ISO/IEC 24727-2:2008/Amd 1:2014

Overview

ISO/IEC 24727-2:2008/Amd 1:2014 is an international standard amendment that enhances part 2 of the ISO/IEC 24727 series, which addresses integrated circuit card programming interfaces. This specific part focuses on the Generic Card Interface, providing a standardized framework for communication between integrated circuit cards (smart cards) and external applications. Amendment 1 modernizes and expands the original 2008 edition by introducing new definitions, an improved discovery mechanism for legacy cards, and enhanced interoperability features.

This amendment facilitates seamless integration and access to card services, ensuring compatibility with legacy cards and supporting evolving e-services infrastructures. The document is critical for developers, card issuers, service providers, and organizations implementing secure, interoperable smart card solutions based on ISO/IEC standards.

Key Topics

• Generic Card Interface
  The amendment reinforces the role of the generic interface as the abstraction layer enabling client applications to interact uniformly with different types of integrated circuit cards. This reduces the complexity and variation in card-specific implementations.

• Legacy Card Support
  Defines a legacy card as an integrated circuit card not personalized for ISO/IEC 24727 compliance. The amendment introduces a discovery mechanism allowing legacy cards to be recognized and integrated into the ISO/IEC 24727 ecosystem without costly post-issuance personalization.

• Card Discovery Module
  A major enhancement is the CardDiscovery Module, utilizing ASN.1 definitions to describe card characteristics such as ATR (Answer to Reset), ATS (Answer to Select), EF.ATR or INFO files, EF.DIR directory files, and APDU command-response sequences.

  • This module enables terminals to verify card types via bitmask operations for efficient identification.
  • Supports retrieval of card registry information via URLs for comprehensive card capability descriptions.

• Bitmask Verification
  A logical mechanism whereby terminals apply binary operations (e.g., XOR, AND, OR) on card data fields and compare results to expected values. This method ensures precise matching between a card and its registry entry before interaction.

• Security and Integrity
  Includes provisions for verifying the integrity of CardDiscovery data through digital signatures, guarding against tampering and misrecognition, particularly in untrusted environments.

• New Terminology and Interface Updates
  Introduces procedural element as a software concept for manipulating interface commands, enhancing flexibility in processing layers. Updates table entries for specific protocol commands like the ENVELOPE command ‘C3’.

Applications

ISO/IEC 24727-2:2008/Amd 1:2014 is essential for:

• Smart Card Manufacturers and Issuers
  To ensure new and legacy cards can participate in interoperable systems using a common programming interface and discovery process.

• Service Providers and Terminals
  To implement discovery and recognition mechanisms enabling legacy card support without the need for expensive card reissuance or personalization changes.

• E-Government and Identity Management
  Facilitating access to e-services that rely on secure card authentication while maintaining compatibility with a broad range of card types.

• Payment Systems and Secure Access Control
  Enabling heterogeneous card environments to communicate with terminals via standardized commands and discovery protocols, supporting smooth transaction processing.

• Middleware and Software Developers
  Creating client applications and middleware that leverage the generic card interface for multi-vendor and legacy card interoperability.

Related Standards

Implementers and stakeholders should also consider the following complementary standards:

• ISO/IEC 24727-1
  Architecture and general concepts for integrated circuit card programming interfaces.

• ISO/IEC 7816 Series
  Widely referenced for physical and logical characteristics of integrated circuit cards, including ATR (ISO/IEC 7816-3) and application identifiers (ISO/IEC 7816-15).

• ISO/IEC 14443
  Contactless integrated circuit cards – used for ATS definitions referenced in this amendment.

• ISO/IEC 24727-3 and beyond
  Other parts of the ISO/IEC 24727 series that define specific interface layers, protocols, and application frameworks.

• Relevant Security Standards
  For ensuring integrity, signature verification, and trusted exchange of card registry data.

Keywords: ISO/IEC 24727-2 amendment, integrated circuit card programming interface, generic card interface, legacy card discovery, smart card standards, ASN.1 card discovery, bitmask verification, card registry, smart card interoperability, ISO smart card standards, card personalization, e-services security, secure identification cards.