CONTACTLESS MANAGEMENT BETWEEN A SMART CARD AND MOBILE TERMINAL

• US 20100084465A1
• Filed: 01/18/2008
• Published: 04/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Jolivet, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 8,186,591 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/439
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07741 comprising a first part operating as a regular record carrier and a second attachable part that changes the functional appearance of said record carrier, e.g. a contact-based smart card with an adapter part which, when attached to the contact card makes the contact card function as a non-contact card
• 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 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/322 Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3227 using secure elements embedded in M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/327 Short range or proximity payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/48 Transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/60 Subscription-based services using application servers or record carriers, e.g. SIM application toolkits
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/08 between user and terminal device
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations

Abstract

Certain existing commands, such as USAT/SAT/CAT commands, are modified to allow management of various types of contactless applications to be performed. Such commands are exchanged via a communication bus between a secure element and a contactless function (CLF) module to support a contactless service. The secure element may be a type of smart card and the external device may be an access gateway for transportation, a point-of-sale (PoS) terminal, or some other application for the user.

Claims

1. A method of communication between a smart card and a contactless function module (CLF), comprising:

receiving an event, by at least one of a smart card and a device, that indicates a need to establish a channel between the smart card and the CLF;

setting up, by at least one of the smart card and the CLF, the channel by using an extension of commands for supporting smart cards; and

transmitting data, between the smart card and the CLF, via the channel.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the smart cart is a UICC.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the commands are extended Card Application Toolkit (CAT) commands.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the extended CAT commands are related to Bearer Independent Protocol (BIP) or second card reader commands.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein for BIP, an open channel command can address the CLF to establish an accurate channel for contactless transactions.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein for BIP, the terminal can manage data blocks in accordance with the contactless protocol requirements.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication to the CLF is considered as a local connection.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein for the second card reader, the CLF can emulate a smart card communication with the UICC.

9. The method of claim 4, wherein for the second card reader, the terminal supports the contactless protocol requirements.

10. The method of claim 4, wherein for the second card reader, both the UICC and the CLF can split messages in the format of APDUs.

11. A method of performing contactless management between a smart card and a contactless function module (CLF) of a mobile terminal, comprising:

detecting a need to establish a communication link between the smart card and the CLF;

establishing the communication link by using special commands for supporting smart cards; and

sending or receiving information between the smart card and the CLF via the established communication link.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the detecting is based on a request for performing a contactless service that supports at least one of transportation access, financial transactions, and user applications.

13. The method of claim 12, the special commands are modified Card Application Toolkit (CAT) commands that are related to Bearer Independent Protocol (BIP) or related to supporting an additional card reader.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein for BIP, an open channel command can address the CLF to establish an accurate channel for contactless transactions such that data blocks are managed in accordance with contactless protocol requirements.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the sending or receiving of information is performed via an ISO communication bus.

16. A device for performing a method of communication between a smart card and a contactless function module (CLF), the device comprising:

a first module that receives an event that indicates a need to establish a channel between the smart card and the CLF;

a second module that sets up the channel by using an extension of commands for supporting smart cards; and

a third module that sends or receives data between the smart card and the CLF via the channel.

17. The device of claim 16, further comprising:

a communication bus operatively connected with the smart card, the CLF, the first module, the second module, and the third module.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the communication bus supports an ISO-based protocol standard.

19. The device of claim 16, wherein the secure element supports at least one of transportation access and financial transactions.

20. The device of claim 16, wherein the secure element comprises at least one of a removable hardware element, a UICC, a smart card, a SIM card, a USIM card, and a storage medium.

21. A smart card comprising:

a memory to store information related to supporting contactless applications; and

an interface element operatively connected with the memory and with a communication bus to allow components of a mobile terminal to access the memory via the communication bus and perform a contactless function with an external terminal using extended commands that are related to Bearer Independent Protocol (BIP) or related to supporting an additional card reader.

22. The smart card of claim 21, further comprising:

embedded integrated circuits that cooperate with the memory and the interface element to receive inputs, process information, and deliver outputs to perform the contactless function.

23. The smart card of claim 21, wherein the communication bus supports an ISO-based protocol standard.