Runtime Environment Protocol Bridge for Card Computing Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for card computing devices face challenges in bridging different communication protocols, limiting the ability of applications to communicate effectively between entities using disparate protocols.
Innovation Solution
A runtime environment, such as the Java Card Runtime Environment, is configured to act as a protocol bridge, enabling the use of Application Protocol Data Unit (APDU) messages over the Host Controller Interface (HCI) communication protocol, allowing applications to communicate across different protocols by encapsulating and transmitting APDU messages within HCI messages.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If applications are configured to communicate using a specific protocol (APDU), then communication reliability within card computing devices is improved, but adaptability to communicate with external entities using different protocols (HCI) deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a protocol bridge as an intermediary component that translates between APDU protocol (used by card computing devices) and HCI protocol (used by external entities). This mediator enables applications to maintain their native APDU communication while gaining access to HCI-based external entities, thus resolving the contradiction between communication reliability and protocol adaptability
2Adaptability or versatility
If a protocol bridge is implemented to enable multi-protocol communication, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The protocol bridge is designed as a universal component within the runtime environment that can handle multiple protocol translations. By consolidating protocol adaptation functionality into a single multi-functional bridge rather than implementing separate translation mechanisms for each protocol pair, the patent reduces overall system complexity while maintaining high adaptability
3Adaptability or versatility
If APDU messages are encapsulated within HCI messages for transmission, then interoperability between different protocols is improved, but processing overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements message nesting by encapsulating APDU messages within HCI messages for transmission between card computing devices and external entities. This nesting approach allows the protocol bridge to maintain clear message boundaries and structure, enabling efficient extraction and processing of inner APDU messages from outer HCI messages, thus managing processing overhead systematically
Data Source
AI summary
A runtime environment executing on a card computing device may handle communication of APDU messages received by a card computing device according to the HCI communication protocol over an APDU gate. APDU messages may be encapsulated and transmitted within multiple HCI messages and the runtime environment may be configured to extract and verify the APDU messages from within the received HCI messages, according to some embodiments. The runtime environment may be configured to receive commands to open an APDU pipe, manage multiple open pipes, receive incoming HCI commands, and route the encapsulated APDU messages to an appropriate application executing within the card computing device. The runtime environment may also be configured to receive APDU messages from the application, encapsulate the APDU messages within HCI messages and send the HCI messages over the same APDU pipe.