Smart card apparatus and method of programming same

• US 4,874,935 A
• Filed: 10/05/1988
• Issued: 10/17/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Data Card Corp.
• Original Assignee: Data Card Corp.
• Inventors: Younger, Thomas L.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAFTON, DAVID
• Application Number:
  US07/253,873
• Time in Patent Office: 377 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 235/379, 235/380, 235/441, 235/492
• US Class Current: 235/492
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/00 Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups G06K1/00 - G06K15/00, e.g. automatic card files incorporating conveying and reading operations
• 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 20/3552 Downloading or loading of personalisation data
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/084 Additional components relating to data transfer and storing, e.g. error detection, self-diagnosis
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system

Abstract

A smart card (20) including a microcomputer (40). The microcomputer (40) being programmed with a smart card control program (50) and a data dictionary (52) defining the data to be stored in the microcomputer.

Claims

1. A method for making a smart card including a microcomputer;

the method comprising the steps of;

a. programming the microcomputer with a smart card control program;

b. defining data dictionary means for defining data stored in the microcomputer; and

c. programming the microcomputer with the data dictionary means and personalized data.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the step of programming the microcomputer with a smart card control program includes defining predetermined commands for accessing the smart card control program.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the method of defining data dictionary means includes defining data dictionary means with a fixed portion and a variable portion.

4. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the step of programming the microcomputer with the data dictionary and personalized data includes the step of using a utility program at a terminal for interfacing with the smart card control program previously programmed in the microcomputer of the smart card.

5. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the step of programming the microcomputer with personalized data includes defining a data field ID, a length of field, and data attribute.

6. A method in accordance with claim 5, wherein the step of defining the data attribute includes defining the data as volatile, non-volatile, or match, whereby if defined as match the personalized data stored in the smart card must match the data input thereby providing a security check.

7. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the step of defining the data dictionary means includes defining application specific data and personalized data.

8. A method for making a smart card including a microprocessor, the method comprising the steps of:

a. programming the microcomputer with a smart card control program;

b. allocating memory for data dictionary means for defining data stored in the microcomputer;

c. programming data values into the data dictionary area of memory; and

d. programming the microcomputer with personalized data.

9. A method in accordance with claim 8, wherein volatile and non-volatile areas of memory are defined for storage of data.

10. A method in accordance with claim 9, wherein the step of programming the microcomputer with a smart card control program includes defining commands for retrieving, storing, altering and protecting data.

11. A method for making a smart card including a microcomputer embedded in the smart card;

the method comprising the steps of;

a. programming the microcomputer with a smart card control program before embedding the microcomputer in the smart card;

b. defining data dictionary means, of predetermined structure known to the smart card control program, for defining data stored in the microcomputer, the step of defining data dictionary means including the step of defining a first fixed portion of the data dictionary means including system and application data definitions and subsequently defining a second variable portion of the data dictionary means including personalized data definitions;

c. embedding the microcomputer in the smart card; and

d. personalizing the smart card including programming the microcomputer with the data dictionary means and personalized data, the second variable portion of the data dictionary means being defined prior to programming the microcomputer with the data dictionary means.

12. A method in accordance with claim 11 wherein the personalizing step includes the step of utilizing utility program means for interfacing with the smart card control program embedded in the smart card to define the second portion of the data dictionary means, the utility program means querying a user to define the personalized data.

13. A method in accordance with claim 12 wherein the step of programming the microcomputer includes the step of powering up the smart card program which in turn will load the data dictionary means and the personalized data into memory.