smart cards
A smart card, chip card, or integrated circuit card (ICC), is any pocket-sized card with embedded integrated circuits which can process data. This implies that it can receive input which is processed — by way of the ICC applications — and delivered as an output. There are two broad categories of ICCs. Memory cards contain only non-volatile memory storage components, and perhaps some specific security logic. Microprocessor cards contain volatile memory and microprocessor components. The card is made of plastic, generally PVC, but sometimes ABS. The card may embed a hologram to avoid counterfeiting. Using smart cards is also a form of strong security authentication for single sign-on within large companies and organizations.
Smart Card Readers/Terminals
For the sake of clearly defining all of the different hardware devices that smart cards can be plugged into, the industry has adopted the following definitions:
The term 'reader' is used to describe a unit that interfaces with a PC for the majority of its processing requirements. In contrast a 'terminal' is a self-contained processing device.
Both readers and terminals read and write to smart cards. Readers come in many form factors and in a wide variety of capabilities. The easiest way to describe a reader is by the method of it's interface to a PC. Smart card readers are available that interface to RS232 serial ports, USB ports, PCMCIA slots, floppy disk slots, parallel ports, infrared IRDA ports and keyboards and keyboard wedge readers.
Another difference in reader types is the on-board intelligence and capabilities. Extensive price and performance differences exist between an industrial strength intelligent reader that supports a wide variety of card protocols and a home style win-card reader that only works with microprocessor cards and performs all processing of the data in the PC.
The options in terminal choices are just as wide. Most units have their own operating systems and development tools. They typically support other functions such as magnetic-stripe reading, modem functions and transaction printing.
