KR20050122672A - Apparatus and method for protecting smart card - Google Patents

Abstract

A smart card protection device and method are provided. Smart card protection device and method is a door formed on one side of the digital device and coupled by a hinge, an opening groove having a predetermined size extending from the card insertion hole of the door and the outer surface of the door, the door is a hinge Pressure means for applying pressure in an outward direction to rotate by an angle, a locking means for locking the door, and a locking control module for generating a predetermined electrical signal to release the locking means.

Description

Apparatus and method for protecting smart card}

The present invention relates to a smart card protection device and method, and more particularly, to a smart card protection device and method that prevents damage and loss of the card by blocking the smart card from unauthorized access and protect from external shock.

A smart card is an 8-bit or 16-bit microprocessor unit with its own arithmetic function, a card operating system, and a secure storage area on the surface of a plastic card of the same material and size as a general credit card. An electronic card having a built-in storage memory (EEPROM) and having an integrated circuit (IC) chip attached to a surface thereof. These smart cards can embed more information than magnetic tape cards and can be programmed for use in many applications. In addition to general smart cards, smart cards include data and programs for multipurpose use, and smart cards that can be upgraded for new purposes after they are issued. In addition, smart cards may be divided into contact types, which are inserted into slots and read by a special reader, and contactless designed to be read from a distance, such as a highway tollhouse, depending on a reading method.

Smart cards can be used for a variety of purposes, including phone calls, electronic payments, and can be recharged periodically. It is believed that smart cards can be used for the following purposes either now or in the near future.

(1) make a phone call and pay for each call;

(2) to identify you when you access a bank via the Internet;

(3) to pay for parking fees, fare for subways, trains, buses, etc .;

(4) to provide personal information to hospitals or physicians without listing on a separate form;

(5) for the purchase of certain goods in Internet electronic stores;

(6) For oiling at gas stations.

As described above, smart cards are used for bill payment, identity verification, and personal information provision. While the card may be used for a relatively short time as described above, the card may be used for a long time such as payment of Internet set-top box. It may be necessary to contact the card reader. In general, there are two types of card readers used in set-top boxes: exposed type and door type. In the double exposure type, the card insertion hole of the card reader is exposed to the outside, but the integrated circuit chip portion on the surface of the card is inserted into the slot of the reader so that the calculation is performed by the contact between the reader and the integrated circuit chip in the reader. Part of is exposed form to the outside. On the other hand, in the door type, the card insertion port of the card reader is positioned inside the set top box, and the card is blocked from the outside by the door after the card is inserted. In the exposed type, since a part of the card is exposed to the outside, the card may be damaged by an external shock, and there is always a risk of card damage and loss due to unauthorized access such as children. On the other hand, the door type prevents damage due to external shock since the card is sealed by the door, but there is still a risk of card damage and loss caused by unauthorized access, and foreign matter may enter the door. There is also the possibility.

An object of the present invention is to prevent unauthorized access to the card and to protect the card from external shocks, thereby preventing damage and loss of the card.

Another object of the present invention is to satisfy the above object and to make it easy to know whether a card is inserted.

The objects of the present invention are not limited to the above-mentioned objects, and other objects not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description.

In order to achieve the above object, the smart card protection device according to an embodiment of the present invention has a predetermined size extending from the door formed on one side of the digital device and coupled by a hinge, the card insertion hole of the door and the outer surface of the door An opening groove, a pressure means for applying pressure in an outward direction so that the door is rotated by a predetermined angle with respect to the hinge to open, a locking means for locking the door, and generating a predetermined electrical signal to release the locking means. A locking control module.

Smart card protection method according to an embodiment of the present invention is a step of transmitting a password input from the user to the locking control module via a button of the digital device or a button of the remote control, the step of comparing the transmitted password and the pre-stored password and If the transmitted password is the same as the previously stored password, the step of opening the door of the digital device equipped with a smart card.

Specific details of other embodiments are included in the detailed description and the drawings.

Advantages and features of the present invention and methods for achieving them will be apparent with reference to the embodiments described below in detail with the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed below, but can be implemented in various different forms, and only the embodiments make the disclosure of the present invention complete, and those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention belongs. It is provided to fully inform the person having the scope of the invention, which is defined only by the scope of the claims. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a schematic diagram of a smart card protection device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The door 110 formed in parallel with one side of the main body of the digital device is coupled to the digital device by the hinge 130, has a hinge-like structure with the hinge axis, and an insertion hole parallel to the hinge on the circumferential surface of the fan-shaped pillar ( 180 is formed, a predetermined opening groove 150 extending from the insertion hole 180 to the door outer surface is formed, and a fixing groove 160 for locking is formed on the circumferential surface of the fan column on the digital device side. Inside the insertion hole 180, the card reader 120 is coupled to the inside of the door 110 by a predetermined coupling means. The opening groove 150 extending from the insertion hole 180 to the outer surface of the door 110 allows the naked eye to check whether the card is inserted even after the door 110 is closed, and then touches the surface of the card with a finger after the door 110 is opened. Press and pull the card in the direction perpendicular to the circumferential surface of the fan column to allow the card to be extracted. The pressure means 140 for applying pressure to rotate the door 110 by a predetermined angle in an outward direction of the digital device may be configured, for example, in the form of a spring wound around the hinge 130, and thus the door 110 There is always pressure in the outward direction of the digital device. The locking of the door is fastened by the fixing groove 160 of the door 110 and the hook 170a of the locking means 170 installed inside the digital device, and the hook 170a is caught by the fixing groove 160. If present, the door 110 is opened by the pressure means 140 when the lock is released by the movement of the ring 170a.

For reference, in the present embodiment, there is a fixing groove 160 on the side of the door 110, and there is a locking means 170 inside the digital device, but vice versa, there is a locking means 170 on the side of the door 110, and The fixing groove 160 may be formed inside the device, and locking and unlocking may be implemented by not only mechanical coupling means but also electrical or magnetic means and various other means. In addition, in the case of the pressure means 140, as well as using the elastic force of the spring wound on the hinge 130 as shown in FIG. 1, the pressure can be applied by various methods by the elastic body and the method using the repulsive force by the electric or magnetic force. It may be. As such, the locking means 170 and the pressure means 140 may be appropriately changed in the method and position by those skilled in the art.

2 is a view showing a structure in which an electrical signal is transmitted to the locking means 170 by the password input according to an embodiment of the present invention. The input of the password may be performed using the remote controller 260 provided to the digital device or the password input module 220 installed at a predetermined position of the digital device. When a password is input through the remote controller 260, the button signal is received by the wireless reception sensor 210 of the digital device and transmitted to the remote control signal controller. When the received button signal is a function signal, the remote control signal controller It performs a function, and if the signal is an encryption signal is transmitted to the encryption signal processing unit 270a. When a password is input through the password input module 220 of the digital device, the button signal is transmitted to the button signal controller, and the button signal controller causes the digital device to perform a function of the digital device if the received button signal is a function signal. In this case, the signal is transmitted to the encryption signal processing unit 270b.

First, the user presses a password input preparation button among buttons of the password input module 220 of the digital device or the remote controller 260 provided to the digital device. When the password is ready for input, the remote controller 260 or the password input module 220 of the digital device is ready to receive the password input, and when the user enters the password and presses the password transmission button, the password signal processor 270a in the remote control signal controller Alternatively, the button input signal is converted into encrypted data by the encryption signal processing unit 270b in the button signal controller and transmitted to the locking control module 230. The locking control module 230 receiving the encrypted data compares the encrypted data received by the internal algorithm with the previously stored encrypted data and transmits an electric signal to the locking means 170 if the encrypted data matches.

For reference, although the locking control module 230 and the locking means 170 are illustrated as being separated in this embodiment, the locking control module 230 in the remote controller 260, the password input module 220, or the locking means 170 is illustrated. It may be included, it is apparent that the position can be appropriately changed by those skilled in the art.

3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a locking control module according to an embodiment of the present invention. The locking control module includes a data input unit 310, a comparator 320, a storage unit 330, and a signal output unit 340. When the user inputs a password by using a remote controller of the digital device or a combination of buttons of the digital device and presses the transmit button, the data input unit 310 of the locking control module receives the password data. The data input unit 310 transmits the received password to the comparison unit 320, and the comparison unit 320 compares the previously stored password stored in the storage unit 330 with the received password. As a result of the comparison, the comparison unit 320 notifies the signal output unit 340 that the user is authenticated if the passwords match, and accordingly, the signal output unit 340 transmits an electrical signal to the lock means 170.

4 is a flowchart illustrating a process of releasing and locking the ring 170a of the locking means 170 according to the embodiment of the present invention. When the user presses the password input preparation button of the password input module 220 or the remote control 260 button of the digital device, the password input module 220 or the remote control 260 is in a state capable of receiving a password (S410). When the password input preparation state (S410), the function buttons of the remote control and the digital device are temporarily not operated, and only the password input of the password input module 220 and the remote controller 260 is waited for. It is preferable to use a numeric button for inputting a password, but in some cases, a function button may also be used for password input. If the user presses the password input button again, the password input preparation state (S410) is canceled and the function buttons of the remote controller and the digital device are operated again. When the user inputs the password in step S420 and the password is transmitted, the button signal is transmitted to the password signal processing unit 270 of the remote control signal controller or the button signal controller, and the password input preparation state is released. . The button signal is converted into encrypted data by the encryption signal processing unit 270 and transmitted to the locking control module 230 (S430). The comparison unit 320 of the locking control module 230 compares the password previously stored in the storage unit 330 with the received password (S440). If the passwords match, the signal output unit 340 locks the lock unit 170. ) To release the lock by transmitting an electrical signal (S450), and if the password does not match, the unlocking process is terminated. The lock means 170 receiving the electrical signal releases the lock by moving the ring 170a which is fastened to the fixing groove 160 in parallel. The unlocked door 110 is opened by the pressure means 140, and the ring 170a when the ring 170a of the lock means 170 moves back to the locked position and the door 110 is closed again by the user. ) And the fixing groove 160 can be fastened.

Here, the unlocking of the locking means 170 may be implemented in various ways, such as the parallel movement of the ring 170a, as well as the arc 170 of the ring 170a fixed to the hinge inside the locking means 170 to move the hinge axis. Can be. In addition, the time point when the ring 170a is returned to the locked position may be a time point determined by the locking means 170 after the door 110 is opened and a predetermined time is required, and the door 110 is completely opened. This may be a point in time detected by the sensor or the mechanical structure, or may be a point in time detected by the sensor and the mechanical structure when the door 110 is closed by the user after the door 110 is opened.

Although embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains may implement the present invention in other specific forms without changing the technical spirit or essential features thereof. I can understand that. Therefore, it should be understood that the embodiments described above are exemplary in all respects and not restrictive.

According to the smart card protection device and method of the present invention as described above has one or more of the following effects.

First, there is an advantage to prevent the damage and loss of the card by blocking the access of unauthorized persons, especially children.

Secondly, since the card is not exposed to the outside, there is an advantage of preventing damage to the card by protecting it from external impact.

Third, there is an advantage that can easily recognize whether the card is inserted.

1 is a schematic diagram of a smart card protection device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a view showing a structure in which an electrical signal is transmitted to the locking means by a password input according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a locking control module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a flowchart illustrating a process of releasing and unlocking the ring of the locking means according to an embodiment of the present invention.

<Explanation of symbols on main parts of the drawings>

110: door 130: hinge

140: pressure means 150: opening groove

160: fixing groove 170: locking means

230: rocking control module

Claims (5)

A door formed at one side of the digital device and coupled by a hinge; An opening groove having a predetermined size extending from the card insertion hole of the door to the outer surface of the door; Pressure means for pressurizing the door in an outward direction such that the door rotates by a predetermined angle with respect to the hinge; Locking means for locking the door; And Smart card protection device comprising a locking control module for generating a predetermined electrical signal to release the locking means. The method of claim 1, The locking control module A data input unit configured to receive a signal of the digital device or the remote control button combination; A storage unit for storing the password set by the user; A comparison unit comparing the signal generated by the button combination with the set password; And Smart card protection device including an electrical signal output unit for transmitting an electrical signal of unlocking to the locking means The method of claim 2, The digital device and the remote control button for the password combination; A reset button for resetting the password input; And Smart card protection device including a transmission button for transmitting a password combination signal to the locking control module Transmitting a password input from the user to the locking control module through a button of the digital device or a button of the remote controller; Comparing the transmitted password with a previously stored password; And And if the transmitted password is the same as the previously stored password, opening the door of the digital device equipped with the smart card. The method of claim 4, wherein The opening of the door of the digital device is Transmitting an electrical signal to the locking means by the locking control module; The locking means unlocking the locking; And Smart card protection method comprising the step of moving the hook of the locking means back to the locked position after the door is opened