Mass memory card with input/output function

• US 5,802,325 A
• Filed: 03/20/1995
• Issued: 09/01/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gemplus International SA (Thales SA)
• Original Assignee: Gemplus International SA (Thales SA)
• Inventors: Le Roux, Jean-Yves
• Primary Examiner(s): Sheikh, Ayaz R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAN, RAYMOND NGAN
• Application Number:
  US08/373,241
• Time in Patent Office: 1,261 Days
• Field of Search: 395/280, 395/281, 395/282, 395/308, 395/309, 395/476, 395/432, 395/833, 395/442, 395/496, 395/497.01, 395/497.02, 395/842, 395/843, 395/830, 395/828, 235/492, 235/472
• US Class Current: 710/301
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/385 for adaptation of a particular data processing system to different peripheral devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07 with integrated circuit chips
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07743 External electrical contacts
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/346 Cards serving only as information carrier of service
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system

Abstract

The invention relates to memory cards that can be plugged into personal computers.

Personal computers often have a connector designed to receive a memory extension in the form of a plug-in integrated circuit card. The invention proposes a card structure designed for communications between the computer and the exterior (fax, model, etc.), this card being capable of being plugged into the memory extension connector without any need to change the operation protocol of this connector. The card has a connector (CNC) for connection to the computer, a connector (CNX) for connection with the exterior, an internal microprocessor (MP), a non-volatile memory (MNV) containing programs that can be performed by the microcomputer and containing organizational data relating to all the memories of the card, and a volatile memory containing at least one file used for the transfer of the data elements to be exchanged.

Claims

1. A communication card designed to be plugged into a microcomputer, the communication card comprising

an internal microprocessor in communication with an external device;

non-volatile memories, the non-volatile memories and the microcomputer sharing at least three common buses, including a first address bus, a first data bus and a first control bus, the non-volatile memories having work programs that are executable by the microcomputer, including programs for the transfer of data between the communication card and the external device, and format data relating to organizational structure of memory files of the communication card; and

a dual access volatile memory which is directly accessible both by the microcomputer and by the internal microprocessor.

2. The communication card according to claim 1, comprising a first connector enabling the plugging of the communication card into the microcomputer and a second connector enabling communication between the communication card and the external device;

and wherein the dual access volatile memory is connected to the internal microprocessor by a second address bus, a second data bus and a second control bus, the dual access volatile memory being also connected to the microcomputer by the first address bus, the first data bus and the first control bus, the dual access volatile memory further comprising a physical location reserved for temporarily storing data elements to be transferred from the microcomputer to the external device or from the external device to the computer, the physical location having an address and a file name which are memorized in the non-volatile memory.

3. The communication card according to claim 1, wherein substantially all data elements received by the internal microprocessor from the external device which are awaiting retrieval by the microcomputer are stored in the dual access volatile memory.

4. The communication card according to claim 1, wherein the dual access volatile memory temporarily stores data elements which are exchanged between the microcomputer and the external device.

5. The communication card according to claim 1, further comprising a first connector enabling the plugging of the communication card into the microcomputer and a second connector enabling communication between the communication card and the external device, and wherein the first connector is a female memory card connector disposed on an edge of the communication card.

6. The communication card according to claim 1, further comprising a first connector enabling the plugging of the communication card into the microcomputer and a second connector enabling communication between the communication card and the external device, and wherein the second connector is a connector for connection with a chip card having flush contacts, and wherein the programs in the non-volatile memory include programs for reading and writing data elements in the chip card.

7. The communication card according to claim 5, wherein the female memory card connector is a 68-pin female connector.

8. A communication card designed to be plugged into a microcomputer, the communication card comprising:

an internal microprocessor;

non-volatile memories connected to the microcomputer by a first address bus, a first data bus and a first control bus, the non-volatile memories having work programs that are executable by the microcomputer, including programs for the transfer of data between the communication card and an external device, and format data relating to organizational structure of memory files of the communication card;

a first connector enabling the plugging of the communication card into the computer and a second connector enabling communication between the communication card and the external device; and

a volatile memory connected to the internal microprocessor by a second address bus, a second data bus and a second control bus, the volatile memory being also connected to the microcomputer by the first address bus, the first data bus and the first control bus, the volatile memory further comprising a physical location reserved for temporarily storing data elements to be transferred from the microcomputer to the external device or from the external device to the computer, the physical location having an address and a file name which are memorized in the non-volatile memory;

and wherein the second connector is a connector for connection with a chip card having flush contacts, and wherein the programs in the non-volatile memory include programs for reading and writing data elements in the chip card.

9. A communication card designed to be plugged into a microcomputer, the communication card comprising:

an internal microprocessor in communication with an external device;

a non-volatile memory, the non-volatile memory being directly accessible by the microcomputer by way of a first address bus, a first data bus, and a first control bus on which the non-volatile memory and the microcomputer are commonly disposed, and the non-volatile memory storing executable programs and format data relating to organizational structure of files stored in the communication card;

dual access volatile memory,

the dual access volatile memory being directly accessible by the microcomputer by way of the first address bus, the first data bus, and the first control bus on which the dual access volatile memory is also commonly disposed with the non-volatile memory and the microcomputer, and

the dual access volatile memory being directly accessible by the internal microprocessor by way of a second address bus, a second data bus, and a second control bus on which the dual access volatile memory and the internal microprocessor are commonly disposed;

a first connector which connects the microcomputer to the first address bus, the first data bus, and the first control bus; and

a communication device which permits the communication between the internal microprocessor and the external device.

10. The communication card according to claim 9, wherein the format data in the non-volatile memory comprises:

a file allocation table which describes locations of the executable programs and data files in the non-volatile memory; and

a directory file which contains information pertaining to the executable programs and the data files in the non-volatile memory, including naming information and creation/modification time information.

11. The communication card according to claim 9,

wherein the dual access volatile memory comprises a temporary storage location for temporarily storing data elements to be transferred from the external device to the microcomputer,

wherein the data elements are written in the temporary storage location by internal microprocessor without the assistance of the microcomputer, and

wherein the data elements are read from the temporary storage location by the microcomputer without the assistance of the internal microprocessor.

12. The communication card according to claim 9,

wherein the dual access volatile memory comprises a temporary storage location for temporarily storing data elements to be transferred from the microcomputer to the external device,

wherein the data elements are written in the temporary storage location by microcomputer without the assistance of the internal microprocessor, and

wherein the data elements are read from the temporary storage location by the internal microprocessor without the assistance of the microcomputer.

13. The communication card according to claim 9, wherein the communication device is a second connector, wherein the second connector is adapted for connection with a chip card having flush contacts, and wherein the non-volatile memory includes programs for reading and writing data elements in the chip card.

14. The communication card according to claim 9, wherein the communication device is an antenna.

15. The communication card according to claim 9, further comprising a program memory, the program memory being coupled to the internal microprocessor, and the program memory storing programs which permit the communication of data between the communication card and the external device.

16. The communication card according to claim 9, wherein the non-volatile memory is also dual access memory.

17. The communication card according to claim 11, wherein the temporary storage location has an address and a file name which are memorized in the non-volatile memory.

18. A method of communicating between a microcomputer and an external device by way of a communication card, the method comprising the steps of:

storing executable programs and format data in a non-volatile memory which is disposed on said communication card and which is directly accessible by the microcomputer, the non-volatile memory being directly accessible by the microcomputer by way of a first address bus, a first data bus, and a first control bus on which the non-volatile memory and the microcomputer are commonly disposed, and the format data relating to organizational structure of files stored in the communication card;

directly writing data elements in a dual access volatile memory with the microcomputer, the dual access volatile memory being disposed on the communication card;

ascertaining that the microcomputer has written data elements in the dual access volatile memory, the ascertaining step being performed by an internal microprocessor of the communication card;

in response to the ascertaining step,

taking control of the dual access volatile memory,

directly reading the data elements from the dual access volatile memory,

transmitting the data elements to the external device, and

restoring control of the dual access memory to the microcomputer,

the taking, reading, transmitting, and restoring steps being performed by the internal microprocessor.

19. The method according to claim 18, further comprising the steps of providing the communication card with a second connector, the second connector being adapted for connection with a chip card having flush contacts, and providing the non-volatile memory with programs for reading and writing data elements in the chip card.

20. The method according to claim 18,

wherein the dual access volatile memory is also commonly disposed on the first address bus, the first data bus, and the first control bus along with the non-volatile memory and the microcomputer, and

further comprising the step of commonly disposing the dual access volatile memory and the internal microprocessor on a second address bus, a second data bus, and a second control bus.

21. The method according to claim 18, wherein during the directly writing step, the data elements are directly written in a temporary storage location which has an address and a file name that are memorized in the non-volatile memory.