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SmartCard Solution

A SmartCard is a chip card that works in a similar way as a phone card or money card. Although our ACOS SmartCards with EEPROM chip are more expensive than customary magnetic cards, which are only equipped with a simple memory chip, they provide some undeniable advantages you do not want to miss:

1. Copy-proof and protected against fraudulent use
2. Can be used in combination with any customary SmartCard reader compatible to Microsoft's SmartCard API
3. No server necessary for synchronizing data
4. You can erase and rewrite data as often as you like
5. Extremely high reading/writing speed
6. You can also use the SiteKiosk Object Model to implement your own terminal as a charging station and recharge the cards
7. Detailed information on the ACOS cards

1. System requirements
1.1 Hardware

1. A SmartCard reader that supports Microsoft's SmartCard API, which most devices do these days.
2. A Master(Key) Card containing your personal code (can only be obtained from us).
3. ACOS SmartCards for your customers (can only be obtained from us).
4. An available USB port to connect a reader (you can also use other SmartCard readers that are, for example, used with the COM port).

1.2 Software

1. Windows Vista, 7, 8
2. Internet Explorer 9, 10 and 11
3. SiteKiosk PAY license
4. SiteKiosk SmartCard Admin tool (will be installed automatically along with the Payment Bundle)
5. Drivers for the SmartCard reader

2. Installing the hardware
Start by installing the SmartCard device on your computer. Install the device following the manufacturer's instructions. Please understand that we cannot be responsible for or support any devices that are sold by other manufacturers.
Note:
Refer to our troubleshooting section for information on TOWITOKO devices.
3. Configuring the SmartCard features
3.1 General information
After installing SiteKiosk and connecting the hardware to your computer, you can use the SiteKiosk Configuration Wizard to create a configuration. Look for the the entry "Smart Card: ACOS1" in the list of available devices. Proceed by pressing Enable to enable the device.
The green dot next to the entry for the device indicates that the payment device has been enabled.

To make sure that only the SmartCards you issued will work on your terminal, you will first have to unlock your terminal ONCE by means of your MasterCard.

Follow the instructions given in the configuration dialog box that pops up. If the dataset stored on the MasterCard was read successfully, you will see a corresponding notification.
If you want to read in a new dataset from a MasterCard, the old dataset will have to be reset. This will be necessary, for example, if you have created new SmartCards with a different MasterCard and you only want to use these new cards.

Note:
Make sure that the SmartCard administration tool is not open at the same time. This could prevent the MasterCard data from being read in successfully.
3.2 Enable currency conversion table

When using the SmartCard administration tool, you can determine how many units of a certain currency are supposed to be stored on the card.

The table already contains all member countries of the Euro zone. If you want to use the same cards in different countries, you can have the software calculate any conversion you need. Thus, you will, for example, be able to use cards issued in the USA in Canada as well because the units stored on the card will automatically be converted to the required currency.
3.3 Grant write permissions to scripts
Use the CREDIT function to allow your customers to recharge their cards by means of a standalone terminal (charging station).
For security reasons, you ought to make sure to turn off this function for individual clients.
3.4 Use Start Page stored on the SmartCard
When setting up the SmartCards using the admin tool, you can store an optional Start Page on the card. After reading the SmartCard, SiteKiosk will then automatically open this URL.

4. Information on the ACOS cards
The following information has been taken from the manufacturer's specifications:
4.1 ACOS security features

- Digital Encryption Standard (DES) -- Ciphering is used in this mode of protection, which is like translating the information into some unknown foreign language, so the stored information can be transmitted confidentially. Simple DES or Triple DES versions are both available.
- Message Authentication Capability (MAC) -- This is based on the exchange and mutual verification of secret passwords [keys] between the card and the card-accepting device. The whole verification process is done within the device and information is never transmitted outside during the process, making eavesdropping virtually impossible.
- Enforced Message Authentication with random numbers and dedicated key pair.
- Continuous system integrity checks guarding against attempted security breaches.
- Five secret codes + Issuer Code + Pin to selectively enable access to data stored in card and to features and functions provided by the card e.g. the READ and WRITE commands.
- Account Transaction Processing (ATP) provides dedicated data structure for payment applications with CREDIT, DEBIT, INQUIRE ACCOUNT commands for secure transaction processing.

4.2 Other ACOS card features

- Issuer definable file structure for convenient and efficient memory management.
- Users can choose single DES or triple DES for encryption algorithm.

5. Troubleshooting
5.1 TOWITOKO READER is not detected
Readers made by TOWITOKO will sometimes not work properly with the payment module. You may experience that the reader simply shuts down or stops working for an extended period during a session. It appears that this problem occurs most frequently when the reader is used in combination with applications that use up a lot of memory, e.g. Flash or DirectX games. We have already notified TOWITOKO about this problem. It is possible that this problem will be eliminated with the next driver update for the hardware.
Another problem is that sometimes the readers from Towitoko are not properly detected by the system. If you come across this problem, open the "SmartCard Explorer" which is shipped by Towitoko together with the reader and explicitly select the COM port to which the device is connected.
5.2 ACR30 USB - computer is not booting
Some computers will not boot with the USB reader plugged in. This is usually due to the fact that the PSU is too weak.

See also

Payment Simulation Dialog Box (For Testing)
Coin Acceptor WH EMP800 and 850/Change Giver GW200/Escrow E104
Coin Acceptor Microcoin QL/Comex CX-363CA
Coin Acceptor (Pulse)
Credit Cards
SiteCafe for Cybercafes
Surf Time Limiter
ccTalk Interface
CCT900 Interface
CoinRS Interface (COM-Port)
HW200 USB Interface
PcCredit Board (COM-Port)
Bill Acceptor (several)
Bill Acceptor Smiley
Bill Acceptor CashCode
Bill Acceptor MEI EBDS

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