Smartcard with integrated location determination system

The present invention relates to a chip card with an integrated positioning system.

State of the art

In telecommunications networks, for example in telecommunication networks according to the GSM standard, to be billed call charge on various parameters depends, among other things, of the duration of the connection, the time of day and the geographical location of the calling and the called user. These parameters are usually determined in the infrastructure of the network, for example, in a billing center. From these parameters, the connection fee is then calculated and charged to the user's account with the network operator or at a financial institution. This billing method is extremely complicated and expensive for the network operator and requires a complex billing system and many manual or semi-automatic operations.

The patent document <patcit id="pcit0001" dnum="EP656733A"><text>EP656733</text></patcit> describes a billing system for mobile devices, in which all the connection parameters that are necessary for determining the fee charged, stored in the memory of the mobile device. This amount can then be displayed on the display of the mobile device for information. However, it is not described in this document, as the determined fee can be charged automatically. In addition, the connection time and the connection time are determined by the internal clock of the mobile device. The network operator has no influence on the accuracy of the clock offered by other manufacturers mobile devices. This clock can be set in most mobile devices by users, so that misuse by setting the clock on a cheaper tariff period is easily possible.

The patent document <patcit id="pcit0002" dnum="FR2680261"><text>FR 2680261</text></patcit> describes a telephone chip card containing a prepaid account and tariff tables. The charged fees for the compounds are determined from the prepaid account, depending on the connection time and stored tariffs. The time and duration of the connections are also determined in an external device.

The patent application <patcit id="pcit0003" dnum="CH9700472W"><text>PCT / CH97 / 00472</text></patcit> describes a billing method to charge an identified with an identification card subscriber in a telecommunications network a call. This accounting method, the duration of the call is measured by a built-in the identification card crystal oscillator. The billed amount is evaluated as a function of the determined call duration and at least one tariff table stored in the identification card.

Thus, the most important need for the evaluation of the charged amount parameters can be determined directly on the map, so that the transfer at the source can be carried out at the subscriber. The determined amount can then either be debited directly on a prepaid account on the identification card and / or packed in a billing record and transmitted to a load server in the telecommunication network.

Smart card with an integrated crystal oscillator, however, are difficult to manufacture and have a short life, so they are also expensive. In addition, the smart card described in this application only allow the identification of talk time and duration, but not the location of the calling party.

<patcit id="pcit0004" dnum="WO9740616A"><text>WO97 / 40616</text></patcit> describes another SIM card with a prepaid account and a clock for determining the duration of a call. In a variant, the prepaid account will be debited with pulses from the network. The clock is supplied from a power source external to the smart card; the time can thus be distorted by the smart card is not temporarily fed.

The patent application <patcit id="pcit0005" dnum="CH9800367"><text>CH98 / 00367</text></patcit> describes a user identification card for a mobile radio telephone in which all components of a time-measuring device, except the quartz contained. The integrated time-measuring device with an external clock signal, for example from a quartz in the mobile device, synchronized. Furthermore, can be checked at any time from a time server in the network, the set time, and if necessary, corrected. Various mechanisms allow in this way to check the accuracy and the operation of the time measuring device from the time server in the network.

This procedure can not be prevented, that the time is falsified by the user between two corrections. The smart card described in this application it also allows even, the talk time and duration, but not to determine the location of the subscriber.

Summary of the Invention

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a smart card with an improved integrated time-measuring device.

Another object is to provide a new chip card with an integrated time-measuring device that can be secured for applications in which a unverfälschbare time determination is required, used.

According to the invention these objects are achieved by means of a device described in the independent device claim and a method described in the independent method claims, wherein different variants are described in the dependent claims.

In particular, these aims are achieved by a process in which the duration of calls, or duration of other billed processes, is determined with a time stamp, which is determined by a GPS receiver. The GPS receiver for example, consists of an antenna, an RF circuit and a digital processing circuit, whereby all or only certain of these components are integrated in the smart card.

This can be determined directly in the chip card all parameters needed for the evaluation of the charged amount, so that the transfer at the source can be carried out at the subscriber. GPS signals are very difficult to counterfeit, so that the system can ensure high security.

Brief Description of the Figures

The present invention will be better understood with the aid of the description which is given by way of example and illustrated by the figures, in which:<dl id="dl0001"><dt>Fig. 1</dt><dd>a block diagram with an identification card in a first embodiment of the invention and a conventional terminal displays.</dd><dt>FIG. 2</dt><dd>a block diagram with an identification card in a second embodiment of the invention and a conventional terminal displays.</dd><dt>Fig. 3</dt><dd>a block diagram with an identification card in a third embodiment of the invention, and shows a terminal.</dd><dt>Fig. 4</dt><dd>a block diagram with an identification card in a fourth embodiment of the invention and a terminal displays. </dd><dt>Fig. 5</dt><dd>a block diagram with an identification card in a fifth embodiment of the invention and a terminal displays.</dd><dt>Fig. 6</dt><dd>a block diagram with an identification card in a sixth embodiment of the invention and a conventional terminal displays.</dd><dt>Fig. 7</dt><dd>a block diagram with an identification card in a seventh embodiment of the invention, a conventional terminal and an additional apparatus.</dd></dl>

WAYS OF CARRYING OUT OF THE INVENTION

1 shows a block diagram of a system with a terminal 1 and an identification card 2. The terminal 1 may be for example a digital mobile radio telephone, for example a GSM or a UMTS mobile phone, or a palmtop or laptop computer with a communication interface and a smart card reader. The terminal 1 could also be a telecommunication terminal, such as a phone or a computer equipped with a fixed network, such as a public telephone network or a PLC network (Power Line Communication) is connected, in which the users are identified with a personal smart card.

The identification card 2, for example a SIM card 2 (Subscriber Identity Module), may be connected to the terminal in order to identify the subscriber in a telecommunications network. Conventional SIM cards are already among others in GSM and UMTS mobile devices used. The SIM card is preferably a full-size card (ISO); it is connected by a contact region 27 on the surface of the card with the terminal first Other card formats and contactless cards can also be used in this invention. The SIM card 2 contains data processing means 21, for example a known GSM-SIM microcontroller. SIM cards are described, for example in the technical specification GSM 11.11 and GSM 11.14 which is obtainable from the Secretariat of the European Telecommunications Standards Institute, F-06921 Sophia Antipolis since 1995 or 1996th Other means of identification cards, for example multi-purpose cards which are known as the Open Card, or Java cards can also be used in this invention.

According to the invention contains the SIM card 2 in addition to a receiver for signals emitted by a constellation of satellites in a location determination system, such as a GPS system. The receiver comprises a radio frequency front-end circuit 24, a built-in digital processor 23 and an integrated GPS antenna. Both the digital processor 23 and the front-end circuit 24 are integrated into one chip. The circuits 23 and 24 are both preferably powered by a map contained in the two energy storage 20 (battery or capacitor for example), at least when the terminal 1 is turned off. The supply voltage is preferably 3.3 volts or less, so that the power consumption remains limited.

The front end circuit 24 preferably consists of an ASIC, which converts the GPS signal with a frequency of approximately 1.575 GHz in a signal having a lower frequency which can be processed by the digital processor 23rd The circuit 24 is preferably realized with bipolar transistors or with another fast technology. The front-end circuit may also include an amplifier for the signal from the antenna 25 may.

The digital circuit 23 includes, for example, a general-purpose processor, or preferably a signal processor (DSP), which can for example be realized with CMOS or with another power-saving technology, as well as a ROM, RAM, and possibly some correlators. With a known program in the ROM of the processor in the circuit 23 can process the signals from the circuit 24 and determine from these signals a time information and possibly a location information.

An oscillator 22, for example a quartz oscillator, an LC oscillator or an oscillator which can generate an electric frequency from an interference between two optical frequencies of the laser, is integrated into this variant in the map 2nd The frequency generated by the oscillator 22 is used, among other things, to scan the GPS frequencies.

The antenna 25 is also incorporated in this embodiment in the chip card 2nd In this embodiment, the card contains all the components of a GPS receiver and the time and location also determine when it is not connected to the mobile device. Since all components of the GPS receiver are integrated in the card 2, it is also very difficult to falsify the set time or location for a counterfeiter.

The digital circuit 23 is connected to a conventional GSM processor 21st The determined by the GPS receiver time and location information is delivered to the GSM processor 21st Using this time information the processor 21, the absolute time and the duration of certain processes in the card 2, for example the duration of a telecommunication determine. The GSM processor 21 also preferably includes tariff tables with which it can determine the telecommunication charges in dependence of the time, the duration of the connection and / or the location of the subscriber. These tariff tables are preferably remotely loaded messages from a managed by the network operator tariff server in the network by means of cryptographically signed and encrypted SMS or USSD, and are stored in a secure area 210 of the processor 21 so that they can not be changed by the user. The processor checks whether the received tariff tables have been actually signed by an authorized service provider. The<patcit id="pcit0006" dnum="CH36798"><text>Swiss patent application no. 367/98</text></patcit> describes other processes, to set the time when logging the SIM card in the communication network.

In this way, the determined amount can be immediately displayed on the display of the mobile device 21 and are debited from a prepaid account of a prepaid SIM card, or packaged in a signed document, and are transmitted to a financial services company (bank or network operator). However, the inventive card can also be used to measure the duration of other processes in the card 2, for example, the period of use of certain services or applications or the use of non responsible for traffic management resources.

It is also possible to use the inventive chip card for applications other than mobile telephony. Such chip cards can for example be used in pay-TV systems or in networked computers, for example, a use time-dependent bill that depends on the time of use, of the period of use and / or location of the user to create. The chip card 2 can be applied, in which the users are identified with personal chip card as identification card in a fixed network or a PLC (Power Line Communication) network.

The processor 21 may also be a known per se Java processor in this invention, may contain, for example, WAP modules (Wireless Application Protocol) to connect the card 2 to the Internet. It is also possible in the context of this invention, for example, to integrate the GSM processor 21 and the digital circuit 23 in a single chip.

Preferably, the GPS circuitry uses the obtained from the mobile device and the mobile network time and location information to synchronize faster and also in difficult reception conditions with the received GPS signal.

In a variant, the SIM card 2 uses the time and location information from the mobile device and / or the mobile network, for example from the base station, if they can not get a GPS signal, for example, inside buildings. In this case, the time will only be set automatically when the card can receive a new time information from a GPS satellite. The use of the card can be automatically locked with a special application if the card has not been set within a specified time.

2 shows a block diagram of an identification card 2 in a second embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the card 2 does not contain its own oscillator for the scanning of the GPS frequencies, but used for this purpose, the crystal oscillator 12, which is included in most mobile devices anyway first In this variant can not function the card when it is not connected with a mobile device. However, the determined time can not be falsified by a simple manipulation of the mobile device or a replacement of the quartz 12, so that this embodiment guarantees the same security as the first embodiment mentioned.

3 shows a block diagram of an identification card 2 in a third embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the card also uses the crystal oscillator 12 of the mobile device. In addition, it contains no GPS antenna, but uses a built in the mobile device 1 antenna, the received signal is transmitted via the Kontakgebiet 27 to the RF circuit 24th This variant makes it possible to use a better, larger antenna and also the antenna to be mounted outside of the housing of the mobile device or in the housing of the insertable battery, so that the problem of attenuation of the GPS signal is achieved in the interior of the housing. However, this version will only work with mobile devices that are equipped with a GPS antenna.

4 shows a block diagram of an identification card 2 in a fourth embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the card also uses the quartz oscillator 12 and the GPS antenna 15 of the mobile device 1. In addition, it uses a radio frequency circuit 14, which is also present in the mobile device first The signals between the circuit 14 and the digital circuit 23 are also transmitted via the contact area 27th Since the GPS signals are encoded, it is very difficult to produce false signals, so that this variant also offers a high safety.

Since the card only the low-power components 21 and 22 comprises, it is also possible to dispense with the battery 20 and to use only the battery from the mobile device.

5 shows a block diagram of an identification card 2 in a fifth embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the card also uses the crystal oscillator 12, the GPS antenna 15 and the radio frequency circuit 14 of the mobile device 1. In addition, it uses at least certain functions integrated in the mobile device 1 GPS-digital circuit, so that the card only some safety-critical GPS performs operations. These operations can for example be carried out by the GSM processor 21st In this embodiment, the card gets 2 digital and preferably electronically signed and encrypted signals from the circuit 13, which are in a difficult to be generated form, and determines from these signals, the time and / or location information.

This variant offers the advantage that it requires no hardware adjustments. It can for example be a conventional SIM card, for example, with a JAVA card or with an Opencard card used, which has been programmed with a new application, with which the card can access certain signals of the circuit 14th

6 shows a block diagram of an identification card 2 in a sixth embodiment of the invention. This variant corresponds to the embodiment of Figure 1, except that the card with an additional contactless interface is provided 26, for example an electromagnetic interface, such as in the application<patcit id="pcit0007" dnum="CH9700237W"><text>PCT / CH97 / 00237</text></patcit> described, or a high-frequency interface, for example a so-called "Bluetooth interface". With this interface, the SIM card can contactlessly communicate with external devices to charge, for example, processes from external devices.

A contactless interface 26 may be 2 to 5 also provided in chip cards according to one of the other embodiments of FIGS.

7 shows a block diagram of a system with an identification card 2 in a seventh embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the card comprises a conventional processor 21, for example, a GSM-processor or a multi-purpose JAVA processor, and a contactless interface 26, preferably an electromagnetic interface, such as a Bluetooth interface. The SIM card can connect over this contactless interface with an external device 3, which has a GPS receiver. In the illustrated example, the external device 3 comprises a contactless interface 36, for example a RFID interface, which operates at a frequency of 135kHz, 13,65MHz, 2.45 GHz or 5.8 GHz, or a Bluetooth interface, a GPS antenna 35, a radio frequency front-end circuit 34, a digital GPS circuit 33 and an oscillator 32. the external device 3 also preferably includes signature means, not shown, to sign the obtained with the GPS receiver time and location information in documents to package and to forward these documents via the interface 36-26 to the smart card. 2

The chip card 2 can then receive and consider whether they have been signed by an authorized by the network operator device 3 these documents. In this case, the smart card by means of tariff tables in the secure storage area charge 210 processes based on the received time and / or location information.

The external device may preferably be equipped with communication means, not shown, with which they can receive digital data via an unillustrated network. For example, the device 3 may have a modem or via a router with which it can communicate on the Internet. Preferably the device comprises 3 a DAB receiver (Digital Audio Broadcasting), with which they can receive digital data in broadcast mode. This data can then be transmitted via the interface 26-36. In this way, for example, updated tariff tables via this route in the SIM card 2 can be transmitted.