The present invention relates to the fields of business/credit cards and security tokens.
The term Portable Device refers herein as to a small device, which connects to a host via a common computer interface such as USB and FireWire, and typically used for carrying out functionalities of personal nature in conjunction with the host it connects to. Due to its small size, a portable device is easy to be carried by a user. Because of its portability, it typically is used for activities of personal nature such as authentication and electronic wallet. Security tokens like Aladdin's eToken™, RSA's SecurID™ and Rainbow's iKey™, are portable devices. Generally, they provide security related functionalities such as encryption, decryption, secure storage, identification, etc. Portable Flash memory such as M-System's Disk-On-Key™ is also a portable device.
One of the drawbacks of existing portable devices is its small size, due which it cannot accommodate a picture of its owner, a comfortable keyboard for inputting data, a fingerprint reader, or any other feature that requires wider area.
Another drawback of existing portable devices is that they are perceived as relating to a key fob more than with a credit card, which results in marketing obstacles.
The term Security Card Apparatus (SCA) refers herein to a device of about a credit card size or business card size, which employs electronic circuitry for performing activities of personal nature, and communicates with a host. A smart card is an example of an SCA.
Currently smart cards are designed to communicate with a host via a smart card reader. Although currently the use of smart cards is common, computers are rarely coupled with an interface to a smart card. Another way for communicating between a SCA and a host is by incorporating a display in the SCA, and enabling the user to type the content of the display on a keyboard of the host. This method is common in one-time-password applications. Due to the limited ways of communicating between a SCA and a host, SCAs are not common in authentication and security related activities.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a security card apparatus, which can be used for authentication and security related issues more efficiently than in the prior art.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a security card apparatus, which connects to a computer by a common computer interface.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a portable device in a form factor of a credit card/smart card.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.
The present invention is directed to a security card apparatus, comprising:
The common communication interface may be of wired communication interface e.g. USB, FireWire, RS232, parallel communication interface, serial communication interface, or wireless communication interface e.g. Radio Frequency communication, infrared communication, Bluetooth protocol, IrDA protocol, proximity card protocol, and so forth.
The apparatus may further comprise a biometric sensor (e.g. fingerprint reader), for sampling biometric information of a user, in order to authenticate the user.
The term Out-standing Part refers herein to a part which stands out or protrudes from the typical form substrate.
The substrate may comprise a part which stands out or protrudes from a typical form of the substrate, and on which contacts of the common computer communication interface are embedded, thereby allowing the apparatus to be connected to a corresponding connector of the host.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the out-standing part stands out or protrudes from the typical business card form.
According to another embodiment of the invention, the out-standing part is obtained by “removing” part(s) of the business card typical size.
According to yet another embodiment of the invention, the out-standing part is pulled out from the substrate.
The outstanding part may be located on an edge of the typical business card form, on a corner of the typical business card form, etc.
According to one embodiment of the invention, an adapter connects the common computer communication interface of the host to the apparatus. The adapter may further comprise an extension cord.
The present invention may be better understood in conjunction with the following figures:
a schematically illustrates connecting elements of a USB interface, according to the prior art.
a illustrates a smart card, according to one embodiment of the invention.
b illustrates the smart card of
a and 8b schematically illustrates a security card apparatus, according to still another embodiment of the invention.
a and 11b schematically illustrate a system for connecting a security card apparatus to a host, according to still another embodiment of the invention.
FireWire is Apple Computer's version of the IEEE 1394 standard, for connecting a device to a personal computer. The standard defines a serial bus or pathway between one or more peripheral devices and a computer's microprocessor. IEEE 1394 implementations were expected to replace and consolidate serial and parallel interfaces, including Centronics parallel, RS-232C, and Small Computer System Interface (SCSI).
USB (Universal Serial Bus) is a plug-and-play interface between a computer and peripheral devices, such as scanners, printers, digital cameras, etc. Today, most new computers and peripheral devices support the USB interface.
The term Smart Card refers herein to a card about the size of a credit card, typically made of plastic, in which a microchip (also referred herein as Smart Card Chip) is embedded.
Typically a smart card chip comprises non-volatile memory and a CPU. Therefore, a smart card chip is actually a computer. The chip is designed such that an unauthorized person or object has to use a tremendous effort to disclose its content (including the content of the non-volatile memory) and/or structure. Therefore, a smart card chip can be considered as a secured facility.
Today smart cards are designed according to standards/common specifications thereof, e.g. ISO7816, and employ dedicated operating systems, such as MULTOS.
A significant drawback of a smart card is that it can be connected to a host only via a smart card reader, whilst the personal computers distributed currently on the market usually do not comprise smart card readers. As a result, the use of smart cards doesn't reach to its potential. The present invention takes a few steps forward, and makes a connection between a smart card device and common computer interface, whether the interface is a wired or wireless.
One advantage of the solution presented in
a schematically illustrates connecting elements of a USB interface, according to the prior art. The first connecting device 100 comprises a case 102 and a substrate 101 on which the contacts (not shown) are printed. The second connecting device 200 comprises a case 202 and a substrate 201 on which the contacts (not shown) are printed.
b schematically illustrates the connecting elements
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, in order to connect a smart card device to a “standard” interface, e.g. USB and FireWire, part(s) of the smart card body are “removed” such that the remaining contour fits a connecting element of the interface. Of course the smart card may be manufactured such that these parts are missing. The contacts are placed on the connecting part of the smart card.
a illustrates a security card apparatus, according to one embodiment of the invention. From the functional point of view, SCA 300 comprises electronic circuitry 21 (e.g. smart card chip, flash chip, etc.), and a common computer communication interface 40, which connects the SCA 300 to a host (not shown in this figure) via contacts 50. From the mechanical point of view, the perforation lines 61 enable a user to remove a part 60 of the SCA.
a and 8b schematically illustrates a security card apparatus, according to still another embodiment of the invention. The contacts 50 are placed on a moving element 70, which can be pulled out in such a way that the contacts 50 will be placed outside the contour of the security card apparatus 300, thereby enabling it to be plugged into a USB connector. On the one hand the benefit of this form is that it complies to a business card form, however on the other hand due to the common thickness of a business card, such a solution requires mechanical modifications, such as using a more rigid material for the business card substrate 10, and the substrate may be thicker than the common thickness used for business cards, to accommodate, for example, a rigid “rail” on which the moving element 70 moves, etc.
a and 11b schematically illustrate a system for connecting a security card apparatus to a host, according to still another embodiment of the invention. According to this embodiment, an adapter 400 connects between a USB connector 100 and a security card apparatus 300. The USB connector 100 may be connected to connector 400 directly or via an extension cord 105, as illustrated in
Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention can be embodied by other forms and ways, without losing the scope of the invention. The embodiments described herein should be considered as illustrative and not restrictive.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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166860 | Feb 2005 | IL | national |