Software emulation of contactless smart card behaviour within a portable contactless reader device
View Patent ↗A handheld transit fare device is provided. The transit fare device includes an NFC interface configured to send and receive data, a memory, and a processor. The processor is configured to receive, via the interface, a list of transactions from a host device using standard smart card protocol commands and reply structures. The list of transactions includes identifiers of fare access media used to gain access to a transit vehicle. The processor is configured to store the list of transactions on the memory and to provide a first indication that the list of transactions has been received. The processor is configured to receive, via the interface, an identifier from a fare access media on the transit vehicle, determine whether the identifier from the fare access media matches one of the identifiers from the list of transactions, and provide a second indication that provides a result of the determination.
1. A handheld transit fare device, the device comprising:
a near field communication (NFC) interface configured to send and receive data;
a memory; and
a processor configured to:
receive, via the NFC interface of the handheld transit fare device, a list of transactions from a host device, wherein the list of transactions comprises a plurality of identifiers of a plurality of fare access media used to gain access to a transit vehicle;
store the list of transactions on the memory;
provide a first indication that the list of transactions has been received;
receive, via the NFC interface of the handheld transit fare device, an identifier from a fare access media on the transit vehicle;
determine whether the identifier from the fare access media matches one of the plurality of identifiers from the list of transactions; and
provide a second indication, the second indication providing a result of the determination.
2. The handheld transit fare device according to claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
communicate information to a second handheld transit fare device using the NFC interface, wherein the information comprises the result of the determination.
3. The handheld transit fare device according to claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
communicate information to the host device using the NFC interface, wherein the information comprises the result of the determination.
4. The handheld transit fare device according to claim 1 , wherein:
the fare access media comprises a limited number of uses, and wherein the method further comprises communicating a third indication that the fare access media was used to gain access to the transit vehicle to a central server using Wi-Fi or a cellular communication network.
5. The handheld transit fare device according to claim 1 , wherein:
the host device is located on a transit vehicle.
6. The handheld transit fare device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a display or a speaker, wherein the first indication and the second indication comprise one or more of an audio indication or a visual indication.
7. The handheld transit fare device according to claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
cause a receipt or citation to be printed based on the status of the determination.
8. A method for emulating a smartcard on a handheld transit fare device, the method comprising:
receiving, via a near field communication (NFC) interface of the handheld transit fare device, a list of transactions from a host device, wherein the list of transactions is communicated using standard smart card protocol commands and replies, the list of transactions comprising a plurality of identifiers of a plurality of fare access media used to gain access to a transit vehicle;
storing the list of transactions on a memory of the handheld transit fare device;
providing a first indication that the list of transactions has been received;
receiving, via the NFC interface of the handheld transit fare device, an identifier from a fare access media on the transit vehicle;
determining whether the identifier from the fare access media matches one of the plurality of identifiers from the list of transactions; and
providing a second indication, the second indication providing a result of the determination.
9. The method for emulating a smartcard on a handheld transit fare device according to claim 8 , further comprising:
communicating information to a second handheld transit fare device using the NFC interface, wherein the information comprises the result of the determination.
10. The method for emulating a smartcard on a handheld transit fare device according to claim 8 , further comprising:
communicating information to the host device using the NFC interface, wherein the information comprises the result of the determination.
11. The method for emulating a smartcard on a handheld transit fare device according to claim 8 , wherein:
the host device is located on a transit vehicle.
12. The method for emulating a smartcard on a handheld transit fare device according to claim 8 , wherein:
the first indication and the second indication comprise one or more of an audio indication or a visual indication.
13. The method for emulating a smartcard on a handheld transit fare device according to claim 8 , further comprising:
causing a receipt or citation to be printed based on the result of the determination.
14. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions embedded thereon for emulating a smartcard on a handheld transit fare device, the instructions comprising computer code for causing a computing device to:
receive, via a near field communication (NFC) interface of the handheld transit fare device, a list of transactions from a host device, wherein the list of transactions comprises a plurality of identifiers of a plurality of fare access media used to gain access to a transit vehicle;
store the list of transactions on a memory of the handheld transit fare device;
provide a first indication that the list of transactions has been received;
receive, via the NFC interface of the handheld transit fare device, an identifier from a fare access media on the transit vehicle;
determine whether the identifier from the fare access media matches one of the plurality of identifiers from the list of transactions; and
provide a second indication, the second indication providing a result of the determination.
15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14 , further comprising instructions for causing the computing device to:
communicate information to a second handheld transit fare device using the NFC interface, wherein the information comprises the result of the determination.
16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14 , further comprising instructions for causing the computing device to:
communicate information to the host device using the NFC interface, wherein the information comprises the result of the determination.
17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14 , wherein:
the fare access media comprises a limited number of uses, and wherein the non-transitory computer-readable medium further comprises instructions for causing the computing device to communicate a third indication that the fare access media was used to gain access to the transit vehicle to a central server using Wi-Fi or a cellular communication network.
18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14 , wherein:
the host device is located on a transit vehicle.
19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14 , wherein:
the first indication and the second indication comprise one or more of an audio indication or a visual indication.