JPH023823A - Ic card - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily select a function by means of information of usage designation by storing only a part of a user program part in a storage part and a definite part in a program control part. CONSTITUTION:Reading is executed in accordance with a module program write processing program stored in the program control part 2. Extra module programs related to the processing program which is to be required among program modules are previously stored in the storage part 5 of the program or the like. The module program which is intended to use is designated to use, and the others are designated to unuse. The designated parameter is stored in the storage area 51, and written through an input/output part 6 and the block data of the designated parameter when an IC card is issued or the function is changed. Thus, various functions can be set in accordance with the specification and the use of a customer side.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] This invention relates to an IC card, and more specifically, it is possible to set various functions according to the customer's specifications and usage even if the storage capacity is not large. Regarding IC cards such as

[Prior Art] IC cards are used in various financial institution cards, microcards, etc., bank cash cards, credit cards for various product transactions, and purchase cards for transportation tickets, etc. It's coming.

The scope of use of IC cards is wide, and IC cards issued in response to various transactions have data contents that need to be processed depending on each type of transaction, and the processing methods are different. For this reason, the IC card processing program must be executed by the terminal device or host computer (hereinafter referred to as
Including these, it is compatible with terminal devices (represented by terminal devices).

Therefore, we decided to use the so-called download processing IC, in which processing programs corresponding to terminal devices compatible with banks and various commodity transactions are later written on the IC card side.
cards are suggested.

[Problems to be solved] Conventionally, IC cards have been used by storing programs divided by processing function in advance in the PROM area or EEFROM area, or by writing the necessary programs each time they are issued, as in the case of downloading described above. It is crowded. In such cases, it is technically difficult and impractical for the user (e.g., the bank that issues and operates the card, the store, the credit card manufacturer, etc.) to write the program built into the card. Moreover, when using a program that has been stored in a certain way, there is a drawback that the area in which unnecessary function programs are stored cannot be used effectively because the necessary functions cannot be selected.

An IC card usually has a program area of about 2 KB to 18 KB, and because of its relatively small capacity, it is usually difficult to store programs.

In addition, the necessity or necessity of a function differs depending on the user, and it is difficult to decide which processing program to use until the user's conditions have been thoroughly considered. may be changed to something else, and in such cases we cannot adequately respond.

The purpose of this invention is to solve these conventional problems, and to develop an IC that has a large storage capacity (but can be configured with various functions according to the customer's specifications and usage).
The purpose is to provide cards.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention is characterized in that conventional IC cards cannot partially select whether to use or not use a processing program, and cannot make flexible memory use by using unused portions as data areas. By focusing on these points, we divide the processing program into 9 processing module programs that are detailed enough to realize a specific function, and by selecting and combining these module programs, we can create programs that meet various specifications and uses. It is possible to realize the processing, and to utilize the area of memory that stores module programs that become unnecessary depending on specifications and uses for data storage.

Therefore, the IC of the present invention for achieving the above object
The card has an information input/output unit, an information storage unit, a program storage unit that stores a processing program, and information is exchanged with the outside via the information input/output unit according to the processing program stored in the program storage unit. give and receive,
What is the arithmetic processing unit that controls the storage of information entered manually from outside or information generated internally in the information storage unit?
In the C card, the program storage section stores a plurality of module programs divided into partial processes that realize processing functions according to the various specifications, uses, etc. that are preferred by the IC card, and the information storage section or program storage section The first section specifies the module program to be used in the arithmetic processing section among the plurality of module programs.
information and a management processing program or second information that manages a storage area in which a module program not executed by the arithmetic processing unit is stored can be used as part or all of the information storage unit, and the arithmetic processing unit According to the first and management processing programs or the second information, the specified module program is incorporated and processed, and the storage area of the module program whose use is not specified is processed as an area for processing.

[Operations] Normally, the memory of an IC card has a FROM program area, a RAM work area, an EEPROM data storage area, etc. By configuring it as described above, it is possible to store, for example, a modular processing unit program. P
It is stored not only in ROM but also in EEPROM, and the processing program is divided into multiple independent modules.
Save all selected module programs to EEPROM
If you store this in PROM, when issuing an IC card,
The issuer simply specifies the required module from the outside, and the remaining EEPRO that stores the module program
The M area can be used as a data area.

Note that the module program to be used is specified by allowing the first information to be rewritten (for example, by setting parameters) to specify the use of the module using a command from outside.
Based on this rewritten first information, the module can be reset and program controlled.

[Embodiments] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the internal configuration to which the IC card of the present invention is applied, and FIG. 2 is a flowchart of its processing.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 denotes an IC card, which is composed of a microprocessor (CPU), a memory, etc., and an arithmetic processing section by the microprocessor is controlled by a control program stored in its mask ROM or the memory, etc. , stores information in memory, reads information from there, and exchanges data with the outside. Shown as functional blocks, the IC card 10 includes a data processing section 1 and a program control section 2 that controls the data processing section 1.
, and a work area 3 for temporarily storing various data and the like.

The program control unit 2 stores basic processing programs that are common to various specifications and uses, such as processing programs for reading module programs from the outside and controlling external communication. It has become impossible. Furthermore, here, the specified parameter reference processing program 21 is stored in the storage area of this program.
and a parameter writing processing program 22 are stored.

The specified parameter reference processing program 21 is a management program that refers to specified parameters when executing a module program stored in the program storage unit 5, which will be described later, and uses the storage area of the unnecessary module program as an area for storing data. Perform the processing to do so. On the other hand, the work area 3 is used as a program work area or a storage area used as a buffer for the input/output section.
It consists of RAM, etc.

The data processing section 1 is connected to the program control section 2, work area 3, and program storage section 5 by a bus 4, and controls the execution of processing. Then, all or part of the processing program started and executed by the program control unit 2 via the data processing unit 1 is divided into modules of processing units, and is divided into module programs (1) to module programs n. and that is EEF
The programs are stored in a program storage unit 5 that is composed of a ROM.

Furthermore, an input/output unit 6 is connected to the bus 4, and an external host computer or IC card reader/output unit 6 is connected to the bus 4.
Data is exchanged with a writer etc. via this human output unit 6.

Here, 53 of the program storage unit 5 is a storage area for processing element programs, into which module programs (1) to module programs n divided to realize various functions are written from outside. is memorized. Further, 52 is a fixed data storage area that stores various fixed data such as registration data and identification information necessary for program processing. Reference numeral 51 is a designated parameter storage area that stores identification information for identifying module programs to be used and module programs not to be used, data indicating the start address of each module program, the length of its storage area, and the like.

The specified parameters are stored in the specified parameter storage area 51 when the parameter writing program 22 is activated by an external command.
When issuing a card or changing functions, the input/output section 6
Written via block data of specified parameters via.

In such a configuration, from the input/output unit 6 that exchanges data with the outside of the IC card, the program storage unit 5
Read the module programs (1) to n (or the required number of module programs) stored in the . Here, the program storage unit 5 is composed of an EEFROM, is used to store normal data, and is rewritable. Note that in this case, a RAM may be used as the rewritable memory.

The above-mentioned reading is performed according to a module program writing processing program stored in the program control section 2. Therefore, the program storage unit 5 stores in advance extra module programs related to processing programs that are likely to be needed, including program modules that may or may not be used. Module programs related to processing that will be used for the time being are designated for use, and module programs that need to be stored in excess are designated for non-use, and such designated parameter information is stored. Make sure to keep it. In this way, it becomes possible to change the processing function at any time by changing the information on the designated parameters.

After the processing function of the IC card is determined, when one of the module programs is needed in the process of processing the program stored in the program control unit 2, the specified parameter reference processing program 21 is activated to store the specified parameter. If there is a designation to refer to and use the area 51, it can be used as is, and a module program storage area without a designation can be used as an area for storing processing data. Note that the processing program that is the basis of IC card processing is already stored in the program control unit 2.

FIG. 2 is an example showing the flow of execution control by the program control unit 2 that executes such processing.

In this example, the program of the program control unit 2 is also configured as a module program, and each module program can be executed in combination with module programs (1) to n of program storage [5] to achieve a specific function. Processing is accomplished.

The module programs may be combined by providing a combination processing program or by storing them as parameters in the parameter storage area 51, but in this case, each module program includes a module program to be started next. This is done by incorporating the start address, etc. of

First, it is determined whether the module program to be executed is a module that is not inside the program control unit 2 in step (2), and if it is, the module program is jumped to the beginning of the program in step (2) and executed. Execute. If not, start the specified parameter reference processing program 21 in step ①, refer to the specified parameters (identification information, etc.) in the specified parameter storage area, and check whether the specified parameters (identification information, etc.) are among those specified for use by the corresponding module. If it is found, the program jumps to the beginning of the program in step (2), and if it is not found, error processing is performed. here,
If the module is designated for use, in the next step ■ set the address to the start address of the specified module program, execute the specified module program, and when the execution is finished, step ■ It is determined whether or not there is a branch in the module, and if there is a branch, the process returns to step (2), jumps to the module program at the address at the branch destination, and executes it. If not, it is determined in step (2) whether the process has ended or not, and if the process has not ended, the process returns to the first step (2) and the same process is repeated.

In this way, according to the program of the program control unit 2, the execution right is transferred while referring to the information of the specified parameter 51, and the processing of a predetermined function is executed and controlled. When it is necessary to store data during this execution process, the specified parameter reference processing program 21 is activated, the storage area of the unused module program is utilized, and the necessary data is written.

By the way, there are two configurations: a two-chip type in which the data processing unit 1, a storage unit that stores each control program, and a control unit are divided into two chips, and a one-chip type in which the data processing unit 1, a storage unit that stores each control program, and a control unit are placed under one control. However, in the case of a one-chip type, the address spaces of the program control section 2, work area 3, and program storage section 5 can be managed in a common place, and each address can be accessed by the data processing section 1. Therefore, if the module program can be managed in such an address space, the module program can be stored in the program control section 2 or in the program storage section 5, and can be placed anywhere.

If you enable the module to be used to be determined by the specified information as described above, you can select the module program later, so you can set up only the necessary programs in advance, and later organize unnecessary ones. It is also possible to select a module program to achieve the desired processing function by changing the specification. Furthermore, if you later additionally store a module that was not initially stored in an empty area in memory (e.g. EEPROM) where the module program was deleted and designate that area as the program area, you can use this module program. It is also possible to add new functions.

As previously explained, in the embodiment, a parameter reference processing program is provided and the storage area of the unused module program is used as a storage area for data etc. It can also be included as information indicating the area and managed by referring to this information.

In addition, in the embodiment, whether or not to use a module program is set for each module program using a parameter, but a parameter indicating whether to use all module programs or one of them is set. If this parameter is further provided and stored in the parameter storage area, the control efficiency of the program control section can be further improved.

In addition, the command systems of the module programs are not all the same (although they may also include different command systems, so that they can be applied to a further variety of uses).

[Effects of the Invention] When issuing an IC card, program requirements usually differ from customer to customer. To accommodate this,
A card is created for each customer, or a program section written for each user is stored in the program storage section for each customer, and the 11-word processing section is stored in the program control section for program control. However, the former requires huge costs such as mask charging, and the latter also requires storing all user program parts in the memory section, which increases the storage capacity of expensive memory sections such as EEPROM, which reduces the overall cost. This results in high costs. Furthermore, if the latter is attempted to be performed using a storage unit with a certain capacity, the user program area will occupy most of the area, reducing the data storage area and often making it impractical.

However, according to this invention, without having to create an IC card for each customer, only a part of the user program (particularly a part whose use is uncertain) can be stored in the storage unit, and the part that has been determined can be stored in FROM, etc. The IC card can be stored at a low cost in the program control unit of the IC card, and its functions can be easily selected based on usage designation information such as designated parameters.

Moreover, the change can be easily made later.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the internal configuration to which the IC card of the present invention is applied, and FIG. 2 is a flowchart of its processing. 1... Data processing unit, 2... Program control unit, 3
...Data area, 4...Path, 5...Program storage section, 6...Person output section, 10...IC card, 21...
Specified parameter reference processing program, 22... Parameter writing program, 53... Processing element program area, 52... Various fixed data storage areas, 53
...Specified parameter storage area.

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) An information input/output unit, an information storage unit, a program storage unit that stores a processing program, and information is exchanged with the outside via the information input/output unit according to the processing program stored in the program storage unit. In an IC card, the IC card has an arithmetic processing unit that performs sending and receiving and controls storing information input from the outside or information generated internally in the information storage unit, and the program storage unit stores various types of information that the IC card executes. A plurality of module programs divided into partial processes that realize processing functions according to specifications, uses, etc. by combination are stored, and the arithmetic processing section of these plurality of module programs is stored in the information storage section or the program storage section. a management processing program or a management processing program that manages a storage area in which first information specifying a module program to be used and a module program not executed by the arithmetic processing unit is stored so that it can be used as part or all of the information storage unit; and second information is stored, and the arithmetic processing unit incorporates and processes the specified module program according to the first and the management processing program or the second information, and processes the module program that is not specified for use. An IC card characterized in that processing is performed using a storage area as a processing area. (2) The first information is stored as a parameter in a specific storage area, the first information includes identification information as to whether or not all of the plurality of module programs are used in module units; The information is determined by the fact that the first information stored in the specific area is not stored, and the arithmetic processing unit refers to the identification information and selects and processes a module program designated for use; 2. The IC card according to claim 1, wherein a storage area of a module program whose use is not specified is processed as an area for processing. (3) The IC card according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of module programs include module programs having different instruction systems, and the first information is stored as a parameter in a specific storage area.