NFC Low Power Mode Management for Secure Transactions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Portable electronic devices with near field communication (NFC) capabilities face power management challenges, as their NFC functions become compromised or unusable when the device's power drops below certain thresholds, limiting their functionality in secure transactions like credit card payments and public transportation ticketing.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a low power mode management system that disables non-essential components, requires user authentication to re-enable NFC, and uses a specific application to control NFC operations, ensuring secure and reduced power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If NFC component is kept active to maintain functionality, then transaction capability is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The NFC component dynamically transitions between active and low-power states based on operational needs. The system activates NFC only when authentication is provided and transactions are required, rather than maintaining continuous operation. This dynamic state management resolves the contradiction by adapting power consumption to actual functionality requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters of the NFC component by switching between different power states. When in low-power mode, the NFC component operates with reduced power consumption parameters, and transitions to full operational parameters only when authenticated. This parameter adjustment allows the system to balance transaction capability with power conservation.
2Use of energy by moving object
If NFC component is disabled to conserve power, then power consumption is reduced, but transaction capability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary authentication actions before enabling NFC functionality. User authentication is required in advance to transition from low-power state to active NFC state. This preliminary action ensures that power is only consumed when legitimate transaction needs exist, maintaining both power efficiency and transaction capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from authentication status to control NFC component state. When authentication is detected, the system feedback signals the NFC component to activate; when no authentication is present, it maintains the low-power state. This feedback mechanism ensures NFC capability is available when needed while conserving power when not in use.
3Reliability
If authentication system is added to control NFC, then security is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The authentication system leverages existing universal authentication mechanisms already present in mobile devices, such as biometric authentication or device unlock credentials. By reusing these existing authentication frameworks rather than creating a separate dedicated system, the patent improves NFC security without significantly increasing overall device complexity. The authentication component serves multiple functions including device unlock, app access, and NFC enablement.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for managing near field communications during a low power management mode of an electronic device are provided that may make credentials of a near field communication (“NFC”) component appropriately secure and appropriately accessible while also limiting the power consumption of the NFC component and of other components of the electronic device.