Apparatus, system and techniques for a smart card computing device and associated host devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016379017-A1
Application number	US-201315039689-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 27, 2013
Priority date	Dec 27, 2013
Publication date	Dec 29, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An apparatus, system and other techniques for a smart card device, one or more host devices and a modular computing system comprising a smart card device and one or more host devices are described. For example, an apparatus or example smart card device may comprise one or more processor circuits, an interface coupled to the one or more processor circuits, the smart card device sized to be removably inserted into a host device and the interface configured to removably couple the smart card device to the host device, and logic, at least a portion of which is in hardware, the logic to configure the smart card device based on one or more characteristics of the host device. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

First claim

1 . A smart card device, comprising:
one or more processor circuits; an interface coupled to the one or more processor circuits, the smart card device sized to be removably inserted into a host device and the interface configured to removably couple the smart card device to the host device; and logic, at least a portion of which is in hardware, the logic to configure the smart card device based on one or more characteristics of the host device.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , the logic to detect a coupling of the smart card device and the host device and to automatically configure one or more applications stored in a memory of the smart card device based on the one or more characteristics of the host device.

3 . The smart card device of claim 1 , the logic to detect a coupling of the smart card device and the host device and to automatically download an application associated with the host device based on the one or more characteristics of the host device.

4 . The smart card device of claim 1 , comprising:
memory coupled to the one or more processor circuits; a power source coupled to the one or more processor circuits; a radio coupled to the one or more processor circuits; and one or more antennas coupled to the radio.

5 . The smart card device of claim 1 , the one or more processor circuits comprising a first processor circuit to execute a first operating system and a second processor circuit to execute a second operating system, the logic to automatically select one of the first processor and first operating system or second processor and second operating system based on the one or more characteristics of the host device.

6 . The smart card device of claim 5 , the first processor circuit to operate at a first frequency and the second processor circuit to operate at a second frequency less than the first frequency.

7 . The smart card device of claim 1 , the interface comprising a plurality of input/output (I/O) pins or ports.

8 . The smart card device of claim 1 , the smart card device arranged for plug and play operation with a plurality of host devices.

9 . The smart card device of claim 1 , the host device comprising an enclosure to support the one or more I/O devices, the enclosure comprising one or more of an opening to receive and support the smart card device or a cavity inside the enclosure to receive, support and substantially conceal the smart card device.

10 . The smart card device of claim 1 , the host device comprising one or more of a wearable device, a control device, a display device, or an audio/video (A/V) device.

11 . A host device, comprising:
an enclosure to support one or more input/output (I/O) devices; and an interface to removably couple the host device to a smart card device sized to be removably inserted into an opening or cavity of the enclosure, the smart card device comprising one or more processor circuits, an interface to removably couple with the interface of the host device, and logic at least a portion of which is in hardware, the logic to configure the smart card device based on one or more characteristics of the host device.

12 . The host device of claim 11 , the logic to detect a coupling of the smart card device and the host device and to automatically select a first processor circuit or a second processor circuit of the one or more processor circuits.

13 . The host device of claim 12 , the first processor circuit to operate at a first frequency and to execute a first operating system and the second processor circuit to operate at a second frequency and to execute a second operating system, the second frequency comprising a lower frequency than the first frequency.

14 . The host device of claim 11 , the logic to detect a coupling of the smart card device and the host device and to automatically configure one or more applications stored in a memory of the smart card device based on the one or more characteristics of the host device.

15 . The host device of claim 11 , the logic to detect a coupling of the smart card device and the host device and to automatically download an application associated with the host device based on the one or more characteristics of the host device.

16 . The host device of claim 11 , the one or more I/O devices to receive power from a power source of the smart card device.

17 . The host device of claim 11 , the one or more I/O devices controlled by I/O logic of the smart card device, at least a portion of the logic comprising hardware.

18 . The host device of claim 11 , the host device comprising one or more of a wearable device, a control device, a display device, or an audio/video (A/V) device.

19 . A system, comprising:
a smart card device comprising one or more processor circuits, an interface coupled to the one or more processor circuits, memory coupled to the one or more processor circuits, a power source coupled to the one or more processor circuits, a radio coupled to the one or more processor circuits and one or more antennas coupled to the radio, the smart card device sized to be removably inserted into a host device and the interface to removably couple the smart card device to the host device;
a host device comprising an enclosure to support one or more input/output (I/O) devices, the enclosure comprising an opening or cavity to receive the smart card device and an interface to removably couple to the interface of the smart card device; and
logic at least a portion of which is in hardware, the logic to configure the smart card device based on one or more characteristics of the host device.

20 . The system of claim 19 , the logic to detect a coupling of the smart card device and the host device and to automatically configure one or more applications stored in the memory of the smart card device based on the one or more characteristics of the host device or to automatically download an application associated with the host device based on the one or more characteristics of the host device.

21 . The system of claim 19 , the one or more processor circuits comprising a first processor circuit to execute a first operating system and a second processor circuit to execute a second operating system, the logic to automatically select one of the first preprocessor and first operating system or second processor and second operating system based on the one or more characteristics of the host device.

22 . The system of claim 21 , the first processor circuit to operate at a first frequency and the second processor circuit to operate at a second frequency less than the first frequency.

23 . The system of claim 19 , the interface of the smart card device comprising a plurality of input/output (I/O) pins or ports corresponding to plurality of I/O pins or ports of the interface of the host device.

24 . The system of claim 19 , the smart card device arranged for plug and play operation with a plurality of host devices.

25 . The system of claim 19 , the host device comprising one or more of a wearable device, a control device, a display device, or an audio/video (A/V) device and the one or more I/O devices of the host device to receive power from a power source of the smart card device and to be controlled by I/O logic of the smart card device, at least a portion of the logic comprising hardware.

26 .- 28 . (canceled)

Assignees

• Intel Corp

Inventors

• Wang Randolph Y
• Tang Eugene Y
• Liu Zeyi
• Song Jiqiang
• Peng Paul J
• Zhu Haiyang
• Wang Yunzhen
• Bi Chengwei
• Wang Fang
• Chan Sun C
• Chen Yuanjian
• Wang Dawei
• Han Bing

Classifications

• G06F9/44505

  Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files · CPC title

• G06K7/0056 Primary

  housing of the card connector · CPC title

• G06Q20/3552

  Downloading or loading of personalisation data · CPC title

• G06F9/4411

  Configuring for operating with peripheral devices; Loading of device drivers · CPC title

• G06K19/0723

  the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs · CPC title