Abstract: A smart card includes a rectangular flat support having two longitudinal edges and two transverse edges. One portion of the front of the card receives at least one electrical contact pad. The support is provided with a rectangular slit which surrounds this portion in such a say as to define a mini-card. The mini-card can be detached from the support and is connected by means of at least two connecting links which extend respectively from one longitudinal edge of the mini-card towards the adjacent longitudinal edge of the card. Each of the connecting links has two grooves which can resist bending stresses and which are disposed opposite one another on each face of the support. The upper grooves of each link, which are disposed on the front face of the support, are different from one another such that the upper link which is disposed closest to one of the longitudinal edges of the support is less resistant to bending stresses than the other lower link.

Abstract: Application protocol data units are conveyed in a universal serial bus so that a portable electronic object such as a smart card can be recognized by a terminal, such as a micro-computer, as being a peripheral. The header and the data field, when such a data field exists, of each command are encapsulated in data fields of data packets of respective downlink transactions. The data field, when such a data field exists, and the trailer of each response are encapsulated in the data packet data field of at least one uplink transaction. By means of this bus link, the data rate between the terminal and the electronic object is higher, and a plurality of portable electronic objects can be connected to the terminal.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for duplicating data contained a smart card memory in the memory of another smart card, which consists in producing for said other card another management code, another secret code. Said other management code is produced on the basis of identification data particular to the first card and also particular to the second card. For the system to operate, identification data concerning the first card are also recorded in the second card.

Abstract: Data to be stored is managed in different management modes including at least a first management mode and a second management mode. An identification is provided during a data preparation phase, for respectively identifying the data to be managed according to the different modes, and then managing on the basis of the provided identification. The storage can be located in a programmable smart card. Thus the data can include a code associated with an application whereof part (management code) is designed to customize the application during an initial phase, the identification being related to the data associated with this code part.

Abstract: Contact-free electronic labels for mobile telephones that can be, for example, associated with a support associated with each mobile telephone card. The electronic labels include a memory and controller for recording and reading, wholly or partly, data identifying the card and its characteristics, as well as data concerning different steps of the card distribution. The invention is applicable to silicon chip cards designed to be inserted in a mobile telephone handset.

Abstract: A method for universal calculation on the points of an elliptic curve defined by a quartic equation uses identical programmed calculating devices for operating an addition of points, a doubling of points and an addition of a neutral point. The calculating device is a central unit associated with a memory. The invention also concerns a cryptographic method using such a universal method. The invention further concerns a component for implementing the universal calculation method and/or the cryptographic method. For example, the invention is applicable to smart cards.

Abstract: Smart cards and other such devices with limited memory capacity function as hosts for services on a distributed computing network. The information to be deployed in the distributed computing system to provide access to those services is separated into two categories. One category consists of the information that is generic to all instances of the service. The second category constitutes that information which is specific to one instance of the application which provides a service. The specific information is stored on the smart card, whereas the generic information is stored elsewhere on the distributed computing network, for example on a server. In addition to the specific information, the card stores the address at which the generic information can be located on the network. When a card is inserted in a terminal connected to the network, the terminal retrieves the specific deployment information, along with the address for the generic information.

Abstract: An electronic label reading system includes an interrogator including a transmitter and a receiver. The system also has a transmitter antenna connected to the transmitter for generating an interrogation electromagnetic field through which objects possessing code responding labels may pass. The code responding labels include label receiving antennas for receiving from the interrogation field a label interrogation signal, and generate label reply signals, and, from the label reply signals, reply electromagnetic fields. The system also has a receiver antenna connected to the receiver for receiving the reply signals from the label reply fields. The interrogation field and label reply fields provide a communication channel from the labels to the interrogator, and the interrogator signals to the labels condition information indicative of the condition of the communication channel.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for testing sources generating random numbers, particularly sources set up in the context of cryptographic systems such as random number generators incorporated in chip cards. The invention is particularly designed to be used for testing and validating electronic devices such as chip cards, PCMCIA, badges, contactless cards or any other similar portable apparatus.

Abstract: A method for detecting portable objects from a network of N antennae controlled by a centralized management unit. Signals are simultaneously emitted by the management unit to all antennae. Resulting response signals from antennae that have detected a portable object are received by the management unit. Each object thus detected is successively selected from these signals according to a pre-established sequence. The invention applies in particular to access control.

Abstract: A method for producing contact-free chip card includes embedding metallized bumps of the chip into an antenna as the chip is mounted on the antenna.

Abstract: A contact free electronic label, such as those designed to be affixed on conductive surfaces, has an insulating support one side of which bears a first winding having its ends connected to an electronic circuit. The opposite side of the support bears a second winding whose ends are connected to conductive pads. This opposite side of the support is designed to be secured to a conductive surface via an insulating dielectric layer. The labels are designed to be affixed on products having conductive surfaces such as laser discs, gas bottles and the like.

Abstract: The invention concerns an electronic device such as a smart card which includes at least a microcircuit embedded in a carrier medium and which includes exit hubs linked to interface elements composed of a terminal block and/or an antenna. The connections between the exit hubs and the interface elements are made by depositing a low-viscosity conducting substance which remains flexible after its application, using a syringe or similar device. Preferably, a polymer resin charged with conducting or intrinsically conducting particles is used for the connections.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for verifying the execution of a computer program, comprising the following steps: 1) a program is split up into at least two parts, one public and one secret, whereby the public part is executed on a first processing means and the second part is executed on a second secure processing means; 2) the public part is placed in a memory pertaining to the first processing means; 3) the secret part is placed on a secure support pertaining to the second processing means in order to be connected to the first processing means; 4) the following operations are performed so that the program can be executed by the first processing means: a) the second processing means is connected to the first and parameters and variables that are a function of external signals triggered by a user are transmitted from the first processing means to the second, b) at least one part of the program is executed by the second processing means, implementing a certain number of received parameters/variable

Abstract: A method for representing a first entity by a third party entity who is addressed by a second entity to request sensitive data from the first entity. The transmission of part at least of the sensitive data is controlled with a personal electronic medium held by the first entity. This medium can itself contain the sensitive data instead of the third party entity, and/or information for selectively locking or unlocking the third party entity if the latter holds it. The medium can be in the form of a smart card, for example a SIM card for the mobile telephone system.

Abstract: Prior to the execution of a program contained in a second chip card inserted in a terminal such as a mobile radio telephone terminal, in addition to a first chip card containing data and connected to a telecommunication network to which the terminal is linked, one of the cards is authenticated by the other, or the two cards are authenticated mutually. This double authentication ensures the authenticity of the program for its overall execution in the terminal and the origin of the second card, distributed through conventional channels, for the network operator.

Abstract: A non-opaque plastic card, having a first sheet layer with a front surface and a back surface, and a second sheet layer having a front surface and a back surface. A filter dye is located on the first sheet layer and/or second sheet layer, and allows visible light to pass through, while blocking infrared light from passing through the card. Graphical elements are printed on different surfaces of the card, with different combinations of backgrounds, to produce 3-dimensional effects.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a countermeasure method in an electronic component using a public key cryptography algorithm based on the use of elliptic curves. From a private key d and a number of points n on an elliptic curve, a new deciphering integer d? is calculated. The present invention applies particularly to any existing electronic component, such as a smart card.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a cryptographic system, combining the so-called discrete logarithm and factorization principles, comprising an encryption and decryption system and a key escrow system, and the associated equipment and devices. It is particularly intended to be used in electronic systems of the type comprising chip cards, PCMCIA cards, badges, contactless cards or any other portable equipment.

Abstract: A method for converting in a binary representation of a number based on a left-to-right processing of bits of the binary representation, to obtain a signed representation equivalent to the so-called Reitwiesner representation. The use of such a conversion method with left-to-right arithmetic processing improves hardware implementation of the method.