Gemalto Prox–DU Guide

PC/SC Guide
Prox–DU & Prox–SU
www.gemalto.com
DOC119811A Public Use Page 13/129
The next figure shows the PC/SC architecture:
Figure 1 – PC/SC Architecture
The software design considerations presented in the PC/SC specification address the
development of applications built on the architecture presented in the figure below.
This paragraph describes the way smart card-aware applications can use the functionality
provided by the smart card. By using the smart card resource manager
and the service
provider layers, an application can use smart card functionality with some level of
independence from a specific reader, or to some extent, from a specific smart card.
Resource Manager
The resource manager is a key component of the PC/SC architecture. It is responsible for
managing the other smart card-relevant resources within the system and for supporting
controlled access to smart card readers and, through them, individual smart cards. The
resource manager is assumed to be a system-level component of the architecture. It must
be present and will most likely be provided by the operating system vendor. There should be
only a single resource manager within a given system.
The resource manager solves three basic problems in managing access to multiple readers
and smart cards.
First, it is responsible for identification and tracking of resources. This includes:
• Tracking installed readers and making this information accessible to other
applications.
• Tracking known smart card types, along with their associated service providers and
supported Interfaces, and making this information accessible to other applications.
• Tracking smart card insertion and removal events to maintain accurate information
on available smart cards within the readers.
Smart Card
Smart Card Reader
Smart Card Resource Manager
Smart Card - Aware Applications
Smart Card Reader Handler
Service Provider

Gemalto Prox–DU Specifications

General

Brand	Gemalto
Model	Prox–DU
Category	Card Reader
Language	English