Smart card personalization in a multistation environment

A computerized system for controlling programming of portable programmed data carriers across a plurality of personalization stations, the system comprising:

• means for receiving one or more card objects from a card issuer management system, wherein the card objects comprise information for programming the portable programmed data carriers;
• means for receiving a programming request from the personalization station;
• and
• means for utilizing the card object to control the personalization station as the personalization station programs the portable programmed data carrier.

A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon for causing a computer to perform a method of controlling programming of portable programmed data carriers, the method comprising:

• receiving one or more card objects from a card issuer management system, wherein the card objects comprise information for programming the portable programmed data carriers;
• receiving a programming request from one of the personalization stations;
• and
• utilizing the card object to control the personalization station as the personalization station programs the portable programmed data carrier.

A system for issuing portable programmed data carriers comprising:

• a plurality of card objects identified by a like plurality of card object identifiers;
• a plurality of personalization stations for receiving the card object identifiers and for programming the portable programmed data carriers using information contained in the card object identified by the card object identifier;
• a controller for providing to each personalization station the card object identifier;
• and
• a personalization server for controlling the programming of a portable programmed data carrier in response to a request from one of the personalization stations, wherein the personalization server translates the card object into commands and data and transfers the commands and data to the personalization stations making the request.