Patent ID: 7043631

Claim:
A security module having a modifiable functionality, comprising: a microprocessor; a reprogrammable program memory in communication with said microprocessor, containing a current application program with associated identifier data, and a start loading program; a main memory in communication with said microprocessor and said program memory; a communication interface in communication with said microprocessor, at which data representing a modified application program and associated identification data and an associated certification code are provided; and upon start-up, said microprocessor causing at least a portion of said start loading program to be copied from said program memory into said main memory and said microprocessor being operated by said start loading program in said main memory to store data representing at least a portion of said modified application program in a free area of said program memory when the identification data associated with said modified application program identify said modified application program as a successor to said current application program based on the identification data associated with said current application program, and to authenticate said portion of said modified application program dependent on said certification code and, given authenticity, to store said portion of said modified application program, in said program memory as a valid program.