Visa Inc.
Bridge device for linking wireless protocols

Abstract:

A bridge device acts as a link between generic wireless protocols of mobile devices and available communication components of access devices. The bridge device can be an attachment to existing access devices and enables a transaction using any available communication components on an access device and a bridge device mobile application on a mobile device. The bridge device notifies the mobile device which communication components are available for the transaction. The mobile device then sends a selection of a communication component to the bridge device. To conduct the transaction, the bridge device converts data received from the mobile device and sends it to the access device using a protocol compatible with the selected communication component. The bridge device also converts data received from the access device and sends it to the mobile device using a generic wireless protocol supported by the mobile device.