Intelligent card unlock

A system, comprising:

• a contactless payment card, including a processor, a memory storing programming code, and a communications interface operable to support at least one of near field communication, Bluetooth, or Wi-Fi communication protocol, wherein the processor maintains a counter related to a number of times the contactless card exchanges data;
• and
• a mobile device including a mobile device processor, a mobile device memory, a transceiver, a display device, and a card reader circuit, the card reader circuit is operable to communicate with the contactless payment card via the communications interface wherein execution of the programming code by the processor of the contactless payment card, configures the processor to:
• in response to a request received, via the communications interface, from the mobile device, generate encrypted data using a master key and the counter value as inputs to a cryptographic algorithm;
• and
• emit, via the communications interface, a signal containing encrypted data usable to authenticate the contactless card, and
• the mobile device memory stores programming code including an instance of an unlock-lock application, wherein the programming code when executed by the mobile device processor causes the mobile device processor to perform functions, including functions to:
• receive from the card reader circuit the signal containing the encrypted data emitted from the contactless card;
• forward the encrypted data, via the transceiver, for authentication and unlocking of the contactless card;
• receive an unlock indication indicating the contactless card is unlocked;
• obtain user preferences that allow limited uses of the contactless card when unlocked for use in card-present transactions, wherein the user preferences are permitted contactless payment card use restrictions;
• present a representation of the obtained user preferences of the contactless payment card, when unlocked, in a graphical user interface presented on the display device;
• enable completion of a card present transaction according the obtained user preferences including a permitted contactless card use restriction;
• and
• require a subsequent unlock operation in response to an authentication server automatically re-locking the contactless payment card to prevent further card present transactions per a default setting.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code embodied therewith, wherein the computer-readable program code is executable by a processor circuit to cause the processor circuit to:

• in response to a communication with a contactless payment card, transmit an indication, via a card reader circuit of a mobile device, to the contactless payment card to generate encrypted data using a master key and a counter value as an input into a cryptographic algorithm;
• receive, via a card reader circuit, encrypted data from a communications interface of a contactless card, wherein the contactless card is locked from being used in a card present transaction;
• forward the encrypted data to an authentication server to enable the contactless card to be unlocked;
• receive an unlock indication that the contactless card has been unlocked for use in a card present transaction, wherein the unlock indication is verification of the encrypted data;
• obtain a permitted contactless card use restriction of a capability of the contactless card to complete a payment card transaction, wherein the user preferences are permitted contactless payment card use restrictions;
• present an unlocked-for-use status indication and a representation of the obtained permitted contactless card use restriction in a graphical user interface presented on a display device;
• enable completion of a card present transaction according the obtained user preferences including a permitted contactless card use restriction;
• and
• require a subsequent unlock operation in response to an authentication server automatically re-locking the contactless card to prevent further card present transactions per a default setting.