Thomson Licensing

Thomson Licensing S.a.

Patrick Will

Olivier Horr

Philippe Launay

Philippe Bouvet

The invention relates to a method of switching communication channels enabling a card reader to communicate with several card circuits, each circuit having a communication channel. The reader applies a power supply voltage to the card by electrical contacts arranged on a connection button. The reader transmits a control signal for controlling the switching of the communication channel to an electrical contact located in the inserted part of the card but not on the button. Finally, the reader sets up activation signals for at least one circuit to enable said circuit to communicate via the connection button. The invention also relates to a removable device and a receiver for reading said device.

Method for communicating by a detector of the presence of chip cards in a reader chip cards and a reading device communicating by the presence detector

The present invention relates to a method for downloading a binary configuration file in a programmable circuit implemented in a device. The device comprises at least one central processing unit, a plurality of connectors, and a programmable circuit enabling all or a part of the signals received by said connectors to be processed and transmitted to at least one other circuit of the device. The device analyzes the signals present on the connectors in order to define what other devices are connected and whether the connections are operational. Then, a configuration file is selected from among a set of configuration files according to the operational connections and is downloaded from a memory of the device into the programmable circuit. The invention also relates to a device having a component programmed according to the method previously described.

Method for downloading a configuration file in a programmable circuit, and apparatus comprising said component

The present invention concerns a control device () provided for smart card readers (SCR), a smart card reading activation device () and associated products including a set-top box and a daisy chain. The control device comprises means for communicating () with at least two smart card reading devices (SCR, SCR, SCR), means for processing () information received from those reading devices and means for activating () at least one of those reading devices for a current communication. The activating means are intended to send selection data (SD) towards all those reading devices, those selection data enabling each of the reading devices to determine if it is selected or not for the current communication.

Control device, smart card reading activation device and associated products

The appliance comprises an audio port, which is usable as an interface for testing of the appliance. In a preferred embodiment, the appliance comprises stereo output ports, one port for a reception of digital test signals from a control computer and the other port for a transmission of digital signals from the appliance to the control computer. For the separation of the test signals and the audio signals a test adapter is used which is coupled between the appliance, the control computer and an amplifier for the audio signals. The test signals are modulated onto a carrier signal having a frequency of above 20 kHz, for example a frequency within the frequency range of 1-10 MHz. This allows a serial connection, which is compatible with the widely used RS232 link for set-top boxes.

Method for testing an appliance comprising an audio port, and a respective appliance

The invention relates to a device and a method of installing digital or analogue broadcasting channels of a frequency band, each channel being centred on a nominal frequency subject to drift or an offset. In this method, Application to a digital or analogue receiving device.

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Rennes, France

Patrick Will