An authentication method and system are provided that is particularly suited for verifying the identity of an individual prior to permitting access to a controlled resource. This may or may not be a financial resource. Biometric data relating to a user is used to encode and decode an identifier associated with a user. Thus, the user's biometric data becomes the key for encoding and subsequently decoding the identifier. In one embodiment, the biometric data is used to generate a keypad configuration. The keypad configuration specifies the order and/or position of a plurality of keypad keys. An operable keypad and/or image of a keypad is then generated using the configuration. Thus, the individual's biometric data can be used to generate a customised keypad and/or image which can then be used to encode or decode the identifier associated with the user. A keypad or image generated from the biometric data can be used to generate a mapping between different keypad configurations. The biometric data may be captured at or on a device associated with the individual, such as a computer, mobile phone, tablet computer etc.

An automated teller machine (ATM) may include an input component and one or more processors. The input component may be configured to detect multi-factor input associated with an account. The multi-factor input may include at least two of: a sequence of characters input via the input component, a force with which at least one character, of the sequence of characters, is input via the input component, a length of time over which at least one character, of the sequence of characters, is input via the input component, or a combination of at least two characters, of the sequence of characters, that are input concurrently via the input component. The ATM may receive the multi-factor input, validate the multi-factor input in association with the account, and selectively permit or deny access to one or more actions associated with the account based on validating the multi-factor input.

There are provided systems and methods for a modular mobile point of sale device having separable units for configurable data processing. A modular device may include a main unit that includes data processing features to allow for a mobile point of sale, including a data entry unit for payment data, a communication component to secure communicate that data to a centralized transaction processor, and a processing unit to receive the data and instruct the centralized to process the data with an online service provider. The module device may also be physically and communicatively coupled to additional modules that may increase the on-device functionality of the main unit, include a module to allow user input and additional modules to accept other types of transaction input. On detection of a connected unit, the main unit may secure connect to and authenticate each attached module.

A method of network configuration of a personal identification number (PIN) pads includes receiving a request to upgrade a PIN pad from a merchant or an individual software vendor (ISV) to read microprocessor-enabled or contactless payment vehicles, retrieving a PIN pad configuration hash value from the PIN pad, obtaining current configuration using the hash value, sending instructions to the PIN pad to upgrade the PIN pad over a network if the PIN pad is capable of reading microprocessor-enabled or contactless payment vehicles, and downloading and installing drivers to enable PIN pad readers to read and process at least one of the microprocessor-enabled payment vehicles and contactless payment vehicles according to the instructions. The method further performs additional operations such as updating the PIN pad registry with the PIN pad configuration and enabling the PIN pad to read the microprocessor-enabled or contactless payment vehicles.

The invention provides an authentication method and system. It is particularly suited for verifying the identity of an individual prior to permitting access to a controlled resource. This may or may not be a financial resource. The invention uses biometric data relating to a user to encode and decode an identifier associated with a user. Thus the user's biometric data becomes the key for encoding and subsequently decoding the identifier. In one embodiment, the biometric data is used to generate a keypad configuration. The keypad configuration specifies the order and/or position of a plurality of keypad keys. An operable keypad and/or image of a keypad is then generated using the configuration. Thus, the individual's biometric data can be used to generate a customised keypad and/or image which can then be used to encode or decode the identifier associated with the user. A keypad or image generated from the biometric data can be used to generate a mapping between different keypad configurations. The biometric data may be captured at or on a device associated with the individual, such as a computer, mobile phone, tablet computer etc.

The invention provides a solution for secure authentication of an individual. The invention comprises methods and apparatus for secure input of a user's identifier e.g. PIN. An image of a keypad is superimposed over an operable keypad within a display zone of a screen associated with an electronic device. The keypad image and/or the operable keypad are generated by the device using a scrambled or randomised keypad configuration generated on or at the electronic device. The configuration or order of keys depicted in the image may or may not be scrambled or randomised. Thus, the order of keys depicted in the image do not correspond to the order of the keys in the operable keypad, so that when the user selects a ‘key’ depicted in the image on the screen, the underlying operable keypad is caused to operate and an encoded version of the user's input is received into memory on the device. The encoded input can be sent for decoding on a remote computer. The keypad configurations used for generation of the operable keypad(s) and/or keypad image(s) are generated using an input. The input could be a true or pseudo random number or biometric data relating to a user of the device. The device may be a mobile phone, a tablet computer, laptop, PC, payment terminal or any other electronic computing device with a screen.

A method of network configuration of a personal identification number (PIN) pads includes receiving a request to upgrade a PIN pad from a merchant or an individual software vendor (ISV) to read microprocessor-enabled or contactless payment vehicles, retrieving a PIN pad configuration hash value from the PIN pad, obtaining current configuration using the hash value, sending instructions to the PIN pad to upgrade the PIN pad over a network if the PIN pad is capable of reading microprocessor-enabled or contactless payment vehicles, and downloading and installing drivers to enable PIN pad readers to read and process at least one of the microprocessor-enabled payment vehicles and contactless payment vehicles according to the instructions. The method further performs additional operations such as updating the PIN pad registry with the PIN pad configuration and enabling the PIN pad to read the microprocessor-enabled or contactless payment vehicles.

A method of enabling an electronic payment for a visually impaired user may be disclosed. The visually impaired user may proceed to use the payment device and enter the braille code which may be communicated to an authority using a first channel to begin a transaction. The system may communicate a verification code to the portable computing device using a second communication channel. The user may enter the verification code which may be communicated to an authority via the first communication channel.

Biometric features are derived from security data associated with a subject. The security data is obtained from a security device. A biometric value is calculated from the biometric features. The biometric value is anonymized to an identifier associated with the subject. The identifier is integrated with event data associated with a security system. In an embodiment, the security device is a Personal Identification Number (PIN) pad integrated into a transaction terminal, the security data is fingerprint data, which is read from a finger of the subject placed on a fingerprint reader integrated into the PIN pad, and the biometric value is a PIN calculated from fingerprint data during a transaction at the transaction terminal. In an embodiment, the security device is a security camera, the security data is a secure video stream, and the biometric features are facial features of the subject in the secure video stream.

A vending machine user interface can include a first controller operatively connected to an input device capable of receiving payment or account information. The first controller can, with another device, via a second controller, or otherwise, allow secure communication of data from the input device. The first controller, in this regard, can control the communication between the input device and the other device to protect the input device from unwarranted communication from the other device. The first controller can establish a secure channel with the other device using encrypted communications. The first controller, second controller, etc. can be connected to independent printed circuit boards (PCB). Activation of sensors connected to the PCBs can cause the first and/or second controllers to erase data necessary to ascertain/decode communications from the input device, such as encryption/decryption information, or may otherwise decommission the input device or a portion thereof.