Overview
ISO/IEC TS 22924:2021 - Identification cards - Transport layer topologies - Configuration for HCI/HCP interchange specifies requirements for a transport-layer protocol derived from HCI/HCP (see ETSI TS 102 622) that enables communication between devices regardless of underlying data link or physical layers. The Technical Specification defines a flexible host/host-controller architecture, extends connection topologies (e.g., star and other topologies), and provides configuration and segregation rules relative to existing ETSI-based systems (notably ETSI TS 102 613). The document focuses on the transport/topology layer (APDU carriage, gates, pipes, HID/GID addressing) while explicitly excluding data link/physical-layer specifics (e.g., SWP) and certain OSI transport-layer duplications.
Key topics and technical requirements
- System architecture and topologies
- Reference star topology with one host controller and multiple hosts; examples of alternative topologies are discussed.
- HCI/HCP transport concepts
- Definition of HCP stack: routing layer, messaging layer and gates.
- Logical components: hosts, host controller, gates, pipes, APDU gates and APDU application gates.
- Addressing and identifiers
- Host identifiers (HID) ranges and allocation rules; gate identifiers (GID) and their semantics.
- Gates registry and management
- Registries for administration, link management, identity management, loopback and APDU gates; rules for dynamic GID/HID assignment.
- APDU transport rules
- APDU exchange via HCI/HCP, fragmentation considerations, chaining of message blocks, and differences between APDU transport and HCP frames.
- Configuration requirements
- Logical components of APDU-enabled hosts; segregation between legacy ETSI TS 102 613 systems and systems compliant with this TS.
- Scope exclusions (important)
- Data link and physical layers (e.g., SWP per ETSI TS 102 613) and duplication of OSI transport layer encapsulation (e.g., forcing HCP into T=1) are out of scope.
Applications and practical value
- Enables interoperable APDU exchange across diverse devices (secure elements, UICCs, NFC subsystems, contactless front-ends) without mandating specific physical links.
- Useful for system designers building host-controller networks in mobile devices, payment terminals, ticketing readers, and IoT secure-element architectures.
- Facilitates coexistence and migration strategies between legacy ETSI TS 102 613 deployments and new HCI/HCP-based topologies.
Who should use this standard
- Smartcard and secure element manufacturers
- Device OEMs (mobile, POS, ticketing)
- NFC/CLF and contactless frontend designers
- System integrators and solution architects for secure-APDU transport
- Test labs and compliance engineers
Related standards
- ETSI TS 102 622 (HCI core / HCP reference)
- ETSI TS 102 613 (SWP / physical-layer considerations - referenced but not modified)
- ISO/IEC 7816-3 and ISO/IEC 7816-4 (APDU, electrical interfaces, commands)
- ISO/IEC 18328 (ICC-managed device use cases)
Keywords: ISO/IEC TS 22924:2021, HCI/HCP, transport layer topologies, identification cards, APDU, host controller, ETSI TS 102 622, gates, pipes, HID, GID.