Supplemental cryptographic hardware for smart cards

Author

Trichina, Elena ; Bucci, Marco ; De Seta, Domenico ; Luzzi, Raimondo

Author_Institution

Gemplus CryptoDesign Center, Rome, Italy

Volume

21

Issue

6

fYear

2001

Firstpage

26

Lastpage

35

Abstract

A smart card is a small computer in credit card format with no man-machine interface. This industry wide recognition expresses an essential fact. The specific properties of smart cards, compared with all other types of cards, are determined by a microcontroller integrated in a card, which controls, initiates, and monitors all activities. Software alone cannot satisfy all smart card requirements. Manufacturers must offer additional functions in hardware. The authors describe true random-number generators and an advanced encryption standard computation unit: two different special-purpose hardware blocks that can be integrated on the silicon substrate along with the usual functional units of a smart card microcontroller

Keywords

add-on boards; cryptography; microcontrollers; random number generation; smart cards; advanced encryption standard computation unit; credit card format; functional units; random-number generators; silicon substrate; small computer; smart card microcontroller; smart card requirements; special-purpose hardware blocks; supplemental cryptographic hardware; Computer displays; Computer interfaces; Credit cards; Cryptography; Hardware; Manufacturing industries; Microcontrollers; Silicon; Smart cards; User interfaces;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Micro, IEEE

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0272-1732

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/40.977755

Filename

977755