Method and system for smart card virtualization
View Patent ↗Methods and systems are provided to allow personal computer users to virtualize a local smart card so that they can remotely connect to a server and interact with the server as if the local smart card was physically connected to the server. They connect a remote smart card target hardware device to the target system through a physical connection, such as a USB connection, and the device interacts with the local user's computer and smart card reader over a network. The target system is unaware that the smart card reader is not connected directly to the system through a physical connection, and the target system does not need special software to implement the remote smart card reader. The smart card target device connected to the target computer may be physically connected and disconnected.
1. A data processing system for virtualization of a smart card reader, comprising:
a target computer configured to send and receive smart card data to a locally connected smart card virtualization device;
a client computer locally connected to a smart card reader;
the smart card virtualization device separate from and locally connected to the target computer, configured to:
receive smart card commands from the locally connected target computer;
send the received smart card commands to the client computer over a network;
receive smart card command response data from the client smart card reader over the network;
process the received smart card command response data; and
send the processed smart card response data to the locally connected target computer through a physical USB connection plugged into the target computer.
2. The data processing system of claim 1 , wherein the target computer interacts with the smart card virtualization device in the same way it interacts with a locally connected smart card reader.
3. The data processing system of claim 1 , wherein all software for remote smart card interaction is on the smart card virtualization device and the client computer.
4. The data processing system of claim 1 , wherein the client computer is a KVM client that controls the target computer.
5. The data processing system of claim 1 , wherein the client computer comprises a program configured to interact with the locally connected smart card reader and the smart card virtualization device.
6. The data processing system of claim 1 , wherein communications over the network are TC/PIP communications.
7. The data processing system of claim 1 , wherein a smart card is plugged into the smart card reader.
8. A smart card virtualization device separate from a target computer, comprising:
a network interface configured to interact with a client computer to send smart card commands and receive smart card command responses over a network;
a USB input/output interface configured to physically plug into the target computer, and to receive smart card commands from the target computer and send smart card command response; and
a processor configured to:
translate the received smart card commands from the physical input/output interface for output to the network interface; and
translate the received smart card command response from the network interface for output to the physical input/output interface.
9. The smart card virtualization device of claim 8 , wherein the target computer interacts with the smart card virtualization device in the same way interacts with a locally connected smart card reader.
10. The smart card virtualization device of claim 8 , wherein the client computer is a KVM client that controls the target computer.
11. The smart card virtualization device of claim 8 , wherein the client computer comprises a program configured to interact with the locally connected smart card reader and the smart card virtualization device.
12. The smart card virtualization device of claim 8 , wherein the network interface communicates using TCP/IP.
13. A method in a data processing system for virtualization of a smart card reader, comprising:
receiving smart card commands from a locally connected target computer;
sending the received smart card commands to a client computer connected to a smart card reader over a network;
receiving smart card command response data from the client computer over the network;
processing the received smart card command response data; and
sending the processed smart card response data to the locally connected target computer through a physical USB connection plugged into the target computer.
14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising interacting with the target computer in the same way as a locally connected smart card reader.
15. The method of claim 13 , wherein all software for remote smart card interaction is on the smart card virtualization device and the client computer.
16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the client computer is a KVM client that controls the target computer.
17. The method of claim 13 , wherein the client computer comprises a program configured to interact with the locally connected smart card reader and the smart card virtualization device.