Multi Application Solutions ' ON CARD '
Multefile™ is Ecebs' core technology for smart card solutions. The smart card resident component provides those issuing a completely new scheme a cost effective platform on which to launch their application. Uniquely, Multefile™ also offers the opportunity to launch an application when not all the requirements have been finalised. The issuer can then refine the solution based on trial feedback, and then update those issued cards in the field to acquire the benefits of the lessons learned, without having to recall those cards. Multefile™ also offers a migration path for those with existing smart card solutions to move to the next generation of multi-application smart card solutions and management.
Multi-application smart cards are not in themselves new technology. Java Card and MULTOS have both made much of their ability to support multiple applications in a secure manner that prevents applications from accidentally or maliciously modifying another's data or interfering with their operation. However, in terms of application management on those platforms, each of these applications cannot be modified or updated post issuance without also removing all the card holder data - unless each application implements its own data/application management scheme. This, of course, results in less space available for other applications and data. It also results in the issuer having to use high end, and thus higher cost, smart cards.
Multefile™ is different in that it acts as an application framework. It also allows separation of independent applications' functionality and data. It allows remote application management without affecting the card holder's data within those applications. It allows new applications to be added, and, as it provides a service layer that can be shared between applications, this management is achieved without compromising the security of those individual applications. A multi-application card using Multefile™ can thus be considerably less expensive to issue, as a more cost effective platform can be chosen.
To support these on card feature, a comprehensive yet simple to use back office toolset has been developed, further details of which can be found here.
Another benefit of Multefile that it takes account of the multi-source benefits of other open smart card operating systems such as Java Card and MULTOS. Multefile™ is available on Java Card, MULTOS and Ecebs' own smart card operating system (MFOS) in order to offer a mix of product solutions varying in capability, availability and scope for integration with existing systems.
As well as platform agnostic, Multefile™ is also protocol agnostic. Both ISO7816 contact and ISO 14443 contactless protocol versions of Multefile™ are available.
(T=0 and T=1 contact protocol solutions)
So how is some of this magical post issuance management achieved?
Irrespective of the platform on which it is running, each Multefile™ smart card has two modes of operation. On one hand, it has the normal operational mode during which it behaves as a normal smart card member of the scheme. On the other hand, it has a management mode, where updates can be delivered to the Multefile™ card, targeted at either a particular application on the card, to the entire scheme or to an individual card. All updates are protected by cryptography standards matching those used within the UK banking industry. The flexibility is provided by a key strategy that is managed by the Multefile™ Card and Application Management System.
