Mastercard Incorporated
Value add service for mobile point of sale

Abstract:

The present invention provides a method and system for validating the authenticity of products in which a known payment network infrastructure is used to convey messages for applications other than effecting financial transactions. In particular, the invention provides a method of allocating an identification number to a product manufacturer that may be processed in the same manner as a Personal Account Number (PAN). Standard network messages from the payment network infrastructure may then be used to record an action for example verifying the authenticity of the product. Conveniently, such standard network messages may be translated by an application, for example running on a mobile point of sale (MPOS) device or a suitably enabled smart device, into a more MPOS-user readable format more associated with a warranty action (e.g. a given standard network message may be translated into a "warranty activated" message).