Portable Electronic Device Secure Element Switching Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional portable electronic devices with multiple secure elements (SEs) lack a mechanism to switch between SEs, hindering appropriate non-contact communication with external devices.
Innovation Solution
A portable electronic device equipped with a communicator that changes the transmission destination among multiple SEs based on a transmission destination identifier and change-instruction information within the node address information, allowing seamless communication with external devices using a standardized non-contact communication protocol.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple secure elements are included in a portable electronic device, then the functionality and security capabilities are improved, but the device complexity increases and switching between SEs becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a controller as an intermediary component that manages multiple secure elements. The controller receives selection information from the external device, identifies the target SE based on this information, and routes communications to the appropriate SE. This intermediary approach allows multiple SEs to coexist without requiring complex direct switching mechanisms between them.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller serves multiple functions: it manages the plurality of secure elements, processes selection information from external devices, identifies target SEs, and handles communication routing. By consolidating these control functions into a single multi-functional component, the system avoids the complexity that would arise from giving each SE its own control logic.
2Device complexity
If multiple secure elements are included without a switching mechanism, then the device structure is simplified, but the ability to communicate with external devices is hindered
Solution Approach 1:
The controller acts as a mediator between the external device and multiple secure elements. It receives selection information from the external device, processes this information to identify the target SE, and enables communication between the external device and the selected SE. This intermediary approach maintains simple device structure while enabling effective communication.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary identification of the target secure element based on selection information received from the external device before actual communication begins. This preliminary action of identifying the target SE based on pre-transmitted selection information streamlines the communication process and maintains ease of operation.
3Measurement precision
If selection information is transmitted for each communication, then the communication precision is improved, but the loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The external device transmits selection information in advance before the actual communication with the secure element begins. This preliminary transmission of selection information allows the controller to identify the target SE beforehand, ensuring precise communication setup without adding significant time delays during the actual data exchange phase.
Data Source
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AI summary
Aportable electronic device of an embodiment includes a plurality of secure elements and a communicator. The communicator performs communication with a reader/writer device to which an external device is connected using non-contact communication. The communicator changes a transmission destination to a secure element corresponding to a transmission destination identifier for identifying the transmission destination among the plurality of secure elements on the basis of the transmission destination identifier and change-instruction-information giving instructions to change the transmission destination, assigned to telegraph data received from the reader/writer device using the non-contact communication and transmits the telegraph data received from the reader/writer device to the secure element.