NFC Bridge Reader for Contact Chip Transactions
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
User devices with NFC capabilities are limited in functionality as they can only perform contactless interactions, lacking the ability to handle contact transactions, which are sometimes required for enhanced security or regulatory compliance.
Innovation Solution
A bridge apparatus with an NFC antenna, conversion circuit, and contact interface enables communication between a user device and a portable device, converting contactless to contact protocols to facilitate contact transactions without additional software installations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a user device is equipped with NFC capabilities for contactless transactions, then convenience and efficiency are improved, but the device cannot perform contact transactions which are sometimes required for enhanced security or regulatory compliance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a bridge apparatus as an intermediary device that connects the NFC-capable user device to the contact-only portable device. The bridge apparatus includes an NFC interface that receives contactless commands from the user device and a contact interface that transmits converted commands to the portable device, thereby enabling contact transaction capability without modifying the user device hardware.
Solution Approach 2:
The bridge apparatus serves multiple functions: it acts as an NFC reader for receiving contactless commands, a protocol converter for transforming command formats, and a contact card reader for transmitting commands to portable devices. This multi-functionality allows a single device to support both contactless and contact transaction modes.
2Ease of operation
If contactless protocol commands are transmitted directly to contact-only portable devices, then communication simplicity is maintained, but protocol incompatibility prevents successful interaction
Solution Approach 1:
The bridge apparatus serves as a protocol intermediary that receives contactless protocol commands from the user device, converts them to the appropriate contact protocol format, and transmits them to the portable device. This mediation layer maintains communication simplicity for the user device while ensuring protocol compatibility with the portable device.
Solution Approach 2:
The bridge apparatus changes the protocol parameters by transforming command structures, data formats, and communication protocols from the contactless format (e.g., ISO/IEC 14443) to the contact format (e.g., ISO/IEC 7816), enabling compatible communication between devices with different protocol requirements.
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 user devices with NFC capabilities to perform contact transactions, providing flexibility and compliance with security and regulatory requirements while avoiding hardware and software compatibility issues.
Implementation Method 1
transmitting, by a first antenna of the bridge apparatus, a wireless signal comprising a contact protocol indicator to a second antenna of a user device
Data Source
AI summary
A method is disclosed and includes communicating, by a bridge apparatus comprising a controller via a contact interface in the bridge apparatus, with a portable device. The method also includes transmitting, by a first antenna of the bridge apparatus, a wireless signal comprising a contact protocol indicator to a second antenna of a user device. The method also includes receiving, by the bridge apparatus via the first antenna, a contact command in a contactless protocol. The method also includes converting, by the controller in the bridge apparatus, the contact command to a contact protocol. The method also includes providing, by the controller in the bridge apparatus, the contact command in the contact protocol to the portable device via the contact interface.