WO2009039535A2

WO2009039535A2 - A multiple integrated circuit card system

Info

Publication number: WO2009039535A2
Application number: PCT/ZA2008/000084
Authority: WO
Inventors: Angus Bernhardt Pohl
Original assignee: Angus Bernhardt Pohl
Priority date: 2007-09-21
Filing date: 2008-09-19
Publication date: 2009-03-26
Also published as: WO2009039535A3

Abstract

A multiple integrated module smart card system for a portable device is disclosed, comprising both functional units and functional interfaces dedicated to the hosting and wireless communication of secondary or 3rd party smart card type products and / or services.

Description

A MULTIPLE INTEGRATED CIRCUIT CARD SYSTEM

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a subscriber identity module (SIM) type application for an integrated circuit card system, inclusive of an embedded crypto-co processing or EMV module or the like, wireless RFID / NFC type communication capacity, and antenna configuration. The present invention allows for the simultaneously processing of the subscriber identity module and the identity module application for smart cards. The present invention is extensively used within the mobile phone industry where it additionally presents itself as a logical platform for the hosting of secondary or 3^rd party "contactless" smart card type products and services from with mobile stations.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Smart cards are generally applied in two typical fields. One is the Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) in wireless communication, and another as an identification system such as with financial or health insurance cards etc. SIM cards are used in a mobile communication devices to access mobile phone operator GSM or CDMA type networks and are usually issued by the mobile phone operators themselves. The SIM card stores the user information, including the user's phone number, phone book, call restriction, personal identity number (PIN), personal unblock key (PUK) etc. Further, an authentic SIM card is adopted by GSM communication systems for communication, so that the user can be allowed to enter into the GSM communication network for transmitting information.

Generally, the SIM card is the so-called plug-in sized card, and the size is approximately 25mm in length and 15mm in width. Typically only the copper parts are actually used for connection. The SIM card is generally composed of five parts including CPU, RAM, ROM, EEPROM or Flash and serial communication unit. The information stored in the SIM card includes (1) control channel information in a GSM system; (2) International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) and Temporary Mobile Subscriber Identity (TMSI); (3) user key and secret algorithm; (4) Personal Identification Number (PIN) and Personal Unlocking Key (PUK); and (5) SIM Tool Kit (STK).

On the other hand, the traditional smart card is an ISO sized card, with 84mm in length and 54mm in width, and generally is applied in financial transaction system such as financial card, credit card, ATM card, or the identification system such as the health insurance card. Some smart cards include antenna's surrounded within plastic cards to provide contactless application, called the contactless card, and are usually applied to the entrance control or the transition payment system, such as the Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) and metro fee collection or EMV POS payment systems.

From a market point of view the mobile phone and traditional smart card industries have long recognized that mobile phone units presents a logical environment for hosting secondary smart card type products and services. As such these industries (together with many other facilitators and beneficiaries) have been slowly moving towards introducing such a capability. To date the most popular business models have proposed that the SIM Card be used as host for the smart card related data, whilst the phone unit is being proposed as the platform for hosting the NFC / RFID chip modules and Antenna needed to enable contactless communication.

Although the most popular models each represent a way that mobile phones can be NFC / RFID enabled, they also represent significant shortcomings which the present invention solves. Some of these are;

The NFC / RFID module typically needs to be included to the motherboards of the mobile phone units during the manufacturing process.

Only the high end mobile phones are expected to have the NFC / FRID module included by default.

There is a cost premium to NFC / RFID enabled mobile phones for altering the general motherboard layouts.

Roll-out of NFC / RFID enabled phones are expected to be slow due to cost and ubiquity issues between manufacturers.

Market penetration is expected to be limited unless all mobile phones are eventually NFC / RFID enabled by default, which may only be likely in the long term. Security issues exist with regard to the communication of sensitive data through the motherboard to the NFC / RFID module.

Banks and card companies typically require a separate crypto-co processor type security module to be included by default and thus adding to more cost.

Customers can only benefit from improvements to the NFC / RFID module in motherboards by replacing their current phone units with the latest version.

Customers can only continue to use their smart card services by staying with mobile phone units with NFC / RFID on their motherboards.

Due to cost premiums and slow roll-out customers from poorer parts of the world will most likely only benefit from NFC / RFID enabled phones over the long term.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Here with a non-limiting summary of the present invention as described within the spirit and the scope of the wider appended claims.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, The present invention relates to a subscriber (user) identity module consisting of a multiple chip integrated circuit card and system, applied to a wireless communication system inclusive of a smart card identification type system such as for financial cards, loyalty cards, health insurance and the like. More specifically, the present invention relates to a subscriber identity module (SIM) type application for an integrated circuit card chip, inclusive of an embedded wireless RFID / NFC type communication capacity, security (crypto-co processing module) and antenna configuration. The present invention also allow for the simultaneous processing of the subscriber identity module and the identity module application for smart cards.

Preferably, the card includes a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card, universal SIM (USIM) card, User Identity Module (UIM) card and Removable User Identity Module (RUIM) card, or the like.

Preferably, the card includes an EMV or industry standard crypto-co processing module or the like security measure embedded and inter-connected with the Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card or the like. Preferably, the card includes NFC and / or RFID modules embedded and inter-connected with the EMV or industry standard crypto-co processing module, and the Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card or the like.

Preferably, the card includes an Antenna embedded, routed, or tethered and inter-connected with the NFC and / or RFID modules, EMV or industry standard crypto-co processing module, and the Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card or the like.

Preferably, either of the Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card, universal SIM (USIM) card or the like, can securely accommodate and facilitate a credit card, bank card, stored value, loyalty card program and the like.

Preferably, the card has its own dedicated operating system enabling communication between all inter related modules and the phone unit, as well as provide for a platform for the development of 3^rd party programs dedicated to the functionality of secondary or 3^rd party smart card type products and services.

Preferably, the card has its own dedicated security software incorporating a firewall system and high level encryption technologies for secure communication between all inter related modules, the phone unit, a point of sale, and secondary or 3^rd party smart card products and services.

Preferably, the card provides for active and / or passive communication and / or low power or power saving usage capabilities.

Preferably, the system can be applied to a mobile phone and a personal digital assistant (PDA) or the like.

Preferably, the system can be used to communicate transactions with Automatic Teller Machines (ATM), Point of Sale (POS) card readers, Transport Services, Vending Machines, or any other appropriately designed 3^rd party smart card enabled wireless device. Preferably, the system provides for an Over the Air (OTA) type product and / or services and / or other software / firmware type uploading and downloading capability.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is hereby described, by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein;

Figure 1 shows, in schematic view, an example of the invention within its preferred SIM Card form factor; and

Figure 2 shows, in diagrammatic view, the functional structure of the invention according to Functional Units (FU) and Functional Interfaces (Fl).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention discloses a multiple integrated circuit (IC) card system for preferred use within a communication terminal such as a mobile phone or the like.

The preferred embodiment of the invention can be applied to a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM), Universal Subscriber Identity Module (USIM), or the like. Characteristic of the present invention is that it preferably consists of a substrate, inclusive of the relevant and intended IC chips and Antenna embedded therein. The preferred embodiment thus includes additional IC chip modules and the like for the purpose of its prescribed intention, which is applied to the SIM / USIM during the manufacturing process. These applications being expected to evolve and adapted according to market need and / or advances in technology over time.

Referring to Figure 1. According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, it consists of a plastic housing 1 as specified and preferably used by the mobile phone industry for SIM Cards. The function of the plastic housing being to encapsulate the embedded electronic components within a preferred and standardized form factor. The preferred form factor ideally complying with the ISO7810 standard, card size ID-OOO. According to this standard, the physical card dimensions are 25mm x 15mm x 0.76mm. The plastic housing 1 includes a standardized contact plate 2 as required and associated with SIM Cards for the mobile phone industry, which is connected to the usual SIM / USIM type module 3. The function of the contact plate being to act as a physical interface between the MS and the SIM / USIM module. The function of the SIM / USIM module being the provision of the usual mobile phone related functions such as the storage of parameters related to mobility, services, as well as executing authentication and ciphering algorithms. The SIM / USIM functional unit on the SmartSim must preferably conform to all standards of the GSM Association (GSMA) and WiMAX Forum with regards to smart cards in GSM, UMTS and WiMAX mobile phones.

According to a specified embodiment the invention additionally includes a crypto-co processor module 4 or the like, which is electronically interconnected (interfaced) with the SIM / USIM 3 on the one side, and a near field communication (NFC) and / or radio frequency identification (RFID) module 5 or the like on the other. The function of the crypto-co processor module 4 being to enable secure Europay / Master Card / Visa (EMV) type data transmission over the air (OTA) between a point of sale (POS) or otherwise, and the SIM / USIM module 3. This module must preferably comply with the EMV Contactless Communication Protocol Specification, Version 2.

According to a further specified embodiment the invention additionally includes a near field communication (NFC) and / or radio frequency identification (RFID) module 5 or the like, which is electronically interconnected (interfaced) with a crypto-co processor module 4 or the like on the one side, and an antenna 6 on the other side. The function of the near field communication (NFC) and / or radio frequency identification (RFID) module 5 being to enable (active and / or passive) close proximity (up to approximately 10-20cm) and medium range (up to approximately 5-10 meters or longer) radio frequency type data transfer (sending and receiving) between a point of sale (POS) or otherwise, and the crypto-co processor module 4, and the SIM / USIM module 3. This module must preferably adhere to the ISO14443 Type A and Type B standards, operating in the 13.56MHz band using Amplitude Shift Keying (ASK) modulation with a modulation index of 10% and Manchester line coding. Baud rates of 424kb/s, 212kb/s and 106kb/s must be supported. If possible, the MIFARE and FeIiCa standards must also be supported. According to another further specified embodiment the invention additionally includes an antenna 6 or the like, which is electronically interconnected (interfaced) with a near field communication (NFC) and / or radio frequency identification (RFID) module 5 or the like on the one side. The function of the antenna 6 being to enable active and / or passive radio frequency type data transfer (sending and receiving) between a point of sale (POS) or otherwise, and the near field communication (NFC) and / or radio frequency identification (RFID) module 5, and the crypto-co processor module 4, and the SIM / USIM module 3. The antenna must preferably be implemented as an integrated magnetic induction loop, tuned to an appropriately functional frequency such as the 13.56MHz band. Possibly, the antenna can be implemented as a planar spiral with 5 to 7 turns, imprinted on embedded middle layers in the card housing using lithographic techniques. It must conform to the form factor of the standard plastic housing or the like, as specified above. Although not indicated in Figure 1 , it should further more be appreciated that the present invention also allows for the possibility of utilizing an external antenna such as a Bluetooth type antenna usually resident in most MS units. This type antenna could potentially be accessed through open connectors of the SIM / USIM card contact plate, or through the existing interface connection between the SIM / USIM card and the MS. Although considered unlikely, another external antenna option could relate to a tethered "plug-in-to" SIM / USIM card version with "stick-on-to battery", or "stick-on-to back cover" capabilities.

Referring to Figure 2. According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, it further more comprises of functional interfaces (Fl). The purpose of the functional interfaces (Fl) being to electronically inter-connect the functional units (FU) to one another and thus enabling power and communication transfer.

FU 1 or SIM / USIM module: This module performs all classic cellular network SIM functions, including the storage of volatile and non-volatile network parameters and the execution of authentication and ciphering algorithms.

FU 2 or EMV module: This module is responsible for the secure management and / or storage of customer and / or transaction related data by means of cryptographic type technologies, such as prescribed by the Europay / Master Card / Visa (EMV) standard, or the like. FU 3 or NFC / RFID module: This module is responsible for all physical and media access layer functions of the wireless radio frequency connection, such as modulation, demodulation, connection setup, connection resolution, etc.

FU 4 or Internal Antenna: This module is responsible for the physical transmission and reception of all RF signals for FU 3.

Fl 1 or SIM / USIM to MS connection: This is a physical connection by means of connectors on the MS connecting to a contact plate on the SIM / USIM. The purpose being to enable the MS to access (source power and / or communicate) the SIM / USIM module (FU 1) as generally specified for classic mobile phone type SIM / USIM cards or the like. For purposes of the present invention this interface could potentially also be used to access an external antenna, such as a Bluetooth antenna already resident in the MS. The physical location and communication protocols used for the contacts must comply with the ISO 7816 (1-4) or other such appropriate standard.

Fl 2 or SIM / USIM to EMV connection: This is an embedded electronic connection by means of a single wire, or EMV type compliant protocol, or as may be required, connecting the SIM / USIM module (FU 1 ) to the EMV or Crypto-co processor module (FU 2). The purpose being to enable the SIM / USIM module (FU 1) to securely access (directly or indirectly source power and / or communicate) the EMV or Crypto-co processor module (FU 2), and / or vice versa. This integrated interface must preferably conform to the communication protocols specified by EMV Go's Contactless Communication Protocol Specification, Version 2 or the like.

Fl 3 or EMV to NFC / RFID connection: This is an embedded electronic connection by means of a single wire, or EMV type compliant protocol, or as may be required, connecting the EMV or Crypto-co processor module (FU 2) to the NFC / RFID module (FU 3). The purpose being to enable the EMV or Crypto-co processor module (FU 2) to securely access (directly or indirectly source power and / or communicate) the NFC / RFID module (FU 3), and / or vice versa. This integrated interface must likewise preferably conform to the communication protocols specified by EMV Go's Contactless Communication Protocol Specification, Version 2 or the like. Fl 4 or NFC / RFID to Antenna connection: This is an embedded electronic connection by means of either a simple electronic type connection or other appropriate connection connecting the NFC / RFID module (FU 3) to the Antenna (FU 4). The purpose being to enable the NFC / RFID module (FU 3) to access (directly or indirectly source power and / or communicate) the Antenna (FU 4), and / or vice versa. As mentioned this interface could also be used to access an external antenna such as a tethered "stick-on-to battery" or "stick-on-to back cover" version of the same.

Fl 5 or Antenna to POS connection: This is a wireless or contactless connection by means of radio frequency signals transferred (transmitted and / or received) between the NFC / RFID module (FU 3) and the POS via the Antenna (FU 4). The purpose being to enable the invention to access (directly or indirectly source power and / or communicate) a POS or 3^rd party access point or the like, or vice versa. This interface consists of free space over a distance of 10cm to 20cm for the NFC protocol and up to 5m to 10m or more for the RFID protocol.

Claims

1. A multiple integrated circuit card system, comprising of a substrate or substrates, inclusive of specifically dedicated circuit card modules, collectively embedded and inter-connected within the whole for the purpose of presenting a platform for hosting and wirelessly communicating secondary smart card type products and services from within a mobile station or the like.

2. A multiple integrated circuit card system according to claim 1 , wherein the substrate comprises a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) module, Universal SIM (USIM) module or the like.

3. A multiple integrated circuit card system according to claim 1 , wherein the substrate comprises a Crypto-co Processor or Europay / Master Card / Visa (EMV) module or the like.

4. A multiple integrated circuit card system according to claim 1 , wherein the substrate comprises a Near Field Communication (NFC) and / or Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) or the like.

5. A multiple integrated circuit card system according to claim 1 , wherein the substrate comprises a Radio Frequency Antenna or the like.

6. A multiple integrated circuit card system according to claim 1 , wherein the substrate comprises a Functional Interface between the Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) module, Universal SIM (USIM) module or the like and a Mobile Station (MS) or the like.

7. A multiple integrated circuit card system according to claim 1 , wherein the substrate comprises a Functional Interface according to Claim 6, inclusive of provision for an additional connection to an external antenna such as the Blue Tooth antenna of the Mobile Station (MS) or the like.

8. A multiple integrated circuit card system according to claim 1 , wherein the substrate comprises a Functional Interface between the Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) module, Universal SIM (USIM) module or the like and the Crypto-co Processor or Europay / Master Card / Visa (EMV) module or the like.

9. A multiple integrated circuit card system according to claim 1 , wherein the substrate comprises a Functional Interface between the Crypto-co Processor or Europay / Master Card / Visa (EMV) module or the like, and the Near Field Communication (NFC) and / or Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) module or the like.

10. A multiple integrated circuit card system according to claim 1 , wherein the substrate comprises a Functional Interface between the Near Field Communication (NFC) and / or Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) module or the like, and the Radio Frequency Antenna or the like.

11. A multiple integrated circuit card system according to claim 1 , wherein the substrate additionally comprises a Functional Interface of the "Plug-in" variety between the Near Field Communication (NFC) and / or Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) module or the like, and an external antenna such as a tethered "stick-on" (battery or back cover) antenna or the like.

12. A multiple integrated circuit card system according to claim 1 , wherein the substrate comprises a Functional Interface between the Radio Frequency Antenna or the like, and a Point of Sale (POS) or 3^rd Party Access Point or the like.

13. A multiple integrated circuit card system according to claim 1 , wherein the system includes a software or firmware or the like based operating system dedicated to the general management of the system's core operational functionalities.

14. A multiple integrated circuit card system according to claim 13, wherein the operating system is additionally configured for use as a platform to host secondary or 3^rd party smart card type software or firmware or the like.

15. A software or firmware or the like based operating system according to claim 13, wherein the secondary or 3^rd party software or firmware allows for the provision of secondary or 3^rd party smart card type products and services.

16. A software or firmware or the like based operating system according to claim 13, wherein the operating system and hardware system allows for secure Over The Air (OTA) uploading or downloading of both operating system and secondary or 3^rd party software or firmware or the like.

17. A software or firmware or the like based operating system according to claim 13, wherein the operating system incorporates its own inherent Fire Wall and / or Cryptographic or the like type security systems.

18. A software or firmware or the like based operating system according to claim 13, wherein the operating system and hardware system allows for both active and passive interaction between the Point of Sale and the MS, and the MS and the customer, or vice versa.

19. A multiple integrated circuit card system according to claim 1 , wherein the system is preferably wholly included within the form factor as prescribed by the present or future parameter standards for SIM / USIM card housings for MS units or the like.