Method, system and smart card reader for management of access to a smart card

1. A card reader device for managing access to a memory card by a plurality of accessing devices, the card reader device comprising:

a processor;

a wireless communication interface responsive to the processor for communicating with the plurality of accessing devices; and

a memory card interface for enabling communication between the processor and the memory card;

wherein, when at least a first secure session is open between at least a first accessing device and the memory card on a first channel, and the card reader device receives an open session command from a second accessing device, the processor is configured to:

determine whether a second channel is available to support a second secure session contemporaneously with at least the first secure session,

if the second channel is unavailable, determine all secure sessions established with the memory card, provide a list identifying accessing devices corresponding to the all secure sessions to the second accessing device for display in a user interface of the second accessing device, prompt for a selection of an accessing device identified in the list, and terminate a secure session of the selected accessing device in response to the selection.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the memory card is not configured to support a plurality of contemporaneous sessions.

3. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a memory, the memory storing a connection table, wherein the connection table comprises entries for each session established between the memory card and a respective accessing device.

4. The device of claim 3 , wherein the connection table comprises, for each session entry, one or more channel entries.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the memory card interface comprises a channel manager, and wherein the channel manager controls the channels that can be opened between the memory card and the plurality of accessing devices so that a total number of channels is limited to a predetermined number.

6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of accessing devices comprises one or more additional accessing devices each having a secure session established with the memory card.

7. The device of claim 1 , wherein the secure session of the selected accessing device is terminated by simulating loss of connection between the memory card and the card reader device.

8. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a serial interface for wired communication with one of the plurality of accessing devices.

9. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a socket for receiving the memory card and electrically coupling the processor and the memory card.

10. The device of claim 1 , wherein the memory card interface enables wireless communication between the card reader device and the memory card.

11. The device of claim 1 , wherein the memory card comprises a smart card.

12. A method of managing communication between a memory card and a plurality of accessing devices when at least a first secure session is established, the plurality of accessing devices comprising at least a first accessing device and a second accessing device, the first secure session being established between the memory card and the first accessing device on a first channel, the method comprising:

receiving, at a card reader device in communication with the memory card, an open session command from the second accessing device to open a second secure session with the memory card;

determining whether a second channel is available to support the second secure session with the second accessing device contemporaneously with at least the first secure session;

if the second channel is unavailable, determining all secure sessions established with the memory card, providing a list identifying accessing devices corresponding to the all secure sessions to the second accessing device for display in a user interface of the second accessing device, prompting for a selection of an accessing device identified in the list, and terminating a secure session of the selected accessing device in response to the selection.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the memory card is not configured to support a plurality of contemporaneous sessions.

14. The method of claim 12 , further comprising storing a connection table in a memory of the card reader device, wherein the connection table comprises entries for each session established between the memory card and a respective accessing device.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the connection table comprises, for each session entry, one or more channel entries.

16. The method of claim 12 , further comprising controlling the channels that can be opened between the memory card and the plurality of accessing devices so that a total number of channels is limited to a predetermined number.

17. The method of claim 12 , wherein the terminating comprises simulating loss of connection between the memory card and the card reader device.

18. The method of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of accessing devices comprises one or more additional accessing devices each having a secure session established with the memory card.

19. A computer readable storage medium storing program instructions which, when executed by a processor on a smart card reader, cause the processor to manage communication between a memory card and a plurality of accessing devices when at least a first secure session is established, the plurality of accessing devices comprising at least a first accessing device and a second accessing device, the first secure session being established between the memory card and the first accessing device on a first channel, wherein the processor is configured to:

receive, at the card reader device in communication with the memory card, an open session command from the second accessing device to open a second secure session with the memory card;

determine whether a second channel is available to support the second secure session with the second accessing device contemporaneously with at least the first secure session;

if the second channel is unavailable, determine all secure sessions established with the memory card, provide a list identifying accessing devices corresponding to the all secure sessions to the second accessing device for display in a user interface of the second accessing device, prompt for a selection of an accessing device identified in the list, and terminate a secure session of the selected accessing device in response to the selection.

20. A card reader device for managing access to a memory card by a plurality of accessing devices when at least a first secure session is established, the plurality of accessing devices comprising at least a first accessing device and a second accessing device, the first secure session being established between the memory card and the first accessing device on a first channel, the card reader device comprising:

means for receiving, at a card reader device in communication with the memory card, an open session command from the second accessing device to open a second secure session with the memory card;

means for determining whether a second channel is available to support the second secure session with the second accessing device contemporaneously with at least the first secure session;

if the second channel is unavailable, means for determining all secure sessions established with the memory card, means for providing a list identifying accessing devices corresponding to the all secure sessions to the second accessing device for display in a user interface of the second accessing device, means for prompting for a selection of an accessing device identified in the list, and means for terminating a secure session of the selected accessing device in response to the selection.