EP0744708A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
IC card reader/writer and data transfer method
Assignee: Toshiba Corp
•
Filing: 1996-05-21
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2016-05-21
Abstract
Abstract Upon activating an inserted IC card (3) a reader/writer (1) identifies a protocol type of the IC card (3) based on initial response data sent from the IC card (3). When the protocol type of the IC card (3) is the same as that of the host unit (2) as a result of identification, control is effected to allow direct data transfer to be made between the host unit (2) and the IC card (3). When, on the other hand, the protocol type is different from that of the host unit (2) as the result of identification, control is so mode as to allow data transfer to be made between the host unit (2) and the IC card (3) subsequent to protocol conversion. By doing so, one IC card reader/writer (1) can hand a plurality of IC cards (3) different in type from each other.
Inventors
- 👤 Youko c/o Intell. Prop. Div. K.K Toshiba Kondou
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 10:28
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K7/00; G06K7/10; G06K7/10009; G06K7/10297; G06K7/0008
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
187 words
An IC card reader/writer (1) connected to a host unit (2) performing communication based on a first protocol, and adapted to be operated based on a command from the host unit (2) and to transfer data to and from an inserted IC card (3), characterized by comprising: identifying means (ST2, ST4) for, when an inserted IC card is activated, identifying a protocol type of the IC card based on a specific one of data sent from the IC card; first control means - steps (14), (15), (16), (17) for, when the protocol type of the IC card (3) corresponds to the first protocol same type as the host unit as a result of identification by the identifying means, transferring data between the IC card and the host unit directly; and second control means - steps (10), (11), (12), (13) for, when as a result of identification by the identifying means the protocol type of the IC card (3) corresponds to a second protocol different from the first protocol, transferring data between the host unit (2) and the IC card (3) after performing protocol conversion of transfer data.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
56 words
The reader/writer (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the data transmitted from the host unit has an attached node address and the first control means has means for analyzing only data with a node address of the IC card reader/writer (1) attached thereto and for transferring the other data directly to the IC card.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
The reader/writer (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the data with a node address of the IC card reader/writer contains a card ejection command and the IC card reader/writer has means - step (9) for ejecting the IC card upon receipt of the card ejection command.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
107 words
The reader/writer according to claim 1, characterized in that the first protocol is comprised of a block transmission protocol and the second protocol is comprised of a character transmission protocol and the second control means has means - steps (10), (11) for buffering block unit data from the host unit and for transferring the data to the IC card after being converting the block unit data to a character unit data and means - steps (12), (13) for buffering the character unit data from the IC card and for transmitting the data to the host unit after converting the character unit data to a block unit data.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
197 words
The IC care reader/writer (1) according to claim 1, characterized by further comprising: an IC card interface (24) for providing an IC card interface with the IC card; a communication interface (25) for providing an interface with the host unit; and a mode switch (SW1) provided between the IC card interface and the communication interface to switching a transfer mode between the host unit and the IC card via the IC card reader/writer, wherein the first control means includes means (ST3) for, when the protocol type of the IC card corresponds to the first protocol same type as the host unit as a result of identification by the identifying means, switching a mode switch to a through mode and transferring data between the host unit and the IC card directly and the second control means includes means (ST6) for, when the protocol type of the IC card corresponds to the second protocol different from the first protocol as a result of identification by the identifying means, switching the mode switch to a through inhibiting mode and transferring data between the host apparatus and the IC card after a corresponding protocol conversion of transfer data has been achieved.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
192 words
A method for transferring data for an IC card reader/writer (1) connected to a host unit (2) performing communication based on a first protocol, and adapted to be operated based on a command from the host unit (2) and to transfer data to and from an inserted IC card (3), characterized by comprising the steps of: when an inserted IC card (3) is activated, identifying (ST2, ST4) a protocol type of the IC card (3) based on a specific one of data sent from the IC card (3) and providing a result of identification; when the protocol type of the IC card (3) corresponds to the first protocol same type as the host unit as the result of identification, - steps (14), (15), (16), (17) controlling data to be transferred between a host unit (2) and the IC card (3) directly; when the protocol type of the IC card (3) is a second protocol different from the first protocol as the result of identification, subjecting - steps (10), (11), (12), (13) transfer data to protocol conversion; and controlling (21) the protocol-converted data to be transferred between the host unit and IC card.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.