OpenCard Framework

OpenCard Framework (OCF) provides a Java API to access both to smart card readers and to the applications embedded on the smart cards.

The OpenCard Framework was originally defined by the OpenCard Consortium, but mainly driven by IBM and Gemplus. The work ended with version 1.2 of the specification and a reference implementation by IBM. The consortium split up and left the OpenCard Framework in a dormant state. The website was still available until 2007 and is now shut down. The original code was transferred the a project on SourceForge, but never actively maintained.

Architecture

• CardTerminals are smart card reader drivers. They can be native (.so, .dll) using JNI or they can use the javax.comm or gnu.io API. The distribution provides a bridge with PC/SC drivers.
• CardServices are high-level interfaces to the applications hiding the ISO/IEC 7816-3 and -4 complexity. Available CardServices are : PassThruCardService, MFCFileAccess, BasicEMVAppletAccess, VOPCardService, ...

Books

• Uwe Hansmann, Martin S. Nicklous, Thomas Schäck, Frank Seliger, Smart Card Application Development Using Java, Ed Springer, 2000, ISBN 3-540-65829-7

See also

• Open Smart Card Development Platform
• Personal Computer/Smart Card (PC/SC)

External links

• OpenCard Framework
• A course on OCF programming (in French)
• OpenCard Framework at SourceForge.net