Electronic unit provided in a microcircuit card and including cryptographic means for high-speed data processing

• US 20050055549A1
• Filed: 12/20/2002
• Published: 03/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IDEMIA France (Advent International Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Oberthur Card Systems, S.A. (Advent International Corporation)
• Inventors: Fischer, Jean-Bernard
• Granted Patent: US 8,412,956 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/165
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/72 in cryptographic circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/341 Active cards, i.e. cards including their own processing means, e.g. including an IC or chip
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40975 using encryption therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1016 Devices or methods for securing the PIN and other transaction-data, e.g. by encryption arrangements for secret communication, see H04L9/00

Abstract

The invention concerns an electronic unit comprising a processor (P), input-output means (18) and cryptographic means (14), characterized in that it is directly connected by two-way data transmission (20) set up between said input-output means and said cryptographic means, the electronic unit being integrated in a microcircuit card.

Claims

1. Electronic unit comprising a processor, data input-output means (18) and cryptographic means (14), characterized by a direct bidirectional data transmission connection (20) set up between said input-output means and said cryptographic means, said electronic unit being provided in a microcircuit card.

2. Electronic unit according to claim 1, characterized in that said input-output means and said cryptographic means share a common memory space (16).

3. Electronic unit according to claim 2, characterized in that said input-output means (18) comprise a UART send-receive unit, said cryptographic means comprise a memory register (16), and said direct connection (20) is set up between said send-receive unit and said memory register constituting the common memory space previously cited.

4. Electronic unit according to claim 3, characterized in that said send-receive unit (18, 18HD) comprises means for routing data to said cryptographic means.

5. Electronic unit according to claim 3, characterized in that said processor P is connected to said cryptographic means to set up said direct connection (20) in response to a message sent by said input-output means.

6. Electronic unit according to claim 1, characterized in that said input-output means (18 HD) are dedicated to certain information intended to be processed by said cryptographic means, other input-output means (22) being connected to said processor for processing other information.

7. Electronic unit according to claim 1, characterized in that it constitutes means for decrypting encrypted data in real time.

8. Electronic unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the processor comprises means for sending keys to the cryptographic means, selecting an encryption or decryption mode of operation, and sending an instruction for initiating cryptographic processing.

9. Electronic unit according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises two input-output means.

10. Electronic unit according to claim 1, characterized in that it includes means for processing a digital data stream.

11. Electronic unit according to claim 10, characterized in that the processing means are adapted to effect encryption or decryption processing.