JP2003271902A - Reader/writer, ic card system and external device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve a function when communicating data with an external device. <P>SOLUTION: The reader/writer 1 comprises an external interface part 5 for communicating data with an external device 15 by a non-contacting communication system. Data communicated between IC card interface parts 3, 4 and IC cards 11, 13 are communicated between the external interface part 5 and the external device 15 by a non-contacting communicating system. Data communicated between the external interface part 5 and the external device 15 by the non-contacting communication system are communicated between the IC card interface parts 3, 4 and the IC cards 11, 13. Data read from the IC cards 11 and 13 can be transmitted to the external device 15 by the non-contacting communication system, and data received by the non-contacting communication system from the external device 15 can be written in the IC cards 11 and 13. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a reader / writer having an IC card communication means for communicating data with an IC card, an IC card system having the reader / writer and the IC card as constituent elements, and the IC card. Regarding external equipment used in the system.

[0002]

In recent years, many types of I
C (Integrated Circuit) cards have become popular. Among these many types of IC cards, a non-contact type IC card that communicates data with a reader / writer via a radio wave signal, for example, a commuter pass card and a telephone card are prevalent.

By the way, a reader / writer which communicates data with a non-contact type IC card of this kind is incorporated in an automatic ticket gate when it is adopted in a system for reading data from a commuter pass card, for example. For example, when it is adopted in a system for reading data from a telephone card, it is incorporated in a public telephone, and the data read from an IC card is connected to a host device (for example, a personal computer terminal) by wired communication such as RS-232C. Etc.) was configured to be sent to.

However, in the structure for transmitting data to the host device by wire communication, a dedicated circuit for realizing wire communication is required, and a connector which is a physical interface for connecting a cable is required. Therefore, there is a problem that the miniaturization and cost reduction of the reader / writer are hindered.

Under these circumstances, there has recently been a demand for a reader / writer capable of transmitting data read from an IC card to a host device by a non-contact communication (wireless communication) method. However, heretofore, there has been no reader / writer capable of meeting such a request.

On the other hand, in recent years, there has been a demand for a portable reader / writer that can be carried by a person, but as described above, the data read from the IC card is transmitted to the host device by wired communication. Then, there is a problem in that the work of attaching and detaching the cable to the connector is troublesome, and the connector may be damaged due to the attaching and detaching of the cable, and the operability and reliability are poor. Under such circumstances, there is a demand for a reader / writer capable of transmitting data read from an IC card to a host device by a non-contact communication method.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances. An object of the present invention is to communicate data with an external device by communicating the data with the external device by a non-contact communication method. It is an object of the present invention to provide a reader / writer and an IC card system capable of improving the functions of.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a reader / writer having an external communication means for communicating data with at least an external device by a non-contact communication method.
The IC card communication means performs the communication operation in which the external communication means communicates the data communicated with the IC card by the IC card communication means with the external device, and the data communicated with the external equipment by the external communication means by the IC card communication means. Since at least one of the communication operations for communicating with the card is configured to be executable, the data read from the IC card is externally communicated by communicating the data with the external device by the non-contact communication method. The data can be transmitted to the device by the non-contact communication method, the data received from the external device by the non-contact communication method can be written in the IC card, and the data can be communicated with the external device. The function can be improved.

According to the second aspect of the reader / writer, the IC card communication means performs the communication operation of communicating data with the IC card, and the external communication means performs the communication operation of communicating data with the external device. Since it is configured to be able to execute both and at the same time, for example, when data is read from an IC card and transmitted to an external device, or when data is received from the external device and the I
When writing to the C card, it is possible to quickly transfer data between the IC card and the external device via the reader / writer.

According to the third aspect of the reader / writer, the external communication means is provided as another reader / writer and another IC.
Since the data can be communicated with at least one of the cards by the non-contact communication method, the data read from the IC card can be transmitted to another reader / writer by the non-contact communication method or to another IC card. Data can be written by the non-contact communication system, data received by the non-contact communication system from another reader / writer or data read by the non-contact communication system from another IC card can be written in the IC card. can do.

According to the fourth aspect of the reader / writer, the IC card communication means performs a communication operation of communicating data with the IC card, and the external communication means includes another reader / writer and another IC card. Since the communication operation for communicating data with at least one of them is simultaneously executed, for example, when data is read from an IC card and transmitted to another reader / writer or written in another IC card, or another Receives data from the reader / writer or another I
When data is read from the C card and written in the IC card, data transfer between the IC card and another reader / writer or another IC card via the reader / writer can be performed quickly.

According to the reader / writer of the fifth aspect, the IC card communication means is configured to communicate data with at least one of a contact type IC card and a non-contact type IC card. At least one of a contact type IC card and a non-contact type IC card can be used as the card.

According to the reader / writer of the sixth aspect, since the IC card communication means and the external communication means are constituted by one communication means, the IC card communication means and the external communication means are provided by separate communication means. It is possible to achieve downsizing and cost reduction rather than the configuration.

According to the seventh aspect of the reader / writer, the operating power generating means for generating the operating power based on the radio signal from the external device is provided, so that the operating power is separately input from the outside. It is possible to eliminate the need for the above configuration, and to eliminate the need for mounting a battery.

According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, the reader / writer is provided with the operating power storage means for storing the operating power generated by the operating power generation means, so that the operating power can be stored.

According to the IC card system of the tenth aspect, the data displayed between the reader / writer, the IC card and the external device and the data processed by the reader / writer, the IC card and the external device are displayed. Since the display means is provided, the contents of data communicated between the reader / writer, the IC card and the external device, and the contents of data processed by the reader / writer, the IC card and the external device can be confirmed.

According to the eleventh aspect of the IC card system, the data input means for inputting data is provided, and the data input by the data input means is a reader / writer.
Communication between IC card and external device,
Since the reader / writer, the IC card, and the external device can be processed, the input data can be transferred between the reader / writer, the IC card, and the external device, and the reader / writer, the IC card, and the external device can be used. It can be processed by an external device.

According to the IC card system of the twelfth aspect, the reader / writer is configured to generate the operating power based on the radio signal from the external device and at the same time, to communicate the data with the external device. Data can be transferred quickly between the reader / writer and the external device.

According to the IC card system of the thirteenth aspect, since the IC card is configured to generate the operating power based on the radio signal from at least one of the reader / writer and the external device, the IC card is separately provided. The configuration for inputting the operating power from the outside can be eliminated, and the battery can be omitted.

According to the IC card system of claim 14, the IC card generates operating power based on a radio signal from at least one of the reader / writer and the external device, and at the same time, the reader / writer and the external device. Since the data can be communicated with at least one of the above, it is possible to quickly transfer the data between the IC card and at least one of the reader / writer and the external device.

[0021]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION (First Embodiment) A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. First, FIG. 1 schematically shows an electrical configuration of a reader / writer as a functional block diagram. Reader / writer 1
Is a control unit 2 and a contactless IC card interface unit 3
(IC card communication means in the present invention), contact type IC card interface section 4 (IC card communication means in the present invention), external interface section 5 (external communication means in the present invention), power supply circuit section 6 (present invention) Operating power generation means), battery 7 (operating power storage means in the present invention),
A data display section 8 (data display means in the present invention) and a data input section 9 (data input means in the present invention) are provided.

The control unit 2 controls the overall operation by executing a control program stored inside. The non-contact type IC card interface section 3 is connected to an antenna 10 for radiating and capturing a radio wave signal in a short wave band (for example, 13.56 MHz), and a non-contact type IC card 11 is installed in a mounting slot (not shown). When the card is inserted into a card and conveyed to a predetermined position, data communication is performed with the conveyed non-contact type IC card 11 via a radio signal to read data from the non-contact type IC card 11 or Is written in the non-contact type IC card 11.

The contact type IC card interface section 4 is
When the contact type IC card 13 is connected to the contact terminal (contact) 12 and is inserted into a mounting slot (not shown) and conveyed to a predetermined position, the conveyed contact type I
Data is communicated with the C card 13 via the contact terminal 12, data is read from the contact type IC card 13, and data is written in the contact type IC card 13.

In this case, the mounting slot for mounting the non-contact type IC card 11 and the mounting slot for mounting the contact type IC card 13 may be separately prepared. The configuration may be the same, that is, one mounting slot in which both the non-contact type IC card 11 and the contact type IC card 13 can be mounted is prepared.

The external interface section 5 is connected to an antenna 14 for radiating and capturing a radio wave signal in the short wave band (eg 13.56 MHz), and communicates data with the external device 15 via the radio wave signal. Then, the data is received from the external device 15 or the data is transmitted to the external device 15.

As will be described later in detail, the power supply circuit section 6 generates operating power based on a radio signal from the external device 15, and the battery 7 stores the operating power generated by the power supply circuit section 6.

The data display section 8 communicates between the reader / writer 1 and the non-contact type IC card 11 or the contact type IC card 13, or the data communicated between the reader / writer 1 and the external device 15. Is displayed, reader / writer 1,
The data processed by any of the non-contact type IC card 11, the contact type IC card 13 and the external device 15 is displayed. The data input unit 9 inputs data in response to a user operating a key (not shown) mechanically arranged, and the input data is the reader / writer 1 or the non-contact type IC card 11. The communication is performed between the contact type IC card 13 and the external device 15.

Next, a non-contact communication system between the reader / writer 1 and the non-contact type IC card 11 will be described with reference to FIG. The non-contact IC card interface section 3 of the reader / writer 1 is configured to include a transmission circuit 16 and a reception circuit 17, and the non-contact IC card 11 includes an antenna coil 18, a capacitor 19, a rectifier circuit 20, and a resistor 21. A load switching circuit 23 including a switch 22 and a control unit 24 are provided.

In the non-contact type IC card 11, the rectifier circuit 20 rectifies the radio signal from the reader / writer 1 to generate operating power, and the control unit 24 operates by being supplied with operating power from the rectifying circuit 20. . Then, the load switching circuit 23 generates data by turning the switch 22 on and off based on an on / off instruction from the control unit 24.

In this case, the non-contact type I
The modulated signal transmitted to the C card 11 is 13.56 according to the Manchester code data, as shown in FIG.
A carrier wave of MHz is ASK (Amplitude Shift Keying) modulated (modulation degree 10%). On the other hand, non-contact type I
The modulated signal transmitted from the C card 11 to the reader / writer 1, as shown in FIG. 2C, is a carrier-modulated 13.56 MHz carrier that is load-modulated by Manchester code data.

As described above, the ASK modulation method is adopted as the modulation method of the modulation signal transmitted from the reader / writer 1 to the non-contact type IC card 11, and the non-contact type I
By adopting the load modulation method as the modulation method of the modulation signal transmitted from the C card 11 to the reader / writer 1, bidirectional data communication is possible.

The non-contact communication between the external device 15 and the reader / writer 11 is similar to this. That is, the modulation signal transmitted from the external device 15 to the reader / writer 1 is 13.56 MHz according to the Manchester code data.
The carrier signal of ASK is modulated by ASK (modulation degree 10%). On the other hand, the modulated signal transmitted from the reader / writer 1 to the external device 15 is 13.
It is a load-modulated carrier of 56 MHz.

Also in this case, the ASK modulation system is adopted as the modulation system of the modulation signal transmitted from the external device 15 to the reader / writer 1 as described above, and the modulation transmitted from the reader / writer 1 to the external device 15 is also adopted. By adopting a load modulation method as a signal modulation method, bidirectional data communication is possible. At this time, the power supply circuit unit 6 generates the operating power based on the radio signal from the external device 15, and the battery 7 stores the operating power generated by the power supply circuit unit 6.

With the configuration described above, the reader / writer 1 includes the non-contact type IC card 11 and the contact type IC card 1.
3 can be transmitted to the external device 15 by the non-contact communication system, and the data received from the external device 15 by the non-contact communication system can be transferred to the non-contact IC.
It is possible to write on the card 11 or the contact type IC card 13. In this case, the non-contact type IC card interface section 3 communicates data with the non-contact type IC card 11 and the contact type IC card interface section 4 exchanges data with the contact type IC card 13. The communication operation for communication and the external interface unit 5 is the external device 1
The communication operation for communicating data with the communication device 5 can be simultaneously executed.

By the way, the above has described the case where the external interface unit 5 communicates data with the external device 15 by the non-contact communication system. However, as shown in FIG. Another reader / writer 16
It is also possible to configure so that the data is communicated with and by the non-contact communication method. That is, another reader / writer 16 has the same configuration as the reader / writer 1, that is,
If the external interface unit corresponding to the external interface unit 5 is provided, the non-contact type IC card 1
1 or the data read from the contact type IC card 13 can be transmitted to another reader / writer 16 by the non-contact communication method, and the data received from the other reader / writer 16 by the non-contact communication method can be transferred to the non-contact type. It is possible to write to the IC card 11 or the contact type IC card 13.

Also in this case, the non-contact type IC card interface section 3 communicates data with the non-contact type IC card 11 and the contact type IC card interface section 4 communicates with the contact type IC card 13. The communication operation for communicating data and the communication operation for communicating data between the external interface unit 5 and another reader / writer 16 can be simultaneously executed. In this case, since the reader / writer 1 does not receive a radio signal from the external device 15, the reader / writer 1 generates operating power by itself, for example, by mounting a battery, or the power supply circuit unit 6 separates it. The operating power is generated based on the radio signal from the external device 15.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the external interface section 5 may be configured to communicate data with another IC card 17 by a non-contact communication method. That is, when another non-contact type IC card 17 has the same configuration as the non-contact type IC card 11, the data read from the non-contact type IC card 11 or the contact type IC card 13 is transferred to another IC card 17. Can be written in the contactless communication system, and data read from another IC card 17 in the contactless communication system can be written in the contactless IC card 11 or the contact IC card 13. Become.

Also in this case, the non-contact type IC card interface section 3 performs a communication operation for communicating data with the non-contact type IC card 11 and the contact type IC card interface section 4 communicates with the contact type IC card 13. A non-contact type IC in which the communication operation for communicating data and the external interface unit 5 are different
The communication operation for communicating data with the card 17 can be simultaneously executed. In this case, since the reader / writer 1 does not receive a radio signal from the external device 15 and does not receive a radio signal from another reader / writer 16, the reader / writer 1 operates by installing a battery, for example. It will generate electricity.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, the reader / writer 1 is provided with the external interface section 5 for communicating data with the external device 15 by the non-contact communication method, and the IC card interface section 3 is provided. , 4 is I
The external interface unit 5 communicates data communicated with the C cards 11 and 13 with the external device 15 by a non-contact communication system, or the external interface unit 5 communicates with the external device 15 by a non-contact communication system. The data communicated by
C card interface units 3 and 4 are IC cards 11 and 1
3 is communicable with the external device 15, so that the data read from the IC cards 11 and 13 is communicated with the external device 15 by the non-contact communication system. And a function of communicating data with the external device 15 can be performed, and data received from the external device 15 by the non-contact communication method can be written in the IC cards 11 and 13. It is possible to improve.

At this time, the communication operation in which the IC card interface units 3 and 4 communicate data with the IC cards 11 and 13 and the communication in which the external interface unit 5 communicates data with the external device 15 Since the operation and the operation can be executed at the same time, for example, from an IC card
3 data is read and transmitted to the external device 15, or data is received from the external device 15 and the IC cards 11 and 13 are received.
In the case of writing in, it is possible to quickly transfer data between the IC cards 11 and 13 and the external device 15 via the reader / writer 1.

Further, since the external interface unit 5 is configured to be able to communicate data with another reader / writer 16 or another non-contact type IC card 17 by the non-contact communication system, it is read from the IC cards 11 and 13. Data can be transmitted to another reader / writer 16 by a non-contact communication method or written to another non-contact type IC card 17 by a non-contact communication method, or another reader / writer 16 can perform a non-contact communication method. The data received by or the data read from another non-contact type IC card 17 by the non-contact communication method can be written in the IC cards 11 and 13.

At this time, the IC card interface units 3 and 4 perform a communication operation for communicating data with the IC cards 11 and 13, and the external interface unit 5 uses another reader / writer 16 or another non-contact type IC. Since the communication operation of communicating data with the card 17 can be simultaneously executed, for example, 11 and 13 data are read from the IC card and transmitted to another reader / writer 16 or another non-contact type I.
When writing to the C card 17, or when receiving data from another reader / writer 16 or reading data from another non-contact type IC card 17 and writing to the IC cards 11 and 13, these IC cards 11 and 13 And another reader / writer 1
6 and other non-contact type IC card 17 can be promptly transferred via the reader / writer 1.

Further, since the power supply circuit section 6 for generating the operating power based on the radio signal from the external device 15 is provided, it is not necessary to separately provide a configuration for inputting the operating power from the outside. Also, it is not necessary to mount a battery. Further, since the battery 7 for storing the operating power generated by the power supply circuit unit 6 is provided, the operating power can be stored.

Further, the reader / writer 1, the IC card 11,
13 and the external device 15, data transmitted between the reader / writer 1, the IC cards 11 and 13, and the external device 1
Since the data display unit 8 for displaying the data processed in 5 is provided, the reader / writer 1, the IC cards 11, 1
3 and the contents of data communicated between the external device 15 and the contents of data processed by the reader / writer 1, the IC cards 11 and 13 and the external device 15 can be confirmed.

Further, a data input section 9 for inputting data
The reader / writer 1, the IC cards 11 and 13 and the external device 15 are provided with the data input by the data input unit 9.
Since it is configured to be capable of communicating with each other or to be processed by the reader / writer 1, the IC cards 11 and 13 and the external device 15, by inputting the data, the input data is converted into the reader / writer 1, the IC card 11 , 13 and the external device 15, or the reader / writer 1, I
It can be processed by the C cards 11 and 13, the external device 15, and the external device.

(Second Embodiment) Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The same parts as those in the first embodiment described above are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted. Hereinafter, different parts will be described.

In the above-mentioned first embodiment, the non-contact type IC card interface section 3 and the external interface section 5 are separately constructed.
In the embodiment, the non-contact type IC card interface section is configured to also serve as the external interface section.

That is, as shown in FIG. 5, the reader / writer 21 includes a non-contact type IC card interface section 22 (IC card communication means in the present invention which also serves as the external interface section 5 described in the first embodiment. , External communication means), a power supply circuit section 23 (operating power generation means in the present invention), and a battery 24 (operating power storage means in the present invention).

In this case, the non-contact type IC card interface section 22 communicates data with the non-contact type IC card 11 via a radio wave signal, and the non-contact type IC card 1
1 to read data from or write data to the non-contact type IC card 11, perform data communication with the external device 15 via a radio signal, and receive data from the external device 15. Or send data to the external device 15. In addition, the power supply circuit unit 23 is the external device 1
The operating power is generated based on the radio signal from the battery 5, and the battery 24 stores the operating power generated by the power supply circuit unit 23.

Further, in the same manner as the first embodiment described above,
As shown in FIG. 6, the non-contact type IC card interface section 22 communicates data with the non-contact type IC card 11 by a non-contact communication method, and at the same time, another reader / writer 1
It is also possible to configure so as to communicate data with the communication unit 6 by a non-contact communication method. Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the non-contact type IC card interface unit 22 communicates data with the non-contact type IC card 11 by the non-contact type communication system, and communicates with another non-contact type IC card 17. It is also possible to configure so that data can be communicated by a non-contact communication method.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, in the reader / writer 21, the non-contact type IC card interface section 22 which also serves as the external interface section 5 is used.
Since it is configured to include one, it is sufficient to prepare one circuit that realizes the non-contact communication method, and the non-contact type IC card interface section 3 and the external interface section 5 as described in the first embodiment are separately provided. It is possible to achieve a smaller size and lower price than that of the above configuration.

(Other Embodiments) The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, but can be modified or expanded as shown below. It may be applied to one having either a function of reading data from an IC card or a function of writing data to the IC card. In the first embodiment, either the non-contact type IC card interface unit or the non-contact type IC card interface unit may be omitted. The external device may include a data display unit and a data input unit. Data is transferred between a non-contact type IC card and an external device without passing through a reader / writer, that is,
The configuration may be such that data can be directly transferred between the two. A hybrid type IC card having both functions of a non-contact type IC card and a contact type IC card may be mounted.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an aspect of a non-contact communication system between a reader / writer and a non-contact type IC card.

FIG. 3 is a view corresponding to FIG.

FIG. 4 is a view equivalent to FIG.

FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a view corresponding to FIG.

FIG. 7 is a view corresponding to FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 is a reader / writer, 3 is a non-contact type IC card interface section (IC card communication means), 4 is a contact type IC card interface section (IC card communication means), 5 is an external interface section (external communication means), and 6 is a power source. Circuit part (operating power generation means), 7 is a battery (operating power storage means), 8 is a data display section (data display means), 9 is a data input section (data input means), 11 is a non-contact type IC card (IC). Card), 13 is a contact type IC card (IC card), 15 is an external device, 16 is a reader / writer (another reader / writer), 17 is a non-contact type IC card (another IC card), 21 is a reader / writer, 22 Is a non-contact type IC card interface section (IC card communication means, external communication means), 23 is a power supply circuit section (operating power generation means), 24 is a battery (operating power storage) It is a stage).

Front page continuation (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) G06F 3/00 G06F 3/00 C G06K 19/07 G06K 19/00 H J (72) Inventor Masahiro Sugiura Minato-ku, Tokyo Toranomon 4-chome 2-12 Toranomon 4-chome Mori Building 2nd Building F-term in DENSO WAVE Co., Ltd. (reference) 2C005 NA02 NA08 SA05 TA21 TA22 5B035 BB09 CA08 CA12 CA23 5B058 CA02 CA03 CA13 CA15 CA23 KA01 KA04 KA06 KA12

Claims (15)

[Claims] 1. I for communicating data with an IC card
A reader / writer provided with a C card communication means, comprising an external communication means for communicating data with at least an external device by a non-contact communication method, wherein the IC card communication means communicates with an IC card. Of the communication operation in which the external communication unit communicates with the external device and the communication operation in which the IC card communication unit communicates the data communicated with the external device by the external communication unit with the IC card. A reader / writer characterized in that at least one of the above is configured to be executable. 2. The reader / writer according to claim 1, wherein the IC card communication unit communicates data with an IC card, and the external communication unit communicates data with an external device. A reader / writer characterized by being configured to be able to simultaneously perform an operation. 3. The reader / writer according to claim 1, wherein the external communication unit is a separate reader / writer and a separate IC.
A reader / writer characterized in that data can be communicated with at least one of the cards by a non-contact communication system. 4. The reader / writer according to claim 3, wherein the IC card communication unit performs a communication operation of communicating data with an IC card, and the external communication unit includes another reader / writer and another IC card. And a communication operation for communicating data with at least one of the two. 5. The reader / writer according to claim 1, wherein the IC card communication unit can communicate data with at least one of a contact type IC card and a non-contact type IC card. A reader / writer characterized by being configured as follows. 6. The reader / writer according to claim 1, wherein the IC card communication unit and the external communication unit are constituted by one communication unit. 7. The reader / writer according to claim 1, further comprising an operating power generation unit that generates operating power based on a radio signal from an external device. 8. The reader / writer according to claim 7, further comprising an operation power storage unit that stores the operation power generated by the operation power generation unit. 9. An IC card system, comprising: the reader / writer according to claim 1; and an IC card configured to enable data communication with the reader / writer. 10. The IC card system according to claim 9, wherein data is displayed between the reader / writer, the IC card and the external device, and data processed by the reader / writer, the IC card and the external device is displayed. An IC card system comprising means. 11. The IC card system according to claim 9, further comprising a data input unit for inputting data, wherein the data input by the data input unit can be communicated among a reader / writer, an IC card and an external device. In addition, an IC card system characterized in that it can be processed by a reader / writer, an IC card and an external device. 12. The IC card system according to claim 9, wherein the reader / writer generates operating power based on a radio signal from an external device and simultaneously communicates data with the external device. An IC card system characterized by being configured as possible. 13. The IC card system according to claim 9, wherein the IC card generates operating power based on a radio signal from at least one of a reader / writer and an external device. An IC card system characterized by being configured. 14. The IC card system according to claim 13, wherein the IC card generates operating power based on a radio signal from at least one of the reader / writer and the external device, and at the same time, generates the operating power of the reader / writer and the external device. An IC card system characterized in that data can be communicated with at least one of them. 15. An external device used in the IC card system according to claim 9.