Patent ID: 8561120

Claim:
Control device comprising: means for communicating with a plurality of smart card reading devices comprising a first smart card reading device and at least one second smart card reading device, said plurality of smart card reading devices connected in series to the control device, wherein the first smart card reading device is connected to the control device, and the second smart card reading device is connected in series with the first smart card reading device, means for processing information received from said smart card reading devices, and means for activating at least one of said smart card reading devices for a current communication, wherein said activating means are intended to generate selection data intended for the plurality of smart card reading devices, connected in series to said control device, said selection data enabling each of said reading devices to determine if said reading device is selected or not for the current communication, said selection data comprising power supply voltages within one of a plurality of predetermined voltage ranges; send the selection data for serial transmission through the plurality of smart card reading devices connected in series, wherein said means for activating transmits selection data to the first smart card reading device, and the first smart card reading device further transmits said selection data to the second smart card reading device.