NFC Secure Controller Hardware Interrupts for Transaction Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current NFC secure module technology limits mobile devices' ability to accurately monitor the completion of contactless transactions due to security restrictions, relying solely on RF signal monitoring which can result in false indications and lack of direct access to transaction information.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that includes a Near Field Communication (NFC) modem, a secure controller for monitoring state transitions and generating hardware interrupts, and a mobile host capable of receiving event notifications, allowing for reliable monitoring of secure application execution events through hardware messaging mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the mobile device relies solely on RF signal monitoring to determine transaction completion, then security restrictions are maintained and the secure module remains insulated, but the mobile device cannot accurately inform the user of end of transaction events and may provide false indications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary messaging mechanism (interrupts, flags, or messages) that allows the secure module to communicate transaction status information to the mobile host without compromising security insulation. This mediator enables accurate transaction status indication while maintaining the security boundary between the secure module and mobile host.
2Loss of information
If the mobile device is insulated from secure transactions due to security restrictions, then security is maintained, but the user has no means of knowing whether credit card or other secure data was successfully read
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs an intermediary communication mechanism that allows transaction status information to flow from the secure module to the mobile host without breaking security isolation. The mobile host can display transaction status to the user through this intermediary channel, ensuring information availability while maintaining security reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the secure module provides transaction status information back to the mobile host, which then informs the user. This feedback loop enables the user to know whether secure data was successfully read while the secure module remains properly isolated for security reasons.
3Measurement precision
If RF signal analysis is used to determine transaction completion, then the mobile device can monitor the transaction, but it cannot accurately distinguish between successful reading and transaction failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses an intermediary status notification mechanism that provides direct transaction completion information from the secure module to the mobile host. This eliminates the need for complex RF signal analysis and provides precise transaction completion detection with reduced measurement difficulty.
Data Source
AI summary
A system (211) and method (300) for reliable monitoring of secure application execution events is provided. The system can include a Near Field Communication (NFC) modem (140) for communicating transaction events of a secure contactless transaction (358) with a NFC reader (170), a secure controller (200) for monitoring state transitions caused by the transaction events, and a mobile host communicatively coupled to the secure controller for receiving hardware event notifications of the state transitions. The secure controller can generate message using a hardware interrupt to a mobile host based on secure applet state transition monitoring by setting up the events flag such as a Transaction Completion Flag (TCF) (372) into an Events Status Register (232) to identify a status of a secure contactless transactions.