Device fingerprinting at a merchant location

A computer-implemented method of processing a payment transaction between a buyer and a merchant using a payment system, the method comprising:

• detecting at least one transaction activity associated with the payment system, wherein the payment system includes at least a payment object reader and a point-of-sale (POS) terminal;
• transmitting, by the payment object reader and to a communication device that is within a communication range of the payment object reader, one or more command and control parameters that place the communication device in a detect mode;
• detecting, by the payment object reader and in response to transmitting the one or more command and control parameters, the communication device;
• establishing a communication channel between the payment object reader and the communication device, wherein the communication range is based at least in part on a communication protocol;
• obtaining, through the communication channel, at least one device characteristic corresponding to the communication device, wherein the at least one device characteristic includes at least one of a timing parameter, radiated performance, radio frequency response, and an engineering tolerance;
• generating, by the payment system, a digital signature of the communication device based at least in part on the device characteristic and information related to a payment object;
• determining that the digital signature of the communication device has been deemed substantially similar to an existing digital signature in a database, wherein the existing digital signature includes an association of a previously obtained device characteristic with information identifying a previously received payment object;
• determining that the existing digital signature has been deemed substantially similar to the digital signature of the communication device;
• and
• authorizing the payment transaction through presence of the communication device.

A payment system for facilitating a proximity payment transaction through a computing device, the payment system comprising:

• a point-of-sale (POS) terminal;
• and
• a payment object reader comprising:
• a memory;
• a device detection component having electronics configured to:
• transmit, to one or more communication devices that are within a communication range of the payment object reader, one or more command and control parameters that place the one or more communication devices in a detect mode, wherein the communication range is based at least in part on a wireless communication protocol;
• detect, via the payment object reader and in response to transmitting the one or more command and control parameters, the one or more communication devices;
• establish, as per the wireless communication protocol, a communication channel with the one or more communication devices in response to a transaction activity;
• obtain, through the communication channel, a device characteristic of a communication device of the one or more communication devices associated with a payer in response to a payment object being introduced in proximity to the payment system, the device characteristic including at least one of a timing parameter, radiated performance, radio frequency response, and an engineering tolerance;
• and
• generate a digital signature of the communication device based at least in part on the device characteristic and information related to the payment object;
• and
• a processor configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to communicate the digital signature to a payment processing system for one of registration of the device characteristic as a valid payment authentication instrument or validation of the device characteristic as the valid payment authentication instrument based at least in part on comparison between a set of registered digital signature, and wherein the validation authorizes transfer of funds between the payer and a payee based at least in part on the payment transaction.

One or more non-transitory computer-readable media maintaining instructions of a first instance of an application that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:

• detect at least one transaction activity associated with a payment system having a payment object reader and a point-of-sale (POS) terminal;
• transmit, by the payment object reader and to a communication device that is within a communication range of the payment object reader, one or more command and control parameters that place the communication device in a detect mode, wherein the communication range is based at least in part on a communication protocol;
• detect, via the payment object reader and in response to transmitting the one or more command and control parameters, the communication device;
• establish a communication channel between the payment object reader and the communication device;
• obtain, through the communication channel at least one device characteristic corresponding to the communication device, wherein the at least one device characteristic includes at least one of a timing parameter, radiated performance, radio frequency response, and an engineering tolerance;
• generate a digital signature of the communication device based at least in part on the at least one device characteristic and information related to a payment object;
• determine that the digital signature of the communication device has been deemed substantially similar to an existing digital signature in a database, wherein the existing digital signature includes an association of a previously obtained device characteristic with information identifying a previously received payment object;
• determine that the existing digital signature has been deemed substantially similar to the digital signature of the communication device;
• and
• authorize the payment transaction through presence of the communication device.