Apparatus and method for data transfer between stand alone integrated circuit smart card terminal and remote computer of system operator

A hand held, unitary assembly, data collection device for an off-line vending machine such as a parking meter, which is operable by smart integrated circuit chip cards. The vending machine has a chip card reader, and which stores data as to the sale of goods/services from the machine. The device has a first portion which mechanically and electrically fits the vending machine reader; and a second portion with an opening to receive a PCMCIA card. Data is retrieved and transferred to the PCMCIA card. The first and second portions are rigidly joined to one another forming a unitary assembly, and the second portion securely holds the PCMCIA card, and is also a handle for gripping the device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates generally to the transfer of data between integrated 
circuit smart card read/write terminals and a remote central computer, and 
more particularly to such smart card terminals which are stand alone 
terminals, i.e. which are not connected to the remote central computer 
during each transaction. 
Integrated circuit cards, or smart cards, have a significant advantage over 
other types of cards, e.g. magnetic stripe cards, in their inherent 
security. It is very difficult for a thief or a person wishing to use the 
card fraudulently or, to successfully tamper with the card. This inherent 
security permits the smart cards to be used in transactions which take 
place at terminals which do not check or verify each transaction with a 
central computer or central authority. Thus, some transactions with smart 
cards, may be done at terminals which are "off line". 
With an off line transaction, the exchange between the smart card and the 
smart card reader/writer generates transaction data which is stored in the 
memory of the smart card reader/writer. This transaction data for example 
may be a cryptographic signature generated by the smart card, a token left 
by the smart card, the card holder's name, or simply the smart card serial 
number. In a banking application, the token's cryptographic signatures, or 
IDs of the card are used to reconcile the accounts. This transaction data 
must be collected by the system operator periodically to perform account 
settlement, inventory management, fraud detection, and other functions. 
Additionally, an operator may want to down load new software applications 
to these smart card readers/writers or add "black" lists of stolen/bad 
smart cards. 
Presently, many point of sale terminals which have a modem can up load 
these transactions, or down load applications at the end of the day in an 
on line batch mode. For other remote devices, such as vending machines or 
parking meters, where a phone line is impractical, an off line data 
transfer device is used. 
DISCUSSION OF THE PRIOR ART 
There are several types of off line data transfer devices which vary by 
memory, size and functionality. The simplest of these is simply a smart 
card. In many applications, this device is sufficient. Quite often, the 
memory size of the smart card is not big enough. Another type of device is 
a dedicated device with a smart card interface, nonvolatile memory storage 
area, a microcontroller, a battery backed-up real time clock. This type of 
device is typically a ruggardized device with a much larger memory 
capacity than a smart card and works well in many applications. 
A draw back of this type of device is that to change the memory size or 
certain other features of the unit typically requires redesign of the 
device. Additionally to communicate with the device at the operator's main 
site requires often a long time because this smart card has an interface 
which is serial, and the serial interface limits data throughput. 
Another type of device is a computer, e.g. hand held or laptop, within a 
device, driven from the serial port, which can communicate with the smart 
card reader/writer. This type of device has a much greater memory capacity 
and is capable of communicating via a floppy disk parallel port, but is 
usually not used since its cost is high, its functionality makes it 
attractive to thieves, and it is not well suited to the harsh environment 
of a delivery truck. The computer or laptop may have a PCMCIA for mass 
memory storage or a data communication device and the laptop serves only 
as a communications facilitator between the smart card reader and the 
PCMCIA card. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In other to avoid the shortcomings of the prior art, there is provided in 
one aspect of the invention a communicator collection device to be 
connected between an off-line smart cart reader/writer terminal and a 
PCMCIA card. The device has a first portion with predetermined mechanical 
dimensions to fit into the smart card reader/writer terminal slot, and 
electric contacts mate with electric contacts in the slot; a second 
portion extends outside the reader/writer slot when the first portion is 
in the slot and which mates mechanically and electrically with the PCMCIA 
card. A microcontroller provides signals to the first part's electric 
contacts to transfer data between read/write terminal and the PCMCIA card 
when the device is connected to both said read/write terminal and the 
PCMCIA card. 
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of 
transferring data between an off-line smart card reader/writer terminal 
and a remotely located central computer including the steps of: 
establishing communication with the reader/writer terminal by inserting a 
smart card therein, transferring programs/data between the reader/writer 
terminal and a wireless modem PCMCIA card connected to the smart card, and 
transferring programs/data between the PCMCIA card and the remote central 
computer, while the PCMCIA card is connected to the terminal.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
FIGS. 1 and 2, are top and side schematic views, respectively, of a device 
10 of one embodiment of the invention. It has a smart card portion 12 with 
smart card contacts (shown schematically) 14. The integrated circuit cards 
or smart cards of this type have physical characteristics and dimensions 
and locations of the contacts which are adopted to and follow the 
International Standards Organizations, and ANSI (American National 
Standard Institute) standard ISO/DIS 7816-2.2, distributed in the United 
States by the American National Standards Institute, 11 West 42nd Street, 
New York, N.Y. 10036. The full dimension of such cards is approximately 
8.5 centimeters by 5.5 centimeters by 1.0 millimeter and have a contact 
area of approximately 2 millimeters by 1.7 millimeters. The contact area 
contains eight contacts, arranged two by four, each approximately 2 
millimeters by 1.7 millimeter and separated one-from-another by 
approximately 0.84 millimeter. Further details of the exact location of 
the contacts and their positions on the card is set forth in the ISO 
standard 7816, entitled "Identification Cards--Integrated circuit cards 
with contact--Parts 1 and 2" available from ANSI. Several hundreds of 
millions of such cards are produced each year and used throughout the 
world. One of the manufacturers of the card is the assignee of applicant's 
invention, GEMPLUS CARD INTERNATIONAL, Avenue du Pic de Bertagne--Parc 
d'activites de la Plaine de Jouques, 13420 GEMENOS, France. 
When a card is inserted into a card reader of a reader/writer terminal, the 
card is either completely inside, or approximately 1.5 centimeter of the 
card extends outward from the reader slot. 
In FIGS. 1 and 2, the smart card portion 12 fits into a card slot of a 
smart card reader/writer terminal, and make electrical contact with the 
connections in said card slot. 
The reader/writer terminal for use with the present invention can be a 
stand alone terminal, i.e. one that is not in communication with a remote 
computer. Examples are parking meters, vending machines. A user of the 
terminal would have a prepaid smart card with tokens or value, or credit. 
The prepaid card is entered into the off line terminal and "buys" time on 
the parking meter or, a pack of cigarettes, or whatever other item is 
dispensed by the vending machine. The smart card might have prepaid money 
value which would then be subtracted from the card, or might be of a 
credit card type, which would record that the value of the parking time or 
the item being sold is to be charged to the card owner's account. It is 
expected that this type of stand alone read/write terminal would probably 
operate mostly with prepaid cards, but it is not limited for use with 
prepaid cards. 
The transaction would be recorded in the read/write terminal, but because 
the terminal is not connected to the operator's computer, the data must be 
transferred on a periodic basis to the computer to record the use of the 
machine, inventory control, and if a charge is to be made to the card 
owner's account. Additionally, from time to time, data or programs may be 
entered into the read/write terminal, e.g. change in the cost of using the 
parking meter or change in price of the goods being sold from the vending 
machine, or to include lists of cards, which have been stolen or should 
not be accepted. 
One end 16 of the card portion 12 is inserted into the card slot of the 
read/write terminal and the card 12 would slide into the slot. Extending 
from the opposite end 18 of the card portion 12 is a housing 20 having a 
slot therein 22 with electrical contacts 24 at one end 26 to receive a 
PCMCIA card 30 shown schematically with an arrow pointing to be inserted 
into the slot 22. 
Contacts 34 on the PCMCIA card 30 are made with the contacts 24 on the 
housing 20. The slot 22 inside the housing is provided with the mechanical 
size and slots to accept and securely hold the card 30 in the housing 20. 
The standards for PCMCIA cards both electrical and mechanical are defined 
by the Personal Computer Memory Card International Association, 1030 East 
Duane Avenue, Sunneyvale, Calif. 94086. PCMCIA standard release 1.0-2.1 
lists three types of PCMCIA cards type I, type II, and type III. All of 
the cards use the same electrical interface, although type I card is 3.3 
mm thick, type II card is 5.0 mm thick, and type III card is 10.5 mm 
thick. At the present time, it is the type II and the type III cards are 
used for I/O features, although the invention is not limited to any 
particular type of PCMCIA card. Approximately 215 companies supply the 
various PCMCIA cards and accessories including memory cards, modem cards, 
wireless modem cards. Lists of these companies are in the publications 
from the Association. 
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing electrical connections between the 
contacts 14 on the smart card portion 12 and the contacts 24 on the PCMCIA 
slot 20. 
The smart card contacts 14 are eight in number, which include ground, 
power, input/out serial, clock from the read/write terminal and reset. The 
remaining three terminals are presently not used in the current standards. 
Data flows serially through the input/out contact. In operation, the reset 
terminal is normally high. When it goes low, a signal goes from the card 
to the read/write terminal which initiates operation. In FIG. 3, the smart 
card contacts are shown schematically as 14 and are connected to a 
microcontroller 40, which is connected to a dual port memory 42, which 
outputs to a PCMCIA interface 44 and then outputs to the PCMCIA connector 
electric contacts 24. The contacts 24 make contact with the contacts 32 
and PCMCIA card 30. 
The microcontroller 40 is any convenient or conventional microcontroller 
such as the model 8051 manufactured by SGS-Thomson Microelectronics or the 
6805 family manufactured by Motorola. The microcontroller typically would 
cause an interrogation of the read/write terminal, initiated by a signal 
on the reset contact, e.g. with an answer to "reset I" to get data. This 
would permit interrogation of the read/write terminal and the passage of 
data serially on the smart card serial interface 14. Serial data flows 
into the microcontroller 40 where it is converted to parallel, e.g. 8-bit 
word, and passed to a dual ported memory 42. The dual ported memory passes 
the data received in parallel between its input from the microcontroller 
40 to an output connected to the PCMCIA interface 44. The interface 
configures the data received, from 8 bits to the standard 68-pins to the 
contact on the PCMCIA connector 24. The microcontroller, dual-ported 
memory, and the control for interrogating a read/write terminal may by of 
any convenient or conventional type. One such system for going from serial 
to parallel is in equipment sold by applicant's assignee, Gemplus Card 
International. 
Electrical power for operating the device 10 may come from either the 
device itself, as shown schematically from a power supply 50 mounted in 
the housing. Power would typically be in the device when the stand alone 
read/write terminal is one having little power, such as a parking meter 
which is supplied with a solar cell or a vending machine in a location 
that also has a trickle power source. If the read/write terminal has a 
conventional power supply, then the power for operating the device 10 
could come from the read/write terminal. There are three additional 
contacts in the contact area 14, which can be used for power. 
The device may also be used for downloading information. Here, the PCMCIA 
card would supply programs or data to be entered into the read/write 
terminal. Upon inserting the smart card portion 12 into the slot of the 
read/write terminal a signal would be on the set contact to which the 
answer would be, e.g. reset II, i.e. to download data. The read/write 
terminal would then acknowledge receipt of this signal and there would be 
a downloading into the appropriate portion of the read/write memory 
terminal. 
The PCMCIA card 30 may be a memory card, or a communications card such as a 
modem or a wireless modem card. If a wireless modem card is used, there 
would be a particular advantageous feature in the invention. When the card 
is inserted into the read/write terminal, a wireless, e.g. cellular 
telephone connection may be established with the host computer. The 
computer can then communicate directly with the read/write terminal. The 
time, at which read/write terminal is being interrogated would be provided 
in real time to the host computer, which could then keep track of the 
progress of the data collection from the different terminals. Also, 
uploading of new programs and other features into the terminals could be 
achieved. Alternatively, the modem could be connected through a 
conventional telephone line and could then be plugged in. If a memory 
terminal is used, the data would be batch collected and then transferred 
by removing and connecting the PCMCIA card directly or through a modem to 
the host computer. 
With the device 10, a range of off the shelf PCMCIA cards could interface 
to a smart card reader/writer for data transfer. If the data transfer need 
not be too secure, a standard PCMCIA card could be plugged into this 
device. Then, as the delivery person returns to the operator's central 
site, he could turn in the PCMCIA card which could easily be read by the 
operator's main computer. If the data transfer required a secure format, a 
secure PCMCIA memory card with an onboard smart card could be used to 
store the data securely in its memory. Such a security PCMCIA card is the 
subject of applicant's assignee's copending U.S. patent application No. 
07/997,501 filed on Dec. 28, 1992. If immediate data transfer is required, 
a PCMCIA data modem can be inserted which communicates directly with the 
operator's main computer via, e.g. the cellular phone network. This type 
of data transfer method has two main advantages. One, it allows the 
operator to track the progress of the operator as work is completed during 
the day. Two, it solves the authentication problem between the off line 
data transfer device and the smart card reader/writer, since now the 
authentication is occurring between the operator's central computer and 
the smart card reader/writer. Alternatively, a terminal, e.g. an off line 
point-of-sale terminal could be connected to the central computer by using 
the device shown with a PCMCIA modem card via a telephone line. 
FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view showing the device 10 to be inserted 
into a slot 62 of a stand alone read/write terminal which in this Figure 
is a parking meter 60. The smart card portion 12 with the smart card 
contacts 14 is to have its end 16 introduced into the slot 62 and the card 
portion will fit into the slot 62 and make contact with contacts (not 
shown) in the slot 62. The PCMCIA card 30 is to be inserted into the slot 
in the housing 20 as shown in FIG. 4. At the far end of the housing 20 is 
a hinged door 28. Once the PCMCIA card 30 is inserted into the slot 22 the 
door 28 is shut and a hook or latch 29 or other fastener holds the door 
closed, keeping the PCMCIA card securely in the slot. The door 28 may be 
provided with an opening or window (not shown) for the passage of a 
telephone line where the card is a wired modem, or for an antenna if a 
wireless moden. As shown in FIG. 4 the device is a unitary assembly and is 
of the size and shape for the housing 20 to fit easily into the hand of an 
operator. The device preferably is not only compact, self-contained, but 
ruggardized. The latch 29 may be a secure latch such as a mechanical lock 
to prevent accidental or mischievous opening and tampering with the PCMCIA 
card. 
Various modifications of the invention can be made without departing from 
the scope or spirit of the invention.