Smart card set protocol optimization

1. A method of facilitating communications between a computer device and a smart card reader having an associated smart card for use in login authentication, the computer device including a smart card resource manager and a smart card reader service, the smart card reader service acting as a relay for commands between the smart card reader resource manager and the smart card reader, the method comprising:

receiving, from the smart card resource manager, a first command for setting a protocol for communications with the smart card;

transmitting, to the smart card reader through a wireless communication link, the first command;

transmitting, to the smart card resource manager and prior to receiving a reply from the smart card to the first command, a message indicating that the smart card has successfully received the first command;

receiving, from the smart card reader, an indication that the first command failed;

receiving, from the smart card resource manager, a second command; and

transmitting, to the smart card resource manager, a response indicating that the second command failed.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising caching the indication that the first command failed.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second command comprises an application protocol data unit.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

generating the first command subsequent to receiving a smart card insertion message from the smart card reader while the computer device is locked awaiting a user login.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein communications between the smart card resource manager and the smart card reader service are passed therebetween through a smart card reader driver.

6. A computer device for communicating over a wireless communications link with a smart card reader having an associated smart card for use in login authentication, the computer device comprising:

a smart card resource manager for generating commands for the smart card reader;

a smart card reader service for relaying commands received from the smart card resource manager for the smart card reader, the smart card reader service being configured to:

receive, from the smart card resource manager, a first command for setting a protocol for communications with the smart card;

transmit, to the smart card reader through a wireless communication link, the first command;

transmit, to the smart card resource manager and prior to receiving a reply from the smart card to the first command, a message indicating that the smart card has successfully received the first command;

receive, from the smart card reader, an indication that the first command failed;

receive, from the smart card resource manager, a second command;

transmit, to the smart card resource manager, a response indicating that the second command failed.

7. A smart card reader comprising:

a smart card interface for receiving a smart card;

a communications system for exchanging signals over a wireless link with an associated computer; and

a controller connected to the smart card interface and the communications system for exchanging signals therewith, the controller being configured to:

transmit, to the associated computer, a smart card insertion message;

receive, from the associated computer, a first command and a second command, wherein the first command comprises a command to set a protocol for communications with the smart card;

provide, to the smart card, the first command;

receive, from the smart card, an indication that the first command failed;

transmit, to the associated computer, a response indicating that the second command failed.

8. A system comprising:

a computer device for communicating over a wireless link with a smart card reader having an associated smart card for use in login authentication, the computer device comprising:

a smart card resource manager for generating commands for the smart card reader;

a smart card reader service for relaying commands received from the smart card resource manager for the smart card reader, the smart card reader service being configured to:

receive, from the smart card resource manager, a first command for setting a protocol for communications with the smart card;

transmit, to the smart card reader through a wireless communication link, the first command;

transmit, to the smart card resource manager and prior to receiving a reply from the smart card to the first command, a message indicating that the smart card has successfully received the first command;

receive, from the smart card reader, an indication that the first command failed;

receive, from the smart card resource manager, a second command;

transmit, to the smart card resource manager, a response indicating that the second command failed; and

the smart card reader comprising:

a smart card interface for receiving the smart card;

a communications system for exchanging signals over the wireless link with the computer device; and

a controller connected to the smart card interface and the communications system for exchanging signals therewith, the controller being configured to:

receive, from the computer device, the first command;

provide, to the smart card, the first command;

receive, from the smart card, a smart-card-based indication that the first command failed;

transmit, to the computer device, the indication that the first command failed.

9. A computer program product for facilitating communications between a computer device and a smart card reader having an associated smart card for use in login authentication, the computer device including a smart card resource manager and a smart card reader service, the smart card reader service acting as a relay for commands between the smart card resource manager and the smart card reader, the computer program product comprising a computer readable medium having recorded thereon computer code means for:

receiving, from the smart card resource manager, a first command for setting a protocol for communications with the smart card;

relaying, to the smart card reader through a wireless communication link, the first command;

transmitting, to the smart card resource manager and prior to receiving a reply from the smart card to the first command, a message indicating that the smart card has successfully received the first command;

receiving, from the smart card reader, an indication that the first command failed;

receiving, from the smart card resource manager, a second command; and

transmitting, to the smart card resource manager, a response indicating that the second command failed.

10. A method of facilitating communications between a computer device and a smart card reader having an associated smart card for use in login authentication, the computer device including a smart card resource manager and a smart card reader service, the smart card reader service acting as a relay for commands between the smart card reader resource manager and the smart card reader, the method comprising:

receiving, from the smart card resource manager, a first command for setting a protocol for communications with the smart card;

caching the first command;

transmitting, to the smart card resource manager and prior to receiving a reply from the smart card to the first command, a message indicating that the smart card has successfully received the first command;

monitoring for receipt, from the smart card resource manager, of a second command;

responsive to receiving the second command, transmitting, to the smart card reader through a wireless communication link, both the first command and the second command;

receiving, from the smart card reader through the wireless communication link, a response to the second command; and

transmitting, to the smart card resource manager, the response to the second command.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the second command comprises an application protocol data unit.

12. The method of claim 10 , further comprising generating the first command subsequent to receiving a smart card insertion message from the smart card reader while the computer device is locked awaiting a user login.

13. A computer device for communicating over a wireless communications link with a smart card reader having an associated smart card for use in login authentication, the computer device comprising:

a smart card resource manager for generating commands for the smart card reader;

a smart card reader service for relaying commands received from the smart card resource manager for the smart card reader, the smart card reader service being configured to:

receive, from the smart card resource manager, a first command for setting a protocol for communications with the smart card;

transmit, to the smart card resource manager and prior to receiving a reply from the smart card to the first command, a message indicating that the smart card has successfully received the first command;

cache the first command;

monitor for a second command to be received from the smart card resource manager;

responsive to receiving the second command, transmit, to the smart card reader through the wireless communication link, both the first command and the second command;

receive from the smart card reader through the wireless communication link a response to the second command; and

transmit, to the smart card resource manager, the response to the second command.

14. A computer program product for facilitating communications between a computer device and a smart card reader having an associated smart card for use in login authentication, the computer device including a smart card resource manager and a smart card reader service, the smart card reader service acting as a relay for commands between the smart card resource manager and the smart card reader, the computer program product comprising a computer readable medium having recorded thereon computer code means for:

receiving, from the smart card resource manager, a first command for setting a protocol for communications with the smart card;

caching the first command;

transmitting, to the smart card resource manager and prior to receiving a reply from the smart card to the first command, a message indicating that the smart card has successfully received the first command;

monitoring for receipt, from the smart card resource manager, of a second command;

responsive to receiving the second command, transmitting, to the smart card reader through a wireless communication link, both the first command and the second command;

receiving, from the smart card reader through the wireless communication link, a response to the second command; and

transmitting, to the smart card resource manager, the response to the second command.