Memory card with wireless communication function and data communication method

• US 20020174337A1
• Filed: 04/26/2002
• Published: 11/21/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Aihara, Tadahiro
• Application Number:
  US10/132,254
• Publication Number:
  US 20020174337A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/172
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/78 to assure secure storage of data address-based protection against unauthorised use of memory G06F12/14; record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings G06K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07345 by activating or deactivating at least a part of the circuit on the record carrier, e.g. ON/OFF switches
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07732 the record carrier having a housing or construction similar to well-known portable memory devices, such as SD cards, USB or memory sticks housings for electrical equipment in general, see H05K5/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/033 of the user plane, e.g. user's traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/47 using near field communication [NFC] or radio frequency identification [RFID] modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

A card includes a memory configured to rewritably store data, a communication unit configured to transmit/receive data via a wireless communication, an interface connectable to an external device, and a controller configured to execute direct access control to the memory via the communication unit. The controller is set in a direct access mode by a command supplied via the interface (or by an operation of a switch).

Claims

1. A card, comprising:

a memory configured to rewritably store data;

a communication unit configured to transmit/receive data via a wireless communication;

an interface connectable to an external device; and

a controller configured to execute direct access control to said memory via said communication unit, said controller being set in a direct access mode by a command supplied via said interface.

2. The card according to claim 1, wherein said controller receives data which is sent from said communication unit and writes the received data in said memory, without transferring the data via said interface in execution of the direct access control.

3. The card according to claim 1, wherein said controller reads data from said memory and sends the read data to said communication unit, without transferring the data via said interface in execution of the direct access control.

4. A card, comprising:

a memory configured to rewritably store data;

an encryption processor configured to execute an encryption/decryption process of data to be written in said memory or data read out from said memory;

a communication unit configured to transmit/receive data via a wireless communication;

an interface connectable to an external device; and

a controller configured to execute direct access control to said memory via said communication unit and ON/OFF control of said encryption processor, said controller being set in a direct access mode and a security mode by a command supplied via said interface.

5. The card according to claim 4, wherein said controller receives data which is sent from said communication unit, causing said encryption processor to decrypt the received data, and writes the decrypted data in said memory, without transferring the data via said interface in execution of the direct access control.

6. The card according to claim 4, wherein said controller reads data from said memory, causing said encryption processor to encrypt the read data, and sends the encrypted data to said communication unit, without transferring the data via said interface in execution of the direct access control.

7. A card, comprising:

a memory configured to rewritably store data;

a communication unit configured to transmit/receive data via a wireless communication;

an interface connectable to an external device;

a switch configured to set a direct access function; and

a controller configured to execute direct access control to said memory via said communication unit, said controller being set in a direct access mode by an operation of a switch.

8. The card according to claim 7, wherein:

said switch is configured to set a security function, and

said controller is configured to execute ON/OFF control of said encryption processor in accordance with an operation of said switch.

9. A wireless communication method applied to a system having a first electronic device using a first card and a second electronic device using a second card, said method comprising:

accessing from said first electronic device via said first card to said second card by wireless communication; and

executing direct access control to a memory in said second card by said second card in response to the accessing from said first electronic device, said second card being set in a direct access mode by a command supplied from said second electronic device.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein said second card receives data which is sent from said first card and writes the received data in said memory, without transferring the data to said second electronic device in execution of the direct access control.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein said second card reads data from said memory and sends the read data to said first card, without transferring the data to said second electronic device in execution of the direct access control.

12. The method according to claim 9, further comprising executing an encryption/decryption process of data to be written in said memory or data read out from said memory.

14. The card according to claim 13, further comprising executing an encryption/decryption process of data to be written in said memory or data read out from said memory by an operation of said switch.

13. A wireless communication method applied to a system having a first electronic device using a first card and a second electronic device using a second card, said method comprising:

accessing from said first electronic device via said first card to said second card by wireless communication; and

executing direct access control to a memory in said second card by said second card in response to the accessing from said first electronic device, said second card being set in a direct access mode by an operation of a switch.