System and method for managing multiple smart card sessions

A smart card reader for providing a plurality of communication devices with smart card sessions, the smart card reader having a smart card reader identifier, comprising:

• an interface for a smart card;
• a communications interface for wireless communication with a plurality of communication devices;
• a display;
• a memory configured to store a plurality of identifiers, each one of the plurality of identifiers being associated with a distinct one of the plurality of communication devices;
• a processor configured to generate security values, master connection key data, and master connection keys,
• wherein the smart card reader is adapted to:
• receive requests for connections from a plurality of communication devices, each requests comprising an identifier for a corresponding one of the plurality of communication devices;
• store the identifier comprised in each request in the memory;
• generate for each of the plurality of communication devices a corresponding security values for establishing a secure pairing therewith, and store each of the corresponding security values in the memory;
• establish in respect of each of the plurality of communication devices corresponding master connection key data, and store each of the corresponding master connection key data in the memory;
• generate a corresponding master connection keys from each of the corresponding master connection key data, such that each of the plurality of communication devices is associated with a different corresponding master connection key, and wherein each corresponding master connection keys is used to secure data transmitted between the smart card reader and the associated communication device in a smart card session.

A computer-readable medium comprising code executable by a computing device for:

• receiving a request at the smart card reader for a connection from a first communication device, the request comprising a first identifier for the first communication device;
• generating at the smart card reader a first security value for provision to the first communication device for a secure pairing with the first communication device;
• establishing at the smart card reader first master connection key data for generating a first master connection key;
• generating at the smart card reader a first master connection key from the first master connection key data,
• wherein the first communication device is configured to generate the first master connection key from the first master connection key data, the first master connection key being used to secure data transmitted between the smart card reader and the first communication device, and wherein data transmitted to the first communication device comprises the first identifier;
• receiving a request at the smart card reader for a connection from a second communication device, the request comprising a second identifier for the second communication device;
• generating and transmitting from the smart card reader a second security value to the second communication device for establishing a secure pairing with the second communication device while the secure pairing with the first communication device is established;
• establishing at the smart card reader second master connection key data for generating a second master connection key;
• and
• generating at the smart card reader a second master connection key from the second master connection key data,
• wherein the second communication device is configured to generate the second master connection key from the second master connection key data, the second master connection key being used to secure data transmitted between the smart card reader and the second communication device and wherein data transmitted to the second communication device comprises the second identifier.