Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput – Network computer configuring
Reexamination Certificate
1998-06-05
2003-04-29
Rinehart, Mark H. (Department: 2152)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput
Network computer configuring
C705S021000, C235S380000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06557032
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to data processing systems and more particularly to such systems in which transactions are initiated and processed using active tokens such as smart cards.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Access to facilities such as customer transaction systems is currently obtained by the use of tokens such as keys and plastic cards carrying data in the form of perforated holes or magnetic stripes. Such tokens are effective within limits. Thus while being effective in restricting access to a user authorised by the token, difficulties arise when information on the card requires updating, as is increasingly required in a retail store environment, for example where a loyalty points scheme is being operated.
Active tokens, incorporating data processing and storage facilities, have been developed to address these difficulties. An example of such a token, referred to as a smart card, consists of a plastic card of generally similar dimensions to those of a conventional credit card which incorporates an integrated circuit chip with data processing and storage capability.
Smart cards have been used in various applications including retailing, automatic teller machines (ATM's) and the control of access to pay TV facilities. As the use of such cards increases so does the variety of cards and associated card readers.
Moreover customer transaction processing systems are increasingly of the distributed type in which a number of processing stations are interfaced over communication links to one or more application providers or servers. In such a system the components are frequently provided by different suppliers using different styles and makes of tokens and token readers. This raises considerable difficulties in the application of the smart card technology to such systems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention there is provided a data processing system comprising one or more processing stations access to each of which may be obtained through a token reader, in which each processing station is adapted to provide an object orientated execution platform having access to a library of application objects and is further adapted, on presentation of a token to a given reader, to identify the type of token presented, to select an application object from said library appropriate to such token, and to run the selected object on said platform.
According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a method of controlling a data processing system of the type having one or more processing stations access to each of which may be obtained through a token reader, comprising the steps of providing the or each processing station with an object orientated execution platform having access to a library of application objects, identifying the type of token presented to a given reader, selecting an application object from said library appropriate to such token, and running the selected object on said platform.
Certain types of active token may provide facilities for performing object orientated procedures themselves and in order to take advantage of such facilities the processing station may be further adapted to establish at least part of the execution platform on the token.
The application objects are preferably constructed using an interpretative object orientated (OO) language such as Java (trademark of Sun Microsystems, Inc.)
In a preferred embodiment of the invention presentation of a token causes the processing station to run a generic application written in the Java language to identify the type of reader and the type of smart card presented thereto. This initiates a particular object, also written in Java, which handles the input and output for the processing station to which the token has been presented. The automatic selection of type-specific token handler objects avoids a requirement for customisation of applications to work with different types of tokens and token readers.
In a distributed transaction processing environment the presentation of a card at a particular transaction processing terminal may, if an object appropriate thereto is not found in the local library, cause searches to be made in remote libraries and if successful the appropriate object to be transmitted over the links connecting the components of the system to the requesting terminal. Thus if a card is presented with which the local terminal is unfamiliar, a transaction may still be successfully processed by involving a server with which that particular type of card is more commonly used.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5212369 (1993-05-01), Karlisch et al.
patent: 5588146 (1996-12-01), Leroux
patent: 5855483 (1999-01-01), Collins et al.
patent: 5933816 (1999-08-01), Zeanah et al.
patent: 5935249 (1999-08-01), Stern et al.
patent: 5953504 (1999-09-01), Sokal et al.
patent: 5960200 (1999-09-01), Eager et al.
patent: 5983003 (1999-11-01), Lection et al.
patent: 5983200 (1999-11-01), Slotznick
patent: 6005942 (1999-12-01), Chan et al.
patent: 6014748 (2000-01-01), Tushie et al.
patent: 6055637 (2000-04-01), Hudson et al.
patent: 6076166 (2000-06-01), Moshfeghi et al.
patent: 6175922 (2001-01-01), Wang
patent: 6223984 (2001-05-01), Renner et al.
patent: 6282522 (2001-08-01), Davis et al.
Guthery, S.B., “Java card: Internet computing on a smart card”, IEEE Internet Computing, vol. 1 Issue 1, pp. 57-59, Jan. 1997.*
Matsuo, N.; “Personal Telephone Services Using IC-Cards”; IEEE Communications Magazine, Jul. 1989.*
PCMCIA association; “PC Card Standard, Release 2.0”; Sep. 1991.*
Lim, C. H.; “Smart Card Reader”; IEEE Transactions on Consumer Electronics, vol. 39, No. 1, Feb. 1993.*
“Plug and Play Parallel Port Devices”; Microsoft; Mar., 1996.*
Kramer, D.; “The Java Platform—A White Paper”; Sun Microsystems, May 1996.
Jones Julian Hamilton
Lambert Howard Shelton
Orchard James Ronald Lewis
Beck Thomas A.
Herrzberg Louis P.
International Business Machines - Corporation
Rinehart Mark H.
Thompson Marc D.
LandOfFree
Data processing system using active tokens and method for... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Data processing system using active tokens and method for..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Data processing system using active tokens and method for... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3095480