Smart Card Dual-Mode Protocol for Fast Data Preloading
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current data storage devices, such as smart cards, face challenges in efficiently preloading large amounts of customizable data, particularly in manufacturing processes, where existing methods are time-consuming and not easily accessible for user modification, limiting flexibility and security as standards evolve and user devices become more sophisticated.
Innovation Solution
A data storage device with multiple protocols, including a user mode and a manufacturer mode, utilizing different subsets of externally accessible electrical contacts for data transfer, allowing for high-speed data uploading during manufacturing and secure, user-accessible data modification, with the manufacturer mode employing a custom protocol that uses additional contacts for faster data transfer rates than standard user modes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If a single protocol is used for data transfer in smart cards, then compatibility with standard host devices is maintained, but data transfer speed during manufacturing is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The smart card dynamically switches between two protocols based on operational context: ISO 7816 protocol for standard user-mode operations and SD/MMC protocol for high-speed manufacturer-mode operations. This dynamic protocol selection allows the system to optimize data transfer speed during manufacturing while maintaining compatibility with standard host devices during normal use.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes protocol parameters by selecting different communication standards based on the operational mode. In user mode, the ISO 7816 protocol parameters are used for compatibility, while in manufacturer mode, the SD/MMC protocol parameters are activated to enable faster data transfer rates for bulk data loading.
2Productivity
If ROM technology is used to store preloaded programs, then data security is maintained, but programming time is excessive due to physical modifications
Solution Approach 1:
The memory system is segmented into two distinct areas: ROM for storing critical security data and system programs that require physical modification for programming, and a writable memory area for storing customizable data that can be efficiently loaded during manufacturing using the SD/MMC protocol. This segmentation allows fast programming of non-critical data while maintaining security through controlled access to critical areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary manufacturing mode that acts as a bridge between the secure ROM and the writable memory areas. This intermediary mode enables authorized manufacturers to efficiently program large amounts of data during production without compromising the security of the ROM area, which still requires physical modification for programming.
3Productivity
If a high-speed custom protocol is implemented for manufacturing, then data upload speed increases, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The smart card leverages the existing SD/MMC protocol infrastructure, which is already widely implemented in the industry, to enable high-speed data transfer during manufacturing. By utilizing this existing universal protocol rather than creating a completely new custom protocol, the system achieves high manufacturing efficiency while minimizing the increase in device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method uses multiple communication modes for fast uploading of a datum preloaded from a manufacturing device to a data storage device over existing external contacts of the data storage device. Preferentially the device is a high capacity SIM card and a user mode allows communication by standard protocols such as ISO, SD/MMC and USB wheras a manufacturer mode applies a multi data line SC/MMC protocol or a custom protocol for high speed data uploading.