Near Field Communication Research Articles

NFC Tag Awareness and Its Visual Implementation on Food Packaging: Case Study in Slovenia

Many companies are using smart packaging to provide consumers with more information about their products. The goal of our case study is to access the Near Field Communication (NFC) tag knowledge, as well as getting insights into tag positioning in food package design for better visibility in order to develop some guidelines for future tag implementations. A preliminary survey of professionals provided an overview of NFC tag usage, followed by an online survey that assessed knowledge and visibility of tag placements. These findings were further discussed in focus groups and measured using eye-tracking technology. For placement visibility assessments, well-known and fictitious packaging designs of milk were used. The results show that, due to the NFC tag’s low market penetration, consumer recognition is low, with only generations Y and Z being familiar with the NFC tag. Knowledge of the NFC tag does not significantly vary based on education level. When considering the use of NFC tags, it is crucial to define and understand the target market. If the target is younger generations, the potential to increase engagement with the product can be achieved. Additionally, to boost consumer interaction, NFC tags or other smart elements should include an activation prompt, positioned on the central right section of the packaging and distinguished by a distinct color. The influence of the design on tag visibility is essential to ensure its effectiveness.

Encryption Techniques in Near Field Communication (NFC): Challenges, Applications, and Future Directions

With the growth of the need of information transmission and communication, Near Field Communication(NFC) technique is widely used in different areas for its convenience and simplicity,especially those areas that require both high efficiency and low cost of information transmission. However, the security of NFC itself is not ensured due to the risk of information leakage caused by technical features of short distance information transmission. Information encryption techniques are able to help NFC to be more reliable and safer from the danger of data leakage. There are several kinds of encryption techniques for NFC encryption.Due to the impact of multiple different techniques on the universality of NFC, placing different encryption techniques under the same standard can be an effective research method to improve collaboration efficiency of different encryption techniques. This paper mainly introduces common encryption techniques for NFC,including their features and applicable scenarios, and attempt to conduct technical analysis on existing encryption technologies for finding possible improving directions.

The Application of Near Field Communication (NFC) in Public Transportation: Current Practices, Challenges, and Future Prospects

In the field of public transportation, the introduction of NFC technology can realize contactless payment and automatic ticket checking functions, significantly improving system efficiency and passenger experience. The article first reviews the development history of the public transportation system and the basic principles of NFC technology, and then analyzes the technical architecture and working principle of the NFC payment system. Through the cases of public transportation systems in many cities around the world, the practical application and effect of NFC technology are demonstrated. This article also verifies the transaction speed, stability and user satisfaction of NFC technology in the public transportation system through a series of experimental evaluations. The results show that NFC technology has excellent performance in terms of processing speed, system stability and user satisfaction, especially during peak hours, its advantages are more obvious. At the same time, the research also pointed out the limitations of current NFC technology applications and the challenges faced in practical applications. In the future, NFC technology will become more complete and is expected to provide passengers with a more personalized and intelligent service experience.

Optimizing point-of-sale services in MEC enabled near field wireless communications using multi-agent reinforcement learning

In the next-generation communication system, near-field communication (NFC) is a key enabler of contactless transactions, including mobile payments, ticketing, and access control. With the growing demand for contactless solutions, NFC technology will play a pivotal role in enabling secure and convenient payment experiences across various sectors. In contrast, Internet of Things (IoT) devices such as phones’ Point of Sale (PoS) constitute limited battery life and finite computational resources that act as a bottleneck to doing the authentication in a minimal amount of time. Because of this, it garnered considerable attention in both academic and industrial realms. To overcome this, in this work we consider the Multiple Mobile Edge Computing (MEC) as an effective solution that provides extensive computation to PoS connected to it. To address the above, this work considers the PoS-enabled multi-MEC network to guarantee NFC communication reliably and effectively. For this, we formulate the joint optimization problem to maximize the probability of successful authentication while minimizing the queueing delay by jointly optimizing the computation and communication resources by utilizing a multi-agent reinforcement learning optimization approach. Through extensive simulations based on real-world scenarios, the effectiveness of the proposed approach was demonstrated. The results demonstrate that adjusting the complexity and learning rates of the model, coupled with strategic allocation of edge resources, significantly increased authentication success rates. Furthermore, the optimal allocation strategy was found to be crucial in reducing latency and improving authentication success by approximately 9.75%, surpassing other approaches. This study highlights the importance of resource management in optimizing MEC systems, paving the way for advancements in establishing secure, efficient, and dependable systems within the Internet of Things framework.

CO-TSM: A Flexible Model for Secure Embedded Device Ownership and Management

The Consumer-Oriented Trusted Service Manager (CO-TSM) model has been recognised as a significant advancement in managing applications on Near Field Communication (NFC)-enabled mobile devices and multi-application smart cards. Traditional Trusted Service Manager (TSM) models, while useful, often result in market fragmentation and limit widespread adoption due to their centralised control mechanisms. The CO-TSM model addresses these issues by decentralising management and offering greater flexibility and scalability, making it more adaptable to the evolving needs of embedded systems, particularly in the context of the Internet of Things (IoT) and Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technologies. This paper provides a comprehensive analysis of the CO-TSM model, highlighting its application in various technological domains such as smart cards, HCE-based NFC mobile phones, TEE-enabled smart home IoT devices, and RFID-based smart supply chains. By evaluating the CO-TSM model’s architecture, implementation challenges, and practical deployment scenarios, this paper demonstrates how CO-TSM can overcome the limitations of traditional TSM approaches. The case studies presented offer practical insights into the model’s adaptability and effectiveness in real-world scenarios. Through this examination, the paper aims to underscore the CO-TSM model’s role in enhancing scalability, flexibility, and user autonomy in secure embedded device management, while also identifying areas for future research and development.

Finding and Mitigating a Vulnerability of the Color Wheel PIN Protocol

There is an increasing usage in the banking sector of Smartphones enabled with Near Field Communication (NFC), to improve the services offered for the customers. This usage requires a security enhancement of the systems that employ this technology like the Automated Teller Machines (ATMs). One example is the Color Wheel Personal Identification Number (CWPIN) security protocol designed to authenticate users on ATMs using NFC enabled smartphones without typing the PIN code directly. CWPIN has been compared in the literature to several other protocols and was considered easier to use, more cost-effective and more resistant to various attacks on ATMs such as card reader skimming, keylogger injection, shoulder surfing, etc. Nevertheless, we demonstrate in this paper that CWPIN is vulnerable to the multiple video recordings intersection attack. We do so through concrete examples and a thorough analysis that reveals a high theoretical probability of attack success. A malicious party can use one or two hidden cameras to record the ATM and smartphone screens during several authentication sessions, then disclose the user's PIN code by intersecting the information extracted from the video recordings. In a more complex scenario, these video recordings could be obtained by malware injected into the ATM and the user's smartphone to record their screens during CWPIN authentication sessions. Our intersection attack requires a few recordings, usually three or four, to reveal the PIN code and can lead to unauthorized transactions if the user's smartphone is stolen. We also propose a mitigation of the identified attack through several modifications to the CWPIN protocol and discuss its strengths and limitations.

A Portable Electrochemical Biosensor Based on an Amino-Modified Ionic Metal-Organic Framework for the One-Site Detection of Multiple Organophosphorus Pesticides.

Constructing stable, portable sensors and revealing their mechanisms is challenging. Ion metal-organic frameworks (IMOFs) are poised to serve as highly effective electrochemical sensors for detecting organophosphorus pesticides (OPs), leveraging their unique charge properties. In this work, an amino-modified IMOF was constructed and combined with near-field communication (NFC) technology to develop a portable, touchless, and battery-free electrochemical biosensor NH2-IMOF@CS@AChE. -NH2 in NH2-IMOF gives the framework a higher electropositivity compared to IMOF, enhancing the electrostatic attraction with acetylcholinesterase (AChE), which is beneficial for immobilizing AChE. Furthermore, the uncoordinated O atoms and the (CH3)2NH2+ groups in NH2-IMOF help to form stronger bonds with AChE through hydrogen bonds. The results showed a wide linear response range of 1 × 10-15 to 1 × 10-9 M and a low detection limit of 1.24 × 10-13 M for glyphosate (Gly) in the practical detection of OPs. Additionally, electrochemical biosensor arrays were constructed to effectively identify and distinguish multiple OPs on the basis of their unique differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) electrochemical signals. This work provides a simple and effective solution for on-site OP analysis and can be widely applied in food safety and water quality monitoring.

User Clustering for Coexistence Between Near-Field and Far-Field Communications

User Clustering for Coexistence Between Near-Field and Far-Field Communications

Securing Near-Field Wideband MIMO Communications via True-Time Delayer-Based Hybrid Beamfocusing

Securing Near-Field Wideband MIMO Communications via True-Time Delayer-Based Hybrid Beamfocusing

The Inter-channel Interference Cancellation Algorithm for Wireless Magnetic Induction MIMO Communication System Based on Zero-forcing Precoding

Abstract The wireless magnetic induction MIMO system can enhance the data transmission rate in near-field magnetic induction communication, but it also suffers from severe inter-channel interference issues. This paper introduces precoding techniques into the wireless magnetic induction MIMO system, employing the zero-forcing precoding algorithm to eliminate interference between different channels. Firstly, leveraging the characteristic that the channel state of magnetic induction transmit-receive coils is determined solely by the physical parameters of the coils, channel estimation is performed to obtain the channel gain matrix for wireless magnetic induction communication. Subsequently, the obtained channel matrix is subjected to zero-forcing precoding to eliminate interference caused by coupling between different channels. Simulation results indicate that the data transmission rate of the wireless magnetic induction MIMO system is significantly higher after applying zero-forcing precoding compared to the rate without it. Additionally, the system’s data transmission rate decreases as the distance between the transmitting and receiving coils increases.

Dynamic MIMO Architecture Design for Near-Field Communications

Dynamic MIMO Architecture Design for Near-Field Communications

Social Economic Barriers to Information Communication Technology (ICT) Access for Persons with Disabilities in Africa: Literature Review

The 2006 United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, (PWDs) enacted in May 2008, has been instrumental in championing the rights of people with disabilities. A significant aspect of the Convention is information communication technology (ICT) accessibility. Article 9 specifically calls for signatories to “promote access for persons with disabilities to new ICTs and systems, including the Internet” and to “promote the design, development, production, and supply of available ICTs and systems at a premature stage, so that these technologies and systems become accessible at an affordable price. ICT access is important for social economic incorporation of (PWDs) in Africa, with computer technology and the Internet significantly enhancing their independence. A report from the High-Level Meeting on Disability and Development at the United Nations in September 2013 underscores the importance of ICTs for the inclusion of PWDs. While inaccessible ICT designs can create barriers, innovative technologies offer unprecedented support: text-to-speech technology enables millions to access digital versions of otherwise inaccessible print documents, and new tools like GPS, image recognition, near-field communications, and Internet connectivity provide solutions for independent living. However, several socioeconomic barriers impede access to these technologies, exacerbating existing inequalities and limiting participation in the digital age. This article explores the multifaceted challenges PWDs face in accessing ICT in Africa, emphasizing the intersections of disability with poverty, education, infrastructure, and policy. It investigates the financial constraints that make assistive technologies and Internet services unaffordable, the educational barriers affecting digital literacy among PWDs, and infrastructural challenges such as inadequate ICT facilities and the lack of accessibility features in existing technologies. The article also addresses policy and regulatory gaps that fail to prioritize the needs of PWDs in national ICT strategies. By identifying these barriers, the article advocates for inclusive policies and targeted interventions to enhance ICT accessibility for PWDs in Africa. The discussion is informed by a review of relevant literature and data from various African countries. Ultimately, the article highlights the necessity of implementing policies related to ICT access and a collaborative approach involving governments, the private sector, civil society, and international organizations to bridge the digital divide and promote the social and economic empowerment of PWDs

Transformable 3D curved high-density liquid metal coils – an integrated unit for general soft actuation, sensing and communication

Rigid solenoid coils have long been indispensable in modern intelligent devices. However, their sparse structure and challenging preparation of flexible coils for soft robots impose limitations. Here, a transformable 3D curved high-density liquid metal coil (HD-LMC) is introduced that surpasses the structural density level of enameled wire. The fabrication technique employed for high-density channels in elastomers is universally applicable. Such HD-LMCs demonstrated excellent performance in pressure, temperature, non-contact distance sensors, and near-field communication. Soft electromagnetic actuators thus achieved significantly improved the electromagnetic force and power density. Moreover, precise control of swinging tail motion enables a bionic pufferfish to swim. Finally, HD-LMC is further utilized to successfully implement a soft rotary robot with integrated sensing and actuation capabilities. This groundbreaking research provides a theoretical and experimental basis for expanding the applications of liquid metal-based multi-dimensional complex flexible electronics and is expected to be widely used in liquid metal-integrated robotic systems.

Correlation Statistics and Parameter Optimization Algorithms for RIS-Assisted Marine Wireless Communication Systems

Reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RISs), as one of the potential key technologies in sixth generation (6G) mobile communications, feature low costs, low energy consumption, and ease of deployment. In this paper, we introduce the RIS technology into the maritime wireless communication scenario, which can transform the wireless transmission environment from uncontrollable to controllable. In the considered communication model, we derive the complex channel impulse response for the RIS propagation link and non-line-of-sight propagation link, respectively. This can be used to capture the physical properties of a communication model from different perspectives. Furthermore, based on the designed communication model, we investigate the correlation properties of propagation links in the space and time domains; they are the space correlation statistics and time correlation statistics. The provided framework addresses the technical bottleneck of the existing RIS channel modeling methods that fail to balance precision and efficiency, improves the channel model matching efficiency in the design process of RIS-enabled near-field maritime communication systems, and provides technical support for the rapid development of the 6G mobile communication industry.

Microconfined Assembly of High-Resolution and Mechanically Robust EGaIn Liquid Metal Stretchable Electrodes for Wearable Electronic Systems.

Stretchable electrodes based on liquid metals (LM) are widely used in human-machine interfacing, wearable bioelectronics, and other emerging technologies. However, realizing the high-precision patterning and mechanical stability remains challenging due to the poor wettability of LM. Herein, a method is reported to fabricate LM-based multilayer solid-liquid electrodes (m-SLE) utilizing electrohydrodynamic (EHD) printed confinement template. In these electrodes, LM self-assembled onto these high-resolution templates, assisted by selective wetting on the electrodeposited Cu layer. This study shows that a m-SLE composed of PDMS/Ag/Cu/EGaIn exhibits line width of ≈20µm, stretchability of ≈100%, mechanical stability ≈10000 times (stretch/relaxation cycles), and recyclability. The multi-layer structure of m-SLE enables the adjustability of strain sensing, in which the strain-sensitive Ag part can be used for non-distributed detection in human health monitoring and the strain-insensitive EGaIn part can be used as interconnects. In addition, this study demonstrates that near field communication (NFC) devices and multilayer displays integrated by m-SLEs exhibit stable wireless signal transmission capability and stretchability, suggesting its applicability in creating highly-integrated, large-scale commercial, and recyclable wearable electronics.

Near-Field Communications for DMA-NOMA Networks

Near-Field Communications for DMA-NOMA Networks

Simultaneous Wireless Information and Power Transfer in Near-Field Communications

Simultaneous Wireless Information and Power Transfer in Near-Field Communications

Intelligent secure near-field communication

Intelligent secure near-field communication

A flexible non-enzymatic hydrogel-assisted electrochemical sensor: Wireless, sensitive, and selective uric acid detection for home monitoring

A smartphone-enabled, wireless, and battery-free electrochemical sensor equipped with electroactive poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate)/polyvinyl alcohol (PEDOT:PSS/PVA) hydrogel composites, was developed for the non-enzymatic assessment of uric acid (UA) concentrations in human serum and wound exudate. The sensor was constructed with the aid of simple and sustainable modification techniques, such as drop-casting and crosslinking via a green freezing–thawing protocol. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and the PEDOT:PSS/PVA electroactive hydrogel were employed to increase the surface area of the sensor and sample interactions, which improved the sensitivity and specificity for UA detection in the clinical range of 10–1,000 µM, with a detection limit of 0.05 mg/dL in addition to biocompatibility (L-929 cell viability > 90 %). In human serum and wound exudate samples, the prepared sensor demonstrated a good correlation for UA detection when compared to ISO15189 accredited medical laboratory measurements (Pearson correlation coefficient (r) = 0.97 and r = 0.98, respectively). The UA sensor was integrated with the flexible near field communication (NFC) circuit, and demonstrated the feasibility of measuring UA in human serum and wound exudate with results that were consistent with uricase enzymatic determination (p-value > 0.05). The sensor’s wearability was demonstrated by a recovery rate of 101–109 % UA detection when bending on the IV training arm. This NFC UA sensing device can serve as a good alternative platform for self–UA monitoring, along with the potential for developing a smart wound dressing for wound management.

A mechanics and electromagnetic scaling law for highly stretchable radio frequency electronics

Many classes of flexible and stretchable bio-integrated electronic systems rely on mechanically sensitive electromagnetic components, such as various forms of antennas for wireless communication and for harvesting energy through coupling with external power sources. This efficient wireless functionality can be important for body area network technologies and can enable operation without the weight and bulky size of batteries for power supply. Recently, antenna designs have received increased attention because their mechanical and electromagnetic properties significantly influence the wireless performance of bio-integrated electronics, particularly under excessive mechanical loads. These mechanical factors are critical for skin-integrated electronics during human motion, as complex skin deformations can damage the conductive traces of antennas, such as those used for near-field communication (NFC), leading to yield or fracture and affecting their electromagnetic stability. Serpentine interconnects have been proposed as a geometric alternative to in-plane circular or rectangular spiral antenna designs to improve the elastic stretchability of the metallic traces in NFC antennas and prevent mechanical fractures. Despite the use of serpentine interconnects within the physiologically relevant strain range for skin (<20 %), the electromagnetic stability of the antennas decreases. This instability, reflected by shifts in resonance frequency and scattering parameters due to inductance changes, reduces the antennas' wireless power transfer efficiency and readout range. Therefore, maintaining the electromagnetic stability of antennas, specifically NFC antennas, under various mechanical deformations has become a critical challenge in practical wireless skin-integrated applications, such as sensing and physiological monitoring. Here, we establish a new mechanics and electromagnetic scaling law that quantifies the inductance changes under strain in a rectangular-loop serpentine structure typically used for NFC wireless communication in stretchable electronics. We present a systematic analysis of the antenna's geometric parameters, material properties of the antenna and substrate, and the applied strain on the inductance change. Our findings demonstrate that the relative change of inductance is solely influenced by the serpentine structure's width-radius ratio, arc angle, aspect ratio of the NFC antennas, and the applied strain. Additionally, under physiological strain conditions for the skin, the relative change of inductance can be minimized to preserve the NFC antenna's performance and prevent mechanical fracture and electromagnetic stability loss.