WO2008107437A1

WO2008107437A1 - Method of exchanging data between a contactless communication port and a mobile telephone terminal

Info

Publication number: WO2008107437A1
Application number: PCT/EP2008/052615
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mathias Fraisse
Original assignee: Bouygues Telecom
Priority date: 2007-03-05
Filing date: 2008-03-04
Publication date: 2008-09-12
Also published as: FR2913546A1; FR2913546B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method of exchanging data between a contactless communication port (20), of the RFID type and a mobile telephone terminal (10) including a contactless communication module (12) and a plurality of storage spaces (14, 15, 16) containing one or more contactless application(s), the method comprising steps according to which: - the contactless communication module receives a data exchange initiation request emitted by the port, - the communication module detects a format of a data string contained in the request, - the communication module directs the request to an appropriate storage space of the mobile terminal, as a function of a routing table associating a data string format with a predetermined storage space. Particular application to the management of initiation requests exhibiting different formats.

Description

METHOD OF EXCHANGING DATA BETWEEN A CONTACTLESS COMMUNICATION TERMINAL AND A MOBILE TELEPHONY TERMINAL

TECHNICAL AREA

The invention relates to the field of services using contactless data exchange techniques of the RFID type (Radio

Frequency Identification) or Near Field Communication (NFC) techniques.

It relates more particularly to a method of data exchange between a mobile terminal and a contactless communication terminal.

STATE OF THE ART

More and more services are using contactless communication techniques. These techniques allow devices to exchange data between themselves or with a contactless smart card, through a short-range wireless link (typically of the order of a few centimeters).

Some mobile terminals (mobile phones or PDAs) include contactless applications allowing users to use their mobile terminal as an information medium capable of exchanging data, the terminal thus being able to fulfill a function of payment card, card de loyalty, badge, show ticket, ticket or key for example. These applications can be stored in the SIM card of the terminal. However, with the multiplication of services using this data exchange mode, the same mobile terminal must be able to implement several contactless applications.

Moreover, there are currently several contactless data exchange technologies, such as for example the "FeIiCa" technology proposed by Sony or the "Mifare" technology proposed by Philips. In order to allow a mobile terminal to exchange data with other equipment, it is necessary that the mobile terminal and the equipment use the same technology.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the invention is to allow to integrate within the same mobile terminal a plurality of contactless data exchange applications, these applications can be contained in different storage spaces of the mobile terminal and require different formats of data. This problem is solved in the context of the present invention by means of a method of data exchange between a contactless communication terminal of the RFID type and a mobile telephone terminal including a contactless communication module and a plurality of spaces. storage system containing one or more non-contact applications, the method comprising steps wherein:

the contactless communication module receives a data exchange initiation request transmitted by the terminal,

the communication module detects a format of a data string contained in the request, the communication module directs the request to an appropriate storage space of the mobile terminal, according to a routing table associating a string format of data to a predetermined storage space.

In such a method, the contactless communication module is able to detect the format of the initiation request and to route the initiation request to an appropriate storage space. As a result, the mobile terminal is able to establish an exchange of data with the terminal regardless of the format of the initiation request.

In addition, the communication module refers to a routing table that maps a particular format of a request to a corresponding storage space in the phone. This routing table can be modified or adapted according to the applications available in the mobile terminal. The method may further have the following features:

the step of detecting the format of a data string consists in detecting a predetermined octet string contained in the initiation request; the routing table contains routing rules for initiation requests associating a format of a reference data string to a storage space of the mobile terminal,

the routing rules are administered by a mobile terminal master security element; the routing table is stored in the contactless communication module of the mobile terminal;

the method comprises a step of updating the routing table,

the method further comprises a step in which the communication module inserts an application identification string into the request before directing the request to the storage space,

the method comprises a step according to which the communication module maintains a data exchange channel between the storage space and the contactless communication terminal for a predetermined duration,

the predetermined duration is defined in the routing table in association with a contactless application concerned or the storage space,

the communication module transmits to the terminal a predetermined list of identifiers of visible non-contact applications contained in one or more of the storage spaces.

The invention also relates to a mobile telephone terminal capable of exchanging data with a contactless communication terminal, the terminal including a contactless communication module and a plurality of storage spaces containing one or more application (s). without contact, the contactless communication module being programmed to perform the steps defined above.

The terminal may have the following characteristics: the terminal comprises a master security element able to administer routing rules contained in the routing table and user security elements, which include the storage spaces having a predetermined identifier and containing one or more contactless applications,

the routing table comprises a predetermined list of visible contactless application identifiers contained in one or more of the storage spaces, this list being intended to be transmitted by the mobile terminal to the contactless communication terminal, the terminal includes a programming interface for modifying routing rules contained in the routing table and for installing new contactless applications in the storage spaces of the mobile terminal,

- The routing table is able to be updated by an OTA platform.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages will become apparent from the description which follows, which is purely illustrative and nonlimiting and should be read in conjunction with the appended figures, among which:

FIG. 1 diagrammatically shows equipment capable of exchanging data, in accordance with a possible embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 2 schematically represents various steps of a data exchange method, in accordance with an implementation mode of the invention,

FIG. 3 schematically represents an example of a routing table contained in the NFC module, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; FIG. 4 schematically represents the links between the security elements and the routing table,

- Figure 5 schematically shows the application identification steps available in the mobile terminal. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT

In FIG. 1, the equipment shown comprises, on the one hand, a mobile terminal 10 and, on the other hand, a contactless data exchange terminal 20, of the RFID type and more particularly of the NFC type. The mobile terminal 10 comprises an NFC data exchange antenna 11, an NFC contactless communication module 12, a processor 13 and a plurality of storage spaces including a secure element 14 (Secure Element), a SIM card 15 and a removable memory card 16 (Secure Digital card). Each storage space of the mobile terminal may contain one or more contactless data exchange applications.

The terminal 20 comprises in particular an antenna 21 for exchanging NFC data and an NFC data reader 22.

The mobile terminal 10 and the terminal 20 are able to exchange data with each other via a short-range contactless link (shown in dotted lines).

For this purpose, the terminal 20 is able to send a contactless data exchange initiation request and to receive a response signal from the terminal 10 via the antenna 21. The mobile terminal 10 is able to receive the initiation request and send a response via the antenna 11.

The NFC module 12 is programmed to execute a routing of the requests received by the mobile terminal 10 to an appropriate storage space of the mobile terminal, according to predetermined routing rules. FIG. 2 illustrates various steps of a method 100 for exchanging data between the terminal 10 and the terminal 20.

In a first step 110, the terminal sends a data exchange initiation request, the request having a predetermined format, in accordance with a standard for contactless data exchange. In a second step 120, the NFC module of the mobile terminal receives the data exchange request.

According to a third step 130, the NFC module detects a format of a reference octet string contained in the request. In a fourth step 140, the NFC module queries a routing table and determines a storage space to which the request is to be routed. The routing table associates a format of a reference octet string with an identifier of a storage space of the mobile terminal. According to an optional fifth step 150, the NFC module inserts into the request an application identification string, intended to allow the storage space to select and activate an appropriate application.

This fifth step 150 allows the mobile terminal to manage initiation requests issued in a simplified format that do not contain an application identification string. This is the case for some requests in a format called "Innovatron protocol B" for example, used in particular for the detection of certain tickets.

According to a sixth step 160, the NFC module transmits the request to the storage space determined in step 140.

According to a seventh step 170, the NFC module maintains a data exchange channel between the terminal and the storage space for a predetermined duration, to allow an application contained in the data exchange storage space. Once the predetermined duration has elapsed, the exchange channel is closed so that the method can be executed again and a new channel to another application can be established.

The method 100 which has just been described makes it possible to identify the type of data transmitted by the terminal and to route this data to a suitable storage space of the mobile terminal. The storage space is determined by means of a routing table that defines rules for routing data according to the format of this data.

FIG. 3 represents an example of a routing table defining routing rules for contactless data exchange initiation requests. The routing table is housed in a memory of the NFC module.

The routing table includes a plurality of data formats, designated A, B, and C, and information designating storage SE1, SE2 and SE3. The formats A and B designate, for example, NFC RF ISO 14443 type formats. The format C designates, for example, a Felica RF ISO 14443 type format.

The routing table defines the following rules: - a request of format A and containing an identifier of application

AID will be routed to a storage space SE1 to activate an application AID1 contained in this storage space,

a request of format A and containing a reference octet string different from AID will be conveyed to the storage space SE1 to activate the application AID2 contained in this storage space,

a request of format B and containing an identifier of application AID will be conveyed to a storage space SE2 to activate an application AID1 contained in this storage space,

a request of format B and containing a reference octet string different from AID will be conveyed to the storage space SE2 to activate the application AID2 contained in this storage space,

a request of format B and containing a reference byte string will be conveyed to the storage space SE2, this request being able in certain cases to be interpreted by the storage space SE2 as an application installation request,

a request of format C and containing an identifier of application AID will be conveyed to a storage space SE3 to activate an application AID1 contained in this storage space,

a request of format C and containing a reference octet string different from AID will be conveyed to the storage space SE3 to activate the application AID2 contained in this storage space.

Figure 4 the connections between the security elements and the routing table.

The mobile terminal comprises two types of security elements: a master security element whose function is to administer the routing rules in the routing table contained in the NFC module, user security elements, which include storage spaces having a predetermined identifier and containing one or more contactless applications.

A security element can be both master and user, but there can only be one master security element.

In the case where the mobile terminal comprises a card (U) SIM, a security element SE fixed permanently in the mobile terminal, a removable memory SD, the card (U) SIM is preferably the master security element. In the case where the mobile terminal does not include a card

(U) SIM, the security element SE will preferably be the master element.

In the case where the mobile terminal also does not include security element SE, the removable memory SD will preferably be the master security element. The master security element contains a programming interface (API) allowing a user or an outside operator to modify the routing rules contained in the routing table of the NFC module.

The programming interface also makes it possible to automatically update the routing table. This update is performed remotely by transmitting to the programming interface an update program from an OTA platform (Over The Air). The update program is for example a program in Javacard 2.1 language as it currently exists in the (U) SIM cards. The programming interface also allows to receive new applications to be installed in a storage space and associated routing rules.

As will be understood, the invention allows a user of a mobile terminal to access contactless services based on different standards, by means of a single mobile terminal.

The invention can be implemented with a standard mobile terminal. Routing rules can be updated regularly to take into account new contactless applications. Figure 5 schematically shows a method 50 of identifying applications available in the mobile terminal. Such a method may, for example, be carried out prior to the data exchange method of FIG. 2. According to a first step 51, the terminal sends a request to identify the applications available in the mobile terminal.

In a second step 52, the NFC module receives the request and sends back to the terminal a predetermined list of application identifiers available in the mobile terminal. The list of identifiers is a prerecorded list in the module

NFC.

The pre-registered list does not contain the identifiers of all the applications contained in the mobile terminal, but only the identifiers of the applications that must be "visible" for the terminal.

The list of visible applications can be administered by the master security element and can be regularly updated simultaneously with the update of the rules contained in the routing table.

The method 50 allows for example the terminal to issue an initiation request (step 110 of the method 100 of Figure 2) using an identifier contained in the list of visible application identifiers returned by the mobile terminal.

Claims

A method of data exchange between a contactless communication terminal (20) and a mobile telephone terminal (10) including a contactless communication module (12) of the RFID type and a plurality of storage spaces ( 14, 15, 16) containing one or more non-contacting application (s), the method comprising steps wherein:

- (120) the contactless communication module receives a data exchange initiation request transmitted by the terminal,

- (130) the communication module detects a format of a data string contained in the request,

- (150) the communication module directs the request to a suitable storage space of the mobile terminal, according to a routing table associating a data string format with a predetermined storage space.

The method of claim 1, wherein the step (130) of detecting the format of a data string comprises detecting a predetermined octet string contained in the initiation request.

3. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the routing table contains initiation request routing rules associating a format of a reference data string to a storage space of the mobile terminal.

The method of claim 3, wherein the routing rules are administered by a master security element of the mobile terminal.

5. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the routing table is stored in the contactless communication module of the mobile terminal.

6. Method according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a step of updating the routing table.

The method according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising a step of:

- (140) the communication module inserts an application identification string into the request before directing the request to the storage space.

The method according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a step of:

- (170) the communication module maintains a data exchange channel between the storage space and the contactless communication terminal for a predetermined duration.

The method of claim 8, wherein the predetermined duration is defined in the routing table in association with a contactless application concerned or the storage space.

The method according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a step of:

- (52) the communication module transmits to the terminal a predetermined list of visible contactless application identifiers contained in one or more of the storage spaces.

11. Mobile telephone terminal (10) able to exchange data with a contactless communication terminal (20), the terminal (10) including a contactless communication module (12) and a plurality of storage spaces (14). , 15, 16) containing one or more contactless application (s), the contactless communication module being programmed to perform the steps defined by one of the claims 1 to 9.

Terminal according to claim 11, comprising a master security element capable of administering routing rules contained in the routing table and user security elements, which include the storage spaces having a predetermined identifier and containing one or more applications. without touching.

Terminal according to one of claims 11 or 12, wherein the routing table comprises a predetermined list of visible contactless application identifiers contained in one or more of the storage spaces, this list being intended to be transmitted by the mobile terminal at the contactless communication terminal.

14. Terminal according to one of claims 11 to 13, comprising a programming interface for modifying routing rules contained in the routing table and to install new contactless applications in the storage spaces of the mobile terminal.

15. Terminal according to one of claims 11 to 14, wherein the routing table is adapted to be updated by an OTA platform.