Registers – Records – Conductive
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-31
2001-10-02
Lee, Michael G. (Department: 2876)
Registers
Records
Conductive
C235S487000, C707S793000, C707S793000, C707S793000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06296191
ABSTRACT:
The invention refers to a procedure for storing data objects in a smart card memory.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Intelligent data carriers consisting of a microprocessor (chip) and memory units are already known. They are used, for example, as application-specific smart cards (bank cards, ID cards, etc.). File structures in accordance with the application programs are defined in the manufacture of the smart cards. It is therefore difficult to carry out additional applications and file structures at a later date. The smart card user can solely use the smart card for the applications stated at issuance of the card. The later expansion of file structures for an application or the addition of later applications often means that a smart card has to be reissued.
Application programs for these smart cards must be aware of the smart card to be used, as well as the file structures on them, in order to be able to use them. In addition, the applications must control the specific interfaces for the smart card readers and smart cards in order to be able to access the file structures of the smart card. An additional disadvantage can be found in the fact that each application has a prescribed place for storing data objects available to it, which place cannot be altered in size. This issuing of static memory limits the extent of data to be stored in an application and greatly restricts the flexibility of each application. In addition, up until now, two separate interfaces have had to be implemented for the use of simple data access, and for cryptographic procedures.
The cryptographic token interface standard (PKCS#11) of RSA Data Security Inc. sets out a general application interface standard for cryptographic units. This standard can also be applied to smart card readers and smart cards in order to address cryptographic characteristics of these components. In this, the management and use of objects such as symmetrical and asymmetrical codes and certificates for these codes are possible. The code objects can then be used for cryptographic procedures such as the marking, coding and decoding of data.
It is an object of the present invention to make available a procedure which removes the disadvantages of the current state of technology.
In particular, one object of the invention is to make available a procedure which allows application programs and smart card users to create, manage and use data objects on a smart card independent of the smart card operating system and the smart card readers used.
An additional object of the invention is to allow the smart card user to check the data structure of the smart card and to allow several applications to store data objects on its smart card.
Yet another object of the present invention is to allow the smart card user to equip data objects with any security characteristics and access conditions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The foregoing and other objects are realized by the present invention comprising a procedure for storing data objects in the memory of a smart card. To do this, general and application-specific data objects are defined using freely selectable security characteristics and access rights and filed in the memory of a smart card, which is divided into several application-specific memory areas, so that data objects with identical access conditions are located in one and the same memory area, irrespective of the application program or smart card user to which these data objects are allocated. All application programs and the smart card user can access the data objects irrespective of the corresponding access conditions. In this way, the re-issuing of smart cards in the case of later expansion of the file structure of the smart card for an application or the addition of extra applications is not necessary. The smart card user can allow any applications to store data on his smart card.
These generic smart cards can be used for all applications selected by the smart card user. The user is also able to allow several applications to store data objects on his smart card. The issuing of a new smart card is not necessary in the case of an additional application being selected. The use of new applications is limited solely by the size of the memory available for data objects on the smart card. The memory available for a certain application is no longer set to a maximum size from the start. It is simply limited by the size of the overall memory of the smart card. The application operators are, therefore, saved the costs of issuing application-specific smart cards. The costs for setting up smart card-specific reading devices and application interfaces only occur once for all applications. An additional important advantage is that the data structure of the smart card can be controlled by the smart card user. In addition, data objects can be protected from improper use in whole or in part by passwords or cryptographic procedures. The security characteristics and access conditions of a data object can be set as required in the data object system both during the initialization of the smart card as well as by an application or by the smart card user. With the introduction of public coding procedures, such a smart card can also be used for identifying the smart card user for applications in public networks such as the Internet. The data objects can be filed in secure smart card data memories in mobile operation, for example in a network. This allows the smart card user to make mobile use of the data objects using with his identity established cryptographically using public codes and certification. In addition, only one common application interface is required for data access and for cryptographic procedures.
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Hamann Ernst-Michael
Kaisser Michael
Dougherty Anne Vachon
Franklin Jamara A
Herzberg Louis P.
International Business Machines Corp.
Lee Michael G.
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