Managing Power and Timing in a Smart Card Device

• US 20080277482A1
• Filed: 05/09/2007
• Published: 11/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG, Rambus Inc.
• Original Assignee: Atmel Corporation (Microchip Technology Incorporated)
• Inventors: Palmade, Romain, Parlange, Dominique, Enguent, Jean-Pierre
• Granted Patent: US 7,845,568 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/492
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0701 at least one of the integrated circuit chips comprising an arrangement for power management
• 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 19/0775 arrangements for connecting the integrated circuit to the antenna

Abstract

In some implementations, a mobile device includes a first interface configured to communicably couple to a removable integrated circuit card; a second interface configured to wirelessly communicate with a contactless reader that is external to the mobile device; a communication interface that couples the first interface and the second interface and that is configured to obtain information from an integrated circuit card that is coupled to the first interface in response to receipt by the second interface of an information request from the contactless reader; and a programmable timer that is configured to be started in response to the second interface receiving an information request from the contactless reader, and that is further configured to, upon reaching a programmed value, cause the second interface to transmit the obtained information to the contactless reader.

Claims

1. A mobile device comprising:

a first interface configured to communicably couple to a removable integrated circuit card;

a second interface configured to wirelessly communicate with a contactless reader that is external to the mobile device; and

a communication interface that couples the first interface and the second interface and that is configured to obtain information from a removable integrated circuit card that is coupled to the first interface and transmit the obtained information via the second interface to the contactless reader;

wherein the second interface is configured to receive power that is radiated by the contactless reader; and

wherein at least one of the first interface, the second interface and the communication interface comprises a power storage device that is configured to store power received by the second interface and provide stored power to the first interface, the second interface and the communication interface.

2. The mobile device of claim 1, further comprising digital circuitry configured to provide information management functionality to a user of the mobile device.

3. The mobile device of claim 1, further comprising digital circuitry configured to provide wireless communication functionality to a user of the mobile device, wherein the first interface is configured to obtain information, from the integrated circuit card coupled to the first interface, that identifies at least one of a user of the mobile device, a wireless communication account associated with the mobile device, or a preferred wireless communication network to which the mobile device is configured to connect.

4. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the integrated circuit card is a universal integrated circuit card (UICC) smart card configured to run at least one of a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) application or a Universal Subscriber Identity Module (USIM) application.

5. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the integrated circuit card is a Removable User Identity Module (RUIM).

6. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the second interface is substantially compliant with at least one of International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standard 14443 type A communication, ISO standard 14443 type B communication, or ISO standard 15693 communication.

7. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the power storage device is configured to selectively provide stored power to the first interface, the second interface and the communication interface when sufficient power is not available from a different, primary power storage device included in the mobile device.

8. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the power radiated by the contactless reader is radiated discontinuously.

9. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the communication interface is configured to obtain the information from the removable integrated circuit card upon receipt by the second interface of an information request from the contactless reader.

10. The mobile device of claim 9, further comprising a programmable timer that is configured to be started in response to receipt by the second interface of the information request.

11. The mobile device of claim 10, wherein the second interface is configured to transition to a reduced-power mode when the programmable timer is started.

12. The mobile device of claim 11, wherein the second interface is configured to transition from the reduced-power mode to an operating mode when the programmable timer reaches a predetermined value, and following transition to the operating mode, to transmit the information obtained from the removable integrated circuit card to the contactless reader.

13. A mobile device comprising:

a first interface configured to communicably couple to a removable integrated circuit card;

a second interface configured to wirelessly communicate with a contactless reader that is external to the mobile device;

a communication interface that couples the first interface and the second interface and that is configured to obtain information from an integrated circuit card that is coupled to the first interface in response to receipt by the second interface of an information request from the contactless reader; and

a programmable timer that is configured to be started in response to receipt by the second interface of an information request from the contactless reader, and that is further configured to, upon reaching a programmed value, cause the second interface to transmit the obtained information to the contactless reader.

14. The mobile device of claim 13, wherein the second interface is configured to transition from an operating mode to a reduced-power mode after the programmable timer is started.

15. The mobile device of claim 14, wherein the second interface is configured to transition from the reduced-power mode to the operating mode when the programmable timer reaches the programmed value.

16. The mobile device of claim 13, wherein the second interface is configured to receive power that is radiated by the contactless reader.

17. The mobile device of claim 16, wherein power is discontinuously radiated by the contactless reader.

18. The mobile device of claim 17, further comprising a power storage device that is configured to store the power received by the second interface from the contactless reader and provide stored power to the first interface, the second interface and the communications interface.

19. The mobile device of claim 18, wherein the power storage device is configured to selectively provide stored power to the first interface, the second interface and the communications interface when sufficient power is not available from a different, primary power storage device included in the mobile device.

20. A method comprising:

receiving at a first interface an information request from an external contactless reader;

obtaining information that is responsive to the received information request from an integrated circuit card coupled to a second interface;

providing the obtained information to the contactless reader after a predetermined period of time has elapsed from a time the information request is received at the first interface; and

maintaining the first interface in a reduced-power mode after the information request is received at the first interface and before the predetermined period of time has elapsed.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising receiving power that is radiated from the contactless reader.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein receiving power comprises receiving power that is radiated in a discontinuous manner from the contactless reader.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising storing the received power, and providing stored power to the first interface and the second interface.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein providing stored power to the first interface and the second interface comprises selectively providing power when sufficient power is not available from a primary power storage device associated with the mobile device.

25. The method of claim 20, further comprising detecting the presence of the contactless reader in close proximity to the mobile device.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein detecting the presence of the contactless reader comprises detecting power that is radiated from the contactless reader.

27. The method of claim 20, wherein providing the obtained information to the contactless reader comprises providing the obtained information in substantial compliance with at least one of International Organization of Standardization (ISO) Standard 14443 or ISO Standard 15693.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the predetermined period is selected based on timing parameters characterized by either ISO standard 14443 or ISO Standard 15693, and information-processing delays in the first interface and the second interface.