System and method for managing usage authorizations based on the use of smart cards

• US 20060036863A1
• Filed: 08/13/2004
• Published: 02/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Scheidt & Bachmann GmbH
• Original Assignee: Scheidt & Bachmann GmbH
• Inventors: Miller, Norbert, Flugge, Wolfgang, Koczwara, Martin
• Granted Patent: US 8,271,789 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/172
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/34 involving the use of external additional devices, e.g. dongles or smart cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2149 Restricted operating environment
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/045 using payment protocols involving tickets
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/403 Solvency checks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/27 with central registration
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/42 for ticket printing or like apparatus , e.g. apparatus for dispensing of printed paper tickets or payment cards
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 5/18 specially adapted for controlling several coin-freed apparatus from one place
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/002 Vending machines being part of a centrally controlled network of vending machines

Abstract

In order to provide a system and a method for managing usage authorizations that are based on the use of smart cards, which offer a high level of flexibility and a high level of security both for the operator and the user, can operate without a permanent communication connection between the field devices and the central computer if possible, and are practical even for a mass operation, a system is suggested for managing usage authorizations that are based on the use of smart cards, including a central computer system, field devices and smart cards carried by potential users, wherein the central computer system maintains databases containing all information that relates to the users, user accounts, their assigned smart cards, field devices and products, establishes and maintains at least at times a communication connection with the field devices, issues instructions on actions to be conducted based on the available information and transmits these to a plurality of smart card-related relevant field devices, with the field devices maintaining at least databases with information relating to the smart cards and products so that when a communication connection is established between a field device and a smart card at least a portion of the smart card-related instructions is processed from the instruction list and stored on the field device side and can be transmitted to the central computer system during the next communication connection, and wherein the smart cards carry an identification and when a communication connection is made, exchange information with a field device and store a specified number of processed instructions.

Claims

1. System for managing usage authorizations that are based on use of smart cards, comprising a central computer system, field devices and smart cards carried by potential users, wherein the central computer system maintains databases containing all information that relates to the users, user accounts, their assigned smart cards, field devices and products, establishes and maintains at least at times a communication connection with the field devices, prepares instructions on actions to be conducted based on the available information and transmits these to a plurality of smart card-related relevant field devices, with the field devices maintaining at least some data inventory of information relating to the smart cards and products so that when a communication connection is established between a field device and a smart card at least a portion of the smart card-related instructions is processed from the instruction list and stored on the field device side and can be transmitted to the central computer system during the next communication connection, and wherein the smart cards carry an identification and, when a communication connection is made, exchange information with a field device and store a specified number of processed instructions.

2. System pursuant to claim 1, wherein the instructions are numbered sequentially.

3. System pursuant to claim 1, wherein the instructions contain the smart card identification.

4. System pursuant to claim 1, wherein the number of instructions transmitted per smart card from the central computer system to the field devices is less than or equal to the number of instructions that can be stored on the smart card.

5. System pursuant to claim 1, wherein the central computer system updates the databases based on acknowledgments from the field devices regarding processed instructions and prepares update instructions.

6. Method for managing usage authorizations that are based on use of smart cards using a system that comprises a central computer system, field devices and smart cards carried by potential users, wherein the central computer system maintains databases containing all information that relates to the users, user accounts, their assigned smart cards, field devices and products, establishes and maintains at least at times a communication connection with the field devices, issues instructions on actions to be conducted based on the available information and transmits these to a plurality of smart card-related relevant field devices, with the field devices maintaining at least some data inventory of information relating to the smart cards and products so that when a communication connection is established between a field device and a smart card at least a portion of the smart card-related instructions is processed from the instruction list and stored on the field device side and can be transmitted to the central computer system during the next communication connection, and wherein the smart cards carry an identification and, when a communication connection is made, exchange information with a field device and store a specified number of processed instructions.

7. Method pursuant to claim 6, wherein the instructions are numbered sequentially.

8. Method pursuant to claim 6, wherein the instructions contain the smart card identification.

9. Method pursuant to claim 6, wherein the number of instructions transmitted per smart card from the central computer system to the field devices is less than or equal to the number of instructions that can be stored on the smart card.

10. Method pursuant to claim 6, wherein the central computer system updates the databases based on acknowledgments from the field devices regarding processed instructions and prepares update instructions.

11. Method pursuant to claim 6, wherein based on the communication connections that have occurred between the smart cards and the field devices and possibly the product information, the central computer system performs a logic analysis in order to detect the usage of counterfeit or duplicated cards from products and product properties that are unlikely based on the analysis.

12. Method pursuant to claim 6, wherein based on the communication connections that have occurred between the smart cards and the field devices and possibly the product information, the central computer system performs a logic analysis in order to detect the usage of counterfeit or duplicated cards from locations that are unlikely based on the analysis.

13. Method pursuant to claim 6, wherein the field devices change product properties automatically when a change in said properties occurs on the smart cards containing such products.