Hiding and unhiding java card applet instances
AssigneeGiesecke+Devrient Epayments GmbH
InventorDeepen Mantri
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and devices are provided for installing and hiding applets onto smart cards devices. In a first step, a request for installing an instance of a first applet is received at the card device from an off-card entity. The request includes a first applet identifier. An applet instance is then installed with the first applet identifier in a registry of the card device's operating system. In a further step, a request for hiding the instance of the first applet identified by the first applet identifier is received at the card de-vice from the off-card entity. After receiving the hiding request, the smart card operating system finds the applet instance with the give applet identifier and hides it.
Claims15
A method for installing applet instances in a card device, the card device comprising an operating system, OS, and able to receive several applet instances, wherein the method comprises the steps of:
- receiving from an off-card entity a request for installing an instance of a first applet, the request for installing comprising a first applet identifier;
- installing an applet instance with the first applet identifier in a registry of the OS;
- receiving from the off-card entity a request for hiding the instance of the first applet identified by the first applet identifier;
- hiding the applet instance identified by the first applet identifier;
- receiving from the off-card entity a request for installing an instance of a third applet, the request comprising a third applet identifier identifying the instance of the third applet;
- checking whether there is a hidden applet instance of the third applet installed in the card device;
- checking whether the applet identifier of the hidden applet instance matches the third applet identifier;
- and
- if the applet identifier of the hidden applet instance matches the third applet identifier, unhiding the hidden applet instance;
- wherein the hidden applet instance is physically present in the card device but not visible or selectable from outside the card device due to the card device not revealing a presence of the hidden applet instance when requested;
- the method further comprising maintaining, in the registry of the OS, for each installed applet instance a visibility status flag having values “visible” and “hidden”;
- wherein the hiding the applet instance identified by the first applet identifier further comprises setting the visibility status flag of the applet instance to identified by the first applet identifier “hidden,” such that the card device does not reveal a presence of the hidden applet instance in response to queries.
A card device comprising a processor and a memory having stored thereon a card operating system, OS, the card device being configured to:
- receive from an off-card entity a request for installing an instance of an applet, the request for installing comprising an applet identifier;
- install an applet instance with the applet identifier in a registry of the OS;
- receive from the off-card entity a request for hiding the instance of the applet identified by the applet identifier;
- hide the applet instance identified by the applet identifier;
- receive from the off-card entity a request for installing an instance of a third applet, the request comprising a third applet identifier identifying the instance of the third applet;
- check whether there is a hidden applet instance of the third applet installed in the card device;
- check whether the applet identifier of the hidden applet instance matches the third applet identifier;
- and
- if the applet identifier of the hidden applet instance matches the third applet identifier, unhide the hidden applet instance;
- wherein the hidden applet instance is physically present in the card device but not visible or selectable from outside the card device due to the card device not revealing a presence of the hidden applet instance when requested;
- the method further comprising maintaining, in the registry of the OS, for each installed applet instance a visibility status flag having values “visible” and “hidden”;
- wherein the hiding the applet instance identified by the first applet identifier further comprises setting the visibility status flag of the applet instance to identified by the first applet identifier “hidden,” such that the card device does not reveal a presence of the hidden applet instance in response to queries.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.