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Glossary

Understanding the Mobile World

The intertwining of telecom, banking, and M2M/IoT produces a new degree of complexity. We hope our COMPRION glossary helps you to get a good overview of all the connected terms, technologies, and concepts.

1FF

Form factor of SIM cards: 85.6 mm × 53.98 mm × 0.76 mm (no longer used in modern day applications).

1G

1G (or 1-G) refers to the first generation of wireless telephone technology (mobile telecommunications). These are the analog telecommunications standards that were introduced in the 1980s and continued until being replaced by 2G digital telecommunications. The main difference between the two mobile telephone systems (1G and 2G), is that the radio signals used by 1G networks are analog, while 2G networks are digital.

2FF

Form factor of SIM cards: 25 mm x 15 mm x 0.76 mm (mini-SIM).

2G

2G (or 2-G) is short for second-generation wireless telephone technology. Three primary benefits of 2G networks over their predecessors were: 2G technologies enabled the various mobile networks to provide the services such as text messages, picture messages and MMS. All text messages sent over 2G are digitally encrypted, allowing for the transfer of data in such a way that only the intended receiver can receive and read it. The most successful digital system for 2G is GSM.

Phone conversations were digitally encrypted
2G systems were significantly more efficient on the spectrum allowing for far greater mobile penetration levels
2G introduced data services for mobile communication, starting with SMS

3FF

Form factor of SIM cards: 15 mm x 12 mm x 0.76 mm (micro-SIM).

3G

3G is the third generation of mobile telecommunications technology. The successor of 2G networks technology supports much higher data transmission rates than 1G and 2G and offers increased capacity so that 3G cell phones can offer subscribers a wide range of data services, such as mobile Internet access and multimedia applications. There are two global and standardized 3G systems: CDMA 2000, used mainly in Americas and Asia, and UMTS (W-CDMA, TD-SCDMA, TD-CDMA) used worldwide, mainly in Europe and China.

4FF

Form factor of SIM cards: 12.3 mm × 8.8 mm × 0.67 mm (nano-SIM).

4G

The fourth generation of mobile telecommunications technology. A 4G system, in addition to the usual voice and other services of 3G, provides mobile broadband internet access, for example, to laptops with wireless modems, to smartphones, and to other mobile devices. Potential and current applications include amended mobile web access, IP telephony, gaming services, high-definition mobile TV, video conferencing, 3D television, and cloud computing. Two 4G candidate systems are commercially deployed: the mobile WiMAX standard (first used in South Korea in 2007) and the first-release LTE standard (in Oslo, Norway and Stockholm, Sweden since 2009).

5G

5th generation mobile networks or 5th generation wireless systems are the proposed next telecommunications standards beyond the current 4G standards. 5G planning aims at higher capacity than current 4G, allowing a higher density of mobile broadband users, and supporting device-to-device, ultra reliable, and massive machine communications. 5G research and development also aims at lower latency than 4G equipment and lower battery consumption, for better implementation of the Internet of Things. There is currently no standard for 5G deployments.

Analog Probe (APR)

Generic term for COMPRION probes that are capable of running analog simulations and measurements. All electrical signals can be parameterized (current sinks, voltage thresholds, rise and fall times, etc.) and evaluated accordingly. The following APRs are available:

APR-CT
A component of Spectro TP. The APR-CT simulates a terminal and has special connectors for testing chip cards.
APR-ST
A component of Spectro TP. The APR-ST simulates a terminal and enables regular smart card testing.
APR-TT
A component of the UT³ Platform. The APR-TT simulates a card, thus enabling terminal testing.

Analog Scope

Optional module in COMPRION products that records and displays analog measurement data. It works like an oscilloscope and offers two functionalities:

Analog data recording using special functions of the hardware
Visualization of analog measurement data using Analog Scope view

Analyzer

COMPRION software module that inspects monitoring data and prints out the result to the Info view or test case result.

Application

Application refers to the data, commands, sequences, conditions, mechanisms, algorithms, and program codes on a chip card that are needed to operate it within the framework of a particular system.

Application Layer

Seventh layer in the OSI Model; the user interface. It is responsible for displaying data and images to the user in a human-recognizable format and to interface with the presentation layer below it.

Application Protocol Data Unit (APDU)

Software-based data container that holds the application data so that it can be exchanged between the terminal and the card.

B' (B-Prime)

Patented by Innovatron, it is a type of protocol that uses the same physical layer as ISO/IEC 14443 Type B but with proprietary upper layers.

Bearer Independent Protocol (BIP)

Technical specification (ETSI TS 102 124) that allows (U)SIM cards to download data through the phone’s high-speed data channel like GPRS and 3G onto the (U)SIM. Services like RAM and RFM will be significantly faster through BIP and are therefore ideally suited for efficient administration (loading, updating) of applications on the (U)SIM.

Bit

Basic unit of information in computing and digital communications. A bit can have only one of two values, and may therefore be physically implemented with a two-state device. The most common representation of these values are 0 and 1. The term 'bit' is the abbreviated form of binary digit.

Bit collision detection

Anti-collision method for PICCs of Type A, employing collision detection at bit level within a frame.

Bit sequence

In ISO/IEC 7816-3, a bit sequence consists of 1 start bit, 8 data bits, and 1 parity bit. It begins with the first falling edge after a reset or after a previous bit sequence, and ends with the parity bit.

Bit stuffing

In Single Wire Protocol (SWP), bit streams that do not have the same or rationally related bit rates are synchronized by bit stuffing. The location of the stuffing bits is communicated to the receiving end of the data link, where these extra bits are removed to return the bit streams to their original bit rates or form. Bit stuffing is used to synchronize the channels before multiplexing or to rate-match two single channels to each other.

Byte

Unit of digital information in computing and telecommunications that most commonly consists of eight bits. These are designated b8 to b1, from the most significant bit (MSB, b8) to the least significant bit (LSB, b1).

Card

General term for smart card, chip card, or SIM card used in the context of telecommunications.

Card Application Toolkit (CAT)

Technical specification (ETSI TS 102 223) that provides mechanisms that allow applications, existing in the UICC, to interact and operate with any terminal that supports the specific mechanism(s) required by the application.

Card emulation mode

Mode that enables NFC devices to act like smart cards, allowing users to perform transactions such as retail purchases and transit access with just a touch.

Card reader

Data input device that reads data from any kind of card. Contactless smart card readers use radio waves to communicate with, and both read and write data on a smart card.

CDMA 2000

Next to UMTS, one of the 3G technologies that allow a higher data rate than GSM (for 2G) does. CDMA2000 is an upgraded version of CDMA.

cdmaOne/CDMA One

Brand name for Interim Standard 95. IS-95 (also known as TIA-EIA-95) is the first CDMA-based digital cellular standard by Qualcomm. It is a 2G mobile telecommunications standard that uses CDMA, a multiple access scheme for digital radio, to send voice, data, and signaling data (such as a dialed telephone number) between handset and cell sites.

Chip card

General term for a card that contains one or more semiconductor chips. Chip cards may have memory ICs or microprocessor ICs. The term is often used synonymously with smart card or ICC.

Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA)

Form of multiplexing that allows several transmitters to send information simultaneously over one single communication channel (for example, wireless networks) instead of assigning a specific frequency to each user as it is usual for GSM systems. CDMA encodes individual conversations by random digital sequence. It offers a transmission speed of up to 14.4 Kbps in its single-channel form and up to 115 Kbps in an eight-channel form.

Coding convention

In ISO/IEC 7816-3, the coding convention determines the representation of logical values by voltages and how a transmitted byte is serialized. For direct convention, a high voltage of 5 V (or 3 V or 1.8 V, respectively) represents a logical 1, and a byte is transmitted beginning with the lower order bit. For inverse convention, 0 V represents a logical 1, and the higher order bit of a byte is transferred first. For both conventions, I/O is in high state when no data is transferred. The coding convention used by Device Test Center is displayed as a message in the Info view.

Collision

Transmission by two PICCs in the same electromagnetic field and during the same time period, such that the PCD is unable to distinguish from which PICC the data originated.

Comparison report

It is possible to compare the test cases and verdicts of two test plans in a report. This enables you to identify which test cases have been added or removed and if the verdicts have changed.

Compliance

In general, compliance means conforming to a rule, such as a policy, standard, or law. Regulatory compliance describes the goal that organizations aspire to achieve in their efforts to ensure that they are aware of and take steps to comply with relevant laws and regulations.

Conformance testing

Conformance testing or type testing is testing to determine whether a product or system conforms with the requirements of a specification, international standard, or regulation. It is often physical testing but may involve chemical testing or requirements for efficiency or interoperability. To aid in this, many test procedures and test setups have been developed, either by the standard's maintainers or external organizations, specifically for testing conformance to standards. Conformance testing is sometimes performed by external organizations, which is sometimes the standards body itself, to give greater assurance of compliance.

Contactless front end (CLF)

Functional unit in the terminal that provides the contactless communication interface in the SWP/HCI context. The term is defined and used in ETSI documents.

Cyclic Elementary File (Cyclic EF)

Element of the smart card file system.

Data Link Layer (DLL)

Second layer of the OSI Model. It transfers the data packets provided by the upper layers to the underlying Physical Layer and constructs data packets on the receiver side out of the raw bit stream of the physical layer.

Debugging

Error locating and eliminating with the purpose of identifying and correcting as many software errors as possible.

Dedicated File (DF)

Element of the smart card file system. A DF constitutes headers that hold hierarchical trees of elementary files (EFs) on the smart card, but do not have data of their own. This is most simply visualized as a directory in a file system.

Device

Another word for mobile phone, cellular phone, cell phone, hand phone, handset, or terminal, and any other kind of mobile equipment like card reader, NFC tag, etc.

Device under test (DUT)

Also known as equipment under test (EUT) or unit under test (UUT). A term commonly used to refer to a manufactured product undergoing testing. The term DUT is used within the electronics industry to refer to any electronic assembly under test. For example, cell phones coming off an assembly line may be given a final test in the same way as the individual chips were earlier tested. Each device under test is, briefly, the DUT. In COMPRION products, the term implementation under test (IUT) is often used as a synonym.

Distinguished Encoding Rules (DER)

The DER file type is primarily associated with 'DER Encoded X509 Certificate'. In cryptography, a public key certificate (or identity certificate) is a certificate that uses a digital signature to bind together a public key with an identity. The certificate can be used to verify that a public key belongs to an individual. DER or Distinguished Encoding Rules is a method for encoding a data object, such as an X.509 certificate, to be digitally signed or to have its signature verified.

Elementary File (EF)

Element of the smart card file system. An EF has both a header and a body, and there are three different types: Transparent Elementary File (Transparent EF), Linear Fixed Elementary File (Linear fixed EF), and Cyclic Elementary File (Cyclic EF).

Elementary time unit (etu)

The duration of a bit when sending data to chip cards. The absolute time duration for an etu is not fixed, but rather is defined as a function of the clock rate chosen for the chip card and of the clock rate conversion factors.

Embedded SIM or eSIM

Another word for Embedded UICC.

Embedded UICC (eUICC)

Standard format for machine-to-machine (M2M) applications. M2M applications have given rise to the possibility of having a Universal Integrated Circuit Card (UICC) that is embedded in a communication device in such a way that the UICC is not easily accessible or replaceable. The ability to change network subscriptions on such devices becomes problematic, thus necessitating new methods for secure and remote provisioning of access credentials on these embedded UICCs and managing subscription changes from one mobile network operator (MNO) to another.

ETSI TS 102 124

See Bearer Independent Protocol (BIP).

ETSI TS 102 221

Technical specification that specifies the interface between the UICC and the terminal.

ETSI TS 102 223

See Card Application Toolkit (CAT).

ETSI TS 102 226

Technical specification that defines the remote management of the UICC based on any of the secured packet structures specified in ETSI TS 102 225. It specifies the APDU format for remote management.

A set of commands coded according to this APDU structure and used in the remote file management on the UICC. This is based on ETSI TS 102 221.
A set of commands coded according to this APDU structure and used in the remote application management on the UICC. This is based on the GlobalPlatform card specifications.

ETSI TS 102 600

Technical specification that defines the USB interface between a terminal and an ICC that may be supported by the UICC and terminal in addition to the interface specified in ETSI TS 102 221.

ETSI TS 102 613

Technical specification that specifies the Single Wire Protocol (SWP). SWP is the interface between the Universal Integrated Circuit Card (UICC) and the Contactless front-end (CLF).

ETSI TS 102 622

Technical specification that specifies a logical interface that enables contactless applications hosted on the Universal Integrated Circuit Card (UICC). It covers the configuration where the one host is embedded in the UICC which is connected to the host controller embedded in the Contactless front-end (CLF).

ETSI TS 131 116

Technical specification that defines the remote management of files and applets on the SIM/USIM. It describes the APDU format for remote management.

FeliCa

FeliCa is an acronym for Felicity Card and was developed by Sony. It is a contactless communication protocol compatible with ISO/IEC 14443 and therefore operating within the proximity distance of 10 cm.

Flex adaptor

COMPRION flex adaptors connect the terminal to the COMPRION test tool. They are very thin because they have to fit in between mobile batteries and the body of the device without being damaged. COMPRION flex adaptors support all form factors (Mini-SIM, Micro-SIM, Nano-SIM, eUICC).

Frame

In the context of data transmission protocols, a frame is a sequence of data bits and optional error detection bits with frame delimiters at start and end.

Full-duplex

Simultaneous bidirectional data flow.

Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM)

Standard developed by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) to describe protocols for second generation (2G) digital cellular networks used by mobile phones. It is the de-facto global standard for mobile communications with over 90% market share, and is available in over 219 countries and territories.

Half-duplex

Sequential bidirectional data flow.

Handset

Another word for mobile phone, cellular phone, cell phone, hand phone, terminal, and any other kind of mobile device like card reader, NFC tag, etc.

Host Card Emulation (HCE)

Virtual and exact representation of a smart card using only software. Prior to the HCE architecture, NFC transactions were mainly carried out using the Secure Element (SE). HCE enables the following: merchants to offer payment cards solutions more easily through mobile, closed-loop contactless payment solutions, real-time distribution of payment cards and, more tactically, allows for an easy deployment scenario that does not require to change the software inside the terminal.

Host Controller Interface (HCI)

Logical interface, allowing a contactless front end (CLF) to communicate directly with an application processor, multiple secure elements, and RF gates in diverse electronic devices such as cell phones, and PC peripherals, allowing fast integration of Near Field Communication (NFC) functionality.

Host Controller Protocol (HCP)

Supports the communication between the contactless front end (CLF) of an NFC-enabled terminal and a contactless application as it can be found on the Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) inserted into such a device.

I/O Probe

Accessory that enables input of external signals to the COMPRION test tool:

8 digital external output signals
8 digital external input signals

An LED indicates status information of the I/O Probe. Using the included adaptor, the I/O Probe can be connected to the following COMPRION products:

Implementation Conformance Statement (ICS)

Checklist of the capabilities supported by an NFC implementation. It provides an overview of the features and options of the specifications that are implemented, including the modes of operation that the product supports. The ICS is used to select and parameterize test cases and as an indicator for basic interoperability between different products. An ICS for a protocol is usually known as a Protocol Implementation Conformance Statement (PICS).

Implementation under test (IUT)

Abstract term for the device under test (DUT) (or terminal) with all its parameters. It forms the highest node in the Device Test Center browser, which conveniently serves the administration and organization of test cases and monitoring sessions. An IUT may be referenced by more than one test plan.

Initialization

Loading of the fixed and person-neutral data for an application into the EEPROM.

Inter-Chip USB (IC-USB)

Low power variant of the standard physical USB 2.0 interface. IC-USB is used primarily in embedded systems. The technology is standardized by ETSI as the official high-speed interface for connections between the terminal's main chip-set and the UICC.

International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI)

Used to identify the user of a cellular Network. Unique identification associated with all cellular networks. It is stored as a 64-bit field and is sent by the terminal to the network.

International Organization for Standardization (ISO)

International standard-setting body composed of representatives from various national standards organizations.

Interpreter

Computer program that directly executes instructions written in a programming or scripting language without previously compiling them into machine language.

IP Multimedia Services Identity Module (ISIM)

Module that contains parameters for identifying and authenticating the user to the IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS).

IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS)

System used by 3G technologies to enable the convergence of voice, video, data, and mobile network technology by an IP-based infrastructure. IMS is the way to offer internet services everywhere using cellular technology and fills the gap between cellular and internet technology.

ISO/IEC 10373-6

Standard used to test conformance with ISO/IEC 14443.

ISO/IEC 14443

ISO/IEC 14443 ’Identification cards — Contactless integrated circuit cards — Proximity cards’ is an international standard that defines proximity cards used for identification, and the transmission protocols for communicating with it.

ISO/IEC 18092

ISO/IEC 18092 defines communication modes for Near Field Communication Interface and Protocol (NFCIP-1) using inductive coupled devices operating at the center frequency of 13.56 MHz for interconnection of computer peripherals. It also defines both the active and the passive communication modes of NFCIP-1 to realize a communication network using NFC devices for networked products and also for consumer equipment.

ISO/IEC 7810

ISO/IEC 7810 is one of a series of standards describing the characteristics of identification cards. It is the purpose of ISO/IEC 7810 to provide criteria to which cards shall perform and to specify the requirements for such cards used for international interchange. It takes into consideration both human and machine aspects and states minimum requirements.

ISO/IEC 7816

ISO/IEC 7816 is an international standard related to electronic identification cards with contacts, especially smart cards, managed jointly by the ISO and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). Part 3 is mostly referenced in the context of card testing, as it is called 'Cards with contacts — Electrical interface and transmission protocols’.

Linear Fixed Elementary File (Linear fixed EF)

Element of the smart card file system. Stores data records that all have the same fixed length.

Logical Link Control (LLC)

In the seven-layer OSI Model of computer networking, the LLC data communication Protocol Layer is the upper sublayer of the Data Link Layer (DLL), which is itself layer 2. The LLC sublayer provides multiplexing mechanisms that make it possible for several network protocols (IP, IPX, Decnet, and Appletalk) to coexist within a multi-point network and to be transported over the same network medium. It can also provide flow control and automatic repeat request (ARQ) error management mechanisms.

The LLC sublayer acts as an interface between the MAC sublayer and the network layer.

Master File (MF)

Element of the smart card file system. Constitutes the root file in the file system and contains Dedicated Files (DF) and Elementary Files (EF).

MFF2

Form factor of SIM cards: multi-file format 2 (embedded SIM).

Micro-SIM

Also called 3FF (3rd form factor) or mini-UICC. Micro-SIM cards have the same thickness and contact arrangements as Mini-SIM, but the length and width are further reduced.

The micro-SIM was developed by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) along with SCP, 3GPP (UTRAN/GERAN), 3GPP2 (CDMA 2000), ARIB, GSMA (GSMA SCaG and GSMNA), GlobalPlatform, Liberty Alliance, and the Open Mobile Alliance (OMA) for the purpose of fitting into devices too small for a mini-SIM.

Mikron Fare Collection System (MIFARE)

Invented by NXP Semiconductors. It is the worldwide most used contactless communication protocol within the smart card business. Originally, this protocol was used for ticketing in public transportation. MIFARE is compatible with ISO/IEC 14443 and therefore operating within the proximity distance of 10 cm.

Mini-SIM

Also called 2FF (2nd form factor) or plug-in SIM. It has the same contact arrangement as the full-size SIM and is normally supplied within a full-size card carrier, attached by a number of linking pieces. This arrangement (defined in ISO/IEC 7810 as ID-1/000) allows such a card to be used in a device requiring a full-size card, or in a device requiring a mini-SIM card after breaking the linking pieces.

Monitoring

The general term for listening in the communication between two partners, for example, card and terminal. Monitoring is implemented in all COMPRION test tools and is also offered by a dedicated solution called Interoperability Test Center.

Monitoring Probe

Special COMPRION probe for UT³ Platform and Spectro TP whose Analog Probe (APR) devices are pure simulation probes that do not have monitoring capabilities. In turn, the Monitoring Probe is not able to simulate but only to listen in on the signals exchanged between USIM and terminal.

The Monitoring Probe enables watching the voltages on all electrical USIM contacts (VCC, RST, CLK, I/O, SWP, USB) in relation to GND, the current in relation to VCC and the S2 signal of the SWP contact. These signals are available both as logical digital signals and as analog values.

Nano-SIM

Also called 4FF (4th form factor). It measures 12.3 × 8.8 × 0.67 mm and reduces the previous format to the contact area while maintaining the existing contact arrangements. A small rim of isolating material is left around the contact area to avoid short circuits with the socket. The 0.7 mm thickness of the nano-SIM is about 15% less than its predecessor. 4FF can be put into adaptors for use with devices taking 2FF or 3FF SIMs.

Near Field Communication (NFC)

Industry standard for short distance contactless data exchange using radio signals. The technology is a simple extension of the ISO/IEC 14443 proximity-card standard (contactless card, RFID) that combines the interface of a smart card and a reader into a single device. An NFC device can communicate with both existing ISO/IEC 14443 smart card and readers, as well as with other NFC devices, and is thereby compatible with existing contactless infrastructure already in use for public transportation and payment.

NFC Data Exchange Format (NDEF)

The Near Field Communication (NFC) standards created by NFC Forum specify different data and recording formats. These formats are necessary in order to enable NFC-compliant communication between NFC readers and NFC tags. NDEF is a lightweight, binary message format that can be used to encapsulate one or more application-defined payloads of arbitrary type and size into a single message construct.

NFC Forum Summary Test Report

Dedicated report intended for those users who intend to apply for certification at the NFC Forum. If you want to certify mobile equipment according to NFC Forum specifications, you must submit the required information about the product to be certified, including the Implementation Conformance Statement (ICS), test report, and test plan. In COMPRION test tools, the report can be printed, saved, and exported in various formats (for example, PDF).

NFC tag

NFC tags are an application of RFID technology. They are limited in their range to only a few inches or almost touching the phone to the tag. This is done deliberately, so that tags have no effect on a phone unless there is a clear user action to 'trigger' the tag. Although phones are usually touched to tags, this does not require any 'docking' or galvanic contact with the tag, so they are still considered to be a contactless technology. When an NFC-enabled phone is placed or 'tapped' on a tag, the programmed action is undertaken. This could cause a website to be displayed, the phone switched to silent mode, or many other possible actions.

Open Mobile Alliance (OMA)

Standardization body that develops open standards for the mobile phone industry.

Open Mobile API (OMAPI)

Application programming interface that enables the applications running in the mobile operating system to communicate with Secure Element (SE) applications.

Oscilloscope

Device, previously called an oscillograph and informally known as a 'scope', is a type of electronic test instrument that allows observation of constantly varying signal voltages, usually as a two-dimensional plot of one or more signals as a function of time. In COMPRION Software, it is called Analog Scope.

OSI Model

Conceptual model that characterizes and standardizes the internal functions of a communication system by partitioning it into abstraction layers. The model is a product of the Open Systems Interconnection project at the ISO, maintained by the identification ISO/IEC 7498-1.

The entire data transmission from and to the chip card can be represented by the OSI Model. A distinction is made between the electrical events on the I/O line, the logical sequences of the actual transmission protocols, and the behavior of the overlying application. The behavior and the sequences within and between these layers are specified in various international standards.

The OSI Model is organized into seven layers, three application-oriented, two transport-oriented, and two hardware-oriented.

Over-the-air (OTA)

Various methods of distributing new software updates, configuration settings, and even updating encryption keys to devices like cell phones, set-top boxes, or secure voice communication equipment (encrypted 2-way radios). One important feature of OTA is that one central location can send an update to all the users; who are unable to refuse, defeat, or alter that update, and it applies immediately to everyone on the channel.

Parameter

In COMPRION test tools, characteristics of different objects, like IUT, test case, test plan, etc.

Parity bit

The parity of the data bits in a bit sequence is compared with its parity bit.

Peak-to-peak

Difference between the maximum positive and the maximum negative amplitudes of a waveform. If there is no direct current (DC) component in an alternating current (AC) wave, then the peak-to-peak amplitude is twice the peak amplitude.

Physical Layer

The lowest or first layer in the OSI Model. This layer transmits the unstructured raw bit stream over a physical medium, relates the electrical, optical mechanical, and functional interfaces to the cable, defines how the cable is attached to the network adapter card, and defines data encoding and bit synchronization.

Protocol

In telecommunications, a protocol is a system of digital rules for data exchange within or between computers. In computer science, when data is exchanged through a computer network, the rules system is called a network protocol.

Protocol Implementation Conformance Statement (PICS)

Structured document that asserts which specific requirements are met by a given implementation of a protocol standard. It is often completed as a record of formal protocol conformance test results, and COMPRION test systems machine-author PICS as output. Potential buyers or users of the implementation can consult the PICS to determine if it meets their requirements.

Protocol Layer

The second layer of the OSI Model transfers the data packets provided by the upper layers to the underlying Physical Layer and constructs data packets on the receiver side out of the raw bit stream of the physical layer.

Proximity Coupling Device (PCD)

Generic term for readers within ISO/IEC 14443. The PCD emits an electromagnetic field and models all requests on the carrier frequency. All communication is initiated by the PCD and its range is up to 10 cm (proximity).

Proximity Integrated Circuit Card (PICC)

Contactless smart card that is able to operate within a radius of up to 10 cm of the card reader. As a passive card, it obtains power from electromagnetic field generated by the PCD.

Radio-frequency identification (RFID)

Technology that identifies objects or persons with the aid of electromagnetic radiation. The RFID system mostly consists of two parts: There is a transponder with a unique code on one side and on the other side there is a reading device. This device evaluates and saves the received code information so that the object/person carrying the transponder can be identified.

Remote SIM Provisioning (RSP)

Instead of today’s in-house UICC personalization, a remote provisioning mechanism will become the standard of the future, when eUICCs are inseparable from their devices. As the eUICC ecosystem consists of various industry players and heterogeneous systems, remote updating of an already implemented eUICC is a complex process.

Removable User Identity Module (R-UIM)

Card developed for CDMA handsets that extends the GSM SIM to CDMA phones and networks.

Reset

Procedure that restores the chip card to a clearly defined initial state. In a cold reset, the supply voltage is turned off and on again. A warm reset is carried out using a signal on the reset line to the chip card, and the supply voltage remains unaffected.

Result

The result of a test case contains the recorded monitoring data and the verdicts.

Result report

Another word for test case result. It is an overview of the test case and the test environment. The most important information being the conformance requirements and results as well as the individual steps of the test procedure including results. The report can be printed, saved, and exported in various formats (for example, PDF).

Result summary report

An overview of the executed test cases including verdicts and detailed results (monitoring, and — if available — Analog Scope data) either on test plan level or on IUT level. The report can be printed, saved, and exported in various formats (for example, PDF).

Secure Element (SE)

Tamper-resistant platform (typically a one chip secure micro-controller) capable of securely hosting applications and their confidential and cryptographic data (for example, key management) in accordance with the rules and security requirements set forth by a set of well-identified trusted authorities.

There are three different form factors of secure elements: UICC, embedded SE, and micro-SD. Both the UICC and micro-SD are removable. Each form factor links to a different business implementation and satisfies a different market need.

Secure Element Access Control (SEAC)

Security layer in the Open Mobile API (OMAPI) that controls which operating system applications can access which Secure Element (SE) applications.

Simple NDEF Exchange Protocol (SNEP)

Protocol that allows an application on an NFC-enabled device to exchange NFC Data Exchange Format (NDEF) messages with another NFC Forum device when operating in NFC Forum peer-to-peer mode. The protocol makes use of the Logical Link Control (LLC) protocol connection-oriented transport mode to provide a reliable data exchange.

Simulation

Process of testing either the terminal or the card by simulating the respective counterpart. In Connectivity Test Center, cards are tested by simulation of terminals and in Device Test Center, the terminal is tested by simulation of the card.

Single Wire Protocol (SWP)

Specification for a single-wire connection between the SIM card and an NFC chip in a cell phone. SWP is an interface between CLF and UICC. It is a contact-based protocol that is used for contactless communication. C6 pin of UICC is connected to CLF for SWP support. It is a bit-oriented full-duplex protocol which means that simultaneous transmission and reception are possible. CLF acts as a master and UICC as a slave. CLF provides the UICC with energy, a transmission clock, data, and signal for bus management. The data to be transmitted is represented by the binary states of voltage and current on the single wire.

Smart card

Another word for chip card or ICC. It is any pocket-sized card with embedded integrated circuits. Smart cards are usually made of plastic. Smart cards can provide identification, authentication, data storage, and application processing. Smart cards may provide strong security authentication for single sign-on within large organizations.

Smart Card Web Server

Mobile internet access based on smart cards that is enabled by a USIM which is capable of supporting standard web technologies like HTML and HTTP. COMPRION supports the improvement of this technology by offering simulation of an SCWS application on a UICC based on:

ETSI TS 102 223
3GPP TS 31.111
OMA Smart Card Web Server V1.1

Specification

Often abbreviated as ’spec’, refers to an explicit set of requirements to be satisfied by a material, design, product, or service.

Start bit

In ISO/IEC 7816-3, it is assumed that the start bit begins with the first falling edge after a reset or after a bit sequence. If the bit following this edge has been identified by the bit sampling process as a low bit, it is indeed a start bit and the bit sequence following afterwards is evaluated. If the bit sampling results in a high bit, the next falling edge after the sampling time point is considered as the starting point of the next bit. A check is then performed to ascertain whether this is a start bit.

Stop bit

In ISO/IEC 7816-3, the stop bits are evaluated for protocol T=0 as follows: Bit sampling is performed in the time frame from 0.5 etu to 1.5 etu of the first two stop bits. An error will only be signaled if the bit sampling discovers a low bit and the transfer direction of this bit is not the same as the transfer direction of the byte.

Subscriber Identity Module (SIM)

An integrated circuit that securely stores the IMSI and the related key used to identify and authenticate subscribers on mobile telephony devices (such as mobile phones and computers).

A SIM circuit is embedded into a removable plastic card. This plastic card is called ’SIM card’ and can be transferred between different mobile devices. A SIM card follows certain smart card standards. SIM cards were first made the same size as a credit card (85.60 mm × 53.98 mm × 0.76 mm = 1FF (1st form factor)). The development of physically smaller mobile devices prompted the development of smaller SIM cards where the quantity of card surrounding the integrated circuit is reduced. As the SIM used to be the dominating application on these types of smart cards, even nowadays, the card (hardware) itself is often called SIM, too.

SyncBus

External interface that synchronizes COMPRION's contactless devices allowing synchronous monitoring of the complete NFC communication chain between a smart card and a contactless reader. Contact-based SWP signals and the contactless ISO/IEC 14443 interface signals are recorded in one single file with the same time base and are shown together in COMPRION test software.

T=0/T=1 protocol

There are two standardized data exchange protocols defined in ISO/IEC 7816-3 for the communication between a smart card and a terminal: the byte-oriented half-duplex transmission protocol T=0 and the block-oriented half-duplex protocol T=1. The character-oriented T=0 protocol is very simple constructed and has a low memory capacity (about 300 bytes). The block-oriented T=1 protocol is a half-duplex protocol and works with error detection at the end of block. The memory requirement is about 1.100 bytes. The smart card and the terminal exchange data with the help of these protocols.

Terminal

Another word for mobile phone, cellular phone, cell phone, hand phone, handset, and any other kind of mobile device like card reader, NFC tag, etc.

Test

Technical operation that consists of the determination of one or more characteristics of a given product, process, or service according to a specified procedure.

Test bench

The implementation of test specifications or parts of test specifications on COMPRION test systems.

Test case

The individual test that must be successfully performed by the implementation under test (IUT). It is the smallest unit of a test bench, test group, test plan, or test specification.

Test case number

In COMPRION test systems,the test case number usually corresponds to the chapter number of the test specification. It is used to identify the test case.

Test group

Test cases can be grouped together, for example, according to topic to form test groups.

Test plan

A container for a set of customer-selected tests from a test bench. These tests can be executed as test cases within the test plan.

Test plan management

The comprehensive administration of test cases. This includes structuring in test plans and test groups as well as structured filing of test case results. A reference to an implementation under test (IUT) is required in order to create a test plan. IUT administration is also part of test plan management.

Test specification

A description of how to test conformity to the product specifications, written at a level of abstraction which makes it suitable for standardization. A test specification describes the test environment. It contains precise test sequences in the form of test procedures including individual test steps and the appertaining conformance requirements as well as instructions how to check if these requirements are met. Often abbreviated ’test spec’.

Time Division Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access (TD-SCDMA)

Air interface used in UMTS telecommunications networks in Asia as an alternative to W-CDMA. It was developed by the China Academy of Telecommunications Technology in collaboration with Datang and Siemens to be accepted by the IT as one of the five IMT-2000 standards.

TD-SCDMA is an option for those operators who want to move from a 2G to a 3G network. Besides data transmission at speeds up to 2 Mbps, it supports circuit-switched data, such as speech and video and packet-switched data from the internet.

Time-slot procedure

Method whereby a Proximity Coupling Device (PCD) establishes logical channels with one or more Proximity Integrated Circuit Card (PICC)s of Type B, which makes use of time-slot allocation for PICC response.

Translator

Software module that converts binary-coded commands on application level into a human-readable format.

Transmission protocol

The mechanisms for sending and receiving data between the terminal and the card.

Transparent Elementary File (Transparent EF)

Element of the smart card file system. A binary file that can store information of varying length in any location. This is a raw, unstructured, random access file. See also Elementary File (EF).

Transport Layer

The fourth layer of the OSI Model for network protocols, which is responsible for addressing, service quality, and security.

Universal Integrated Circuit Card (UICC)

Another word for the smart card used in mobile terminals in GSM and UMTS networks. The UICC ensures the integrity and security of all kinds of personal data. In a GSM network, the UICC contains a SIM application and in a UMTS network it is the USIM application. In a CDMA network, the UICC contains a CSIM application, in addition to 3GPP USIM and SIM applications. A card with all three features is called R-UIM. Thus, the R-UIM card can be inserted into CDMA, GSM, or UMTS handsets, and will work in all three cases.

Several applications (SIM, USIM, CSIM, etc.) make it possible to Access several networks with the same card.

Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS)

A third-generation mobile cellular system for networks based on the GSM standard. Developed and maintained by the 3GPP, UMTS is a component of the International Telecommunications Union IMT-2000 standard set and compares with the CDMA 2000 standard set for networks based on the competing cdmaOne/CDMA One technology. UMTS uses W-CDMA radio access technology to offer greater spectral efficiency and bandwidth to mobile network operators.

Universal Subscriber Identity Module (USIM)

A container for subscriber information, UMTS authentication information, and storage space for text messages and phone book contacts.

Verdict

The result of a test case. According to ISO, valid verdicts are pass, fail, and inconclusive.

Wide-band CDMA (W-CDMA)

Standard for 3G using a frequency channel of 5 MHz that allows an increasing data transmission rate. All users operate over the same channel using CDMA technique.

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Understanding the Mobile World