Introduction and Background

C H A P T E R 1

This book is targeted for the Connected Edition. The Java Card 3 Platform consists of two editions.

The Classic Edition is based on an evolution of the Java Card Platform, Version 2.2.2 and is backward compatible with it, targeting resource-constrained devices that solely support applet-based applications. You may disregard the specifications for the Connected Edition if you are interested in the functionality found only in the Classic Edition.

The Connected Edition features a significantly enhanced runtime environment and a new virtual machine. It includes new network-oriented features, such as support for web applications, including the Java Servlet APIs, and also support for applets with extended and advanced capabilities. An application written for or an implementation of the Connected Edition may use features found in the Classic Edition. Therefore, you will need to use the specifications for both the Classic Edition and the Connected Edition.

This document specifies the virtual machine of the Java Card 3 platform, Connected Edition. The main goal of the Virtual Machine Specification, Java Card Platform, v3.0.1, Connected Edition is to standardize a highly portable, minimum-footprint Java application development platform for resource-constrained, advanced smart card and secure token devices.

This specification defines the minimum required complement of Java technology components and libraries for smart card devices. Java programming language and virtual machine features, core libraries, security, input/output, and networking are the primary topics addressed by this specification.

Virtual Machine Specification, Java Card Platform, v3.0.1, Connected Edition defines the core platform that will be used as the basis to support the Web Application Model and the APDU-based Application Model on an advanced smart card device as described in the Runtime Environment Specification, Java Card Platform, Version 3.0.1, Connected Edition.

1.1 Comparison to CLDC 1.1 Specification

The list below summarizes the main differences in Virtual Machine Specification, Java Card Platform, v3.0.1, Connected Edition when compared with the Connected Limited Device Configuration Specification, Version 1.1 (CLDC):

Java Development Kit (JDK) version 1.6 language features defined in the The Java Language Specification (Java Series), Third Edition are included.

The JDK version 1.5 virtual machine extensions to the class file format are supported.

The JDK version 1.6 virtual machine extensions to the class file format are supported.

Floating point support has been removed.

All floating point byte codes have been removed.

Classes Float and Double have been removed.

Methods in library classes that handle floating point and double values have been removed.

Weak reference support has been removed.

Some methods in library classes have been removed.

Runtime.exit()

System.exit()

Additional library classes that provide programming utilities have been added.

java.lang.Enum

java.lang.IllegalStateException

java.lang.Iterable<T>

java.lang.StringBuilder

java.util.EventObject

java.util.EventListener

java.util.Iterator<E>

java.lang.annotation.*

Various library classes for additional I/O and networking support have been added.

java.io.BufferedReader

java.io.BufferedWriter

java.io.PrintWriter

javax.microedition.io.HttpConnection

javax.microedition.io.HttpsConnection

javax.microedition.io.SecureConnection

javax.microedition.io.SecurityInfo

javax.microedition.io.ServerSocketConnection

javax.microedition.io.SocketConnection

javax.microedition.io.UDPDatagramConnection

javax.microedition.pki.Certificate

javax.microedition.pki.CertificateException

The platform includes support for fine grained access control security functionality.

A few library classes to support the access control functionality have been added.

java.security.AccessController

java.security.AccessControlException

java.security.Permission

java.security.BasicPermission

A minimal set of library classes to enable internationalization and localization have been added.

java.util.Locale

java.util.ResourceBundle

java.util.ListResourceBundle

java.util.MissingResourceException

Some library classes have been enhanced with generics semantics.

java.lang.Class<T>

java.util.Hashtable<K,V>

java.util.Enumeration<E>

java.util.Stack<E>

java.util.Vector<E>