Versatile interface smart card

In a transaction system of the type in which a user card having a microprocessor communicates with an interface device to perform a transaction, a method for selectively operating said microprocessor in one of a plurality of modes, comprising the steps of:

• placing a user card in an operative relationship with an interface device so as to permit signals to be exchanged between the user card and the interface device;
• providing signals to the user card from the interface device by means of a predefined set of communication contacts associated with a first operating protocol;
• selectively providing a mode signal to the user card from the interface device in accordance with a mode of operation associated with the interface device;
• determining within the microprocessor of the user card whether the mode signal is being provided by the interface device;
• and
• operating said microprocessor in accordance with said first operating protocol when said mode signal is not being provided, and operating said microprocessor in accordance with a second operating protocol different from said first protocol when said mode signal is being provided.

A user card for a multi-protocol smart card system, comprising:

• a user card containing a microprocessor that is capable of selectively operating in accordance with a plurality of different operating protocols;
• a first set of contacts on said user card for communicating signals to and from said microprocessor in accordance with a first one of said operating protocols;
• at least one other contact on said user card for providing a mode signal to said microprocessor;
• and
• means associated with said microprocessor for determining whether a mode signal is provided to said other contact, and for causing said microprocessor to operate in accordance with said first protocol when a mode signal is not provided, and thereby communicate signals using only said first set of contacts, and to cause said microprocessor to operate in accordance with a second, different protocol when said mode signal is provided.

In a transaction system of the type in which a user card having a microprocessor communicates with an interface device to perform a transaction, a method for selectively operating said microprocessor in one of a plurality of different protocols for communication between the card and the interface device, comprising the steps of:

• placing a user card in an operative relationship with an interface device so as to permit signals to be exchanged between the user card and the interface device;
• providing signals to the user card from the interface device by means of a predefined set of communication contacts associated with a first communication protocol;
• providing a mode signal to the user card from the interface device that is associated with a second communication protocol;
• detecting within the microprocessor of the user card whether the mode signal is being provided by the interface device;
• and
• operating said microprocessor in accordance with said first communication protocol when said mode signal is not detected, and operating said microprocessor in accordance with second communication protocol when said mode signal is detected.

A user card for a multi-protocol smart card system, comprising:

• a user card containing a microprocessor that is capable of selectively operating in accordance with a plurality of different communication protocols;
• a first set of contacts on said user card for communicating signals to and from said microprocessor in accordance with a first one of said communication protocols;
• at least one other contact on said user card for receiving a signal that is not associated with said first communication protocol;
• and
• means associated with said microprocessor for determining whether said signal is present at said other contact, and for causing said microprocessor to operate in accordance with said first protocol when said signal is not present, and to cause said microprocessor to operate in accordance with a second, different protocol when said signal is present.