NFC:Metro Token/card working

 Have you ever think,how metro token/card , Debit/Credit cards works ? Let's see

        These cards , tokens even QR system all works on a technology called NFC (Near Field Communication).

 NFC is a neaR field communication used to make communication/contact between two devices like from smartphone to smartphone, smartphone to POS machine, smartphone to metro card reader, metro token to token reader etc. It uses electromagnetic radio waves to communicate with range near to 4 to 6 cms. This technology also uses to transaction by using credit/debit card.

                              NFC is like a fast tag but it's range is too small compared to fasttag. Fas tag uses Radio Frequency Identification (RFID). NFC also shares transaction detail, contact detail, photo, video. It does not need to pair and use pin like Bluetooth.

NFC is a set of communication protocols that makes communication between two electronic devices within the range of 4-6 centimeters. The standards were provided by NFC Forum. NFC standards cover communication protocol and data exchange formats and are based on current radio frequency identification RFID standards including ISO/IEC 14443 and FeliCa.

NFC allows compatible hardware to both supply power and communicate with an otherwise unpowered and passive electronic tag using radio waves i.e RFID . This is used for identification, authentication and tracking.

History : May 17 , 1983  the first patent to be associated with the abbreviation RFID was granted to Charles Walton.

December 8, 2003 NFC was approved as an ISO/IEC standards and later as an ECMA standard.

2004 Nokia,Philips, and sony established the NFC Forum.

Design : NFC is wireless technology with short range of 6cms . It includes an initiator and a target. It operates at 13.56MHz with speed of 106 kbit/s to 424 kbit/s which is slower than Bluetooth (2.1 Mbit/s). NFC tags contain data and are typically read only , but may be writable. Tags can securely store personal data such as debit and credit card information, program data, Pin code and networking contacts.

Because the pickup antenna may be quenched in an Eddy current by nearby metallic material, tag requires a minimum separation from such surfaces.

The communication occurs between an active initiator device and a target device which may either be 

PASSIVE : the initiator device provides a carrier field , and target device acting as a transponder.

ACTIVE : in this mode , both devices are powered and both initiator and target device communicate by alternately generating their own fields. A device stops transmitting in order to receive data from other.

          NFC and Bluetooth both are short range communication technologies but NFC have slower speed than Bluetooth and has am much shorter range.But NFC consumes less power and doesn't require pairing. NFC set up quickly but has a lower transfer rate at low energy. Communication establishes in less than .1 sec. Normally NFC requires low power but in case of other unpowered device like QR code, bar code  , contactless smart credit card etc , power consumption is greater than Bluetooth.

NFC allows one and two way communication between endpoint, suitable for many applications.NFC device can act as electronic identity document and keycards. They are used in contactless payment systems etc.

                       On Sept.9 , 2014 , apple announced support for NFC powered transaction as part of apple pay. NFC offers a low speed connection with simple setup that can be used to bootstrap more capable wireless connections.

      NFC can be used for social networking, for contact sharing , text message and forums, links to photos , videos or files. NFC enabled devices can act as e-id documents found in passport and ID Cards and key cards for the use in fare cards, Transit pass Login cards , car key and access badges.