Module with a controller for a chip card

• US 8,136,156 B2
• Filed: 09/28/2007
• Issued: 03/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
• Original Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
• Inventors: Janke, Marcus, Laackmann, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Arani, Taghi
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rahman, Mahfuzur
• Application Number:
  US11/863,819
• Publication Number:
  US 20080083033A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,628 Days
• Field of Search: 726/22
• US Class Current: 726/22
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/55 Detecting local intrusion or implementing counter-measures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/77 in smart cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/073 Special arrangements for circuits, e.g. for protecting identification code in memory protection against unauthorised use of computer memory G06F12/14

Abstract

In a module with a controller for a chip card, the controller having first and second I/O pads for data input and output, and the module having one I/O pad. Both of the first and second I/O pads of the controller are connected to only the one I/O pad of the module. In this manner, data output via one of the first and second I/O pads of the controller may be read and monitored by the controller via the other of the first and second I/O pads of the controller.

Claims

1. A chip card module with a controller, wherein the controller comprises a first I/O pad for data input and output and a second I/O pad for data input and output, and the chip card module comprises an I/O pad, and the first and second I/O pads of the controller are connected to the same I/O pad of the chip card module, wherein data transmitted via the first I/O pad of the controller is monitored and verified by the controller by means of the second I/O pad, and wherein the chip card module is adapted to detect false data or a response time that is too long, and to initiate an alarm.

2. The chip card module according to claim 1, wherein the controller is a safety controller.

3. The chip card module according to claim 1, adapted to detect false data or a response time that is too long, and to deactivate the controller.

4. A method for detecting attacks on a controller of a chip card module, wherein the controller comprises a first I/O pad for data input and output and a second I/O pad for data input and output, and the chip card module comprises an I/O pad for data input and output, and wherein the first and second I/O pads of the controller are connected to the same I/O pad of the chip card module, the method comprising monitoring and verifying data transmitted via the controller via the first I/O pad by the controller using data received via the second I/O pad of the controller, wherein an alarm is initiated on detection of false data or a response time that is too long.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the controller is deactivated on detection of false data or a response time that is too long.