Smart Card Self-Test Selection for Fast Transaction Times
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional smart card power-up self-tests are excessively long, exceeding 500 milliseconds, which is unacceptable in high-traffic environments like public transportation and corporate access control systems where transaction times should not exceed 200 milliseconds.
Innovation Solution
Implement a method where the electronic device determines which self-tests to perform based on the selected application, allowing only necessary tests to be executed, reducing the overall transaction time by selecting self-tests only when required by the application.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If power-up self-tests are performed as soon as the electronic device is powered-up, then security is maintained, but transaction time becomes excessively long (exceeding 500 milliseconds)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing self-tests in advance during application selection rather than at power-up. The system pre-identifies and executes only the necessary self-tests for the selected application before the actual transaction begins, thus maintaining security requirements while avoiding time loss during high-traffic transactions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamics by making the self-test execution dynamic and adaptive based on the selected application. Instead of a static power-up self-test routine, the system dynamically determines which self-tests are necessary based on the application context, adjusting the testing scope to match actual security requirements for each transaction type.
2Reliability
If all self-tests are performed regardless of application requirements, then comprehensive security checking is achieved, but transaction time increases beyond acceptable limits (200 milliseconds)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by performing only the necessary subset of self-tests rather than all available tests. The system evaluates the selected application's requirements and executes only the relevant self-tests, avoiding unnecessary testing that would consume time without adding security value for that specific transaction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of self-test execution from a fixed power-up timing to a flexible application-dependent timing. By altering when and what self-tests are performed based on application parameters, the system optimizes the balance between security checking comprehensiveness and transaction throughput for high-traffic environments.
3Reliability
If comprehensive power-up self-tests are executed, then cryptographic module damage is detected, but the time required exceeds the 200 millisecond transaction limit
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs damage detection as a preliminary action during application selection rather than at power-up. By提前 executing necessary self-tests before the transaction officially begins, the system ensures cryptographic module integrity is verified while the detected damage or anomalies do not extend the actual transaction duration beyond the 200 millisecond limit.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method performed by an electronic device capable of communicating with a reader, the method comprising: - receiving a command emitted by the reader, - selecting an application to be executed by the electronic device on the basis of said command, and - determining whether to perform said at least one self-test according to which application has been selected. The invention also provides the corresponding electronic device.