SQL databases come to Java smart cards

June 16, 1999 — Two vendors of tiny SQL (structured query language) databases for Java-based smart cards will be shipping their products in the third quarter of 1999, giving some PC power to the plastic cards with embedded microprocessors.

Isol Corp. and Pervasive Software Inc. are racing to be first, and both have just announced the specifications for their products.

The consumer with a database-equipped smart card will most likely be carrying around more personal data, according to the two companies. The need for storing detailed data elsewhere, whether it be at the retailers offering loyalty programs, the doctor or the bank, will be reduced.

“You may have your medical history [to take] along with you to the doctor,” said Lionel Carrasco, chief executive officer of Isol, based in Mexico City, referring to a pilot project in the health care sector.

An SQL database provides an infrastructure for data storage on the card that can be used by multiple applications, according to Greg Moerbe, business development manager at Pervasive Software, based in Austin, Texas. It also makes smart card applications integrate better in a client/server environment, he added.

The Pervasive SQL 2000 database will take up less than 8KB of the 16-KB memory on the smart card chip. The product is being developed in cooperation with Schlumberger Ltd., one of the two major manufacturers of smart cards.

Isol, meanwhile, is working with the other major industry player, Gemplus Corp. on the SQLMachine. That code takes up 10KB of memory.

So far data has been stored on chip cards in proprietary formats and flat files, which creates many disadvantages, according to Moerbe. So far, the databases are chained to the respective manufacturers of smart cards because of differences in Java “flavors.”

“But we are working closely together with Isol in the Java Card Forum in order to get full interoperability,” said Moerbe.

Java’s owner, Sun Microsystems, is also participating, as are card manufacturers and major credit card companies such as Visa International Inc. which defined an interoperable Java Card extension.

The Java Card operating environment competes with Microsoft’s Smart card for Windows and the Multos multi-application system developed by Mondex International Ltd., according to Don Davis, editor of the publication Card Tech, based in Bethesda, Maryland.

“Which will win is a heated question in the industry,” said Davis, who follows the vendors and users of smart cards closely.