WO2001006443A9

WO2001006443A9 - Method and apparatus for supporting two different types of integrated circuit cards with a single connector

Info

Publication number: WO2001006443A9
Application number: PCT/US2000/018893
Authority: WO
Inventors: Charles William Worrell; Yefim Vayl
Original assignee: Thomson Licensing Sa; Charles William Worrell; Yefim Vayl
Priority date: 1999-07-15
Filing date: 2000-07-12
Publication date: 2002-09-12
Also published as: AU6209300A; MXPA02000550A; WO2001006443A1

Abstract

A method and apparatus for implementing an interface for ISO/7816 and NRSS cards with a single connector. The apparatus is a computer controlled device comprising a card reader further comprising an interface controller and a connector. The connector forms the interface between the card reader and the IC card. The interface controller determines whether the IC card inserted into the card reader is an ISO/7816 or NRSS card. Additionally, the interface controller implements the correct interface for the detected IC card. The method comprises the steps of determining whether an IC card is an ISO/7816 or NRSS card and implementing an interface for the identified IC card.

Description

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING TWO DIFFERENT TYPES OF INTEGRATED CIRCUIT CARDS WITH A SINGLE CONNECTOR

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

1 . Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to interfaces in a system using integrated circuit (IC) cards. More particularly, the invention relates to a method and apparatus for supporting two different IC card standards using a single IC card connector.

2. Description of the Background Art

Integrated circuit (IC) cards, such as smart cards, are used in a variety of consumer electronics devices, including pay TV systems, set top cable television boxes, terrestrial television receivers, satellite television receivers and the like. Two types of IC card are based upon the ISO/781 6 standard for conventional IC cards and the NRSS standard for IC cards having high-speed data transfer ports. The current IC card systems comprise a connector that is capable of supporting (or operating as an interface to) only one type of IC card. For example, a connector capable of supporting an ISO/781 6 card cannot support a NRSS card, and vice versa. In order to support both types of IC cards, the IC card system would require an additional IC card connector. Therefore, a need exists for an IC card interface capable of supporting ISO/781 6 and NRSS cards with a single connector.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention overcomes the disadvantages associated with the prior art by providing a method and apparatus capable of receiving ISO/781 6 and NRSS cards with a single connector. The apparatus is a computer-controlled device comprising a card reader that further comprises an interface controller and a connector. The connector, which comprises eight pins, forms an interface between the computer controlled device and eight corresponding contacts of the IC card, i.e., contacts C1 through C8. The interface controller determines whether the IC card inserted into the card reader is an ISO/7816 or NRSS card and provides the correct interface for the IC card.

Specifically, an interface controller sends a test signal to the input/output contact (C7) of the IC card and detects this contact (C7) to determine whether the IC card sends a reply or answer signal in response to the test signal. The test signal is selected such that one type of IC card replies to the test signal, while the other type of IC card responds differently, e.g., is non-responsive, to the test signal. Once the interface controller determines the type of IC card, the interface controller implements the correct interface for the detected IC card. For example, the interface may comprise buffers and pull-up resistors. Buffers block selected signals in the connectors (associated with contacts C4, C6 and C8) unless enabled by the interface controller. If the interface controller detects the IC card as a NRSS card, then the interface controller sends a "buffer enable" signal to the buffers. Pull-up resistors are coupled to connectors associated with selected contacts (C4, C6 and C8) on the IC card, in case the IC card is a NRSS card.

The inventive method comprises the steps of determining whether an IC card is an ISO/781 6 or NRSS card and implementing an interface for the identified IC card. The determining step further includes the steps of applying a test signal to the IC card and identifying whether the IC card transmits a reply signal in response to the test signal. The implementing step may include blocking or enabling a buffer such that signals are transmitted to selected contacts of one type of IC card (i.e., a NRSS card) and blocked to selected contacts of the other type of IC card (i.e., an ISO/781 6 card). BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a block diagram of an integrated circuit (IC) card system including a IC card interface that operates in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 depicts an assignment of signal contacts on a IC card; and FIG. 3 depicts a flow diagram showing the operation of the present invention.

To facilitate understanding, identical reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate identical elements that are common to the figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIG. 1 depicts an integrated circuit (IC) card system 100 comprising an IC card 102 and a computer controlled device 104. The IC card 102 is typically a smart card, an access card or a memory card for enabling the computer- controlled device 104 to operate a computer controlled system 106. The IC card 102 comprises a card controller 108 and a card memory 1 10. The card controller 108 coordinates signal and data transfer between the card memory 1 10 and the computer controlled device 104. The IC card 102 includes an arrangement of contacts that generally comply with either the conventional ISO/781 6 standard or the NRSS standard for high-speed data transfer. Variations of the ISO/781 6 and NRSS cards are contemplated within the scope of the invention.

The computer-controlled device 104 generally includes any device that operates a computer-controlled system 106 upon receipt of the IC card 1 02. Examples of such computer-controlled devices 104 include a direct broadcast satellite television system, set top cable television boxes for cable and video-on- demand systems, high definition television system, terrestrial television receivers, satellite television receivers and other similar devices. The computer-controlled device 104 comprises a computer-controlled system 106, a microcontroller 1 1 2, a memory 1 14 and a card reader 1 1 6. The microcontroller 1 10 is a processor that retrieves and executes a card reading software or routine 300 from the memory 1 14, instructs the card reader 1 1 6 to detect the IC card 102 received therein, and activates the computer controlled system 106 upon an acknowledgement from the card reader 1 1 6. The computer-controlled system 106 is a system or module that operates the IC card system 100 in response to a signal from the microcontroller 1 1 2. The memory 1 1 4 stores the card reading routine 300 or method, as well as other applications for implementing the IC card system 100.

The card reader 1 1 6 couples the IC card 1 02 to the computer-controlled device 104 at an interface 1 1 8, The card reader 1 1 6 comprises a connector 1 20 and an interface controller 1 22. The connector 1 20 comprises eight pins that form the interface 1 18 between the interface controller 122 and the IC card 102. If the pins are coupled to the contacts of the IC card 1 02, then these pins form conductive paths for transmitting or receiving signals and data through the interface 1 1 8. Additionally, the card reader 1 1 6 comprises a buffer 1 24 and a resistor 1 26 for further defining the interface 1 1 8.

The signals and data at the interface 1 1 8 are typically assigned to the contacts of the ISO/781 6 and NRSS cards as depicted in FIG. 2. Five of the contacts have the same assigned signals for the two types of IC cards 1 02 depicted, namely: supply voltage, reset signal, clock signal, ground and data input/output. Another contact, typically the sixth contact (C6) of the IC card 102, is assigned to a programming signal for the ISO/781 6 card and a NRSS clock signal for the NRSS card. The two remaining contacts, typically the fourth and eighth contacts (C4 and C8) on the IC card 102, are undefined for ISO/781 6 cards, but represent high speed data input and output paths on NRSS cards.

The buffer 1 24 is coupled to the interface controller 122 and the pins of the connector associated with contacts C4, C6 and C8 of the IC card 1 02. Specifically, the buffer 1 24 may block or disable the conductive path to and from the contacts C4, C6 and C8. If the buffer 1 24 receives a "buffer enable" signal from the interface controller 1 22, then the buffer 1 24 enables the conductive path between the interface controller 1 22 and contacts C4, C6 and C8 of the IC card 102.

The resistor 1 26 is coupled to a supply voltage, typically 5 volts, as well as to the pins of the connector associated with contacts C4, C6 and C8 of the IC card 102. If the buffer 1 24 blocks the conductive path to and from these contacts C4, C6 and C8, the pins associated with these connector are "pulled up" to the supply voltage. In this case, the supply voltage drives the contacts C4, C6 and C8. The pull up resistor 1 26 is generally of high resistance, such that the effect on the conductive path is minimal when the buffer 1 24 is enabled, i.e., a "weak" pull-up.

The interface controller 1 22 is a processor that determines whether the IC card 1 02 is an ISO/781 6 or NRSS card. The interface controller 1 22 performs this determination while the microcontroller executes the routine or method 300. Once the correct IC card 1 02 is determined, the interface controller 1 22 implements the correct interface 1 1 8 for the ISO/781 6 or NRSS card 1 02. The steps for determining the type of IC card 102 and implementing the correct interface for the IC card 102 are described with respect to FIG. 3.

FIG. 3 depicts a flow diagram of the routine or method 300 used in the present invention. Specifically, the microcontroller 1 1 2 executes the method 300 and the interface controller 122 implements the method 300 for determining whether the received IC card 1 02 is an ISO 781 6 or NRSS card. Once the IC card 102 is inserted into the card reader 1 1 6, the method

300 starts at step 302. At step 304, the method 300 assumes that the received IC card 102 is an ISO/781 6 card. At this point, the buffers 1 24 are disabled for blocking the conductive path to and from contacts C4, C6 and C8 of the IC card 1 02. The pins associated with these contacts are pulled up to the supply voltage.

At step 306, the method 300 instructs the interface controller 1 22 to apply a test signal or a reset signal to contact C7 on the IC card 102. The test signal is selected such that the card controller 1 08 in one type of IC card 102 responds to the test signal, whereas the card controller 108 in the other type of IC card 102 responds differently, e.g., is non-responsive, to the test signal. For example, the test signal or reset signal may elicit a response from the ISO/781 6 card and no response from the NRSS card. At step 308, the interface controller 1 22 determines whether the received

IC card 102 is a NRSS card. Specifically, the interface controller 122 determines whether the card controller 108 of the IC card 1 02 transmits a reply signal on contact C7. If the selected test or reset signal elicits a response from only an ISO/781 6 card, the interface controller 1 22 checks for the absence of a reply signal from the IC card 102.

If the interface controller 1 22 identifies the IC card 102 as a NRSS card, the method 300 proceeds to step 31 0, where the interface controller 1 22 implements an interface 1 1 8 for the NRSS card. In this case, the interface controller 1 22 sends buffer enable signals to the buffers 1 24. Once the buffers 1 24 receive the buffer enable signal, the interface controller 1 22 may transmit NRSS input data and NRSS clock signals to contacts C4 and C6, and receive NRSS output data from contact C8 of the NRSS card.

If the interface controller 1 22 identifies the IC card 102 as an ISO/781 6 card, the method 300 proceeds to step 31 2, where the interface controller 1 22 implements an interface 1 18 for the ISO/781 6 card. In this case, there are no buffer enable signals and the buffers 124 continue to disable the conductive paths to and from contacts C4, C6 and C8 of the ISO/781 6 card.

Although one embodiment, which incorporates the teachings of the present invention, has been shown and described in detail herein, those skilled in the art can readily devise many other varied embodiments that still incorporate these teachings.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1 . A computer controlled device comprising: a card reader, coupled to said microcontroller, operating as an interface for both ISO/7816 and NRSS cards, said card reader having means for producing a first signal to the interface between said card reader and an IC card; means for analyzing whether the IC card produces a second signal in response to the first signal.

2. The computer controlled device of claim 1 wherein said card reader applies the first signal to an input/output contact of the IC card and monitors whether the IC card produces the second signal at the input/output contact of the IC card.

3. The computer controlled device of claim 1 wherein said card reader comprises: an interface controller for implementing an interface for a specific type of IC card detected by said card reader.

4. The computer controlled device of claim 3 wherein said card reader further comprises: a connector, coupled to said interface controller, for providing a conductive path between said interface controller and the IC card.

5. The computer controlled device of claim 4 wherein said card reader further comprises: a buffer, coupled between said interface controller and said connector, for blocking a conductive path to a contact of the IC card unless said buffer receives an enable signal from said interface controller; and a resistor, coupled to said connector, for coupling the contact of the IC card to a supply voltage.

6. A method of providing an interface for ISO/781 6 and NRSS cards, the method comprising the steps of: determining whether an integrated circuit (IC) card is a ISO/781 6 card or a NRSS card; and implementing an interface for the identified IC card.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said determining step comprises the steps of: applying a test signal to the IC card; and identifying whether the IC card transmits a particular reply signal in response to the test signal.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the test signal is selected such that an ISO/781 6 card transmits a reply signal in response to the test signal and a NRSS card is non-responsive to the test signal.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the test signal is a reset signal.

10. The method of claim 6 wherein said implementing step comprises the step of disabling selected contacts of the IC card if said determining step identifies the IC card as an ISO/781 6 card.

1 1 . The method of claim 6 wherein said implementing step comprises the step of enabling selected contacts of the IC card if said determining step identifies the IC card as a NRSS card.

1 2. An apparatus for receiving ISO/781 6 and NRSS cards with one interface, the apparatus comprising: an interface capable of distinguishing between ISO/781 6 and NRSS cards; a IC card comprising a IC card controller; and a computer-controlled device for implementing said interface for the ISO/781 6 and NRSS cards upon receipt of said IC card.

1 3. The apparatus of claim 1 2 wherein said computer-controlled device comprises: a memory for storing computer code; a microcontroller, coupled to said memory, for executing computer code; and a card reader, coupled to said microcontroller, operating as an interface for ISO/781 6 cards and NRSS cards.