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Authors - Apurva Meher , Shweta, Sonali [ was given a prize in the IEEE Bombay Section contest]

1. Abstract:

This paper on 'SMART CARDS : OPERATION AND PROTOCOLS' deals with dimensional details and the basic hardware makeup of the Smart Cards including some important microcontrollers, different types of memory, etc. It also encompasses, specifically, the operational details alongwith a very detailed technical description of the two important protocols (T=0 and T=1) required for data communication between the IC card and the interface device alongwith the Integrated Circuit Card commands. The paper also includes a briefing on different levels of Smart Card Interoperability. What could not be included is the application details alongwith the technical details of the card reader and the explanation of the processors individually. Also the internal circuitry cannot be included because it is not easily available due to the competition among the various companies coming up with newer and better products. Finally, the paper writing has been a pleasant experience in gaining good amount of knowledge during the entire process.

2.1 The Smart Cards are the in thing these days. For a lay man, the cards seem to be smarter than them but the fact remains that it was a man who made the cards smarter. The Smart Card is not just a piece of plastic. It contains something called an embedded system of chips and processors which act just like a normal computer but on a much smaller scale. The embedded chip contains microcontrollers, memory consisting of RAM, ROM and EEPROM, the data bus for data transfers, a processing unit, etc.

2.2 The Smart Cards are capable of storing large amounts of data, compared with the standard magnetic strip card which can only store up to 200 bytes. Also, the data stored on the smart card can easily be updated with a standard smart card reader/writer. Secondly, a single smart card is capable of running up to 200 different applications. Running multiple applications on a single card does give the potential that one smart card could replace many magnetic strip cards.

2.3 There are two basic types of smart cards: "intelligent" smart cards and memory cards.

2.3.1 "Intelligent" smart cards contain a CPU, allowing the cards to store and secure information, and "make decisions" as required by the specific needs of the application. Since a "read and write" capability is offered by the card, new information can be added to the card and processed; e.g. a smart card can manage frequent-flyer points by adding points to the card when purchases are made and subtracting points from the card when points are used.

2.3.2 Memory cards are primarily information storage mediums. Common uses of memory cards are in stored-value functions where the card contains an initial value which the bearer is able to spend; e.g. phone cards and vending cards.

2.4 Smart cards can communicate with a reader or receiver (see the section on readers below for more on these two terms) in one of two forms:

2.4.1 Contact smart cards -- The connection is made when the reader contacts a small gold chip on the front of the card.

2.4.2 Contactless smart cards -- These can communicate via an antenna, eliminating the need to insert and remove the card by hand. With a contactless card, all you have to do is get close to a receiver, and the card will begin communicating with it. Contactless cards can be used in applications in which card insertion/removal may be impractical or in which speed is important.

2.5 No system can be classed as totally secure, since anyone that knows how it works will be able to abuse it, but since smart cards are at the forefront of technology then using them could help to reduce card fraud. 

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Last Updated : September 03, 1999 09:48:00 AM -0400

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