System and method for using image data to trigger contactless card transactions

Abstract

A method for controlling a near field communication between a device and a transaction card is disclosed. The method includes the steps of capturing, by a front-facing camera of the device, a series of images of the transaction card and processing each image of the series of images to identify a darkness level associated with a distance of the transaction card from the front of the device. The method includes comparing each identified darkness level to a predetermined darkness level associated with a preferred distance for a near field communication read operation and automatically triggering a near field communication read operation between the device and the transaction card for the communication of a cryptogram from an applet of the transaction card to the device in response to the identified darkness level corresponding to the predetermined darkness level associated with the preferred distance for the near field communication read operation.

1 . A method, comprising:
 accessing, by a mobile device, one or more images of a contactless card captured by a camera of the mobile device;   processing each image of the one or more images to identify a darkness level associated with a distance of the contactless card from the mobile device;   determining, based on a comparison of the darkness level of at least one of the one or more images to a predetermined darkness level, that the contactless card is at a predetermined distance from the mobile device, wherein the predetermined distance is a distance to automatically trigger a short-range communication operation between the mobile device and the contactless card; and   automatically triggering the short-range communication operation between the mobile device and the contactless card in response to the determination that the contactless card is at the predetermined distance from the mobile device.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the short-range communication operation comprises a read of a cryptogram generated by the contactless card. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the short-range communication operation comprises a near-field communication (NFC) exchange with the contactless card. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 comparing each darkness level to the predetermined darkness level comprises performing comparisons until one of the darkness levels meets or exceeds the predetermined darkness level.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each image of the one or more images comprises a plurality of pixels and wherein, for each image, a subset of the plurality of pixels are used to identify the darkness level. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the darkness level for at least one image comprises an average of pixel values of the subset of the plurality of pixels of the at least one image. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the plurality of pixels of the image is apportioned into a plurality of subsets of pixels, wherein each subset of pixels comprises a subset darkness level, and wherein the darkness level of an image is determined using the subset darkness levels of the plurality of subsets of pixels. 
     
     
         8 . A computing apparatus comprising:
 a camera configured to capture one or more images of a contactless card;   a processor; and   a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
 access the one or more images of the contactless card; 
 process each image of the one or more images to identify a darkness level associated with a distance of the contactless card from the apparatus; 
 determine, based on a comparison of the darkness level of at least one of the one or more images to a predetermined darkness level, that the contactless card is at a predetermined distance from the apparatus, wherein the predetermined distance is a distance to automatically trigger a short-range communication operation between the apparatus and the contactless card; and 
 automatically trigger the short-range communication operation between the apparatus and the contactless card in response to the determination that the contactless card is at the predetermined distance from the apparatus. 
   
     
     
         9 . The computing apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the short-range communication operation comprises a read of a cryptogram generated by the contactless card. 
     
     
         10 . The computing apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the short-range communication operation comprises a near-field communication (NFC) exchange with the contactless card. 
     
     
         11 . The computing apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:
 compare each darkness level to the predetermined darkness level comprises performing comparisons until one of the darkness levels meets or exceeds the predetermined darkness level.   
     
     
         12 . The computing apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein each image of the one or more images comprises a plurality of pixels and wherein, for each image, a subset of the plurality of pixels are used to identify the darkness level. 
     
     
         13 . The computing apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the darkness level for at least one image comprises an average of pixel values of the subset of the plurality of pixels of the at least one image. 
     
     
         14 . The computing apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of pixels of the image is apportioned into a plurality of subsets of pixels, wherein each subset of pixels comprises a subset darkness level, and wherein the darkness level of an image is determined using the subset darkness levels of the plurality of subsets of pixels. 
     
     
         15 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, the computer-readable storage medium including instructions that when executed by a processor of a mobile device, cause the processor to:
 access one or more images of a contactless card captured by a camera of the mobile device;   process each image of the one or more images to identify a darkness level associated with a distance of the contactless card from the mobile device;   determine, based on a comparison of the darkness level of at least one of the one or more images to a predetermined darkness level, that the contactless card is at a predetermined distance from the mobile device, wherein the predetermined distance is a distance to automatically trigger a short-range communication operation between the mobile device and the contactless card; and   automatically trigger the short-range communication operation between the mobile device and the contactless card in response to the determination that the contactless card is at the predetermined distance from the mobile device.   
     
     
         16 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the short-range communication operation comprises a read of a cryptogram generated by the contactless card. 
     
     
         17 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the short-range communication operation comprises a near-field communication (NFC) exchange with the contactless card. 
     
     
         18 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the instructions further configure the computer to:
 compare each darkness level to the predetermined darkness level comprises performing comparisons until one of the darkness levels meets or exceeds the predetermined darkness level.   
     
     
         19 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein each image of the one or more images comprises a plurality of pixels and wherein, for each image, a subset of the plurality of pixels are used to identify the darkness level. 
     
     
         20 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 19 , wherein the darkness level for at least one image comprises an average of pixel values of the subset of the plurality of pixels of the at least one image.