Smart Card Communication Routing

Abstract

A computerized device has an open communication session with a smart card via a smart card reader. The smart card reader and the computerized device cooperate to enable another computerized device to communicate with the smart card over the open communication session. Communication between the other computerized device and the smart card is routed via the computerized device that has the open communication session.

1 . A method in a smart card reader for enabling communication with a smart card coupled to said smart card reader, the method comprising:
 maintaining an open communication session between said smart card and a first computing device, said first computing device being coupled to said smart card reader via a first communication channel;   receiving from said smart card over said open communication session a response to a command for said smart card, said command having originated from a second computing device that is coupled to said smart card reader via a second communication channel and said response having been generated by said smart card;   transmitting said response from said smart card reader to said first computing device using said open communication session;   receiving said response from said first computing device over said first communication channel; and   transmitting said response from said smart card reader to said second computing device over said second communication channel.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving said command from said second computing device over said second communication channel; and   transmitting said command from said smart card reader in a manner receivable by said first computing device over said first communication channel for handling by said smart card using said open communication session.   
     
     
         3 . The method as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein transmitting said command from said smart card reader in a manner receivable by said first computing device comprises transmitting said command such that said command will be communicated to a command proxy application of said first computing device. 
     
     
         4 . The method as claimed in  claim 3 , further comprising:
 receiving said command at said smart card reader from a cryptographic service provider of said first computing device using said open communication session; and   transmitting said command from said smart card reader to said smart card using said open communication session.   
     
     
         5 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said first communication channel and said second communication channel is wireless. 
     
     
         6 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said first communication channel and said second communication channel are secure communication channels. 
     
     
         7 . A method in a first computing device having an open communication session with a smart card that is coupled to a smart card reader, said first computing device being coupled to said smart card reader via a first communication channel, the method comprising:
 receiving from said smart card reader using said open communication session a response to a command for said smart card, said command having originated from a second computing device that is coupled to said smart card reader via a second communication channel and said response having been generated by said smart card; and   transmitting said response from said first computing device to said smart card reader for further transmission to said second computing device.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 receiving said command from said smart card reader over said first communication channel; and   transmitting said command from said first computing device to said smart card via said smart card reader using said open communication session.   
     
     
         9 . A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions thereon which, when executed by a smart card reader having a smart card coupled thereto, result in:
 maintaining an open communication session between said smart card and a first computing device, said first computing device being coupled to said smart card reader via a first communication channel;   receiving from said smart card over said open communication session a response to a command for said smart card, said command having originated from a second computing device that is coupled to said smart card reader via a second communication channel and said response having been generated by said smart card;   transmitting said response from said smart card reader to said first computing device using said open communication session;   receiving said response from said first computing device over said first communication channel; and   transmitting said response from said smart card reader to said second computing device over said second communication channel.   
     
     
         10 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 9 , wherein said instructions, when executed by said smart card reader, further result in:
 receiving said command from said second computing device over said second communication channel; and   transmitting said command from said smart card reader in a manner receivable by said first computing device over said first communication channel for handling by said smart card using said open communication session.   
     
     
         11 . A first computing device comprising:
 a communication interface through which said computing device is able to communicate with a smart card reader via a first communication channel;   a processor coupled to said communication interface; and   a memory coupled to said processor, said memory to store a cryptographic service provider application through which said computing device is able to maintain an open communication session with a smart card coupled to said smart card reader, and to store code arranged to receive from said smart card reader over said open communications session a response to a command for said smart card, said command having originated from a second computing device that is coupled to said smart card reader via a second communication channel and said response having been generated by said smart card,   wherein said code is further arranged to transmit said response from said computing device to said smart card reader for further transmission to said second computing device.   
     
     
         12 . The computing device of  claim 11 , where said code is further arranged to receive said command from said smart card reader over said first communication channel, and to transmit said command to said smart card reader via said cryptographic service provider application using said open communication session. 
     
     
         13 . The computing device as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein said communication interface is a wireless communication interface. 
     
     
         14 . A smart card reader comprising:
 a communication interface through which said smart card reader is able to communicate with a first computing device over a first communication channel and to communicate with a second computing device over a second, different, communication channel;   a hardware interface through which said smart card reader is able to communicate with a smart card;   a processor coupled to said communication interface and to said hardware interface; and   a memory coupled to said processor, said memory to store code arranged to receive from said smart card a response to a command for said smart card, wherein said command has originated from said first computing device and has been received over said first communication channel, and wherein said response has been generated by said smart card and has been received over an open communication session that exists between said smart card and said second computing device,   wherein said code is further arranged to transmit said response from said smart card reader to said second computing device using said open communication session, to receive said response from said second computing device over said second communication channel; and to transmit said response from said smart card reader to said first computing device using said first communication channel.   
     
     
         15 . The smart card reader of  claim 14 , wherein said code is further arranged to receive said command from said first computing device over said first communication channel and to transmit said command from said smart card reader in a manner receivable by said second computing device over said second communication channel for handling by said smart card using said open communication session. 
     
     
         16 . The smart card reader as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein said hardware interface enables said smart card reader to communicate with said smart card using radio frequency identification (RFID) technology. 
     
     
         17 . The smart card reader as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein said hardware interface comprises a connector that mates to a corresponding connector with contact pins on said smart card. 
     
     
         18 . The smart card reader as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein said communication interface is a wireless communication interface.