NFC Chip Reader Segmentation for Location Flexibility
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional NFC-chip readers face challenges in positioning at arbitrary locations due to complex security measures required for trusted terminals and high-quality network links for remote server connections, which can lead to protocol timeouts and energy depletion issues.
Innovation Solution
A method that splits the NFC-reader functionality into a partially trusted terminal and a fully trusted server, allowing for simpler local security measures and network links. The terminal verifies the integrity of protected data and initiates active authentication, while the server verifies the genuineness of the NFC-chip, minimizing the impact of network jitter and delays.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a smartphone is used as NFC-chip reader to enable arbitrary location positioning, then location flexibility is improved, but security complexity increases due to required complex local security measures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the NFC reader functionality into two parts: a simple terminal device that performs basic NFC communication and data acquisition, and a remote server that handles complex security verification and authentication. This segmentation allows the terminal to be deployed anywhere without requiring complex local security measures, as the security functions are relocated to the remote server.
2Device complexity
If a remote server is used for authentication to simplify local security measures, then security complexity is reduced, but network link requirements become more stringent due to timeout constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by having the terminal acquire all necessary data from the NFC chip and perform initial processing before transmitting to the server. The terminal obtains protected data, extracts relevant information, and prepares authentication requests in advance, reducing the amount of data and complexity that needs to be transmitted over the network link during the critical authentication phase.
3Reliability
If authentication steps are completed quickly to meet timeout requirements, then network link reliability is improved, but energy depletion increases due to prolonged NFC chip activation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the authentication process into two phases: a first phase where the terminal performs preliminary data acquisition and processing locally, and a second phase where only essential authentication data is transmitted to the server. This segmentation reduces the total time the NFC chip needs to remain active, thereby reducing energy depletion while maintaining authentication reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and performs authentication operations that can be completed locally at the terminal before involving the remote server. By extracting the preliminary authentication steps from the server-dependent process, the system reduces the time window for energy-consuming NFC communication and minimizes energy depletion.
Data Source
AI summary
Near field communication (NFC) is used for banking, access control or identification. The NFC-chip contains data verifying the identity of the holder, which is read by an NFC-chip reader. NFC-chip readers are now often online or stand-alone terminals, which may be trusted or untrusted. Trusted terminals may require a communication link to a certificate server. Untrusted terminals require a link to a server that performs the authentication steps and may require a link to a certificate server. A disadvantage of conventional NFC-chips and readers is that it can be challenging to position NFC-chip readers at remote or other arbitrary locations. A solution is found in a method for communication with an NFC-chip of a user identification document, by which a terminal obtains protected data from the NFC-chip, including the step of verifying the integrity of the protected data; and a server verifies genuineness of the NFC-chip communicating via the terminal.