Smart cards, systems using smart cards and methods of operating said cards in systems

• US 5,901,303 A
• Filed: 12/27/1996
• Issued: 05/04/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gemalto SA (Thales SA)
• Original Assignee: Gemplus International SA (Thales SA)
• Inventors: Chew, Gary
• Primary Examiner(s): Pitts, Harold I.
• Application Number:
  US08/773,190
• Time in Patent Office: 858 Days
• Field of Search: 395/400, 235/492
• US Class Current: 711/115
• 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 20/35765 Access rights to memory zones
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/363 with the personal data of a user
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0866 by active credit-cards adapted therefor G07F7/1008 takes precedence
• 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 has a repository having a first data element and a value added function. The card further has an operating system having a data element access function for sequencing to said repository and a microprocessor for executing said data element and said value added function in accordance with said access function.

Claims

1. A smart card comprising

(a) an repository EF3 having a first data element (Di) and a value added function (Fj),

(b) an operating system (3) having a data element access function (Gk) for sequencing to said repository EF3, and

(c) a microprocessor (1) for executing said data element (Di) and said value added function (Fj) in accordance with said access function (Gk).

2. The card of claim 1, further comprising

(d) a memory for storing repository EF3 stored therein,

(e) another elementary file (EF1), having said data element (Di),

(f) means to copy said data element (Di) from said other elementary file (EF1) to said repository EF3, and

(g) means to copy and to link said value added function (Fj) to said repository EF3 whereby said value added function, and said elementary file are executed with one another.

3. A card according to claim 2, comprising an external input for receiving and storing instructions to perform said coping to said repository EF3.

4. A card according to claim 3, wherein at least part of said added value function (Fj) is added to the card via said external inputs and after said card has been manufactured.

5. The card according to claim 2, wherein said operating system first sequences (TTP1) said repository EF3, (TTP2), and then bypasses (TTP2→

OS2) said other elementary file (EF1, OS4).

6. A method of programming and operating a smart card having added value functions comprising

(a) entering a data element into card memory,

(b) setting an operating system in said card to access said data element,

(c) adding a value added function to said card memory, and

(d) linking said value added function to said data element so that said value added function is performed with said data element.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein

(a) said entering of said data element comprises entering a plurality of data elements (D1 . . . Dm), in a first elementary file (EF1)

(b) said entering of said value added function comprising entering a plurality of value added functions (F1 . . . Fn) in a second elementary file (EF2), and

(c) said linking step comprising transferring one of said data elements (Di) and one of said value added functions (Fj) to a third repository EF3, and

(d) said operating system accessing said third repository EF3 and skipping said data element (Di) in said first elementary file (EF1).

8. A smart card comprising

(a) a plurality of data elements in memory,

(b) a plurality of functions in memory,

(c) means for assigning one of said data elements as active,

(d) means for associating one of said functions with said active data element, so that said one function is seamlessly executed with active data element when said active data element is accessed,

(e) operating system means, in response to an external signal coming from outside said card to execute said one of said elements, for commanding and execution of said active data element, and

(f) means for receiving an external signal from outside the card to execute said one data element.

9. The card of claim 8, wherein

(a) said active data elements are in a first elementary file,

(b) said functions are in a second elementary file,

(c) said means for assigning comprises copying one of said data elements from said first elementary file to a third elementary file,

(d) said means for associating comprising copying said one function to said third elementary file and attaching said copied function to said copied active data element so that the programs in said element and function are executed seamlessly, and

(e) said operating system means commanding for going to said third elementary file for access to said active data element and said attached one function.

10. A card according to claim 9, wherein said operating system means in response to said external signal to execute one of said data elements causes execution of said one data element and said one function by going to said third elementary file and by-passing said first and second elementary files, and further comprising means for storage of a result of said seamlessly executed functions in said card.

11. The card of claim 8, wherein

a plurality of said data elements are each a different application for the card;

a plurality of said functions are each a different value added function,

one of said plurality of said functions being associated with each of said plurality of data elements, and

said means for receiving, comprises means for transmitting to the operating system signals for initiating each of said plurality of applications.

13. The card of claim 8, wherein said memory comprise non-volatile programmable memory, and at least one of said functions being entered into said non-volatile, programmable memory by said means for receiving a signal.

12. The card of card 9, further comprising means for associating another of said data elements with said active data element in said third elementary file for causing said other data element to be executed with said one data element and said one function in said elementary file.