US5408082A — IC card with hierarchical file structure

Claim 1

Independent Claim 49 words

An integrated circuit card comprising: a processing controller, non-volatile memory means having plural files in a hierarchical structure, and each file having an access conditions controller relating to a level number of said hierarchical structure; and volatile memory means having plural key data fields corresponding to the level numbers.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 49 words

An integrated circuit card comprising: a processing controller, non-volatile memory means having plural files in a hierarchical structure, and each file having an access conditions controller relating to a level number of said hierarchical structure; and volatile memory means having plural key data fields corresponding to the level numbers.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 19 words

An integrated circuit card according to claim 1 wherein the access conditions controller has information limiting the level number.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 32 words

An integrated circuit card according to claim 1 further comprising file optimizing means for eliminating open areas containing no information in the memory, and compactly reordering the plural valid files in memory.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 22 words

An integrated circuit card according to claim 3, further comprising means for specifying by command whether to compactly reorder plural valid files.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 128 words

An integrated circuit card comprising: a processing controller, non-volatile memory means having plural files in a hierarchical structure where each file contains level number information for identifying at least the level number of the file, and parent file information for identifying the parent file of the file in the hierarchical structure, volatile memory means having plural key information fields corresponding to the level numbers, and comprising means for obtaining the lowest level number L of common branches in the hierarchical structure of a first selected file and a newly selected second file using the level number information and parent file information; and means for holding the information of the field corresponding to level 1 to level L in the key information field, and abandoning all other field information.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 128 words

An integrated circuit card comprising: a processing controller, non-volatile memory means having plural files in a hierarchical structure where each file contains level number information for identifying at least the level number of the file, and parent file information for identifying the parent file of the file in the hierarchical structure, volatile memory means having plural key information fields corresponding to the level numbers, and comprising means for obtaining the lowest level number L of common branches in the hierarchical structure of a first selected file and a newly selected second file using the level number information and parent file information; and means for holding the information of the field corresponding to level 1 to level L in the key information field, and abandoning all other field information.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 126 words

An integrated circuit card comprising: a processing controller, non-volatile memory means having plural files in a hierarchical structure, and volatile memory means having n key information areas corresponding to selected n (where n≧2) files, means for changing the contents of the key information area relating to a first file based on the relative positions in the hierarchical structure of the first of the selected n files and a newly selected second file, and means for copying part or all of the contents of the key information area of each file to the first key information area based on the relative positions in the hierarchical structure of the second file to each of the n-1 files other than the first file in the selection of n files.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 126 words

An integrated circuit card comprising: a processing controller, non-volatile memory means having plural files in a hierarchical structure, and volatile memory means having n key information areas corresponding to selected n (where n≧2) files, means for changing the contents of the key information area relating to a first file based on the relative positions in the hierarchical structure of the first of the selected n files and a newly selected second file, and means for copying part or all of the contents of the key information area of each file to the first key information area based on the relative positions in the hierarchical structure of the second file to each of the n-1 files other than the first file in the selection of n files.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 109 words

An integrated circuit card comprising a buffer, memory means for storing data, a processing controller which uses the buffer for processing and comprises: input/output means for exchanging data with an external device, command processor means for analyzing and processing commands received through the input/output means, and generating the response to a received command, file manager means activated by the command processor means for accessing data and data collections in memory, and file generator means activated by the command processor for creating files, said file manager means hierarchically managing files and file management directory by means of addresses identifying single files and an address identifying a directory of plural files.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 109 words

An integrated circuit card comprising a buffer, memory means for storing data, a processing controller which uses the buffer for processing and comprises: input/output means for exchanging data with an external device, command processor means for analyzing and processing commands received through the input/output means, and generating the response to a received command, file manager means activated by the command processor means for accessing data and data collections in memory, and file generator means activated by the command processor for creating files, said file manager means hierarchically managing files and file management directory by means of addresses identifying single files and an address identifying a directory of plural files.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 20 words

An integrated circuit card according to claim 7 further comprising file deletion means for deleting a file specified by command.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 23 words

An integrated circuit card according to claim 7 further comprising file expansion means for expanding the capacity of a file specified by command.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1998-04-17	1998-10-17	1999-04-18	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2002-04-17	2002-10-17	2003-04-18	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2006-04-17	2006-10-17	2007-04-18	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

IC card with hierarchical file structure

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