Smart card session optimization

A computer device for communicating with a smart card reader, the computer device comprising:

• a smart card resource manager for providing commands for the smart card reader;
• and
• a smart card reader service for selectively relaying and discarding commands received from the smart card resource manager for the smart card reader, the smart card reader service being configured for:
• receiving a current command destined for a smart card;
• if the current command is of a state-altering type that places the smart card in a known state, relaying the current command to the smart card reader unless the smart card is known to be currently in the known state;
• if the current command is a POWER OFF command that disengages or turns off the smart card, relaying the current command to the smart card reader unless (i) the smart card is known to be currently in the known state and GO within a predetermined time from receiving the current command, a subsequent command of the state-altering type that places the smart card in the known state is subsequently received;
• if the current command is not a POWER OFF command and the current command is not of the state-altering type that places the smart card in the known state, relaying the current command to the smart card reader;
• and
• discarding the current command if the current command is not relayed to the smart card reader.

A computer readable storage medium containing computer-executable instructions that, when performed by a microprocessor, cause the microprocessor:

• to receive a current command destined for a smart card;
• if the current command is of a state-altering type that places the smart card in a known state, to relay the current command to the smart card reader unless the smart card is known to be currently in the known state;
• if the current command is a POWER OFF command that disengages or turns off the smart card, to relay the current command to the smart card reader unless (i) the smart card is known to be currently in the known state and (ii) within a predetermined time from receiving the current command, a subsequent command of the state-altering type that places the smart card in the known state is subsequently received;
• if the current command is not a POWER OFF command and the current command is not of the state-altering type that places the smart card in the known state, to relay the current command to the smart card reader;
• and
• to discard the current command if the current command is not relayed to the smart card reader.