Abstract: A terminal software architecture accepts a card that implements a card application of a merchant. A terminal application is developed independently of the terminal. The terminal has an environment component including terminal hardware, an operating system, and an environment services layer that supplies one or more environment dependent services that are dependent upon at least one of the operating system and the hardware of the terminal. The terminal application is compatible with the card application and has a platform independent portion that is independent of the environment component and a business logic layer that implements business policies associated with the terminal. The business logic layer makes calls to the terminal application through an access module and an application programming interface. The terminal application makes calls to the environment services layer through an access module and an application programming interface.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for implementing a terminal software architecture for accepting a card that implements a card application of a merchant are disclosed. The terminal comprises an environment component including hardware of the terminal, an operating system of the terminal, and an environment services layer that supplies one or more environment dependent services dependent upon at least one of the operating system and the hardware of the terminal. The terminal further comprises a terminal application compatible with the card application and having a platform independent portion that is independent of the environment component.