System and method for authentication

1. A method of activating a secure device to perform secure functions, the method performed at the secure device and comprising:

authorizing a user to use a secure device, wherein authorization is based on data input by the user, and on encoded user credentials read from an authentication medium of the user and removably coupled to the secure device;

if the user is authorized to use the secure device:

generating a heartbeat signal while the authentication medium remains coupled to the secure device;

generating a control signal while the heartbeat signal continues to be generated;

switching the secure device into an active mode responsive to detecting the control signal to allow the user to use the secure device; and

switching the secure device into an inactive mode responsive to detecting that the control signal is no longer being generated to prevent the user from using of the secure device.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising sending the heartbeat signal at predetermined intervals to an access control circuitry of the secure device, and wherein generating a control signal while the heartbeat signal continues to be generated comprises generating the control signal at the access control circuitry while the access control circuitry continues to receive the heartbeat signal at the predetermined intervals.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising sending the control signal from the access control circuitry to a processing circuit of the secure device, wherein the processing circuit and the access control circuitry are different circuits.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising maintaining the secure device in the active mode while the access control circuitry continues to generate the control signal.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

ceasing to generate the heartbeat signal responsive to detecting that the authentication medium has been uncoupled from the secure device; and

ceasing to generate the control signal responsive to detecting that the heartbeat signal is no longer being generated.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein generating a control signal while the heartbeat signal continues to be generated comprises:

generating first and second voltages while the heartbeat signal continues to be generated; and

outputting combined first and second voltages from the switch as the control signal.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising ceasing to generate one or both of the first and second voltages to cease generating the control signal.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

registering, with a network server, a corresponding address for each of a first and second processing circuit of the secure device;

receiving a software update from the network sever, wherein the software update comprises a destination address that corresponds to one of the first and second processing circuits; and

routing the software update to either the first processing circuit or the second processing circuit based on the destination address.

9. A secure device configured to perform a plurality of secure functions for authorized users, the secure device comprising:

an input/output (I/O) assembly comprising:

a reader configured to releasably receive a user's authorization medium having user credentials encoded thereon; and

a programmable control circuit configured to generate a heartbeat signal while the authentication medium remains coupled to the reader; and

an access control device operatively connected to the I/O assembly and comprising:

an access control circuitry configured to generate a control signal while the programmable control circuit continues to generate the heartbeat signal; and

a processor circuit operatively connected to the access control circuitry and configured to:

switch the secure device into an active mode responsive to receiving the control signal from the access control circuitry; and

switch the secure device into an inactive mode responsive to detecting that the access control circuitry has ceased generating the control signal.

10. The secure device of claim 9 wherein the programmable control circuit is further configured to send the heartbeat signal to the access control circuitry at predetermined intervals.

11. The secure device of claim 9 wherein the programmable control circuit, the access control circuitry, and the processing circuit are different circuits.

12. The secure device of claim 9 wherein the programmable control circuit is further configured to maintain the secure device in the active mode while the access control circuitry continues to generate the control signal.

13. The secure device of claim 9 wherein the programmable control circuit is further configured to cease generating the heartbeat signal responsive to detecting that the authentication medium has been removed from the reader, and wherein the access control circuitry is further configured to cease generating the control signal when the programmable control circuit has ceased generating the heartbeat signal.

14. The secure device of claim 9 wherein to generate the control signal, the access control circuitry is configured to:

generate first and second voltages while the heartbeat signal continues to be received; and

output combined first and second voltages from the switch as the control signal to the processor circuit.

15. The secure device of claim 14 wherein to cease generating the control signal, the access control circuitry is further configured to cease generating one or both of the first and second voltages.

16. The secure device of claim 9 wherein the programmable control circuit is associated with a first Operating System (OS), and wherein the access control circuitry is associated with a second OS different from the first OS.