Patent ID: 6536671
Filing Date: 2003-03-25
Classification: G06F,G06K,G06Q,G07F

Abstract:
Integrated circuit card comprising:a processor; volatile memory; non-volatile memory; power coupling means for allowing external power to be supplied to the card; failure protection means for maintaining power for a short period of time in case of a power supply failure; power-failure detector for sensing a power supply failure; and means for setting a power supply failure indicator (PF) into said non-volatile memory if a power supply failure is sensed by said power-failure detector, in order to leave a trace that a power supply failure has occurred, the failure protection means providing the power for setting said indicator (PF); wherein the power-failure detector triggers the transfer of information from the volatile memory to the non-volatile memory if a power supply failure is sensed, and the failure protection means provides power for this transfer.