Italian point-of-sale (POS) vendor Da Sistemi Group has introduced a Linux-based POS device. The Dandy POS is claimed to be the first PCI-PED certified solution running exclusively on a single-chip SoC — in this case, Innova Card's USIP.

(Click for larger view of Da Sistemi's Dandy POS)

The USIP chip is based on a MIPS32 4KSd CPU core clocked at 96MHz, says French fabless semiconductor firm Innova Card. The highly integrated system-on-chip integrates controllers for smart cards, LCD panels, USB, and keypads, along with cryptographic hardware. The USIP SoC (see block diagram) is said to include tamper-resistant instant erase memory, a true random number generator, and secure real time clock. Ported to Linux in 2005, the SoC gained Trango Hypervisor virtualization technology earlier this year.

To compensate for Linux's large memory footprint, USIP's memory controller performs on-the-fly AES encryption of external SDRAM and Flash memories, says Innova Card. It is said to implement SPA/DPA resistant cryptographic operations like AES, 3DES, RSA and ECC.

Dandy Pad (Click to enlarge)

USIP was previously used in Da Sistemi's Dandy Pad (pictured at right), a smaller keypad system which, like the Dandy POS, passed PCI-PED (payment card industry PED) requirements. The new POS system can be used in standalone mode or in conjunction with the Dandy PAD, says Da Sistemi.

The Dandy POS includes optional interfaces including USB, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, ISDN, and GPRS says Da Sistemi. It is also said leverage USIP's Trango Hypervisor technology and the Linux open platform architecture to enable multiple applications to be hosted safely.

Key features of the Dandy POS include:

• Processor — Innova Card USIP SoC with96MHz MIPS32 4KSd CPU core
• Internal memory — 128KB SRAM; 256KB Flash
• External memory — 512KB SRAM; 8MB Flash; 16MB SDRAM
• Display — 128 x 64 FSTN (backlit)
• Dimensions — 8.4 x 3.7 x 2.7 inches (213 x 94 x 68 mm)
• Weight — 320g (.7 lbs)
• Communications — V32Bis PSTN Modem
• Options — 10/100 Ethernet; USB port; WiFi; ISDN, GPRS; Bluetooth; RS-232
• OS — Linux 2.6.17

Stated Claudio Giovannini, Da Sistemi's CMO, “Following our previous ZVT3000 product, which is certified by ZKA for the German market, this exciting result consolidates our experience in secure terminals under the Linux operating system. The joint effort with Innova Card allowed us to merge a convenient single chip solution with built-in security, secure life cycle and software library with our logical secure management and Linux.”

Availability

Da Sistemi did not offer information on the availability or pricing of the Dandy POS. More information can be found here.

 
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