Source: Advanced Card Systems
Advanced Card Systems Ltd. (ACS, wholly owned subsidiary of Advanced Card Systems Holdings Ltd., SEHK: 8210), Asia Pacific's number one supplier of PC-linked smart card readers, announces it has launched its ACOS6 Multi-application & Purse Card (MAP Card). ACOS6 is specifically designed to address the requirements of multiple applications and multiple e-purses with secure access hierarchy of multiple levels.
Multiple Applications with Individual Secure Environment
Compliant with ISO7816-4, the file structures inside ACOS6 can be either transparent, linear fixed, linear variable or cyclic. The unrestricted file structures allow the developers to incorporate various independent applications into one ACOS6 card. That means, with only one ACOS6 card, multi-purposes can be already performed, thus providing cost-effective solutions to developers as well as a convenient platform to end users.
For instance, you can use your ACOS6 card for e-government services; campus facilities, at the same time use the same ACOS6 card for payment at retail shops and even for loyalty programs. Since ACOS6 is so flexible, there will be no difficulty with inter-operability regarding migrating current applications or add in future applications to ACOS6.
Among different applications built in ACOS6, each is separated from one another and protected by individual secure environment. In addition, there is a maximum of 31 Global PINs, 31 Global Keys and 31 Local PINs, 31 Local Keys in a dedicated file of an application. All of these features ensure the highest independent security in each application.
Multiple e-Purses
ACOS6 is not tided to only one e-purse in an application. Instead, it also allows multiple secure e-purses. Take a look at an example of ACOS6 acting as a membership card of a supermarket. On the one hand, it is a prepaid card for payment . On the other hand, it is a loyalty card which stores loyalty points. In this case, the money debited in the card and loyalty points are indeed stored in two seperate e-purses.
In order to assist the development of e-purse applications in ACOS6, some secure purse commands that can perform secure messaging for data confidentiality and perform MAC for data integrity can be provided.
Enhanced security with ACOS6 SAM
Furthermore, security of ACOS6 could be further enhanced by working together with ACOS6-SAM (Security Access Module) card for mutual authentication, secure messaging and key diversification.