This class library is designed to access BasicCards from .Net runtime. It may be used with other smart cards as well, but this was not a design goal. This library is designed to use a BasicCard not to program a BasicCard. This means for developing the application reside within the card, you still need our BasicCard Development Software which is available at www.basiccard.com. It is strongly recommended to start with this BasicCard Development Software before interfacing a BasicCard through this or any other library.

For using this class library Microsoft Windows with .Net runtime version 4.0 (Client Profile) or Linux with Mono runtime corresponding to .Net 4.0 or later is required. On Linux pcsc lite must be installed for smart card reader support.

Copyright and Licence

Copyright (c) 2017, ZeitControl cardsystems GmbH. All rights reserved.

THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS "AS IS" AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT OWNER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.

Redistribution of Runtime Files

You are free to redistribute the binary runtime files building the BasicCard .Net Class Library runtime. You are allowed to do this free of charge together with your application, as long as you agree to the licence conditions on this page.

Redistribution and use in binary forms, without modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are met:

  • Redistributions of binary files must remain unmodified including all embedded copyright notices.

  • Redistributions in binary form must either:

    • Reproduce the above copyright notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.

      or

    • Redistributor must take over all risks arising from using this software.

  • Neither the name of the company ZeitControl nor the names of its contributors may be used to endorse or promote products derived from this software without specific prior written permission.

Introduction of Concept

The major design goal of this library was to use features provided by .Net efficiently to generate a powerful framework. This framework shall:

  • Assist the developer to focus his work on his target requirements.

  • Reduce efforts on accessing the smart card and working with smartcard interface devices (card readers).

  • Support a modularized development.

  • Allows extensions to add support for additional card reader types.

This is achieved by having a framework which manages and monitors all available card reader (interface device). The framework is able to notify requesting clients about card status changes and provide access to a specific card, independent of used card reader.

The card is the important part. It is not required to select a specific card reader to use a card. The card service has to be able to identify if an inserted, available card is supported by it.

Then the application developer does not need to care about identifying a card or selecting a card reader. He just requests to get access to a certain card service, which itself identifies the matching card (if available) as provided by the framework.

So this concept is based on spliting the development into multiple parts. These parts or steps may be developed by different developers, departments or companies. These parts are:

  • The smart card: Typically a BasicCard with a specific application.

  • The card service: A .Net class implementing a certain interface to provide access to functions and features provided by the smartcard.

  • The application: A .Net software application making use of this Library and the card service.

See Also