Parallel Bus Interface for NFC Controller and Secure Element Data Exchange

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional interfaces between NFC controllers and secure elements, such as serial and dual wire protocols, introduce undesirable latency and errors due to serialization and encapsulation overhead, limiting data transfer rates and flexibility.

Innovation Solution

An interface system with a parallel bus interface, shared memory, and traffic management capabilities, including prioritization and pipelining, is introduced to facilitate high-speed and flexible data exchange between NFC controllers and secure elements, utilizing a parallel bus interface and random access memory with buffer handling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If serial interface protocols (SWP, NFC-WI, DWP) are used for NFC controller to secure element communication, then interface compatibility and security are maintained, but data transfer rate is limited and latency increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata transfer rateVSAvoidlatency

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The interface is segmented into multiple parallel data lines (at least 8 bits wide) instead of using a single serial communication line. This segmentation allows simultaneous transmission of multiple data bits, effectively increasing the data transfer rate and reducing latency without compromising the security mechanisms of the NFC interface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If conventional serial interfaces are used, then interface simplicity is maintained, but data transfer flexibility and speed are limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata exchange efficiencyVSAvoidinterface structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple data lines into a unified parallel bus interface structure that integrates with the existing NFC controller and secure element architectures. This combining approach increases data exchange efficiency by enabling parallel data transmission while maintaining compatibility with existing NFC protocols through integrated control logic.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If parallel bus interface with at least 8-bits width is implemented, then data transfer rate is improved, but interface complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata communication reliabilityVSAvoidinterface structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The parallel bus interface is designed with multi-functionality to serve both high-speed data transmission and maintain NFC protocol compatibility. The interface structure incorporates universal control logic that can handle both the parallel data transfer and the security-critical NFC communication protocols, thereby improving reliability without proportionally increasing complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS10192081B2Interface between near field communications (NFC) controller and secure element

Publication Date: 2019.01.29 NXP BV

AI summary

Embodiments of an interface system for interfacing between an NFC controller and a secure element are disclosed. In one embodiment, an interface system includes an interface memory, an interface controller, an NFC controller interface configured to exchange data between the interface system and an NFC controller, and a secure element interface configured to exchange data between the interface system and a secure element.