Registers – Systems controlled by data bearing records – Credit or identification card systems
Utility Patent
1998-02-20
2001-01-02
Le, Thien M. (Department: 2876)
Registers
Systems controlled by data bearing records
Credit or identification card systems
C705S041000
Utility Patent
active
06168078
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to card readers, and more particularly to a card reader which can read data of files stored in a card.
Various cards having the function of storing data have been proposed, and recently, much attention is drawn to integrated circuit (IC) cards which include a processor such as a central processing unit (CPU) and a memory. Such an IC card is inserted into a card reader, and a reference can be made to the data of a file stored in the IC card by making a key operation. If a process is carried out with respect to the referred data, the data is updated depending on a result of the process.
FIG. 1
is a flow chart for explaining the operation of an example of a conventional card reader. In
FIG. 1
, when an IC card is inserted into a card reader in a step ST
1
, a step ST
2
displays most recent data of a file which is presently used, out of a plurality of files stored in the IC card, in response to a data reference request which is generated by operating an operation panel. The IC card is extracted from the card reader in a step ST
3
. A step ST
4
decides whether or not another data reference request generated from the operation panel exists, and the process ends if the decision result in the step ST
4
is NO.
On the other hand, if the decision result in the step ST
4
is YES, a step ST
5
makes preparations for starting an access by a system (application) which carries out a process with respect to the data which is to be referred to and belongs to a desired file.
After the step ST
5
, the process returns to the step ST
1
. Hence, the application described above makes a reference to the data of the desired file stored in the IC card which is inserted into the card reader, and the referred data is displayed in the step ST
2
.
Accordingly, in the conventional card reader, there was a problem in that it is only possible to make a reference to the data of the file which is stored in the IC card and is presently being used. For this reason, in a case where a reference is to be next made to data of another file after referring to the data of the file which is presently being used, it was necessary to start an application which processes the data of this other file to be referred next.
On the other hand, because the conventional card reader can only make a reference to the data of the file which is stored in the IC card and is presently being used, there was also a problem in that it is impossible to simply display the data of all of the files stored in the IC card.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provide a novel and useful card reader in which the problems described above are eliminated.
Another and more specific object of the present invention is to provide a card reader which can simply output not only data of a file which is presently being used but also other files stored in a card such as an IC card, without having to start an application for processing the data of each file, and is capable of outputting most recent data of all of the files stored in the card if necessary in response to a simple operation.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a card reader for reading data from a card which stores data in a plurality of files, comprising an input part including at least one key for inputting an instruction, and a data processor successively outputting data of at least one of the files stored in the card depending on a key operation of the input part. According to the card reader of the present invention, it is possible to simply output not only data of a file which is presently being used but also other files stored in a card, without having to start an application for processing the data of each file, and is capable of outputting most recent data of all of the files stored in the card if necessary in response to a simple operation.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a card reader for reading data from a card which stores data in a plurality of files, comprising a data processor successively outputting data of at least one of the files stored in the card when the card is inserted into the card reader. According to the card reader of the present invention, it is possible to simply output not only data of a file which is presently being used but also other files stored in a card, without having to start an application for processing the data of each file, and is capable of outputting most recent data of all of the files stored in the card if necessary in response to a simple operation.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a card reader for reading data from a card which stores data in a plurality of files, comprising a key, a data processor accessing one of the files stored in the card at a time, and reading data from the file which is accessed, and a display displaying the data read by the data processor from the card, wherein the data processor switches the file to be accessed from one to another when the key is operated. According to the card reader of the present invention, it is possible to simply output not only data of a file which is presently being used but also other files stored in a card, without having to start an application for processing the data of each file, and is capable of outputting most recent data of all of the files stored in the card if necessary in response to a simple operation.
Other objects and further features of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
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Asoh Izumi
Hiramoto Yoshio
Kato Masashi
Yanagi Ryouichi
Armstrong, Westerman Hattori, McLeland & Naughton
Fujitsu Limited
Le Thien M.
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