Control of a card interface

Abstract

An apparatus for a device, particularly a telephone, using a memory card or a smart card inserted into the device including means for checking the identification data of the card and for activating the desired function of the apparatus after the verification of the data. The apparatus may include a memory unit in which the verified identification data read in from the card is recorded and used to compare subsequent identification data read in from a card. Alternatively, the apparatus may compare identification data read in from a card against verification data permanently stored in the apparatus. The apparatus also includes a timer and a comparison means which, on the basis of the output signal of the timer, compare the identification data of the card with either identification permanently stored in the apparatus or verified data previously read in from a card that is recorded in the memory unit, and thus terminate operation if the compared identification data are not identical.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.