MXPA99002671A - Pocket value terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

A pocket value terminal comprises a pocketable case (10), a display (11) and a keyboard (12). The case is designed to receive and electrically connect with contact chip cards to carry out various transactions. The case has a multi-pin connector (14) enabling the terminal to be connected to external devices. The central microprocessor may be mounted on a plastic board that also caries a contactless chip. Alternatively, the contactless chip may be mounted on a separate board and held and supported in convenient proximity with the terminal. In this way the terminal acts as a value transfer and communicating device, and can also be used, in contactless mode, to purchase rail journeys and the like.

Description

POCKET VALUATION TERMINAL The invention relates to a pocket valuation terminal which is associated with electronic transaction cards incorporating a memory, often known as smart cards or microcircuit cards, and associated portable devices. The cards consist of a rectangular section (typically 85.6 mm x 53.98 mm x 0.76 mm) made of plastic material in which is embedded an integrated circuit containing the complex memory and logic circuits, which operate in compliance with various ISO standards and allow the user to conduct a commercial transaction with a service provider. Such integrated circuits will be referred to hereinafter as "microcircuits". Different technologies are used for bidirectional communication with smart card microcircuits, two of which are known as "contact" and "no contact". The contact microcircuit cards are provided with contact pads on the surface of the card which are linked to the microcircuit. It is a form of physical electrical connection to those contact pads that communication is achieved. In contrast, communication to the contactless card microcircuit is achieved remotely through a radio frequency signal transmitted from an external reader, typically over a distance of about 6 to 10 centíretros. The signals are received by means of a thin wire aerial antenna selected in the form of a multiple layer cycle embedded in the periphery of the microcircuit card or connected to the microcircuit. The invention can be applied to any number of microcircuit cards using the aforementioned technologies and other associated portable devices. Such cards may comprise many applications, typical applications would include, financial transaction cards, stored value cards for transportation, telecommunications, parking meters for vehicles, identity cards and the like. Such cards are prepared and used individually and, generally speaking, comprise a separate card for each function. A multiple microcircuit requirement could be achieved by developing a combination microcircuit that combines several individual microcircuit function features into a single microprocessor microcircuit. Such a combination leads to the additional difficulty with respect to the management protocols of the different functions and in some cases would add significantly to the costs. In terms of mass production or otherwise, the expensive design is also involved since a form of combination of a specially designed microcircuit is required. Additionally, due to the level of unproven acceptance of individual technologies, many service providers do not want to risk the success of their technology by combining it with other unproven technology. This is particularly evident in the current integration efforts in the Financial and Transport sectors. Industrial observers expect that the migration of service providers to the use of separate microcircuit cards to a possible final individual combination microcircuit card solution would require development through several stages. Typically, these stages would be: Individual cards containing a dedicated microcircuit, for an individual card containing two separate microcircuits, finally up to an individual combination microcircuit that combines the characteristics of both technologies. The invention addresses the need for a mechanism that allows service providers to integrate their technologies during the development phases from independent cards for a possible combination card. By providing a common interface that is independent of the technologies and secure for each of the service providers, the long-term financial, legal, operational and technological concerns related to the integration of its services can be solved. Typical business issues regarding, ownership of the card, what capabilities the owner has over the data stored in a single application, and who is responsible for establishing the data structures and assessing the need for security mechanisms, these and The economic benefits from shared ownership can be carefully considered before attempting the architecture of the combination microcircuit. Previous representative documentation in this field includes WO 93/02430 which relates to an electronic scroll device and pocket switch which can be used to make a valid payment of tickets in a double radio response manner, which additionally incorporates the use of cards contact microcircuit as a database to be used with internal circuits to allow the acquisition of services and products by means of the same radio response method. US 5434395 relates to a transaction device that is independent of a connection data bearer containing a processor and associated memories that control the device, and an interface circuit that identifies, under the control of the connection data bearer the compatibility of the connection data bearer with another connection data bearer and controls the transfer of data between the two connection data bearers. FR 2739952 relates to a portable device with transaction details stored in an internal memory, and means for accepting a contact microcircuit card to allow secure transaction from internal memory or memory from the inserted contact microcircuit card. , by means of an interface circuit, with an external transaction terminal by non-contact communication. EP 0670556 relates to a portable device that allows the establishment of a functional remote link from a contact microcircuit card inserted to an external central unit by means of at least two communication means such as radio frequency or infrared. At present there are several portable devices in daily use, these can have the form of a sorter, mobile phone, calculator, electronic wallet, organizer, card value reader or similar. These devices typically incorporate features such as a screen, input interface, printed circuit board and a processor. The cards refer to this invention, and it can be considered that the associated portable devices have their respective communication, memory and processing characteristics concentrated in electronic modules mounted on plastic cards or printed circuit boards. In any case and in a broad sense, each of the microcircuit cards related to this invention can be considered as a suitable encapsulation of a microcircuit and other components as applicable. The encapsulation ensures the integrity of the microcircuit, and its components and allows such microcircuit cards to be handled manually and, when appropriate, electrically "connected" to a device or apparatus simply placed in a slot, for example for a transaction device. financial inserted into a cash slot. Some microcircuit cards can be detected, interrogated and monitored remotely using the so-called "contactless technology". Contactless microcircuit cards are already used for railroad station registrations, tollbooth pick-ups and vehicle driving licenses, for example, when the card is simply "shown" at a distance by a carrier or mounted on a vehicle, and automatically communicates with a stationary reader or monitor. The invention also has application with compilers, mobile phones, electronic wallets, organizers, card value readers, and the like and can be applied to a circuit board containing one or more microcircuits, and some other electrical components where applicable. For the purposes defining the embodiments of the invention, any of the microcircuit cards and associated portable devices, when applicable, will be referred to as "portable communication devices" to give an indication of their size, format and function. According to the invention, a combination of two or more discrete pocket communication devices is provided and each has a respective integrated circuit microcircuit to perform its discrete functions, in which the devices are positioned to be physically associated with each other and operatively independent, and one of the devices is a contactless microcircuit card. Each device may have a separate microcircuit and an individual carrier or portfolio provided to contain the microcircuits physically close to each other in association with each other. Each device may comprise a separate support card of plastic material and a housing positioned to receive and transport the two or more cards physically close to each other.

In some of the devices the contactless microcircuit card can be formed or transported on the same plastic card as the other or one of the other devices. An aerial antenna for the non-contact device may be formed by printed conductors in the or on one of the plastic cards of the other devices. One of the devices may comprise a manually operable pocket valuation terminal that incorporates an independent microprocessor. One of the functions of the microprocessor is to communicate directly with one or more of the "pocket communication" devices, or to allow communication between two or more of those devices, when the devices are physically placed near the microprocessor during communication. Pocket valuation can be placed to contain a mechanism to receive and hold at least "two microcircuit cards. The pocket valuation terminal preferably includes an installation for communicating to and / or between at least one microcircuit card and the microcomputer, in which case the contact microcircuit card is electrically connected during the communication process by exposed contacts for the pocket valuation terminal. The pocket titration terminal also preferably has multi-tip connectors that can be connected to other apparatuses. The housing may comprise a portfolio positioned to contain a pocket titration terminal. In a combination, one of the devices preferably comprises a commonly used electrical device that fits within a person's pocket. One of the devices preferably contains a central microprocessor card. The central microprocessor card may be provided with the means for directly communicating with a microcircuit in another card physically located adjacent to the central microprocessor card during communication. A device may be positioned to contain the central microprocessor and has a mechanism for receiving and containing other cards with similar microcircuits in position. A microcircuit card value reader may be provided and positioned to display the value resident in the memory of a microcircuit card when it is physically placed inside the device. A carrier or wallet can be placed to control and transfer values or data between several other cards placed adjacent to the central microprocessor, or other specific security arrangements in a common access area within the central microprocessor. The embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings in which: Figure 1 is an isometric top view of a pocket titration terminal and embedded connectors; Figure 2 shows an isometric top view of a printed circuit board for the device and containing the central microprocessor and the non-contact microcircuit; Figure 3 shows an isometric lower view of the printed circuit board for the device; Figure 4 shows an isometric lower view of the terminal; Figure 5 shows an isometric bottom view of a contact microcircuit card of type ISO 7816; Figure 6 shows an isometric top view of a contact microcircuit card of the Mini or SIM type; Figure 7 is a battery pack held for the terminal; Figures 8a and 8b are of the pocket devaluation terminator connected to a manual Cell Phone; Figure 8 is the pocket valuation terminal connected to a PSTN telephone and modulator; and Figure 10 is the pocket titration terminal connected to a personal computer. An industry-standard 68-pin PCMIA connector, embedded in one end of the case 10 allows connection to various communication devices such as personal computers by means of its PCMIA or RS232 slot in the normal way (see.

Figure 10). Referring to the drawings, the terminal is provided in a laminar pocket case 10, which has an area approximately equal to a normal credit card, and provided with a liquid crystal display 11 and a board 12. This connector 14 it may also allow the termination to be electrically connected to a flat battery pack 15 which is mounted in a container 16 that forms a convenient holder or assembly for the case 10. Another multi-tip connector 25 is embedded in the other end of the case 10 to facilitate connection to mobile phones and other "communication devices" The case 10 can also connect to various devices such as mobile phone, or personal computer In the latter case, the case 10 will be connected into a compatible computer slot, preferably the PCMCIA slot of tips 68 or the RS232 slot of the personal computer in a normal way (see Figure 10V In Figure 3, a printed circuit board 17 is mounted with a contact microcircuit connector 13 of the ISO 7816 type and a second microcircuit connector of the Mini or SIM 18 type into which a contact microcircuit card 19 may be inserted. Mini or SIM. A terminal processor 24 mounted on the printed circuit board 17 allows direct communication with the contact microcircuit cards 19 and 22 inserted into the contact microcircuit connectors 18 and 13. When using microcircuit cards 19 and 22 are programmed to communicate in a completely secure manner with the terminal according to a known Mondex (registered trademark) system, or other similar microcircuit card systems. In accordance with the embodiments of the invention, a contactless microcircuit circuit is provided and comprises a separate non-contact microcircuit 20 and an aerial antenna 21 mounted and formed on the printed circuit board 17 respectively. The microcircuit 20 is completely separated from and independent of the microprocessor and the aerial antenna is also electrically isolated from the microprocessor 24. In fact, as a matter of convenience to maintain overall versatility, the contact microcircuit card is preferably formed in a a separate manufacturing or assembly operation, before the microprocessor and its components have been added to the plastic board.The resin encapsulation, for example, can be "placed after the microcomputer 24 and the contactless microcircuit have been mounted same printed circuit board. In Figure 5, a second contact microcircuit card 22 is shown. The contact microcircuit card 22 adjusts in position, opposite the contact microcircuit connector 13, when the card 22 is inserted between the back of the case 10 and the battery pack. According to the Mondex system (registered trademark), the second card 22 can belong to any person, and the arrangement allows, by means of a separate communication link between the contact microcircuit cards 19 and 22, and the microprocessor 24 , the transfer of cash values between the cards in accordance with the instructions initiated manually by the keypad 12 of the terminal. In this way, cash can be transferred, typically cash for goods and services, between two people. As mentioned before, these provisions are already known as such, they allow the transfer of cash values between two microcircuit cards. In terms of the embodiments of the invention, the arrangement described represents a typical example, where the contactless microcircuit card is used for example to purchase rail travel or flight reservations without a ticket. The user of the described device can carry out transactions using contact microcircuit cards, such as obtaining cash at a cash dispenser or transferring money to another similar cardholder, those transfers of securities or data may also be effected by contacting the pocket valuation terminal with a cellular mobile phone, as shown in Figs. . 8a and 8b, allowing the transfer between the contact card inserted in the pocket titration terminal and the financial institution for remote termination on the digital cellular network by means of the embedded connector 25. A typical cellular system would be the Global system for Mobile Communications (GSM) using the Short Message Service and the data transfers by Air possible according to Phase 2+ of the GSM standard. The user can also obtain information through the terminal screen related to the remaining value stored in the contact microcircuit card or the most recent transaction data. In addition, in a non-contact mode, a carrier may also obtain information regarding the remaining value stored in the contactless microcircuit card or the most recent transaction data or may enter and exit a railway station, or board an aircraft without the need for an air ticket. The non-contact microcircuit feature can be designed and used as an identity card to enter a "secure" office, for example. Additionally. The user, when carrying out transactions with the contact card or contactless card features of the terminal, can accumulate points of constancy that have a predetermined relationship with the value of their purchase, either with the characteristics of the contact card or , the contactless card of the terminal. Those points can be converted by the service provider into a value format (such as a Rescueable Certificate) that can be stored in a public partition of the microprocessor 24, which is accessible either by the contact card service provider and / or the contactless card service provider, and used jointly or separately by the service providers for distribution among themselves and / or with the users. The rescue of this value can therefore be negotiated between the central application internal debugging operations of the service providers in an independent and secure manner, thereby providing a mechanism to resolve any security concerns that may arise between them. The non-contact device in the described mode is formed on the same plastic board that holds the electronic components of the terminals. In other applications, the contactless device can be formed on the same printed circuit board that holds the sorter, the mobile phone, the calculator, the card value reader, the electronic wallet or organizer, the electronic components. On the other hand, the contactless device can be very separate, also being discrete in the above manner, and simply placed or used close to the micr cards of the other "communication" devices, whose devices include the terminal (as described) communicating with microcircuit cards such as 19 and 22. In any case it will be appreciated that in the embodiments of the invention the non-contact function is a type of "addition" for a communication device, such as a terminal of pocket valuation There are at least three advantages in providing such an arrangement: First, there is no need to technically redesign and test the contactless microcircuit or contactless microcircuit as they are known and generally available per se. Instead, several different types of contactless microcircuit cards can be selected and added to one of the variety of microcirc cards contact us. In third place, because there are no battery requirements for contactless operation, or generally, the contactless function can then be provided by a standard printed circuit of a sorter, a mobile phone, a card value reader, a wallet electronics, an electronic organizer or other devices. As such, the sorter and the others can be used for their normal function and also used to obtain input to a railway station using the built-in or added contactless microcircuit card feature. An additional advantage of maintaining separate microcircuit functions is that privacy and security is maintained between the respective service providers and / or users. These issues can be solved by the development of an independent relationship structure between the internal central debugging operations of the service providers. It will be noted that the user or possessor of the described device can be informed, using the microprocessor 24, of the status of remaining value in his micro-credit card and has private means of obtaining the most recent transaction data in relation to his cards . At present the means to access this information are usually located with the service provider, and in many cases such information is not readily available. The instructions in relation to the above can be executed through the combined use of the screen and the keyboard input features of the pocket valuation terminal. Other variations based on the pocket valuation terminal can be provided to improve your overall utility. The pocket valuation terminal may be connected to an information system for the transfer of data and / or value by means of the two embedded multiple tip connectors 14 and 25 provided in the terminal. In one arrangement the pocket valuation terminal can be connected to an information system by means of a 68-pin PCMCIA 14 connector. The information system could be accessed by a device such as a personal computer, a personal digital assistant, or any other device that contains a connection slot that is compatible with the 68-pin PCMCIA connector of the terminal and the alignment profile of associated single connector.Alternatively the information system can be accessed through a telephone network.To achieve this, the terminal is connected to the telephone network by means of a telephone device, which can be a mobile phone or a special device Designed for the purpose, the latest mobile digital telephones are equipped with data transfer connection slots, to which the pocket valuation terminal is connected in use by the second embedded multi-tip connector 25 located on the periphery of the device. the terminal as shown in Fig. 8a, are allowed by the integration of the progr. owner of owner's calculations provided by the manufacturers of telephone devices in the pocket valuation terminal that are compatible with the communication protocols of the cellular device. Alternatively, the pocket valuation terminal can be connected via the 68-pin PCMCIA 14 connector to mobile digital phones or other portable digital communication devices that are appearing with the PCMCIA slots located on the base or side of the cellular device as shown. in Fig. 8b. A similar configuration is possible with a telephone device connected to the Public Switching Telephone Network (PSTN) that incorporates a modulator "designed for data transfers as shown in Fig. 9.

In any of these data transfer arrangements the pocket valuation terminal contributes to a significant increase in computing capacity by means of the central microprocessor, not available for the microcircuit cards in their independent state. This increased calculation potential allows the pocket valuation terminal to act as an "intelligent" partner for a relatively simple microcircuit card, executing the functional workload such as the implementation of security measures, typically total asymmetric cryptography that requires large installations of computation. An additional consideration is the need for the pocket valuation terminal that has a sufficiently large power source. This is achieved with a large capacity connection power pack that can be rechargeable, and is of a format that does not contribute significantly to the weight or volume of the terminal as shown in FIG. 7, the connection to the pocket valuation terminal can be by means of the connector 68 of 68 tips. Additionally, the pocket valuation terminal is maintained in such a data transfer configuration, the feature available in the previous modes, of being able to accommodate several microcircuit cards simultaneously, and be able to communicate to or between the microcircuit cards. inserted and information systems. This can result in the transfer of value through the communication system, typically between a microcircuit card and a financial institution. The remaining value residing on the microcircuit card can be read from the terminal screen, before removing the card from the pocket valuation terminal, and the card is then used in a normal transaction form. In a further embodiment, the pocket valuation terminal is used in a communication system connectable to an interactive market, or similar virtual network. This can be by means of the transmission systems previously described or by mass market devices, specially designed for this interactive medium. Such devices include TV connection boxes and Internet connection devices. By connecting the pocket valuation terminal to those devices, the low value payments can be instantly transferred from the inserted microcircuit card for services such as a payment to watch movies, or especially televised sports events. It is also possible to use the pocket valuation terminal for Internet payments of various products and services that are and will be available from that medium. Typically most payments through these networks are "micro-payments", which are of small value and are not processed economically by conventional credit card means due to the high relative cost of the associated transaction accounting. The instructions "related to all the above connections to the connection systems can be carried out by the combined use of the screen and the keyboard input features of the pocket valuation terminal or the computer terminal, the telephone or another device The above value transfer facilities address the need for a compact device with embedded connectors that allow seamless connectivity to communication platforms without the need for peripheral equipment.Computers and digital technology have opened up new markets that they require safe and fast remote payment arrangements Remote payments require high levels of security to guarantee protection against forgery and fraud, against criminals or computer intruders, who would seek to intercept or divert value transfers between legitimate parties. pair to the exponential growth of remote payments through virtual networks, the requirement of improved security is essential. In some or most of the modes it is necessary to have a security installation. This is usually an important requirement for most users of cash transactions. Advanced card systems use cryptographic protections in conjunction with the user's personal identification. Personal identification systems are generally based on three associated parameters, some of which are known as a personal identification number (PIN), something that someone has, such as a badge or card, or some bio-characteristic of the individual, such as a fingerprint. or voice pattern. In one embodiment of the invention the pocket valuation terminal with the connection battery pack shown in Fig. 7 attached, is provided with a biometric template of the card user based on his fingerprint, the voice of another as data . This template is used to compare the real-time input of the corresponding biometric data of the user, before using the card. A positive result of this biometric comparison creates a time-based link for the activation of the value segments of the inserted microcircuit card. After removal of the connecting power pack from the 68-pin connector, the pocket valuation terminal may be inserted into a compatible connection slot in a personal computer to supplement the value transfer within the designated period.

Alternatively, the pocket valuation terminal with the connected power packet for a compatible telephone by means of the multi-tip connector 25. The authentication may be carried out while connected to the telephone network or independently and then connected to the telephone network. telephone network, as previously explained. In all cases, transfers are not possible unless the user has been accepted by the biomedical authentication process. and the user's microcircuit card is inserted into the pocket valuation terminal while the pocket valuation terminal is connected to the compatible PC or telephone computer. The removal of the microcircuit card from the pocket valuation terminal will terminate the connection. The action of the biometric authentication with the unique identifier relating to the integrated circuit of the inserted integrated circuit card can also be used to produce a session key for the transaction period selected by the user during the authentication process. This session key also improves the security that currently exists in some microcircuit card transaction protocols. A new session number is generated for each new connection to the communication system, and only for the period decided by the user. Additionally the memory can be expanded for more biometrics involved through the biometric template of any of the intermittent mini-format memory cards that arise that may be in an additional connection device for the pocket valuation terminal. It will be appreciated that considering that a certain device has been described without contact with a microcircuit mounted on a board and an aerial antenna formed, by the printed circuit or other technique, on the board, other non-contacting arrangements may be used. Such non-contact arrangements include cards that are read during the next inductive coupling when the card is normally presented in close proximity to or near a reader. In all cases, the non-contact device is any device that does not actually make electrical contact with the reader directly and is a separate device or separately operable, as explained in the specification.

Claims (13)

1. A combination of two or more different discrete communication devices of pocket and each having a respective integrated microcircuit to execute its discrete function, characterized in that the devices placed to physically associate with each other and operatively independent, and one of the devices is a device is a device without contact. A combination according to claim 1, wherein each of the devices has a separate microcircuit and an individual carrier or portfolio is provided for transporting the microcircuits physically close to one another in association with one another. 3. A combination according to claim 1, wherein each of the devices is formed in or transported by a respective individual printed circuit board. 4. A combination according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein an aerial antenna for the non-contact device is formed by printed conductors on the one or one of the printed circuit boards. A combination of conformance to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein one of the devices comprises a commonly used electrical device that fits within a person's pocket. 6. A combination according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein one of the devices contains a central microprocessor card. A combination according to claim 6, wherein the central microprocessor card is provided with the means for directly communicating with a microcircuit in another physically placed card adjacent to the microprocessor card during communication. 8. A combination according to any one of claims 6 or 7, including a device placed to contain the central microprocessor, the device having mechanisms to receive and hold the other cards with similar microcircuits in position. 9. A combination according to claim 6, including a device positioned to hold a rechargeable battery pack to supply electric power. A combination according to claim 9, including a microcircuit card value reader positioned to display the value resident in the microcircuit memory of a card physically placed within the device. A combination according to claim 9, which includes a portfolio placed to securely transfer the constant value via the central microprocessor, among several other physically placed cards adjacent to the central microprocessor. 1

2. A combination according to claim 9, which includes an embedded connector that allows connectivity to cellular mobile telephones or home telephones to facilitate the transfer of data or value through the telecommunications network between financial institutions or other carriers. cards to cards physically placed adjacent to the central processor. A combination according to claim 9, which includes an embedded connector that allows connectivity to personal computers or other portable digital communication devices to facilitate the transfer of data or value by means of the computer communication network connected between the financial institutions or other card holders to cards physically placed adjacent to the central processor.