EP0275510A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Smart card having external programming capability and method of making same
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1987-12-18
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2007-12-18
Abstract
Abstract A smart card (10) which has a instruction processor (12) which is connected to a changeable memory (16) in which application programs are stored. The card is manufactured partially blank, or without an application program stored thereon, and an application program is then loaded into the changeable memory, i.e., by downloading it from a mainframe computer. In this manner, the application program in a smart card may be changes by an authorized party. Further, a flag (22) indicates whether a program has been loaded on a smart card. Also disclosed is a method of securing the program from tampering by unauthorized parties where, in response to certain instructions (such as a dump of the application program), key portions are erased prior to execution. Application programs are loaded onto the card through the use of a double timed reset, the first of which writes a predetermined sequence on the card for a set time interval. The second reset before the end of the set time interval then indicates that a program load function is to occur and causes key selected portions of the memory to be overwritten and erased to protect key data from the previous program from being maintained or used later.
Inventors
- 👤 Dennis George Abraham
- 👤 Glen Paul Double
- 👤 Steven William Neckyfarow
- 👤 William Stanley Rohland
- 👤 Min-Hsiung George Tung
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 04:34
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K21/00; G07; G07F; G07F7/00; G07F7/08; G07F7/10; G07F7/1008; G06F; G06F8/00; G06F8/60; G06K17/00; G06Q; G06Q20/00; G06Q20/30; G06Q20/34; G06Q20/355; G06Q20/3552
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
94 words
A method for fabricating a portable card having a processor (12) and means (18) for communicating with an external terminal device, the steps of the method comprising: mounting a memory, a processor and communication means on a card, said memory being without an application program at the time of mounting; connecting the processor to the memory and the communication means to fabricate a smart card without an application program; and after the smart card has been assembled and the processor, memory and communication means have been connected, loading an application program into the memory.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
94 words
A method for fabricating a portable card having a processor (12) and means (18) for communicating with an external terminal device, the steps of the method comprising: mounting a memory, a processor and communication means on a card, said memory being without an application program at the time of mounting; connecting the processor to the memory and the communication means to fabricate a smart card without an application program; and after the smart card has been assembled and the processor, memory and communication means have been connected, loading an application program into the memory.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of Claim 1 wherein the step of loading an application program further includes the step of coupling the card to an external processor (50) and downloading an application program from the external processor to the memory of the smart card.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of Claim 2 wherein at least portions of the application program are sequentially loaded through the instruction processor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
96 words
The method of Claim 3 wherein the loading step includes responding to a reset signal by testing the memory for present information and loading the application program only if the preset information is present, writing preset information on the card for a fixed interval if the preset information is not present, then removing the preset information if a second reset signal has not been received before the end of the fixed interval, whereby an application program may be loaded into the alterable memory only in response to two reset signals being received within the fixed interval.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
41 words
The method of one of the Claims 1 - 4 wherein the method further includes the step of erasing a portion of the memory of the smart card in response to an attempt to read out that portion of the memory.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
33 words
The method of one of the Claims 1 - 5 wherein the method further includes the step of replacing an existing application program in a programmed smart card with a second application program.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
138 words
A portable card (10) selectively coupled to an external device (50) for receiving and transmitting information therebetween, said card comprising: a base having approximately the dimension of a standard credit card and including contacts (18) for selectively coupling the card to the external device; a command processor (12) mounted to the base and electrically coupled to the contacts, said command processor including means for coupling the command processor to an external terminal device; and a non-volatile memory (14) coupled to the command processor including a changeable memory (16) and data for loading an application program from the external terminal device into the changeable memory, whereby the portable card may be manufactured without an application program and the application program may be generated externally of the smart card and loaded into the changeable memory after the card is manufactured.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
138 words
A portable card (10) selectively coupled to an external device (50) for receiving and transmitting information therebetween, said card comprising: a base having approximately the dimension of a standard credit card and including contacts (18) for selectively coupling the card to the external device; a command processor (12) mounted to the base and electrically coupled to the contacts, said command processor including means for coupling the command processor to an external terminal device; and a non-volatile memory (14) coupled to the command processor including a changeable memory (16) and data for loading an application program from the external terminal device into the changeable memory, whereby the portable card may be manufactured without an application program and the application program may be generated externally of the smart card and loaded into the changeable memory after the card is manufactured.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
46 words
The card of Claim 7 card further including means (22) for indicating whether an application program has been loaded therein, said means including at least a first state when no application program has been loaded thereon and a second state when an application program is present.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
The card of Claim 7 or 8 further including means for erasing a portion of the memory in response to an attempt to read a portion of the memory externally, whereby an attempt to alter the application program may be prevented.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
The card of one of the Claims 7 - 9 wherein the command processor and the non-volatile memory are included in a single integrated circuit carried on the base of the portable card.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
55 words
The card of one of the Claims 7 - 10 wherein the command processor includes a memory portion which receives and stores for a predetermined time period a predetermined sequence when a first reset signal and means for loading an application in response to a second reset, with the reset testing for the predetermined sequence.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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