Registers – Systems controlled by data bearing records – Credit or identification card systems
Patent
1996-05-30
1998-11-24
Hajec, Donald T.
Registers
Systems controlled by data bearing records
Credit or identification card systems
235492, G06K 905
Patent
active
058411194
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a smart card for communication and to an appliance for making use of the card. The system serves both to provide direct communication between individuals each possessing such a card and, where appropriate, communication between the card and computer systems adapted to perform determined special functions.
Smart cards for interchanging information between an individual and a machine are well known. They are cards having electronic chips which are widely used in numerous applications and in compliance with an international standard (ISO 7810).
A bank card can be used in particular to withdraw money from a bank note dispenser (ATM) or to pay a trader having an electronic paying-in machine, both of which operations lead subsequently to the bank account of the card holder being debited. Other examples of smart cards enabling an individual to transfer prepurchased money data to a creditor by means of a machine include phone cards used in pay phones and also the payment card intended for wider use as announced in the specialized press (Electronic Purse), or the card that gives access to a TV pay channel. In all of those applications, the chip-containing card concerned has a minimal number of components (a microcontroller and a memory), it being understood that the powerful computer system in which it is incorporated while it is actually in use provides it with all of the additional means (including electrical power and appropriate operating and applications software) required to carry through all of the operations that need to be performed.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Those known types of smart cards present various technical drawbacks that we have attempted to correct.
Thus, OKI's European patent application EP 0 168 836 describes a smart card of the bank card type comprising a power supply, a microprocessor, memories, a two-key keypad, a display screen, and an optical signal transceiver pair. Such a card operates under the control of special control software. This makes it possible for the user to consult the contents of the card directly without relying on the usual kind of appliance for operating therewith. That card does not enable data to be interchanged between individuals.
FUJITSU's European patent application EP 0 362 050 describes a memory cards suitable for communicating with a plurality of read and write appliances including a data bus that operates with different word lengths. To this end, that card includes substantially the same electronic components as the preceding card, with the entire system operating under the control of appropriate control software. That type of card is naturally incapable of performing direct data interchange between individuals.
CHALMERS' European patent EP 0 057 602 describes a standard smart card capable of possessing a plurality of different functions. Each pre-programmed function is performed when the card is connected to the corresponding computer system. To this end, it comprises substantially the same electronic components as the two above-mentioned cards together with special control software adapted to switch between functions and to perform them. The transmitter and receiver members are of the inductive type. That card does not enable data to be interchanged directly between individuals.
A solution to the problem of transferring money data between two individuals is proposed in French patent No. 90/05562 which describes a pocket computer appliance having a power supply, a programmed microcontroller, a display screen, and a keypad. That appliance is adapted to serve as an interface between two compatible smart cards, in order to proceed with data transfer and/or interchange between the cards. Under such circumstances, the number of components in the card is minimal and the computer appliance in question constitutes an essential intermediary to enable any use whatsoever to be made of the data contained in a card. In certain new applications for chip-containing cards, the necessary in
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Labbe Patrick
Rouyrre Olivier
Hajec Donald T.
Tremblay Mark
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