IC Card Multi-Interface Response Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional IC cards do not effectively utilize multiple interfaces, leading to inability to inform external systems of interface unavailability, resulting in incomplete or failed command processes and responses.
Innovation Solution
An IC card with a communication unit and controller that utilizes multiple interfaces (e.g., contact and contactless) to transmit responses through a different interface if the primary interface becomes unavailable, ensuring continuous communication and data integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the IC card uses a single interface for command reception and response transmission, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability deteriorates because the card cannot inform external systems of interface unavailability
Solution Approach 1:
The IC card is equipped with multiple interfaces (contact and contactless) that can both receive commands and transmit responses. The controller selectively uses either interface based on availability, making each interface multi-functional for both command reception and response transmission, thereby improving reliability without excessive complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes the operational parameter of interface selection based on availability status. When the primary interface becomes unavailable, the controller switches to an alternative interface, changing the communication parameter from a fixed single interface to a dynamic multi-interface selection, resolving the contradiction between reliability and complexity
2Adaptability or versatility
If the IC card includes multiple interfaces, then the adaptability is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates because the conventional card cannot effectively utilize the multiple interfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The controller automatically manages the multiple interfaces without requiring external intervention. It self-detects interface availability, self-selects the appropriate interface for response transmission, and self-manages the command-processing-response transmission workflow, making the multi-interface system easy to operate
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where the controller monitors interface availability status and uses this feedback to dynamically select the appropriate interface. The controller receives feedback about which interface is available and adjusts its operation accordingly, simplifying the utilization of multiple interfaces
3Loss of information
If the IC card transmits response through the same interface that received the command, then the device complexity is minimized, but the loss of information increases when the interface becomes unavailable
Solution Approach 1:
The controller acts as an intermediary that receives the command on one interface, processes it, and then selects an appropriate interface for transmitting the response. This intermediary function allows the system to decouple the command reception interface from the response transmission interface, preventing information loss when the original interface is unavailable
Solution Approach 2:
The controller preliminarily determines interface availability before transmitting the response. By checking which interface is available prior to response transmission and selecting the appropriate interface in advance, the system prevents response loss without requiring complex real-time switching mechanisms
Data Source
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AI summary
An IC card includes a communication unit and a controller. The communication unit can communicate with one communication destination by a plurality of interfaces including a first interface and a second interface. The controller processes a command received by the communication unit, and makes the communication unit transmit a response to the command. In a case where the first interface becomes unavailable after the communication unit receives the command by the first interface until the communication unit transmits the response to the command, the controller makes the communication unit transmit a response containing discontinuation information indicating that the transmission of the response to the command received by the first interface is discontinued by the second interface.