IC chip and information processing terminal

Abstract

When an IC card is passed over an external card reading and writing apparatus, the IC card starts communication with the card reading and writing apparatus via a wireless interface, so that a change in the internal state of the IC card is reported to an external device via an external wired interface or a dedicated control signal line, thus allowing a specific application to be enabled on the external device or allowing a controller to be powered on and activated. Alternatively, the controller is powered off and deactivated. Accordingly, processing according to the communication state between the IC card and the card reading and writing apparatus or the internal state of the IC card can be smoothly initiated.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An IC chip configured for incorporation into a portable communication terminal apparatus, the IC chip comprising:
 a memory for storing information; 
 a wireless communication unit for receiving an electromagnetic wave from an external reader/writer; 
 an analog signal processing unit for processing the received electromagnetic wave, said analog signal processing unit including a carrier wave detection unit for detecting a carrier wave from the electromagnetic wave received by the wireless communication unit to output a carrier wave detection signal; 
 an interface unit configured for connection to a program control unit residing outside the IC chip but within the portable communication terminal apparatus, the connection to the program control unit being through a wired interface when the IC chip is incorporated into the portable communication terminal apparatus; and 
 a digital control unit for processing a signal outputted from the analog signal processing unit and controlling access to the memory according to an access request from the external reader/writer or an access request from the program control unit through the interface unit, wherein 
 said digital control unit notifies said program control unit of the portable communication terminal apparatus of an internal state of the IC chip, which said internal state changes according to the wireless communication with the external reader/writer, by the carrier wave detection signal detected. 
 
     
     
       2. An IC chip according to  claim 1 , wherein the wireless communication unit varies a load across an antenna thereof according to a response signal to a query signal from the external reader/writer, so that a signal that appears in a receiving circuit of the external reader/writer is amplitude-modulated for communication. 
     
     
       3. An IC chip according to  claim 1 , wherein said notification of the internal state from said digital control unit, which is obtained from the carrier wave detection unit, is sent to the program control unit via the interface unit. 
     
     
       4. An IC chip according to  claim 1 , wherein said notification of the internal state from said digital control unit, which is obtained from the carrier wave detection unit, is sent to the program control unit via a dedicated communication path and not via the interface unit. 
     
     
       5. A portable communication terminal apparatus which is equipped with an IC chip for performing wireless communication with an external reader/writer, said portable communication terminal apparatus comprising:
 a program control unit for controlling the overall operation of the terminal; and 
 a power supply control unit for controlling power supply to the program control unit to be turned on or off, 
 wherein said IC chip comprises;
 a wireless communication unit for receiving an electromagnetic wave from said external reader/writer; 
 an analog signal processing unit for processing the received electromagnetic wave, said analog signal processing unit including a carrier wave detection unit for detecting a carrier wave from the electromagnetic wave received by the wireless communication unit to output a carrier wave detection signal; 
 an interface unit configured for connection to the program control unit, the program control unit residing outside the IC chip but within the portable communication terminal apparatus, the connection to the program control unit being through a wired interface; 
 a memory for storing information; and 
 a digital control unit for processing a signal outputted from the analog signal processing unit and controlling access to the memory according to an access request from the external reader/writer or an access request from the program control unit through the interface unit, wherein said digital control unit notifies said program control unit of the portable communication terminal apparatus of an internal state of the IC chip, which said internal state changes according to the wireless communication with the external reader/writer, by the carrier wave detection signal detected. 
 
 
     
     
       6. A portable communication terminal apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the program control unit starts predetermined processing when the IC chip detects a carrier wave from the external reader/writer. 
     
     
       7. A portable communication terminal apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the power supply control unit switches power supply to the control unit to be turned on or off according to whether or not the IC chip has detected a carrier wave from the external reader/writer. 
     
     
       8. A portable communication terminal apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein said notification of the internal state from said digital control unit to said program control unit, which is obtained from the carrier wave detection signal, is received from the IC chip via the interface unit. 
     
     
       9. A portable communication terminal apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein said notification of the internal state from said digital control unit to said program control unit, which is obtained from the carrier wave detection signal, is received from the IC chip via a dedicated communication path and not via the interface unit. 
     
     
       10. A portable communication terminal apparatus according to  claim 5 , further comprising a display unit for visually displaying information,
 wherein the report indicating whether or not the carrier wave has been detected, which is received from the IC chip, is displayed on the display unit for output. 
 
     
     
       11. A portable communication terminal apparatus according to  claim 5 , further comprising a user input unit for inputting commands or data to the portable communication terminal apparatus. 
     
     
       12. An IC chip configured for incorporation into a portable communication terminal apparatus, the IC chip comprising:
 a memory configured to store information;   wireless communication circuitry configured to receive a signal from an external reader/writer;   interface circuitry configured to connect to program control circuitry residing outside the IC chip but within the portable communication terminal apparatus, the connection to the program control circuitry being through a wired interface when the IC chip is incorporated into the portable communication terminal apparatus; and   digital control circuitry configured to process the signal and control access to the memory according to an access request from the external reader/writer or an access request from the program control circuitry through the interface circuitry,   wherein said digital control circuitry is configured to notify said program control circuitry of the portable communication terminal apparatus of an internal state of the IC chip, said internal state changing according to a communication between the wireless communication circuitry and the external reader/writer.   
     
     
       13. An IC chip according to claim 12, wherein said notification of the internal state from said digital control circuitry is sent to the program control circuitry via the interface circuitry. 
     
     
       14. An IC chip according to claim 12, wherein said notification of the internal state from said digital control circuitry is sent to the program control circuitry via a dedicated communication path and not via the interface circuitry. 
     
     
       15. A portable communication terminal apparatus which is equipped with an IC chip for performing wireless communication with an external reader/writer, said portable communication terminal apparatus comprising:
 program control circuitry for controlling the overall operation of the terminal; and   power supply control circuitry for controlling power supply to the program control circuitry to be turned on or off,   wherein said IC chip comprises;   wireless communication circuitry configured to receive a signal from said external reader/writer;   interface circuitry configured to connect to the program control circuitry, the program control circuitry residing outside the IC chip but within the portable communication terminal apparatus, the connection to the program control circuitry being through a wired interface;   a memory configured to store information; and   digital control circuitry configured to process a signal and control access to the memory according to an access request from the external reader/writer or an access request from the program control circuitry through the interface circuitry,   wherein said digital control circuitry is configured to notify said program control circuitry of the portable communication terminal apparatus of an internal state of the IC chip, said internal state changing according to a communication between the wireless communication circuitry and with the external reader/writer.   
     
     
       16. A portable communication terminal apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the program control circuitry starts predetermined processing when the IC chip detects a carrier wave from the external reader/writer. 
     
     
       17. A portable communication terminal apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the power supply control circuitry switches power supply to the control circuitry to be turned on or off according to whether or not the IC chip has detected a carrier wave from the external reader/writer. 
     
     
       18. A portable communication terminal apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said notification of the internal state from said digital control circuitry to said program control circuitry is received from the IC chip via the interface circuitry. 
     
     
       19. A portable communication terminal apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said notification of the internal state from said digital control circuitry to said program control circuitry is received from the IC chip via a dedicated communication path and not via the interface circuitry. 
     
     
       20. A portable communication terminal apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising:
 display circuitry for visually displaying information,   wherein the report indicating whether or not a carrier wave has been detected, which is received from the IC chip, is displayed on the display circuitry for output.   
     
     
       21. A portable communication terminal apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising:
 user input circuitry for inputting commands or data to the portable communication terminal apparatus.