Multi-function peripheral device, corresponding method and electronic system having a peripheral and a host communicating via a single interface

• US 8,346,991 B2
• Filed: 06/22/2007
• Issued: 01/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gemalto SA (Thales SA)
• Original Assignee: Gemalto SA (Thales SA)
• Inventors: Guille, Nathalie, Lusetti, Jean
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Chun-Kuan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Huson, Zachary K
• Application Number:
  US12/307,543
• Publication Number:
  US 20090210569A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,020 Days
• Field of Search: 710/10, 710/16, 710/33
• US Class Current: 710/16
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/102 where the programme performs an interfacing function, e.g. device driver G06F13/105 takes precedence; scheduling within device drivers G06F9/52; contention policies within device drivers G06F9/4881
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/385 for adaptation of a particular data processing system to different peripheral devices

Abstract

The invention relates to an electronic system having at least one host processing electronic device and at least one peripheral electronic device. The peripheral electronic device performs at least two functions. The host processing electronic device and the peripheral electronic device are interconnected via at least one interface. The host processing electronic device and the peripheral electronic device communicate via a single, common, “multi-function” interface, so that the host processing electronic device and the peripheral electronic device exchange at least one item of data relative to each of the two functions via the multi-function interface.

Claims

1. A method of communication between a host processing electronic device and a peripheral electronic device, wherein

said peripheral electronic device includes a data storage means, a smart card reader means and a routing means,

said data storage means is separate from said smart card reader means, and communicates data by way of a first communication protocol,

said smart card reader means communicates data via a second communication protocol, and

said host processing electronic device and said peripheral electronic device are interconnected via at least one interface,

said method comprising the steps of:

detecting the peripheral electronic device upon connection of said peripheral electronic device;

declaring, by the peripheral device, a data storage function to the host processing electronic device;

converting, by the routing means of said peripheral electronic device, a command from said first communication protocol to said second communication protocol;

encapsulating, by the routing means of said peripheral electronic device, a response from said second communication protocol to said first communication protocol,

running an auto-run file, stored in said data storage means of said peripheral electronic device, said auto-run file automatically loading a reader bus driver on said host processing electronic device,

automatically loading and installing said reader bus driver on the host processing electronic device, said reader bus driver pre-installing a smart card reader driver on said host processing electronic device

automatically finalizing full installation of said smart card reader driver on said host processing electronic device, and

exchanging commands and responses between said smart card reader driver installed on said host processing electronic device and said smart card reader means of said peripheral electronic device through the interface via said first communication protocol.

2. A method of communication according to claim 1, wherein said host processing electronic device comprises an operating system and wherein said step of pre-installing said smart card reader driver includes indicating to said operating system that a new peripheral with a smart card reader can be managed by said operating system.

3. A method of communication according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

encapsulating, in said host processing device, a command generated by the smart card reader driver of said host processing device, from said second communication protocol to said first communication protocol; and

encapsulating, in said host processing device, a response received from said peripheral electronic device, from said first communication protocol to said second communication protocol, wherein

said reader bus driver sends said converted response to the smart card reader driver.

4. A method of communication according to claim 1, wherein said command is encapsulated from said second communication protocol to said first communication protocol by said smart card reader driver and wherein said response from said peripheral electronic device is converted from said first communication protocol to said second communication protocol by said smart card reader driver.

5. A method of communication according to claim 1, wherein said reader bus driver on said host processing electronic device is loaded from said peripheral electronic device.

6. A method of communication according to claim 1, wherein said interface is of Universal Serial Bus (USB) type.

8. A method of communication according to claim 1, wherein said command is encapsulated from said second communication protocol to said first communication protocol by said reader bus driver on said host processing electronic device and wherein said response is converted from said first communication protocol to said second communication protocol by said reader bus driver on said host processing electronic device.

9. A method of communication according to claim 1, wherein said command is encapsulated from said second communication protocol to said first communication protocol by said smart card reader driver on said host processing electronic device and wherein said response is converted from said first communication protocol to said second communication protocol by said smart card reader driver on said host processing electronic device.

10. A method of communication according to claim 1, wherein said reader bus driver on said host processing electronic device is loaded from said peripheral electronic device.

11. A method of communication according to claim 2, wherein said reader bus driver on said host processing electronic device is loaded from said peripheral electronic device.

12. A method of communication according to claim 3, wherein said reader bus driver on said host processing electronic device is loaded from said peripheral electronic device.

13. A method of communication according to claim 4, wherein said reader bus driver on said host processing electronic device is loaded from said peripheral electronic device.

14. A method of communication according to claim 1, wherein said interface is of Universal Serial Bus (USB) type.

15. A method of communication according to claim 2, wherein said interface is of Universal Serial Bus (USB) type.

16. A method of communication according to claim 3, wherein said interface is of Universal Serial Bus (USB) type.

17. A method of communication according to claim 4, wherein said interface is of Universal Serial Bus (USB) type.

18. A method of communication according to claim 5, wherein said interface is of Universal Serial Bus (USB) type.

7. An electronic system comprising:

a host processing electronic device and a peripheral electronic device interconnected via an interface, said peripheral electronic device comprising;

a data storage means communicating data according to a first communication protocol,

a smart card reader means, separate from said data storage means, communicating data according to a second communication protocol,

a routing means configured to convert a command from said first communication protocol to said second communication protocol and configured to encapsulate a response from said second communication protocol to said first communication protocol, and

an auto-run file suitable for automatically loading a reader bus driver on said host processing electronic device, said reader bus driver pre-installing a smart card reader driver on said host processing electronic device, wherein

data exchanged between said smart card reader driver on said host processing electronic device and said smart card reader means on said peripheral electronic device are exchanged through the interface by using said first communication protocol.