JAVA CARD PLATFORM AND APPLET SECURITY
An embedded device incorporates Java Card technology including a Java Card platform and at least one applet, and including both platform security features and applet security features. The device has a) a threat detection means to detect events of threat occurring at the embedded device; and b) an interface means constructed to receive a threat notification on a detected event of threat; and establish or use a communication channel between the platform and the applet and exchange threat information on the detected event of threat between the platform and the applet.
1 .- 9 . (canceled)
10 . An embedded device incorporating Java Card technology including a Java Card platform and at least one applet, and including both Java Card platform security features and applet security features, comprising:
a) a threat detection means, installed with either or both of the Java Card platform and the applet, and constructed to detect events of threat occurring at the embedded device; and
wherein
b) an interface means constructed to:
receive, from the threat detection means, a threat notification on a detected event of threat; and,
in reaction to a received threat notification, establish or operate a communication channel between the Java Card platform and the applet and exchange threat information on the detected event of threat between the Java Card platform and the applet.
11 . The embedded device according to claim 10 , wherein said interface means (IM) is an Application Programming Interface API.
12 . The embedded device according to claim 11 , wherein said Application Programming Interface API is a proprietary API especially established for events of threat.
13 . The embedded device according to claim 11 , wherein said Application Programming Interface API is a standard API in combination with specific parameter values indicative of events of threat.
14 . The embedded device according to claim 10 , wherein said interface means is an exception mechanism agreed upon between the Java Card platform and the applet.
15 . The embedded device according to claim 10 , wherein said communication channel is constructed as either one of:
(1) a unidirectional communication channel from the Java Card platform to the applet;
(2) a unidirectional communication channel from the applet to the Java Card platform;
(3) a bidirectional communication channel between the Java Card platform and the applet.
16 . The embedded device according to claim 10 , wherein the threat information exchanged between the Java Card platform and the applet comprises a threat type information indicating a type of the detected event of threat.
17 . The embedded device according to claim 16 , wherein the threat type information is or comprises one or several of:
a light flash attack detected at the Java Card platform,
a data integrity error detected at the applet or at the Java Card platform,
a bytecode jump detected at the applet,
an execution flow control error detected at the applet or at the Java Card platform.
18 . The embedded device according to claim 10 , wherein the threat information exchanged between the Java Card platform and the applet comprises or is accompanied by at least one command including instructions to establish or change security features, the command being
either a command from the Java Card platform to the applet, and including instructions to establish or change applet security features,
or a command from the applet to the Java Card platform, and including instructions to establish or change Java Card platform security features.