Card for service access

#The present invention relates to a control template or smart card for use with a remote reader device and, in particular, to a card interface system for providing a service. The invention also relates to a computer program product including a computer readable medium having recorded thereon a computer program for a card interface system.

#Control pads of various types are known and used across a relatively wide variety of fields. Typically, such pads include one or more keys, buttons or pressure responsive areas which, upon application of suitable pressure by a user, generate a signal which is supplied to associated control circuitry.

#Unfortunately, prior art control pads are somewhat limited, in that they only allow for a single arrangement of keys, buttons or pressure sensitive areas. Standard layouts rarely exist in a given field, and so a user is frequently compelled to learn a new layout with each control pad they use. For example many automatic teller machines (“ATMs”) and electronic funds transfer at point of sale (“EFTPOS”) devices use different layouts, notwithstanding their relatively similar data entry requirements. This can be potentially confusing for a user who must determine, for each control pad, the location of buttons required to be depressed. The problem is exacerbated by the fact that such control pads frequently offer more options than the user is interested in, or even able to use.

#One or more embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings, in which:

#FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a read device and an associated card;

#FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an opposite side of the card shown in FIG. 1;

#Where reference is made in any one or more of the accompanying drawings to steps and/or features, which have the same reference numerals, those steps and/or features have for the purposes of this description the same function(s) or operation(s), unless the contrary intention appears.

#The embodiments disclosed herein have been developed primarily for use with remote control systems, automatic tellers, video game controllers and network access, and will be described hereinafter with reference to these and other applications. However, it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to these fields of use.

#For ease of explanation the following description has been divided into Sections 1.0 to 13.0, each section having associated subsections.