NFC Front End Unit Memory Segmentation for Fast Connection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Near field communication (NFC) devices face challenges in achieving low manufacturing costs and rapid connection establishment with reader/writer devices, particularly in applications like payment systems where speed is crucial.
Innovation Solution
The NFC device employs a front end unit with a small first memory for storing essential parameters and a larger second memory for additional data, using a communication protocol to transfer and manage parameters between the two, allowing immediate response to connection requests when parameters are stored in the first memory, and slower but still effective response when parameters need to be retrieved from the second memory.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a small first memory is used in the front end unit, then manufacturing costs are reduced, but connection establishment speed may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The memory system is segmented into two distinct parts: a small first memory in the front end unit for storing frequently accessed parameters, and a larger second memory for comprehensive parameter storage. This segmentation allows the system to maintain low manufacturing costs while ensuring fast connection establishment by keeping critical data locally accessible.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-storing commonly used parameters in the small first memory before they are needed. This advance preparation ensures that when connection requests occur, the necessary parameters are already available in the fast-access first memory, eliminating delays associated with retrieving data from slower storage or external sources.
2Productivity
If parameters are stored in the first memory, then connection requests can be handled immediately, but memory capacity is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The memory capacity limitation is resolved by segmenting the storage system into a small first memory for immediate parameter access and a larger second memory for comprehensive parameter storage. This allows the system to maintain high productivity for common operations while having the capacity to store all necessary parameters in the second memory when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The first memory acts as an intermediary between the front end unit and the larger second memory. It buffers frequently accessed parameters, allowing immediate handling of connection requests without directly accessing the second memory, thus maintaining high-speed operation while leveraging the larger capacity of the second memory for less frequently accessed data.
3Quantity of substance
If a larger second memory is used, then more parameters can be stored, but manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The memory system is divided into two segments with different capacity and cost characteristics: a small, low-cost first memory in the front end unit and a larger second memory. This segmentation allows the system to achieve high parameter storage capacity through the second memory while keeping manufacturing costs low by using a minimal first memory that only stores the most essential parameters.
Solution Approach 2:
Different memory locations are assigned different qualities based on their usage patterns. The first memory provides high-speed, low-capacity storage for critical parameters, while the second memory provides high-capacity storage for less frequently accessed parameters. This local quality differentiation optimizes both cost and performance.
Data Source
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AI summary
A near field communication (NFC) device comprising: a front end unit adapted to communicate with an external reader/writer device, the front end unit including a first memory having a first size, the memory being adapted to store a first number of sets of parameters of an application, wherein each set of parameters includes a first identifier and a second identifier; a processing unit including a second memory having a second size which is larger than the first size, the second memory being adapted to store the application and a second number of said sets of parameters of the application, the second number being larger than the first number; wherein the front end unit is further adapted to receive a communication establishment request from the external reader/writer device, the communication establishment request including a certain first identifier; wherein the front end unit is further adapted to check, when a communication establishment request is received, whether the certain first identifier is stored in the first memory, and if yes to send a response to the reader/writer device, the response including a respective second identifier, the respective second identifier being part of the same set of parameters as the certain first identifier, wherein the front end unit is further adapted to generate response information, wherein the response information indicates whether when a communication establishment request is received the certain first identifier is stored in the first memory or not; wherein the front end unit is further adapted to send, each time when a communication establishment request is received, the response information to said processing unit; wherein the processing unit is further adapted to evaluate the response information and to control which sets of parameters are to be stored in the first memory, the control being dependent on the response information.