JPH04330590A - Ic card - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To respond to various kinds of applications by expanding a data storage area and to heighten reliability for significant data against chip crack, etc. CONSTITUTION:An EEPROM 12A in which the data of the applications (1)-(3) are stored and an EEPROM 12B in which the data of the applications (4)-(6) are stored are packed on a microcomputer 11A which executes the programs of the applications (1)-(6). Also, significant data storage areas where the significant data from the EEPROMs 12a and 12b are stored respectively are provided.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an IC card that executes programs corresponding to various applications and stores the results.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional example will be explained. FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram showing a conventional IC card. In Figure 4, 1 is a VCC terminal connected to an external device, and 2 is a ground (
3 is a reset terminal connected to an external device, 4 is a clock terminal, and 5 is an I/O terminal. 6 is an input/output control circuit connected to the I/O terminal 5; 7
is a CPU, 8 is a ROM, and 9 is a RAM, which are connected to each other via a bus 10. Reference numeral 11 denotes a microcomputer including an input/output control circuit 6 to a bus 10. 12 is an input/output control circuit 6 via a bus 10
, an EEPROM as a data memory (nonvolatile memory) connected to the CPU 7, ROM 8, and RAM 9.

Next, the operation of the above-mentioned conventional example will be explained with reference to FIG. Conventional IC cards have VCC terminal 1
, GND terminal 2, reset terminal 3, clock terminal 3, and I/O terminal 5. Data from the external device is input as serial data via I/O terminal 5. be done. The input data is serial/parallel converted in the input/output control device 6,
The data is taken in as parallel data from the input/output control circuit 6 to the CPU 7 via the bus 10. CPU7 is ROM8
Data processing is performed according to the user program stored in the RAM 9, data that needs to be stored temporarily is stored in the RAM 9, and data that needs to be permanently stored, such as the results of data processing, is sent via a port (not shown). The data is stored in the EEPROM 12 as a data memory. The data output to the external device is subjected to parallel/serial conversion and transferred to the outside via the I/O terminal 5 as serial data.

[0004] Here, the microcomputer 11 and the EEPR
We have explained an IC card with two OM12 chips mounted, but there is an EEPRM12 inside the microcontroller 11.
A microcontroller with a built-in EEPROM has been developed, and efforts are being made to implement it on a single chip.

[0005]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] Recently, in order to expand the use of IC cards, there has been an increasing demand for IC cards that can be used in a wide variety of applications. For this purpose, an IC card with a large capacity data memory is required. On the other hand, the trend toward single-chip devices in which microcomputers with built-in EEPROMs are mounted is progressing. However, the conventional I
In the C card, the EEPROM as a data memory has a small capacity and the data storage area is small, so there is a problem that it cannot support a wide variety of applications. In addition, with conventional one-chip IC cards, if the chip breaks, etc., the EEPROM
There was also the problem that all of the above data would become invalid.

[0006] This invention was made to solve these problems, and provides an IC card that can expand the data storage area to support a wide variety of applications, and that can protect data from chip cracks and the like. The purpose is to obtain.

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems] An IC card according to the present invention is provided with the following means. [1] A microcomputer that executes programs compatible with a wide variety of applications. [2] A plurality of data memories in which data from the microcomputer is stored in a data storage area for each of the applications, and important data from the microcomputer is stored in each important data storage area.

[0008]

[Operation] In the present invention, programs corresponding to various applications are executed by a microcomputer. Further, data from the microcomputer is stored in a data storage area for each application by a plurality of data memories. Furthermore, the plurality of data memories store important data from the microcontroller in respective important data storage areas.

[0009]

【Example】

Example 1. Example 1 of this invention will be described. Figure 1
1 is a functional block diagram showing Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. In FIG. 1, 1 to 7, 9 and 10 are the same as those in the conventional example, and 8A is a ROM connected to the shared bus 10.
, 11A is a microcomputer, 12A and 12B are EEPROMs as data memories, and 13 is connected to the bus 10 in the microcomputer 11A.
This is the port connected to.

Next, the operation of the first embodiment described above will be explained with reference to FIG. Microcomputer 11A and EEPR
Addresses, data, and control signals are exchanged between the OMs 12A and 12B via the port 13. Data memory connected to microcomputer 11A, that is, EEP
The data storage areas of the ROMs 12A and 12B are divided by a processing program stored in the ROM 8A inside the microcomputer 11A. Each data storage area obtained by division stores data corresponding to various types of applications.

[0011] Here, a case where the data storage area of the data memory is divided into six areas will be explained. FIG. 2 is a memory map diagram of a data memory in which the data storage area is divided into six parts. FIG. 5(a) is a memory map diagram of the EEPROM 12A in which the data storage area is divided into three parts: data storage area 14 for application (1), data storage area 15 for application (2), and data storage area 15 for application (3). It consists of a data storage area 16 and an important data storage area 17. Figure (b) is a memory map diagram of the EEPROM 12B in which the data storage area is divided into three parts.
It consists of a data storage area 18 for application (4), a data storage area 19 for application (5), a data storage area 20 for application (6), and an important data storage area 21. EEPROM12A can support applications (1), (2) and (3), and also supports EEPR
OM12B supports applications (4), (5) and (6).
) and therefore six types of applications.

For example, when it becomes necessary to store data in the data memory during the execution of the application (2) program, the CPU 7 stores the EEP data via the port 13.
A predetermined address of the data storage area 15 of application (2) of the ROM 12A is specified, and data is stored. Further, when reading data from the data memory during execution of the application (6) program, the CPU 7 reads data from a predetermined address of the data storage area 20 of the application (6) of the EEPROM 12B via the port 13.

Next, the case of storing important data will be explained. When the data storage areas of the EEPROMs 12A and 12B are divided, important data storage areas 17 and 21 are provided, respectively. During data processing, if it becomes necessary to store data determined to be important data, the CPU 7 stores the data in the EEPROM 12A via the port 13.
This data is written into both the important data storage area 17 of the EEPROM 12B and the important data storage area 21 of the EEPROM 12B. As explained above, in the first embodiment, the EEPROM 12
By providing A and 12B and expanding the data storage area, it is possible to support a wide variety of applications. In addition, in Example 1, EEPROM12A and 12B
By providing an important data storage area in each and storing the same important data in each, EEPROM12A and EE
Even if a chip cracks or the like occurs in either PROM 12B, important data can be prevented from being lost.

Example 2. Example 2 of this invention will be described. FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing an IC card in which a microcomputer with a built-in EEPROM is mounted. In FIG. 3, 1 to 10 are the same as in the first embodiment, and 11B is an EE in which an EEPROM 12A is connected to the bus 10.
It is a microcomputer with built-in PROM. EEPROM12B is
It is connected to the bus 10 via a port 13 inside the microcomputer 11B. In such a case as well, the same effects as in the first embodiment can be achieved.

Example 3. If the port 13 is empty, an EEPROM can be further mounted to further expand the data storage area.

[0016]

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, the present invention includes a microcomputer that executes programs corresponding to various applications, data from this microcomputer is stored in a data storage area for each application, and important data from the microcomputer is stored in a data storage area for each application. By being equipped with multiple data memories stored in each important data storage area, the data storage area is expanded, making it possible to support a wide variety of applications, and increasing the reliability of important data against chip cracks, etc. There is an effect that it can be done.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a memory map diagram of an EEPROM according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing a second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram showing a conventional IC card.

[Explanation of symbols]

11A, 11B Microcomputer 12A, 12B EEPROM

Claims (1)

[Claims] Claim 1: A microcomputer that executes programs corresponding to various applications, data from this microcomputer is stored in a data storage area for each of the applications, and important data from the microcomputer is stored in each important data storage area. An IC card characterized by comprising a plurality of data memories for storing data.