Versatile interface smart card
First Claim
1. A multi-protocol smart card system, comprising:
- a user card containing a microprocessor and associated memory, and a plurality of contacts for transferring data to and from said microprocessor and memory, said contacts including a first set of contacts respectively associated with a set of signals that conform to a first protocol, and at least one other contact for controlling said microprocessor to operate in accordance with a second protocol; and
an interface device for receiving said user card, and having;
a first set of mating contacts which correspond to the first set of contacts in said user card, to transfer said signals that conform to said first protocol,a mode contact that corresponds to said other contact of the user card, anda mode signal generator that provides a signal at said mode contact which causes said microprocessor to operate in accordance with said second protocol mode when the user card is received in said interface device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A smart card that is compatible with multiple different protocols includes a standard set of contacts that comply with the protocols of a published standard, and another contact not designated by the standard which is used to indicate whether the card is to operate in a non-standard mode. When the card is to operate in the non-standard mode, a simple start-up procedure is employed which does not require strict timing constraints, enabling a less expensive interface device to be used. The interface device can be connected to any bus of a computer which operates in accordance with a desired non-standard protocol. Due to the flexibility and functionality offered by smart cards that have microprocessors incorporated therein, the multi-protocol smart card can be used to drive, or otherwise communicate with, any of a variety of peripheral devices, whether or not a personal computer is present in the system.
144 Citations
31 Claims
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1. A multi-protocol smart card system, comprising:
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a user card containing a microprocessor and associated memory, and a plurality of contacts for transferring data to and from said microprocessor and memory, said contacts including a first set of contacts respectively associated with a set of signals that conform to a first protocol, and at least one other contact for controlling said microprocessor to operate in accordance with a second protocol; and an interface device for receiving said user card, and having; a first set of mating contacts which correspond to the first set of contacts in said user card, to transfer said signals that conform to said first protocol, a mode contact that corresponds to said other contact of the user card, and a mode signal generator that provides a signal at said mode contact which causes said microprocessor to operate in accordance with said second protocol mode when the user card is received in said interface device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. In a transaction system of the type in which a user card having a microprocessor communicates with an interface device to perform a transaction, a method for selectively operating said microprocessor in one of a plurality of modes, comprising the steps of:
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placing a user card in an operative relationship with an interface device so as to permit signals to be exchanged between the user card and the interface device; providing signals to the user card from the interface device by means of a predefined set of communication contacts associated with a first operating protocol; selectively providing a mode signal to the user card from the interface device in accordance with a mode of operation associated with the interface device; determining within the microprocessor of the user card whether the mode signal is being provided by the interface device; and operating said microprocessor in accordance with said first operating protocol when said mode signal is not being provided, and operating said microprocessor in accordance with a second operating protocol different from said first protocol when said mode signal is being provided. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A user card for a multi-protocol smart card system, comprising:
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a user card containing a microprocessor that is capable of selectively operating in accordance with a plurality of different operating protocols; a first set of contacts on said user card for communicating signals to and from said microprocessor in accordance with a first one of said operating protocols; at least one other contact on said user card for providing a mode signal to said microprocessor; and means associated with said microprocessor for determining whether a mode signal is provided to said other contact, and for causing said microprocessor to operate in accordance with said first protocol when a mode signal is not provided, and thereby communicate signals using only said first set of contacts, and to cause said microprocessor to operate in accordance with a second, different protocol when said mode signal is provided. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. An interface device for use in connection with a multi-protocol user card, comprising:
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a first set of mating contacts which correspond to a first set of contacts in said user card that are respectively associated with a set of signals that conform to a first protocol, to transfer said signals that conform to said first protocol, a mode contact that corresponds to another contact of the user card, and a mode signal generator that provides a signal at said mode contact which causes a microprocessor in a user card to operate in accordance with a second protocol mode when the user card is received in said interface device. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. In a transaction system of the type in which a user card having a microprocessor communicates with an interface device to perform a transaction, a method for selectively operating said microprocessor in one of a plurality of different protocols for communication between the card and the interface device, comprising the steps of:
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placing a user card in an operative relationship with an interface device so as to permit signals to be exchanged between the user card and the interface device; providing signals to the user card from the interface device by means of a predefined set of communication contacts associated with a first communication protocol; providing a mode signal to the user card from the interface device that is associated with a second communication protocol; detecting within the microprocessor of the user card whether the mode signal is being provided by the interface device; and operating said microprocessor in accordance with said first communication protocol when said mode signal is not detected, and operating said microprocessor in accordance with second communication protocol when said mode signal is detected. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
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29. A user card for a multi-protocol smart card system, comprising:
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a user card containing a microprocessor that is capable of selectively operating in accordance with a plurality of different communication protocols; a first set of contacts on said user card for communicating signals to and from said microprocessor in accordance with a first one of said communication protocols; at least one other contact on said user card for receiving a signal that is not associated with said first communication protocol; and means associated with said microprocessor for determining whether said signal is present at said other contact, and for causing said microprocessor to operate in accordance with said first protocol when said signal is not present, and to cause said microprocessor to operate in accordance with a second, different protocol when said signal is present. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31)
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Specification