METHODS AND ARRANGEMENTS FOR MAPPING WIDELY DISPARATE PORTABLE TOKENS TO A STATIC MACHINE CONCENTRIC CRYPTOGRAPHIC ENVIRONMENT

Various methods and arrangements are provided to form an interface that allows portable token devices to be used within static machine concentric cryptographic environments. One example of a portable token device is a smart card that can be read or other accessed by a computer through a smart card reader. A cryptographic API, associated with the operating system of the computer, is configured to separate the applications from the cryptographic functions that require the portable tokens. The cryptographic API accesses a smart card cryptographic server provider (SC-CSP) that is configured to work with a smart card cryptographic provider (SCCP) program as part of the interface. This SC-CSP/SCCP interface determines that the requested cryptographic function requires a specific smart card and requests that the user provide the appropriate smart card. The SC-CSP and SCCP are object-oriented and utilize method invocation to provide an efficient and reliable interface that can support a variety of different portable tokens and cryptographic needs.