Abstract: A description is given of a method of extending the period of validity of smart cards, without the cards having to be surrendered by their owner. For this purpose, use is made of reading/writing devices which are installed near smart card users and, by extension passwords sent to the owner by a central issuing agency, extend the date of validity of the smart card.

Abstract: A system and method of storing and preparing data uses at least one data memory card having at least one electronic memory chip and a separate optical memory. At frequent intervals alphanumeric data is entered into the at least one electronic memory chip. At less frequent intervals, image data is entered into the optical memory, data is read from the at least one electronic memory chip and data is transferred from the at least one electronic memory chip into the optical memory.

Abstract: Storage and selective information transmission system of personal data comprising at least one optical memory card on which a defined memory field for storing a multiplicity of key terms is provided, a multiplicity of codes each assigned to at least one key term, at least one read/write device for the optical memory card having a multiplicity of key recognition functions, one key recognition function in each case pointing to one of a multiplicity of formatting functions contained in the read/write device and activating said formatting functions in interaction with the respective assigned code, each formatting function pointing to a data storage field of the optical card and being qualified, on the basis of the associated format specifications, for reading the data stored there.