ITUD20060028A1 - PERSONAL UNIVERSAL ELECTRONIC CARD - Google Patents

Description

Patent of invention

Title: Personal universal electronic card

Description

Object

The present invention relates to a personal universal electronic card, the characteristics of which conform to the pre-characterizing part of the main claim.

Application sector

The sector of application is substantially directed to the electronic data processing service, the telecommunications sector and everything connected with electronic processing.

State of the art

Currently, intelligent cards or "SMART CARDs" are known and in use, capable of performing a very large number of functions, both for identification and for payments and collections, and for a plurality of other services.

USB sticks are currently known which are capable of performing many functions by physically connecting at least one of the electronic devices.

Problems and drawbacks of the state of the art

The problems and drawbacks of the state of the art are substantially identified in a limitation of the functions.

In other words, the current cards have a limited use for certain services, other services being satisfied by other devices generally of different form.

Task of the Invention

The task of the invention is to solve the aforementioned problems and drawbacks and provide a smart card capable of performing a great variety of functions even with customization.

Solution of the problem and identification of the inventive features

The problem is solved with the features of the main claim.

The sub-claims represent advantageous preferential solutions that provide better performance and absolute and safe personalization.

Benefits

In this way there is the advantage of having a card capable of performing a great variety of functions not currently available.

In particular, it is also noted that such a type of card can be associated with the functionality of the common USB key.

Furthermore, if, for example, the card is lost or stolen, a third party is unable to use it as only the fingerprint of the true owner is able to authorize its use.

Description of the preferential solution

For a better understanding, the invention is described in preferential embodiment with the aid of Fig.1. annex which represents the schematic block plan view of the electronic card or card.

Detailed description of the invention in relation to the figures

In accordance with the figures, it is noted that the invention refers to a universal electronic card, or universalized smart card with telecommunication and personalization means, such as universal electronic card, in the form of a card in the specific case it can have the preferential format of 80x55x3mm, in material plastic or metal, which includes the following elements:

1. Wi-Fi module: makes the wireless connection using the IEEE 802.1 lb standard 2. Bluetooth module:: makes the wireless connection using the Bluetooth standard 3. USB connector: connects the device to the USB port, allowing the battery to be recharged and data exchange

4. Rechargeable battery: its autonomy is monitored, indicating to the user when to recharge it.

5. Internal Memory: records user settings

6.Microprocessor: responsible for managing all peripherals

7. Memory Flash Card connector: allows the use of an external memory, adapting the capacity to the needs (up to 2GB)

8. Fingerprint Module: detects the user's fingerprint, verifying its authenticity, and also acts as a menu navigator

9. LCD display: allows you to view the menu and operations in progress.

Obviously the same is advantageously integrated with ANTENNA.

In the user interface obviously together with the components 8,9 there will also be a series of KEYS with command functions, and / or input.

The novelty and originality being constituted by the association of all the aforementioned elements and in particular the addition of the fingerprint reader (8) for verification, identification and access permission to all functions.

As you can see from the figures that the new card has the appearance of a very common credit card, the small size of the internal components will allow you to produce a plasticized and aesthetically customizable card with prints of logos, images or other. The same has a plastic support base with integrated circuits with said components such as microprocessor or CPU, memory, transmission module, battery, LCD screen and on / off button.

The card from now on for simplicity called CARD, has the ability to receive, store and transfer multiple data and information simply by approaching electronic devices equipped with BLUETOOTH and WI-FI technology or similar or higher communication standards, so it can communicate with different equipment on the market such as computers, laptops, palmtops, mobile phones, satellites, electronic devices in general, etc.

Furthermore, the CARD using radio communication without the need for cables or USB connections can be used for numerous uses or applications, but having also the USB connection it can perform the same functions as any USB.

Uses and applications

The uses and applications can be the most varied such as, for example, not limiting:

Business cards, presentation of companies and services, product list, data archive, address book, miisica, games and ringtones, pre-paid cards, electronic purse, electronic payment instruments in general, service cards, loyalty cards, subscriptions, identification cards , health data, personal data, attendance records, meal vouchers, payment tickets, bus passes, railways, and similar, vending machines, photocopiers, control and communication with electronic devices, provision of telematic services, access to PCs or other, message encryption, files , data, fingerprint, digital signature, e.commerce and telematic recognition, protected internet services, mobility info, access to motorways, parking and parking payment, electronic tolls, access control, data storage and transfer, images, photographs, business cards electronic, etc.

Thanks to the chip incorporated inside it we will find the data relating to the company itself as: header; addresses of the various offices; phone numbers; fax number; email addresses; yes VAT number; description of the services that the company offers.

The data can be used immediately by the receiving device as soon as the CARD is approached with the advantage of not being entered into the receiving device with the keyboard.

By placing the CARD near a mobile phone equipped with Bluetooth technology, the telephone number of the company will appear on the phone display and the call can be immediately forwarded; we will also be able to immediately store the telephone number in the mobile phone book. On the other hand, by placing the CARD near a computer equipped with Bluetooth technology, the system will display the data contained in the CARD, requesting the reading and storage of the personal data in the various archives (personal data for billing program, email for outlook, price lists and / or services offered by the company, other).

The CARD can also be used to enter the destination in GPS devices equipped with Bluetooth technology without having to type in the address and enter any stops such as hotels, restaurants or organize a pre-defined itinerary.

A peculiarity is that the description of the services that the Company offers can be stored in multiple languages and displayed according to the user's needs.

The CARDs can also be used by the financial banking sector, by the public administration, in the transport sector and by businesses as a replacement product for current Smart Cards or Cards in general.

Technical features

Depending on the amount of data to be transmitted / received, the devices will use a different technology (Wireless or Bluetooth).

When the flow of data to be transmitted / received is low (as in mobile phones and PDAs), the technology used will be Bluetooth (or new similar or higher communication standards), while for the transfer / reception of a greater amount of data (such as when exchanging files between computers), the standard indicated will be Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity - IEEE 802.11b or new similar or higher communication standards, e.g. 802.11 a / b / i / g).

Of course, different types of products can be created with different prices, the product will vary according to the type of device connected and the amount of data to be transmitted.

General structure

The Bluetooth module managed by the central processor, connected to a memory. The Bluetooth module will allow wireless communication between the card and other devices. Customer data is stored in the memory.

In the most advantageous solution, a single microcontroller component is used to integrate the processor and memory. The power supply via the battery is realized during data transmission and after pressing the key to receive or transmit.

Examples of components with dimensions are described in the following table 01:

Table 01

In the case of using the Wi-Fi standard, it will be possible to transfer a greater amount of data and therefore the card can be used to support larger files such as audio, video, etc. communicating above all with computers via the wireless network WLAN (Wireless Locai Area Network).

The most significant physical alteration is the implementation of the W-Fi module. Table 02 describes the components required for the IEEE 802.11b standard radio and a memory suggestion, with its prices and dimensions.

Components

Table 02

Using the Bluetooth and Wi-Fi modules together. Its general structure is obviously more complete.

Description of the operating system

The description of the card's operation is illustrated in the block diagram of Figure 1. Startup occurs when the power source is connected to the circuit. At this moment the card is off, so it does not consume energy. Activation can be done through a programming key or the transmission key.

When the programming key is activated, the card enters the programming mode, i.e. the received data is stored in the memory. When the reception and storage are completed, the card will automatically turn off.

Otherwise, when the transmit key is pressed, the data contained in the memory begins to be transmitted. At the end of the transmission, the card switches itself off to save energy and returns to the initial state.

Claims (1)

Claims 1.- Universal electronic card, of the smart card type or SMART CARD, of the card-shaped type (10), with integrated circuit elements which are integrated into the thickness of the card provided for the purpose and layered with it at least one microchip, characterized from the fact that it includes at least the following components: i- a microprocessor (6) associated with a memory (5); ii- an interchangeable flat battery within the thickness (4) capable of powering said microprocessor (6) and said memory (5); ii- at least one data transmission device (3, 1,2, 7) connected to said microprocessor (6) and / or to said memory (5); iv- at least one fingerprint reader (8) integrated into it and the processor system to read the user's fingerprint, verifying its authenticity before allowing access to its various functions. 2.- Card according to Claim 1, characterized in that said data transmission device is a Bluetooth module (2). 3.- Card according to Claim 1 and / or 2, characterized in that said data transmission device is a WIFI module with Baseband transceiver (1). 4.- Card according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said data transmission device is a USB connector (3). 5.- Card according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said data transmission device is a FlashCard memory connector (7). 6.- Paper according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises a display screen (9). 7.- Paper according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said display screen (9) is an LCD liquid crystal screen.