JP2824904B2 - IC card - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an IC card, and more particularly, an IC card itself can operate as a master for a device to which the IC card is connected, and can have an intelligent function as a terminal. To such an IC card.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional data transfer operation of an IC card with another device includes, for example, a command transmitted from the host computer when the IC card is mounted on a host computer which is one of the external devices. Group I
The internal control program of the C card decodes the data, accesses the memory according to the contents, for example, writes, reads, and deletes data, and transmits and receives data according to a sequence in which the result is returned to the host computer as a command response. I have. In such an operation method, the host computer is always in the master state, and the IC card is in the slave state. Therefore,
The IC card does not have a function of requesting an external operation. For this reason, the IC card has a simple data file function and has a disadvantage that it lacks intelligence even though it has a microprocessor inside the card.

[0003]

In recent years, a single IC card has been provided with various functions, and at one time, for various purposes such as for a bank, for a hospital, and sometimes for a credit. There is a demand for an IC card to be able to use it. In order to satisfy such demands, I
It is necessary to expand the processing function of the microprocessor in the C card, and at that time, various different data processing must be performed. In addition, the amount of data processing increases, and this increase leads to an increase in the storage capacity of a built-in memory, and it is necessary to store various kinds of information in a limited space of an IC card. In addition, it is necessary to exchange various information with various external devices having different systems.

However, since the capacity of the IC card is limited, even if the amount of information to be handled becomes enormous, there is a possibility that a storage capacity corresponding to the enormous amount of information cannot be secured. Therefore, it is necessary to select information. However, since the current transmission system is not a system in which the IC card side is mainly used, a high-density mounting of a highly integrated IC corresponding to a data processing amount is required. ing. While this may offer some solution, it has its limitations. An object of the present invention is to solve such a problem of the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide an IC card which can transmit data mainly by an IC card and can attach various processing functions. I do.

[0005]

Means in an IC card according to the present invention for achieving the above object is an information processing apparatus on which the IC card is mounted or a connection to another IC card via the information processing apparatus. In an IC card that exchanges data between itself, a state setting that sets itself to the master or slave processing state and sets it to one of the pre-selected processing states for the other party that exchanges data Means, and transmission means for transmitting the state information for setting the other party to either the master or the slave to the other party in addition to the transmission information.

[0006]

As described above, the IC card is provided with the status setting means for setting itself as one of the master and the slave, and the status information to be set to the other is transmitted to the other party. I want to do IC
The card can operate as an IC card in one of the processing states selected in advance. And
The other party can be set to the other processing state. As a result, the IC card can become a master according to its own processing function, can obtain various programs and data from other devices, and can perform processing like a terminal device. Therefore, various processing functions can be realized without increasing the load on hardware.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an internal circuit of the IC card, FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a status information and mode information table, and FIG.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an IC card transmission system using an IC card to which a C card is applied, and FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a format of the transmission data. In FIG. 1, 2
Is an IC card which can set its own status to either a master or a slave for an inserted device. The IC card 2 includes an external interface 21 for exchanging signals with the outside, a RAM,
23, a mask ROM 24, an EEPROM 25 for storing programs and data, and a microprocessor 22 connected to these by a bus or the like and controlling them. In this example, the configuration is as described above, but the combination of these elements and the number of IC chips are not limited, and various hardware circuits such as a gate array or other logic circuits are added. ,
Alternatively, some of the circuits may be replaced with these circuits.

Here, writing and reading of data, collation of confirmation information such as a password, activation of a specific processing program,
A basic processing program for performing communication control processing and the like is stored in the mask ROM 24. The status setting means 6 in FIG.
Status setting processing program 27 stored in M25
is executed by being activated by the microprocessor 23, and sets the IC card 2 to one of the master state and the slave state. The EEPROM 25 has a status information area 26 in which status data referred to by the status setting means 6 for setting its own status to either a master or a slave is stored.
And a mode information table 5, an application processing program group 27 storing a plurality of processing programs corresponding to various applications such as bank-related data processing, shopping-related data processing, and hospital-related data processing, and the data thereof. ing.

The status setting processing program 27
a indicates the status necessary for the operation mode from the status information area based on the mode identification information 13 (see FIG. 4) or the mode information corresponding to the internally generated information.
Set inside card 2. When it becomes a master or a slave by itself, it generates mode information internally, obtains a mode number by referring to the status information area 26, and refers to the mode information table 5 from this mode number to set it for the other party. When the other party operates as a master / slave, it selects mode information and a processing program for itself to operate correspondingly.

The status information area 26 is shown in FIG.
As shown in (a), the mode is accessed according to the mode identification information including the master / slave bit and the individual status information, and the mode number and various parameters for realizing the individual status are stored in correspondence with the mode identification information. doing. When it is not necessary to start the processing program, the mode number may be written in the status information area 26. This is because, for example, if the mode number is not stored in a certain individual status at the time of entering the slave state, the operation is maintained in the slave state, whereby the host computer 1 as the transmission partner
(See FIG. 3) and the state of both the IC card 2 are fixed. When a predetermined processing program is started in the slave state and then held in that state, the individual status information column 55 of the mode information table 5 described later is used.
The individual status information (see FIG. 2B) need not be written.

Therefore, the IC card 2 is set to the master or slave state by the data in the status information area 26 based on the transmitted mode information 13 or mode information generated internally. A function similar to the function by the configuration is provided for the host computer 1. Since this is the same, it is omitted here. The operation of the IC card 2 is as shown in FIG. The IC card 2 inserted into the reader / writer 8 is initially in an initial setting state when the power is turned on ("ON"). After that, the status setting processing program 27a is started to shift to the mode setting state, the mode information designated when the power is turned on is generated internally, the status information area 26 is accessed, and the status setting area 26 is set to the master state or the slave state. Transition to one of the states.

Therefore, if the mode information generated internally when the power supply is "ON" indicates the master state, the IC card 2 is set to the master mode, and if the mode information indicates the slave state, the IC card 2 is set to the slave mode. In the slave state when the power is "ON", transmission of mode information to the other party is not normally performed. In the operating state, when the IC card 2 (or the host computer 1) shifts to either the master state or the slave status, the status setting processing program 27a is activated. Is specified by a command from the master side.
The slave side operates independently of the information from the host computer 1 (IC card 2 when the master is an IC card) and starts the processing program, except when the slave side itself enters the slave state. When the slave state is set by the mode information 13, it is performed in response to the reception of the mode information 13 from the other party. When the slave state is entered, only a response signal is returned to the other party.

On the other hand, when it is set to the master, the mode identification information 13 is transmitted to the other party, and after receiving a response thereto, it is performed after the other party has been set to the slave state, and then enters the master state. After the response, the designated processing program is activated and executed. In the operating state, when the status matches the current status, setting and switching of the status corresponding to the mode are not performed even if the mode information is received. Therefore, the status setting processing program 27a
Includes a process of comparing the received master / slave status with the status of the currently executing master / slave to determine whether or not they match, and according to the result of this determination. The state shifts to the status setting state in FIG.

FIG. 2B shows the mode information to be set for the other party, the name of the processing program to be processed when it becomes a master / slave, its start address, and parameters required when the processing program is started. 9 is a specific example of the mode information table 5 shown in FIG. In the mode information table 5, the first column is a mode number column 51, the next column 52 is a process number for identifying a process to be executed in the mode, and the next column 53 is a head address of a program operating in the mode. , The next column 54 contains parameters such as the program name and attributes required for the operation of the program, and
The last is the column 55 of the individual status information added to the other party mode information. The individual status information column 55
When the information is not stored in the other party, the information is not transmitted to the other party, and the processing program designated by the fields 52, 53, 54 is simply activated.

Therefore, when the IC card 2 is mounted on the IC card reader / writer 8, the normal processing is performed unless the mode information indicating the master is transmitted from the IC card 2, and the IC card 2 is used as described above. Since the host computer 1 becomes a slave, the host computer 1 enters a transmission information waiting state for a certain period of time after the IC card 2 is inserted, and receives a mode setting state command (a command for starting the status setting means 6) from the IC card 2. When there is no information transmission, the host computer 1 generates mode information corresponding to the master internally, accesses the status information area, and refers to the mode information table 5 based on the mode number obtained here. Information about the program to be processed and the individual status information for the other party, To generate the mode information 13. Then, the status setting processing program 27 for the other party
The generated mode information is transmitted to the IC card 2 as mode information 13 with a command for activating a added.
Then, the status is set to “internal”, and after waiting for the response of the other party, the processing program of the mode information table 5 is started.

During operation, a start command of the status setting means 6 (status setting processing program 27a) is transmitted, and if the designated status does not match the current status, the mode is set to the mode setting state.
Put itself in another state, for example, from master to slave. When the slave becomes the master, it sends a command for activating the status setting processing program 27a and the mode information 13 indicating the slave to the other party. As described above, when it is necessary to perform the mode switching, the status setting processing program 27a is started, and the status setting unit 6 shifts to the next status setting state to set the next status. By doing so, the host computer 1 becomes the master,
Normal processing in which the C card 2 is a slave, or processing in which an IC card is a master and the host computer 1 is a slave can be performed.

Next, the IC card 2 and the host computer 1
3 will be described with reference to FIG. 3. The IC card 2 is mounted, and the host computer 1 that exchanges data with the IC card 2 has an IC card reader / writer inside. The IC card 2 is mounted on the IC card reader / writer and exchanges data with the host computer 1. The IC card reader / writer unit and the IC card 2 are usually connected by a connector or electromagnetically coupled via a coil or the like, and are connected in a non-contact state. Reference numeral 3 denotes a command sequence sent from the host computer 1 to the IC card 2 via the IC card reader / writer unit, and reference numeral 4 denotes a response sequence from the IC card 2 to the command sequence 3. For details of the format of the command string 3 and the response string 4, see FIG.
As shown in the figure, start code 1 indicating the head
1, a command code or response code 12, mode identification information 13, transmission data 14,
Finally, it has a configuration following the end code 15.

Here, the mode identification information 13 is selected from the respective mode information tables 5 stored in the host computer 1 and the IC card 2. The mode information table 5 includes a master / slave. When set to any one of the following, a lower-level status that generates a case of an operating state of a processing program that individually operates in that processing state or / and individual information that is information for selecting a processing program in that case. A plurality of individual mode information corresponding to the program is stored.

The command sequence 3 and the response sequence 4
Of the mode information table 5
The host computer 1 and the IC card 2 switch their processing states based on the mode information stored in the mode information table 5 of the other party and become masters. , A slave, and set to a specific processing state. Therefore, this mode information is designated as one of various processing states such as a bank transaction process, a short transaction process, a hospital consultation process, and the like, with bit information specifying whether to be a master or a slave and any individual processing status. It is composed of status information (individual status information) as to whether or not to be set, and the individual status information is also selection information of a program operating in that state. That is, the mode information here is composed of state information in a large meaning indicating whether to be the master state or the slave state, and individual mode information set thereunder. This individual mode information is used as individual status information for setting individual processing states set corresponding to various processes in the master state or the slave state, and operates in an individually selected state. It also serves as information for selecting a processing program to be executed, and determines an actual processing mode.

Here, the host computer 1 and the IC card 2 each decode the mode identification information from the transmission data and set the operation state of the host computer 1 and the IC card 2 to the operation mode designated by the other party. Means) 6 and mode information transmitting means 7 for selecting mode information to be added to the transmission data from the mode information table 5 and adding the selected mode information to the transmission data. Then, the mode information at that time added by the mode information transmitting means 7 is transmitted as mode identification information 13 as a command string 3 or a response string 4 at the time of transmission together with the transmission data 14 when setting or changing the master / slave relationship. When the IC card 2 is attached to the host computer 1, the host computer 1 usually first becomes a master and transmits a code (individual status information) designating an operation state corresponding to a process to be performed by the host computer 1 to the mode information. A selection is made from the table 5, and this and information specifying the IC card 2 as a slave are configured as mode identification information 13 and transmitted.

When the IC card 2 receives the transmission data from the host computer 1, if it is a status setting command for activating the status setting means 6,
This command activates the status setting means and sets the status. This is because the mode setting information 6 is decoded by the status setting means 6 and the IC card 2 is set as the slave state specified by the host computer 1, and its own status is set to the processing state specified by the mode identification information 13 (the individual status (Processing state) to perform the subsequent processing. As a result of decrypting the mode identification information 13, if the processing is performed by itself as the master, the mode identification information 13 is stored in the status information area 26 (see FIG. 1) of the own memory based on the individual status information. The mode number corresponding to the status information is obtained, and the other party, that is, the host computer 1 is set as a slave based on the mode number (this is a number for selecting a processing program to be operated in the status from the individual status information). That sets the operating state corresponding to the process to be performed as the other party (individual status information of the other party)
Is selected from the mode information table 5, and the mode identification information 13 including this and the slave is configured and incorporated in the response sequence 4 and returned to the host computer 1. Then, the status of the IC card 2 itself is changed by the status setting means 6 to the master status.
In this case, an actual processing program in that status is started after waiting for a response that the other party has become a slave.

As a result, thereafter, the host computer 1
Becomes a slave, and IC card 2 becomes a master,
A specific program or a data transfer request is issued from the IC card 2 to the host computer 1, and a program or data necessary for the operation at that time is obtained. Then, if necessary, the IC card 2 sends the mode information in which the host computer 1 becomes the master again, becomes the slave, and the host computer 1 returns to the original state as the master, and operates as a normal IC card. Do the processing.

Although the above description has been made with the IC card 2 as the main body, the host computer 1 sends mode information from the host computer 1 to the IC card 2 so that the host computer 1 becomes a slave and the IC card 2 becomes a master from the beginning. , The IC card 2 may be the master. In this case, all the above operations of the IC card 2 are assigned to the host computer 1 mainly by the host computer 1 side, and the above operations of the host computer 1 are performed by the IC card 2.
It is also possible to replace them with each other and operate them with their mutual positions reversed.

Further, separately from this, as described later,
The IC card 2 side operates as a main component, operates as a master from the beginning, and operates as a main component. The IC card 2 operates in the same manner as the host computer 1, and the host computer 1 operates in the same manner as the IC card 2. You may start from becoming a slave from a standpoint. By doing so, the information processing according to the occasion can be performed using the IC card 2 as a master, and an intelligent operation can be performed. And IC card 2
Even if the types of processing functions are increased, the host computer 1 can be selectively transferred from the host computer 1 later because the host computer 1 becomes a slave, so that a certain program is stored in the IC card 2 side. You don't have to. This also applies to data.

In such a transmission / reception method, when shopping or the like is performed using the IC card 2, a command sequence 3 is transmitted between the host computer 1 and the IC card 2, and a response of the IC card 2 to the command sequence 3 is performed. Row 4
Send and receive as many times as necessary. At this time, one side of the transmission data 14 in the command sequence 3 and the response sequence 4 becomes a master and the other side becomes a slave according to the method indicated by the mode identification information 13 each time.
Therefore, in normal shopping, the host computer 1 exchanges data with the IC card 2 as a slave, but when the IC card side needs other data as special processing depending on the contents of the shopping, the IC card 2 is used.
The card 2 becomes a master, and can perform a process of issuing a request to the host computer 1 and obtaining the data (or program). When the IC card 2 is used in a hospital or the like, first, the IC card 2 is set as a master, and data required for a medical examination at that time is transferred from the host computer 1 on the slave side. Can exchange data with the host computer 1.

Incidentally, the IC card reader / writer 8
As shown in FIG. 5, the IC card 2 is mounted on the IC card reader / writer 8 without being built in the host computer, and the IC card reader / writer 8 and the host computer 1 are connected by a line or a wire. Processing may be performed. The configuration of each unit will be described in more detail by taking this case as an example. The reader / writer 8 is usually
It has a microprocessor and a memory inside, and its basic functions are a host computer 1 and an I / O
It is connected between the C cards 2 and mainly has a mechanism for inserting the IC card 2, and sends signals such as power, clock and reset to the inserted IC card 2 to operate the IC card 2, It serves as an interface for transferring transmission data between the computer 1 and the IC card 2. Since the IC card reader / writer 8 has various other functions according to the specifications, it is needless to say that the IC card reader / writer 8 is not limited to the interface functions as described above.

The above is an example in which the host computer 1 operates as the master after a fixed time after the IC card 2 is mounted. However, the IC card 2 can operate as the master and the IC card 2 can operate from the beginning. This is
This is performed when the mode information generated internally when the C card 2 is mounted on the IC card reader / writer 8 or the like is the master mode. When the IC card 2 is mounted on the IC card reader / writer 8, power is supplied from the IC card reader / writer 8, and the mode shifts from the initial setting state to the mode setting state. If the specification of the information is the master state, the IC card 2 becomes the master state, and sends the host computer 1 a command for activating the status setting processing program 27a and mode information 13 for specifying the processing mode and the slave. Then, the IC card 2 enters the master state, and waits for a response from the other party to activate the processing program in the first row of the mode information table 5.

As a result, the first processing in which the IC card 2 is set as the master and the host computer is set as the slave is performed. When the IC card 2 becomes the master, for example, the host computer 1
Instructions for reading necessary data in the card 2 and instructions for writing data can be given. IC card 2
Instructs the host computer 1 to execute processing that cannot be executed due to lack of processing capacity, and causes the host computer 1 to execute the processing.
C card 2 receives. In this way, the IC card 2 becomes the master and executes its own processing. In this embodiment, the mode information table or the status area is
Although set on the EPROM 25, it can be set on the RAM 24. In this case, it is necessary that the status at the time of turning on the power be separately set in advance so as to be the slave or the master. The mode information table does not necessarily need to take the form of a table. The same applies to the status information area. Furthermore, it goes without saying that these may be combined into one table.

In the embodiment, the exchange of data between the host computer and the IC card is described as an example. However, the IC card and another IC card are connected using two reader / writers 8 or a communication control device or the like. Connected via IC
It is possible to exchange data between cards. In this case, the relationship is such that one IC card is set as the master and the other IC card is set as the slave in the initial state. The mode information table and the status information area are stored in the EEPROM 25 as in the embodiment.
If the information is set on the IC card or the RAM 24, these information can be set after the operation on the IC card or the like. Therefore, it is necessary to transmit the mode information to the two IC cards 2. Can be. It is also possible to use the host computer 1 serving as a master or another IC card 2 to set the mode for each card. In the embodiment, an example is shown in which the partner of the IC card 2 is a host computer. However, this is because even if the partner IC card itself is a status setting means or an IC card having a similar function having mode information, In addition, various terminal devices may be used, such as an IC card that operates actively,
A so-called general information processing device including an IC card reader / writer may be used.

Further, the transmission format in the embodiment is an example, and is not limited to this. It is sufficient that the transmission in the transmission format having the mode identification information is used when setting or changing the master / slave. Therefore, although mode information for setting or changing the master / slave is required, the status information of the individual status for setting the other party to a certain processing state among the mode identification information is not necessarily required.

[0031]

As can be understood from the above description, according to the present invention, the IC card is provided with state setting means for setting itself as one of the master and the slave, and furthermore, for the other party, Since the state information to be set to one of the other is transmitted, the IC card can operate as an IC card in one of the pre-selected processing states. Then, the other party can set the other processing state. As a result, the IC card can become a master according to its own processing function, can obtain various programs and data from other devices, and can perform processing like a terminal device. Therefore, various processing functions can be realized without increasing the load on hardware.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an internal circuit of the IC card.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are explanatory diagrams showing an example of status information and a mode information table. FIG. 2A is an explanatory diagram of a specific example of a mode information table, and FIG. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a specific example of a mode information table.

FIG. 3 is an IC to which the IC card of the present invention is applied;
It is a block diagram of a card system.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a format of the transmission data.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of another configuration of the IC card system.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of an operation state of the IC card.

[Description of Signs] 1 ... Host computer, 2 ... IC card, 3 ... Command string, 4 ... Response string, 5 ... Mode information table, 6
... Status setting means, 7 ... Mode information transmitting means, 11
... Start code, 12 ... Command code or response code, 13 ... Mode identification information, 14 ... Transmission data, 1
5 ... End code.

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] An information processing apparatus on which an IC card is mounted or an IC card for exchanging data with another IC card via the information processing apparatus. State setting means for setting the processing state of both the master and the slave and setting the processing state to one of the preselected processing states, and transmitting the state information for setting the other party to the other of the master and the slave. And an transmitting means for transmitting to the other party. 2. The IC card according to claim 1, wherein said status setting means, when receiving said status information from said partner, decodes said status information and sets itself as one of a master and a slave. . 3. The status information includes information indicating a master status or a slave status, and a process required to execute one of a plurality of processing programs provided for each application. 3. The IC according to claim 2, further comprising state setting information provided corresponding to the application for setting a state to the other party and for setting the state when the user receives the state. card. 4. The status information includes information indicating a master status or a slave status, and information for allowing the other party to execute one of a plurality of processing programs provided for each application. 3. The IC card according to claim 2, further comprising: selection information for selecting one of the plurality of processing programs to be executed by the user when the user receives the request.