Microcircuit Card Configuration via ROM Pre-loaded Data

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Solution Overview

Problem

The configuration of microcircuit cards during pre-personalization, personalization, and post-personalization stages is time-consuming due to the need for numerous processing operations such as authentication, encryption, and integrity verification for each APDU command, leading to increased production costs.

Innovation Solution

Reducing the number of write commands sent to the microcircuit card by using pre-recorded data from the ROM to configure the card, thereby minimizing processing operations and protocol overhead.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If numerous APDU commands are sent to configure the microcircuit card during pre-personalization and personalization stages, then the card can be properly configured with all necessary data, but the execution time and production cost increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconfiguration accuracyVSAvoidconfiguration execution time
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-loading configuration data into the card's memory during the manufacturing process, before the card is deployed. This allows the card to have configuration data ready in advance, eliminating the need for time-consuming APDU commands during field configuration operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses copying by creating a configuration file that contains copies of the necessary configuration data. This configuration file can be stored locally or transmitted efficiently, replacing the need for multiple individual APDU commands to configure the card during operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Reliability

If multiple processing operations (authentication, encryption, integrity verification) are performed for each APDU command, then security and reliability are ensured, but the processing time and computational overhead increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconfiguration reliabilityVSAvoidconfiguration throughput
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple processing operations into a single configuration file structure. By combining configuration data with embedded authentication, encryption, and integrity verification elements in one unified file, the system reduces the number of separate processing steps required while maintaining security and reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The configuration file is designed to be self-contained with all necessary authentication, encryption, and verification data embedded within it. This allows the card to process the configuration autonomously without requiring multiple interactive authentication and verification exchanges, thereby improving throughput while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP2447835B1Method for configuring an electronic entity
Publication Date: 2019.01.02 IDEMIA FRANCE SAS
  • EP2447835B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2447835B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2447835B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The method involves receiving a writing command i.e. Application Protocol Data Unit (APDU) command conforming to ISO 7816standard for writing in a non-volatile memory. Configuration data (B2, B4) e.g. pre-personalization data, is written in a non volatile memory in response to the command. The data is obtained from pre-recorded data packets (A2, A4) read in ROM (206). The pre-recorded data packets are identified from the received command and processed by an electronic entity i.e. microcircuit card (200) in order to obtain the configuration data. Independent claims are also included for the following: (1) a computer program comprising instructions to perform an electronic entity configuring method (2) a computer-readable recording medium for recording a computer program comprising instructions to perform an electronic entity configuring method (3) a method for personalization, pre-personalization or post-personalization of microcircuit card by a card reader (4) computer program comprising instructions to perform a method for personalization, pre-personalization or post-personalization of microcircuit card (5) a computer-readable recording medium for recording a computer program comprising instructions to perform a method for personalization, pre-personalization or post-personalization of microcircuit card (6) an electronic entity comprising a rewritable non-volatile memory.