Emulation of multiple devices in an NFC device
A method in a signal generating unit, SGU, generates a signal to be used in a Near-Field Communication, NFC, reader. The SGU is configured to communicate with an NFC controller unit, NFC-CU, and with an NFC-Wired Interface unit, NFC-WIU. The NFC-CU and the SGU are included in an NFC device, and the NFC-WIU is connected to the NFC device. The SGU receives a first signal that includes data encoding information indicating a first unique identifier supported by the NFC-CU, from the NFC-CU, and a second signal that includes data encoding information indicating a second unique identifier supported by the NFC-WIU, from the NFC-WIU. The SGU generates a third signal to be used in the NFC reader to generate a collision sequence, based on the first signal and the second signal. An SGU configured to perform the method, and a NFC device that includes the SGU are also provided.
1. A method in a signal generating unit for generating a signal to be used in a Near-Field Communication (NFC) reader, the method comprising:
receiving, by the signal generating unit, a first signal from a Near-Field Communication (NFC) controller unit, the first signal including first data encoding information indicating a first unique identifier that is supported by the NFC controller unit, the signal generating unit being included in an NFC device and configured to communicate with the NFC controller unit and an NFC-Wired Interface unit, the NFC controller unit being included in the NFC device, and the NFC-Wired Interface unit being connected to the NFC device;
receiving, by the signal generating unit, a second signal from the NFC-Wired Interface unit, the second signal including second data encoding information indicating a second unique identifier that is supported by the NFC-Wired Interface unit; and
generating, by the signal generating unit, a third signal by combining the first signal and the second signal, wherein the third signal is to be used in the NFC reader to generate a collision sequence,
wherein the NFC controller unit emulates a card or device assigned the first unique identifier and performs polling, anti-collision, and selection procedures, and
wherein the NFC-Wired Interface unit has an independent, standalone functionality for card or device emulation, which includes performing polling, anti-collision, and selection procedures.
2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
sending the third signal to an NFC physical interface in the NFC device, wherein the NFC physical interface generates a NFC-RF signal comprising the third signal, the NFC-RF signal being detectable by the NFC reader.
3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the combining of the first and second signals to generate the third signal comprises a logical AND operation between the first and the second signal.
4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first signal is received from the NFC controller unit in response to a polling or anti-collision command from the NFC reader.
5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the second signal is received from the NFC-Wired Interface unit in response to a polling or anti-collision command from the NFC reader.
6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the NFC controller unit and the NFC-Wired Interface unit are configured for NFC type A, 106 kbps, according to the ISO14443A standard, and the data encoding information in the first and second signals are both Manchester encoded using the ISO14443A standard for 106 kbps.
7. A signal generating unit for generating a signal to be used in an Near-Field Communication (NFC) reader, the signal generating unit being configured to:
communicate with an NFC controller unit and an NFC-Wired Interface unit, the signal generating unit and the NFC controller unit being included in an NFC device and the NFC-Wired Interface unit being connected to the NFC device,
receive a first signal from the NFC controller unit, the first signal including first data encoding information indicating a first unique identifier that is supported by the NFC controller unit,
receive a second signal from the NFC-Wired Interface unit, the second signal including second data encoding information indicating a second unique identifier that is supported by the NFC-Wired Interface unit, and
generate a third signal by combining the first signal and the second signal, wherein the third signal is to be used in the NFC reader to generate a collision sequence,
wherein the NFC controller unit emulates a card or device assigned the first unique identifier and performs polling, anti-collision, and selection procedures, and
wherein the NFC-Wired Interface unit has an independent, standalone functionality for card or device emulation, which includes performing polling, anti-collision, and selection procedures.
8. The signal generating unit according to claim 7 , further configured to send the third signal to a NFC physical interface in the NFC device, wherein the NFC physical interface is configured to generate a NFC-RF signal comprising the third signal, the NFC-RF signal being detectable by the NFC reader.
9. The signal generating unit according to claim 7 , wherein the combining to generate the third signal comprises a logical AND operation between the first and the second signal.
10. The signal generating unit according to claim 7 , wherein the NFC controller unit and the NFC-Wired Interface unit are configured for NFC type A, 106 kbps, according to the ISO14443A standard, and the data encoding information in the first and second signals are both Manchester encoded using the ISO14443A standard for 106 kbps.
11. A Near-Field Communication (NFC) device configured to be connected to an NFC-Wired Interface unit, the NFC device comprising an NFC controller, which NFC controller comprises an NFC controller unit and a signal generating unit according to claim 7 .