NFC Tag Personalization via Database Intermediary

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Solution Overview

Problem

NFC tags have limited customization and personalization capabilities, restricting the types of information they can convey beyond pre-programmed data.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that allows NFC tags to be programmatically linked with user-created digital content, such as messages or multimedia, using a unique serial code, enabling them to be attached to objects like greeting cards or gifts, and accessed via NFC-enabled devices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If NFC tags use pre-programmed information, then the device complexity is reduced and ease of manufacture is improved, but the adaptability and personalization capability are limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepersonalization capabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-generating personalized content (messages, pictures, videos) and storing them in a database before the NFC interaction occurs. When a user taps their device to an NFC tag, the system automatically retrieves and displays the pre-prepared personalized content, eliminating the need for real-time content generation while maintaining high personalization capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a database as an intermediary component that stores personalized information and acts as a mediator between the NFC tag and the user's device. The database receives personalized content from the system, stores it with unique identifiers, and retrieves it when triggered by NFC interactions, thereby decoupling the complexity of content management from the NFC tag itself.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of information

If NFC tags are pre-programmed with information, then the ease of operation is improved, but the loss of information customization is increased

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation customizationVSAvoiduser operation simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-generating personalized content (messages, pictures, videos) and storing them in a database before the NFC interaction occurs. When a user taps their device to an NFC tag, the system automatically retrieves and displays the pre-prepared personalized content, eliminating the need for real-time content generation while maintaining high personalization capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the parameter of information storage from static (pre-programmed into the NFC tag) to dynamic (stored in a database and retrieved based on unique identifiers). This allows the same NFC tag to convey different personalized information to different users or for different events, maintaining ease of operation while eliminating information customization loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If NFC tags store all personalized content locally, then the adaptability is improved, but the device complexity and information loss increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontent customizationVSAvoidNFC tag complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the personalized content from the NFC tag itself and stores it externally in a database. The NFC tag retains only its basic identification function, while the complex personalized information (messages, pictures, videos) is stored remotely. This extraction reduces NFC tag complexity while maintaining adaptability through external content delivery.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a database as an intermediary component that stores personalized information and acts as a mediator between the NFC tag and the user's device. The database receives personalized content from the system, stores it with unique identifiers, and retrieves it when triggered by NFC interactions, thereby decoupling the complexity of content management from the NFC tag itself.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP2917878B1Method and system for automatically linking customizable and/or personalized digital content to an object
Publication Date: 2019.12.11 CELLOTAPE
  • EP2917878B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~2
  • EP2917878B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~4

AI summary

A method, system and apparatus for automatically linking customizable and personalized information to a near field communication (NFC) tag comprises programming and/or encoding the NFC tag with a personalized message and then attaching the NFC tag body to an object such as a greeting card, event invitation, candle or gift basket. When the object is then received by the recipient, the recipient only needs to tap the NFC tag with a NFC enabled device in order to automatically access the personalized message. In some embodiments, the personalized message comprises a greeting, pictures, and/or other customizable digital content.