NFC Application Selection Across Multiple Execution Environments
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users of mobile devices with near field communication technology face cumbersome navigation through multiple applications and menus to select the appropriate near field communication application for specific tasks, such as payments or identification, due to the variety of technologies and applications available.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for automatically selecting a near field communication application using an application discovery manager and a protocol manager, which facilitates selection by communicating between execution environments and eliminating the need for manual navigation through menus, ensuring timely data communication by accommodating aggressive timing limitations of near field communication protocols.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual selection of near field communication applications is implemented, then users can select the appropriate application, but the navigation through multiple applications and menus becomes time-consuming and cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables automatic application selection through the application discovery manager and protocol manager, which autonomously detect the near field communication technology type and select the appropriate application without requiring manual user navigation through menus and icons
Solution Approach 2:
The device pre-configures multiple near field communication applications with different protocol stack levels and prepares the selection mechanism in advance, allowing the system to quickly retrieve and activate the appropriate application based on the detected technology type without time-consuming user navigation
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple near field communication applications are supported, then the device can interact with various near field communication terminals, but the complexity of application selection increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments near field communication applications by protocol stack levels and creates distinct application families corresponding to different technology types, allowing the protocol manager and application discovery manager to systematically manage and select applications based on the detected terminal technology without overwhelming complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The application discovery manager and protocol manager act as intermediary components between the user and multiple near field communication applications, automatically detecting the technology type and selecting the appropriate application, thereby simplifying the interface and reducing selection complexity for users
3Loss of time
If automatic application selection is implemented, then user interaction time is reduced, but the system must comply with aggressive timing limitations of near field communication protocols
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary configuration of multiple near field communication applications with different protocol stack levels in advance, preparing the selection mechanism before the near field communication event occurs, enabling rapid automatic selection that meets aggressive timing requirements while maintaining protocol compliance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical navigation through menus and icons with an automated electronic detection and selection system that uses protocol managers and application discovery managers to automatically identify the appropriate application based on detected technology types, significantly reducing user interaction time while ensuring protocol timing compliance
Data Source
AI summary
In a portable electronic device (100) having a plurality of near field communication applications stored within a plurality of execution environments, automatic selection of one of the near field communication applications is performed by a protocol discovery manager (319) and an application discovery manager (316). The application discovery manager (316) is disposed within a default execution environment. The protocol discovery manager (319), which operates in a near field communication circuit controller (301), performs application discovery at the mode switch level (321), the collision detection level (322), and the protocol level (323). The application discovery manager (316) performs application discovery at the application level. Where the protocol discovery manager (319) selects an application, it can configure a routing switch (219) to route data to the appropriate execution environment and launches the selected application, where only protocol level of identification is required. Where other levels are required, the protocol discovery manager (319) selects and routes data to the default execution environment containing application discovery manager (316). The application discovery manager (316), upon selecting an application, can either launch the application or forward a message to the appropriate execution environment for further execution as required by the selected application.