Abstract: A computer-implemented method for constructing an index structure in a real-time payment network includes: receiving a first set of transaction information comprising data field entries relating to a user; creating a data record in the index structure for the user; inserting the data field entries in the first set of transaction information into the data record; receiving a second set of transaction information comprising data field entries; determining if the second set of transaction information is associated with the user, wherein at least one data field entry in the second set of transaction information is different to a corresponding data field entry in the first set of transaction information; and inserting the data field entries in the second set of transaction information into the data record if the second set of transaction information is determined to be associated with the user.

Abstract: A method of processing, at an authentication server, content data provided during an interaction between a user and a third party platform, the method comprising: receiving, at the authentication server, user verification data and content data from the third party platform; verifying the identity of the user by comparing the received user verification data against verification data stored in a user profile in order to generate a user identity status; analysing received content data against pre-existing user data in order to generate a content data notification message; sending, from the authentication server to the third party platform, an authentication message, the authentication message comprising the user identity status and the content data notification message.

Abstract: A method of authenticating, at an authentication server, a communications session between a user device and a third party device, the method comprising: receiving a connection notification from the third party device, the connection notification indicating the intention of the third party device to initiate a communications session with the user device, the connection notification comprising a user identifier and identification of a communications channel that will be used for the communications session; retrieving a user profile in dependence on the received user identifier, the user profile comprising a user device identifier; generating a communications identifier; sending, to the user device, a communications notification, the communications notification comprising data relating to the communications channel that the third party device will use to connect to the user device, third party identification data and the communications identifier; sending, to the third party device, the communications identifier

Abstract: A method of operating an Internet of Things (IoT) device, the IoT device capable of communicating with a third-party system in order to perform an autonomous task subject to authorisation by an IoT authorisation device, the method comprising: sending operating parameters relating to the autonomous task to a user for approval; receiving user-approved operating parameters for the autonomous task; configuring the IoT device to perform the autonomous task within the user approved operating parameters; registering the user approved operating parameters with the IoT device management server to enable the IoT authorisation device to check that the IoT device is operating within the user-approved operating parameters when it performs an autonomous task with the third-party system.

Abstract: A method of performing transactions using an Internet of Things (IoT) device, the method comprising: providing a payment application on the IoT device: provisioning a payment card within the payment application on the IoT device in order to allow the IoT device to operate as a payment device; initiating a transaction with a merchant using the payment card within the payment application; sending transaction data comprising payment card data relating to the payment device to the merchant; sending a device identifier for the IoT device, for use in identifying the IoT device as an IoT device, to the merchant.

Abstract: A method of obtaining a digital product or service at a computing device is described. The computing device has a service application for the digital product or service installed on it. The service application obtains a valid authentication from a user. The service application also obtains a request for the digital product or service from the user. After this, the service application prepares a transaction authorisation request comprising a payment application cryptogram. This payment application cryptogram comprises a customer verification from the valid authentication of the user and transaction details for authorisation and settlement of a transaction for the digital product or service through a transaction processing system. The service application provides the transaction authorisation request to the transaction processing system for authorisation and settlement. A suitable computing device is also described.

Abstract: A method of monitoring performance for transactions performed by a mobile computing device with a transaction system is described. A set of performance metrics related to a transaction is defined. For a transaction, at least some of the set of performance metrics from that transaction are captured at the mobile computing device and provided so that a report on the set of performance metrics can be provided for the transaction. This report may be provided by a monitoring service external to the mobile computing device.