Smart card system for use with peripheral devices
First Claim
1. A user card transaction 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;
a peripheral device for conducting a transaction in connection with said user card, said peripheral device including a data input/output terminal that is connectable to at least one of the contacts of said user card, for communication with said microprocessor; and
which communicates with a data input/output terminal of an other device, and wherein two of the contacts of said user card are respectively connected to the data input/output terminals of said peripheral device and said other device, and said microprocessor selectively provides a data communication path between said two contacts to enable said peripheral device to communicate with only said user card or with said other device; and
an interface device associated with said peripheral device, said interface device providing operation signals to at least some of the contacts of the user card to place said microprocessor in an operational state, including a mode signal which identifies an operating mode in which said microprocessor is to operate to communicate with said peripheral 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.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A user card transaction 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;
a peripheral device for conducting a transaction in connection with said user card, said peripheral device including a data input/output terminal that is connectable to at least one of the contacts of said user card, for communication with said microprocessor; and
which communicates with a data input/output terminal of an other device, and wherein two of the contacts of said user card are respectively connected to the data input/output terminals of said peripheral device and said other device, and said microprocessor selectively provides a data communication path between said two contacts to enable said peripheral device to communicate with only said user card or with said other device; and
an interface device associated with said peripheral device, said interface device providing operation signals to at least some of the contacts of the user card to place said microprocessor in an operational state, including a mode signal which identifies an operating mode in which said microprocessor is to operate to communicate with said peripheral device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A user card transaction 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, including a first data input/output contact and a second data input/output contact;
a first peripheral device which provides at least one of the functions of user input to said microprocessor and/or presentation of data output from said microprocessor to a user, said peripheral device including a data input/output terminal that is connectable to said first input/output contact of said user card; and
a second peripheral device which provides at least one of the functions of user input to said microprocessor and/or presentation of data output from said microprocessor to a user, said peripheral device including a data input/output terminal that is connectable to said second input/output contact of said user card. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A smart card, comprising:
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a microprocessor and associated memory; and
a plurality of contacts for transferring data to and from said microprocessor and memory, said plurality of contacts comprising a predefined set of contacts associated with an operating protocol and including a first data input/output contact for connection to a data input/output terminal of a first peripheral device which provides at least one of the functions of user input to said microprocessor and/or presentation of data output from said microprocessor to a user, and at least one other data input/output contact for connection to a data input/output terminal of a second peripheral device which provides at least one of the functions of user input to said microprocessor and/or presentation of data output from said microprocessor to a user. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An interface device for use with a smart card having first and second data input/output contacts, comprising:
a plurality of contacts for transferring data to and from the smart card, said plurality of contacts comprising a predefined set of contacts associated with an operating protocol and including a first data input/output contact that provides a connection between a data input/output terminal of a first peripheral device and the first data input/output contact of the smart card, and at least one other data input/output contact that provides a connection between a data input/output terminal of a second peripheral device and the second data input/output contact of the smart card, wherein each of said first and second peripheral devices provides at least one of the functions of user input to said microprocessor and/or presentation of data output from said microprocessor to a user. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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22. A user card transaction 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, including a first data input/output contact and a second data input/output contact;
a first peripheral device which does not include microprocessor for processing data that is transferred to and from said user card via said contacts and whose operations are controlled by said microprocessor of said user card, said peripheral device including a data input/output terminal that is connectable to said first input/output contact of said user card; and
a second peripheral device which does not include microprocessor for processing data that is transferred to and from said user card via said contacts, said peripheral device including a data input/output terminal that is connectable to said second input/output contact of said user card.
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23. A smart card, comprising:
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a microprocessor and associated memory; and
a plurality of contacts for transferring data to and from said microprocessor and memory, said plurality of contacts comprising a predefined set of contacts associated with an operating protocol and including a first data input/output contact for connection to a data input/output terminal of a first peripheral device which does not include a separate microprocessor for processing data that is transferred to and from said microprocessor via said plurality of contacts and whose operations are controlled by said microprocessor, and at least one other data input/output contact for connection to a data input/output terminal of a second peripheral device which does not include a separate microprocessor for processing data that is transferred to and from said microprocessor via said plurality of contacts.
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24. An interface device for use with a smart card having first and second data input/output contacts, comprising:
a plurality of contacts for transferring data to and from the smart card, said plurality of contacts comprising a predefined set of contacts associated with an operating protocol and including a first data input/output contact that provides a connection between a data input/output terminal of a first peripheral device and the first data input/output contact of the smart card, and at least one other data input/output contact that provides a connection between a data input/output terminal of a second peripheral device and the second data input/output contact of the smart card, wherein neither of said first and second peripheral devices includes a microprocessor for processing data that is transferred to and from the smart card via said plurality of contacts, and the operation of at least one of said peripheral devices is controlled by said microprocessor.
Specification