Fully simultaneous information on variations in status for an object with a dual interface

• US 7,789,313 B2
• Filed: 12/16/2004
• Issued: 09/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gemalto SA (Thales SA)
• Original Assignee: Gemalto SA (Thales SA)
• Inventors: Degauque, Laurent, Di-Vito, Stephane, Caruana, Jean-Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Frech, Karl D.
• Application Number:
  US10/583,333
• Publication Number:
  US 20070095924A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,091 Days
• Field of Search: 235/492, 235/494, 235/487, 702/60, 700/106, 434/249, 705/1, 705/7, 705/8, 705/10, 705/26, 705/37
• US Class Current: 235/492
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07 with integrated circuit chips
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0701 at least one of the integrated circuit chips comprising an arrangement for power management
• 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 19/07769 the further communication means being a galvanic interface, e.g. hybrid or mixed smart cards having a contact and a non-contact interface
• 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 20/3552 Downloading or loading of personalisation data
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3563 Software being resident on card
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system

Abstract

An intelligent portable object has a dual interface and is equipped with a chip and is suitable for communicating with at least one electronic data transmission terminal via a contact interface according to standard ISO7816.3 and likewise without contact via a contactless interface and according to another contactless standard; a transition causing a variation of at least one status for the object. At least one information step, for example in real time, of the chip restituting variations in status, with at least a logical phase forming a supply controller, which ensure a configuration/information allowing a fully simultaneous functioning of applications resorting to the contact and/or contactless interface.

Claims

1. A process for allowing simultaneous functioning of a contact interface device and a contactless interface device in an intelligent portable data object, wherein:

said contact interface device and said contactless interface device have respective power supplies that include a plurality of operating states, and

said intelligent portable data object is configured to reset in the event of simultaneous operation of both of said interfaces,

said process including;

in the event of a change in state of one or more of said power supplies, storing in a memory device information corresponding to the change in state; and

based on the stored state information, preventing the reset of the portable data object by the contact interface.

2. The process according to claim 1, wherein the stored information is an interrupt generated by a supply controller based on a variation in availability of at least one of said power supplies.

3. The process according to claim 2, wherein the supply controller selectively generates the interrupt in the event of:

a transition from a state of low consumption to supply via the contactless interface device, wherein the interrupt is generated when the voltage said contactless interface device is higher than a threshold voltage;

a transition from supply via the contactless interface to the cessation of the supply, wherein the interrupt is generated when the voltage received by the contactless interface device is lower than the threshold voltage;

a transition from supply via the contactless interface device to supply via the contact interface device; and

a transition or reset sequence commanded by the contact interface device, and the power source is provided to the contact interface.

4. The process according to claim 3, wherein, during said transition from supply via the contactless interface to the cessation of the supply the object is placed in a sleep state.

5. The process according to, claim 3, wherein the value of the threshold voltage is predetermined, said threshold voltage being slightly higher than a minimum voltage for operation of the object.

6. The process according to claim 1, wherein the process comprises at least one step of immediate warning for fully simultaneous management of power or clock resources.

7. The process of claim 1, wherein preventing the reset includes delaying the reset for a predefined period of time.

8. The process of claim 1, wherein preventing the reset includes simulating the reset.

9. A device for allowing simultaneous functioning of a contact interface and a contactless interface in an intelligent portable data object that is otherwise configured to reset in the event of simultaneous operation of said interfaces, said system comprising

means for storing information corresponding to the change in state in the event of a change in state of one or more said power supplies corresponding, respectively, to said interfaces;

and

means for preventing the reset of the portable data object by the contact interface based on the stored state information.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the means for preventing the reset delays the reset for a predefined period of time.

11. The device according to the claim 10, wherein the device includes means of immunity comprising, a power supply controller which detects the appearance or the disappearance of the power supplies.

12. The device according to the claim 11, wherein the means of immunity includes, means for the fully simultaneous management of power, clock or delay resources.

13. The device according to claim 10, further comprising means for providing immediate warning, of changes in power supply or clock resources.

14. The device according to claim 10, wherein the device is configured to delay the simulation of resetting ordered by the contact interface during a transition aiming to reinitialise the object during a change in the power supplies.

15. The device according to the claim 14, comprising:

means for supplying the object with the object information regarding the appearance or disappearance of voltage derived from the contact interface or the contactless interface.

16. The device according to claim 14, wherein the device comprises a functional block forming a sleep controller, said sleep controller controlling the object to conform to constraints of low consumption during sleep states.

17. The device of claim 9, wherein the means for preventing the reset simulates the reset.