Electronic financial transaction cards and methods

Abstract

In an exemplary embodiment a companion processor system is provided which pairs a secure processor with a general processor. The secure processor can, for example, include a signal port, a power port and a ground port. The general processor is, in for example, operative to power up the secure processor by applying, directly or indirectly, at least one of power and ground to the power port and ground port, respectively of the secure processor when it wishes to communicate with the secure processor via the signal port. In another exemplary embodiment a method for providing secure transactions is disclosed includes: detecting an input with a general processor of the initiation of a desired transaction; powering up a secure processor under the direction of the general processor; and communicating between the general processor and the secure processor to provide at least one secure transaction.

1 . An enhanced Smart Card comprising:
 a card body provided with an externally accessible card interface including a signal port, a power port, and a ground port;   a secure processor carried by said card body and coupled to said signal port, said power port, and said ground port; and   a general processor carried by said card body, said general processor being coupled to a power source and being operative to provide power to and communicate with said secure processor when said secure processor is being used in an enhanced Smart Card mode.   
   
   
       2 . An enhanced Smart Card as recited in  claim 1  wherein said card body includes a plastic material and wherein said externally accessible card interface includes contact pads. 
   
   
       3 . An enhanced Smart Card as recited in  claim 2  wherein said externally accessible card interface further includes a command port and a clock port. 
   
   
       4 . An enhanced Smart Card as recited in  claim 2  wherein said externally accessible card interface is an ISO 7816 interface. 
   
   
       5 . An enhanced Smart Card as recited in  claim 4  wherein said secure processor is an ISO 7816 compliant processor. 
   
   
       6 . An enhanced Smart Card as recited in  claim 5  wherein said general processor emulates an ISO 7816 compliant card reader. 
   
   
       7 . An enhanced Smart Card as recited in  claim 5  wherein said general processor communicates with said secure processor in a way that is not exactly the same as the communication of an ISO 7816 compliant card reader. 
   
   
       8 . An enhanced Smart Card as recited in  claim 1  wherein said general processor has a plurality of I/O ports. 
   
   
       9 . An enhanced Smart Card as recited in  claim 1  further comprising a display carried by said card body and coupled to at least one of said I/O ports of said general processor. 
   
   
       10 . An enhanced Smart Card as recited in  claim 9  wherein said display is at least one of a visual display, a tactile display, and an auditory display. 
   
   
       11 . An enhanced Smart Card as recited in  claim 9  wherein said display is a visual display and includes at least one of a flat-panel display and a light display. 
   
   
       12 . An enhanced Smart Card as recited in  claim 8  further comprising at least one switch carried by said body and coupled to at least one of said plurality of I/O ports of said general processor. 
   
   
       13 . An enhanced Smart Card as recited in  claim 12  wherein a plurality of switches are arranged as a keypad. 
   
   
       14 . An enhanced Smart Card as recited in  claim 8  further comprising a stripe emulator carried by said card body and coupled to at least one of said I/O ports of said general processor. 
   
   
       15 . An enhanced Smart Card as recited in  claim 14  wherein said stripe emulator includes an electromagnetic broadcaster. 
   
   
       16 . An enhanced Smart Card as recited in  claim 15  wherein said stripe emulator further includes a signal processor coupling said electromagnetic broadcaster to at least one of said I/O ports of said general processor. 
   
   
       17 . A secure transaction card comprising:
 a card body;   a secure processor carried by said card body;   a stripe emulator carried by said card body; and   a general processor carried by said card body and interposed between said secure processor and said stripe emulator.   
   
   
       18 . A secure transaction card as recited in  claim 17  wherein said general processor selectively powers the secure processor. 
   
   
       19 . A secure transaction card as recited in  claim 18  wherein said secure processor is an ISO 7816 compliant processor. 
   
   
       20 . A secure transaction card as recited in  claim 17  further comprising a visual display carried by said body and coupled to said general processor. 
   
   
       21 . A secure transaction card as recited in  claim 20  wherein said visual display includes at least one of a flat panel display and at least one LED. 
   
   
       22 . An enhanced Smart Card as recited in  claim 12  wherein said stripe emulator includes an electromagnetic broadcaster. 
   
   
       23 . An enhanced Smart Card as recited in  claim 13  wherein said stripe emulator further includes a signal processor coupling said electromagnetic broadcaster to at least one of said I/O ports of said general processor. 
   
   
       24 . A companion processor system comprising:
 a secure processor having a signal port, a power port, and a ground port; and   a general processor being operative to power up said secure processor by applying at least one of power and ground to said power port and said ground port, respectively, when it wishes to communicate with said secure processor via said signal port.   
   
   
       25 . A method for providing secure transactions comprising:
 detecting an input with a general processor of the initiation of a desired transaction;   powering up a secure processor under the direction of said general processor; and   communicating between the general processor and the secure processor to provide at least one secure transaction.