WO2000014678A1

WO2000014678A1 - Ic card interactive plastic leaflet

Info

Publication number: WO2000014678A1
Application number: PCT/CA1999/000785
Authority: WO
Inventors: Pierre Michel Combaluzier
Original assignee: Ic Tv Interactive Cyber Television Inc.
Priority date: 1998-09-04
Filing date: 1999-08-27
Publication date: 2000-03-16
Also published as: AU5367699A

Abstract

The present invention relates to an envelope (3) for receiving an IC card (1) comprising two opposite faces, an internal microprocessor and memory circuit, and a set of contacts (2) surface-mounted on one of the two faces of the IC card to access the microprocessor and memory circuit. The envelope (3) is formed by a leaflet including two flexible flaps defining between them a flat space for receiving the IC card (1). A window (7) is made in one of the two flaps for accessing the set of surface-mounted contacts (2). A graphic scheme, for example a keyboard layout, is printed on at least one of the two sheet members for permitting use of the IC card (1) for an additional, predetermined function, for example recording the answers given by the user during a TV game. The present invention also relates to the resulting IC card/envelope combination. The invention is further concerned with a system for using the IC card for the additional predetermined function, comprising the leaflet and an IC card reading and/or writing device having a transparent tactile keyboard membrane and a microcontroller. The IC card/leaflet combination is inserted behind the transparent tactile keyboard membrane so that the keyboard membrane of the leaflet appears through the keyboard membrane. The microcontroller writes information in the microprocessor and memory circuit of the IC card in relation to operation of the transparent tactile keyboard membrane.

Description

IC CARD INTERACTIVE PLASTIC LEAFLET

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the invention:

The present invention relates to an envelope for receiving an IC (Integrated Circuit) card in view of permitting use of this IC card for an additional, predetermined function. The present invention also relates to the IC card/envelope combination. The present invention further relates to a system, including the envelope, for using the IC card for the additional, predetermined function.

2. Brief description of the prior art:

Chip cards are currently used as credit cards, for bank transactions, in security systems, etc. A chip card is a plastic card similar in appearance to a credit card, but containing a microprocessor and memory chip programmed to perform several functions when used at a suitable terminal. As well known to those of ordinary skill in the art, a chip card comprises surface-mounted contacts for connection to the terminal.

Certain chip cards, usually called IC (Integrated Circuit) or smart cards and used for making bank transactions at a terminal, contain not only ROM but RAM as well. Since these cards have microprocessor intelligence and a coded RAM memory, they can record card transactions and store data which are updated with each transaction.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

A general object of the present invention is to enable the use of IC cards for additional, predetermined functions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

More specifically, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided an envelope for receiving an IC card comprising two opposite faces, an internal microprocessor and memory circuit, and a set of contacts surface-mounted on one of the two faces of the IC card to access the microprocessor and memory circuit. The envelope of the invention comprises ( a) two sheet members defining between them a flat space for receiving the IC card, ( b) a window in one of the two sheet members for accessing the set of surface-mounted contacts, and ( c) a graphic scheme printed on at least one of the two sheet members for permitting use of the IC card for an additional, predetermined function.

The present invention also relates to an IC card/envelope combination comprising an IC card and an envelope for receiving the IC card. The IC card comprises two opposite faces, an internal microprocessor and memory circuit, and a set of contacts surface- mounted on one of the two faces of the IC card to access the microprocessor and memory circuit. The envelope includes: two sheet members defining between them a flat space for receiving the IC card; a window in one of the two sheet members for accessing the set of surface-mounted contacts; and a graphic scheme printed on at least one of the two sheet members for permitting use of the IC card for an additional, predetermined function.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the envelope is a leaflet with two flexible flaps, the two sheet members are formed by the two flexible flaps of the leaflet, respectively, and the leaflet further comprises a reinforced edge portion for interconnecting the two flexible flaps and facilitating insertion of the leaflet through a slot of IC card reading and/or writing device. A slippery coating may cover at least in part the two flexible flaps and the reinforced edge portion to facilitate both insertion of the IC card in the leaflet and insertion of the leaflet through the slot of the IC card reading and/or writing device.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the graphic scheme comprises a keyboard layout.

Preferably, indications will be printed on the leaflet to guide both insertion of the IC card in the flat space between the two flexible flaps and insertion of the leaflet in the slot of an IC card reading and/or writing device.

Further in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a system for using an IC card for an additional predetermined function comprising an envelope for receiving the IC card and an IC card reading and/or writing device. The IC card comprises two opposite faces, an internal microprocessor and memory circuit, and a set of contacts surface-mounted on one of the two faces of the IC card to access the microprocessor and memory circuit. The envelope includes: two sheet members defining between them a flat space for receiving the IC card and form an IC card/envelope combination; a window made in a first one of the two sheet members for accessing the set of surface-mounted contacts; and a keyboard layout printed on the second one of the two flexible sheet members. The IC card reading and/or writing device includes: a housing defining a planar wall surface; a transparent tactile keyboard membrane mounted in front of but spaced apart from the planar wall surface to define a flat cavity between the transparent tactile keyboard membrane and the planar wall surface to receive the IC card/envelope combination; a connector mounted on the planar wall surface and having a plurality of contacts for connection to the surface- mounted contacts, respectively; and a microcontroller for writing information in the microprocessor and memory circuit of the IC card through the connector contacts and the surface-mounted contacts in relation to operation of the transparent tactile keyboard membrane.

In operation, when the IC card/envelope combination is inserted in the flat cavity with the connector contacts connected to the surface-mounted contacts and with the keyboard layout visible through the transparent tactile keyboard membrane, the transparent tactile keyboard membrane can be operated in relation to the keyboard layout and the microcontroller can write information in the microprocessor and memory circuit of the IC card in relation to operation of the transparent keyboard membrane.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the IC card reading and/or writing device forms part of a TV remote control, the keyboard layout is a TV game keyboard layout for answering questions asked during a TV program, and the microcontroller comprises means for recording the answers to the questions given by a user through operation of the transparent tactile keyboard membrane.

The objects, advantages and other features of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading of the following non restrictive description of a preferred embodiment thereof, given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the appended drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a leaflet in accordance with the invention for receiving an IC card and thereby form an IC card/leaflet combination, showing a window in one of the flexible flaps for accessing the surface-mounted contacts of the IC card;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the leaflet of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 is a front elevational view of the IC card and leaflet;

Figure 4 is a rear elevational view of a TV remote control including an IC card reading and/or writing device for receiving the IC card/leaflet combination;

Figure 5 is a side elevational view of a leaflet according to the invention including two flexible flaps and a reinforced edge portion for interconnecting these two flexible flaps;

Figure 6a is an example of keyboard layout that can be printed on the outer face of the rear flap of the leaflet according to the invention;

Figure 6b is an example of illustration that can be printed on the outer face of the front flap of the leaflet according to the invention; and Figure 7 is a block diagram of the electronic circuit of the TV remote control of Figure 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to Figure 1 of the appended drawings, the IC card 1 comprises surface-mounted contacts 2 for connection to a bank terminal or any other terminal (not shown). Just a word to mention that the format of most of the IC cards presently available on the market conforms with an ISO standard.

Preferably, the leaflet 3 is made of transparent plastic sheet material. The leaflet 3 comprises a rear flap 5 and a front flap 6 having a configuration and dimensions corresponding to those of the IC card 1. The leaflet 3 comprises a reinforced edge portion 4 for interconnecting the flexible flaps 5 and 6 and facilitate insertion of the leaflet 3 through a slot of IC card reading and/or writing device. Front flap 6 comprises a rectangular window 7 to access the surface-mounted contacts 2 when the leaflet 3 envelops the IC card 1. On the outer face of the rear flap 5 is printed a graphic keyboard layout as shown for example by arrow 8 in Figure 4. This graphical keyboard layout 8 may be composed of various icons, letters, numbers, or other characters or illustrations such as 22.

To further facilitate penetration of the slot of an IC card reading and/or writing device, outer faces 29 and 30 of the reinforced edge portion 4 as well as portion of the flaps 5 and 6 can be covered with a slippery coating (not shown). In the same manner, portions of the flaps 5 and 6 can be covered with a slippery coating to facilitate insertion of the IC card 1 in the flat space defined between the flaps 5 and 6.

Arrow-like indications such as 31 can also be printed onto the outer faces 29 and 30 to indicate to a user a direction of insertion of the IC card/leaflet combination in the slot of the reading and/or writing device. In addition, guide marks can be printed on the leaflet 3 to guide insertion of the IC card 1 between the two flaps 5 and 6 of the leaflet 3. Finally, visual indications of the new function(s) added to the IC card 1 through the leaflet 3 can be printed onto the leaflet 3, in particular on the outer face of the front flap 6.

Referring now to Figures 1-3, the IC card 1 is inserted between the two flaps 5 and 6 (see arrows 9 in Figure 1 , arrow 10 in Figure 2, arrows 12 in Figure 3, and arrow 28 in Figure 5) in such a way as to expose the contacts 2 through the window 7, as best shown in Figure 3.

The IC card 1 can be used in combination with a universal remote control 13 shown in Figure 4. The remote control 13 incorporates all the function protocols of the TV, VCR, Audio commands of most of the brands available on the market (95%). Figure 8 shows a schematic block diagram of the electronic circuit of the remote control 13.

The remote control 13 comprises a plastic housing 14. On the back of the housing 14 is defined a planar wall surface 17. A transparent tactile keyboard membrane 18 is mounted in front but spaced apart from the planar wall surface to define a flat cavity between the transparent tactile keyboard membrane and the planar wall surface 17 to receive the IC card 1/leaflet 3 combination. In the illustrated non limitative example, the transparent tactile keyboard membrane 18 comprises 15 resistive tactile zones such as 21. The plastic housing 14 of the remote control 13 has a top face 15 formed with a slot 16 for longitudinal insertion of the IC card 1/leaflet 3 combination in the flat cavity behind the transparent tactile keyboard membrane.

On a planar wall surface 17 of the housing 14 situated behind keyboard 18 is mounted a universal IC card connector 19 including a standard group of contacts such as 20 for connection to respective surface-mounted contacts 2 in order to automatically establish a bidirectional communication link between the microprocessor and memory circuit of the IC card 1 and the microcontroller 30 of the remote control 13 (Figure 7) each time the IC card 1 covered by the leaflet 3 is longitudinally inserted through the slot 16.

Of course, the leaflet 3 is so designed that the reinforced edge portion 4 (Figure 5) is introduced first to thereby greatly facilitate insertion of the IC card 1/leaflet 3 combination through the slot 16. After the IC card 1/leaflet 3 combination has been inserted through the slot 16, each icon, letter, number or other illustration 22 appears in a corresponding, for example resistive tactile zone 21.

Referring to Figure 7, the electronic circuit of the remote control

13 comprises the above mentioned microcontroller 30 and a universal remote control circuit 36 incorporating, as stated above, all the function protocols of the TV, VCR, Audio commands of most of the brands available on the market (95%).

The microcontroller 30 is connected to ( a) the transparent tactile keyboard membrane 18 to detect depression of any zone 21 of that membrane, ( b) a 4-digit liquid crystal display 25, ( c) a piezoelectric transducer 31 to activate this piezoelectric transducer and produce a "bip" when required or desired, ( d) a programmable real-time clock 32, ( e) an identification number memory 33 for giving to the microcontroller 30 an identification of the user, and ( f) the reading head 34 through a card interface 35. The microcontroller 30 is conventionally powered by an electric power supply 37, for example a 9-volt battery, through a 5-volt voltage regulator of circuit 38. The universal remote control circuit 36 is powered by the electric power supply 37 through a 3-volt voltage regulator of circuit 38.

The reading head 34 includes the connector 19 of Figure 4 and is advantageously of the GEMCORE™ technology. This technology has been developed by the company GemPlus to read and write on IC cards.

Regarding the card interface 35, it uses the language MEL

(MULTOS Executable Language) developed by the MULTOS which is a merger of financial institutions which establishes standard characteristics to ensure a compatibility of the communications between the members. MULTOS is an industrial standard for many applications of the IC cards, including the electronic purse application. The remote control 13 may further perform, amongst others, the following functions:

- a pawl 23 to trigger a mechanism (not shown) for ejecting the IC card 1/leaflet 3 combination from the flat cavity through the slot 16 after use (such a mechanism is well known to those of ordinary skill in the art and will not be further described in the present specification);

- a switch 24 to switch the tactile keyboard 18 on;

- the microcontroller 30 will display on the 4-digit liquid crystal display 25:

- the time obtained from the programmable real-time clock 32;

- the TV channel in interaction obtained from the universal remote control circuit 36;

- number of score units recorded and determined from the answers given by the user;

- minimum and maximum scores reached during a TV game as recorded by the microcontroller 30;

- the charge of the battery obtained through the voltage regulator circuit 38; - etc.

- a push-button 26 connected to the microcontroller 30 for adjusting the time given by the clock 32 and displayed by the microcontroller 30 on the display 25, and for adjusting the intensity of the "bip" produced by the piezoelectric transducer 31 to confirm interactive actions on the transparent tactile keyboard membrane 18 (upon adjustment of the intensity of the "bip" through the push-button 26, a bar code representative of this intensity is displayed by the microcontroller 30 on the 4-digit liquid crystal display 25);

- a push-button 27 for resetting the score after saving of the game.

Although application of the leaflet 3 to form an IC card 1/leaflet

3 combination to be inserted in a remote control 13 has been described in the foregoing description, the leaflet 3 according to the invention can also be used in connection with an IC card and thereby form an IC card 1/leaflet 3 subsequently inserted into any other type of bank, transaction, communication and/or exchange terminal.

The leaflet 3 according to the invention is also designed for and capable of customizing, adapting, humanizing and/or promoting a functional card of the security type, or creating actions, synergies or interoperabilities for such cards. To easily penetrate the public at large with functional cards of the security type, the leaflet 3 may be used to dress, to complete with added functions or values and/or to make user- friendly and less formal such security cards, while satisfying the standards, prints, ISO 1 back magnetic stripe and/or functional prints of the security organization, monetary or monetics transaction organization, and/or initial issuing organization.

The leaflet 3 according to the invention can further be used:

- to promote or lead towards customer loyalty to any privative bank card, commercial card, credit card, debit card, etc.; - to instantaneously optimize the visual access of applications of the card being used;

- to guide transactions on a portable card reader; and

- as an envelope for interactive direct television advertising.

Example

The following example is concerned with a leaflet 3 having a back flap 5 on which is printed the layout of a keyboard for playing a game related to a given TV program, for example the popular program ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT™. Figure 6a illustrates an example of keyboard layout which can be printed on the outer face of the rear flap 5, and Figure 6b illustrates the outer face of the front flap 6 on which can be printed, for example, identification of the issuing organization, advertising of the TV program, identification of the produces, etc.

Just a word to mention that the leaflet 3 according to the present invention can be produced at low cost (some cents by unit) and can be distributed to the public at large:

- on wine bottles;

- on soft drink packs;

- inside weekly TV guides;

- by direct mail; - in fragrance boxes;

- in magazines;

- on cigarette boxes; - in photo film boxes;

- in airflight tickets;

- in show tickets envelopes;

- in gift menus;

- in check flyers; - etc.

Since the leaflet 3 according to the invention is susceptible to increase their sales and profits, the companies involved are likely to incorporate the leaflet to their products at no extra charge.

To use the leaflet 3 according to the present invention, the first step consists of inserting the IC card 1 into the leaflet 3 and inserting the IC card 1/leaflet 3 combination through the slot 16. The keyboard layout of Figure 6a then appears through the transparent tactile keyboard 18. As can be appreciated, each icon of the keyboard layout of Figure 6a appears through a respective resistive area 21 of the transparent tactile keyboard 18.

The microcontroller can further be programmed to respond to insertion of the IC card 1/leaflet 3 combination by:

- pre-programming the clock 32 to synchronize it with the TV program in order to enable correct time dating of the answers selected by the card user on the transparent tactile keyboard membrane 18. This is made by means of a time correction increment or decrement recorded in the microprocessor and memory circuit of the IC card 1 by a bank terminal or any other type of terminal as will be explained hereinafter; - control the universal remote control circuit 36 to automatically turn the TV set on.

Then the user use the remote control 13 to tune the TV set to the channel on which the TV program associated to the leaflet 3 is broadcasted. Then, the user can answer the questions broadcasted during the TV program. A list of possible questions is presented in attached Appendix 1. As can be seen, an icon 22 of the keyboard layout 8 is associated to each question.

If the user chooses answer 1 as a response to a question, he

(she) presses once on the zone 21 of the transparent tactile keyboard 18 behind which the icon 22 corresponding to the question appears. If answer 2 is selected, the user presses twice on the zone 21 of the transparent tactile keyboard 18 behind which the corresponding icon 22 appears. If the user chooses answer 3 as a response to the question, he (she) presses three times on the zone 21 of the transparent tactile keyboard 18 corresponding to the icon 22 associated to the question.

The user will answer to a series of questions during one, two, or up to five TV programs of a TV channel using one or more leaflets such as leaflet 3.

The microcontroller 30 of the remote control 13 is responsive to depression of the tactile zones 21 of the transparent keyboard membrane 18 to record the answers of the user in the microprocessor and memory circuit of the IC card 1 and the time at which these answers are given through the card interface 35, the reading head 34 including the contacts 20 of the connector 19, and the surface-mounted contacts 2 of the IC card 1. The user's identification number stored in memory 33 will also be recorded in the microprocessor and memory circuit of the IC card 1 for identifying the user.

In this way, the user accumulates rights in relation to his (her) answers. He (She) also defines, in time, his (her) consumer profile. The user can then use his (her) IC card 1 to obtain these rights, through an appropriate terminal, in particular but not exclusively a sponsor banking terminal rent for that purpose, or simply a dedicated terminal.

As soon as the IC card 1 is inserted in the terminal, the server of the TV channel or the sponsor network is contacted. The software of the server reads the contents of the IC card 1 , analyses the recorded times and answers, compare the results with the answer key of the questionnaire and/or TV game, and decides the value of the rights to be attributed in relation to the accuracy of the answers recorded in the memory of the IC card 1. Finally, the server of the TV channel and/or sponsor will attribute a remuneration corresponding to the value of rights acquired, consisting of points, coupons, units, miles, etc in the IC card 1. The user can then choose to use this gain to obtain free units or, for example, to credit his (her) VISA account with a corresponding amount of money. To credit his (her) account, the user has simply to type the number of his (her) VISA card on the keyboard of the terminal being used.

Finally, the recorded data are erased by the terminal to prepare the card for a new TV program. Before erasing the recorded data, the terminal analyses the time dating of the answer recorded and will store in the microprocessor and memory circuit of the IC card 1 the above mentioned time correction increment or decrement that should be applied to the real-time clock 32 to synchronize this clock 32 with the TV program in order to enable correct time dating of the answers given by the card user on the transparent tactile keyboard membrane 18.

At the beginning of each game played or operation made through the remote control 13, the microcontroller 30 stores the user's identification number from memory 33 in the microprocessor and memory circuit of the IC card 1 , next to the time dating of the answers. This will enable survey of the population for rating (percent of TV households that are tuned, on the average, to one time period in a particular program).

Finally, it should be mentioned that the above mentioned gain can be paid by any interested party, for example public survey organizations.

Although the present invention has been described hereinabove by way of a preferred embodiment thereof, this embodiment can be modified at will, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit and nature of the subject invention.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. An envelope for receiving an IC card comprising two opposite faces, an internal microprocessor and memory circuit, and a set of contacts surface-mounted on one of the two faces of the IC card to access the microprocessor and memory circuit, comprising: two sheet members defining between them a flat space for receiving the IC card; a window in one of said two sheet members for accessing the set of surface-mounted contacts; and a graphic scheme printed on at least one of said two sheet members for permitting use of the IC card for an additional, predetermined function.

2. The envelope of claim 1 , wherein: - the envelope is a leaflet with two flexible flaps; and

- the two sheet members are formed by the two flexible flaps of the leaflet, respectively.

3. The envelope of claim 2, wherein the leaflet further comprises a reinforced edge portion for interconnecting the two flexible flaps and facilitating insertion of the leaflet through a slot of IC card reading and/or writing device.

4. The envelope of claim 3, further comprising a slippery coating covering at least in part the two flexible flaps and the reinforced edge portion to facilitate both insertion of the IC card in the leaflet and insertion of the leaflet through the slot of the IC card reading and/or writing device.

5. The envelope of claim 1 , wherein the graphic scheme comprises a keyboard layout.

6. The envelope of claim 2, further comprising indications printed on the leaflet to guide both insertion of the IC card in the flat space between the two flexible flaps and insertion of the leaflet in a slot of IC card reading and/or writing device.

7. An IC card/envelope combination comprising: an IC card comprising two opposite faces, an internal microprocessor and memory circuit, and a set of contacts surface- mounted on one of the two faces of the IC card to access the microprocessor and memory circuit; and an envelope for receiving the IC card, including: two sheet members defining between them a flat space for receiving the IC card; a window in one of said two sheet members for accessing the set of surface-mounted contacts; and a graphic scheme printed on at least one of said two sheet members for permitting use of the IC card for an additional, predetermined function.

8. The IC card/envelope combination of claim 7, wherein: - the envelope is a leaflet with two flexible flaps; and - the two sheet members are formed by the two flexible flaps of the leaflet, respectively.

9. The IC card/envelope combination of claim 8, wherein the leaflet further comprises a reinforced edge portion for interconnecting the two flexible flaps and facilitating insertion of the IC card/envelope combination through a slot of IC card reading and/or writing device.

10. The IC card/envelope combination of claim 9, further comprising a slippery coating covering at least in part the two flexible flaps and the reinforced edge portion to facilitate both insertion of the IC card in the leaflet and insertion of the IC card/envelope combination through the slot of the IC card reading and/or writing device.

11. The IC card/envelope combination of claim 7, wherein the graphic scheme comprises a keyboard layout.

12. The IC card/envelope combination of claim 8, further comprising indications printed on the leaflet to guide both insertion of the IC card in the flat space between the two flexible flaps and insertion of the IC card/envelope combination in a slot of IC card reading and/or writing device.

13. A system for using an IC card for an additional predetermined function, the IC card comprising two opposite faces, an internal microprocessor and memory circuit, and a set of contacts surface-mounted on one of the two faces of the IC card to access the microprocessor and memory circuit, said system comprising: an envelope for receiving the IC card, including: two sheet members defining between them a flat space for receiving the IC card and form an IC card/envelope combination; a window made in a first one of said two sheet members for accessing the set of surface- mounted contacts; and a keyboard layout printed on the second one of said two flexible sheet members; and an IC card reading and/or writing device including: a housing defining a planar wall surface; a transparent tactile keyboard membrane mounted in front of but spaced apart from the planar wall surface to define a flat cavity between the transparent tactile keyboard membrane and the planar wall surface to receive the IC card/envelope combination; a connector mounted on the planar wall surface and having a plurality of contacts for connection to the surface-mounted contacts of said set, respectively; and a microcontroller for writing information in the microprocessor and memory circuit of the IC card through said the contacts of said connector and the surface-mounted contacts of said set in relation to operation of the transparent tactile keyboard membrane; whereby, in operation, when the IC card/envelope combination is inserted in the flat cavity with the contacts of the connector connected to the surface-mounted contacts of said set and with the keyboard layout visible through the transparent tactile keyboard membrane, the transparent tactile keyboard membrane can be operated in relation to the keyboard layout and the microcontroller can write information in the microprocessor and memory circuit of the IC card in relation to operation of the transparent keyboard membrane.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein: - the envelope is a leaflet with two flexible flaps; and

- the two flexible sheet members are formed by the two flexible flaps of the leaflet, respectively.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein: - the IC card reading and/or writing device forms part of a TV remote control; the keyboard layout is a TV game keyboard layout for answering questions asked during a TV program; and the microcontroller comprises means for recording the answers to said questions given by a user through operation of the transparent tactile keyboard membrane.