Near Field Communication (NFC), as defined by NFC Specifications, is a short-range, high-frequency wireless communication technology enabling contactless point-to-point data transmission (within ten centimeters) between electronic devices. Evolving from contact-free radio frequency identification (RFID), NFC maintains backward compatibility with RFID standards while primarily facilitating M2M (Machine-to-Machine) communication in handheld devices like smartphones. The inherent security of near-field communication positions NFC technology as a promising solution for mobile payment applications.
In recent years, the rapid advancement and widespread adoption of smartphones have accelerated NFC’s evolution from RFID’s specific frequency band to a standardized platform. This development has enabled quick market implementation of NFC Specifications for unified interfaces and protocols. This paper will examine the NFC architecture and key specifications in detail, focusing on their technical implementation and industry applications.
1. Application of NFC
In the electronic payment system, the most complete solution applied to the cell phone system is based on NFC, and there are already related products circulating in the market. In addition to personal identification and electronic payment system, NFC also has some attractive functions in data transmission and exchange, such as: data download of electronic posters (including admission rolls, exhibition information). In addition, NFC can also be used as a Bluetooth device pairing and enter the password to simplify the function, if the user has a load of NFC Bluetooth devices, NFC can be close to two groups of Bluetooth devices with NFC, so that you can not need to search for Bluetooth and enter the password of the pairing process can be quickly connected. At present, South Korea in Europe and the United States has been in the telecommunications industry, chip vendors and cell phone manufacturers in cooperation with the public transport payment system for a number of validation.
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2. Technical characteristics of NFC
Like RFID, NFC information is also transmitted by means of electromagnetic induction coupling in the radio frequency portion of the spectrum, but there is still a big difference between the two. First of all, NFC is a wireless connection technology that provides easy, safe and rapid communication, and its transmission range is smaller than RFID, which can reach several meters, or even dozens of meters, but due to the unique signal attenuation technology adopted by NFC, NFC has the characteristics of close distance, high bandwidth and low energy consumption relative to RFID. Secondly, NFC is compatible with existing contactless smart card technology and has become an official standard supported by more and more major manufacturers. Again, NFC is a proximity connectivity protocol that provides easy, secure, fast and automatic communication between various devices. Compared to other connectivity methods in the wireless world, NFC is a private communication method in close proximity. Finally, RFID is more often used in production, logistics, tracking, and asset management, while NFC plays a huge role within the fields of access control, public transportation, and cell phone payment.
NFC, infrared and bluetooth are non-contact transmission methods, they have their own different technical characteristics, can be used for a variety of different purposes, there is no difference between the advantages and disadvantages of the technology itself.
NFC cell phone built-in NFC chip, than the original only as a tag to use RFID more increase the function of two-way data transmission, this progress makes it more suitable for electronic money payment; Especially RFID can not be realized, mutual authentication and dynamic encryption and disposable key (OTP) can be realized in the NFC. nfc technology supports a variety of applications, including mobile payment and transaction, peer-to-peer communication and access to information on the move. NFC technology supports a variety of applications, including mobile payment and transaction, peer-to-peer communication and information access on the move. With NFC-enabled cell phones, people can connect with the entertainment services and transactions they wish to receive anywhere, anytime, through any device, in order to complete payments, obtain poster information, etc. NFC devices can be used as contactless smart cards, reader terminals for smart cards, and device-to-device data transmission links, and their applications can be categorized into the following four basic types: for payment and ticketing, for e-ticketing, for electronic tickets, and for the use of NFC-enabled devices. ticketing, for e-ticketing, for smart media, and for exchanging and transmitting data.
3. Comparison of NFC with other proximity communication technologies
When compared to traditional near-field communication, near-field communication (NFC) has the natural security, and the speed of connection establishment, as shown in the table below:
| Feature | NFC | Bluetooth | Infrared (IR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Network Type | Point-to-Point | Point-to-Multipoint | Point-to-Point |
| Range | ≤ 0.1 m | ≤ 10 m | ≤ 1 m |
| Speed | 106 / 212 / 424 kbps (Planned: 868 kbps), 721 kbps, 115 kbps | 2.1 Mbps | ~1.0 Mbps |
| Setup Time | < 0.1 s | 6 s | 0.5 s |
| Security | Yes (Hardware-based) | Yes (Software-based) | No (Except with IRFM) |
| Communication Mode | Active-Active / Passive | Active-Active | Active-Active |
| Cost | Low | Medium | Low |
4. NFC architecture
NFC operates at a frequency of 13.56MHz, and the operating distance is about 10cm; the specification of NFC is based on the RFID 13.56MHz band, and the early adopters of this band include PhilipsMiFARE (ISO1443A), ISO1443B, ISO15693, ISO18000-3, and SonyFelica. SonyFelica. Since contactless cards are used in personal data identification or electronic payment systems emphasizing on the security mechanism, and the near-field communication which is close to the card reader system and is integrated with the part of the 13.56MHz short-range system, the last ones on the market are PhilipsMiFARE (ISO1443A) and SonyFelica. In the early days, these two systems were developed separately and were not compatible with each other, and it was only in recent years that the two specifications were merged and the NFC specification ECMA340/ISO18092 (NFCIP1, NFCInterfaceandprotocol1) was developed. This specification is compatible with the existing PhilipsMiFARE (ISO1443A) and SonyFelica.
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NFC operating frequency of 13.56MHz, ASK modulation, the transmission rate can be divided into 106kbps/212kbps/424kbps three kinds of communication mode can be divided into active mode and passive mode, the active mode refers to the initiator device (initiator) and the target device (target) can be their own power supply to generate RFfield, and the passive mode is the initiator device itself to supply power to generate RFfield; and the target device will use the full-wave rectifier line to convert the RFfield energy of the initiator to DC to supply their own power. In the passive mode, the initiator supplies its own power to generate RFfield; while the target device uses the full-wave rectifier line to convert the RFfield energy of the initiator into DC to supply its own power. It is worth mentioning that, in order to meet the requirements of power saving in the passive mode, so the use of loadmodulation (Loadmodulation) way, this modulation can achieve the effect of power saving.
In the use of NFC because the use of NFC will usually encounter the use of the peak period, will be to avoid different initiating end or the target end of the communication at the same time caused by the data link error, so the NFC adopts a mechanism listenbeforetalk. this mechanism will allow when the initiating end of the device to send out the interrogation signal before the first detection of the external magnetic field strength to determine whether there are other devices are communicating with the implementation of this mechanism is known as RF Collision Avoidance (RFCA). This mechanism is called RF Collision Avoidance (RFCA), and its action behavior is to detect the external magnetic field every time the initiator sends out an interrogation signal, and when the magnetic field strength exceeds the threshold strength (Hthreshold=0.1875A/m), it will stop the interrogation until the external strength is reduced to below the threshold value. If it is lower than the threshold value, it will start to send out the interrogation command, and the detection time is TIDT+nTRFW, n is sampled from 0 to 3: TRFW=512/fc(RFwaitingtime), TIDT>4096 /fc(initialdelaytime). When the initiating device does not detect a magnetic field exceeding the threshold strength within TIDT+nTRFW, it will emit an unmodulated RFfield of TIRFG followed by an interrogation signal, where TIRFG must be greater than 5ms.
5. NFC specification change
Here will be for the NFC RF interface to do the narrative, first of all to first introduce EMCA340 and EMCA356 two standards, EMCA340 in the description of the NFC-related protocols, the first introduction of the data sealing standard for discussion, NFC data packet is divided into two types, one for 106kpbs, one for 212/424kbps.
Since NFC106kbps is 100% ASK modulation, the packet structure is defined in considerable detail for the entire High/Low signal. A few of the parameters include the range from 100% down to 5% Am time (t1), 5% Am duration (t2), and Am rise from 5% to 60% time (t4) i.e., overshoot. And 212/424kbps is 8% to 30% modulation rate.
5.1 RF test kit
- Calibration coil: the function of the coil is to verify the test process, to be tested by the signal emitted by the object is the correct intensity and modulation. This Coil is a simple antenna structure, of course, EMCA also specifies all the dimensions in detail, the value measured by the coil is 0.32V (RMS) = 1A/m (magnetic field strength).
- Field Generating Antenna: Kit is used for magnetic field emission, the figure also contains a set of antenna matching line.
- Sense coil: sense coil is used to measure the magnetic field strength and modulation of the object to be tested.
- Reference device: Figure 7 shows two test standard lines and a set of antenna coils, this referencedevice is used to test the standard parts of the DUT. This referencedevice is used to test the standard parts of the DUT, which contains two sets of test circuits, Figure 7-2 for the modulation test circuit, Figure 7-3 for the power test circuit.
6. NFC RF test program
Power test of generating equipment: This test item is to test whether the magnetic field strength supplied by the generating equipment supplies enough working power to the target. Adjust the signal from the generatingantenna to transmit, at the right end of the calibrationcoil to measure the strength of Hmax (7.5A/m), and then referencedevice with the power test line to adjust the C2 so that the line resonance point is located in the 19MHz (this part of the specification does not detail why adjusted to 19MHz, it is inferred that if the 19MHz is not adjusted to 19MHz, it is not possible to adjust the resonance point of the line to 19MHz). 19MHz, it is inferred that if 19MHz can reach 3V output, then when the target is 13.56MHz, its voltage will be higher than 3V, which should be the lower limit value), placed in the DUT position, adjust the line R2 so that the voltage value obtained by C3 is 3V. At this point, the Referencedevice has been completed, and then the card will be used to test the initiator, place the card in the initiator’s location, the card will be placed in the DUT. This card is placed in the overrun range labeled by the initiating device, and the voltage value (C3) measured at any position within the overrun range must not exceed 3 V. As for the Hmin test, the test is more or less the same as the max test, with the difference being that the resonance frequency of the Referencedevice is adjusted to 13.56 MHz, and all the voltage values measured must exceed 3 V.
6.1 loadmodulation test of the target
Passive mode
- 106kbps: This test is to verify that the target can be correctly modulated out of the waveform, firstly, the calibrationcoil is placed on the lower side of the outer edge, to make sure that the generatingantenna transmits the correct waveforms and strengths, and then the target to be tested is placed on the upper side of the outer edge, editing a SENS_REQ waveform as defined by ECMA340 by generatingantenna transmits and sends back a SENS_RES signal. Generatingantenna transmits and sends back a SENS_RES signal to the target to be measured, so that the signal can be measured through two sensecoil, this measurement architecture is weak because of the load modulation signal, so the voltage difference between the two sensecoil is used to do the calculations, due to compatibility issues, so the continuation of the 106kbps. MiFARE uses subcarrier modulation as the return signal of the passive target, so the measurement points should be at fc+fs and fc-fs (fc=13.56MHz, fs=fc/16).
- 212/424kbps: High-speed modulated signal measurement is very similar to 106kbps, except that the measurement fetch position is changed to fc, because no subcarrier modulation is used at these two transmission speeds.
Active Mode
- There is not much difference between the active mode test and the passive mode test, because it is the active mode, so the RFfield transmission time of the target is measured, and the time when the command is given …….
6.2 Loadmodulation test of the initiating device
This test is to verify the modulation mechanism of the initiating device, which can be divided into two types: active mode transmission and passive mode reception.
- Active mode transmitter: The calibrationcoil is placed at any position defined by the initiating device, and the measured waveforms must comply with the specifications set by ECMA340.
- Passive mode reception: This is to test that the initiating device can correctly receive the signals returned by the passive target. Using Figure 7-2 loadmodulation test line made by the referencedevice, the corresponding C3 voltage and distance relationship to Figure 8 of the structure of the calibration is good, and then you can initiate the card and the equipment to be measured by the device to do the measurement, the test by the referencedevice issued by the modulation signal in the receiving situation of the object end to be tested. We can only discuss some of the test items here and please refer to ECMA for detailed tests.
7. NFC system at the current stage of the main problems
7.1 Compatibility problems
At present, the compatibility of NFC devices from different manufacturers is still a prominent problem, which is also a focus that NFC Forum is currently working to solve. It is hoped that through the NFC logo certification to achieve uniformity in the compatibility of all NFC devices.
7.2 Security issues
Secure NFC will be a variety of NFC applications combined with smart card security. Important confidential information and data will always be stored in the card in a region of the security memory, and can only be authorized by the NFC device, by storing the device in the security memory in the private key will be encrypted transmission information.
7.3 Active or passive mode of operation
With NFC devices can be active or passive mode of operation, the general action device is mainly passive mode of operation, can significantly reduce power consumption, and extend the battery life. Active NFC devices can be generated through the internal radio frequency field (RF-field) to provide all the power needed to communicate with the passive device, the same as the case of contact-free smart cards, with the same power to ensure that even if the power supply off the action device can still be normal to read the information.
7.4 Standardization
NFC in line with ECMA 340 and ETSI TS 102 190 V1.1.1 and ISO/IEC 18092 standards for open platform technology, these standards specifically regulate the NFC device modulation scheme, coding, transmission speed and RF interface frame format, as well as passive and active NFC mode initialization process of data conflict control required by the initialization of the settings and conditions. In addition, these standards also define the transmission protocol, including the communication protocol to start and data exchange methods.
7.5 policy issues
Due to the complexity of the mobile payment industry, the construction of the value chain requires the participation of many parties, in this time period, the industry leader is not clear, the bargaining power of financial institutions and mobile operators is quite comparable, and the actual investment of the industry is relatively low. And due to the lack of terminals and consumer environment, the user experience is poor, the items and services purchased by users through mobile payment are not abundant, and it does not bring real convenience to consumers at present.
7.6 Common certification requirements of NFC system
At present, the main certifications for NFC terminals are CE, FCC and NFC logo certification. NFC logo certification is still a voluntary certification, in fact, the main test requirements of the stage also lies in the interoperability of NFC devices (IOT) requirements. The CE standards for NFC devices are ETSI EN 300 330-1 and ETSI EN 300 330-2, while the FCC standard for NFC devices is FCC PART 15C.
8.Conclusion
Near Field Communication (NFC) is a secure, short-range wireless technology that enables fast and convenient data exchange between devices. With its roots in RFID, NFC has evolved to support diverse applications, particularly in mobile payments, access control, and peer-to-peer data transfer. Its key advantages—such as hardware-based security, instant connection establishment (<0.1s), and low power consumption—make it ideal for contactless transactions and IoT integrations.
However, challenges remain, including compatibility issues between devices, security standardization, and industry collaboration in mobile payment ecosystems. While NFC outperforms Bluetooth and infrared in terms of proximity security and speed, its adoption relies on resolving interoperability through certifications like NFC Forum’s logo program and compliance with ECMA/ISO standards.
Looking ahead, NFC’s integration with smartphones and IoT devices promises transformative potential, provided stakeholders address policy coordination, user experience, and infrastructure development. As standardization progresses, NFC is poised to become a cornerstone of seamless, secure digital interactions in an increasingly connected world.