On chip verification and consequent enablement of card os operation in smart cards

A computer program product for biometric authentication of a smart card user, the computer program product comprising:

• a computer readable medium having computer readable program code embodied therewith, the computer readable program code including:
• instructions to bootstrap load the smart card with an input/output operating system;
• instructions to check whether a flag is set;
• instructions to read biometric information of a user under control of the input/output operating system to authenticate the user if the flag is not set;
• instructions to set the flag if the user is authenticated according to the biometric information;
• and
• instructions to load the smart card with a card operating system if the flag is set, the card operating system being distinct from the input/output operating system.

A biometrically authenticated smart card, comprising:

• a central processing unit;
• first media storing an input/output operating system configured to bootstrap load the smart card and control the central processing unit before a card operating system is loaded;
• storage for storing a flag, which is set by the central processing unit if a user is authenticated;
• a biometric information reader configured to authenticate a user under control of the input/output operating system if the flag is not set;
• and
• second media storing a card operating system configured to be loaded into the smart card if the flag is set, the card operating system being distinct from the input/output operating system.