Abstract
Some methods for making payments with a wearable computing device, such as a smart watch, can involve manual steps like waking the device and opening a payment application, which may introduce latency into the transaction process. The disclosed technology provides an approach for initiating payments by using sensor data to detect an indication of a user's intent to pay. For example, a system can analyze data from a sensor, such as an accelerometer, to detect a predefined motion gesture. The detection of this gesture, in combination with the contemporaneous presence of a near-field communication (NFC) field from a payment terminal, can serve as a trigger to activate payment functionality. This may reduce the need for explicit user interaction with the device's screen or buttons. This method can streamline the payment process by reducing certain manual steps, and the combination of signals can provide an indication of user intent for the transaction.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Recommended Citation
Kemeny, Malcolm; Alves, Sergio; Angermann, Michael; Chen, Andrew; Tran, Annie; and Julian, Brian, "Motion Gesture and Near-Field Communication Field Detection for Initiating Wearable Payments", Technical Disclosure Commons, (December 11, 2025)
https://www.tdcommons.org/dpubs_series/9018