Multi-application IC card with delegation feature

US6220510A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Mondex International Limited · GB

Inventors

• David Barrington Everett · Heathfield, GB
• Stuart James Miller · Kenilworth, GB
• Anthony David Peacham · Ashford, GB
• Ian Stephen Simmons · Gainsborough, GB
• Timothy Philip Richards · Maidstone, GB
• John Charles Viner · Verona, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 23, 1998
• Grant date: Apr 24, 2001
• Expiry date: Apr 23, 2018

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G07F7/1008
• WIPO field: IT methods for management
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A multi-application IC card which processes two or more applications using an Application Abstract Machine architecture. The AAM architecture only allows one application to be executed at a time and allows for shared processing by performing a delegation function to a second application. A data space for each application is allocated when the application is selected to be executed. The data space includes a volatile and non-volatile region. The delegation function temporarily interrupts the execution of the first application, saves the temporary data of the first application, shares any data needed with the second application and the second application is executed until the delegated task is competed. The first application then retrieves the saved data and completes its execution. A delegator stack is used to keep track of the delegator's identity when multiple delegations occur. The AAM model allows for a high level of security while transferring data between applications.