Portable smart card communication device

• US 6,259,769 B1
• Filed: 05/04/1999
• Issued: 07/10/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cubic Corporation
• Original Assignee: Cubic Corporation
• Inventors: Plum, Don P., Page, Kevin J., Kelly, Guy M., Ravenis, II, Joseph V J, Carta, David R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pitts, Harold I.
• Application Number:
  US09/305,096
• Time in Patent Office: 798 Days
• Field of Search: 379/58, 235/492, 235/380
• US Class Current: 235/375
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/341 Active cards, i.e. cards including their own processing means, e.g. including an IC or chip
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0886 the card reader being portable for interacting with a POS or ECR in realizing a payment transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system

Abstract

A controller module is releasably received in a cradle portion of a transceiver assembly to form a portable smart card communication device. The transceiver assembly includes a transceiver and a connector to electrically connect the controller module to the transceiver. The controller module establishes a communication link between itself and a smart card by sending and receiving signals and data through the connector. Information is read from the smart card and forwarded to the controller module. Information is transmitted through the transceiver assembly and stored on the smart card. The controller module can easily be removed and used with other transceiver assemblies.

Claims

1. A smart card transceiver assembly comprising:

a housing adapted to releasably receive a controller module; and

a transceiver within the housing adapted to establish a communication link between a smart card and the controller module.

2. A smart card transceiver assembly in accordance with claim 1, the transceiver adapted to receive control signals from the controller module.

3. A smart card transceiver assembly in accordance with claim 2, the transceiver responsive to the control signals by establishing the communication link.

4. A smart card transceiver assembly in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a connector mounted on the housing and electrically connected to the transceiver, the connector adapted to convey signals between the transceiver and the controller module when the housing receives the controller module.

5. A smart card transceiver assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a cradle portion adapted to secure the controller module to the smart card transceiver assembly when the housing receives the controller module.

6. A smart card transceiver assembly in accordance with claim 5, wherein the housing further comprises a transceiver area adapted to enclose the transceiver.

7. A smart card transceiver assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein the transceiver comprises:

an antenna,

a receiver, and

a transmitter.

8. A smart card transceiver assembly in accordance with claim 6, wherein the transceiver is adapted to communicate with the smart card using radio frequency signals.

9. A smart card transceiver assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein the controller module is a personal digital assistant.

10. A proximity card transceiver assembly comprising:

a housing having a cradle portion adapted for receiving a personal digital assistant;

a connector mounted on the housing and adapted to interface to the personal digital assistant; and

a transceiver inside the housing electrically connected to the personal data assistant through the connector, wherein the transceiver is adapted to respond to control signals sent from the personal digital assistant by establishing a communication link between the personal data assistant and a proximity card.

11. A proximity card transceiver in accordance with claim 10, wherein the housing comprises a latch to secure the personal digital assistant within the cradle portion of the housing.

12. A portable proximity card system comprising:

a housing having a cradle portion adapted for receiving a personal digital assistant;

a connector mounted on the housing and adapted to interface to the personal digital assistant;

a transceiver inside the housing electrically connected to the personal data assistant through the connector; and

a proximity card adapted to communicate using a protocol;

wherein the transceiver is adapted to respond to control signals sent from the personal digital assistant by establishing a communication link between the personal data assistant and a proximity card using the protocol.