Extensible timer for chip card communications

A payment card reader comprising:

• a microprocessor of the payment card reader;
• a card interface connection configured to convey one or more communications between the microprocessor and a card interface of the payment card reader, the card interface to receive financial information from a payment card using a communication standard;
• a general-purpose input/output (GPIO) pin of the microprocessor, the GPIO pin coupled with the card interface connection;
• a non-programmable hardware timer of the microprocessor, the non-programmable hardware timer configured to count a first length of time that is previously defined by a first implementation of the communication standard;
• a non-programmable logic of the microprocessor that is coupled with the card interface connection and the non-programmable hardware timer, wherein the non-programmable logic is configured to effect the first implementation of the communication standard for communication between the microprocessor and the IC payment card using the non-programmable hardware timer;
• an extensible timer of the microprocessor;
• and
• an extensible logic of the microprocessor that is coupled with the GPIO pin and the extensible timer and the non-programmable hardware timer, wherein the extensible logic is configured to effect a second implementation of the communication standard for communication between the microprocessor and the IC payment card by extending the first length of time to a second length of time in response to detection that the non-programmable hardware timer has finished counting the first length of time.

A computer-implemented method comprising:

• detecting, by a payment card reader, a first bit of a first character of data transmitted between a card interface of the payment card reader and an integrated circuit (IC) of a payment card;
• starting a first timer of the payment card reader in response to detecting the first bit of the first character of the data, the first timer configured to run a first length of time within which a first bit of a second character of the data should be detected, wherein the first length of time is previously defined by a first implementation of a communication standard for communication between the card interface of the payment card reader and the IC of the payment card;
• detecting, by the payment card reader, that the first timer has expired;
• and
• starting a second timer of the payment card reader in response to detection of the first timer expiring, the second timer configured to run a second length of time within which the first bit of the second character of the data should be detected, wherein a sum of the first length of time and the second length of time is previously defined by a second implementation of the communication standard for communication between the card interface of the payment card reader and the IC of the payment card.

A system comprising:

• a card interface configured to convey one or more communications between a microprocessor and an integrated circuit (IC) of a payment card;
• a hardware timer of the microprocessor, the hardware timer configured to start when a first bit of a first character of data transmitted between the card interface and the IC of the payment card is detected, wherein the hardware timer is configured to run a first length of time within which a first bit of a second character of the data should be detected, wherein the first length of time is previously defined by a first implementation of a communication standard for communication between the card interface and the IC of the payment card;
• a timer end detection module of the microprocessor, the timer end detection module configured to detect that the hardware timer has finished counting the first length of time;
• and
• an extensible timer of the microprocessor, the extensible timer configured to, in response to the timer end detection module detecting that the hardware timer has finished counting the first length of time, extend the first length of time to a second length of time within which the first bit of the second character of the data should be detected, wherein the second length of time is previously defined by a second implementation of the communication standard for communication between the card interface and the IC of the payment card.