EP1208486A1

EP1208486A1 - A method and device for exchange of information

Info

Publication number: EP1208486A1
Application number: EP00906813A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Mats Iderup; Björn STRANDMARK; Anders Larsson
Original assignee: Bluecell AB
Current assignee: Bluecell AB
Priority date: 1999-02-01
Filing date: 2000-01-27
Publication date: 2002-05-29
Also published as: WO2000045311A1; SE513613C2; AU2837200A; SE9900321D0; SE9900321L

Abstract

A method and a device for exchange of information between a main device (24) and an electronic device (10) present in the vicinity of said main device (24) and equipped with a computer unit (11), said connection means (23) being provided to connect computer unit (11) wirelessly with the main device (24) via a communication unit (22). An installation module (28) is executed continuously in the computer unit (11) so that at least a data or program module (19; 18) is received wirelessly and automatically in computer unit (11) by means of the installation module (28). The received data or program modules (19, 18) are automatically made available in the computer unit.

Description

A METHOD AND DEVICE FOR EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION

SCOPE OF THE INVENTION

The invention concerns a method and device for exchange of information between electronic units located in immediate vicinity of each other. A unit of his type includes several components and normally a computer unit that can control a display and a keypad. The second unit can be called the base device. Examples of units currently existing that contain these compo- nents are PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants), portable and stationary personal computers, mobile telephones, etc. These units have in common that they have some form of operating system.

Units of the above-described type can be connected together in more and more contexts through wireless short-distance transmission. Examples of wireless short-distance transmission are "Bluetooth," "HomeRF," and IrDA. The first two radio-based types of short-distance radio make it possible to communicate wirelessly within a distance of some ten meters. IrDA, which is based on infrared light, manages a few meters. These technologies make it possible for battery-run portable equipment, such as, for example telephones, portable computers, PDAs, and digital cameras, to communicate with each other. These units can, moreover, communicate with stationary equipment such as stationary computers and other types of electronic units via the same wireless short-distance transmission.

A unit of this type can also be equipped with a smart card. A smart card is a plastic card with a built-in computer in miniature format containing a processor, memory, operating system, and program. A smart card communicates with the device via a standardized interface called ANSI/IEC/ISO 7816. The display on the unit can constitute a user interface for functionality of the smart card that is located in the unit. If the unit contains a smart card of the multifunctional type, the unit can provide a dedicated user interface for each function of the smart card. An example of a standardized operating system for managing these smart cards is OTA (Open Terminal Architecture). In addition, a smart card can utilize encryption that makes it difficult to counterfeit. This makes a smart card well suited for all types of management of sensitive information such as, for example, electronic money, medicinal information, and telephonic metering.

STATE OF THE ART

For many years various electronic devices, as for example mobile telephones, portable computers, PDAs, etc. have been available for users in or- der to ease and simplify everyday life. These devices have in common the inclusion of a computer unit, an operating system, and a number of program modules and information for the functionality that the device has.

A limitation of the above known technology is that the program modules for specific functions must be available in the device before use. This is realized normally with memory modules where as many program modules as possible are stored in order to be able to offer as great functionality as possible. A normal limitation is, however, often the size of the memory modules since the devices are often price-sensitive. These limitations also lead to the fact that it is more difficult and sometimes impossible to update or increase functions in the device.

The question of which program modules get built into a device is determined sometimes by the manufacturer at the time of production when they are statically stored in the memory module or, in more advanced and expensive devices, the user himself or herself can manually erase and store the program modules and the information that he or she believes are currently needed. Management of these program modules and information can, for example, be done with aid of a cable connection to a PC but also via a cable connection to other electronic devices.

In order to avoid the disadvantage of using cable connections for man- aging the above-mentioned program modules and information there are ex- amples where infrared light (IR) is used with standardized protocols (for example IrDA) that can exchange information and manage the program modules according to instructions by the user, but the devices must be within a sightline of each other. This can involve moving files, sending email, updating a calendar, etc.

Other examples of eliminating the disadvantage of a cable connection are radio-based short distance transfer of information and program modules such as "Bluetooth" and "HomeRF." The idea with these standards is that electronic devices should be able to communicate with each other in a wire- less manner if they are within range, even if the devices are not within a sightline. Still the limitation exists that the program modules for specific functions have to be available in the device before its use and thus inherently cause increased memory consumption. There remains the necessity of manual and traditional manipulation for exchange of information and program modules. If several units are in range, the manual procedure becomes more cumbersome for making a decision on which units the information should be exchanged between.

In certain cases the above-mentioned electric devices can contain a smart card reader and some type of smart card with a built-in computer in miniature format that contains a processor, memory, operating system, and programs. Examples of these types of devices are hand-carried systems such as mobile telephones and PDAs but also PC computers in various designs or fixed installations such as mini bank ATMs (Automatic Teller Machines) and payment terminals for smart cards with electronic money. In the examples where smart card terminals are integrated with a GSM-mobile telephone the smart card can be of the type "Subscriber Identity Module" (SIM). There is also a physically smaller variant of this smart card called "plug-in SIM."

Various types of electronic devices with smart cards most often have software and operating systems constructed for various types of smart card systems. Examples are "electronic wallets " of the type Visa Cash from Visa International, CLIP from Europay International, Proton-based systems from Banksys owned by Belgian banks, Geldkarte from the Zentral Kreditauss- chuss (ZKA) and Mondex from Mondex International. The common European currency "Euro" will surely play an important role in the strategy of producing smart cards for electronic money that function everywhere in Europe.

Other examples are more advanced smart cards with several functions in the same smart card for such purposes such as secure internet commerce, secure remote applications with banks, personal medicinal information, ID checking, checking of access to buildings and automobiles, checking of access and payment systems for mobile telephone systems, and checking of access and payment systems for various digital TV-systems. Examples of types of these smart cards for banks are Groupement des Cartes Bancaires from France, Eurocheque cards / GeldKarte from Germany, Smart Bank Cards Trial from England and Visa credit / Visa Cash from Visa International.

In order to standardize the software interface for various types of smart cards with critical banking functions, Europay, Mastercard and Visa have come out with an international standard for smart bank cards called EMV (EMV '96 Integrated Circuit Card (ICC)) which many of the above- mentioned systems already support now or will support in coming versions. Concerning secure Internet commerce, Visa and MasterCard, among others, have produced a standard protocol called SET 1.0. In order to improve this standard, there is a standard being developed that combines EMV and SET called C-SET. This is all done to improve and increase security in paying with the smart card via the Internet and similar remote systems. Further standards for secure remote commerce are OTP PROTOCOLS produced by Mondex International, "Open Buying On the Internet" OBI from American Express, e-COMM (IBM, SG2 and MSI) in France, and C-Zam / PC technology for Proton-based systems from Banksys. In order to ease execution of various applications by one and the same smart card, Sun Microsystems, Inc. at the initiative of Visa International has produced a standardized operating system called Java Card API 2.0, where there is a JVM (Java Virtual Machine) integrated on the smart card that can execute the Java program. A further example of an operating system for smart cards is MULTOS. A consortium called Maosco that has been created by the firm Mondex International has developed this operating system. Several large firms are included in the consortium such as Gemplus, Hitachi, Motorola, and Siemens. In an attempt to solve the problem of the abovementioned broad spectrum of applications, types of systems, and software interfaces for electronic devices with smart cards, Europay International has gone further and produced a standard for operating systems for these devices called OTA (Open Terminal Architecture). This standard is based on the principle that an elec- tronic operating system for a device consists of a VM (virtual machine) that is optimized for the computer unit located in the device. The VM can then either execute the program modules independent of the computer unit that are stored in the memory module of the electronic unit or it can retrieve the program modules from the smart card that is located in the device. Conceptually this can be compared with Java Applets.

Even in all of the abovementioned electronic devices with smart cards and various types of operating systems the limitation remains that the program modules for specific functions must be available in the device or in the smart card before use. This leads to increased memory use and more difficult or impossible updating and/or expansion of the program modules and their functionality. Manual and traditional management in order to exchange information and program modules for the device, in those devices where this possibility exists, also remains. In manual management there is the problem that when the smart card itself should be used, it must manually be moved between different electronic devices. Here there is a known technology that describes how information can manually be exchanged via wireless short-distance transmission; see for example US-A-5734722 and US-A-5635701.

THE INVENTION IN SUMMARY

The device according to the invention can, for example, contain operating systems, user interfaces, wireless short-distance transmission, exchangeable smart cards, software to manage automatic reception of program modules, and information via wireless short-distance transmission. With short-distance transmission is meant here transmission between units that are located at a distance of up to some tens of meters from each other.

One purpose of the invention is to provide a method and device for exchange of information between a main device and electronic devices such as, for example, mobile telephones, portable computers, and PDAs, whereby abovementioned problems and disadvantages are essentially or completely eliminated. This purpose is achieved by the invention's having the special features indicated in patent claims 1 and 6.

According to the invention, the operating system for an electric device is provided with unique software to manage automatic reception of program modules and information via wireless short-distance transmission, where the information or program modules, if the user so allows, are uploaded wirelessly to the device from a main device without the user's needing to intervene in order automatically to begin execution or use in the intended manner. The information or the program modules are received automatically via installation software in the device. It is also possible to let the user configure the device according to the invention and thus deactivate the download software so that the program modules are prohibited from automatically being received by the device. This information and these program modules can be downloaded via wireless short-distance transmission from any electric unit that is located within range and has contact with the device so long as it fulfills the requirements for communicating with the unique software in the device's operating system for automatically managing reception of program modules and information via wireless short-distance transmission. In certain applications two devices communicate according to the invention in the above-described manner, whereby at least one of the devices acts as the main device.

A special feature of the invention is that when the information or the program module comes via wireless short-distance transmission to an electric device that has a smart card, the information or program module can both remain and be used in the device itself or automatically be sent on to the smart card in order to be used there. This means that the smart card can remain in the device and the disadvantage of the manual procedure for moving the smart card between different electric units for use disappears.

The invention can be used in electric devices with conventional operating systems where the wireless downloadable program modules are in- tended for just the type of computer unit that is located in the device. The invention can also be used in electric devices with operating systems of the VM (virtual machine) type where the program modules then become dependent on the computer unit, conceptually resembling Java applets such as, for example, OTA (Open Terminal Architecture). The program modules don't need to be complete programs but can, for example, just contain functionality in order to exploit the electric device's display and keypad enabling the user to exchange information with the electric devices that one is in wireless contact with. The invention can even be a part in a system with distributed objects, where the distributed objects correspond to program modules with information. The display and keypad on the electric device can be replaced by general output or input devices.

Further special features of the invention are detailed by the description below and the accompanying dependent patent claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described in more detail with aid of exemplary embodiments with reference to enclosed drawings on which

FIG 1 is a principal block diagram of an electric device according to previously known technology containing a display, a computer unit, and a keypad where the user is connected via connection means to a certain type of base device for manual management of data and pro- gram modules.

FIG 2 is a principal block diagram of an electric device according to previously known technology containing a display, a computer unit, a keypad, and a smart card where the user must manually manage infor- mation and program modules via wireless short-distance transmission from another electric unit.

FIG 3 is a principal block diagram of an electric device according to the invention containing a display, a computer unit, a keypad, and a smart card where information and program modules are automatically moved to the device or smart card according to the embodiment described in the invention.

THE INVENTION

FIG 1 shows an example of the previously known technology. An electric device 10 of this type contains a computer unit 11 , a keypad 12, or another input device along with some form of display 13 or corresponding output device. In the computer unit 11 one or more types of memories are provided in a conventional manner in which software and/or information is stored. Preferably a combination of volatile and non-volatile memory is used, but even systems that have only volatile memories occur. A first driver 14 is provided in computer unit 11 for driving display 13. In a similar manner a second driver 15 is located in computer unit 11 for driving the keypad. A third driver 21 drives connection means 23 via communication unit 22. In a simple embodiment connection means 23 constitutes a connection for an electric cable 20. For these current applications the connection device includes an antenna or alternatively IR- components or similar devices for wireless short-distance transmission of information. In a corresponding way communications unit 22 contains a radio unit or an IR-unit. The electric device is connected via connection means 23 with a separate base device 17.

An operating system 16 suitably works in a conventional way in computer unit 11 together with one or more program modules 18, chosen depending on application. Different statistical or dynamic data 19 are used for different types of applications. FIG 2 also shows previously known technology. In the embodiment according to FIG 2 an electric device, which in most respects is in agreement with the embodiment according to FIG 1 , is also connected with a smart card 25. Communication with base device 17 is accomplished wirelessly, preferably with radio signals. In accordance with the description above, a smart card can be provided with a computer and memory along with a more or less developed operating system. Information, which is received by electronic device 10, wirelessly or via cable, can be transferred via a fourth driver 26 in computer unit 11 to the smart card via special interface 27.

FIG 3 shows a first embodiment of an electronic device 10 according to the invention. Electronic device 10 can include the same type of hardware as the devices that were described above. In a preferred embodiment the same type of general operating system 16 is also used as was described above. The same type of keypad 12 and display 13 can also be used. Both keypad 12 and display 13 can be of a more or less complex nature. In simple embodiments display 13 can consist of a separate light emitting diode or a very simple screen of the LCD type or similar. Keypad 12 can consist of some few keys.

In more complex embodiments the display includes a larger screen that can be used to show graphic symbols. The keypad can also be more inclusive with a pointing device or similar. Display 13 and keypad 12 can also be combined in a so-called touch screen, whereby the user directly presses the touch screen in order to control the program modules that are executed in the computer unit.

In other further embodiments a screen is replaced by or combined with sounding devices so that the display emits information to the user in form of sound. In a corresponding way keypad 12 includes or constitutes a device for recording and interpreting spoken instructions from the user. Keypad 12 thus constitutes a general input device and display 13 a general output device. Communications unit 22 is designed for radio communication for short distances and connection means 23 includes an antenna or corresponding device.

According to the invention, computer unit 11 is provided with further software and control systems to make possible automatic reception of arbitrary program modules and/or information (data). Computer unit 11 is pref- erably designed with special installation software 28, which is stored in the memory device in computer unit 11. By means of installation program 28 the computer unit can be maintained in a ready state, which means that information and software can be transferred automatically from a main device 24 as soon as electric device 10 is within range of main device 24. Main device 24 is provided with software that is associated with installation software 28.

Computer unit 11 can also be provided with certain program modules by means of which electronic device 10 is configured by the user if automatic downloading is desired. In such a case the transfer occurs automatically from main device 24 as soon as electric device 10 is in range of main device 24. Installation software 28 can be transferred to the computer unit in the conventional manner, for example in the same way as other program modules, and is then stored in volatile memories or in connection with transfer of the operating system 16 to computer unit 11. In simpler applications the in- stallation software can be set up when device 10 is assembled, whereby non-volatile memories are preferably used. Computer unit 11 can include completely conventional memory circuits (not shown). In an alternative embodiment computer unit 11 includes a modified operating system in which installation software is included. The program module or modules or information that is transferred to computer unit 11 in accordance with the invention can include a user interface relevant for the current application. In this way electric device 10 will behave quite differently depending on which program modules are sent from the main device. Information that is transferred in accordance with the invention can be stored in data areas 19 in the computer unit.

The embodiment shown in FIG 3 includes interface 27 (marked with dashes) to a smart card 25 (marked with dashes). In another application this interface and the smart card are omitted. The program modules and/or information that are received by computer unit 11 can, as described above, be stored in memory devices in computer unit 11. It is, however, also possible automatically to transfer via interface 27 certain or all such program modules and/or information to corresponding memory devices in smart card 25.

Communications unit 22 preferably includes devices for short-distance radio communication and is controlled by installation software 28 so that radio signals of an expected type are continuously received and decoded. Radio signals that correspond to program modules and/or information are decoded and transferred after that in form of program modules for execution in computer unit 11 or in form of data that are made available to appurtenant software in computer unit 11. The device according to the invention can receive information and program modules from external computer systems in a main device. An example of this is downloading of smart cards with electronic money from a main device 24 of the mini bank ATM type. When device 10 comes within range of main device 24, installation software 28 is activated and one or more program modules can automatically be sent from main device 24 to device 10. Via connection means 23 and communications unit 22 the program modules are either stored as program modules 18, in order automatically to start and be executed by operating system 16 or to be transferred farther to smart card 25 in order automatically to start and execute there. The user can then get a user interface tailored to the mini bank ATM that the device has contact with and can select via input device 12 and output 13 how much money should be transferred to smart card 25. Information on how much money should be transferred and a personal code stored in smart card 25 are sent back to base device 24. The correct amount of electronic money can then be sent to the device for storage in smart card 25. An alternative method of transferring is if a personal code initiated by a received program module stored in smart card 25 is sent back to main device 24 and the user employs the input device and output device on main device 24 in order to select how much electronic money should be transferred along with a personal code that matches the transferred personal code to approve the transaction. This means that device 10 in principle doesn't have to be taken out during the transaction.

In a similar manner the device according to the invention can be used for payment with electronic money. When device 10 comes into range of main device 24 of the payment device type, installation software 28 is activated and one or more program modules can automatically be sent from main device 24 to device 10 and via connection means 23 and communications unit 22 either be stored as program modules 18, in order automatically to start and be executed by operating system 16, or with aid of a fourth driver 26 and via interface (to smart cards) 27 be transferred farther to smart card 25 in order automatically to start and execute there. The user can then get a user interface tailored to main device 24 that shows how much one should pay. The user can then via input device 12 and output device 13 approve the transfer and the correct amount of electronic money can be sent to main device 24 from smart card 25. An alternative method of approving the transfer is if a personal code stored in smart card 25, initiated by a received program module, is sent back to main device 24 and the user employs input and output devices on main device 24 in order to confirm the transfer with a personal code that matches the transferred personal code. This means that device 10 in principle doesn't need to be taken out during the transaction. Other examples of the scope of application of a device according to the invention are automatic reception of only information such as, for example, text, sound, video, or images in order to make them automatically available to a user. This means that there is functionality in the form of program modules already from the beginning in order, for example, to show text, images, or video or to play sounds. Various examples can be to get a menu automatically as text when one enters a restaurant or to get a map in the form of an image when one enters a museum. When the device comes within range of main device 24 of the information device type, installation program 28 is activated. Various types of information can then automatically be sent from main device 24 to device 10 and via connection means 23 and communications unit 22 be stored as data 19 so that they with the help of program modules 18, operating system 16, and output device 13, which are already in computer unit 11 , are automatically made available to the user.

A further example for application of the invention is with payment of a parking fee. When the device comes within range of the main device for wireless short-distance transmission in the automatic parking meter, a program module is sent to the device. The transmitted program module contains a user interface for the automatic parking meter that is shown in the device's display when the device automatically executes the program module for how long the parking should be and for payment of the parking with an amount of money drawn from a smart card in the device and sent back to the automatic parking meter. In this case the device doesn't need to know beforehand how the information from the automatic parking meter will be processed and interpreted, since the automatic parking meter itself sends on the program module that is used to determine the parking time. The program module can, moreover, contain functionality in order to carry out transactions and correspondingly take electronic money from the smart card and send such electronic money to the automatic parking meter. On the other hand, the program module that is sent from the automatic parking meter needs to know the device's standardized operating system in order to manage units in the device such as, for example, display, keys, wireless short-distance transmission, and smart cards.

A further example of program modules that are transmitted wirelessly are management of queuing tickets. An electronic queuing ticket in form of a program module is sent wirelessly from a queuing ticket terminal to, for ex- ample, the post office or from the bank to the device. Beyond the queuing ticket itself the program module also contains information on the device's standardized operating system in order to manage units in the device such as, for example, the display and keys. In this case the device doesn't need to be equipped with a smart card. A further example of the scope of use is remote control of all kinds of equipment, such as, for example, a TV, video, stereo, automobile alarm, heat, and ventilation. Also in this case a wireless short-distance transmission is used to send a program module from equipment that is within range of the device. The display and keypad on the device are then used by the program modules to create a user interface for the equipment in question.

A further example involves small battery-run play stations of the Nintendo and Gameboy type. With use of the invention and wireless short-distance transmission of program modules and information several players can participate in the same game. An example of this type of game is if two per- sons each having a device play ping-pong with each other. The same game is shown simultaneously on both displays. In this application either one or both devices function as the main device.

In other further applications a personal computer or similar constitutes the main device and sends program modules and/or data to the game con- soles that are embodied as or provided with a device according to the invention. A game or similar software that is executed in the personal computer can thus give unique characteristics to the game console that are tailored to the current game.

Another possible example concerns an advertisement where informa- tion is downloaded automatically to the device when the user, for example, passes a display window in a boutique in order to be shown later at home by means of a PC.

Claims

1. A method for exchange of information between a main device (24) and an electronic device (10) present in the vicinity of said main device (24) and equipped with a computer unit (11), c h a r a c t e ri z e d in : that an installation module (28) is continuously executed in computer unit

(1 1 ), that at least a program module (18) or a data module (19) is received wirelessly and automatically in computer unit (11) by means of the installa- tion module (28). that the data or program modules (19, 18) are automatically made available in the computer unit.

2. A method according to claim 1 , wherein an application associated with a received program module (18) is executed automatically upon reception.

3. A method according to claim 1 , wherein said installation module (28) is executed as part of an operative system (16) controlling the computer unit (11).

4. A method according to claim 1 , wherein said installation module (28) is executed as an independent program module.

5. A method according to claim 1 , wherein a data or program module (19; 28) is automatically transferred via said installation module (28) to a smart card (25) connected to the computer unit (11).

6. A method for exchange of information between a main device (24) and an electronic device (10) present in the vicinity of said main device (24) and equipped with a computer unit (11), said connection means (23) being provided to connect computer unit (11) wirelessly with the main device (24) via a communication unit (22), c h a ra c t e riz e d in : that computer unit (11) is equipped with means to activate said communication unit (22) and to install incoming program modules automatically for execution and/or data modules for displaying them in the computer unit (11).

7. A device according to Claim 6, wherein said communication unit (22) is equipped with means for short-distance radio communications.

8. A device according to Claim 6, wherein said communication unit (22) is equipped with means for IR-communications.

9. A device according to Claim 6, wherein said computer unit (11) is provided with an interface (27) for connecting a smart card (25) to means (2) for automatic transfer of data and program modules (19; 18) from the main device (24) to the smart card (25).

10. A device according to Claim 6, wherein said computer unit (11) is provided with input (12) and output (13) means, the features of which are adjustable by incoming data and program modules (19; 18).