The present invention relates to the domain of payment card transactions, and
more particularly to systems, methods and computer program products for optimizing payment card interface selection at POS terminals.
Background of the invention
[002] With growing acceptance of payment cards (e.g. credit cards and debit cards) as
instruments for effecting electronic payment transactions, there have been corresponding advances in communication interface technologies for enabling payment cards to interface with point-of-sale (POS) terminals during transaction execution.
[003] Initially, the default interface capability for payment cards consisted of a magnetic
stripe that stored payment card information, and which required to be swiped through a magnetic card reader integrated into or coupled with a POS terminal, to enable the POS terminal to read payment card information.
[004] Subsequent versions of payment cards have additionally incorporated a
microprocessor chip or smartchip that is configured to interact with a POS terminal when the contacts of the smartchip are physically interfaced with a smartchip reader that is integrated into or coupled with a POS terminal, to enable the POS terminal to read payment card information stored within the smartchip or on a memory within the payment card.
[005] Recently, payment cards have also incorporated a radio frequency antenna or a
wireless communication chip, which, respond to detection of electromagnetic waves of an appropriate radio frequency (for example, electromagnetic waves generated by a POS terminal) by wirelessly transmitting payment card information to the POS terminal. The

integration of wireless communication capability within payment cards is intended to add convenience and speed to payment transactions for the reason that detection of a payment card through a wireless chip within the payment card, and transfer of information from the contactless chip to a wireless transceiver in the POS terminal is invariably faster than in case of information transfer through magnetic stripe or microchip based technologies.
[006] Additionally, in certain territories (for example India), due to applicable administrative regulations, banks permit contactless chip based payment card transactions upto a predefined value (e.g. in India, this predefined value is Indian Rupees 2,000) to be carried out without the requirement for 2 factor authentication - whereas all magnetic stripe and chip based payment card transactions require to implement 2 factor authentication regardless of the transaction amount. As a result, for payment transactions that are less than or equal to the predefined value, a contactless chip based payment card transaction entirely eliminates the requirement for a user to input a personal identification number (PIN) and / or a one-time-password (OTP) at the POS terminal - which additionally reduces the transaction time and improves the overall user experience.
[007] Figure 1 illustrates a system environment 100 for implementing a POS terminal
based payment transaction. In system environment 100, payment card 102 interfaces with POS terminal 104, and a payment transaction is initiated based on payment card information retrieved by POS terminal 104 from payment card 102 over a communication interface provided within payment card 102. As discussed briefly above, the communication interface within payment card 102 may comprise any of a magnetic stripe, a smartchip, and a contactless chip.
[008] The payment card information retrieved by POS terminal 104 from payment card
102 may include at least a payment card number. POS terminal 104 transmits the payment card number, a payee account identifier, and a payment amount through network 106 to an acquirer network 108 (i.e. a data network maintained by an acquirer institution with which the payee account is maintained). Acquirer network 108 in turn transmits the payment instruction to issuer network 110 (i.e. a data network maintained by an issuer institution

which has issued payment card 102 to the corresponding payor) through payment network 112 (i.e. a data network maintained by an intermediary between the payee's acquirer and the payor's issuer - for example, Mastercard® or Visa®). Subject to successful authorization of the payment card, the requested payment is authorized and the payment amount is transferred from a payment account associated with payment card 102 to the payee account. Confirmation of successful transaction completion may thereafter be transmitted back to POS terminal 104.
[009] It has however been found that despite recently issued payment cards being
provided with contactless or radio frequency identifier (RFID) based interface capabilities, customers and merchants continue to use either the magnetic stripe interface or the smartchip based interface that is provided within payment cards, to initiate a payment transaction at a POS terminal. As a result, payment transactions that could be implemented faster or more conveniently through a contactless interface of a payment card are often implemented through one or other of the magnetic stripe interface or the smartchip interface - leading to a slower transaction execution, and poorer customer experience.
[0010] There is accordingly a need for a solution that directs a customer or merchant to implement a payment transaction through an optimal interface channel selected from among a plurality of interface channels provided by a payment card.
Brief Description of the Accompanying Drawings
[0011] Figure 1 illustrates a system environment for implementing a POS terminal based payment transaction.
[0012] Figures 2 and 3 illustrate front and rear views of an exemplary payment card.
[0013] Figure 4 illustrates internal components within the exemplary payment card of Figures 2 and 3.

[0014] Figure 5 illustrates an exemplary POS terminal configured to interface with payment cards through a plurality of payment card interfaces.
[0015] Figure 6 illustrates internal components within the exemplary POS terminal of Figure 5.
[0016] Figure 7 illustrates a first method of implementing a payment transaction involving a payment card having a plurality of communication interfaces.
[0017] Figure 8 illustrates a second method of implementing a payment transaction involving a payment card having a plurality of communication interfaces.
[0018] Figure 9 illustrates a third method of implementing a payment transaction involving a payment card having a plurality of communication interfaces.
[0019] Figure 10 illustrates an exemplary computer system according to which various embodiments of the present invention may be implemented.
Summary
[0020] The present invention relates to the domain of payment card transactions, and more particularly to systems, methods and computer program products for optimizing payment card interface selection at POS terminals. In various embodiments, the invention relates to payment transactions involving a payment card configured to interface with POS terminals through a plurality of interfaces - and enables interface switching from a first payment card interface selected by a payor or merchant for implementing a payment card transaction at a POS terminal, to a second payment card interface that enables a more efficient payment transaction implementation process when compared with the first payment card interface.

[0021] The invention provides a method for implementing a payment transaction involving a payment card having a plurality of communication interfaces. The method comprises the steps of (i) detecting a POS terminal interface event, involving a payment card, (ii) detecting interface capabilities of the payment card, (iii) identifying a first card communication interface associated with the payment card, that was used for initiating the detected POS terminal interface event, and (iv) initiating an interface switch process flow based on the detected interface capabilities of the payment card and the identified first card communication interface.
[0022] In a particular embodiment, the interface switch process flow comprises any of one or more of (i) alerting an operator of the POS terminal that the payment card provides a more efficient payment card interface than the payment card interface that is in use, (ii) inviting use of a more efficient payment card interface provided by the payment card, (iii) refusing transaction processing until a more efficient payment card interface is selected for implementing the payment transaction, and (iv) switching the payment transaction that is under implementation to a more efficient payment card interface.
[0023] The interface switch process flow may be initiated in response to determining (i) that the payment card has a plurality of distinct interface capabilities, and (ii) that a first priority associated with the first card communication interface is lower than a second priority associated with a second card communication interface provided by the payment card.
[0024] In a particular embodiment of the method, the interface switch process flow is initiated in response to determining (i) that the payment card provides a plurality of distinct interface capabilities, (ii) that the plurality of distinct interface capabilities includes contactless interface capability, and (iii) that the detected first card communication interface is a communication interface other than a contactless interface of the payment card.
[0025] In another embodiment of the method, the interface switch process flow is initiated in response to determining (i) that the payment card provides a plurality of distinct interface capabilities, (ii) that the plurality of distinct interface capabilities includes contactless interface capability, and (iii) that the detected first card communication interface

is a communication interface other than a contactless interface of the payment card, and (iv) that one or more transaction parameters associated with the detected interface event match one or more predefined transaction parameters that are required to be detected for initiating the interface switch process flow.
[0026] The invention additionally provides a system for implementing a payment transaction involving a payment card having a plurality of communication interfaces. The system comprises a processor implemented point-of-sale (POS) terminal configured for implementing the steps of (i) detecting a POS terminal interface event, involving a payment card, (ii) detecting interface capabilities of the payment card, (ii) identifying a first card communication interface associated with the payment card, that was used for initiating the detected POS terminal interface event, and (iii) initiating an interface switch process flow based on the detected interface capabilities of the payment card and the identified first card communication interface.
[0027] In an embodiment of the system, the POS terminal is configured such that the interface switch process flow comprises any of one or more of (i) alerting an operator of the POS terminal that the payment card provides a more efficient payment card interface than the payment card interface that is in use, (ii) inviting use of a more efficient payment card interface provided by the payment card, (iii) refusing transaction processing until a more efficient payment card interface is selected for implementing the payment transaction, and (iv) switching the payment transaction that is under implementation to a more efficient payment card interface.
[0028] In another embodiment of the system, the POS terminal is configured such that the interface switch process flow is initiated in response to determining (i) that the payment card has a plurality of distinct interface capabilities, and (ii) that a first priority associated with the first card communication interface is lower than a second priority associated with a second card communication interface provided by the payment card.
[0029] In a further system embodiment, the POS terminal is configured such that the interface switch process flow is initiated in response to determining (i) that the payment card provides a plurality of distinct interface capabilities, (ii) that the plurality of distinct interface capabilities includes contactless interface capability, and (iii) that the detected first

card communication interface is a communication interface other than a contactless interface of the payment card.
[0030] In a particular system embodiment, wherein the POS terminal is configured such that the interface switch process flow is initiated in response to determining (i) that the payment card provides a plurality of distinct interface capabilities, (ii) that the plurality of distinct interface capabilities includes contactless interface capability, and (iii) that the detected first card communication interface is a communication interface other than a contactless interface of the payment card, and (iv) that one or more transaction parameters associated with the detected interface event match one or more predefined transaction parameters that are required to be detected for initiating the interface switch process flow.
[0031] The system additionally provides a computer program product for implementing a payment transaction involving a payment card having a plurality of communication interfaces, comprising a non-transitory computer usable medium having a computer readable program code embodied therein. The computer readable program code comprising instructions for (i) detecting a POS terminal interface event, involving a payment card, (ii) detecting interface capabilities of the payment card, (iii) identifying a first card communication interface associated with the payment card, that was used for initiating the detected POS terminal interface event, and (iv) initiating an interface switch process flow based on the detected interface capabilities of the payment card and the identified first card communication interface.
[0032] In an embodiment of the computer program product, the interface switch process flow comprises any of one or more of (i) alerting an operator of the POS terminal that the payment card provides a more efficient payment card interface than the payment card interface that is in use, (ii) inviting use of a more efficient payment card interface provided by the payment card, (iii) refusing transaction processing until a more efficient payment card interface is selected for implementing the payment transaction, and (iv) switching the payment transaction that is under implementation to a more efficient payment card interface.
[0033] In another embodiment of the computer program product, the interface switch process flow is initiated in response to determining (i) that the payment card has a plurality

of distinct interface capabilities, and (ii) that a first priority associated with the first card communication interface is lower than a second priority associated with a second card communication interface provided by the payment card.
[0034] In a particular embodiment of the computer program product, the interface switch process flow is initiated in response to determining (i) that the payment card provides a plurality of distinct interface capabilities, (ii) that the plurality of distinct interface capabilities includes contactless interface capability, and (iii) that the detected first card communication interface is a communication interface other than a contactless interface of the payment card.
[0035] In another embodiment of the computer program, the interface switch process flow is initiated in response to determining (i) that the payment card provides a plurality of distinct interface capabilities, (ii) that the plurality of distinct interface capabilities includes contactless interface capability, and (iii) that the detected first card communication interface is a communication interface other than a contactless interface of the payment card, and (iv) that one or more transaction parameters associated with the detected interface event match one or more predefined transaction parameters that are required to be detected for initiating the interface switch process flow.
Detailed Description
[0036] The invention provides systems, methods and computer program products for optimizing payment card interface selection at POS terminals. In various embodiments, the invention relates to payment transactions involving a payment card configured to interface with POS terminals through a plurality of interfaces - and enables interface switching from a first payment card interface selected by a payor or merchant for implementing a payment card transaction at a POS terminal, to a second payment card interface that enables a more efficient payment transaction implementation process when compared with the first payment card interface.

[0037] For the purposes of the present invention, the following terms shall be understood to have the corresponding meanings provided below.
[0038] "Acquirer" shall mean a business (e.g., a financial institution or a merchant bank) that contracts with a merchant or payee to coordinate with an issuer of a payor's payment card or payment account.
[0039] "Acquirer network" shall refer to one or more servers, including hardware, software and other equipment used by an acquirer to transmit and process payment card based transactions or payment account based transactions and information related to merchants, customers, payment cards, payment accounts and / or transactions.
[0040] "Issuer" shall mean a financial institution that issues payment cards or payment accounts to users.
[0041] "Issuer network" shall refer to one or more servers, including hardware, software and other equipment used by an issuer to transmit and process payment card transactions or payment account transactions and information related to customers, payment cards, payment accounts and/or transactions.
[0042] "Payee" and "Merchant" may be used interchangeably to designate an individual or entity receiving an electronic payment.
[0043] "Payment account" shall mean any account that may be used for the purposes of effecting an electronic payment or electronic transaction, and shall include any electronic transaction account, payment card account, bank account or electronic wallet account.
[0044] "Payment card" shall mean a card or data associated with a payment account that may be provided to a merchant or payee in order to enable a financial transaction via the associated payment account. Payment cards may include credit cards, debit cards, charge

cards, stored-value cards, prepaid cards, fleet cards, virtual payment numbers, virtual card numbers, controlled payment numbers, etc.
[0045] "Payment network" shall refer to any intermediary network communicatively disposed between any two or more of the merchant server, acquirer bank server and issuer bank server. In certain embodiments, the payment network may comprise a card network that enables communication between the issuer bank and the acquirer bank (for example, Mastercard® or Visa®). In such embodiments, the card network primarily coordinates payment card transactions between acquirers and issuers, and additionally coordinates clearing and settlement services to transfer payments from issuers to merchants.
[0046] "Payor", "consumer" and "customer" may be used interchangeably to designate an individual or entity making an electronic payment.
[0047] Figures 2 and 3 respectively illustrate front and rear views of a payment card 200 of a type discussed for the purposes of the present invention. Payment card 200 comprises a plastic substrate having card information printed thereon (for example, the card holder's name, validity period, issuer name, payment institution name and a card verification value or card verification code). Payment card 200 additionally includes (i) a microprocessor chip or smartchip 202 that is configured to encode and store all or part of the printed card information, along with additional information, and that is configured to interact with a point-of-sale (POS) terminal through a smartchip reader integrated into or coupled with a POS terminal, to enable the POS terminal to read payment card information stored within the smartchip, (ii) a contactless device or contactless chip 204 that is that is configured to interact with a point-of-sale (POS) terminal contactlessly and to transmit to a contactless signal receiver integrated into or coupled with a POS terminal, payment card information corresponding to the payment card, and (iii) a magnetic stripe 206 disposed on a surface of the substrate - which encodes and stores all or part of the printed card information, along with additional information, and which can be swiped through a magnetic card reader integrated into or coupled with a POS terminal, to enable the POS terminal to read payment card information stored on magnetic stripe 206.

[0048] Figure 4 illustrates internal components of payment card 200 - comprising processor 208, memory 210, contactless interface 212, an optional power source 214, and smartchip interface 216. Processor 208 comprises a processor component of smartchip 202. Memory 210 comprises a non-transitory or transitory memory configured to stored information corresponding to the payment card. Contactless interface 212 is an interface component associated with contactless chip 204 and may be configured for enabling near field communication protocol based data communication (or contactless data communication or contactless data communication based on any other contactless communication protocol). In an embodiment, contactless interface 212 may comprise a contactless transmitter capable of communicating with one or more other devices having near field communication capabilities or contactless communication capabilities. Power source 214 may comprise an optional power source component for providing power to processor 208 and / or radio frequency. Smartchip interface 216 comprises an interface component associated with smartchip 202 and may be configured for data transfer from payment card 200 to a chip reader integrated into or coupled with a POS terminal.
[0049] Figure 5 illustrates an exemplary POS terminal 500 of a type discussed in the present invention, that is configured to interface with payment cards through a plurality of payment card interfaces. As shown in Figure 5, POS terminal 500 may be configured to interact with payment cards through any of a payment card smartchip 202 (for example, through a smartchip reader integrated into or coupled with POS terminal 500), a payment card contactless chip 204 (for example, through a contactless transceiver integrated into or coupled with POS terminal 500), and a payment card magnetic stripe 206 (for example, through a magnetic stripe reader integrated into or coupled with POS terminal 500).
[0050] Figure 6 illustrates internal components within POS terminal 500 of Figure 5.
[0051] As shown in Figure 6, POS terminal 500 includes (i) a processor 502, (ii) a memory 504, (iii) a contactless transceiver 506 configured to send and receive data communications based on one or more contactless or contactless communication protocols

(for example, a near field communication protocol or an RFID communication protocol), (iv) a network transceiver 508 configured to send and receive data communications over a data network (for example a TCP/IP network, the internet, or any other data network) to enable POS terminal 500 to communicate with any of a data network, a payment network, an acquirer network and / or an issuer network, (v) a card interface detector and controller 510 that may be configured for detecting the interface capabilities of a payment card, and / or detecting an interface event initiated at the POS terminal using a payment card, and / or detecting a payment card interface through involved in a detected interface event, (v) a contactless stack 512 comprising at least a set of communication protocols configured to enable POS terminal 500 to communicate contactlessly with at least one other device having contactless communication capabilities (e.g. near field communication capabilities or RFID capabilities), using contactless communication standards, contactless communication standards and / or over a contactless communication protocol based data channel, (vi) an EMV stack 514 comprising at least a set of communication protocols configured to enable POS terminal 500 to read data from a smartchip integrated into a payment card, and to enable POS terminal 500 to communicate with one or more of payment networks, acquirer networks and issuer networks based on the Europay-Mastercard-Visa (EMV) communication protocols for the purposes of implementing electronic payment card based transactions, and (vii) a magstripe stack 516 comprising a set of software protocols configured to enable POS terminal 500 to read data from a magnetic stripe provided on a payment card.
[0052] POS terminal 500 that is briefly described above may be used to implement one or more of the methods described below in connection with Figures 7 to 9.
[0053] Figure 7 illustrates a first method of implementing a payment transaction involving a payment card having a plurality of communication interfaces. In an embodiment of the invention, the method of Figure 7 involves a payment card having at least a contactless communication interface (based on a contactless chip / RFID chip) and one or both of a smartchip interface (based on a smartchip within the payment card) and a magnetic stripe interface (based on a magnetic stripe formed on a surface of the payment card). The method

of Figure 7 is implemented at a POS terminal, that may in an embodiment be configured according to the configurations described above in connection with Figure 5 and / or Figure 6.
[0054] Step 702 comprises detecting at a POS terminal 500, an interface event involving a payment card. The interface event is detected corresponding to a payor or merchant initiating an interface between a payment card and the POS terminal 500. The interface event may in certain embodiments comprise any of swiping of a magnetic stripe on the payment card through a magnetic stripe reader integrated into or coupled with POS terminal 500, bringing a smartchip that is integrated into the payment card into contact with a smartchip reader integrated into or coupled with POS terminal 500, or bringing the payment card into sufficient proximity of POS terminal 500 to trigger communication between a contactless chip or RFID chip within the payment card and a contactless transceiver integrated within or coupled with POS terminal.
[0055] Step 704 comprises detecting interface capabilities of the payment card. The interface capabilities may be detected by POS terminal 500 based on information received from the payment card through a payment card interface that has been used to initiate the interface event detected at step 702. In an embodiment, the detected interface capabilities may include information describing the plurality of communication interfaces (e.g. magnetic stripe, smartchip and / or contactless) that are supported or integrated within the payment card.
[0056] Step 706 comprises identifying at POS terminal 500, a first card communication interface that was used to initiate the detected interface event. Where the detected interface event comprises swiping of a magnetic stripe on the payment card through a magnetic stripe reader integrated into or coupled with POS terminal 500, the identified first card communication interface would be the payment card magnetic stripe. Where the detected interface event comprises bringing a smartchip that is integrated into the payment card into contact with a reader integrated into or coupled with POS terminal 500, the identified first card communication interface would be the payment card smartchip. Where the detected

interface event comprises bringing the payment card into proximity of POS terminal 500 to trigger communication between a contactless chip or RFID chip within the payment card and a contactless transceiver within or coupled with POS terminal, the identified first card communication interface would be the payment card contactless chip or RFID chip.
[0057] At step 708, POS terminal 500 initiates an interface switch process flow in response to determining (i) that the payment card has a plurality of distinct interface capabilities, and (ii) that a first priority associated with the first card communication interface is lower than a second priority associated with a second card communication interface from among the plurality of distinct card communication interfaces.
[0058] The priorities associated with various card communication interfaces may be understood as a set of predefined priorities or priority values, wherein each payment card communication interface type has an associated priority or priority value. The set of priorities or priority values and their respective associations with payment card communication interface types may be stored within a memory 504 of POS terminal 500. As a result, POS terminal can at any time identify a predefined priority or priority value that corresponds to any payment card communication interface or payment card communication interface capability - based on the payment card communication interface type.
[0059] By way of example, a POS terminal may have the following predefined set of priority values associated with various payment card communication interface types.

Payment Card Communication Interface Type Priority Value
Contactless Interface 1
Smartchip Interface 2
Magnetic Stripe Interface 3
[0060] Accordingly, in this example, at step 708, only if the payment card has a plurality of distinct interface capabilities, and (ii) a first priority value associated with the first card

communication interface (identified at step 706) is lower than a second priority value associated with any second card communication interface from among the plurality of distinct card communication interfaces detected at step 704 - would POS terminal 500 initiate an interface switch process flow.
[0061] So, taking the exemplary priority values specified in the above table, assume a case where the payment card has both contactless interface capability and smartchip interface capability, and where the first card communication interface used for initiating the detected interface event (detected at step 702) was the smartchip interface. In this case, the payment card clearly has a plurality of distinct interface capabilities. Further, the first priority value (priority value 2) associated with the first card communication interface (the smartchip interface) is lower than a second priority value (priority value 1) associated with a second available card communication interface (the contactless interface) within the payment card - and accordingly, POS terminal 500 would initiate an interface switch process flow at step 708.
[0062] In another example, assume a case where the payment card has both contactless interface capability and smartchip interface capability, and where the first card communication interface used for initiating the detected interface event (detected at step 702) was the contactless interface. In this case, the payment card clearly has a plurality of distinct interface capabilities. However, the first priority value (priority value 1) associated with the first card communication interface (the contactless interface) is not lower than a second priority value (priority value 2) associated with the second card communication interface (the smartchip interface) - and accordingly, POS terminal 500 would not initiate an interface switch process flow at step 708.
[0063] The interface switch process flow at step 708 may comprise any one or more of (i) alerting the operator of the POS terminal that the payment card provides a more efficient (or higher priority) interface capability than the payment card interface that is presently being used, and inviting use of the more efficient or higher priority interface capability for implementation of the payment transaction, (ii) refusing further transaction processing until

the more efficient or higher priority payment card interface is selected for implementing the payment transaction, and (iii) automatically (i.e. without requiring further operator input) switching the payment transaction that is under implementation to the more efficient or higher priority payment card interface.
[0064] Figure 8 illustrates a second method of implementing a payment transaction involving a payment card having a plurality of communication interfaces. The method of Figure 8 involves a payment card having at least a contactless communication interface (based on a contactless chip / RFID chip) and at least one other interface capability - for example, one or both of a smartchip interface (based on a smartchip within the payment card) and a magnetic stripe interface (based on a magnetic stripe formed on a surface of the payment card). The method of Figure 8 is implemented at a POS terminal that may in an embodiment be configured according to the configurations described above in connection with Figure 5 and / or Figure 6.
[0065] Step 802 comprises detecting at a POS terminal 500, an interface event involving a payment card. The interface event is detected corresponding to a payor or merchant initiating an interface between a payment card and the POS terminal 500. The interface event may in certain embodiments comprise any of swiping of a magnetic stripe on the payment card through a magnetic stripe reader integrated into or coupled with POS terminal 500, bringing a smartchip that is integrated into the payment card into contact with a reader integrated into or coupled with POS terminal 500, or bringing the payment card into sufficient proximity of POS terminal 500 to trigger communication between a contactless chip within the payment card and a contactless transceiver within or coupled with POS terminal.
[0066] Step 804 comprises detecting interface capabilities of the payment card. The interface capabilities may be detected by POS terminal 500 based on information received from the payment card through a payment card interface that has been used to initiate the interface event detected at step 802. In an embodiment, the detected interface capabilities may include information describing the plurality of communication interfaces (e.g. magnetic

stripe, smartchip and / or contactless interfaces) that are supported or integrated within the payment card.
[0067] Step 806 comprises identifying at POS terminal 500, a first card communication interface that was used to initiate the detected interface event. Where the detected interface event comprises swiping of a magnetic stripe on the payment card through a magnetic stripe reader integrated into or coupled with POS terminal 500, the identified first card communication interface would be the payment card magnetic stripe. Where the detected interface event comprises bringing a smartchip that is integrated into the payment card into contact with a reader integrated into or coupled with POS terminal 500, the identified first card communication interface would be the payment card smartchip. Where the detected interface event comprises bringing the payment card into proximity of POS terminal 500 to trigger communication between a contactless chip within the payment card and a contactless transceiver within or coupled with POS terminal, the identified first card communication interface would be the payment card contactless chip.
[0068] At step 808, POS terminal 500 initiates an interface switch process flow in response to determining (i) that the payment card has a plurality of distinct interface capabilities, and includes a contactless interface capability, and (ii) that the first card communication interface detected at step 806 is not the contactless interface of the payment card.
[0069] Assume a case where the payment card has both contactless interface capability and smartchip interface capability, and where the first card communication interface that was used for the detected interface event (detected at step 802) was the smartchip interface. In this case, the payment card clearly has a plurality of distinct interface capabilities, which plurality of distinct interface capabilities includes contactless interface capabilities. Further, the first card communication interface that was used for the detected interface event is the smartchip interface and not the contactless interface - and accordingly, POS terminal 500 would initiate an interface switch process flow at step 808.

[0070] In another example, assume a case where the payment card has both contactless interface capability and smartchip interface capability, and where the first card communication interface that was used for the detected interface event (detected at step 802) was the contactless interface. In this case, the payment card clearly has a plurality of distinct interface capabilities, which plurality of distinct interface capabilities includes contactless interface capabilities. However, since in this case the first card communication interface that was used for the detected interface event is the contactless interface, POS terminal 500 would not initiate an interface switch process flow at step 808.
[0071] The interface switch process flow at step 808 may comprise any one or more of (i) alerting the operator of the POS terminal that the payment card provides a contactless interface capability and inviting use of the contactless interface for implementation of the payment transaction, (ii) refusing further transaction processing until the contactless interface is selected for implementing the payment transaction, and (iii) automatically (i.e. without requiring further operator input) switching the payment transaction that is under implementation to the contactless interface.
[0072] Figure 9 illustrates a third method of implementing a payment transaction involving a payment card having a plurality of communication interfaces. The method of Figure 9 involves a payment card having at least a contactless communication interface (based on a contactless chip / RFID chip) and at least one other interface capability - for example, one or both of a smartchip interface (based on a smartchip within the payment card) and a magnetic stripe interface (based on a magnetic stripe formed on a surface of the payment card). The method of Figure 9 is implemented at a POS terminal that may in an embodiment be configured according to the configurations described above in connection with Figure 5 and / or Figure 6.
[0073] Step 902 comprises detecting at a POS terminal 500, an interface event involving a payment card. The interface event is detected corresponding to a payor or merchant initiating an interface between a payment card and the POS terminal 500. The interface event may in certain embodiments comprise any of swiping of a magnetic stripe on the payment

card through a magnetic stripe reader integrated into or coupled with POS terminal 500, bringing a smartchip that is integrated into the payment card into contact with a reader integrated into or coupled with POS terminal 500, or bringing the payment card into sufficient proximity of POS terminal 500 to trigger communication between a contactless chip within the payment card and a contactless transceiver within or coupled with POS terminal.
[0074] Step 904 comprises detecting interface capabilities of the payment card. The interface capabilities may be detected by POS terminal 500 based on information received from the payment card through a payment card interface that has been used to initiate the interface event detected at step 902. In an embodiment, the detected interface capabilities may include information describing the plurality of communication interfaces (e.g. magnetic stripe, smartchip and / or contactless) that are supported or integrated within the payment card.
[0075] Step 906 comprises identifying at POS terminal 500, a first card communication interface that was used to initiate the detected interface event. Where the detected interface event comprises swiping of a magnetic stripe on the payment card through a magnetic stripe reader integrated into or coupled with POS terminal 500, the identified first card communication interface would be the payment card magnetic stripe. Where the detected interface event comprises bringing a smartchip that is integrated into the payment card into contact with a reader integrated into or coupled with POS terminal 500, the identified first card communication interface would be the payment card smartchip. Where the detected interface event comprises bringing the payment card into proximity of POS terminal 500 to trigger communication between a contactless chip within the payment card and a contactless transceiver within or coupled with POS terminal, the identified first card communication interface would be the payment card contactless chip.
[0076] At step 908, POS terminal 500 initiates an interface switch process flow in response to determining (i) that the payment card has a plurality of distinct interface capabilities, and includes a contactless interface capability, (ii) that the first card

communication interface detected at step 906 is not the contactless interface of the payment card, and (iii) that one or more transaction parameters associated with the detected interface event match one or more predefined transaction parameters that are required to be detected for initiating the interface switch process flow.
[0077] In an embodiment, the predefined transaction parameters that are prescribed as pre-requisites for initiating the interface switch process flow may include any transaction parameters that are determinative of whether implementing the payment transaction through a contactless interface would result in an optimization of the transaction process flow efficiency.
[0078] In one embodiment, where contactless interface based transactions upto a predetermined transaction amount are exempt from second factor authentication, a predefined transaction parameter may comprise the predetermined transaction amount. To understand this embodiment fully, assume a case where (i) the payment card has both contactless interface capability and smartchip interface capability, (ii) the first card communication interface that was used for initiating the detected interface event (detected at step 802) was the smartchip interface, (iii) the transaction amount is Indian Rupees 1,600 and (iv) the predefined transaction parameter specifies a transaction amount value upto Indian Rupees 2,000 - since for transaction values upto this amount, second factor authentication would not be required within India.
[0079] In this example, the payment card clearly has a plurality of distinct interface capabilities, which plurality of distinct interface capabilities includes contactless interface capabilities. Further, the first card communication interface that was used for the detected interface event is the smartchip interface and not the contactless interface. Additionally, the transaction amount of Indian Rupees 1,600 is less than the predefined upper limit of Indian Rupees 2,000 that is set as the predefined transaction parameter. Aaccordingly, in this case, POS terminal 500 would initiate an interface switch process flow at step 908.

[0080] If on the other hand, all other parameters of the above example remain the same, but the transaction amount is Indian Rupees 2,400, this transaction amount would be greater than the upper limit of Indian Rupees 2,000 that is set as the predefined transaction parameter. Aaccordingly, in this case, POS terminal 500 would not initiate an interface switch process flow at step 908.
[0081] The interface switch process flow at step 908 may comprise any one or more of (i) alerting the operator of the POS terminal that the payment card provides a contactless interface capability and inviting use of the contactless interface for implementation of the payment transaction, (ii) refusing further transaction processing until the contactless interface is selected for implementing the payment transaction, and (iii) automatically (i.e. without requiring further operator input) switching the payment transaction that is under implementation to the contactless interface.
[0082] Figure 10 illustrates an exemplary computer system 1000 according to which various embodiments of the present invention may be implemented.
[0083] System 1000 includes computer system 1002 which in turn comprises one or more processors 1004 and at least one memory 1006. Processor 1004 is configured to execute program instructions - and may be a real processor or a virtual processor. It will be understood that computer system 1002 does not suggest any limitation as to scope of use or functionality of described embodiments. The computer system 1002 may include, but is not limited to, one or more of a general-purpose computer, a programmed microprocessor, a micro-controller, an integrated circuit, and other devices or arrangements of devices that are capable of implementing the steps that constitute the method of the present invention. Exemplary embodiments of a computer system 1002 in accordance with the present invention may include one or more servers, desktops, laptops, tablets, smart phones, mobile phones, mobile communication devices, phablets and personal digital assistants. In an embodiment of the present invention, the memory 1006 may store software for implementing various embodiments of the present invention. The computer system 1002 may have additional components. For example, the computer system 1002 may include one

or more communication channels 1008, one or more input devices 1010, one or more output devices 1012, and storage 1014. An interconnection mechanism (not shown) such as a bus, controller, or network, interconnects the components of the computer system 1002. In various embodiments of the present invention, operating system software (not shown) provides an operating environment for various softwares executing in the computer system 1002 using a processor 1004, and manages different functionalities of the components of the computer system 1002.
[0084] The communication channel(s) 1008 allow communication over a communication medium to various other computing entities. The communication medium provides information such as program instructions, or other data in a communication media. The communication media includes, but is not limited to, wired or contactless methodologies implemented with an electrical, optical, RF, infrared, acoustic, microwave, Bluetooth or other transmission media.
[0085] The input device(s) 1010 may include, but is not limited to, a touch screen, a keyboard, mouse, pen, joystick, trackball, a voice device, a scanning device, or any another device that is capable of providing input to the computer system 1002. In an embodiment of the present invention, the input device(s) 1010 may be a sound card or similar device that accepts audio input in analog or digital form. The output device(s) 1012 may include, but not be limited to, a user interface on CRT, LCD, LED display, or any other display associated with any of servers, desktops, laptops, tablets, smart phones, mobile phones, mobile communication devices, phablets and personal digital assistants, printer, speaker, CD/DVD writer, or any other device that provides output from the computer system 1002.
[0086] The storage 1014 may include, but not be limited to, magnetic disks, magnetic tapes, CD-ROMs, CD-RWs, DVDs, any types of computer memory, magnetic stripes, smart cards, printed barcodes or any other transitory or non-transitory medium which can be used to store information and can be accessed by the computer system 1002. In various embodiments of the present invention, the storage 1014 may contain program instructions for implementing any of the described embodiments.

[0087] In an embodiment of the present invention, the computer system 1002 is part of a distributed network or a part of a set of available cloud resources.
[0088] The present invention may be implemented in numerous ways including as a system, a method, or a computer program product such as a computer readable storage medium or a computer network wherein programming instructions are communicated from a remote location.
[0089] The present invention may suitably be embodied as a computer program product for use with the computer system 1002. The method described herein is typically implemented as a computer program product, comprising a set of program instructions that is executed by the computer system 1002 or any other similar device. The set of program instructions may be a series of computer readable codes stored on a tangible medium, such as a computer readable storage medium (storage 1014), for example, diskette, CD-ROM, ROM, flash drives or hard disk, or transmittable to the computer system 1002, via a modem or other interface device, over either a tangible medium, including but not limited to optical or analogue communications channel(s) 1008. The implementation of the invention as a computer program product may be in an intangible form using contactless techniques, including but not limited to microwave, infrared, Bluetooth or other transmission techniques. These instructions can be preloaded into a system or recorded on a storage medium such as a CD-ROM, or made available for downloading over a network such as the Internet or a mobile telephone network. The series of computer readable instructions may embody all or part of the functionality previously described herein.
[0090] Based on the above, it would be understood that the present invention offers multiple advantages over a prior art solution, as it enables alerting a customer or merchant to implement a payment transaction through a more optimal communication interface selected from among a plurality of communication interfaces provided by a payment card, despite the transaction having been initiated through a sub-optimal communication interface.

[0091] While the exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described and illustrated herein, it will be appreciated that they are merely illustrative. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications in form and detail may be made therein without departing from or offending the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Additionally, the invention illustratively disclose herein suitably may be practiced in the absence of any element which is not specifically disclosed herein - and in a particular embodiment that is specifically contemplated, the invention is intended to be practiced in the absence of any one or more element which are not specifically disclosed herein.

We Claim:

1.A method for implementing a payment transaction involving a payment card having
a plurality of communication interfaces, comprising the steps of:
detecting a POS terminal interface event, involving a payment card;
detecting interface capabilities of the payment card;
identifying a first card communication interface associated with the payment card, that was used for initiating the detected POS terminal interface event; and
initiating an interface switch process flow based on the detected interface capabilities of the payment card and the identified first card communication interface.
2. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the interface switch process flow
comprises any of one or more of (i) alerting an operator of the POS terminal that the payment
card provides a more efficient payment card interface than the payment card interface that
is in use, (ii) inviting use of a more efficient payment card interface provided by the payment
card, (iii) refusing transaction processing until a more efficient payment card interface is
selected for implementing the payment transaction, and (iv) switching the payment
transaction that is under implementation to a more efficient payment card interface.
3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the interface switch process flow is
initiated in response to determining (i) that the payment card has a plurality of distinct
interface capabilities, and (ii) that a first priority associated with the first card
communication interface is lower than a second priority associated with a second card
communication interface provided by the payment card.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the interface switch process flow is initiated in response to determining (i) that the payment card provides a plurality of distinct interface capabilities, (ii) that the plurality of distinct interface capabilities includes contactless interface capability, and (iii) that the detected first card communication interface is a communication interface other than a contactless interface of the payment card.
5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the interface switch process flow is initiated in response to determining (i) that the payment card provides a plurality of distinct interface capabilities, (ii) that the plurality of distinct interface capabilities includes contactless interface capability, and (iii) that the detected first card communication interface is a communication interface other than a contactless interface of the payment card, and (iv) that one or more transaction parameters associated with the detected interface event match one or more predefined transaction parameters that are required to be detected for initiating the interface switch process flow.
6. A system for implementing a payment transaction involving a payment card having
a plurality of communication interfaces, comprising a processor implemented point-of-sale
(POS) terminal configured for implementing the steps of:
detecting a POS terminal interface event, involving a payment card;
detecting interface capabilities of the payment card;
identifying a first card communication interface associated with the payment card, that was used for initiating the detected POS terminal interface event; and
initiating an interface switch process flow based on the detected interface capabilities of the payment card and the identified first card communication interface.

7. The system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the POS terminal is configured such that
the interface switch process flow comprises any of one or more of (i) alerting an operator of
the POS terminal that the payment card provides a more efficient payment card interface
than the payment card interface that is in use, (ii) inviting use of a more efficient payment
card interface provided by the payment card, (iii) refusing transaction processing until a
more efficient payment card interface is selected for implementing the payment transaction,
and (iv) switching the payment transaction that is under implementation to a more efficient
payment card interface.
8. The system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the POS terminal is configured such that the interface switch process flow is initiated in response to determining (i) that the payment card has a plurality of distinct interface capabilities, and (ii) that a first priority associated with the first card communication interface is lower than a second priority associated with a second card communication interface provided by the payment card.
9. The system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the POS terminal is configured such that the interface switch process flow is initiated in response to determining (i) that the payment card provides a plurality of distinct interface capabilities, (ii) that the plurality of distinct interface capabilities includes contactless interface capability, and (iii) that the detected first card communication interface is a communication interface other than a contactless interface of the payment card.
10. The system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the POS terminal is configured such that the interface switch process flow is initiated in response to determining (i) that the payment card provides a plurality of distinct interface capabilities, (ii) that the plurality of distinct interface capabilities includes contactless interface capability, and (iii) that the detected first card communication interface is a communication interface other than a contactless interface of the payment card, and (iv) that one or more transaction parameters associated with the detected interface event match one or more predefined transaction parameters that are required to be detected for initiating the interface switch process flow.

11. A computer program product for implementing a payment transaction involving a
payment card having a plurality of communication interfaces, comprising a non-transitory
computer usable medium having a computer readable program code embodied therein, the
computer readable program code comprising instructions for:
detecting a POS terminal interface event, involving a payment card;
detecting interface capabilities of the payment card;
identifying a first card communication interface associated with the payment card, that was used for initiating the detected POS terminal interface event; and
initiating an interface switch process flow based on the detected interface capabilities of the payment card and the identified first card communication interface.
12. The computer program product as claimed in claim 11, wherein the interface switch
process flow comprises any of one or more of (i) alerting an operator of the POS terminal
that the payment card provides a more efficient payment card interface than the payment
card interface that is in use, (ii) inviting use of a more efficient payment card interface
provided by the payment card, (iii) refusing transaction processing until a more efficient
payment card interface is selected for implementing the payment transaction, and (iv)
switching the payment transaction that is under implementation to a more efficient payment
card interface.
13. The computer program product as claimed in claim 11, wherein the interface
switch process flow is initiated in response to determining (i) that the payment card has a
plurality of distinct interface capabilities, and (ii) that a first priority associated with the first
card communication interface is lower than a second priority associated with a second card
communication interface provided by the payment card.

14. The computer program product as claimed in claim 11, wherein the interface switch process flow is initiated in response to determining (i) that the payment card provides a plurality of distinct interface capabilities, (ii) that the plurality of distinct interface capabilities includes contactless interface capability, and (iii) that the detected first card communication interface is a communication interface other than a contactless interface of the payment card.
15. The computer program product as claimed in claim 11, wherein the interface switch process flow is initiated in response to determining (i) that the payment card provides a plurality of distinct interface capabilities, (ii) that the plurality of distinct interface capabilities includes contactless interface capability, and (iii) that the detected first card communication interface is a communication interface other than a contactless interface of the payment card, and (iv) that one or more transaction parameters associated with the detected interface event match one or more predefined transaction parameters that are required to be detected for initiating the interface switch process flow.