Low-power smart-card module

A parking meter, comprising:

• a first circuit board having a main microprocessor coupled to a power supply operable to provide power at a first supply voltage;
• a display communicating with the first circuit board;
• a coin discriminator communicating with the first circuit board;
• and
• a second circuit board having a microprocessor, a power supply operable to provide power at a second supply voltage and a data interface element to provide bi-directional data interface with portable purchasing modules, the second circuit board modularly coupleable to the first circuit board in a non-integral manner.

A parking meter, comprising:

• a coin input device;
• a first microprocessor operatively connected to detect inputs from the coin input device;
• a random-access memory which is connected to be read/write accessible by the first microprocessor;
• an output device operatively connected to receive outputs from the first microprocessor;
• a power supply connected to provide power to the first microprocessor;
• and
• a second user input device and a second microprocessor operatively connected to detect inputs from the second user input device such that the coin input device communicates with the first microprocessor via a first card and the second user input device communicates with the second microprocessor via a second card.

A development system couplable to a computer system for developing security schemes for a parking meter to utilize smart cards, the development system comprising:

• a circuit board having a coupling for communication with the computer system, the circuit board modularly coupleable to the parking meter;
• a smart card reader coupled to the circuit board and adapted to communicate with the computer system via the coupling of the circuit board and operative to read smart cards in a contacting or contact-less manner, the smart cards include a security scheme;
• and
• at least one security access module adapted to communicate with the security scheme of the smart card such that when the smart card reader reads the smart cards, the processor operably determines which of the at least one security access modules is adapted to communicate with the security scheme of the smart card read by the smart card reader.

A vending machine operable for smart card transactions, the vending machine comprising:

• a vending portion operable to vend goods or services;
• a main module having a processor and in communication with the vending portion;
• a power supply for supplying power to at least the main module;
• and
• a card reader assembly modularly connectable to the main module in a communicating manner, the card reader assembly comprising:
• a reader operative to read smart cards in a contacting or contact-less manner, the cards including a security scheme,
• a processor in communication with the reader,
• at least one security access module adapted to communicate with the security scheme of the cards and in communication with the processor such that when the reader reads the cards, the processor is operative to determine which of the at least one security access module is adapted to communicate with the security scheme of the card.