Automatic registration and generation of consumer payment credentials using internet-connected appliances

Abstract

Systems, apparatus and methods for allowing cardholders to conveniently and securely purchase items online using an Internet-connected appliance. An Internet-connected appliance reads payment account data from a cardholder payment device and transmits a cardholder registration request to a gateway server. The Internet-connected appliance receives a cardholder verification request, prompts the cardholder to respond, transmits the response, receives a cardholder authentication message, and then stores the cardholder payment account data in a dedicated storage element. In an implementation, the Internet-connected appliance receives a purchase instruction for an online purchase, automatically generates and transmits a purchase transaction request, receives a purchase transaction response, and provides the purchase transaction response to the cardholder.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 reading, by a reader device associated with an Internet-connected appliance, payment account data from at least one payment device of a cardholder;   transmitting, by the Internet-connected appliance, a cardholder registration request to a gateway server that includes the payment account data;   receiving a cardholder verification request;   prompting, by the Internet-connected appliance, the cardholder to respond to the cardholder verification request;   transmitting, by the Internet-connected appliance, a response received from the cardholder to the gateway server;   receiving a cardholder authentication message; and   storing, by the Internet-connected appliance, the cardholder payment account data in a dedicated storage element of the Internet-connected appliance.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving, by the Internet-connected appliance, a purchase instruction for an online purchase from the cardholder;   automatically generating, by the Internet-connected appliance, a purchase transaction request using the cardholder payment account data stored in the dedicated storage element;   transmitting, by the Internet-connected appliance, the purchase transaction request to the gateway server;   receiving a purchase transaction response; and   providing, by the Internet-connected appliance, the purchase transaction response to the cardholder.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 prompting, by the Internet-connected appliance, the cardholder to provide a passcode to utilize when a purchase instruction is received;   receiving input of a passcode from the cardholder; and   storing the passcode in the dedicated storage element.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 receiving, by the Internet-connected appliance, a purchase instruction for an online purchase from the cardholder;   prompting, by the Internet-connected appliance, the cardholder to provide the passcode;   validating the passcode; and   automatically generating, by the Internet-connected appliance, a purchase transaction request including the cardholder payment account data stored in the dedicated storage element.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 transmitting, by the Internet-connected appliance, the purchase transaction request to the gateway server;   receiving a purchase transaction response; and   providing, by the Internet-connected appliance, the purchase transaction response to the cardholder.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein transmitting the purchase transaction request further comprises transmitting, by the Internet-connected appliance, an identifier associated with the Internet-connected appliance. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 receiving, by the Internet-connected appliance, a purchase instruction for an online purchase from a cardholder;   prompting, by the Internet-connected appliance, the cardholder to provide the passcode;   determining that the passcode is incorrect; and   providing, by the Internet-connected appliance to the cardholder, a passcode failure message.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, subsequent to transmitting the cardholder response to the gateway server:
 receiving, from the gateway server, a negative cardholder authentication message; and   providing, by the Internet-connected appliance, a registration failure message to the cardholder.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the Internet-connected appliance comprises one of a set-top box (STB), a flat-screen television, a microwave oven, and a refrigerator. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein reading the payment account data further comprises:
 reading, by the Internet-connected appliance, proxy data from the at least one payment device; and   storing, by the Internet-connected appliance, the proxy data in the dedicated storage element.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein transmitting the cardholder registration request further comprises transmitting, by the Internet-connected appliance, the proxy data. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 receiving, by the Internet-connected appliance, a purchase instruction for an online purchase from a cardholder;   automatically generating, by the Internet-connected appliance, a purchase transaction request using the proxy data stored in the dedicated storage element;   transmitting, by the Internet-connected appliance, the purchase transaction request to the gateway server;   receiving a purchase transaction response; and   providing, by the Internet-connected appliance, the purchase transaction response to the cardholder.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, prior to transmitting the cardholder registration request:
 obtaining, by the Internet-connected device, proxy data from an entity; and   storing, by the Internet-connected appliance, the proxy data in the dedicated storage element.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein transmitting the cardholder registration request further comprises transmitting, by the Internet-connected appliance, the proxy data. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 receiving, by the Internet-connected appliance, a purchase instruction for an online purchase from a cardholder;   automatically generating, by the Internet-connected appliance, a purchase transaction request using the proxy data stored in the dedicated storage element;   transmitting, by the Internet-connected appliance, the purchase transaction request to the gateway server;   receiving a purchase transaction response; and   providing, by the Internet-connected appliance, the purchase transaction response to the cardholder.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the entity comprises one of a cable operator, a manufacturer of the Internet-connected appliance, or a payments processing provider. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the proxy data comprises data associated with an attribute of the Internet-connected appliance. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the attribute comprises at least one of a unit serial number, an internet-protocol (IP) address, and a model-type. 
     
     
         19 . An Internet-connected appliance, comprising:
 a processor;   a reader operably connected to the processor;   an internet connector operably connected to the processor; and   a storage device operably connected to the processor, wherein the storage device includes a dedicated storage element, and wherein the storage device stores instructions configured to cause the processor to:
 provide instructions to the reader for obtaining payment account data from at least one payment device of a cardholder; 
 transmit, based on the payment account data, a cardholder registration request to a gateway server; 
 receive a cardholder verification request; 
 prompt the cardholder to respond; 
 transmit a response from the cardholder to the gateway server; 
 receive a cardholder authentication message; and 
 store the cardholder payment account data in the dedicated storage element. 
   
     
     
         20 . A transaction system comprising
 at least one Internet-connected appliance;   a gateway server in communication with the Internet-connected appliance;   a payment network in communication with the gateway server; and   at least one merchant server configured for communication with the gateway server and the Internet-connected appliance;   wherein the Internet-connected appliance comprises a processor, a reader operably connected to the processor, an internet connector component operably connected to the processor, and a storage device including a dedicated storage element, the storage device operably connected to the processor and storing instructions configured to cause the processor to:
 instruct the reader to obtain payment account data from at least one payment device of a cardholder; 
 transmit, based on the payment account data, a cardholder registration request to a gateway server; 
 receive a cardholder verification request; 
 prompt the cardholder to respond; 
 transmit a response from the cardholder to the gateway server; 
 receive a cardholder authentication message; and 
 store the cardholder payment account data in the dedicated storage element.