Method and mobile terminal device including smartcard module and near field communications means

A non-transitory computer program product, comprising:

• a computer useable medium having computer program logic recorded thereon for execution by a processor;
• program code in said medium for enabling the processor to start a smartcard application on an apparatus;
• program code in said medium for enabling the processor in response to said starting of said smartcard application, to activate a smartcard module in said apparatus;
• program code in said medium for enabling the processor to determine whether said started smartcard application is an external application for performing data transactions with external entities or said started smartcard application is an internal application for performing internal communications in said apparatus;
• and
• program code in said medium for enabling the processor to switch a connection between said smartcard module and a near field communication module in said apparatus in case of an affirmative determination of said external application, whereby said near field communication module is configured for providing a wireless near field communications interface to said smartcard module for conducting wireless data transactions with an external entity, and switch a connection between said smartcard module and a central processing unit of said apparatus in case of no affirmative determination of said external application.

An apparatus, comprising:

• a smartcard module;
• a near field communication module;
• a central processing unit, coupled to the near field communication module, configured to start a smartcard application, resulting in activation of the smartcard module, said central processing unit further configured to determine whether said started smartcard application is an external application for performing data transactions with external entities or said started smartcard application is an internal application for performing internal communications in the apparatus;
• and
• a switch coupled to the central processing unit, configured to switch a connection between said smartcard module and a near field communication module in the apparatus in case of an affirmative determination of said external application, whereby said near field communication module is configured to provide a wireless near field communications interface to said smartcard module for conducting wireless data transactions with an external entity, and to switch a connection between said smartcard module and a central processing unit of the apparatus in case of no affirmative determination of said external application.

A mobile terminal device, comprising:

• a processor;
• a smartcard module;
• a Near Field Communication module;
• a memory including executable instructions, the memory and the executable instructions being configured to, in cooperation with the processor, cause the mobile terminal device to perform at least the following:
• start a smartcard application on said mobile terminal device;
• activate said smartcard module in response to said starting of said smartcard application;
• determine whether said started smartcard application is an external application for performing data transactions with external entities or said started smartcard application is an internal application for performing internal communications in said mobile terminal device;
• and
• switch a connection between said smartcard module and said near field communication module in case of an affirmative determination of said external application, whereby said near field communication module is configured for providing a wireless near field communications interface to said smartcard module for conducting wireless data transactions with an external entity, and switch a connection between said smartcard module and a mobile controlling unit of said mobile terminal device in case of no affirmative determination of said external application.

Wireless data transaction system, comprising:

• at least one mobile terminal device, comprising:
• a smartcard module;
• a Near Field Communication module;
• a memory module;
• means for starting a smartcard application on said mobile terminal device;
• means for, in response to said starting of said smartcard application, activating of said smartcard module;
• means for determining whether said started smartcard application is an external application for performing data transactions with external entities or said started smartcard application is an internal application for performing internal communications in said mobile terminal device;
• means for switching a connection between said smartcard module and said near field communication module in said mobile terminal device in case of an affirmative determination of said external application, whereby said near field communication module is configured for providing a wireless near field communications interface to said smartcard module for conducting wireless data transactions with an external entity, and for switching a connection between said smartcard module and a mobile controlling unit of said mobile terminal device in case of no affirmative determination of said external application;
• a mobile controlling unit interconnecting said smart card module, said near field communication module and said memory module, wherein said mobile controlling unit is adapted for controlling operation of said mobile device;
• and
• a plurality of external entities;
• wherein said mobile terminal devices provide bidirectional data transactions with said external entities.

An apparatus, comprising:

• means for starting a smartcard application;
• means for, in response to said starting of said smartcard application, activating a smartcard module in the apparatus;
• means for determining whether said started smartcard application is an external application for performing data transactions with external entities or said started smartcard application is an internal application for performing internal communications in the apparatus;
• and
• means for switching a connection between said smartcard module and a near field communication module in the apparatus in case of an affirmative determination of said external application, whereby said near field communication module is configured for providing a wireless near field communications interface to said smartcard module for conducting wireless data transactions with an external entity, and switching a connection between said smartcard module and a central processing unit of the apparatus in case of no affirmative determination of said external application.

A non-transitory computer program product representing instructions, which when executed by a processor, cause an apparatus to perform the steps comprising:

• starting a smartcard application;
• in response to said starting of said smartcard application, activating a smartcard module in said apparatus;
• determining whether said started smartcard application is an external application for performing data transactions with external entities or said started smartcard application is an internal application for performing internal communications in said apparatus;
• and
• switching a connection between said smartcard module and a near field communication module in said apparatus in case of an affirmative determination of said external application, whereby said near field communication module is configured for providing a wireless near field communications interface to said smartcard module for conducting wireless data transactions with an external entity, and switching a connection between said smartcard module and a central processing unit of said apparatus in case of no affirmative determination of said external application.