WO1998012674A2

WO1998012674A2 - Pocket value terminal

Info

Publication number: WO1998012674A2
Application number: PCT/GB1997/002551
Authority: WO
Inventors: John Desmond Field
Original assignee: Wave Holdings Limited; White, Martin, David
Priority date: 1996-09-20
Filing date: 1997-09-18
Publication date: 1998-03-26
Also published as: WO1998012674A3; CA2266373A1; CN1238055A; AU4311397A; JP2001500652A; EP0934576A2; AU728907B2; BR9711514A

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 VALUE TERMINAL

The invention relates to a pocket value terminal that is

associated with electronic transaction cards that

incorporate a memory, frequently known as smart cards or

chip cards, and associated hand-held devices.

The cards consist of a thin rectangular section (typically

85.6 mm x 53.98 mm x 0.76 mm) of plastic material into

which is imbedded an integrated circuit which contains

complex memory and logic circuits, that operate according

to various ISO standards and enable the user to conduct a

commercial transaction with a service provider. Such

integrated circuits are referred hereinafter as "chips".

Various technologies are used for bi -directional communication with the Smart card chips, two of these

methods are known as "contact" and "contactless".

Contact chip cards are supplied with contact pads on the

surface of the card that are bonded to the chip. It is

via a physical electrical connection to these contact pads

that communication is accomplished. In contrast,

communication to the contactless card chip is achieved remotely via a radio frequency signal transmitted from an

external reader, typically over a distance of around 6 to

10 centimetres. Signals are received via a tuned thin w re

aerial in the form of a multi layer loop imbedded in the

periphery of the chip card and connected to the chip.

The invention can be applied to any number of chip cards

utilising the aforementioned technologies ana other

associated hand-held devices. Such cards can encompass

many applications, typical applications would include, financial transaction cards, stored value cards for

transport, telecommunications, car parking meters,

identity cards and the like. Sucn cards are individually

prepared and used and, generally stated, comprise a

separate card for each function.

A multiple chip requirement could be achieved by

developing a combination chip that combines various

individual chip function characteristics into a single

microprocessor chip. Such a combination leads to extra

difficulty with respect to the management protocols of the various functions and in some cases would add greatly to

the costs. In terms of mass production or otherwise, it also involves considerable design expense because for each

form of combination a specially designed chip is required.

Additionally because of the unproven acceptance level of

the individual technologies, many service providers are

unwilling to risk the success of their technology by

combining with another unproven technology. This is

particularly evident in the current integration efforts within the Transport and Financial sectors.

Industry observers expect that the migration for service

providers from using separate chip cards to a possible

final single combination chip card solution would require

development through several stages.

Typically these stages would be:

Individual cards containing one dedicated chip, to a

single card containing two separate chips, to finally a

single combination chip combining the features of both technologies .

The invention addresses the need for a mechanism to enable

service providers to integrate their technologies during the development phases from independent cards to a possible combination card.

By providing a common interface that is both independent

of the technologies and secure for each of the service

providers, the long term financial, legal, operational and

techological concerns related to the integration of their services can be addressed.

Typical commercial issues with respect to, ownersmp of

the card, what powers does the owner have over the data

stored on any single application, and who is responsible

for establishing the data structures and security

mechanisms need evaluation, these and the economic

benefits from shared ownership can be carefully considered

before committing to the combination chip architecture.

There exists today various hand-held devices in everyday

use, these may take the form of a pager, mobile

telephone, calculator, electronic wallet, organiser,

card value reader, or the like. These devices typically

incorporate features such as, a display, input

interface, printed circuit board and a processor The

cards relating to this invention, and the associated hand-held devices can be regarded as naving their

respective communication, memory and processing features

85 concentrated in electronic modules mounted on either

plastic cards, or printed circuit boards.

In any event and broadly stated, each of the chip cards

relating to this invention can be regarded as a simply

suitable encapsulation of a chip and other components as

90 applicable. The encapsulation ensures the integrity of

the chip, and its components, and allows such chip cards

to be manually handled and, where appropriate,

electrically "plugged in" to a device or appliance or

simply placed in a slot, e.g. for a financial

95 transaction device inserted m a cash dispenser slot.

Some chip cards are remotely sensed, interrogated and monitored using so-called "contactless technology" .

Already contactless chip cards are used for railway

station entries, road toll collections and electronic

100 driving licenses, for example, where the card is simply

"shown" at a distance by a holder or mounted on a

vehicle, and automatically communicates with a stationery reader or monitor.

The invention also has application with pagers, mobile

105 phones, calculators, electronic wallets, organisers,

card value readers and the like and may be applied to a

circuit board that carries one or more chips, and some

other electrical components where applicable. For the

purposes defining embodiments of the invention, any of 110 the chip cards and associated hand-held devices where

applicable, will be referred to as "pocketable

communicating devices" to give an indication to their size, format and function.

According to the invention there is provided a

115 combination of two or more different discrete pocketable

communicating devices each having a respective

microprocessor chip for performing its discrete

functions, in which the devices are arranged to be

physically associated with one another, and one of the

120 devices is a contactless chip card.

Each device may have a separate chip and a single holder or wallet provided to carry the chips physically close to one another in association with one another.

Each device may comprise a separate supporting card of

125 plastic material and a housing arranged to receive and

carry the two or more cards physically close to one another .

In some of the devices the contactless chip card may be

formed or carried on the same plastic card as the other 130 or one of the other devices.

An aerial for the contactless device may be formed by

conductors printed on the, or one of the plastic cards

of the other devices .

One of the devices may comprise a manually operable

135 pocket value terminal incorporating an independent

microcomputer. One of the functions of the microcomputer

is to communicate directly to one or more pocketable

communicating devices, or to enable communications between two or more of these devices, when the devices

140 are physically placed close to the microcomputer during the communicating. The pocket value terminal may be arranged to contain a

mechanism for receiving and holding at least two chip

cards in position. The pocket value terminal preferably

145 includes a facility to communicate to and/or between at

least a chip card and the microcomputer, in which case

the contact chip card is electrically connected during

the communication process by exposed contacts to the pocket value terminal .

150 The pocket value terminal preferably also has a multi-

pin connection connectable to other appliances.

The housing may comprise a wallet arranged to contain

the pocket value terminal .

In the combination, one of the devices preferably

155 comprises a commonly used electrical device that fits

into a person's pocket.

One of the devices preferably contains a central

processor card. The central processor card may be

provided with the means for communicating directly to a

160 chip in another card physically placed adjacent the central microprocessor card during the communicating.

A device may be arranged to contain the central

processor and have a mechanisms for receiving and

holding other cards with similar chips in position.

165 A chip card value reader may be provided and arranged to display the value residing in the memory of a chip card

when physically placed within the device.

A holder or a wallet may be arranged to control and

transfer value between various other cards physically

170 placed adjacent the central processor, or into a common

access area within the central processor.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by

way of example with reference to the accompanying

175 schematic drawings in which: -

Figure 1 is an isometric top view of a pocket value

terminal ;

Figure 2 shows an isometric top view of a printed circuit board for the device and forming a combined 180 central processor and contactless chip;

Figure 3 shows an isometric bottom view of the printed circuit board for the device;

Figure 4 shows an isometric bottom view of the terminal;

Figure 5 shows an isometric bottom view of an ISO 7816

185 tyP^e contact chip card;

Figure 6 shows an isometric top view of a Mini or SIM

type contact chip card;

Figure 7 is a clip-on battery pack for the terminal;

Figures 8a and 8b is the pocket value terminal connected

190 to a Cellular Telephone handset;

Figure 9 is the pocket value terminal connected to a

PSTN telephone and modem; and Figure 10 is the pocket value terminal connected to a personal computer.

Referring to the drawings, the terminal is provided in

a laminar shaped pocketable case 10, having an area

approximately equal to a normal credit card, and

provided with a liquid crystal display 11 and a keypad

12. A multiple pin connector 14, mounted at one end of

the case 10 enables the terminal to be electrically

connected to a flat battery pack 15 which is mounted in

a container 16 that forms a convenient support or

mounting for the case 10. Another multiple pin connector

25 is mounted at the other end of the case 10. The case

10 can also connect to various appliances such as a

mobile phone, or personal computer. In the latter case,

the case 10 will connect into a compatible computer

slot, preferably the 68 pin PCMCIA slot or the RS232 slot of the personal computer in a normal way. (See

Figure 10.)

In Figure 3, a printed circuit board 17 is mounted with a type ISO 7816 contact chip connector 13 and a second M ni or SIM type contact chip connector 18 into which can be inserted a Mini or SIM contact chip card 19

A microcomputer 24 of the terminal mounted on the

printed circuit board 17 enables direct communication

with contact chip cards 19 and 22 inserted into the

contact chip connectors 18 and 13. In use the chip cards

19 and 22 are programmed to communicate in a totally

secure manner with the terminal according to a known

Mondex (trade mark) system, or other similar chip card

systems .

In accordance with the embodiments of the invention, a

contactless chip circuit is provided and comprises a

separate contactless chip 20 and an aerial 21 mounted

and formed on the printed circuit board 17 respectively.

The chip 20 is totally separated from and independent

of the microcomputer 24 and the aerial 21 is also

electrically isolated from the microcomputer 24.

Indeed, as a matter of convenience to maintain overall versatility, the contactless chip card is preferably

formed in a separate manufacturing or assembly

operation, before the microcomputer 24 ana its components have been added to the plastic board.

235 Encapsulation with resin, for example, may however take

place after both the microcomputer 24 and the

contactless chip 20 have been mounted to the same

printed circuit board.

In figure 5, a second contact chip card 22 is shown. The

240 contact chip card 22 fits in position, opposite the

contact chip connector 13, when the card 22 is inserted

m between the rear of case 10 and the battery pack 15.

According to the Mondex system, the second card 22 may

belong to another person, and the arrangement enables,

245 via a separate communication link between the contact

chip cards 19 and 22, and microcomputer 24, transfer of

cash values between the cards m accordance with the

instructions manually initiated by the keyboard 12 of

the terminal. In this way, cash can be transferred,

250 typically cash for goods and services, between two

persons. As mentioned earlier, these arrangements

allowing secure transfer of cash values between two chip

cards are already known as such. In terms of embodiments of the invention, the described

255 arrangement represents a typical example, where the

contactless chip card is used for example for purchasing

rail journeys or ticketless flight reservations. The

user of the described device can carry out transactions

using a contact chip card, such as obtaining cash at a

260 cash dispenser or transferring money to another like card holder, these value or data transfers can also be

effected by connecting the pocket value terminal to a

Cellular Mobile Phone, as shown in Figs 8a and 8b,

enabling the transfer between the contact card inserted

265 in the pocket value terminal and the financial

institution to be completed remotely over the digital

cellular network.

A typical cellular system would be the Global System for

Mobile communications (GSM) utilising the Short Message

270 Service and Over The Air data transfers possible under

Phase 2+ of the GSM Standard.

The user can also obtain information via the terminal's

display, relating to the remaining value stored on the contact chip card or the most recent transactional data. 275 In addition, in a contactless mode, a holder may also

obtain information relating to the remaining value

stored

on the contactless chip card or the most recent

transactional data or may enter and leave a railway

280 station, or board an aircraft without the need for a

conventional airticket . The contactless chip feature

may also be devised and used as an identity card for

entry to a "secure" office, for example.

Additionally, the user, when conducting transactions

285 with either the contact card or the contactless card

features of the terminal, can accumulate loyalty points

that have a predetermined relationship to the value of

his purchases with either the contact card, or the

contactless features of the terminal .

290 These points can be converted by the relevant service

provider into a value format that can be stored in a public partition of the microprocessor 24, that is

accessible by both the contact card service provider and

the contactless card service provider, and used jointly

295 or severally by the service providers for distribution between themselves and/or with the users.

The contactless device in the described embodiment is

formed on the same plastic board that support the

terminals' electronic components. In other applications

300 the contactless device may be formed on a same printed circuit board that supports pager, mobile telephone,

calculator, card value reader, electronic wallet or

organiser, electronic components. On the other hand, the

contactless device may be quite separate, as well as

305 being also discrete in the manner above, and so simply

placed or used in proximity with the chip boards of the

other "communicating" devices, which devices include the

terminal (as described) that communicates with chip

cards such as 19 and 22

310 In any event it will be appreciated that in embodiments of the invention the contactless function is a kind of

"add-on" to a communicating device, such as a

pocket value terminal, say. There are at least three

advantages with providing such an arrangement. Firstly,

315 there is no need to re-design and technically prove the

contact chip or the contactless chip as they are known and generally available per se. Secondly, several different kinds of contactless chip cards can be

selected and added to one of a variety of contact chip

320 cards. Thirdly, because there are no battery

requirements for contactless operation, or generally,

the contactless function can be provided next to a

standard printed circuit of a pager, a mobile telephone,

a calculator, a card value reader, an electronic wallet,

325 an electronic organiser or other devices. As such, the

pager and so forth can be used for its normal function

and also used to obtain entry to a railway station using

the incorporated or added-on contactless chip card

feature .

330 A further advantage of maintaining the chip functions

separate is that it maintains privacy and security between the respective service providers and/or users .

It will be noted that the user or holder of the

described device may be informed, using the

335 microcomputer 24, of the status of the value remaining

on his chip card and has means of privately obtaining

the most recent transactional data relating to his cards. At present means for accessing this information

are generally located at the service provider, and in

340 many cases such information is not easily available.

Instructions relating to all the foregoing can be

carried out by the combined use of the display and key input features of the pocket value terminal .

Other variations based on the pocket value terminal can

345 be provided to enhance its overall usefulness. The

pocket value terminal may be connected to an information

system for the transfer of data and/or value via either

of two multipin connectors provided on the terminal . In

one arrangement the pocket value terminal may be

350 connected to an information system via the 68 pin PCMCIA

connector 14. The information system could be accessed

by an appliance such as a personal computer, personal

digital assistant, or any other device that contains a

connecting slot that is compatible with the terminal's

355 68 pin PCMCIA connector and associated unique

connector alignment profile.

Alternatively the information system may be accessed by

means of a telephone network. To achieve this the terminal is connected to the telephone network via a

360 telephone handset, which may be a mobile phone or a

special handset designed for the purpose. The most

recent of mobile digital telephones are equipped with

data transfer connection slots, to which the pocket

value terminal is connected in use by the second multi-

365 pin connector 25 located on the periphery of the

terminal, as shown in Fig 8a, the data transfers are

enabled by integrating proprietry software αrivers

provided by the cellular handset manufacturers into the

pocket value terminal that are compatible with the

370 communication protocols of the cellular handset

Alternatively the pocket value terminal can be connected

via the 68 pin PCMCIA connector 14 to mobile digital

telephones that are appearing with PCMCIA compatible

slots located at the base or side of the cellular

375 handset as shown in fig 8b.

A similar configuration is possible with a telephone

handset connected to the Public Switched Telephone

Network (PSTN) incorporating a modem designed for data

transfers, as exhibited in Fig 9. 380 In any of these data transfer arrangements the pocket

value terminal contributes a significant increase in

computing capacity not available to chip cards in their

independent state. This increased computing power enables

385 the pocket value terminal to act as an "intelligent"

partner to a relatively simple chip card, by performing

the functional workload such as implementation of

security measures, typically full asymmetric

cryptography which demand large computing facilities.

390 A further consideration is the need for the pocket value

terminal to have a sufficiently large electrical power

source. This is achieved with a large capacity plug- in

power pack which may be rechargeable, and is of a format

that does not contribute significantly to the terminal's

395 weight or bulk as shown in Figure 7, connection to the

pocket value terminal may be via the 68 pin connector

14.

Additionally, the pocket value terminal, maintains in

such a data transfer configuration, the feature

400 available in previous embodiments, of being able to accommodate several chip cards simultaneously, and to be

able to communicate to or between the inserted chip

cards and the information systems. This can result in

the transfer of value via the communication system,

405 typically between a chip card and a financial

institution. The remaining value residing on the chip

card can be read from the terminal's display, prior to

the removal of the card from the pocket value terminal,

and the card then used in a normal transactional manner.

410 In a further embodiment the pocket value terminal is

used

in a communication system connectable to an interactive

market, or similar virtual network. This may be via the

previously described transmission systems or by mass

415 market devices, specially designed for this interactive medium. Such devices include TV set -top boxes and

Internet connecting devices. By connecting the pocket

value terminal to these devices, small value payments

can be transferred instantaneously from the inserted

420 chip card for services such as pay to view movies, or specially televised sporting events. It is also possible

to use the pocket value terminal for payments over the Internet for a multitude of goods and services that are

and will be available from this medium. Typically the

425 majority of payments via these networks are 'micro-

payments', being of small value and not economically

transacted by conventional credit card means due to the

relative high cost of the associated transaction accountability.

430 Instructions relating to all the foregoing connections

with the communicating systems can be carried out by the combined use of the display and key input features of

the pocket value terminal or the computer terminal,

telephone or other connected device.

435 Computers and digital technology have opened new markets

that require secure and swift remote payment

arrangements .

Remote payments need high-levels of security to

guarantee protection against counterfeit and fraud,

440 against criminals or computer hackers, who would seek to intercept or divert value transfers between legitimate

parties. It is obvious that with the potential for exponential growth of remote payments via virtual

networks, the requirement for improved security is

445 essential.

In some or most embodiments it is necessary to have a

security facility. This is generally an underlying

requirement for most users of cash transactions.

Advanced card systems use cryptographic safeguards in

450 conjunction with personal identification of the user.

Personal identification systems are generally based on

three parameters associated with, something someone

knows such as a personal identification number (PIN) , something that someone has, such as a badge or card, or

455 some biocharacteristic of the individual, such as a

fingerprint or speech pattern.

In an embodiment of the invention the pocket value

terminal with the plug-in battery pack shown in Figure

7 attached, is provided with a biometric template of the

460 card user based on his fingerprint, voice or other such

data. This template is used to compare real time input

of corresponding biometric data from the user, prior to

the use of the card. A positive result of this biometric comparison creates a time based link to the activation

465 of the value segments of the inserted chip card. After

removal of the plug-in power pack from the 68 pin

connector, the pocket value terminal can be inserted

into a compatible connecting slot in a personal computer

to complete the value transfer within the designated

470 period.

Alternatively the pocket value terminal with the plug- in

powerpack attached can be connected to a compatible telephone via the multipin connector 25. The biometric

475 authentication can be carried out whilst connected to

the telephone network or independently and then

connected to the telephone network, as previously

explained.

In all cases transfers are not possible unless both the

480 user has been accepted by the biometric authentication

process, and the user's chip card is inserted into the

pocket value terminal while the pocket value terminal is

connected to the PC computer or compatible telephone.

Removal of the chip card from the pocket value terminal

485 will terminate the connection. The action of the biometric authentication together with

the unique identifier relating to the integrated circuit

of the inserted chip card may also be used to produce a

session key for the transaction period selected by the

490 user during the authentication process. This session key

further enhances the security that presently exists in

some chip card transaction protocols. For each new log¬

on to the communication system a new session number is

generated, and only for the period decided by the user.

495 Additionally the memory may be expanded for more involved biometrics by storing the biometric template on

any of the emerging mini format flash memory card that

can be an additional plug-in device to the pocket value

terminal .

500 It will be appreciated that whereas a certain

contactless device has been described with a chip

mounted on a board and an aerial formed, by printed

circuit or other technique, on the board, other

contactless arrangements may be used. Such other 505 contactless arrangements included cards that are read

during proximate inductive coupling where the card is

normally presented quite closely up to or near a reader.

In all cases, the contactless device is any device that

does not actually electrically contact the reader

510 directly and is a separate or separately operable

device, as explained in the specification.

Claims

1. A combination of two or more pocketable different

discrete communicating devices and each having a

515 respective microprocessor chip for performing its

discrete function, in which the devices are arranged to

be physically associated with one another, and one of

the devices is a contactless device.

2. A combination according to claim 1, in which each

520 of the devices has a separate chip and a single holder

or wallet is provided to carry the chips physically

close to one another in association with one another.

3. A combination according to claim 1, in which each

of the devices is formed on or carried by a respective

525 single printed circuit board.

4. A combination according to any of claims 1 to 3 , in

which an aerial for the contactless device is formed by

conductors printed on the or one of the printed circuit

boards .

530 5. A combination according to any of claims 1 to 4 , in which one of the devices comprises a commonly used

electrical device that fits into a person's pocket.

6. A combination according to any of claims 1 to 5, in

which one of the devices contains a central

535 microprocessor card.

7. A combination according to any of claims 1 to 6 , in

which the central microprocessor card is provided with

the means for communicating directly to a chip in

another card physically placed adjacent the central

540 microprocessor card during the communicating.

8. A combination according to any of claims 1 to 7 ,

including a device arranged to contain the central

microprocessor, the device having mechanisms for receiving and holding other cards with similar chips in

545 position.

9. A combination according to any of claims 1 to 8 , including a device arranged to contain a clip-on re^¬

chargeable battery pack, to supply electrical power.

10. A combination according to claim 9, including a

550 chip card value reader arranged to display the value

residing in the memory of the chip of a card physically placed within the device.

11. A combination according to claim 9, including a

wallet arranged to transfer loyalty value between

555 various other cards physically placed adjacent the

central microprocessor.

12. A combination according to claim 9, including a

connector that enables connectivity to cellular mobile

phones to facilitate the transfer of data or value via

560 the cellular network between financial institutions or

other card holders to cards physically placed adjacent

the central processor.

13. A combination according to claim 9, including a

connector that enables connectivity to personal

565 computers to facilitate the transfer of data or value

via the personal computer communication network between

financial institutions or other card holders to cards

physically placed adjacent the central processor.