Method for recovering information stored in a smart card

• US 7,293,717 B1
• Filed: 06/07/2005
• Issued: 11/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Centre For Wireless Communications of National University of Singapore
• Original Assignee: Centre For Wireless Communications of National University of Singapore
• Inventors: Tan, Cheng Lin, Pathmasuntharan, Jaya Shankar
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, UYEN CHAU N
• Application Number:
  US11/147,896
• Time in Patent Office: 889 Days
• Field of Search: 235/381, 235/379, 235/382, 235/375, 235/492, 235/380, 705 41- 44
• US Class Current: 235/492
• 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 19/07336 Active means, e.g. jamming or scrambling of the electromagnetic field
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0008 General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/105 involving programming of a portable memory device, e.g. IC cards, "electronic purses"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/352 Contactless payments by cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/363 with the personal data of a user
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/08 by coded identity card or credit card or other personal identification means without personal verification means G07F7/02
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0833 Card having specific functional components
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0866 by active credit-cards adapted therefor G07F7/1008 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0893 the card reader reading the card in a contactless manner
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/125 Offline card verification

Abstract

A system and method for using a smart card. The system includes a smart card enabler receiving a first identification key from a smart card. The smart card enabler compares the first identification key with a second identification key. If the first identification key matches the second identification key, the smart card enabler enables the smart card to function with a smart card reader. Also, if information stored in a smart card is incapable of being retrieved from the smart card, the transaction information stored in the smart is recovered by using information stored in a smart card enabler.

Claims

1. A method for obtaining information stored in a smart card, the method comprising:

recovering the smart card information if the information is incapable of being retrieved from the smart card using stored information in a smart card enabler, the smart card enabler being distinct and separate from the smart card, wherein the stored information in the smart card enabler includes a transaction value resulting from a transaction between the smart card and a smart card reader, wherein the smart card reader is distinct and separate from the smart card enabler;

transmitting the stored information from the smart card enabler to a new smart card using radio frequency (RF) signals; and

storing the information recovered in the new smart card.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the smart card is lost, damaged, or destroyed.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the transaction value represents an available amount of hard currency in electronic form for the smart card.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising issuing the new smart card to replace the smart card.

5. A machine-accessible medium that provides instructions that, if executed by a processor, will cause the machine to perform operations comprising:

recovering information stored in a smart card if the information is incapable of being retrieved from the smart card using stored information in a smart card enabler, the smart card enabler being distinct and separate from the smart card, wherein the stored information in the smart card enabler includes a transaction value resulting from a transaction between the smart card and a smart card reader, wherein the smart card reader is distinct and separate from the smart card enabler;

transmitting the stored information from the smart card enabler to a new smart card using radio frequency (RF) signals; and

storing the information recovered in the new smart card.

6. The machine-accessible medium of claim 5, wherein the smart card is lost, damaged, or destroyed.

7. The machine-accessible medium of claim 5, wherein the transaction value represents an available amount of hard currency in electronic form for the smart card.

8. The machine-accessible medium of claim 5, wherein the operations further comprise issuing the new smart card to replace the smart card.