Controlling connectivity of a wireless smart card reader

A method comprising:

• controlling, using a mobile device that is directly connected wirelessly to a wireless-enabled smart card reader via a wireless communication interface of said smart card reader in order to access a smart card, direct connections of said wireless-enabled smart card reader to other devices, wherein said direct connections occur via said wireless communication interface,
• wherein controlling said direct connections comprises:
• enabling said mobile device to receive input of an authorization password;
• securely transmitting said authorization password wirelessly from said mobile device to said wireless-enabled smart card reader;
• and
• requiring said wireless-enabled smart card reader to receive said authorization password from one of said other devices in order to successfully establish a connection between said one of said other devices and said wireless-enabled smart card reader.

A system comprising:

• a wireless-enabled smart card reader able to be directly connected contemporaneously to at least two devices;
• and
• a mobile device able to be directly connected wirelessly to said wireless-enabled smart card reader and to control direct connections of said wireless-enabled smart card reader to other devices,
• wherein said mobile device has a display, and said mobile device is able to query said wireless-enabled smart card reader about direct wireless connections maintained contemporaneously by said wireless-enabled smart card reader to devices external to said wireless-enabled smart card reader and to display via said display a notification of changes to said direct wireless connections maintained contemporaneously by said wireless-enabled smart card reader.

A mobile device comprising:

• a display;
• a communication interface compatible with a wireless communication standard through which said mobile device is able to be directly connected wirelessly to a wireless-enabled smart card reader;
• a processor;
• and
• a memory to store executable code which, when executed by said processor, controls direct connections of said wireless-enabled smart card reader,
• wherein said executable code, when executed by said processor, queries said wireless-enabled smart card reader about direct connections maintained contemporaneously by said wireless-enabled smart card reader and displays via said display a notification of changes to said direct connections maintained contemporaneously by said wireless-enabled smart card reader.

A mobile device comprising:

• a communication interface compatible with a wireless communication standard through which said mobile device is able to be directly connected wirelessly to a wireless-enabled smart card reader in order to access a smart card;
• a processor coupled to said communication interface;
• a memory coupled to said processor to store executable code which, when executed by said processor, is to control direct connections of said wireless-enabled smart card reader to other devices;
• and
• an input component coupled to said processor,
• wherein said executable code, when executed by said processor, receives an authorization password via said input component for said connections to said wireless-enabled smart card reader and securely transmits said authorization password to said wireless-enabled smart card reader via said communication interface.