Multiple Protocol Smart Card Communication Device

Abstract

A communication link is established between the smart card and a computer using a valid smart card communication protocol. A smart card communication device determines the valid smart card communication protocol used by a smart card by polling a communication channel using a plurality of smart card communication protocols until a valid acknowledgment message is received. A radio frequency circuit is configured to communicate with the smart card using the valid smart card communication protocol. A digital signal processor having at least two demodulators demodulates an incoming data stream produced by the receiver in accordance with the valid smart card communication protocol in a dynamically reconfigurable manner.

1 . A method of establishing a communication link between a communication device and a smart card adapted to communicate using a valid smart card communication protocol, wherein the valid smart card communication protocol is one of a plurality of smart card communication protocols, the method comprising: 
 transmitting a plurality of initiation messages from the communication device, wherein each of the plurality of initiation messages corresponds to each of the plurality of smart card communication protocols;    receiving an incoming signal in accordance with the valid smart card communication protocol from the smart card;    demodulating the incoming signal to recover an acknowledgment message; and    establishing the communication link using the valid smart card communication protocol.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein establishing the communication link comprises: 
 communicating data from the communication device to a master module remote from the smart card communication device; and    authenticating the data from the smart card at the master module.    
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein establishing the communication link comprises: 
 communicating data from the communication device to a master module remote from the smart card communication device; and    decrypting the data from the communication device at the master module.    
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein establishing the communication link comprises: 
 encrypting data to be transmitted to the smart card based on the valid smart card communication protocol to generate encrypted data at a master module remote from the communication device;    communicating the encrypted data to the communication device; and    transmitting the encrypted data to the smart card over a wireless channel.    
   
   
       5 . A smart card communication device for establishing a communication link between a smart card and a computer, the smart card communication device comprising: 
 a transceiver having a variable modulation structure responsive to a control signal;    a digital signal processor coupled to the transceiver and configured to demodulate a signal received from the smart card in response to an initiation message to recover data from the smart card, the data comprising at least one of encrypted or unauthenticated data;    a controller coupled to the digital signal processor and the transceiver, the controller adapted to generate the control signal based on a plurality of smart card communication protocols; and    a communication interface configured to couple the data from the smart card to a remote master module for further processing.    
   
   
       6 . A method of remotely re-programming a smart card communication device, the method comprising: 
 receiving processor executable code configured to direct the smart card communication device to demodulate at least one of a plurality of smart card communication protocols;    storing the code in a memory device; and    executing at least a portion of the code stored in the memory device with a processor in the smart card communication device.