NFC Switch Device Managing Multiple Secure Elements
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current NFC technology is limited in supporting multiple secure elements, requiring manual switching and failing to effectively manage simultaneous connections, making it inconvenient for devices to interact with multiple secure elements.
Innovation Solution
A switch device with a slave port connected to the NFC chip and multiple master ports connected to secure elements, featuring a registry unit and master controller to automatically establish and manage SWP channels for communication, allowing automatic selection and management of secure elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a manual switch mechanism is used to connect NFC chip to secure elements, then the device can support multiple secure elements, but the operation becomes complex and inconvenient requiring frequent manual switching
Solution Approach 1:
The switch device automatically selects and connects to the appropriate secure element based on the NFC command received, eliminating the need for manual user intervention. The system self-determines which secure element to use by analyzing the NFC command and autonomously establishes the connection, making the device serve itself rather than requiring user operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The switch device pre-establishes communication channels with multiple secure elements and maintains readiness to connect to any of them. By preparing the connection infrastructure in advance and storing secure element information, the system can rapidly switch between elements without requiring manual configuration at the moment of use.
2Device complexity
If a simple switch mechanism supporting only two secure elements is used, then the device structure remains simple, but it cannot effectively support connections to multiple secure elements simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The switch device is designed with multi-functionality to handle connections with multiple secure elements (not limited to two) while maintaining a relatively simple structural framework. It can dynamically establish communication channels with any number of secure elements by receiving NFC commands, making a single device capable of serving multiple functions and multiple elements without requiring separate switch mechanisms for each pair.
Solution Approach 2:
The switch device acts as an intermediary between the NFC chip and multiple secure elements. It receives commands from the NFC chip, determines the appropriate secure element based on the command content, and establishes the connection accordingly. This intermediary role allows the system to manage multiple secure elements through a single centralized control point rather than requiring direct NFC connections to each element.
3Reliability
If manual switching is required to connect NFC chip to different secure elements, then connection control is possible, but the response time increases and user convenience deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The switch device automatically determines which secure element to connect to by analyzing the NFC command received from the external terminal. It self-selects the appropriate secure element based on the command content without requiring user input or manual switching, thereby maintaining reliable connection control while eliminating the time loss associated with manual intervention.
4Adaptability or versatility
If frequent manual switching is required for different secure elements, then each secure element can be accessed, but the user experience becomes inconvenient and operation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically manages connections to multiple secure elements by analyzing NFC commands and autonomously establishing appropriate communication channels. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for frequent manual switching operations, allowing users to access multiple secure elements conveniently without repeated manual interventions.
Solution Approach 2:
The switch device prepares and stores information about multiple secure elements in advance, enabling it to quickly determine and connect to the appropriate element when an NFC command is received. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for frequent manual switching by having all necessary connection information ready beforehand.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a switching device for automatically connecting to an NFC chip and being capable of switching between multiple security elements. The switching device comprises: a Slave port communicating with the NFC chip; a Master port communicating with multiple security elements respectively; a registry unit storing the connection information of each security element and application information of all applications in each security element; a main controller controlling the switching device to establish a first channel with the NFC chip via the Slave port and establish a second channel with the security element via the Master port. The present invention can support SWP connections of multiple security elements and can automatically select respective SE and activate communication according to an instruction sent by a card reader.