JPH04294478A - Ic card reader/writer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily execute host side processing and to improve operability by switching a card communication mode by an IC card reader/writer in accordance with the existence of an application software for a loaded IC card. CONSTITUTION:When an IC card 3A or 3B is loaded to the IC card reader/ writer 1, reset operation is executed in the IC card 3A or 3B, and immediately after the reset operation, answer-to-reset(ATR) information is sent from the IC card 3A or 3B to the IC card reader/writer 1. The IC card reader/writer 1 discriminates whether the loaded IC card 3A or 3B has application software or not in accordance with a discrimination code for informing the existence of the application soft included in the ATR, switches and selects the card communication mode in accordance with the existence of the application soft. Thereby a host side higher rank system side) 2 can similarly control all IC cards.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an IC card reader/writer for exchanging information with an IC card.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art IC cards have recently become popular because they are easy to carry and have a much larger storage capacity than magnetic cards. By the way, IC cards have only built-in system software (hereinafter referred to as system software), and are mainly intended for use as mere external auxiliary memory for OA equipment, etc., and in addition to the above-mentioned system software, there are It is broadly classified into IC cards that have built-in application software (hereinafter referred to as application software) such as exit management software, shopping management software, and corporate personal information management software. If the card installed in the IC card reader/writer is an IC card with application software, it can be determined by the application software from the host computer (hereinafter referred to as host) connected to the IC card reader/writer. By sending card control commands that are relatively easy for an operator to handle to the IC card side, it has become possible to cause the IC card side to perform read/write operations, various arithmetic processes, and the like. On the other hand, if the card installed in the IC card reader/writer is an IC card without application software, the host connected to the IC card reader/writer controls the card in response to the execution request contents input by the operator. Converts the command into a card control format that can be identified and executed on the IC card side without application software, and reads/reads it to the IC card side according to the request command in this card control format.
It was supposed to perform a write operation.

0003

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] As mentioned above, conventionally, communication processing has to be used on the host side depending on whether an IC card has application software or an IC card without application software. In addition to complicating the processing on the host system (on the upper system side) and increasing the burden on the host side, the host side had to be versatile enough to support both with and without application software, which placed restrictions on the host side. .

[0004] Therefore, the technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art.
The purpose of this is to enable IC cards with application software and IC cards without applications to be controlled as the same from the host side, making processing easier and reducing the burden on the host side (upper system side). An object of the present invention is to provide an IC card reader/writer which is easy to use on the host side.

[0005]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides an IC card reader/writer equipped with at least a card control command processing unit for an IC card. Ansato reset (A) sent to the reader/writer side
nswer To Reset) The IC card reader/writer determines the identification code included in the information that indicates the presence or absence of application software built into the card, and the IC card reader/writer changes the card communication mode depending on the presence or absence of application software on the inserted IC card. It is configured to switch and select.

[0006]

[Operation] When an IC card is inserted into an IC card reader/writer, a reset operation is performed within the IC card, and immediately after this reset operation, an Answer To R is sent from the IC card to the IC reader/writer.
eset (hereinafter referred to as ATR) information is sent. Then, the IC card reader/writer determines whether the installed IC card has application software or not based on the identification code that indicates the presence or absence of application software included in the ATR, and performs card communication depending on the presence/absence of this application software. Switch/select the mode. Now, if the installed IC card has application software, information is exchanged with the IC card by card control commands from the host, and if the installed IC card does not have application software,
A card control command processing unit in the IC card reader/writer converts a card control command from the host, and controls the IC card using a request command in a card control format created by the card control command processing unit.

[0007] By doing this, on the host side (upper system side), all IC cards can be accessed regardless of whether the installed IC card has application software or not.
It becomes possible to control the cards by treating them as the same, and the processing on the host side becomes easier and the burden on the host side can be reduced, thereby improving usability on the host side.

[0008]

Embodiment An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 10. FIG. 1 is a simplified explanatory diagram of an IC card reader/writer system according to this embodiment. In FIG. 1, 1 is an IC card reader/writer, 2 is a host (host computer) connected to the IC card reader/writer 1 in a communicable manner, and 3A is a built-in application software (system software and application software). (Built-in) IC card, 3B is I without application software (only system software is built-in)
It is a C card. In addition, in the following explanation, these two types of IC
The cards 3A and 3B are collectively referred to as an IC card 3.

Although not shown, the IC card reader/writer 1 has a card insertion slot for inserting the IC card 3, an automatic insertion/ejection mechanism for the IC card 3, and a mechanism for automatically inserting and ejecting the IC card 3, as is well known. It has a connector connection part etc. to be connected, and a control part 4 mainly composed of a microcomputer in the IC card reader/writer 1 exchanges information with the installed IC card 3. ing. Here, the control unit 4 mainly composed of the microcomputer includes various I/O interfaces, a ROM that stores basic programs and fixed data, a RAM that reads and writes various data and flags, and a CPU that controls the entire reader/writer. (microprocessor), etc., and according to the card control processing program created in advance
It exchanges information with the C card 3, and also exchanges various commands and transfers data with the host 2. In addition, 5 is a card control command processing section provided in the control section 4, and the IC card reader/writer 1
If the card installed in the card is an IC card 3B without the application software, the card control command processing unit 5 converts the card control command from the host 1, and the IC card 3B interprets and executes the card control command. It converts it into a request command in a possible card control format and sends it to the IC card 3B, and also receives the response signal from the IC card 3B, performs conversion processing as necessary, and sends it to the host 2 side. It has become.

The IC card 3 includes a CPU that controls the entire card itself, and a mask ROM that stores the control program for operating the CPU and the above-mentioned ATR information.
, an EEPROM mainly for storing data, and a RAM for temporarily storing data, commands, etc. Then, the I with the application software
In the case of the C card 3A, the control program includes a command interpretation/communication processing program for directly interpreting card control commands from the host 2 side and controlling data communication, and the application software In the case of an IC card 3B without an IC card, the control program includes a communication processing program that interprets only read request commands, write request commands, and check request commands according to the card control format created by the card control command processing section 5. There is. In other words, the IC card 3A with application software performs protocol processing (
The IC card 3B without application software cannot perform protocol processing.

[0011] In the present invention, the ATR in the IC card 3
It is assumed that an identification code indicating whether or not the application software is built into the card is written in the information storage area, and at the initial time when the IC card 3 is installed in the IC card reader/writer 1. In conjunction with the reset operation executed within this IC card 3,
As is well known, the control unit 4 on the IC card reader/writer 1 side determines the presence or absence of application software based on ATR information sent from the IC card 3 to the IC card reader/writer 1. In the case of the IC card 3A with application software, the control unit 4
A communication mode with application software is selected, and in the case of an IC card 3B without application software, a communication mode without application software is selected.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a processing flow performed by the control section 4 of the IC card reader/writer 1 at an initial point in time when the above-mentioned IC card 3 is attached to the IC card reader/writer 1. In step S1 of the figure, the IC
Card 3 is installed, and then AT in step S2.
After the R information is received, the process proceeds to the next step S3. In step S3, it is asked whether there is any abnormality in the ATR signal.
If YES, proceed to step S4; if NO, proceed to step S5
After the IC card 3 is automatically ejected as a non-conforming card, this flow ends. In step S4, a question is asked as to whether or not application software is built-in.
If YES, a communication mode with application software is selected in step S6, and this flow is ended; if NO, a communication mode without application software is selected in step S7, and this flow is ended.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of ATR information written in a predetermined storage area in the 1C card 3.
As shown in the figure, the ATR information is constructed of initial information 6, format information 7, interface information 8, historical information 9, and check information 10, and the identification code indicating the presence or absence of the application software described above is, for example, It is written in the historical information 9 storage area.

In the above configuration, when the inserted card is the IC card 3A with application software, the control unit 4 of the IC card reader/writer 1 takes the communication mode with application software, and in this case, the above-mentioned A card control command from the host 2 is sent to the IC card 3A via the IC card reader/writer 1.
The IC card 3A interprets the received card control command, executes read/write processing, arithmetic conversion processing, etc. as appropriate, and also sends data etc. to the IC card reader/writer 1 according to the communication procedure created by the IC card 3A itself. It is sent to the host 2 side via the host 2 side.

On the other hand, when the inserted card is an IC card 3B without application software, the control section 4 of the IC card reader/writer 1 takes a communication mode without application software, and communicates between the host 2 and the IC card 3B.
Command communication and data transfer with the IC card reader/writer 1 are performed through conversion processing by the control unit 4 of the IC card reader/writer 1.

FIG. 4 shows I without application software.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a read control flow executed by the IC card reader/writer 1 when the C card 3B is inserted. In step S11 of the same figure, a read command (for example, one containing a file name, record number, etc.) is received from the host 2, and based on the read command from the host 2, it is desired to read in steps S12 and S13, respectively. Address and length are determined. In step S14, a read flag is added to the beginning of the determined address and length to create a predetermined read control format, and a read request command based on this format is transmitted to the IC card 3B. In step S15, the data read from the IC card 3B is received, and in step S15, the data read from the IC card 3B is received.
In step 16, this is sent to the host 2 as a response from the IC card 3B, and this processing flow ends (exit to another flow). Here, the method of determining the address and length in steps S12 and S13 described above will be described for reference with reference to FIG. The IC card reader/writer 1 is shown in Figure 5.
IC card 3 without application software as shown in
It has a memory management table for B, and the file name and record N included in the read command from host 2.
The address and length are determined by referring to the management table based on o. For example, if file name "EF" and record number "3" are specified by a read command from host 2, the address and length will be "902," respectively.
0" and "10".

FIG. 6 shows the I without application software.
1 of the read operation control flow executed on the C card 3B side
It is an explanatory diagram showing an example. In step S21 in the figure, I
A read request command in the predetermined format is received from the C card reader/writer 1, and a read request is determined based on a read flag. In step S22, the specified length of data is read from the specified address, and then in step S23, an OK flag is set.
Thereafter, the read data is sent to the IC card reader/writer 1 in step S24, and this processing flow ends (exit to another flow).

FIG. 7 shows I without application software.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a write control flow executed by the IC card reader/writer 1 when the C card 3B is inserted. In step S31 in the figure, a write command and accompanying data from the host 2 are received. In steps S32 and S33, the address and length to which data is to be written are determined based on the write command from the host 2, respectively. Next, in step S34,
A write flag is added to the beginning of the determined address and length to create a predetermined write control format, and a write request command based on this format and write data accompanying it are transmitted to the IC card 3B. Step S
35, a response signal from the IC card 3B is received, and in the next step S36, this is transmitted to the host 2 as a response from the IC card 3B, and this processing flow ends (exit to another flow).

FIG. 8 shows I without application software.
1 of the write operation control flow executed on the C card 3B side
It is an explanatory diagram showing an example. In step S41 in the figure, I
A write request command and write data in the predetermined format are received from the C card reader/writer 1, and a write request is determined based on a write flag. In the next step S42, the specified length of data is written to the specified address, and then in step S4
The data written in step 3 and the received data are compared, and it is asked in step S44 whether the comparison results match. When an OK determination is made in step S44,
An OK flag is set in step S45 and the process proceeds to step S47, and if an NG determination is made in step S44, an error flag is set in step S46 and the process also proceeds to step S47. In step S47, a flag indicating write processing is added before the OK flag or error flag, and this flag is sent to the IC card reader/writer 1, and this processing flow ends (exit to another flow).

FIG. 9 shows I without application software.
This is a diagram showing an example of a read (or write) request format created by the IC card reader/writer 1 to send to the C card 3B. ) and the length of the data to be read (or written) are provided in sequence, and in the case of a write request, the data to be written is added after this. Moreover, FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the response format on the IC card 3B side without application software.
As shown in the figure, a read (or write) flag and OK (or the above-mentioned error flag) are transmitted, and in the case of a read response, the data read after this is added.

[0021] In this embodiment, when the IC card 3B without application software is installed, the host 2
When a command other than a read command, write command, or check command arrives from the host 2, the IC card reader/writer 1 immediately sends an error code indicating that the command is not supported.

[0022]

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, the host side (upper system side) treats all IC cards as the same regardless of the presence or absence of application software on the installed IC cards. This makes it possible to control the host side, ease the processing on the host side, and reduce the burden on the host side.Therefore, it is possible to realize an IC card reader/writer that is easy to use on the host side, and its value is great.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a simplified explanatory diagram of an IC card reader/writer system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a processing flow at the initial stage of card installation, which is executed by the IC card reader/writer according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[Fig. 3] ATR in an IC card according to one embodiment of the present invention
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of information content.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a read control flow for an IC card without application software executed by an IC card reader/writer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a memory management table for an IC card without application software built into an IC card reader/writer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a read operation control flow executed by an IC card without application software in an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a write control flow for an IC card without application software executed by an IC card reader/writer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a write operation control flow executed by an IC card without application software in an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a read/write request format for an IC card without application software created by an IC card reader/writer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a response format created by an IC card without application software in an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 IC card reader/writer 2 Host computer (host) 3A IC card with application software 3B
IC card without application software 4 Control unit 5 Card control command processing unit

Claims (3)

[Claims] Claim 1: In an IC card reader/writer equipped with at least a card control command processing section for the IC card, an answer reset (answer reset) is sent from the IC card to the IC card reader/writer at the initial stage of IC card installation.
Answer To Reset) The IC card reader/writer determines the identification code contained in the information that indicates the presence or absence of application software built into the card, and the IC card reader/writer changes the card communication mode depending on the presence or absence of the application software on the installed IC card. An IC card reader/writer characterized by switching and selection. Claim 2: The attached I
When the C card has application software, information is exchanged with the IC card by card control commands from the host computer, and when the installed IC card does not have application software,
The card control command from the host computer is
An IC card reader characterized in that a card control command processing unit in a C card reader/writer performs conversion processing to control an IC card using a request command in a card control format created by the card control command processing unit. lighter. Claim 3: The attached I
When a C card does not have application software and a command other than a read command, write command, or check command arrives from the host computer, the IC card reader/writer sends an error code to the host computer indicating that it is not supported. An IC card reader/writer characterized by being configured to transmit data.