What does nfc. NFC: what is it for and how to install it. Reading information using NFC

Using NFC Stickers

At the time of this writing, only Android devices and Windows Phone support this technology, so Apple owners may consider buying another device. Windows Phone owners can finish reading the article to understand the settings for NFC stickers, and Android owners can follow the instructions, since they are written specifically for this operating system.

What does NFC technology offer us when using special stickers? To begin with, see these same stickers, which are the subject of a thin layer.

They can look different, the main thing in them is that there is a special NFC chip... Perhaps you have such a mark in your pocket, if there is a ticket for travel in the metro (by the way, this is the ticket I used to work with this technology). So, it's worth putting your smartphone on such NFC tag and the phone to perform predetermined actions that the user can fine-tune. Your possibilities are limited only by your desires: you can switch the phone to silent mode in the meeting room; you can open the navigation map, turn on GPS and mobile data as soon as you are in the car; in the same car, you can turn on Bluetooth to receive calls without being distracted by the phone; you can come to work and connect to work Wi-Fi networks and start flipping through the calendar of meetings; disconnect from all networks at home and turn on music; in one word, you can customize absolutely anything. And for this you only need at least one sticker (you can buy them, they are not expensive) and free app in Google play, thanks to which the possibilities increase and the necessary actions can be performed not only when the phone is brought to the sticker, but also if the battery level reaches a certain mark; or you plug in a headset; either a certain point in time will come, or even if you find yourself in a certain area. Believe me, there is a place where fantasy unfolds. In the meantime, we'll start setting up NFC.

How to use NFC or set up an NFC tag

So, we need an Android phone with NFC support. In addition, we need an NFC tag (you can use a ticket from the metro). Now you need to download the Trigger application from Google Play, install and launch it. The application is free, but the professional version with maximum functionality costs some money (the same is not big). You can enable the trial version first. After all the greetings in the My Tasks menu, click on the plus sign and yes, the creation of the first task will begin, which will be performed when the phone is brought to the tag. First of all, we are asked to add triggers:

Wi-Fi... If you select this, further actions will be performed when connecting or disconnecting from a specific network.
Bluetooth... The situation is similar as with Wi-Fi.
NFC... Actually and NFC tags. The task is activated when you bring it to the NFC tag (which we will mainly talk about)
Battery... Activation at a certain battery level. It is convenient to put your phone into power saving mode when the battery is low.
Time... Activation in certain time.
Charger. Activation when connected or disconnected from the power supply.
Headset. Activation when connecting a headset (you can immediately turn on the song by just plugging the headphones into your smartphone).
Calendar event... Quite understandable name.
Agent... I think you can figure it out for yourself, I did not succeed.
Geo-fence. Activation when crossing some terrain.

After selecting the required trigger (and for the purposes of this article, I recommend choosing NFC, you must click Next. In the next window, you can configure restrictions on the action of this task. So the task can be performed only at certain times, on certain days, at a certain battery level and at different states Wi-Fi technologies, Bluetooth and airplane mode. For my purposes, there were no restrictions, so I just continued the setup, skipping this item. Next, you should get to the Task menu (if not, click Next). Here, with the help of the plus sign, you are free to add the necessary tasks that must be performed under the conditions you have chosen (in our case, when you bring it to the NFC tag). There are a lot of actions, therefore I will list only the groups of actions:

Wireless and local area networks
Bluetooth
Sounds and volume
Screen
Social copper
Posts
Apps and shortcuts
Media
Agent
Travels
Signals
Developments
Telephone
Samsung
Scheduler
Experimental

Select the groups you are interested in, expand it and select the required action. For example, to play music, you need to select Media, and then check the box next to Play media. All tasks you need are configured in the same way, and then click Next. Some tasks will require additional customization, for example Wi-Fi needs to be turned on or off. After this additional configuration, click Add to Job. You can give your task a unique name or leave the default name, click Next.

The Switch menu will come out next to last. This is quite an interesting point, and an example is needed to understand it. Let's say we created an NFC tag, from which the phone starts playing music. Following the logic, another NFC sticker is needed to create a new task to turn off the music. However, you can use the Switches function so that two reverse tasks perform the same sticker. For this in this menu you need to click the same plus sign and add a new task in the above way, select the opposite actions there. At the end of these works, click Finish. After that, you need to put your smartphone on a sticker with which the phone is synchronized in less than a second. If the reaction is positive, it remains to press the Finish button.

Possible problems when using Trigger

For of this application in the same Google Play there are several different plugins that are needed for different actions. So the Trigger Reuse plugin allows you to reuse NFC stickers, such as subway tickets. All the necessary plugins can be found using the Trigger Plugin request on Google Play. Some of these plugins require additional configuration, some do not. I think you can figure it out.

Using NFC technology to pay for metro fares

To use your phone to pay for metro fare, you must contact your mobile operator and to clarify whether he supports this technology (MTS, Vimpelcom, Rostelecom definitely support this technology). If the answer is yes, you need to replace your SIM card with a special SIM card with NFC support and activate a special service (technical support or employees of the sales center to help you). After that (in theory), it is only necessary to top up your phone account in time, so that one day the turnstile does not start yelling at you.

Hello dear readers of this blog. IN this material I will tell you about an interesting NFC technology. Many have already heard about this new product, but it was announced in 2004. The opportunity is most often used in smartphones on Android base or iOS, but there are many other devices where the technology is used, we'll talk about that too.

NFC(Near field communication) - translated as "near contactless communication". There are several definitions. It is used to provide communication between devices over a short distance, originally intended for non-contact operations. The actual interaction distance is 10 cm.

They said about the definition, now let's go directly to the analysis of all the nuances, history and places of use.

Content:

How NFC works

It would seem that the function is very different from others wireless models, but also inferior to them. Principle NFC work lies in the fact that the device where the module of this technology is built-in operates at a speed of about 400 Kbps (clearly inferior to Wi-Fi), the interaction occurs at a distance of 10 cm, that is, you practically attach the devices to each other, although the connection time is usually instant ...

The NFC module is very compact, so it can be integrated not only into smartphones, but also into watches. It does not consume much energy. For the module to work in the right direction, the device must have an antenna. On phones, it's usually on the back. Thus, contact with the devices should provide instant contact. If the device is large, for example, a tablet, then the interaction point is more difficult to find.

As for security, the creators did not think about it at all. Protection should be carried out at the device level, where NFC module used. In other words, if you use a payment system, then you don't have to worry about the safety of making payments. If you lose your phone or steal it, you will be to blame, if you have not set at least a minimum level of protection as an unlock, for example, graphic key, fingerprint scanner or pin.

Of course, the difference between NFC technology from others wireless solutions the fact that the technology is essentially a scenario, in contrast to the same Bluetooth, which clearly states that it must receive and receive data, or be able to connect with headphones and other devices. In NFC, however, various methods can be created independently, which will be implemented using software... In short, let your imagination run wild and you can create a lot of interesting things.

By the way, I never said that the NFC function was created on the basis of RFID identification. These are usually so-called tags that allow you to automatically identify a device using a radio signal. This capability allows you to communicate with both active devices (powered by batteries) and passive ones (which do not need power).

What is the peculiarity of the technology and where is it applied

Affecting smartphones, there are several use cases here from of this type devices:

Use as payment system(linking credit cards, gift and discount cards);
Data transfer between two devices (remember, the distance between devices is at least 10 cm);
Use as user identification;
Connection by Bluetooth technology for data transmission;
Reading RFID tags to get any information, for example, from bulletin boards.

As already mentioned, NFC is most often used in smartphones and tablets on or iOS. The thing is that we almost never part with our phone, so the integration of wireless technology was aimed primarily at mobile devices.

In the future, NFC technology will be used not only in mobile, but also in electronic keys, with a unique identifier, which, perhaps, cannot be counterfeited when buying air tickets, and indeed any tickets and many other options.

Door locks and handles

By the way, now there is no need to worry about losing the key to open the door, because there is a handle, which has built-in wireless high-frequency communication technology. With any device (for example, a telephone), you can enter a corresponding label that will open the door when presented. You can search for such a thing in Chinese online stores type Aliexpress.

Surprisingly, there are so-called smart locks. They not only have a key hole, but also built-in NFC module... He can send a notification to the phone about the moments when you open the door (or someone tried to do it), as well as if someone knocked. The lock can be linked over the network and controlled remotely. You can make electronic keys with built-in tags and distribute to all family members or even friends.

NFC ring, what is it and how to use

As already mentioned, if you have any item with an NFC module, you can record almost any information. For example, you have a special ring. With it, you can transfer contact information and you do not need to carry all sorts of cards with you. It can also be used to open the same locks.

If there is no electricity in the house (and the lock is powered by it, or from batteries), then the door can be opened with a key. In this case, you should play it safe and always carry the key with you when you leave.

Contactless payment

I have already written about this type of use of the above technology. Now, in almost all cities of Russia, at least in one store, there is an ATM or reader that allows you to carry out. It is enough to link the map to the application, such as Android Pay or Samsung Pay.

Fare payment

The same NFC will help you to pay for the metro or go through the turnstile. To pay, you will need a special SIM card that supports this technology. Most likely, most operators now support it, but you'd better clarify.

Finally, you can use NFC in jewelry, some manage to embed them in tattoos, for example, to unlock a smartphone.

News at the NFC Forum

Together with the development, a forum was also founded, where developers are trying to promote the technology in various household solutions, and smartphones, of course.

On the resource you can find necessary information about NFC and news, rather related to the compliance of standards in some devices.

What about security in NFC devices

The use of various methods of unauthorized access to data via NFC has already been repeatedly mentioned. For example, in 2012, an exploit was created to inject malicious code and to get full access to everything that is in it, including device control.

If the attacker has the necessary antennas, then there is a possibility of listening to a person via NFC, of course, with some skill, it is possible to achieve wiretapping at a distance of several meters maximum. An important fact is that a device powered by energy is easier to listen to than a passive version.

Through experiments, it was revealed that the communication of the devices was disrupted by jamming the signal. As you know, the radio signal is very easy to distort, and the RFID module is very sensitive to this.

Why can't Bluetooth be used to perform the operation?

Bluetooth differs from NFC in that it has a long range, which makes the signal easy to intercept, as well as a short access time. NFC communicates with the device almost instantly.

NFC - which phones have it and how to enable it

I will show with an example Android phone... When buying, you probably read the characteristics of the smartphone, and for sure there was a line "NFC support". If you don't remember, you can see it in the system settings.

First, swipe down from the top of the screen to open the notification shade. It is quite possible that you will see the "NFC" option there.

If there is no function in the notification curtain, then go to the settings. I have Android 7.1.2 with the LineageOS shell, so I'll show you using it as an example. In chapter "Wireless network" click on the button "More".

We got to the section where the NFC subsection is displayed, where you can turn it on. Also there is Android function Beam, allowing the exchange of data between devices and contactless payment where you can select your primary means of payment.

How to use tags with an Android device

First, you need to find NFC tags. They can be used to run any Android application. For example, you are driving and it is not convenient for you to search every time desired application and get distracted from the road. Here a label comes to the rescue, by attaching it to the smartphone of the application to instantly start.

To write the necessary data to the tag, you need to download the application NFC ReTAG... Use it to scan the tag, and then select the application that you want to launch when you bring it to your smartphone.

How to transfer files using NFC

Now touch the phone where you want to send the file and wait. In fact, this option for data transmission is much inferior to Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, but if you need to transfer some top-secret data, then a small range and a minimum probability of interception will provide you with it.

Besides standard file transfer with using Android Beam can be transmitted:

Open link in the browser;
Data from Google Maps (of a specific route or location);
Contacts - sent without a photo;
Apps from Google - link is sent;
Any type of files - from text to media.

Create labels

To create tags, you need a blank, the form factor can be for every taste. Regular round tags can be purchased both in Russia and on the Internet, for example, on Aliexpress for 80 rubles.

Now you can install the application on your smartphone (do we need to somehow write information to the tag?). I can suggest TagInfo or TagWriter.

The second utility can write the necessary data to the tag, we will need it today. The first one reads information. You can write anything you want, but since the tag has a very small size (usually in bytes), some data, such as contacts, cannot always be written. More precisely, the contact itself will be recorded, but the photo attached to it will not. In future articles, I will show you how to create an NFC tag using the specified application.

That's all, now you know what NFC is, which phones have it and why it is used at all. It can help a lot in everyday life. If you have any questions, be sure to unsubscribe in the comments.

Let's say you find the NFC function in your phone - that you don't know, and you also don't know what will happen when it is activated.

In this case, the material below will be incredibly useful to you, and you will open another dimension to its use.

If you already know about the NFC technology in the phone, what it is and how to use it, we will try to expand the boundaries of your knowledge.

So, let's begin.

NFC abbreviation

The mysterious figure of three Latin letters in yours is not a veiled curse at all, but an indication of the use of technology, the full name of which sounds like Near Field Communication.

It appeared relatively recently, but it is most widespread thanks to mobile technologies.

As it turned out, it is the optimal tool that makes it easier, and in some cases even accelerates the life of the user with skillful use.

Conventionally, this abbreviation can be deciphered as "close connection". She is not far off in several senses at once.

First, the transmission of information with its help can be carried out at a minimum distance between the objects of interaction, which is no more than a couple of centimeters.

And secondly, the amount of information transmitted in the process is negligible, despite the fact that this technology is used smart devices type.

The abbreviation NFC is associated with another abbreviation EMV, the name of which is optional.

She, in turn, is the progenitor of the technology and describes the possibility of using smart cards for contactless transactions.

If desired, the process can be studied in more detail by leafing through the standard 14443.

But bypassing theory, in order to fully appreciate the benefits of technology, we turn to practice and learn how to use it in mobile device NFC.

rice. 1 - NFC logo

Where is NFC being implemented

Yes, indeed, NFC technology extends not only to phones, but also to other gadgets, for example, tablets can also have similar functionality, especially since the technology allows it.

The NFC transmitter / receiver takes up really little space and in some cases fits between the case cover and.

Devices equipped with such a module can be recognized by the corresponding logo placed on the case.

Please note: often the label with the corresponding logo directly indicates the location of the corresponding antenna, and allows you to make a connection between objects much faster

For other objects, other commonly used objects can be embedded in readers and writers.

The same technology is used when paying with travel cards in public transport, for example, in the metro.

And among household appliances the primacy in the use of this technology is distinguished by modern refrigerators with smart functions.

The technology itself is not strongly limited by standards, therefore it has rather broad prospects for its development, and many manufacturers of equipment and new technologies are actively using this.

This also applies to the developers of the hardware of the devices, and the software, so every day there are new gadgets and applications that allow you to effectively use NFC.

Now let's look at exactly how they are used.

rice. 2 - Connection to Android system

Interaction methods

The uniqueness of NFC technology is that it can be used in three different ways. These include:

Data exchange.
Reading and writing data.
Emulation of smart cards.

The first interaction option involves the use of equivalent devices.

In the English version, the Peer-to-Peer characteristic is used for such interaction, which means that data is transmitted from the same object.

In this case, both objects will have modules with receivers that can interact in two directions - reading and writing information.

A striking example of such interaction can be considered the transfer of data from a smartphone to a smartphone, or from a smartphone to. The subjects of interaction in this case can be:

The second variant of interaction - reading and writing data - can be carried out not only between devices.

More commonly, it is used to create and read tags.

The peculiarity of these tags is that they are miniature hidden chips that do not consume a lot of power.

The last option for interaction is emulation.

It involves the use of a smartphone as a contactless payment device for services such as payment cards used to pay for travel, but in a wider assortment thanks to services like Google Wallet.

NFC: what is it, what is it for, how does it work?

The nfc function in the phone - what is it? What is it used for and how it can be used in everyday life. Description of technology and features of its operation

Hidden disadvantages of technology

Along with such advantages of NFC as low power consumption and minimal cost of implementation, this technology has a number of disadvantages that appear immediately after the start of operation.

With some of them you have to put up in anticipation of the improvement of technology, and some of them force you to limit the scope of application.

So, the first of these is the small signal range.

This disadvantage, on the one hand, creates an inconvenience when, for example, the user needs to create a connection as quickly as possible, but on the other hand, it can be assessed as an advantage.

The bottom line is that in this way a fairly high degree of security is provided, which minimizes the likelihood of accidental command execution, for example, while reading a code or a link from a sticker tag.

But there are also more serious disadvantages.

Thus, the lack of clear standards leads to an uncontrolled increase in the number of technology modifications, from which the consumer himself suffers.

For example, some companies, such as Sony or, are finalizing the transmission technology, producing their own expendable materials in the form of TecTiles, compatible exclusively with their devices.

And this leads to the fact that the user is driven into the framework of inconvenience.

However, there is another drawback that manifests itself when trying to master the system on your own.

Of course, progress in recent years has led to the fact that the use of NFC is becoming more and more popular and more and more people are asking questions such as what is the nfc in the phone for, what it is and what is the use of it.

NFC - use case, what is it for, where to buy?

Today I want to talk about possible scenarios for using NFC technology in everyday life. Payment systems, contactless payments are good, but in addition to the use cases imposed by market leaders, NFC can also be used in your own tasks. This is my personal experience and only my thoughts on this issue. Only the idea is important. How you use it is another question.

NFC technology enables high frequency wireless communication at short distances. NFC modules are equipped with a large number of modern devices- first of all, the technology is focused on tablets and smartphones. In this article, we will look at what NFC is in a smartphone, how NFC technology works, what advantages it has and what is the range of its applications.

The abbreviation NFC stands for Near Fild Communication. The technology is based on the principle of exchanging radio signals between two devices - this technology is similar to the well-known Bluetooth. However, there is one important difference- unlike Bluetooth, which is focused on transmitting data at a distance of up to hundreds of meters, NFC is designed to exchange data at a distance of about 10 cm and closer.

The technology was announced in 2004 as an extension to contactless cards. After that, the technology gained quite a lot of popularity and now it can be used in many areas.

How it works?

Let's try to figure out how NFC works in a smartphone. Two devices communicate with each other when they touch - so, to pair two smartphones, you just need to attach them to each other.

If you delve into the technical details of the technology, we can say the following.

NFC communication is based on induction magnetic field- loop antennas are located within the near field and form a transformer. For NFC operation, frequencies are allocated in the 13.56 MHz range. The supported data transfer rate can be up to 400kb / s.

NFC operating modes

NFS in a smartphone can work in two modes:

Active mode - both devices alternately transmit information, while both devices must have a power source.
Passive mode - the initiator of the data transmission session, by modulating its field, provides the carrier field and the response of the second device - it uses the field power of the first device for data transmission.

Passive mode allows you to create devices that do not need their own battery - for example, a small tag the size of a penny coin or even smaller can effectively interact with another device on short distances- it is enough to bring them closer together and the data transfer process will start on its own.

Benefits of NFC technology

The advantages of NFC include intuitiveness (one touch is enough to initiate data transfer), versatility (NFC has the widest range of uses), openness of the technology and its compliance with industry standards, as well as increased security due to low transmitter power and low range.

NFC can be used to configure other wireless technologies- so, for pairing two devices via NFC, about 100ms is enough, while connecting them to each other via Wifi or Bluetooth takes significantly longer, and it can be done via NFC.

NFC facilitates the exchange of information - transferring a file from one smartphone to another is possible simply by touching it with your smartphone. In this case, the matter is not limited - you can transfer the payment to the interlocutor, add it to your “friends” or start a session of a joint multiplayer game.

Prospects for NFC

NFC as a communication technology has a wide range of applications, which can be constantly expanded. So, using NFC, you can implement such contactless technologies as access control to the premises, payments using mobile phone- including in public transport and shops, various solutions in the field of consumer electronics, healthcare, information exchange programs, and so on.

Great opportunities are opening up in the field of e-commerce - an NFC device can act as a wallet, travel pass, boarding pass, discount coupon, and so on. NFC tags in stores allow you to instantly receive Additional information about the product and other stores with such a product. An NFC tag can be installed in a museum, gallery or exhibition hall - when you read the tag, you will receive information about the object.