Development of a low-cost smart-card-based secure and reliable information exchange system with tamper-proofing features

摘要

In this paper, we present development of a customised smart-card based system to transfer information securely from central server to identified client sites with information tamper protection. One of the primary aims of our system for secure information exchange is to make client reliably robust and inexpensive. We describe key-based generic but customisable encryption system that also incorporates tamper-proofing feature enhancing reliability. In the proposed process, both server and client can check if information has been tampered with and under such circumstances smart card is rendered useless. One area of application of such a system is pre-payment card based metering utilities as used in gas/water/electricity supply. These applications desire high reliability tamper proofing at low cost. To reduce installation cost, such meters need to be inexpensive and reusable. Smart card is used for reliable information exchange to/from client(meter) to server(company). Smart card can transfer information about consumption as well as time-varying tariff rates.