BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 3rd paragraph
To permit the cards and readers of different manufacturers to be compatible with one another, a set of standard specifications has been developed. One of the common standards that applies to smart cards and readers is ISO 7816, promulgated by the International Standards Organization. This standard provides specifications for the location of the electrical contacts on the exterior of the cards, as well as the functions of the electrical signals that are present at the respective contacts. In this regard, the standard provides for up to eight electrical contacts, although specific signals are defined for only five of these contacts. The standard also contains specifications for the power-up, or initialization, procedure that is carried out when a card is first inserted into the reader, and the protocol for communicating between the card and the reader.
United States Patent 6,199,128 Inventors: Sarat; Jean-Marc (Belmont, CA)