Smart card session optimization

• US 8,201,749 B2
• Filed: 05/31/2010
• Issued: 06/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Singh, Ravi, Davis, Dinah Lea Marie, Adams, Neil Patrick
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Michael G
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mikels, Matthew
• Application Number:
  US12/790,940
• Publication Number:
  US 20100230492A1
• Time in Patent Office: 750 Days
• Field of Search: 235/487, 235/492, 340/10, 340/572
• US Class Current: 235/492
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4411 Configuring for operating with peripheral devices; Loading of device drivers

Abstract

A method is provided for facilitating communications between a computer device and a smart card reader having an associated smart card. The computer device includes a smart card resource manager and a smart card reader service, the smart card reader service acting as a relay for commands between the smart card resource manager and the smart card reader. The method comprising the smart card reader service: (a) receiving from the smart card resource manager a first command for placing the smart card in a first state and relaying the first command to the smart card reader; (b) receiving a second command from the smart card resource manager for placing the smart card into a second state and a third command from the smart card resource manager for placing the smart card into the first state; and (c) determining if the smart card was in the first state prior to receiving the second command, and (i) if the smart card is determined to have been in the first state then forgoing relaying the second command and the third command to the smart card reader, and (ii) if the smart card is not determined to have been in the first state, then relaying the second command and the third command to the smart card reader.

Claims

1. A method of facilitating communication with a smart card via a smart card reader, said method comprising:

receiving a first command destined for said smart card;

determining that said first command has a first type;

sending said first command to said smart card reader;

subsequently to receiving said first command destined for said smart card, receiving a second command destined for said smart card;

determining that said second command has a second type that differs from said first type;

subsequently to receiving said second command destined for said smart card, receiving a third command destined for said smart card;

determining that said third command has said first type;

subsequently to receiving said third command destined for said smart card, receiving a fourth command destined for said smart card;

determining that said fourth command has a third type that differs from said first type and from said second type;

discarding said second command and said third command; and

sending said fourth command to said smart card reader.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said first type comprises cold reset.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said second type comprises power off.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said third type comprises send application protocol data unit.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising, responsive to said determining that said second command has said second type, operating a timer.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

responsive to said determining that said third command has said first type, determining, from a timer, an elapsed time between said receiving said second command and said receiving said third command; and

determining that a predetermined time exceeds said elapsed time.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising employing a wireless communication protocol for said sending said first command to said smart card reader.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said wireless communication protocol is a wireless personal area network protocol.

9. A computer device comprising:

a processor configured to;

receive a first command destined for a smart card;

determine that said first command has a first type;

send said first command to a smart card reader;

subsequently to receiving said first command destined for said smart card, receive a second command destined for said smart card;

determine that said second command has a second type that differs from said first type;

subsequently to receiving said second command destined for said smart card, receive a third command destined for said smart card;

determine that said third command has said first type;

subsequently to receiving said third command destined for said smart card, receive a fourth command destined for said smart card;

determine that said fourth command has a third type that differs from said first type and from said second type;

discard said second command and said third command; and

send said fourth command to said smart card reader.

10. The computer device of claim 9 wherein said first type comprises cold reset.

11. The computer device of claim 9 wherein said second type comprises power off.

12. The computer device of claim 9 wherein said third type comprises send application protocol data unit.

13. The computer device of claim 9 wherein said processor is further configured to, responsive to said determining that said second command has said second type, operate a timer.

14. The computer device of claim 13 wherein said processor is further configured to:

responsive to said determining that said third command has said first type, determine, from said timer, an elapsed time between said receiving said second command and said receiving said third command; and

determine that a predetermined time exceeds said elapsed time.

15. A computer readable storage medium containing computer-executable instructions that, when performed by a microprocessor, cause said microprocessor to:

receive a first command destined for said smart card;

determine that said first command has a first type;

send said first command to a smart card reader;

subsequently to receiving said first command destined for said smart card, receive a second command destined for said smart card;

determine that said second command has a second type that differs from said first type;

subsequently to receiving said second command destined for said smart card, receive a third command destined for said smart card;

determine that said third command has said first type;

subsequently to receiving said third command destined for said smart card, receive a fourth command destined for said smart card;

determine that said fourth command has a third type that differs from said first type and from said second type;

discard said second command and said third command; and

send said fourth command to said smart card reader.

16. The computer readable storage medium of claim 15 wherein said first type comprises cold reset.

17. The computer readable storage medium of claim 15 wherein said second type comprises power off.

18. The computer readable storage medium of claim 15 wherein said third type comprises send application protocol data unit.

19. The computer readable storage medium of claim 15 wherein said instructions further cause said microprocessor to, responsive to said determining that said second command has said second type, operate a timer.

20. The computer readable storage medium of claim 19 wherein said instructions further cause said microprocessor to:

responsive to said determining that said third command has said first type, determine, from said timer, an elapsed time between said receiving said second command and said receiving said third command; and

determine that a predetermined time exceeds said elapsed time.