Immunity to Variations in Limited Resources, Provided to an Object with a Dual Interface

• US 20080048042A1
• Filed: 12/16/2004
• Published: 02/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Gemplus (Thales SA)
• Original Assignee: Gemplus (Thales SA)
• Inventors: Garnier, Thierry, Degauque, Laurent, Di-Vito, Stephane
• Application Number:
  US10/583,260
• Publication Number:
  US 20080048042A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/492
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0707 the arrangement being capable of collecting energy from external energy sources, e.g. thermocouples, vibration, electromagnetic radiation G06K19/0702 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0712 the arrangement being capable of triggering distinct operating modes or functions dependent on the strength of an energy or interrogation field in the proximity of the record carrier active means for hindering electromagnetic reading or writing G06K19/07336
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0715 the arrangement including means to regulate power transfer to the integrated circuit
• 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 19/07726 the record comprising means for indicating first use, e.g. a frangible layer
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07769 the further communication means being a galvanic interface, e.g. hybrid or mixed smart cards having a contact and a non-contact interface

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for creating immunity to the variations in resources of a portable object comprising a processor block, and at least two communication and/or supply interfaces with and/or without contact. Said method comprises at least one step for controlling the availability state of at least one resource on one of the interfaces, and a resource selection step. The inventive method is characterised in that it comprises the following steps according to which an interruption signal is generated towards the processor block during a variation in the availability of the resource, and the processor treats the interruption signal in order to enable a selection of resources. The invention also relates to the associated portable object.

Claims

1-33. -33. (canceled)

34. A process of immunity to variations in resources of a portable object comprising a processor block, at least two communication and/or supply interfaces with and/or without contact, the aforementioned process comprising at least:

a control step of a state of availability of at least one resource on one of the interfaces and a step of selection of the resource(s),

wherein the process comprises the following steps;

an interrupt signal is generated to the processor block on a variation in availability of the resource(s), and

the processor processes the interrupt signal in order to allow selection of the resources.

35. A process according to claim 34, wherein an interrupt signal is generated by a resource controller according to transitions of statuses of availability of at least one resource.

36. A process according to the claim 34, wherein the interrupt signal is generated for the following transitions:

transition from a state of low power supply via the contact interface to a state of power supply via the contactless interface, the voltage available via the latter interface being greater than a threshold voltage;

transition from a state of supply via the contactless interface to a status of cessation of this supply, the voltage received by the contactless interface being lower than a threshold voltage;

transition from a state of supply via the contactless interface to a state of supply via the contact interface;

transition or reset sequence commanded by the contact interface, with supply via the contact interface.

37. A process according to claim 34, wherein the process comprises at least one step of immediate warning for fully simultaneous management of power and/or clock resources.

38. A process according to the claim 37, wherein the immediate warning step makes provision for a diversion phase of the resources in order for the latter to be tapped at least in part via the contactless interface.

39. A process according to claim 34, wherein the process makes provision for at least one logical phase forming a sleep controller so that the chip complies with constraints of lower consumption during sleep states.

40. A device for immunity to variations in resources of a portable object comprising a processor block, at least two communication and/or supply contact and/or contactless interfaces, with said device comprising at least means of control of a status of availability of at least one resource on one of the interfaces and selection of resource(s),

wherein said device is capable of generating an interruption signal to the processor block during a variation in availability of resource(s) and said processor is capable of processing the interruption in order to allow selection of the resources.

41. A device according to the claim 40, comprising means of immunity including:

a diode for limitation of power consumption from the contactless interface, a logical gate guaranteeing switching between two modes of power supply via the contact interface or via the contactless interface.

42. A device according to the claim 41, wherein the means of immunity comprise:

at least one wired mechanism capable of detecting the presence of a power supply resource derived from the contact interface and derived from the contactless interface;

this mechanism possessing at least two registers with the assistance of which the means of immunity indicate the status of the supply resources;

so that any modification in these registers results in an alert signal, for example in the form of interruption;

wiring connecting the mechanism to a processing block, so that the means of immunity, after having consulted the registers then select the power source used.

43. A device according to the claim 42, wherein the means of immunity comprise a wired mechanism provided in the chip guaranteeing that the selected source supplies the chip with electricity.

44. A device according to claim 40, comprising means of immediate warning, for fully simultaneous management of power and/or clock resources.

45. A device according to the claim 44, wherein the means of immediate warning make provision for at least one functional block allowing deviation of resources so that the latter are at least partially tapped via the contactless interface.

46. A device according to claim 45, wherein said functional block comprises wiring or similar for supply of the chip with appropriate voltage and power, for information of this chip of the appearance and/or disappearance of supply resources derived from the contact interface and/or contactless interface.