MULTI-FUNCTION PERIPHERAL DEVICE, CORRESPONDING METHOD AND ELECTRONIC SYSTEM HAVING A PERIPHERAL AND A HOST COMMUNICATING VIA A SINGLE INTERFACE

• US 20090210569A1
• Filed: 06/22/2007
• Published: 08/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gemalto SA (Thales SA)
• Original Assignee: Gemalto SA (Thales SA)
• Inventors: Lusetti, Jean, Guille, Nathalie
• Granted Patent: US 8,346,991 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/16
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/102 where the programme performs an interfacing function, e.g. device driver G06F13/105 takes precedence; scheduling within device drivers G06F9/52; contention policies within device drivers G06F9/4881
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/385 for adaptation of a particular data processing system to different peripheral devices

Abstract

The invention relates to an electronic system having at least one host processing electronic device and at least one peripheral electronic device. The peripheral electronic device performs at least two functions. The host processing electronic device and the peripheral electronic device are interconnected via at least one interface. The host processing electronic device and the peripheral electronic device communicate via a single, common, “multi-function” interface, so that the host processing electronic device and the peripheral electronic device exchange at least one item of data relative to each of the two functions via the multi-function interface.

Claims

1-10. -10. (canceled)

11. A method of communication between a host processing electronic device and a peripheral electronic device, said peripheral electronic device comprising both a data storage means and a smart card reader means, said data storage means being reachable through a first communication protocol, said smart card reader means being reachable through a second communication protocol, said host processing electronic device and said peripheral electronic device being interconnected via at least one interface, said method comprising the following steps:

detecting the peripheral electronic device on connection of said peripheral electronic device and declaring a data storage function to the host processing electronic device, said peripheral electronic device comprising a routing means able to encapsulate a command from said first communication protocol to said second communication protocol and to encapsulate a response from said second communication protocol to said first communication protocol,

running an auto-run file stored in said data storage means, said auto-run file configured to automatically load a reader bus driver on said host processing electronic device,

automatically loading and installing said reader bus driver on the host processing electronic device, and

automatically finalizing full installation of a smart card reader driver on said host processing electronic device,

exchanging data between said smart card reader driver and said smart card reader means, said data being exchanged through the interface by using said first communication protocol.

12. A method of communication according to claim 11, wherein data exchanged between said smart card reader driver and said smart card reader means is command and response.

13. A method of communication according to claim 12, wherein said host processing electronic device comprises an operating system and wherein said method comprises the step of pre-installing said smart card reader driver by indicating to said operating system that a new peripheral with a smart card reader can be managed by said operating system, said pre-installing step being carried out by the reader bus driver.

14. A method of communication according to claim 12, wherein said command is encapsulated from said second communication protocol to said first communication protocol by said reader bus driver and wherein said response is converted from said first communication protocol to said second communication protocol by said reader bus driver.

15. A method of communication according to claim 12, wherein said command is encapsulated from said second communication protocol to said first communication protocol by said smart card reader driver and wherein said response is converted from said first communication protocol to said second communication protocol by said smart card reader driver.

16. A method of communication according to claim 11, wherein said reader bus driver is loaded from said peripheral electronic device.

17. A method of communication according to claim 11, wherein said interface is of USB type.

19. A method of communication according to claim 13, wherein said command is encapsulated from said second communication protocol to said first communication protocol by said reader bus driver and wherein said response is converted from said first communication protocol to said second communication protocol by said reader bus driver.

20. A method of communication according to claim 13, wherein said command is encapsulated from said second communication protocol to said first communication protocol by said smart card reader driver and wherein said response is converted from said first communication protocol to said second communication protocol by said smart card reader driver.

21. A method of communication according to claim 12, wherein said reader bus driver is loaded from said peripheral electronic device.

22. A method of communication according to claim 13, wherein said reader bus driver is loaded from said peripheral electronic device.

23. A method of communication according to claim 14, wherein said reader bus driver is loaded from said peripheral electronic device.

24. A method of communication according to claim 15, wherein said reader bus driver is loaded from said peripheral electronic device.

25. A method of communication according to claim 12, wherein said interface is of USB type.

26. A method of communication according to claim 13, wherein said interface is of USB type.

27. A method of communication according to claim 14, wherein said interface is of USB type.

28. A method of communication according to claim 15, wherein said interface is of USB type.

29. A method of communication according to claim 16, wherein said interface is of USB type.

18. An electronic system comprising a host processing electronic device and a peripheral electronic device, said peripheral electronic device comprising both a data storage means and a smart card reader means, said data storage means being reachable through a first communication protocol, said smart card reader means being reachable through a second communication protocol, said host processing electronic device and said peripheral electronic device being interconnected via an interface,

wherein:

said peripheral electronic device comprises a routing means able to encapsulate a command from said first communication protocol to said second communication protocol and to encapsulate a response from said second communication protocol to said first communication protocol,

said peripheral electronic device comprises an auto-run file suitable for automatically loading a reader bus driver on said host processing electronic device, said reader bus driver being configured to pre-install a smart card reader driver on said host processing electronic device, and

data exchanged between said smart card reader driver and said smart card reader means are exchanged through the interface by using said first communication protocol.