Enhanced near field communications attachment

Abstract

A secure fob that enables a user to pay for an item or items without needing to present a mobile device. A secure fob may include a proximity capability to ensure that a mobile device is within a particular range, thereby eliminating the risk of fraudulent charges on a stolen fob. In such an embodiment, a fob may be disabled if the fob is not paired with the mobile device by virtue of being disconnected and/or physically separated from the mobile device. The secure fob also may include enhanced features to authorize transactions and locate the mobile device and/or the secure fob.

1 - 26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . A contactless payment attachment, comprising:
 a controller that controls the operations of the contactless payment attachment;   a near field communication antenna;   a secure element that securely stores an account number that is used to identify a financial account and is transmitted from the contactless payment attachment when processing a payment transaction initiated by a user of a mobile device;   a secure wireless communication module that establishes a secure wireless connection with the mobile device and enables secure communication between the contactless payment attachment and the mobile device;   a token generator that generates a respective token for each financial transaction, the token enabling additional security for the payment transaction;   a button connected to a button interface, the button being used to initiate transmission of a signal to use the contactless attachment to locate the mobile device; and   an indicator connected to an indicator interface to provide an indication of the status of the contactless attachment.   
     
     
         28 . The contactless payment attachment of  claim 27 , wherein the button is further used to initiate transmission of the respective token from the contactless payment attachment to the mobile device to authorize the payment transaction. 
     
     
         29 . The contactless payment attachment of  claim 27 , wherein the secure element comprises at least one computer processor and at least one secure storage module. 
     
     
         30 . The contactless payment attachment of  claim 27 , further comprising a power source. 
     
     
         31 . The contactless payment attachment of  claim 27 , wherein the indicator is a light emitting diode. 
     
     
         32 . The contactless payment attachment of  claim 27 , further comprising a display connected to a display interface. 
     
     
         33 . The contactless payment attachment of  claim 27 , wherein the financial account is a credit card account. 
     
     
         34 . The contactless payment attachment of  claim 33 , wherein the payment transaction is a credit card transaction. 
     
     
         35 . The contactless payment attachment of  claim 27 , wherein the secure element securely stores the account number upon account provisioning, and wherein the secure wireless communication module receives an account provisioning signal that includes the account number. 
     
     
         36 . The contactless payment attachment of  claim 27 , further comprising:
 an audio interface and a speaker connected to the audio interface,   wherein secure wireless communication module receives a signal from the mobile device, the signal representing an attempt by the mobile device to locate the contactless attachment, and   wherein the audio interface activates the speaker in response to the receipt of the signal by the secure wireless communication module.   
     
     
         37 . The contactless payment attachment of  claim 27 , wherein secure wireless communication module receives a signal from the mobile device, the signal representing an attempt by the mobile device to locate the contactless attachment, and wherein the contactless payment attachment activates location services in response to the received signal. 
     
     
         38 . The contactless payment attachment of  claim 27 , wherein the respective token is automatically transmitted from the contactless payment attachment to the mobile device to authorize the payment transaction. 
     
     
         39 . The contactless payment attachment of  claim 38 , wherein the respective token is automatically transmitted from the contactless payment attachment to the mobile device after the user initiates the payment transaction. 
     
     
         40 . A method for initializing a payment attachment, comprising the steps of:
 receiving an encrypted secure element provisioning signal from a trusted service manager, the encrypted secure element provisioning signal including an account number that is used to identify a financial account and is transmitted from the payment attachment when processing a payment transaction initiated by a user of a mobile device;   establishing a secure wireless communication channel with the attachment;   using one or more computer processors, sending at least one provisioning instruction, formed as encrypted data, through a secure wireless communication channel to the payment attachment;   decrypting the secure element provisioning instruction;   provisioning the payment attachment for use with the financial account by storing the received account number in a secure element;   binding the payment attachment to the mobile device; and   when processing a payment transaction relating to the financial account, receiving a signal that a payment transaction has been initiated, and in response to the signal,
 using a token generator, generating a token, for the transaction being processed, the token enabling additional security for the financial transaction, and 
 transmitting the token from the payment attachment to the mobile device to authorize the transaction. 
   
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the provisioning comprises sending to the payment attachment information related to a plurality of accounts. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 40 , further comprising restricting software functionality on the payment attachment if the payment attachment is disconnected from the mobile device. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the payment attachment is a contactless payment attachment. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the financial account is a credit card account. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the payment transaction is a credit card transaction. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 40 , further comprising processing a transaction relating to the account. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 40 , further comprising:
 receiving, at a secure wireless communication module, a signal from the mobile device, the signal representing an attempt by the mobile device to locate the payment attachment, and   activating location services in response to the received signal.   
     
     
         49 . A method of conducting a transaction using a secure attachment, comprising:
 establishing, using a secure wireless communication module, a connection between the secure attachment and a mobile device, wherein the connection is established using a secure, low-energy technology based on the proximity of the secure attachment and the mobile device, and wherein the secure attachment includes a controller that controls the operations of the secure attachment, a near field communication antenna, a secure element that securely stores an account number that is used to identify a financial account and is transmitted from the secure attachment when processing a financial transaction relating to the financial account, the secure wireless communication module, a button connected to a button interface, the button being used to initiate transmission of a signal to use the contactless attachment to locate the mobile device, and an indicator connected to an indicator interface to provide an indication of the status of the contactless attachment; and   receiving a signal that a user of the mobile device has initiated a financial transaction, and in response to the signal,
 using a token generator of the secure attachment, generating a token, for the financial transaction being processed, the token enabling additional security for the financial transaction, and 
 transmitting the token from the secure attachment to the mobile device to authorize the financial transaction; 
   receiving a signal from the mobile device that the financial transaction is authorized; and   transmitting, using the near field communication antenna, the account number to a near field communications reader when the secure connection is established between the secure attachment and the mobile device and the signal is received that the financial transaction is authorized.