Contactless Smart Cards Research Articles

Octopus

E-commerce would go bust without electronic cash payment systems, yet few of the dozens of systems introduced in various world markets over the last decade has been reliable enough to be embraced by large numbers. One exception is Hong Kong’s Octopus system. By mid-2001, nearly 70 percent of Hong Kong’s seven million residents used an Octopus card to make over six million daily transactions worth billions of dollars. Why is the Octopus card so successful when even e-cash systems backed by major credit card operators, including Mondex and Visa Cash, have struggled? This article explores what the Octopus experience can teach us about e-payment. Octopus, a smart card used in Hong Kong’s passenger transportation system, was born in June 1994 when the Mass Transit Railway Corporation (MTRC), the operator of the underground railway system in Hong Kong, persuaded four local public transportation operators of buses, ferries and mini-vans to form a joint venture company, Creative Star Limited (CS), to develop an automated fare collection system based on contactless smart cards. The fare collection contract, valued at U.S. $55 million, was awarded to ERG Australia Limited and its subsidiary AES Prodata, which subsequently awarded the contactless card portion of the contract to Sony and Mitsubishi Corporation in Japan. The contactless, rechargeable smart cards known as Octopus cards were introduced to the general public in September of 1997, as illustrated in Figure 1, which depicts the timeline of the development of Octopus. Card users can now use their cards in almost all modes of public transportation in Hong Kong and can recharge their cards up to H.K. $1,000 (about U.S. $130) in railway stations as well as in more than four hundred 7-Eleven convenience stores within the territory. Unlike slot-based cards that require the user to insert the card into a physical slot, the Octopus card is a proximity card; it can be read by operators without physical contact. All operators’ computer networks are linked to the CS Clearing House, which is responsible for revenue apportionment and fund transfer.

Japan plans to issue smart driver’s licence

The Japanese National Police Agency (NPA) has announced plans to begin issuing contactless smart card driver’s licences to more than 75 million licence holders. One of the aims of the card is to cut down on card forgeries, which have become a particular problem in recent years. This is a short news story only. Visit www.compseconline.com for the latest computer security industry news.

ICAO passport blueprint specifies high-capacity contactless chips

In what could turn out to be a significant boost for the smart card industry, the International Civil Aviation Organization has formally adopted a global standard for the integration of contactless smart card chips and biometric information into passports and other machine readable travel documents (MRTDs). This is a short news story only. Visit www.compseconline.com for the latest computer security industry news

German transport project takes delivery

More than 1.7 million contactless smart cards have been delivered to the German public transport associations VRR and VRS as part of one of the largest smart-card-based transit projects in Europe. VRR and VRS represent 54 different transport operators and cover an area with over 10 million inhabitants. This is a short news story only. Visit www.compseconline.com for the latest computer security industry news.

Biometric passport confusion reigns

A range of announcements have been made over the last few weeks concerning the use of biometrics in passports. There are a number of different strands to the story, which in some cases seem to be at odds with each other. As expected, it seems that facial recognition and contactless smart card chips will be the technology combination recommended by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). This is a short news story only. Visit www.compseconline.com for the latest computer security industry news.

Going contactless — on the move

Contactless smart cards have been gaining momentum in transit ticketing applications worldwide for several years. This article explores the benefits of adopting the technology and highlights several cases in Europe and the US where contactless technology has been successfully deployed for both single trip and multiple journey purposes.

GREY STATISTICS METHOD OF TECHNOLOGY SELECTION FOR ADVANCED PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS: The Experience of Taiwan

Taiwan is involved in intelligent transportation systems planning, and is now selecting its prior focus areas for investment and development. The high social and economic impact associated with which intelligent transportation systems technology are chosen explains the efforts of various electronics and transportation corporations for developing intelligent transportation systems technology to expand their business opportunities. However, there has been no detailed research conducted with regard to selecting technology for advanced public transportation systems in Taiwan. Thus, the present paper demonstrates a grey statistics method integrated with a scenario method for solving the problem of selecting advanced public transportation systems technology for Taiwan. A comprehensive questionnaire survey was conducted to demonstrate the effectiveness of the grey statistics method. The proposed approach indicated that contactless smart card technology is the appropriate technology for Taiwan to develop in the near future. The significance of our research results implies that the grey statistics method is an effective method for selecting advanced public transportation systems technologies. We feel our information will be beneficial to the private sector for developing an appropriate intelligent transportation systems technology strategy.

Visa develops specification for contactless smart cards

Visa develops specification for contactless smart cards

Impact of ITS measures on public transport: A Case study

AbstractIntelligent Transport Systems (ITS) have a wide range of applications. They range from the more traditional signal coordination system to concepts such as smart cars and smart roads. This paper describes transit‐based ITS measures in Singapore. The island‐state has plans to double the current 90 km rail network over the next ten years and has also implemented or committed to implement many ITS initiatives that impact upon the public transport systems. The aim of these investments is to achieve a high transit modal share using a comprehensive transit network. ITS measures that can promote this aim include: automatic vehicle location systems for buses and taxis, integrated transit fare systems using contactless smart cards, rail information systems, multi‐modal travel guides on Internet and electronic road pricing. The potential impacts of these measures are delay reduction, more comfort, productivity gain and better network accessibility. ITS measures do not necessarily add physical capacity to a public transport system but are excellent supporting measures to encourage the modal shift to transit, particularly if a quality transit system is already in place.

A new contactless smart card IC using an on-chip antenna and an asynchronous microcontroller

This paper describes a new generation of contactless smart card chip which integrates an on-chip coil connected to a power reception system and an emitter/receiver module compatible with the ISO 14443 standard, together with an asynchronous quasi-delay insensitive (QDI) 8-bit microcontroller. Beyond the contactless smart card application field, this new chip demonstrates that system-on-chip integrating power reception and management, radio-frequency communication, and signal processing is feasible. It associates analog/digital parts as well as synchronous/asynchronous logics and has been fabricated in a CMOS six metal layers 0.25-/spl mu/m technology from STMicroelectronics.

Contactless smart cards showcased at CeBIT

Contactless smart cards showcased at CeBIT

Secure contactless smartcard ASIC with DPA protection

A secure contactless smartcard is presented. No batteries are required as device power is extracted from the RF field. With the exception of an inductive loop antenna, no external components are required. The transceiver adheres to the ISO 14443 type B specification. This system-on-a-chip integrates the RF circuitry with a large digital circuit without benefit of external bypass capacitors. An isolation circuit is introduced that prevents coupling of digital noise into the receiver. A measured bit error rate of 3E-10 is achieved. Security is also improved as the isolation circuit increases the required time for differential power analysis (DPA) attack by a factor of 2/sup 22/. Three-pass mutual authentication is presented and an algorithm for data restoration in the event of a tear is shown. This device was fabricated in a 0.6-/spl mu/m double-poly, triple-metal CMOS process. The chip is 2.8 mm/spl times/2.9 mm and it requires 500 uA or approximately 2.5 mW of power.

Measurement of localized specific absorption rate (SAR) for contactless smartcard readers operating in the HF band

This paper explores highly sensitive localized SAR measurement methods for contactless smartcard readers operating in the HF band, specifically 13.56 MHz. The design and calibration of a low-frequency E-field probe is described. A method for synthesizing simulated human tissue using a technique developed for measurement of the conductivity of liquids at the HF band is also presented. Finally, both the near-field and localized specific absorption rates are measured for a contactless smartcard reader and compliance with Federal Communications Commission (FCC) maximum permissible exposure (MPE) and specific absorption rate (SAR) regulation is determined.

A New Generation of Tools at the Service of Passengers

Thanks to developments embarked upon by the RATP since 1990, some particularly innovative tools have now been installed. This paper describes three applications stressing the fact that new Information Technologies are now playing a major part in the development of a third generation of Urban Transport : - contactless smartcard, a fare collection system with multipurpose applications, unmatched reliability and safety, and a very reduced maintenance-and-investment costs. - radio-location of véhiculés with an improved GPS for security, information of the passengers and regulation of buses. - means to provide passengers with exhaustive real time information on transport supply in the Paris area, at home, while waiting and during their journey. Such services are already made available to RATP voyagers, however their implementation largely overpasses the domain of public transport.

The Use of Smart Cards in Transportation Systems: A European Perspective

Abstract In recent years there has been a movement towards the use of smart cards in the transport sector including a profusion of demonstration projects and small to medium scale implementations. The use of smart card technology in the field of transport applications is becoming widespread and covers most modes of transportation. This paper reviews some major areas of application and cites some of the more innovative implementations of the technology in Europe. It covers both contact and contactless (proximity) smart cards for transport applications, used on their own as a payment and information carrier device, or with a reader to provide contactless communications. The broad application areas of smart card technology that are within the scope of the paper are passenger fare payment (bus, metro, LRT, train and ferry), access control, automatic toll collection and road-use pricing and standardisation issues. The paper provides an overview of some of the major research programmes in the field of transport. Standardisation is considered.

Railway Services Using Contactless Smart Cards

Railway Services Using Contactless Smart Cards