Dynamic Buffer Size Adjustment in IC Card Communication

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional IC cards face compatibility issues and memory limitations when communicating data sizes exceed the buffer size, leading to inefficient data handling and limited buffer size expansion.

Innovation Solution

An IC card with a communication unit, storage unit, and controller that sets and manages receive and transmit buffers based on designated sizes by an external apparatus, allowing dynamic adjustment of buffer sizes within fixed memory constraints.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the IC card uses a fixed-size communication buffer, then the device complexity is reduced, but the adaptability to different data sizes deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebuffer management complexityVSAvoidcompatibility with different data sizes
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic buffer size adjustment by allowing the IC card processing apparatus to designate buffer sizes and enabling the IC card to switch between first and second buffer sizes based on communication needs. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by making the buffer size flexible rather than fixed, improving compatibility without significantly increasing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the buffer size parameter from a fixed value to a variable that can be adjusted between at least two different sizes. The IC card switches buffer sizes based on the designated size from the processing apparatus, allowing adaptation to different data communication requirements while maintaining manageable device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If the IC card extends the buffer size to handle larger data, then the adaptability improves, but the device complexity increases due to memory expansion

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebuffer size capacityVSAvoidmemory configuration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the communication buffer into multiple regions with different sizes (first buffer size and second buffer size). Instead of using a single large buffer that would increase memory complexity, the system divides the buffer into manageable segments that can be selectively activated, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The communication buffer is designed to serve multiple functions with different size requirements. The same physical buffer memory is used for both smaller and larger data transmissions by switching between different buffer size configurations, eliminating the need for separate memory allocations and reducing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If the IC card divides large data into multiple transmissions, then the compatibility with buffer size constraints is improved, but the productivity decreases due to additional processing steps

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication compatibilityVSAvoiddata transmission efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary action by pre-configuring multiple buffer sizes before communication begins. The IC card and processing apparatus negotiate and establish the appropriate buffer size in advance, allowing large data to be transmitted efficiently in a single operation when possible, rather than requiring runtime division and multiple transmissions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts buffer size based on the actual data transmission needs. When large data requires transmission, the system switches to a larger buffer size to accommodate it in a single operation, maintaining productivity. When data is small, a smaller buffer suffices, avoiding unnecessary complexity. This dynamic approach balances reliability and productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3264278B1IC card, portable electronic apparatus, and IC card processing apparatus
Publication Date: 2023.03.08 KK TOSHIBA
  • EP3264278B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3264278B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3264278B1 patent drawingFigure 5~7

AI summary

An IC card has a communication unit, a storage unit, and a controller. The communication unit communicates with an external apparatus. A communication buffer for communication between the communication unit and the external apparatus is set in the storage unit. If the size of a buffer used in communication is designated by the external apparatus, the controller sets a receive buffer that stores reception data and a transmit buffer that stores transmission data in the communication buffer, and notifies the external apparatus of the size of the set receive buffer and the size of the set transmit buffer.