Debugging method realized by NFC (Near Field Communication) equipment

Abstract

The invention relates to a debugging method implemented by an NFC device. A commissioning method implemented by a first near field communication (NFC) device includes storing, in a memory of the first NFC device, one or more parameters associated with operation of the first NFC device during communication with a second remote NFC device. The first NFC device then transmits the stored one or more parameters to the second remote NFC device using a select answer (ATS) communication transmitted in response to receiving the select answer (ATS) communication.

Description

[0001] Priority claim

[0002] This application claims the benefit of priority of French Patent Application No. 2308742, filed on August 17, 2023, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety to the maximum extent permitted by law. Technical Field

[0003] The present disclosure generally relates to commissioning methods implemented by NFC devices, and NFC devices and systems implementing such commissioning methods. Background Art

[0004] NFC communication devices are becoming more and more common and are equipped with many electronic devices, and more particularly cellular phones (smart phones).

[0005] NFC protocols, such as those defined by the NFC Forum, allow communication between NFC devices.

[0006] However, nowadays when NFC communication is disturbed or fails to start, it is difficult to understand the source of the problem.

[0007] It is desirable to implement a debugging method so that the conditions that cause interference with NFC communications can be known.

[0008] There is a need in the art to overcome all or some of the disadvantages of known NFC methods and devices. Summary of the invention

[0009] An embodiment provides a debugging method implemented by a first NFC device, comprising storing in a memory of the first NFC device one or more parameters associated with operation of the first device during communication with a second remote NFC device.

[0010] According to an embodiment, the memory is a volatile memory.

[0011] According to an embodiment, the memory is a history memory.

[0012] According to an embodiment, the memory is a non-volatile memory.

[0013] According to an embodiment, the one or more parameters are physical parameters.

[0014] According to an embodiment, said physical parameter of said one or more parameters is associated with a value of an electromagnetic field received by the first device.

[0015] According to an embodiment, the one or more parameters associated with the operation of the first device are associated with a configuration state of the first device.

[0016] According to an embodiment, the configuration state is selected from a clock state, a frame end time and a time sequence.

[0017] According to an embodiment, the method comprises, after receiving a request sent by a second remote device, extracting from said memory said one or more parameters associated with the operation of the first device.

[0018] According to an embodiment, the extracted one or more parameters are transmitted to the second device in an ATS frame.

[0019] An embodiment provides an NFC device comprising one or more circuits configured to determine one or more parameters associated with operation of the NFC device during communication with a second remote NFC device; the NFC device is configured to implement a method such as described above.

[0020] According to an embodiment, the one or more circuits configured to determine one or more parameters associated with operation of the first NFC device are selected from a sensor transmitting data related to an electromagnetic field originating from a second remote NFC device and a register configured to record an alarm.

[0021] An embodiment provides a system including: a first NFC device such as described above; and a second NFC device remote from the first NFC device.

[0022] According to an embodiment, the system includes a device configured to capture communications between a first NFC device and a second NFC device and extract one or more parameters associated with an operation of the first NFC device.

[0023] An embodiment provides a method of debugging a system such as described above, and includes: capturing communication content between a first NFC device and a second NFC device using a device configured to capture communication content between the first NFC device and the second NFC device; and extracting the one or more operating parameters associated with the operation of the first NFC device during the communication based on the captured content. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] The foregoing features and advantages, as well as other features and advantages, will be described in detail in the remainder of the disclosure of specific embodiments given by way of illustration and not limitation, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0025] Figure 1 A simplified diagram showing an example of an NFC communication system;

[0026] Figure 2 Shows Figure 1 A debugging method for an NFC communication system; and

[0027] Figure 3 Shows Figure 1 Communication example of the NFC communication system. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] Similar features in the various figures are designated by similar reference numerals. In particular, common structural and / or functional features in various embodiments may have the same reference numerals and may employ the same structures, dimensions, and material properties.

[0029] For clarity, only the steps and elements useful for understanding the embodiments are illustrated and described in detail.

[0030] Unless otherwise specified, when referring to two elements being connected together, this means a direct connection without any intermediate elements except conductors, and when referring to two elements being coupled together, this means the two elements may be connected or they may be coupled via one or more other elements.

[0031] In the following description, when referring to terms such as "edge", "back", "top", "bottom", "left", "right" and the like that define absolute positions, or terms such as "above", "below", "upper", "lower" and the like that define relative positions, or terms such as "horizontal", "vertical" and the like that define directions, unless otherwise specified, they all refer to the orientation of the drawing.

[0032] Unless otherwise indicated, the expressions "about", "approximately", "substantially" and "approximately" mean plus or minus 10%, preferably plus or minus 5%.

[0033] The NFC communication system, or in other words, the Near Field Communication system, uses a radio frequency electromagnetic field generated by a device (terminal or reader) to communicate with another device (card). The same device, in particular in the case of a cellular phone, can operate in reader mode by generating a field for another device, or in card emulation mode by capturing a field generated by another device. This technology involves the communication between two devices at very short distances (shorter than about ten centimeters). Applications of the NFC system are, for example, secure payments or transportation cards.

[0034] In the present disclosure, a case where an NFC device is compatible with a system of the NFC technology according to the NFC Forum is considered.

[0035] Figure 1 A simplified diagram of an example of an NFC communication system 100 is shown.

[0036] The NFC communication system 100 includes a first remote NFC device 110 and a second remote NFC device 150 .

[0037] The first NFC device 110 includes an antenna 112, which is coupled, preferably connected to an impedance matching circuit 118 (matching). The first NFC device 110 includes, for example, an NFC controller 116 (GPU), which includes one or more processors, which are controlled by instructions stored in a system instruction memory not shown. The first NFC device 110 includes, for example, one or more volatile or non-volatile memories 120 (mem) and one or more physical parameter sensors 122 (sensors) and a storage area of ​​a modifiable element 114 of the configuration (settings) of the first NFC device 110. One or more system buses 130, data, address and control signals are used for the exchange of control signals between, for example, the NFC controller 116 (GPU), one or more volatile or non-volatile memories 120 (mem), one or more physical parameter sensors 122 and the setting storage area 114.

[0038] The device 100 may also integrate Figure 1 Other circuits implementing other functions (eg one or more volatile and / or non-volatile memories, other processing units) that are not shown in the figure. Among these other circuits, the device 100 includes a read-only or static memory, for example of the ROM type.

[0039] For example, the sensor 122 is configured to capture the value of the electromagnetic field at the level of the first NFC device 110 during communication with the second NFC device 150. In another example, the sensor or sensors give an image of the value of the generated current with a higher or lower accuracy.

[0040] The settings 114 are modifiable, for example, by a user and relate, for example, to clock states and / or time sequences of the device 110. The time sequences are, for example, reply time intervals. The settings 114 are, for example, encoded in one or more registers.

[0041] The first and second NFC devices communicate via an electromagnetic field. When the second device 150 is in so-called reader mode, it emits an electromagnetic field and if the first NFC device 110 is in so-called card emulation mode and passes through this field, the captured energy enables it to be powered and answer requests sent by the second NFC device 150.

[0042] Among the possible requests sent by the second device 150 in reader mode, there is a request called a Request Answer To Select (RATS) request. This RATS request requires a response from a part of the first NFC device 110, which is called an Answer To Select (ATS). This ATS response includes data that does not change, in other words, data that is non-dynamic or non-modifiable during the life of the product, such as, for example, the identity of the NFC device 110.

[0043] In the example shown, the sniffing device 160 is configured to capture the communication content between the first circuit NFC 110 and the second circuit NFC 150. The sniffing device 160 enables the data sent by the first NFC device 110 to be extracted based on the captured content.

[0044] In case of defective communication, since the environmental and operating parameters of the first NFC device 110 are not stored and transmitted, and since environmental parameters usually change rapidly, it is now difficult to access these parameters that caused the failure. Therefore, debugging of this situation is difficult and expensive.

[0045] The described embodiments provide a debugging method implemented by a first NFC device 110 and comprising the steps of storing in a memory of the first NFC device 110 one or more parameters associated with the operation of the first device during communication (eg, last communication) with a second remote NFC device 150 .

[0046] An advantage of these embodiments lies in the fact that the operating parameters of the NFC device 110 present during the communication are easily accessible, since these parameters are stored and thus easier to find. Thus, the resolution of problems related to communication between NFC devices is improved.

[0047] Figure 2 Shows Figure 1 A debugging method for an NFC communication system.

[0048] In a first step 202 (START), the method starts.

[0049] In a subsequent step 204 (obtaining parameters associated with the functionality of the NFC devices during the last communication), the operating parameters of the last communication between the first NFC device 110 and the second NFC device 150 are determined. These parameters are, for example, physical parameters originating from one or more sensors 122 and / or, for example, from configuration parameters 114 selected by a user.

[0050] In a subsequent step 206 (Store Parameters), the operating parameters of the last communication are stored in the memory 120, for example, which may be volatile or non-volatile.

[0051] In an optional subsequent step 208 (Transmit Parameters), the stored operating parameters of the last communication are transmitted in an ATS reply as a response to the RATS request of the second NFC device 150. In an example, the stored operating parameters of the last communication are transmitted in a library called RFlib in the ATS reply. After being received by the device 160 or the second NFC device 150, the operating parameters present during the last communication can be extracted.

[0052] Figure 3 Shows Figure 1 Communication example of the NFC communication system.

[0053] More particularly, the shown example illustrates the repository RFlib used in particular in an ATS reply frame of the first NFC device 110 .

[0054] The library RFlib shown includes data organized, for example, in registers, TL, T0, TA(1), TB(1), TC(1), T1, ..., Tk, CRC1, CRC2. The data TL corresponds, for example, to a byte length. The data T0 corresponds to a data format. The data TA(1), TB(1) and TC(1) correspond to interface bytes, such as, for example, modifiable user settings, codes called DS and DR, codes called frame wait time integer (FWI) and start frame protection time (SFGI), and finally protocol option codes. The data CRC1 and CRC2 are cyclic redundancy codes for error detection. The data T1, ..., Tk correspond to register storage of historical bytes (for the definition of historical byte registers in this context, reference is made to ISO / IEC 7816-4:2020, incorporated by reference). In the example, these historical memory bytes are used to display, in other words store, parameters associated with the operation of the device 110 during the last communication, which is expected to be used for debugging methods of communications that have been disturbed. These parameters vary over time depending on the environment or on the proximity or type of the second device 150, in other words, the parameters stored in the library are dynamic or modifiable during the life of the product. In an example, T1 shows the configuration state of the first device 110, such as the end of frame time (EOF). In another example, T2, T3 and T4 show an image of the electromagnetic field or an image of the current induced at the level of the device 110 during the last communication, and this has more or less accuracy (for example, T2 is more accurate than T3 and T4). Parameters associated with the operation of the device 110 during the last communication are stored in registers linked to addresses T1 to Tk, for example. The use of historical bytes to represent or temporarily or non-volatilely store parameters associated with the operation of the device 110 during the last communication makes it possible not to modify the arrangement of the frames defined by the NFC protocol while integrating data useful for debugging therein.

[0055] When the communication is interrupted or disturbed, then the parameters associated with the operation of the first NFC device 110 during the last communication may be traced back, for example, by the device 160 , by analyzing the ATS frame.

[0056] Various embodiments and variations have been described. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain features of these various embodiments and variations may be combined, and that other variations will occur to those skilled in the art. In particular, with respect to storing parameters associated with the operation of device 110 during the last communication, it is contemplated that these parameters may be stored in non-volatile memory and in the history bytes of the ATS frame.

[0057] Finally, based on the functional indications given above, the practical implementation of the described embodiments and variants is within the capabilities of a person skilled in the art. In particular, parameters associated with the operation of the first NFC device 110 during the last communication can be stored in libraries other than the library RFlib and the historical bytes, and may be transmitted in another frame other than the ATS frame. In addition, it is contemplated to store any type of parameters associated with the operation, such as other physical parameters, such as humidity rates or data relative to the time when the last transaction occurred. It is also conceivable to store the operating parameters of the device 110 during the communication or transaction after the last communication.

Claims

1. A debugging method implemented by a first near field communication (NFC) device, comprising: One or more parameters associated with operation of the first NFC device during communication with a second remote NFC device are stored in a memory of the first NFC device.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein: The memory is a volatile memory.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein: The memory includes a history byte register storing the one or more parameters.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein: The memory is a non-volatile memory.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein: The one or more parameters are physical parameters.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein: The physical parameter of the one or more parameters is associated with a value of an electromagnetic field received by the first NFC device.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein: The one or more parameters associated with the operation of the first NFC device are associated with a configuration state of the first NFC device.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein: The configuration state is selected from a clock state, a frame end time, and a time sequence.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: After receiving the request sent by the second remote NFC device, the one or more parameters associated with the operation of the first NFC device are retrieved from the memory. 10 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising transmitting the one or more parameters extracted from the memory to the second NFC device in a select reply ATS frame.

11. A near field communication (NFC) device, comprising: one or more circuits configured to determine one or more parameters associated with operation of the NFC device during communication with a second remote NFC device; Wherein, the NFC device is configured to implement the method according to claim 1.

12. The NFC device according to claim 11, wherein: The one or more circuits configured to determine one or more parameters associated with operation of the first NFC device are selected from: a sensor transmitting data related to an electromagnetic field originating from a second remote NFC device and a register configured to record an alarm.

13. A system comprising: The first NFC device according to claim 11; A second NFC device is located away from the first NFC device.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising a sniffing device configured to capture communications between the first NFC device and the second NFC device and extract one or more parameters associated with operations of the first NFC device.

15. The method for debugging a system according to claim 14, comprising: capturing the communication content between the first NFC device and the second NFC device using a sniffing device configured to capture the communication content between the first NFC device and the second NFC device; as well as The one or more operating parameters associated with operation of the first NFC device during communication are extracted based on the captured content.

16. A debugging method implemented by a first near field communication (NFC) device, comprising: storing, in a memory of the first NFC device, an end-of-frame time (EOF) parameter used by the first NFC device in connection with communicating with a second NFC device; as well as In response to a request select answer RATS communication sent by the second NFC device, transmitting the stored EOF parameter from a memory of the first NFC device to the second NFC device in a select answer ATS communication sent by the first NFC device; Wherein, the frame of the ARS communication includes a field linked to a location in the memory where the EOF parameter is stored.

17. A debugging method implemented by a first near field communication (NFC) device, comprising: storing, in a memory of the first NFC device, an image of the electromagnetic field associated with communications between the first NFC device and the second NFC device; as well as In response to a request select answer RATS communication sent by the second NFC device, transmitting the stored image of the electromagnetic field from a memory of the first NFC device to the second NFC device in a select answer ATS communication sent by the first NFC device; Wherein the frame of the ARS communication includes a field linked to a location in a memory where an image of the electromagnetic field is stored.

18. A debugging method implemented by a first near field communication (NFC) device, comprising: storing, in a memory of the first NFC device, an image of current induced at the first NFC device during communication with the second NFC device; as well as transmitting the image of the current from a memory of the first NFC device to the second NFC device in a select answer ATS communication sent by the first NFC device in response to a request select answer RATS communication sent by the second NFC device; Therein, the frame of the ARS communication includes a field linked to a location in a memory where an image of the current is stored.

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