IC Card Middleware for Multi-Standard Service Discovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing contactless IC card systems face challenges in supporting multiple application services due to different data structures and technical standards, leading to difficulties in data transaction and user-friendly service usage, especially when multiple interface standards and physical layers are involved.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves storing service directory data on the IC card in a common format across all technical standards, allowing the card read/write device to perform service discovery and access various application services without requiring separate mechanisms for each standard, using a middleware layer to facilitate universal compatibility and reduce software bloat.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple interface standards and physical layers are supported to enable compatibility with various IC cards, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The card read/write device is designed with multi-functional capability to support multiple IC card interface standards (Type A, Type B, FeliCa) and physical layers through a unified architecture. The device can automatically detect the card type and switch between different communication protocols, enabling one device to serve multiple purposes without requiring separate dedicated devices for each standard.
Solution Approach 2:
A middleware layer is introduced between the application services and the physical communication layer. This middleware handles the complexity of multiple standards by providing a standardized interface for service access, while managing the underlying differences in communication protocols, data structures, and physical layer requirements. The middleware translates between different card standards and the uniform service access interface.
2Measurement precision
If separate mechanisms are implemented for each technical standard, then measurement precision for detecting card type is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple detection mechanisms for different IC card standards are merged into a unified detection system. The device uses a single detection interface that can identify Type A, Type B, and FeliCa cards through standardized initial communication sequences. The detection process combines protocol-specific recognition patterns into a unified card type identification mechanism, reducing the need for separate dedicated detection circuits for each standard.
3Ease of operation
If service directory data is stored in common format across all standards, then ease of operation for service access is improved, but adaptability requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The service directory data is stored in a standardized common format at the service interface layer, while the underlying data structures in each application service can maintain their standard-specific characteristics. This allows services to be accessed uniformly through the common format interface, while the system adapts to handle the specific data structures of each card type through the middleware translation layer.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enables seamless service discovery and access to multiple application services on IC cards with different physical layers, enhancing user experience and reducing the complexity of managing various technical standards, while maintaining security and compatibility with NFC technology.
Implementation Method 1
by putting the IC card close to a radio frequency (RF) field (magnetic field) caused by an electromagnetic wave generated by a card read/write device, the IC card is driven with power obtained by electromagnetic induction
Data Source
AI summary
Information communication includes communicating with an information storage medium having a data communication function determined by a physical communication layer. The information storage medium is accessed by determining the physical communication layer of the information storage medium, from among a plurality of potential physical communication layers. Service data describing attribute information for at least one stored application service is read from the information storage medium, attribute information regarding a desired one of the application services is acquired to confirm that the desired one of the application services is stored on the information storage medium.