Importance

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Abstract

Locking and unlocking an application in a smart card allows for automatic authenticity of a lock or unlock command without the need for a personal identification number (PIN). The smart card is locked and unlocked by using a smart card device that need not have a keypad. The smart card device is a dedicated reader and locking/unlocking device, or can be a bank terminal, PC, telephone, etc. The smart card is inserted into the smart card device. A lock command is sent from the device to the smart card. An application on the smart card is locked. The smart card sends identifying information, such as a password and a card identification number, to the device which is stored in a cache. The identifying information allows automatic authentication for unlocking of the card at a later time. The locked application cannot be used until it is unlocked. To unlock, the smart card is inserted into the device and an unlock button is pressed. The smart card device reads the card identification number of the card and determines if the corresponding password for that card is present in the cache of the device. If so, an unlock command is issued to the smart card along with the password. If the password received by the smart card matches the password of the smart card then the smart card is unlocked.

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First Claim