Abstract: Service applications are provided on multiple types of devices with different execution contexts. A smart card stores the application description, and processes it to install an adapted configuration of the application for whatever device it is inserted in. Smart cards are compatible with many devices, as well as being small, resistant, and tamper-proof. In addition to security features, their processing capacities can be used to at least partially treat the abstract descriptions of the applications in order to produce concrete descriptions adapted to the execution context.

Abstract: Service applications are provided on multiple types of devices with different execution contexts. A smart card stores the application description, and processes it to install an adapted configuration of the application for whatever device it is inserted in. Smart cards are compatible with many devices, as well as being small, resistant, and tamper-proof. In addition to security features, their processing capacities can be used to at least partially treat the abstract descriptions of the applications in order to produce concrete descriptions adapted to the execution context.

Abstract: A method of conducting a transaction between a chip card and an information system protects against fraud and malfunction during the transaction. The method involves a multi-step recording procedure wherein the transaction is first temporarily recorded in the chip card and the information system, and then later is definitively recorded after it has been verified that both sides have performed the temporarily recording step. In order to perform the temporary recording, information which describes the transaction is sent to both the chip card and the information system from a transaction management device. In order to verify that both sides have performed the temporary recording, a first set of messages is sent from the chip card and the information system to the transaction management device which indicate that the temporary recording has been performed. The transaction management device receives these messages and responds by sending a second set of messages to the chip card and the information system.

Abstract: A method for updating information elements in a memory which includes a plurality of memory locations. An initial value D0 has been written at a first location E0 of the memory, E0 being determined by an initial value of a string of indicator bits, the initial value being defined by the parity of the rank of a last bit of the string of indicator bits in a programmed state.

Abstract: A method for loading and managing a plurality of applications in a memory of a chip card, the method including: recording a chart of applications in the memory of the chip card which associates a password and a memory space with a name for i) each of the plurality of applications and ii) at least one user application on that application; recording a chart of data tables in the memory of the chip card, the chart of data tables including a plurality of records, each of the plurality of records associating a name for each of the plurality of applications with a name for at least one data table of that application; recording a chart of rights in the memory of the chip card, the chart of rights associating for each of the plurality of applications, the name for the at least one data table thereof with i) the name for each of the plurality of applications, and user applications thereof, that are capable of using the at least one data table thereof and ii) a set of rights granted to the plurality of applications, an