CSC429

COMPUTER ORGANIZATION AND

ARCHITECTURE

INDIVIDUAL ASSIGNMENT

SMART CARDS

PREPARED BY:
NUR EISYATIN RADHIAH BINTI ANNUAR
2021610238
CSC2701B

LECTURER:
SIR AHMAD NAZMI BIN FADZ
TABLE OF CONTENTS

1.0 INTRODUCTION 2

2.0 SMART CARD

2.1 DEFINITION 2

2.2 CHARACTERISTICS 3

2.3 SMART CARD ARCHITECTURE 4

2.4 APPLICATION OF SMART CARD 6

3.0 CONCLUSION 7

4.0 REFERENCES 7

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1.0 Introduction

Being people with a lot of commitment in this era of technology, have massive
information and data to be accumulated for future use. Currently, the evolution in technology of
computers played a leading role here which is the storage medium. Storage medium is the
physical device that holds the data, information and instruction while storage device is the
computer hardware that is able to record items from or to storage media. The storage medium
may be internal or external from computers. It also can be either directly or over the network.
There are various examples for the storage medium such as hard disk, cloud storage, tape,
flash memory and others.

However, smart cards will be highlighted in this report. Smart cards have played a key
role in improving multifaceted digital security. A smart card is efficiently used in keeping and
processing the data securely in a network of computers. Day by day, smart cards have been
widely applied in various industries including banking, medical records systems, and telephone
services. It showed how complex and efficient smart cards are as storage mediums.

2.0 Smart Card

2.1 Definition

Smart-Card is a secure portable storage device that can be used in many applications
that are required in controlling access to sensitive information. A smart-Card has a similar size
as credit or ATM card and it also stores the data on a thin microprocessor embedded in it. It is
typically a plastic credit card-sized card with an embedded integrated circuit chip. Most smart
cards include a pattern of metal contacts to electrically connect to the internal chip while others
are contactless and some are both. Basically, smart-cards can provide personal identification,
authentication, data storage, and application processing.

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2.2 Feature and Characteristics

Initially, smart-cards are user-friendly to simple interface with the intended application.
They can be handled like the usual magnetic stripe bank card but are more versatile. The small
size of the card makes it look practically useful and keeps it in the purse.

Besides, smart cards have strong device security. The information stored on the chip is
hard to duplicate or disrupt, unlike the outside storage used on magnetic stripe cards that can
be easily copied. It points out why smart cards are highly secure. Chip microprocessor and
Coprocessor supports DES, 3-DES, RSA or ECC standards for encryption, authentication, and
digital signature for non-repudiation.

Smart-cards provide ways to authenticate others who want to gain access to the card.
These mechanisms can be used to validate users, devices, or applications wishing to use the
data on the card’s chip.

As a medium storage, smart-cards also have secure data storage. With proper access
rights, the data can be accessed through the smart-card operating system.This has been
leveraged by a system to boost the privacy by storing personal user data on the card rather than
in a central database. Therefore, the user can control it when their personal data is being
granted access.

Unfortunately, smart-Cards are also susceptible to chip damage from physical abuse but
more difficult to disrupt or damage than the magnetic stripe card.

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2.3 Smart Card Architecture

Basically a smart card’s architecture consists of three elements. Based on the figure 2,
the elements are I/O System, Central Processing Unit (CPU), and memory.

Figure 2 - Smart Card Architecture

Firstly, the input / output system functions in controlling the timing and flow of data
transferred into and out of the smart card’s memory. It required internal logic circuitry which
works in conjunction with the microprocessor. It also has a physical structure that connects to
the host computers for the exchange of data. However, the categories of physical interfaces
depend on the type of smart cards which are the contactless type and the contact type. For the
contactless type, it includes a chip module and an antenna to communicate using radio waves.
For the contact type, the interface is where a chip module lies beneath the contact pad.

Figure 3- Contactless Smart Card Figure 4- Contact Smart Card

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 Second element of the smart card is the central processing unit (CPU) or the
microprocessor. This component distinguishes the smart cards from the other cards which are
designed to simply store data while the smart card can make its own decisions based on the
location of the data stored from the memory and condition of the transferred information through
its input/output interface.

Last component in the smart card is memory which consists of read only memory
(ROM), random access memory (RAM), and electrically erasable programmable read only
memory (EEPROM). Each of the memories have their own function. Smart card’s ROM works in
preserving the information unlimitedly without a continuous power supply to the memory. It is
typically used for storing the smart card’s general operating system programs such as the
program needed to start the smart card when its power is turned on. Next, RAM can only access
any stored information for a fixed amount of time.The stored information will disappear when
power to the memory is removed. Nevertheless, RAM is the fastest type of the memory that is
used only for temporary storage. Last but not least, EEPROM is a non-volatile memory which
can be electrically erased and reprogrammed. It can be used for storing programs and data that
needs to be modified regularly. Since EEPROM can be erased, a smart card consisting of
EEPROM will not run out as its memory is filled up.

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2.4 Application of Smart Card

The rise of smart card applications has created a new environment in human life. It is
becoming commonplace day by day. One of the beneficial smart card applications is the
enlargement of SIM cards (Subscriber Identity Module). The smart card contains specific data of
each subscriber that makes it useful and easier for billing. The security of the authentication,
roaming across networks and mobile value-added services have also been guaranteed. Smart
cards have also been used in banking retail which are credit cards, debit cards or stored value
cards. Smart cards are also used for loyalty and electronic coupons.

Besides, in healthcare, smart cards are applied to help authorities to access and update
information quickly, get insurance processing, and some refunds. On the other hand, students
also can take advantage of smart cards. All the students' details are securely saved in a smart
card. This also can ease the student in physical access, tracking, for buying things from
canteens, library and also in fee payments.

Figure 5- SIM card Figure 6 - Health card

Figure 7- VISA and Debit Card Figure 8- Student Card

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3.0 Conclusion

In conclusion, the storage medium plays a huge role in the enhancement of technology
since it will constantly rise up. All the information has to be stored in the proper medium in line
with the industry. By the improvement of technology, the information and data can be stored
securely and practically. For example, ‘smart card’ that is being highlighted in this report. Smart
cards are taking place in the environment where security and authentication is the main
concern. Many companies that use magnetic stripe cards are changing to smart cards because
it is useful for transaction, authorization, and identification media. For the future, it might replace
all the biometrics information. The smart cards are an element of solution to a security problem
in the modern world.

4.0 References

Amit Gaur. (2015). Smart Card Technology. Derived from

https://pt.slideshare.net/amitgaur121/smart-card-technology-50091166/8

Ben Lutkevich. (2021). Definition Smart Card. Derived from

https://www.techtarget.com/searchsecurity/definition/smart-card

Cardwerk. (2021). Smart Card Technology Overview. Derived from

https://cardwerk.com/smart-card-technology/

Laxmi Ashrit. (n.d). What is Smart card – How it Works, Specifications, Types and Applications.
Derived from https://electricalfundablog.com/smart-card-works-specifications-types/

SCHOOL. (2019). 11 Awesome Everyday Smart Card Applications. Derived from

https://www.schoolsmartcards.com/blog/smart-card-applications/

Vapulus. (2019). Feature of Smart Cards. Derived from

https://www.vapulus.com/en/features-of-smart-cards/

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CSC429 (Computer Organization and Architecture)
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