Smart card personalization in a multistation environment

Abstract

A smart card personalization system provides an interface to smart card personalization stations and to external computing or data resources which normally are not available directly to personalization station. A card issuer management systems prepares card objects and assigns a unique card object identifier. A smart card personalization server receives the card objects from the card issuer management system. A smart card personalization controller receives the unique card object identifiers and routes the card object identifiers to waiting personalization stations. The personalization stations use the card object identifier to request data and services from the smart card personalization server in order to personalize the smart card. The services provided by the smart card personalization server include data services, security services and support services. The smart card personalization server supports multiple active personalization station sessions.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of controlling programming of portable programmed data carriers in a system having a plurality of programming stations, the method comprising the steps of: 
 receiving a card object from a card issuer management system, wherein the card object consists of information for programming the portable programmed data carriers;    receiving a programming request from the programming station; and    utilizing the card object to control the programming station as the programming station programs the portable programmed data carrier.    
     
     
         2 . The method of    claim 1   , further comprising the step of acquiring data from a data source.  
     
     
         3 . The method of    claim 2   , wherein the data source is the card issuer management system.  
     
     
         4 . The method of    claim 1   , further comprising the step of acquiring security services from a security source.  
     
     
         5 . The method of    claim 1   , further comprising the step of providing support services.  
     
     
         6 . The method of    claim 1   , wherein the step of receiving a programming request comprises the steps of: 
 receiving a card object identifier; and    associating the card object identifier with the card object.    
     
     
         7 . The method of    claim 2   , further comprising the step of acquiring security services from a security source.  
     
     
         8 . The method of    claim 7   , further comprising the step of providing support services.  
     
     
         9 . The method of    claim 8   , wherein the step of receiving a programming request comprises the steps of: 
 receiving a card object identifier; and    associating the card object with the card object identifier.    
     
     
         10 . A computerized system for controlling programming of portable programmed data carriers across a plurality of personalization stations, the system comprising: 
 a personalization server interface for acquiring services from one of more resources, transferring card information to one of the personalization stations, and controlling the programming of the portable programmed data carrier;    a personalization station interface for receiving the card information from the personalization server interface and for programming the portable programmed data carrier.    
     
     
         11 . The computerized system of    claim 10   , wherein the services acquired by the personalization server interface are data services.  
     
     
         12 . The computerized system of    claim 10   , wherein the services acquired by the personalization server interface are security services.  
     
     
         13 . The computerized system of    claim 10   , wherein the services acquired by the personalization server interface are support services.  
     
     
         14 . The computerized system of    claim 10   , further comprising a controller for receiving a card object identifier and for routing the card object identifier to one of the personalization stations.  
     
     
         15 . A computerized system for controlling programming of portable programmed data carriers across a plurality of personalization stations, the system comprising: 
 a means for receiving one or more card objects from a card issuer management system, wherein the card objects comprise information for programming the portable programmed data carriers;    a means for receiving a programming request from the programming station; and    a means for utilizing the card object to control the programming station as the programming station programs the portable programmed data carrier.    
     
     
         16 . The computerized system of    claim 15   , further comprising a means for acquiring security services from a security source.  
     
     
         17 . The computerized system of    claim 15   , further comprising a means for acquiring data from a data source.  
     
     
         18 . The computerized system of    claim 17   , wherein the data source is the card issuer management system.  
     
     
         19 . The computerized system of    claim 15   , further comprising a means for providing support services.  
     
     
         20 . The computerized system of    claim 15   , wherein the programming request comprises a unique card object identifier.  
     
     
         21 . A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the steps comprising: 
 receiving one or more card objects from a card issuer management system, wherein the card objects consist of information for programming the portable programmed data carriers;    receiving a programming request from the programming station; and    utilizing the card object to control the programming station as the programming station programs the portable programmed data carrier.    
     
     
         22 . The computer-readable medium of    claim 21   , having further computer-executable instructions for performing the step of acquiring security services from a security source.  
     
     
         23 . The computer-readable medium of    claim 21   , having further computer-executable instructions for performing the step of acquiring data from a data source.  
     
     
         24 . The computer-readable medium of    claim 23   , wherein the data source is the card issuer management system.  
     
     
         25 . The computer-readable medium of    claim 21   , having further computer-executable instructions for performing the step of providing support services.  
     
     
         26 . A computer readable medium having stored thereon a data structure comprising: 
 a first data field containing data representing a card object for programming a portable programmed data carrier; and    a second data field containing data representing a unique card object identifier for identifying the card object represented by the first data field.    
     
     
         27 . A system for issuing portable programmed data carriers comprising: 
 a plurality of card objects identified by a like plurality of card object identifiers;    a plurality of personalization stations for receiving the card object identifiers and for programming the portable programmed data carriers using information contained in the card object identified by the card object identifier;    a controller for providing to each personalization station the card object identifier; and    a personalization server for controlling the programming of a portable programmed data carrier in response to a request from one of the personalization stations, wherein the personalization server translates the card object into commands and data and transfers the commands and data to the personalization stations making the request.    
     
     
         28 . The system of    claim 27   , wherein the personalization server acquire services from one or more resources in response to a request from one of the personalization stations.