IC card, information processing terminal, and three-way data communication system and method

An IC card comprising:

• a memory for storing predetermined information;
• a control unit for controlling access to the memory;
• a wireless communication unit for performing wireless communication with a reading and writing apparatus which accesses the memory;
• and
• an external interface for connecting to an information processing terminal external to a chip,
• wherein, for communication with the reading and writing apparatus via the wireless communication unit, data received from the information processing terminal via the external interface is transmitted to the reading and writing apparatus via the wireless communication unit without changing the received data, or after the received data is converted according to an appropriate conversion scheme or is converted into other packet data.

An information processing terminal which is equipped with an IC chip for performing wireless communication with a reading and writing apparatus, said information processing terminal comprising:

• an external interface to which the IC chip is connected;
• and
• a control unit for controlling the overall operation of the terminal,
• wherein data is transmitted to or received from the IC chip via the external interface according to an internal state of the IC chip.

A three-way data communication method with an IC card or IC chip intermediate between a reading and writing apparatus for reading and writing data from and to the IC card and an information processing terminal connected to the IC card via a wired interface, said three-way data communication method comprising:

• a step of causing the information processing terminal to query the IC card as to an internal state and causing the IC card to respond to the query;
• a step of causing the reading and writing apparatus to poll the IC card;
• a step of causing the IC card to receive polling and return a response to the reading and writing apparatus;
• a step of causing the reading and writing apparatus to use a service provided by the IC card to communicate data in a non-contact manner with the IC card to write the data to the IC card;
• and
• a step of causing the information processing terminal to read the data from the IC card in response to detection of completion of writing the data to the IC card by the query about the internal state of the IC card.

A three-way data communication method with an IC card or IC chip intermediate between a reading and writing apparatus for reading and writing data from and to the IC card and an information processing terminal connected to the IC card via a wired interface, said three-way data communication method comprising:

• a step of causing the information processing terminal to use a service provided by the IC card to communicate data with the IC card to write the data to the IC card;
• a step of causing the reading and writing apparatus to poll the IC card;
• a step of causing the IC card to receive polling and return a response to the reading and writing apparatus after completion of transaction with the information processing terminal;
• and
• a step of causing the reading and writing apparatus to use a service provided by the IC card to read the data from the IC card in response to the response from the IC card.

A three-way data transfer system, in which an IC module into which an IC card function unit and a card reading and writing apparatus function unit are integrated intermediates, for transferring data between an external card reading and writing apparatus connected to the IC card function via a wireless communication interface and an information terminal connected to the IC module via a wireless communication interface,

• wherein the IC card operates in a wired communication mode in which the IC card reading and writing function unit is initiated in response to activation of an internal power supply to transact with the information processing terminal, and operates in a wireless communication mode in which the IC card function unit is initiated in response to detection of a carrier wave from the external card reading and writing apparatus to transact with the external card reading and writing apparatus;
• the IC card, which is in the wired communication mode, is temporarily switched to the wireless communication mode by an activate command, and is returned to the wired communication mode by an inactivate command;
• and
• the IC card, which is in the wireless communication mode, is temporarily switched to the wired communication mode by a second activate command from the external card reading and writing apparatus, and is returned to the wireless communication mode by a second inactivate command.

A three-way data transfer method, in which an IC module into which an IC card function unit and a card reading and writing apparatus function unit are integrated intermediates, of transferring data between an external card reading and writing apparatus connected to the IC card function via a wireless communication interface and an information terminal connected to the IC module via a wireless communication interface,

• wherein the IC card operates in a wired communication mode in which the IC card reading and writing function unit is initiated in response to activation of an internal power supply to transact with the information processing terminal, and operates in a wireless communication mode in which the IC card function unit is initiated in response to detection of a carrier wave from the external card reading and writing apparatus to transact with the external card reading and writing apparatus,
• the three-way data transfer method comprising:
• a step of causing the IC card, which is in the wired communication mode, to be temporarily switched to the wireless communication mode by an activate command;
• a step of causing the IC card to be returned to the wired communication mode by an inactivate command;
• a step of causing the IC card, which is in the wireless communication mode, to be temporarily switched to the wired communication mode by a second activate command from the external card reading and writing apparatus;
• and
• a step of causing the IC card to be returned to the wireless communication mode by a second inactivate command.