NFC Circuit Session Identity Matching for Memory Wear Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile communication devices with near field communication circuits face errors and reduced lifetime due to frequent power downs and SIM card exchanges, leading to inconsistent configurations and excessive wear on non-volatile memory.
Innovation Solution
A portable mobile communication device with a permanently installed mobile host processor that tests and updates session identity values to ensure reliable communication channel configuration, allowing for autonomous operation and reduced reconfiguration overhead, even when power is cycled.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If configuration data is stored in non-volatile memory to enable independent operation, then autonomous operation capability is improved, but memory wear increases and useful lifetime decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by establishing communication pipes and configuring data before power down occurs. The mobile host processor initiates pipe establishment and configuration storage in advance, so that when power is restored, the near field communication circuit can resume using the pre-configured pipes without requiring reconfiguration, thus preventing excessive memory wear.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention maintains continuity of useful action by preserving communication pipe configurations across power cycles. The system ensures that pipes established during powered states remain valid and reusable after power restoration, eliminating the need for repeated configuration operations and reducing memory write cycles.
2Reliability
If configuration is re-established after each power down, then communication reliability is improved, but reconfiguration overhead increases and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile host processor performs preliminary pipe establishment and configuration setup before power down. Configuration data including pipe identifiers, handles, and communication parameters are stored in non-volatile memory in advance, enabling the system to skip reconfiguration steps after power restoration while maintaining communication reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The near field communication circuit is designed to self-activate and self-configure after power restoration by retrieving previously stored pipe configurations from non-volatile memory. The circuit autonomously restores communication using saved configuration data without requiring extensive reconfiguration commands from the host processor.
3Reliability
If session identity values are changed after each power down, then security against errors is improved, but communication stability worsens due to frequent reconfiguration
Solution Approach 1:
Session identity values and configuration parameters are established preliminarily before power down and stored in non-volatile memory. The mobile host processor sets up matching session identifiers in both the SIM card and near field communication circuit in advance, ensuring continuity across power cycles without requiring changes that would destabilize communication.
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuity of session identities across power cycles by preserving them in non-volatile storage. This allows the communication partnership between SIM card, mobile host processor, and near field communication circuit to remain stable and consistent, preventing errors while avoiding frequent reconfiguration.
Data Source
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AI summary
A portable mobile communication device (10) has a mobile host processor (104) permanently installed in the portable mobile communication device (10) and a near field communication circuit (100) comprising a non-volatile memory (101). Configuration data is maintained in the non-volatile memory (101) of the near field communication circuit (100), for control of communication dependent on the configuration data. Prior to communication between the near field communication circuit (100) and the mobile host processor (104) a session identity value is tested. If the session identity value does not match a reference value, at least part of the configuration data for the communication channel is initialized, after which the session identity value and the reference value are equalized after setting up the configuration data. If the session identity value matches the reference value, the mobile host processor (104) proceeds with communication without said initialization. In this way wear of the non-volatile memory due to superfluous initialization after unintentional power downs or resets of the mobile host processor (104) is prevented.