Contactless management between a smart card and mobile terminal

• US 8,186,591 B2
• Filed: 01/18/2008
• Issued: 05/29/2012
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAIL, ALLYSON NEEL
• Application Number:
  US12/521,215
• Publication Number:
  US 20100084465A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,593 Days
• Field of Search: 235/380, 235/441, 235/439, 235/492
• 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) of a terminal, comprising:

receiving an event, by at least one of a smart card and a terminal that indicates a need to establish a communication bus interface between the smart card and a CLF of the terminal,

wherein the communication bus supports an ISO-based protocol standard,

wherein the communication bus supports near field communication (NFC) technology such that signals and data are sent and received between the smart card and the CLF that communicates with a contactless reader via the NFC;

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

transmitting data, between the smart card and the CLF, via the communication bus,

wherein the smart card is a UICC (Universal Integrated Circuit Card),

wherein the commands are extended Card Application Toolkit (CAT) commands,

wherein the extended CAT commands are related to Bearer Independent Protocol (BIP) or second card reader commands,

wherein for the BIP, an open channel command is for addressing the CLF to establish an accurate channel for contactless transactions, and

wherein for the BIP, the terminal is configured to manage data blocks in accordance with contactless protocol requirements.

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

3. The method of claim 1, wherein for a second card reader, the CLF is configured to emulate a smart card communication with the UICC.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein for a second card reader, the terminal supports the contactless protocol requirements.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein for a second card reader, both the UICC and the CLF are configured to split messages in the format of APDUs (Application Protocol Data Units).

6. 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 bus between the smart card and the CLF;

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

sending or receiving information between the smart card and the CLF via the established communication bus,

wherein the communication bus supports an ISO-based protocol standard,

wherein the communication bus supports near field communication (NFC) technology such that signals and data are sent and received between the smart card and the CLF that communicates with a contactless reader via the NFC;

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,

wherein 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,

wherein for the BIP, an open channel command is for addressing the CLF to establish an accurate channel for contactless transactions such that data blocks are managed in accordance with contactless protocol requirements, and

wherein the sending or receiving of information is performed via an ISO communication bus.

7. 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 communication bus between the smart card and the CLF;

a second module that sets up the communication bus 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 communication bus,

wherein the communication bus supports an ISO-based protocol standard,

wherein the communication bus supports near field communication (NFC) technology such that signals and data are sent and received between the smart card and the CLF that communicates with a contactless reader via the NFC,

wherein the communication bus is operatively connected with the smart card, the CLF, the first module, the second module, and the third module,

wherein the smart card supports at least one of transportation access and financial transactions, and

wherein the smart card comprises at least one of a removable hardware element, a UICC, a smart card, a SIM card, a USIM card, and a storage medium.

8. A smart card comprising:

a memory to store information related to supporting contactless applications;

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; and

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,

wherein the communication bus supports an ISO-based protocol standard, and

wherein the communication bus supports near field communication (NFC) technology such that signals and data are sent and received between the smart card and the CLF that communicates with a contactless reader via the NFC.