Microprocessor card defining a custom user interface

• US 20050178833A1
• Filed: 12/18/2002
• Published: 08/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Information Systems Research Australia Pty Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Information Technology Services Incorporated (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Kisliakov, Andrew
• Granted Patent: US 7,802,728 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/441
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07 with integrated circuit chips

Abstract

An electronic card (100) configured to be read by a reading device (300) is disclosed. The card (100) comprising a card portion (270) having a surface (156) onto which are formed a plurality of user interface elements (154) and electronic apparatus (259) attached to the card portion (270). The apparatus (259) comprising a memory (276) in which are retained a plurality of data strings. At least one of the data strings is associated with a corresponding one of the user interface elements (154). The apparatus (259) also comprises a processor means (275) coupled to the memory means (276) and communication means (278) for coupling the processor means (275) to the reading device (300). The processor means (275) is configured to relate reading signals generated from a selection of at least one of the elements (154) and received via the communication means (278) with at least one of the retained data strings. The retained data strings are inaccessible to the reading device (300).

Claims

1. An electronic card configured to be read by a reading device, said card comprising:

a card portion having a surface onto which are formed a plurality of user interface elements; and

electronic apparatus attached to said card portion, said apparatus comprising;

a memory in which are retained a plurality of data strings, at least one of said data strings being associated with a corresponding one of said user interface elements;

processor means coupled to said memory means; and

communication means for coupling said processor means to said reading device, said processor means being configured to relate reading signals generated from a selection of at least one of said elements and received via said communication means with at least one of said retained data strings, wherein said retained data strings are inaccessible to said reading device.

2. An electronic, card according to claim 1, wherein said processor means is configured to generate an output signal according to said at least one retained data string based on said relation of said reading signals.

3. An electronic card according to claim 1 wherein said reading signals comprise position information of said user interface elements on said surface, and said memory means and processor means together perform a mapping function to associate said position information with said retained data strings to thereby interpret a user selection of at least one of said elements with one of said data strings.

4. An electronic card according to claim 3, wherein said position information is provided by a substantially transparent touch sensitive membrane of said reading device arranged to overlay said electronic card, said position information data being received from the reading device upon a press on said touch sensitive membrane when said electronic card is inserted into said reading device.

5. An electronic card according to claim 1, wherein said memory comprises a buffer means for storing at least one of said retained data strings in response to said reading signals.

6. An electronic card according to claim 5, wherein contents of said buffer means are processed in response to a user selection of at least one of said elements.

7. An electronic card according to claim 1, wherein said processor means is configured to perform a secure access checking function for enabling or rejecting user access to a desired service.

8. An electronic card according to claim 7, wherein said processor is configured to relate reading signals generated from a user selection of a plurality of said elements and received via said communication means with at least one of said retained data strings to perform said secure access checking function.

9. An electronic card according to 8, wherein said plurality of elements define a personal identification number.

10. An electronic card according to claim 8, wherein said plurality of elements define an image formed on said surface of said card portion.

12. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of generating an output signal according to said at least one retained data string based on the mapping of said reading signals.

11. A method of mapping one of a plurality of data strings retained within a memory of an electronic card with reading signals generated by a reading device configured to read said card, said card comprising a card portion having a surface onto which are formed a plurality of user interface elements, at least one of said data strings of said memory being associated with a corresponding one of said user interface elements, said memory being coupled to a processor means, said processor means being coupled to a communication means for coupling said processor means to said reading device, said method comprising the steps of:

transmitting said reading signals, generated from a selection of at least one of said elements, from said reading device to said processor means via said communication means; and

mapping said reading signals to at least one of said retained data strings, wherein said processor means performs the mapping of said reading signals such that said at least one retained data stream is inaccessible to said reading device.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein said reading signals comprise position information of said user interface elements on said surface, and said memory means and said processor means together perform said mapping in order to associate said position information with said retained data strings to thereby interpret a user selection of at least one of said elements with one of said data strings.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein said position information is provided by a substantially transparent touch sensitive membrane of said reading device arranged to overlay said electronic card, said position information data being received from the reading device upon a press on said touch sensitive membrane when said electronic card is inserted into said reading device.

15. The method according to claim 11, wherein said memory comprises a buffer means for storing at least one of said retained data strings in response to said reading signals.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein contents of said buffer means are processed in response to a user selection of at least one of said elements.

17. The method according to claim 11, wherein said processor means is configured to perform a secure access checking function for enabling or rejecting user access to a desired service.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein said processor is configured to map reading signals generated from a user selection of a plurality of said elements and received via said communication means with at least one of said retained data strings to perform said secure access checking function.

19. The method according to 18, wherein said plurality of elements define a personal identification number.

20. The method according to claim 18, wherein said plurality of elements define an image formed on said surface of said card portion.

21. A computer program for mapping one of a plurality of data strings retained within a memory of an electronic card with reading signals generated by a reading device configured to read said card, said card comprising a card portion having a surface onto which are formed a plurality of user interface elements, at least one of said data strings of said memory being associated with a corresponding one of said user interface elements, said memory being coupled to a processor means, said processor means being coupled to a communication means for coupling said processor means to said reading device, said program comprising:

code for transmitting said reading signals, generated from a selection of at least one of said elements, from said reading device to said processor means via said communication means; and

code for mapping said reading signals to at least one of said retained data strings, wherein said processor means performs the mapping of said reading signals such that said at least one retained data stream is inaccessible to said reading device.

22. The program according to claim 21, further comprising the code for generating an output signal according to said at least one retained data string based on the mapping of said reading signals.

23. The program according to claim 21, wherein said reading signals comprise position information of said user interface elements on said surface, and said memory means and said processor means together perform said mapping in order to associate said position information with said retained data strings to thereby interpret a user selection of at least one of said elements with one of said data strings.

24. The program according to claim 23, wherein said position information is provided by a substantially transparent touch sensitive membrane of said reading device arranged to overlay said electronic card, said position information data being received from the reading device upon a press on said touch sensitive membrane when said electronic card is inserted into said reading device.

25. The program according to claim 21, wherein said memory comprises a buffer means for storing at least one of said retained data strings in response to said reading signals.

26. The program according to claim 25, wherein contents of said buffer means are processed in response to a user selection of at least one of said elements.

27. The program according to claim 21, wherein said processor means is configured to perform a secure access checking function for enabling or rejecting user access to a desired service.

28. The program according to claim 27, wherein said processor is configured to map reading signals generated from a user selection of a plurality of said elements and received via said communication means with at least one of said retained data strings to perform said secure access checking function.

29. The program according to 28, wherein said plurality of elements define a personal identification number.

30. The program according to claim 28, wherein said plurality of elements define an image formed on said surface of said card portion.

31. The program according to claim 21, wherein said program is resident in said memory.

32. A method of mapping one of a plurality of data strings retained within a memory of an electronic card with reading signals generated by a reading device configured to read said card, said method being substantially as herein before described with reference to any one of the embodiments as that embodiment is illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

33. A computer program for mapping one of a plurality of data strings retained within a memory of an electronic card with reading signals generated by a reading device configured to read said card, said program being substantially as herein before described with reference to any one of the embodiments as that embodiment is illustrated in the accompanying drawings.