Abstract: This interactive television receiver console comprises a television receiver connected by a televised program reception channel to a televised program distributor implementing transactional applications. It further comprises an all-purpose interface pack with data transmission means connected to the televised program distributor by a data transmission channel, with data reception means connected to the televised program distributor by a data reception channel and with image overlay means connected to the television receiver and working on the image presented to the screen of this receiver, a chip card reader, a keyboard enabling action by an operator, and a chip card that gets plugged into the chip card reader and is customized for at least one transaction, the running of which it manages. Through its all-purpose character which is customized by means of the chip card, this card has a wide range of uses and is, at the same time, highly selective.

Abstract: A reader for smart IC cards which control the performance of their own transaction. The reader includes devices which alternately generate, for the purpose of being sent to a connected smart IC card, on the one hand, requests for instructions and data and, on the other hand, report messages regarding the execution of instructions received previously from the smart IC card. This reader is not specialized for a specific type of card and is suitable for a variety of IC cards designed for different types of transactions.

Abstract: Smart IC cards are ones which themselves control performance of their transactions, in order to avoid an IC card reader having to be specialized in particular transaction types. A smart IC card system includes at least one IC card reader (1) and an IC card (4) which stores a transaction management program in a memory thereof. The reader (1) controls exchange cycles by alternately and repetitively sending to the IC card (4), on the one hand a request for provision of a packet of instructions and data, this being referred to as the "card message" and, on the other hand, a report declaration associated with a report message regarding the execution by the reader (1) of instructions previously received in card messages. The IC card (4) controls processing cycles synchronous with exchange cycles by virtue of a device for executing a transaction management program, developing instructions and data of the card messages at a rate of card-message provision requests and report declarations sent by the reader (1).