate a rule. The result of the evaluation of the rule results in a limitation on the operation of the card reader. The communications module is configured to intermittently receive the scenario configuration data from external sources.

Aspects of the present disclosure relate to transaction security techniques. In examples, a resource platform causes a set of executable verification instructions associated with an authorization processor to be executed by a user computing device. The verification instructions may be encrypted by the authorization processor for decryption by the user computing device. The verification instructions may generate verification information associated with the user computing device. In some instances, the verification information may be encrypted for decryption by the authorization processor. The encrypted verification instructions may be provided to the authorization processor (e.g., via the resource platform), such that the authorization processor may provide an indication to the resource platform as to whether the verification is verified. Accordingly, if the verification information is verified a transaction associated with the resource platform may proceed or, as another example, the user computing device may be granted access to information.

A system and method for facilitating electronic commerce over a network, according to one or more embodiments, includes communicating with a user via a user device and an issuer of payment media via an issuer device over the network, the payment media being issued to the user by the issuer, receiving user instruction over the network to link the payment media to a user account related to the user, prompting the user over the network to input a secure password known only by the issuer and the user, receiving the secure password from the user over the network, verifying that the payment media is owned by the user over the network via a secure protocol, returning a response to the user related to verification of the payment media, and storing payment media verification information.

A method and system provided for a single-action with which the customer places an order and receives goods by the single action of connecting an electrical vehicle (EV) to a charging station according to the business terms associated with this invention, the affiliated organizations that purchase or support the operation of the invention participate in a business “franchise” operation whereby all affiliated organizations increase their revenues as the volume of EV charging events increases.