Near Field Communication (NFC Architecture and Operating Modes)

SECURE MOBILE TRANSACTIONS USING
NEAR FIELD COMMUNICATION
DEEPAK K.L
Sree Chitra Thirunal
College of Engineering

NFC – What is it ???
 NFC or Near Field Communication is a short range high
frequency wireless communication technology.
 A radio communication is established by touching the two
phones or keeping them in a proximity of a few centimeters.
 NFC is mainly aimed for mobile or handheld devices.
 NFC is an extension of Radio frequency identification.
 It is a form of contactless communication between devices.

WHY NFC?
Can replace your wallets
NFC tags for task launcher
Can transfer electric charge from one device to another
device
Can work along with Bluetooth
Pairing Bluetooth devices in quick time

Operating Ranges
Distance: 10 cm or less
Operates at rates ranging from 106kBit/s to 424 Kbit/s
Lower power consumption

WORKING OF NFC
NFC is based on inductive-coupling.
NFC works using magnetic induction between two loop
antennas.
A reader emits a small electric current, which creates a
magnetic field .
That field is received by a similar coil in the client
device, where it is turned back into electrical impulses to
communicate data.
So, NFC use an initiator and a target.

Near Field Communication (NFC Architecture and Operating Modes)

General Architecture of NFC Enabled
Mobile Phones

Host Controller(HC)
•Heart of the NFC enabled mobile phone
•Also called as baseband controller
•HC interface Creates a bridge between the NFC Controller and the
Host Controller
•Sets the operating modes of the NFC controller through the HC
Interface
NFC Controller
•Secure proximity transactions with external NFC devices
•Secure Element is directly connected to NFC Controller

SECURE ELEMENT(SE)
•Users and service providers assured that transaction takes place
in protected environment
•Combination of h/w, s/w, interfaces, and protocols embedded in a
mobile handset
•Enables secure storage
•More secure for storing credential data than storing in removable
storage locations

SE option for an NFC enabled mobile phone are;
1)Embedded hardware in a mobile device as an integral, non-removable
part of the device.
2) Secure Memory Card (SMC) as a secure storage area in a
removable smart card.
3)UICC as a physical smart card and may be the most popular
one.

Embedded hardware
A smart card soldered onto the mobile phone that cannot be
removed
Level of security is high
Embedded into the mobile phone during the manufacturing stage
i.e. soldered
Can be personalized but cannot be transferred to another device

Secure Memory Card
It is a combination of a memory card and a smart card
Large storage space
More credential information can be stored
Can be inserted into a new device easily

UICC
Universal Integrated Circuit Card
It is commonly known as a SIM
Ensures the integrity and security of all kinds of personal
data
Can host as non-telecom applications such as payment,
loyalty, ticketing, e-passport, and so on
The cardholders can be reassured that transactions are
executed with their personal information protected

Communication Modes
Active mode-
Inducing magnetic
field
In this mode, both devices with NFC chip can generate an
electromagnetic field and exchange information with each other.
Two NFC enabled devices transferring
data in active mode

Passive mode-
A passive device, such as an
NFC tag, contains information
that other devices can read but
does not read any information
itself, so there is only one
active user.
A NFC-enabled mobile phone is paired
with a RFID-tagged "smart poster"

Operating Modes
•Reader/Writer Operating Mode
•Peer-to-Peer Operating Mode
•Card Emulation Operating Mode

Read data and alter stored in NFC tags
Can take appropriate actions on what stored in NFC
tags
Does not require a secure area
The process only reads data stored inside the passive
tag and writing data to the passive tag.

Protocol Stack Architecture of Reader/Writer
Mode
•Analog is related to RF characteristics of NFC devices
and determines the operating range of devices.
•Digital protocols refer to the digital aspects of standards,
and define building blocks of the communication.
•Tag operations indicate the commands and instructions
used by NFC devices to operate NFC .
•NDEF applications are based on NDEF specifications
such as smart poster and reading product information from
NFC enabled smart shopping fliers.
•Non NDEF applications are vendor specific applications
such as an electronic purse balance reader and contactless
ticket reader which are not based on NDEF specifications.

NDEF message and NDEF
record
Eg):
new NdefRecord(NdefRecord.TNF_MIME_MEDIA, "text/plain".getBytes(), new byte[0],
"Hello, NFC World!".getBytes())

Permissions and
preparation
In order for an application to be able to use NFC hardware and software of a
device, it must have the NFC permission, so add the following line to your
AndroidManifest.xml:
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.NFC" />
Since NFC is a fairly new technology, it will not work with older versions of
Android - according to developer.android.com, minimum API level 10 is
recommended:
<uses-sdk android:minSdkVersion="10"
android:targetSdkVersion="17" />
If your application can’t do its work on non NFC-enabled devices, you can make
sure that only compatible devices will see your app in the store:
<uses-feature android:name="android.hardware.nfc"
android:required="true" />

A simple write to a tag
private boolean writeTag(final NdefMessage pMessage, final Tag pTag)
{
Ndef ndef = Ndef.get(pTag);
try {
if (ndef != null)
{
ndef.connect();
if (messageSize > ndef.getMaxSize())
{
logAndToast("Write failed - message size exceeds tag size");
return false;
}
if (!ndef.isWritable())
{
logAndToast("Write failed - tag is not writable");
return false;
}
ndef.writeNdefMessage(pMessage); logAndToast("Write completed");
return true;
}

Protocol Stack Architecture of Peer-to-Peer
Mode

Analog and digital protocols are lower layer protocols .
LLCP allows the transfer of upper layer information units
between two NFC devices .
Protocol bindings provide standard bindings to NFC Forum
protocols and allow interoperable use of registered
protocols.

Simple NDEF exchange protocol allows exchange of NDEF
messages. It is also possible to run other protocols over the
data link layer provided by LLCP.
Applications may run over the simple NDEF exchange
protocol, other protocols, or NFC Forum protocols. Example
applications are printing from a camera, business card
exchange, and so on.

Card Emulation Operating
Mode

Here NFC enabled mobile phone acts as a smart card.
User touches the mobile phone to an NFC reader.
The NFC reader initiates the communication.
NFC mobile behaves like a standard smart card.
NFC reader interacts with the payment applications on the
Secure Element.
Only card emulation mode uses SE efficiently and securely
to perform functions that require high security.

APPLICATIONS OF NFC
1) Touch and go
Applications such as access control, where the user needs only to
bring the device storing the ticket or access code close to the reader.
A person gathering info
about a movie using his
NFC enabled Mobile
Phone

2) Touch and Confirm
Applications such as mobile payment where the
user has to confirm the interaction by entering a
password or just accepting the transaction.

3) Touch and Connect
Linking two NFC-enabled devices to
enable peer to peer transfer of data.
4) A latest development is that NFC can
be used to configure Wi-Fi networks
through mobile devices.

Security Concerns with NFC Technology
Eavesdropping

Data Corruption and Manipulation
Interception Attacks
Theft

COUNTER MEASURES
Use secure channel (only the authorized device could
decode the encrypted information).
 Some NFC devices “listen” for data corruption attacks and
prevent them before they have a chance to get up and
running.
Use Active – Passive modes with encrypted keys
Keeping phone’s password protected.

ADVANTAGES OF NFC
High convenience to the user.
Reduces cost of electronic issuance .
Secure communication.
No manual configuration and settings.
No search and pair procedure.
NFC can be used together with existing technologies
like Bluetooth and thus act for longer range also.
NFC uses are practically limitless.

DISADVANTAGES OF NFC
The system has the limitation that it can be operated only with devices
under a short range i.e. around 10 cm.
The data transfer rate is very less at about 106kbps, 212 kbps and
424kbps.
Eavesdropping
Data Corruption and Manipulation
Theft

SOME DEVICES USING NFC TECHNOLOGY

Future Aspects
Vehicle Ignition
A NFC enabled vehicle can be unlocked and started just by tapping the User’s
NFC device onto the vehicle, thus removing the need of keys.
 Can find the health of vehicle by using specific apps
Unlocking Door
Smart keyless doors can be made by implementing NFC technology into doors,
where a single tap of the device onto the door would unlock it

Conclusion
NFC is implemented in most handheld devices now a days.
 The advancements in mobile wireless technology and
communication standards have enabled usage of contactless
and NFC based payment models.
The mobile wallet based payment model is gaining
considerable momentum and is currently being seen as one of
the key payment model.
The mobile wallet technology enables the end-users to make
payments with their mobile wallet accounts, without having to
use credit or debit cards.

REFERENCES
http://www.nfc-forum.org
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Near_field_communication
http://www.nfccommunication.org
http://apcmag.com/inside-nfc-how-near-field-communication-works.html
http://www.mobilecommercepress.com
Google. "Google Wallet: How it Works." (Jan. 28, 2012)
http://www.google.com/wallet/how-it-works.html#in-store
Kessler, Sarah. "NFC Technology: 6 Ways it Could Change Our Daily Lives
" Mash able “ . May 6, 2010. (Feb. 6, 2012)
http://mashable.com/2010/05/06/near-field-communication/

Near Field Communication (NFC Architecture and Operating Modes)

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