Networking & Communications

Smart Card

Smart Card

Smart Card and its Business Applications

 

Abstract

This white paper focuses on basic  technical information about  Smart Card and its applications in various areas of business.

What is Smart Card –An Overview

A smart card   is any pocket-sized card with embedded integrated circuits which can process data. This implies that it can receive input which is processed — by way of the Integrated Circuit Cart applications  and delivered as an output.

 

Fig 1 A Smart Card Pinout

Technical Specification of a Chip

Vcc : Power Supply Unit

RST : reset signal supplied from the interface device or in combination with an internal reset control circuit (optional use by the card). If internal reset is implemented, the voltage supply on Vcc is mandatory.

CLK : Clocking or timing signal (optional).

GND : Ground (reference voltage).

Vpp : Programming voltage input (deprecated / optional use by the card).

I/O : Input or Output for serial data to the integrated circuit inside the card.

 

 

There are two broad categories of Integrated Circuit Chip

• Memory cards contain only non-volatile memory storage components, and perhaps some specific security logic.
• Microprocessor card contain volatile memory and microprocessor components. The card is made of plastic, generally PVC. Using smartcards also is a form of strong security authentication for single sign-on within large companies and organizations.

Smart Card Applications follows:

Smart Card License System-

Gujarat was the first state in India to introduce the  Smart Card License System in 1999. To date the Gujarat Government has issued 5 million smart card driving licenses to its people. This card is basically a plastic card having ISO/IEC 7810 certification and integrated circuit, capable of storing and verifying information based on programming.

A quickly growing application is in digital identification cards. In this application, the cards are used for  authentication of identity. The most common example is in conjunction with a  Public Key Interface .The smart card will store an encrypted digital certificate issued from the Public Key Interface along with any other relevant or needed information about the card holder.

Examples include the  U.S Department of Defence  ,Common Access Card, and the use of various smart cards by many governments as identification cards for their citizens. When combined with biometrics, smart cards can provide two or three-factor authentication. Smart cards are not always a privacy-enhancing technology, for the subject carries possibly incriminating information about him all the time. By employing contactless smart cards, that can be read without having to remove the card from the wallet or even the garment it is in, one can add even more authentication value to the human carrier of the cards.

Applications in Computer Security Systems

• The Mozilla Firefox web browser can use smart cards to store certificates for use in secure web browsing
• Smart cards support functionality has been added to Windows Live Passports
• Smart cards are also used for single sign-on to log on to computers

Electronic wallets

The smart card chip can be loaded with funds which can be spent in parking meters and vending machines or at various merchants Cryptographic protocols protect the exchange of money between the smart card and the accepting machine. There is no connection to the issuing bank necessary, so the holder of the card can use it regardless of him being the owner.

Health care(Medicine)

Smart health cards can improve the security and privacy of patient information, provide the secure carrier for portable medical records, reduce health care fraud, support new processes for portable medical records provide secure access to emergency medical information, enable compliance with government initiatives and mandates, and provide the platform to implement other applications as needed by the health care organization

Conclusion:

we can conclude that  in the coming future most of the business transactions will happen through an electronic media i.e., transactions through smart cards. Not only business applications, but also healthcare industry can exploit the opportunities of smart card technology.

References:

http://java.sun.com/developer/technicalArticles/javacard/javacard3

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smart_card

 

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