Method for operating a portable data carrier configured for executing reloadable functional programs

A data carrier comprising

• a memory device for receiving function and application programs,
• a program execution unit for executing function programs contained in the memory device,
• a communication device,
• a loader interface comprising a function program for loading at least one load application, which permits the reloading of a further application program, into the memory device via the communication device,
• the loader interface having associated therewith in the memory device a free memory space for receiving at least one load application;
• wherein the loader interface transfers the management of an assigned address space completely to a load application after the load application is assigned to the assigned address space, such that the loader interface has no further influence on or access to the assigned address space.

A method for operating a data carrier having a memory device for receiving function and application programs, a program execution unit for executing function and application programs contained in the memory device, and a communication device, comprising the steps:

• equipping the data carrier with a function program comprising a loader interface for reloading application programs into the memory device,
• equipping the data carrier with a management device for assigning address spaces in the memory device to reloaded application programs,
• providing the application program to be reloaded with badges containing information about the size of the memory space required for the application program,
• evaluating the badge during reloading of an application program, and
• assigning to the application program an address space in the memory device coordinated with the determined size information;
• wherein the loader interface transfers the management of an assigned address space completely to a load application after the load application is assigned to the assigned address space, such that the loader interface has no further influence on or access to the assigned address space.