Patent Publication Number: US-8973842-B2

Title: Tradeable packet for holding a portable data storage medium, and suitable portable data storage medium

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to packaging series-produced portable data carriers suitable for identifying a user into marketable individual packages. The invention relates in particular to packaging SIM modules (subscriber identity modules) into individual packages. 
     BACKGROUND 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,541,395 A discloses a method for packaging magnetic stripe cards into envelopes. The magnetic stripe cards and the envelopes are printed with matching information, e.g. the name of a future card holder. The information is also coded into the magnetic stripe and printed on the envelope again in the form of a machine-readable bar code. Before magnetic stripe card and envelope are joined together, the applied information is checked for a match. For this purpose the magnetic stripe on the one hand and the machine-readable bar code on the other hand are read out. This method permits the packaging process to be carried out by machine and makes sure that personalized cards are put only into the particular associated envelopes. The method presupposes that the envelopes are completely personalized when they are brought together with the cards to be packaged. It is not suitable for applications where the individualization of a package is effected only after joining with a data carrier to be packaged. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,054,271 A discloses a method for packaging an object in an outer packaging which is transparent in the area of the object. The outer packaging comprises substantially a shaped transparent plastic material which is held by a support frame made e.g. of paper. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,505,494 A further discloses an identity card which is provided on one side with information identifying a person, such as in particular a photo, and personal data, and which bears on the back side a two-dimensional bar code. The two-dimensional bar code contains in machine-readable form likewise the data identifying the person. Two-dimensional bar codes contain in encrypted form information along a principal direction as well as perpendicular to said principal direction. Two-dimensional bar codes are known in different embodiments, e.g. under the name PDF 417 or as a so-called matrix code, which are both described in international standards. 
     DE 44 15 667 A1 discloses a method for producing a chip card dispatch unit which comprises an envelope into which a cover letter as well as a dispatch envelope with one or more chip cards are inserted. The dispatch envelope comprises a series of contiguous single pockets which have e.g. been cut off from an endless dispatch envelope. A chip card is placed in each single pocket. Dispatch envelope and cover letter are each provided with a matching identification code. A plurality of dispatch envelopes can bear the same identification code. Dispatch envelopes and cover letters are brought together with reference to the identification code. Plain text chip card data can further be provided on a chip card. Plain text data can likewise also be applied to the envelope or the back side thereof. The application of the plain text data is effected completely independently of each other. The success of the method depends on correct application of the identification codes to dispatch envelopes and cover letters. If an error occurs here, this leads to a misassignment of chip cards and cover letters. 
     DE 40 20 578 A1 further discloses a solution for applying to an envelope a machine code corresponding to the stipulations of a national post office. For this purpose, the actual letter is first to be provided with not only a plain text address but also a machine code readable by an internal reading station. The address field is thereupon placed in the window of a window envelope. The internal machine code is subsequently read automatically through the window and a machine code corresponding to the stipulations of the particular national post office generated therefrom. The latter code is finally printed on the outside of the envelope. A thus processed letter can fundamentally also include enclosures. This solution is based completely and focuses exclusively on the handling of usual postal letters. 
     SUMMARY 
     It is the object of the invention to specify a method for packaging portable data carriers in marketable packages which permits small-sized portable data carriers to be put into outer packagings which are individualized to the data carrier after incorporation. 
     According to the invention, the ID information associated with the data carrier is no longer, as hitherto, applied to the viewing side of the data carrier but to the underside thereof and read out from there through the outer packaging in order to recover the ID information and be able to apply it to the outer packaging. Applying the ID information to the underside of the data carrier has the advantage that as a rule the total area of the data carrier can be used and the ID information can accordingly be formed over a larger area or more extensively. By the readout of the ID information being effected after the placement of the data carrier in the outer packaging, a direct linkage according to the method between information taken directly from a data carrier and the corresponding information applied to the outer packaging ensures that the data carrier belonging to ID information is actually located in the outer packaging. There are no special steps for assigning ID information to a data carrier, e.g. breaking small-sized data carriers out of larger carriers on which the ID information is located. By the portable data carriers being capable of being handled in their final size for packaging, the inventive method permits fully automated packaging of very small-sized data carriers. The latter can advantageously be supplied in particular in a roll or in the form of strips from which they are singled by machine for packaging. The inventive method is particularly advantageously suitable for packaging SIM cards or chip cards of comparable or even smaller size which are supplied in a roll or in strips each having a plurality of single cards. 
     In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the ID information is applied in the form of a two-dimensional bar code. Preferably, the ID information is moreover invisible or at least poorly recognizable to the naked eye and only readable with a special reading device. To support the readout, the package is preferably configured to be transparent at the location of placement of the data carrier. By the readout of the ID information from the underside of the data carrier, the supplying of the secret code contained on the data carrier is preferably controlled. With reference to the drawing, an embodiment of the invention will hereinafter be explained in more detail. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Therein is shown: 
         FIG. 1  a perspective plan view of the viewing side of a portable data carrier, 
         FIG. 2  a perspective plan view of the underside of a portable data carrier, 
         FIG. 3  a package containing a portable data carrier and an extra item in cross section, 
         FIG. 4  the supplying of data carriers to be packaged in a roll, 
         FIG. 5  the singling of portable data carriers supplied in a strip, 
         FIG. 6  a flow chart of the inventive production method, 
         FIG. 7  a variant of a package, 
         FIG. 8  the basic principle of a realization of the inventive method, and 
         FIG. 9  a lower form with an inserted module fed from a magazine in a partially perspective view. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The following description will assume a known, standard SIM module as indicated in  FIGS. 1 and 2  as the embodiment of a portable data carrier to be packaged. The assumption of a SIM module as the embodiment of a portable data carrier  10  is made here only by way of example for the purposes of easier description. The proposed method is nevertheless also suitable with the same success for other data carrier designs having a viewing side considerably occupied by technical or informative elements and an unoccupied or little occupied underside. 
     The SIM module  10 , referred to hereinafter simply as the module, possesses a flat, approximatively rectangular form with a viewing side  12  on which a contact pad  14  is formed, and a plane underside  16 . In the module  10  there is, inaccessible from outside, a chip  11  in which a secret software code is stored. The chip is connected to the contact pad  14 . The contact pad  14  typically covers more than half of the viewing side  12 . In the remaining free area of the viewing side  12  there is an information field  18  in which information about the module is rendered. The information field  18  typically contains identification information for unique designation of the module  10  as well as information on the distributor of the module  10 . 
     There is applied to the underside  16  of the module  10  a machine-readable code  20  the readout of which requires a reading device  70 . The machine-readable code  20  is preferably a two-dimensional bar code, this execution being assumed hereinafter. The bar code  20  expediently covers the whole or the predominant part of the underside  16 , thereby obtaining a maximally large-area execution of the partial areas of the bar code  20 . The bar code  20  likewise contains the identification information serving to uniquely designate the module  10 . In addition the two-dimensional bar code  20  can contain further information, such as information on the distributor of the module  10 , on the module manufacturer or on special features of the module  10 . The two-dimensional bar code  20  can also contain control information by means of which the secret software code located in the chip  11  of the module  10  is identifiable. The two-dimensional bar code  20  is preferably executed so as to be invisible or at least poorly recognizable to the naked eye. It is for example so constituted that it is only visible in ultraviolet light. The two-dimensional bar code  20  is expediently a “matrix code”, as defined in the international standard ISO/IEC 16022. In this embodiment it can be read omnidirectionally by means of CCD camera scanners, whereby successful reading is even possible when up to 25% of the code could not be recognized. In addition, however, other embodiments are also possible, e.g. according to the type “PDF 417”. 
     For delivery to an end customer, the module  10  is packaged into a marketable package  30 , as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . The marketable package  30  permits dispatch of the contained goods, i.e. the module  10 , and can be delivered to a final consumer without any further effort. 
     The package  30  comprises a outer packaging having the module  10  as well as an extra item  50  incorporated therein and a label  60  or a print applied to the outer side thereof. The outer packaging is constituted by joining a lower form  34  and an upper form  40  and has cavities  42  and  44  which enclose the module  10  and the extra item  50 . The cavities  42  and  44  are constituted by hollows  36 ,  38  and  46 ,  48  of matching shape which are formed in the lower form  34  and upper form  40 . The hollows  36 ,  38 ,  46 ,  48  define a fixed placement within the outer packaging for the module  10  and the extra item  50  in each case and fix them in slip-proof fashion. The total outer packaging, but at least parts thereof, are executed to be transparent. Preferably, in particular the upper form  40  is configured to be transparent in such a way that the viewing side  12  of the module  10  and the extra item  50  are visible through the upper form  40 . Lower form  34  and upper form  40  are expediently interconnected along the edges by suitable methods such as welding, bonding or riveting. The extra item  50  contains information about the module  10 . It typically contains instructions for use as well as further a rendition of the secret software code of the module  10 . The secret code is expediently rendered on a sheet  52  which is so inserted into the extra item  50  that it cannot be read from outside in an unopened extra item  50 . The extra item  50  expediently also contains, preferably on the sheet  52 , the identification information contained in the information field  18 . The extra item  50  is typically a booklet or leaflet. 
     The label  60  preferably bears in plain text likewise the identification information serving to uniquely designate the module  10 . It is applied to the outer side of the outer packaging, preferably to the outer side of the upper form  40 , after closure of the outer packaging by joining of the lower form  34  and upper form  40 . In connection with the identification information contained in the information field  18  on the module  10 , the label  60  permits a check of whether module  10 , extra item  50  and label  60  belong together. The label  60  can in addition have applied thereto information about dealing with the package  30 , for example logistical information. The label  60  comprises in the way known in the art an adhesive carrier on which information is printed. In a variant, the adhesive carrier can be omitted and the information applied directly to the upper form  40 , e.g. by printing or with the help of a laser. 
     With reference to the flow chart rendered in  FIG. 6 , the production of the marketable package  30  shown in  FIG. 1  will hereinafter be described. The production begins, step  100 , with the supplying of a module  10 . The module  10  can be supplied here, as illustrated in  FIG. 4 , in particular in the form of a roll or in the form of strips each having a plurality of modules  10 . The individual modules  10  are still interconnected here by bars  80  to be removed later. Depending on the separation technology later applied, however, the bars  80  can also be omitted. If the modules  10  possess a longer and a shorter principal axis, as is the case in particular with the assumed SIM modules, they are preferably connected in the roll or strip along the longer principal axis, as indicated in  FIG. 4 . 
     The module  10  is first individualized graphically, step  102 . For this purpose, identification information uniquely characterizing the module  10  is applied to the information field  18  on the viewing side  12  of the supplied modules. 
     Subsequently, the module  10  is personalized electrically, step  104 . For this purpose, a secret software code is generated and inscribed into the chip  11  of the module  10 . The secret software code typically comprises, in the case of SIM modules, a PIN and a PUK for identification of a subscriber vis-à-vis a mobile communication network. The secret software code written into the chip  11  is further stored in a production database  82  outside the module  10  together with the identification information applied in step  102 . 
     In the following step  106  the two-dimensional bar code  20 , which likewise contains the identification information as well as optionally further information, is applied to the underside  16  of the module  10 . 
     The execution of steps  102  to  106  can be effected completely in the roll or strip. 
     If they are still connected, e.g. by being present in a roll or strip, the modules  10  are singled in the following step  108 . A possible manner of singling is illustrated in  FIG. 5 . It can be effected, as indicated in  FIG. 4 , with the help of a mechanical separating device  84  which separates the modules  10  from the strip or roll directly in their final size. Any other known technology can in addition also be used for singling. 
     For producing the package  30  the lower form  34  is thereupon supplied, step  110 . In the lower form  34  there are hollows  36  and  38  formed for receiving the module  10  and the extra item  50 . At least the hollow  36  is configured to be transparent so that the two-dimensional bar code  20  can subsequently be read out through the lower form  34  by means of a reading device  70 . The module  10  is inserted into the hollow  36  formed for receiving the module  10 , step  112 . 
     After placement of the module  10  in the hollow  36  the two-dimensional bar code  20  is read out by means of a reading device  70  in a following step  114 . From the read-out two-dimensional bar code  20  the identification information contained therein is determined. With access to the production database  82  the secret software code belonging to the data carrier  10  and stored in step  104  is thus determined. Said code is transferred, preferably in plain text, to a sheet  52 , step  116 , which is thereupon inserted or optionally also glued into the extra item  50 , step  118 . 
     The extra item  50  is thereafter likewise inserted into the hollow  38  likewise provided therefor in the lower form  34 , step  120 . In a variant, the extra item  50  is first inserted into the prepared hollow  38  without the sheet  52  together with the module  10 , and the sheet  52  then inserted in the extra item  50  placed in the hollow  38 . 
     Subsequently, lower form  34  and upper form  40  are joined together and the package  30  thus closed, step  122 . 
     After closure, the two-dimensional bar code  20  on the underside of the module  10  is again read out through the lower form  34  by means of a reading device  70 , which can be a different one from that used for the first readout in step  114 , step  124 . From the read-out bar code  20  the identification information contained therein is determined and, preferably in plain text, applied to a label  60 , step  126 . The label is thereupon applied to the outer side of the package  30 , step  128 . In a variant for applying a label  60 , the identification information is applied directly to the outer side of the package  30 , preferably as a print. In step  126  there is effected in this case a preparation of a print, which is then applied in step  128 . For direct application it is possible to use in particular known printing methods, such as printing by means of an ink jet printer or blackening the outer side of the package by means of a laser beam. 
     The label  60  or the print is preferably placed on the outer side of the upper form  40 , so that it can be read out from the same side as the information field  18  on the module  10 . Together with the identification information, further information can be applied to the label  60 , e.g. information on the product identification for trade or information on the manufacturer of the module  10 . The additional information can also be applied in machine-readable form, in particular as an ordinary bar code or again as a two-dimensional bar code. 
       FIGS. 7 to 10  illustrate a realization of the above-described method by means of consecutive processing stations  86 ,  88 ,  90 . At the processing stations  86 ,  88 ,  90  there are disposed magazines  92 ,  94 ,  96  from which the modules  10 , the extra items  50  and the labels  60  are fed in each case. The product produced is a variant of a package  30  in which, unlike the embodiment according to  FIG. 3 , the two hollows  36 ,  38  for receiving module  10  and extra item  50  are formed one above the other in the form of a two-step hollow, the package  30  being shown in cross section in  FIG. 7 . The information field  18  is covered by the extra item  50  with this arrangement and can only be read after the package  30  is opened. 
       FIG. 8  shows the basic principle of this realization. At a first processing station  86  the steps  110  and  112  are executed, i.e. the lower form  34  is supplied and the previously singled-module  10  inserted thereinto. The module  10  is thereby inserted into the smaller, deeper hollow  36 , as illustrated in  FIG. 9  in a partially perspective view. The module  10  is preferably fed from a magazine  92 . 
     The lower form  34  is subsequently conveyed on to a following processing station  88  where steps  114  to  120  are executed. In step  120  the extra item  50  is placed over the module  10  into the larger hollow  38 , whose base area is constituted substantially by the upper side  12  of the previously inserted module  10 . The feed of the extra item  50  is preferably effected likewise from a magazine  94 . 
     The upper form  40  is subsequently placed over the loaded lower form  34  and connected to the lower form  34 , so that a closed package  30  arises, this step being indicated in  FIG. 8  by a double arrow. 
     At the following processing station  90 , steps  124  to  128  are executed, which end in the application of a label  60  to the outer side of the package  30 , as shown. The label  60  is preferably again fed from a magazine  96 . 
     It is evident that, instead of the processing indicated in  FIG. 8  at tandem-arranged processing stations  86 ,  88 ,  92 , the inventive method can also be realized in stationary fashion, by the lower form  34  being supplied at a fixed assembly site and the further steps for producing a package  30  being subsequently executed successively there. 
     While retaining the basic idea of producing a package receiving a portable data carrier by providing the data carrier on the underside with a two-dimensional bar code and reading out the latter through a package designed to be transparent for this purpose after it has been inserted into the package, the above-described solution allows a multiplicity of variations not individually described here. Thus, individual method steps can be interchanged, such as steps  102  and  104 . Steps can also be omitted, such as step  124 , by the information read out in step  114  being stored and reused. There is also wide scope for variations in the supplying of the portable data carriers  10 . This can of course also already be effected in singled form, but also e.g. in the form of stacks which are broken up by means of suitable separating tools. Besides the extra item, further elements can be inserted into a package and linked with the data carrier  10  by application of information if required. The supplying of the secret code need not be effected from a production data memory  82  but can also be realized for example by calculation from information derived from the two-dimensional bar code  20 . For inserting the secret software code into the extra item  50  it is also possible to select a differently configured inlay, instead of a sheet  52 . The inlay can be placed in its own hollow separately from the extra item  50 . The extra item  50  itself can also possess any other designs apart from a book-like form, being enclosed for example in the form of a CD.