NFC Applet Conflict Management in Mobile Devices

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Mobile devices with near field communication (NFC) technology face compatibility conflicts when multiple NFC applets are concurrently enabled, particularly due to differences in operating frequencies and applet IDs, which can lead to communication failures and user notifications.

Innovation Solution

A processor in the mobile device is configured to determine whether concurrent enabling of multiple NFC applets will cause compatibility conflicts, allowing for simultaneous operation if no conflicts exist, and providing notifications or suggesting alternative applet combinations if conflicts are detected.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple NFC applets are concurrently enabled in a mobile device, then the versatility and functionality of the device is improved, but compatibility conflicts may occur leading to communication failures

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveNFC applet availabilityVSAvoidcommunication reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The processor performs preliminary compatibility checking before enabling multiple NFC applets concurrently. It determines whether enabling a first NFC applet and a second NFC applet together will cause compatibility conflicts based on their operating frequencies and applet IDs, and only enables them if no conflicts are detected. This preventive approach ensures reliable communication while maintaining versatility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If NFC applets with different operating frequencies are enabled concurrently, then the device can support more communication protocols, but frequency conflicts cause communication failures

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotocol supportVSAvoidfrequency conflict
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The processor applies preliminary anti-action by detecting potential frequency conflicts between NFC applets before they are enabled concurrently. It compares the operating frequencies of the first NFC applet and the second NFC applet, and prevents enabling both if they would cause harmful frequency interference, thus maintaining protocol support without communication failures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

3Ease of operation

If multiple NFC applets are enabled simultaneously, then user convenience is improved, but compatibility conflicts require user notifications and alternative selections

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveapplet accessibilityVSAvoidcompatibility management
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The processor performs self-service compatibility checking automatically before enabling NFC applets. It independently determines whether concurrent enabling of multiple applets will cause conflicts and makes the decision without requiring user intervention or manual compatibility management, thus maintaining ease of operation while reducing complexity through automated handling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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

Enables concurrent availability of multiple NFC applets without conflicts, ensuring seamless communication and user convenience by determining and managing compatibility issues proactively.

Implementation Method 1

NFC technology may be used for contactless short-range communications based, for example, on radio frequency identification (RFID) standards, using magnetic field induction to enable communication between electronic devices

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic field induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP2584769B1Mobile communications device providing NFC applet compatibility features and related methods
Publication Date: 2020.04.01 BLACKBERRY LTD
  • EP2584769B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2584769B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2584769B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A mobile communications device may include a near field communication (NFC) device, and a processor coupled with the NFC device. The processor may be configured to operate a first NFC applet and a second NFC applet, determine whether concurrent enabling of the first NFC applet and the second NFC applet will cause a compatibility conflict, and concurrently enable the first NFC applet and the second NFC applet for communicating data via the NFC device based upon a determination that concurrent enabling of the first NFC applet and the second NFC applet will not cause the compatibility conflict.