Smart Card Reader Channel Manager for Concurrent Multi-Device Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Smart card readers typically allow only one device to maintain an open session with a smart card at a time, preventing concurrent access by multiple devices, which limits functionality such as user authentication and data processing on handheld devices when a PC has an ongoing session with the smart card.
Innovation Solution
A smart card reader system with a channel manager that enables multiple channels between the smart card and accessing devices, allowing simultaneous access by managing logical channels and prioritizing commands to ensure urgent operations are not delayed, using commands like MANAGE_CHANNEL to create additional logical channels and modify data units to indicate channel changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a PC maintains an open session with the smart card for the duration of connection, then the PC can continuously access the smart card, but the handheld device cannot initiate a session with the smart card
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the communication channel between the smart card and accessing devices by introducing multiple logical channels (channel 0, channel 1, etc.). Each device can be assigned a dedicated logical channel, allowing the PC to maintain its session on channel 0 while the handheld device opens a session on channel 1. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by enabling session continuity for the PC while simultaneously providing multi-device access capability.
2Reliability
If only one session is allowed at a time on the smart card, then security is maintained, but concurrent access by multiple devices is prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves the security versus concurrent access contradiction by adding another dimension to the session management system - the logical channel dimension. Instead of allowing only one session at a time (single dimension), the system now supports multiple sessions across different logical channels (multiple dimensions). The smart card can maintain secure sessions on channel 0 and channel 1 simultaneously, enabling concurrent operations by multiple devices while preserving security through channel isolation.
3Ease of operation
If the smart card session is always held open by the PC, then the PC has continuous access, but the handheld device cannot perform operations like signing or decrypting emails
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the communication resource (smart card session) into separate logical channels. The PC continues to operate conveniently on channel 0 with its persistent session, while the handheld device gains access to channel 1 for performing operations like signing or decrypting emails. This segmentation allows both devices to function independently without interfering with each other's operations.
Data Source
AI summary
The described embodiments relate generally to devices, methods and systems for managing access to a memory card, such as a smart card, by a plurality of accessing devices. Certain embodiments relate to a smart card reader (SCR) for managing concurrent access to a smart card by a plurality of accessing devices, the SCR comprising: a processor; a channel manager responsive to the processor for interfacing with the smart card; a communication interface responsive to the channel manager for communicating with the plurality of accessing devices; and wherein, when a session is open on a first channel between a first accessing device and the smart card and the channel manager is configured to issue an open channel command to the smart card to cause the smart card to open a second channel between the smart card and the second accessing device in response to the session request.