NFC “split stack” architecture
A device ( 5; 16; 26 ) that processes a Near Field Communication type application which device ( 5; 16; 26 ) comprises: a host controller circuit ( 3; 27 ) that processes device applications, that use the Near Field Communication type application, and that processes a host driver ( 7; 28 ) that communicates based on a first interface protocol (NCI; EMV); a NFC controller circuit ( 4; 33 ) that processes a Near Field Communication type contactless interface ( 6; 35 ) and a controller driver ( 11; 32 ) that interfaces with the host controller circuit ( 3; 27 ), wherein the host controller circuit ( 3; 27 ) processes a first transmission module ( 9; 30 ) that interfaces with the host driver ( 7; 28 ) based on the first interface protocol (NCI; EMV) and with the controller driver ( 11; 32 ) based on a second interface protocol, which first transmission module ( 9; 30 ) furthermore processes substantially all none-time critical and/or memory consuming tasks of the Near Field Communication type application and wherein the NFC controller circuit ( 4; 33 ) comprises a second transmission module ( 12, 34 ) that processes all time critical tasks for the Near Field Communication type application towards the Near Field Communication type contactless interface ( 6; 35 ).
1. A device that processes a Near Field Communication type application, the device comprising:
a host controller circuit that processes device applications, that use the Near Field Communication type application, and that processes a host driver that communicates based on a first interface protocol (NCI); and
a NFC controller circuit that processes a Near Field Communication type contactless interface and a controller driver that interfaces with the host controller circuit, wherein
the host controller circuit processes a first transmission module with a controller driver, that interfaces with the host driver based on the first interface protocol, (NCI), and with a host soft driver, that interfaces with the controller driver based on a second interface protocol, which first transmission module ( 9 ) furthermore processes the establishment of an HCI network to allow card emulation with a UICC or Secure Element and wherein the NFC controller circuit comprises a second transmission module that processes the actual data exchange during card emulation application between the UICC or Secure Element and a peer device using the previously established HCI network during card emulation without the involvement of the host controller circuit, and wherein firmware for the Near Field Communication type application to be updated by a firmware update resides within a non-real-time host controlled circuit.
2. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the first interface protocol is the “NFC Controller Interface (NCI)” specified in a NFC Forum Specification.
3. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the first interface protocol is the “EMV Contactless Specifications for Payment Systems” based on ISO/IEC 7816 and ISO/IEC 14443 or another proprietary interface protocol.
4. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the host controller circuit or the NFC controller circuit processes a logic link control layer for a contact interface with a smart card and wherein the first transmission module or the NFC controller circuit processes a host controller interface to emulate a smart card for the device application.
5. A chipset for a device that processes a Near Field Communication type application, characterized in, that the chipset comprises a host controller circuit and the NFC controller circuit as claimed in claim 1 .
6. A method to process a Near Field Communication type application to emulate a smart card via a UICC as secure element with a device that comprises:
a host controller circuit that processes device applications, that use the Near Field Communication type application, and that processes a host driver that communicates based on a first interface protocol (NCI; EMV) and
a NFC controller circuit that processes a Near Field Communication type contactless interface and a controller driver that interfaces with the host controller circuit, wherein firmware for the Near Field Communication type application to be updated by a firmware update resides within a non-real-time host controller circuit, and wherein the following steps are processed:
process a controller driver of a first transmission module with the host controller circuit to interface with the host driver based on the first interface protocol (NCI);
process a host soft driver of the first transmission module with the host controller circuit to interface with the controller driver based on a second interface protocol;
establish an HCI network with the first transmission module to allow card emulation application with a UICC or Secure Element; and
process the actual data exchange during the card emulation application between the UICC or Secure Element and a peer device using the previously established HCI network during card emulation with a second transmission module of the NFC controller circuit without the involvement of the host controller circuit.
7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the following step is processed:
process the firmware for the Near Field Communication type application to be updated by the firmware update independently from the NFC controller circuit.
8. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the following steps are processed:
process a first interface protocol to transmit information relevant for the Near Field Communication type application within the host controller circuit and
process a second transmission protocol to transmit information relevant for the Near Field Communication type application between the host controller circuit and the NFC controller circuit.
9. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the following steps are processed:
process the “NFC Controller Interface (NCI)” specified in a NFC Forum Specification as first interface protocol.
10. Method according to claim 7 , wherein the following steps are processed:
process the “EMV Contactless Specifications for Payment Systems” based on ISO/IEC 7816 and ISO/IEC 14443 as first interface protocol or another proprietary interface protocol.