Technical Updates: Eclipse Keyple

CNA Technical Expert, Pierre Terree, shares the latest updates to the open source middleware, Eclipse Keyple

Eclipse Keyple is a simple, universal and open tool for developers to effectively and efficiently produce the next generation of innovative smart ticketing solutions. Developed by the Calypso Networks Association and hosted by the Eclipse Foundation, Keyple facilitates the development of low-cost, advanced, compliant smart ticketing software. Thanks to its open source architecture, terminal manufacturers and transport networks can participate side-by-side in creating better ticketing terminal solutions for operators. 

To ensure that it continues to meet evolving user demands and network needs, Keyple is continually enhanced and optimised. This summer, new tools are available to the community to further facilitate such integrations, free from proprietary constraints.

Integrate Calypso regardless of coding language

Keyple has been designed to be natively supported by as many systems as possible, but not all terminals are built using its core languages (Java, Kotlin, or C++). Some networks may have already invested in hardware that doesn’t support Keyple directly.

In the rare case that a system doesn’t have the capacity to support Keyple natively, developers can now use our new Interop Multiplatform Libraries. The libraries enable networks to deploy distributed architectures that use Keyple-based servers to execute advanced ticketing processes, while still working with “light” clients that don’t have the capacity to support Keyple natively. This means you can execute server commands without needing to rip and replace with Java, Kotlin or C++.

This code base can be used, for example, to implement universal Android and iOS mobile applications for remote-controlled NFC reloading of Calypso cards. This greatly reduces the implementation effort and ensures compatibility with the evolving Keyple ecosystem for more networks than ever before.

Manage contactless memory ticket solutions

Prior to the introduction of Calypso Light and Calypso Basic, many ticketing systems that used Calypso Prime as their contactless card solution for regular travellers had to use proprietary contactless memory ticket solutions to meet the needs of occasional travellers. 

Most of these memory ticket solutions bring significant security vulnerabilities, and their RF communication protocol is also non-standard, requiring specific adaptations for each contactless reader solution integrated into ticketing terminals. 

While Calypso Light and Calypso Basic have now filled that gap within our solution suite, not all networks have been able to migrate across. To help CNA members who are considering a full migration, the new Storage Card Extension Library now enables Keyple-based terminals to universally manage memory ticketing solutions (such as Mifare UltraLight, CT512, ST25) in addition to Calypso cards of reader solutions.

This Library is exclusively available to CNA members.

An Ongoing Evolution

CNA engineers, supported as always by input from the CNA community, will continue to develop and improve global technical standards that guarantee interoperability and scalability. Visit the Calypso Technical Document Library for more information and access to specifications, guidelines, technical notes, user manuals and more.