Method and device for generating a single-use financial account number

Abstract

A device for facilitating financial account transactions is described which includes a processing unit including a cryptographic processor. The device also includes an input unit, a display unit and a memory device connected to the processing unit. The memory device contains a private cryptographic key, a first data element and a second data element. The processing unit encrypts the first data element using the private cryptographic key and the second data element, modifies the second data element, combines the encrypted first data element and the second data element to generate a single-use financial account identifier, and displays the single-use financial account identifier. This identifier is then transmitted to a central processor for authorization of the transaction. The central processor extracts and decrypts data elements from the transmitted identifier using the private cryptographic key, compares those data elements with data elements stored in a memory, and verifies the single-use financial account identifier in accordance with the comparison.

1 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a central processing device; and   a storage device in communication with the central processing device, the storage device storing instructions that when executed by the central processing device result in:
 receiving, in relation to a purchase transaction, a single-use credit card number, wherein the single-use credit card number is configured for a single use, and wherein the single-use credit card number is further configured to function in place of an account number that identifies a credit card account, and wherein the single-use credit card number is configured with the same number of digits as the account number; 
 receiving an indication of an amount of a purchase for the purchase transaction; 
 transmitting, after a receiving of the single-use credit card number and to a credit card processing entity, a request for authorization of the purchase, the request comprising an indication of the single-use credit card number and the amount of the purchase; and 
 receiving, in response to a transmission of the request and from the credit card processing entity, an indication that the purchase is authorized. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the central processing device, further result in:
 consummating, in response to a receiving of the indication that the purchase is authorized, the purchase transaction.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the receiving of the indication that the purchase is authorized, comprises:
 receiving an indication that the credit card account has sufficient funds available for the amount of the purchase.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the receiving of the indication that the purchase is authorized, comprises:
 receiving an indication that the single-use credit card number is valid.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the receiving of the single-use credit card number is via the Internet. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the receiving of the single-use credit card number is via a telephone. 
     
     
         7 . A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions configured to direct a processing device to perform a method, the method comprising:
 receiving, in relation to a purchase transaction, a single-use credit card number, wherein the single-use credit card number is configured for a single use, and wherein the single-use credit card number is further configured to function in place of an account number that identifies a credit card account, and wherein the single-use credit card number is configured with the same number of digits as the account number;   receiving an indication of an amount of a purchase for the purchase transaction;   transmitting, after the receiving of the single-use credit card number and to a credit card processing entity, a request for authorization of the purchase, the request comprising an indication of the single-use credit card number and the amount of the purchase; and   receiving, in response to the transmitting of the request and from the credit card processing entity, an indication that the purchase is authorized.   
     
     
         8 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 7 , wherein the method that the instructions are configured to direct the processing device to perform, further comprises:
 consummating, in response to the receiving of the indication that the purchase is authorized, the purchase transaction.   
     
     
         9 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 7 , wherein the receiving of the indication that the purchase is authorized, comprises:
 receiving an indication that the credit card account has sufficient funds available for the amount of the purchase.   
     
     
         10 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 7 , wherein the receiving of the indication that the purchase is authorized, comprises:
 receiving an indication that the single-use credit card number is valid.   
     
     
         11 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 7 , wherein the receiving of the single-use credit card number is via the Internet. 
     
     
         12 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 7 , wherein the receiving of the single-use credit card number is via a telephone. 
     
     
         13 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a central processing device; and   a storage device in communication with the central processing device, the storage device storing instructions that when executed by the central processing device result in:
 receiving, as part of a purchase transaction, an indication of an identifier of a product; 
 receiving, as part of the purchase transaction and from a credit card account holder, an indication of a single-use credit card number, wherein the single-use credit card number is configured for a single use, and wherein the single-use credit card number is further configured to function in place of an account number that identifies the credit card account of the credit card account holder, and wherein the single-use credit card number is configured with the same number of digits as the account number; 
 determining a transaction amount for the purchase transaction; 
 transmitting, after the receiving of indication of the single-use credit card number and to a credit card processing entity, a request for authorization of the purchase transaction, the request comprising an indication of the single-use credit card number and the amount of the purchase transaction; 
 receiving, in response to the transmitting of the request and from the credit card processing entity, an indication that the credit card account has sufficient funds for the amount of the purchase transaction; and 
 providing, based on the indication that the credit card account has sufficient funds for the amount of the purchase transaction, the product to the cardholder.