High speed smart card with flash memory

Abstract

A card and reader system is provided enabling larger storage capacity and faster data transmission. The card is configured in a Smart Card or SIM card format and communicates with either standard Smart Card readers or specially configured readers capable of higher data transmission speeds. Eliminating the processor from the card and including it in the reader allows the cost of the card to be reduced. A software driver installed in existing Smart Card readers enables the additional storage capability of the card to be concealed from the reader, thereby eliminating a need to replace readers already deployed.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a card of an embodiment of this invention conforming to ISO 7816 size and format;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a card of an embodiment of this invention conforming to SIM card size and format;

FIG. 3 is a cross section of the electronic modules on the card when arranged side-by-side;

FIG. 4 is a cross section of the electronic modules on the card when arranged one-atop-the-other;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating the internal architecture of the card;

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the ISO 7816 connector contact pad arrangement and in parentheses the pad assignments of an embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the architecture of a prior art reader for the card;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a prior art reader for the card with a USB interface to the host;

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a first embodiment of an architecture for a high speed reader;

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a second embodiment of an architecture for a high speed reader;

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating software and hardware modules of the card installed in a reader.

Claims

1-17. (canceled)

18. In a system having a reader for securely reading data from a portable card, the card comprising: a connector to enable the card to be coupled to the reader to enable the reader to at least retrieve information stored on the card;a first controller connected to the connector for enabling the reader to read data at a first slower speed from a first memory on the first controller;a second controller connected to the connector for enabling the reader to read data at a second faster speed;an interface switch coupled to each of the first and second controllers for detecting whether the connector is connected to a reader operable at the slower speed or the faster speed;a memory controller coupled to the interface switch and to a second memory to enable the reader to read information from the second memory;an authentication controller coupled to the interface switch for determining whether the card and the reader are permitted to exchange information;a command controller coupled to the interace switch for detecting commands received by the interface switch from the reader and retrieving information in accordance with receive commands.

19. A card as in claim 18 wherein the connector further allows the card to be coupled to a reader to further allow the reader to store information on the card.

20. A card as in claim 18 wherein when inserted into a reader compliant with only ISO 7816 the reader can access only the first memory on the first controller.

21. The system as in claim 18 wherein the card communicates with the reader using a set of external electrical contacts on a surface of the card, and wherein the communication between the card and the reader is selectable between the slower speed and the faster speed based on the clock signal from the reader.

22. The system as in claim 18 wherein in the first slower speed format each of the contacts on the card has a first function and is operable only in accordance with that first function.

23. The system as in claim 22 wherein in the second faster speed format at least some of the contacts on the card are operable in a multiplexed mode to perform a second function in addition to the first function to thereby increase data transmission speed between the card and the reader.

24. The system as in claim 18 wherein the elecrical contacts on the card are configured to comply with ISO 7816.

25. The system of claim 24 wherein when the card operates in accordance with ISO 7816 the only memory that can be accessed by the reader is the memory on the first controller.

26. In a system for protecting sensitve information stored on a card wherein the card is to be coupled to a reader having a controller for communicating with the card and including a cryptographic processor for encrypting and decrypting the sensitive information, the card comprising: a connector to enable the card to be coupled to the reader to enable the reader to at least retrieve information stored on the card;a first controller connected to the connector for enabling the reader to read data at a first slower speed from a first memory on the first controller;a second controller connected to the connector for enabling the reader to read data at a second faster speed;an interface switch coupled to each of the first and second controllers for detecting whether the connector is connected to a reader operable at the slower speed or the faster speed;a memory controller coupled to the interface switch and to a second memory to enable the reader to read information from the second memory;an authentication controller coupled to the interface switch for determining whether the card and the reader are permitted to exchange information;a command controller coupled to the interface switch for detecting commands received by the interface switch from the reader and retrieving information in accordance with received commands; and whereinto protect information in the second memory the authentication controller and the cryptographic processor communicate with each other and do not allow information to be read from or written to the second memory unless the authentication controller recognizes the cryptographic processor and the cryptographic processor recognizes the authentication controller.

27. A card as in claim 26 wherein the connector further allows the card to be coupled to a reader to further allow the reader to store information on the card.

28. A card as in claim 26 wherein when inserted into a reader compliant with only ISO 7816 the reader can access only the first memory on the first controller.

29. The system as in claim 26 wherein the card communicates with the reader using a set of external electrical contacts on a surface of a card, and wherein the communication between the card and the reader is selectable between the slower speed and the faster speed based on the clock signal from the reader.

30. The system as in claim 26 wherein in the first slower speed format each of the contacts on the card has a first function and is operable only in accordance with that first function.

31. The system as in claim 29 wherein in the second faster speed forat at least some of the contacts on the card are operable ina multiplexed mode to perform a second function in addition to the first function to thereby increase data transmission speed between the card and the reader.

32. The system as in claim 26 wherein the electrical contacts on the card are configured to comply with ISO 7816.

33. The system of claim 32 wherein when the card operates in accordance with ISO 7816 the only memory that can be accessed by the reader is the memory on the first controller.

34. A reader comprising: a connector for connecting to a portable card having a first smaller amount of non-volatile memory and a second larger amount of non-volatile memory, each for storing information;an interface controller coupled to the connector for coupling the reader to a host; anda software driver for controlling interactions between the card and the host whereby the software driver causes the portable card to appear to the hast as though it has only the first smaller amount of memory.

35. The reader as in claim 34 wherein if the portable card is capable at transmitting data at either of two data rates, the reader determines the faster rate and transmits data to the card at that rate.