ECMA-352
3rd Edition / June 2013
Near Field
Communication
Interface and
Protocol -2 (NFCIP-2)
Reference number
ECMA-123:2009
© Ecma International 2009
COPYRIGHT PROTECTED DOCUMENT
© Ecma International 2013
Contents Page
1 Scope ...................................................................................................................................................... 1
2 Conformance ......................................................................................................................................... 1
3 Normative references ............................................................................................................................ 1
4 Terms and definitions ........................................................................................................................... 1
5 Conventions and notations .................................................................................................................. 2
5.1 Names ..................................................................................................................................................... 2
6 External RF field detection ................................................................................................................... 2
7 Mode selection and switching ............................................................................................................. 2
8 External RF field detection and initial RF generation ........................................................................ 4
© Ecma International 2013 i
Introduction
In 2002, Ecma International formed Task Group 19 of Technical Committee 32 to specify Near Field
Communication (NFC) signal interfaces and protocols. The NFC devices are wireless closely coupled devices
communicating at 13,56 MHz.
Although ECMA-340, ISO/IEC 14443 and ISO/IEC 15693 standards all specify 13,56 MHz as their working
frequency, they specify distinct communication modes. These are defined as NFC, PCD and VCD
communication modes respectively.
This NFCIP-2 Standard specifies the mechanism to detect and select one communication mode out of those
three possible communication modes. Furthermore, NFCIP-2 requires that subsequent behaviour be as
specified in the standard specifying the selected communication mode.
The 2 nd edition adds support for the PICC mode from ISO/IEC 14443.
In 2009, JTC 1/SC 6 and JTC 1/SC 17 studied together for improving interoperability between ISO/IEC 21481
and ISO/IEC 14443. This second edition of ISO/IEC 21481 is revised based on the study, and the PICC mode
is added to the existing three modes.
This 3rd edition is aligned with ISO/IEC 21481:2012.
This Ecma Standard has been adopted by the General Assembly of June 2013.
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iv © Ecma International 2013
Near Field Communication Interface and Protocol -2 (NFCIP-2)
1 Scope
ECMA-340, ISO/IEC 14443 and ISO/IEC 15693 specify the radio frequency signal interface, initialization, anti-
collision and protocols for wireless interconnection of closely coupled devices and access to contactless
integrated circuit cards operating at 13,56 MHz.
This Standard specifies the communication mode selection mechanism, designed not to disturb any ongoing
communication at 13,56 MHz, for devices implementing ECMA-340, ISO/IEC 14443 or ISO/IEC 15693. This
Standard requires implementations to enter the selected communication mode as specified in the respective
Standard. The communication mode specifications, however, are outside the scope of this Standard.
2 Conformance
Conforming devices implement mode selection specified in Clause 7 and implement the NFC MODE,
PCD MODE, VCD MODE, and PICC MODE.
3 Normative references
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated
references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced
document (including any amendments) applies.
ECMA-340, Near Field Communication — Interface and Protocol (NFCIP-1)
ISO/IEC 14443-2:2010, Identification cards — Contactless integrated circuit cards — Proximity cards —
Part 2: Radio frequency power and signal interface
ISO/IEC 14443-3:2011, Identification cards — Contactless integrated circuits cards — Proximity cards —
Part 3: Initialization and anticollision
ISO/IEC 14443-4:2008, Identification cards — Contactless integrated circuit cards — Proximity cards —
Part 4: Transmission protocol
ISO/IEC 15693-2:2006, Identification cards — Contactless integrated circuit cards — Vicinity cards — Part 2:
Air interface and initialization
ISO/IEC 15693-3:2009, Identification cards — Contactless integrated circuit cards — Vicinity cards —Part 3:
Anticollision and transmission protocol
4 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
4.1
HTHRESHOLD
minimum value of an external RF field
© Ecma International 2013 1
NOTE Adapted from ECMA-340, 4.6.
4.2
NFCIP-2 device
ISO/IEC 21841 entity
4.3
NFC MODE
mode in which an NFCIP-2 device operates as specified in ECMA-340
4.4
fc
frequency of operating field (carrier frequency) as specified in ISO/IEC 14443-2
4.5
PICC MODE
mode in which an NFCIP-2 device operates as a Type A or Type B Proximity Integrated Circuit Card or Object
as specified in ISO/IEC 14443-2, ISO/IEC 14443-3 and ISO/IEC 14443-4
4.6
PCD MODE
mode in which an NFCIP-2 device operates as a Proximity Coupling Device as specified in ISO/IEC 14443-2,
ISO/IEC 14443-3 and ISO/IEC 14443-4
4.7
VCD MODE
mode in which an NFCIP-2 device operates as a Vicinity Coupling Device as specified in ISO/IEC 15693-2
and ISO/IEC 15693-3
5 Conventions and notations
5.1 Names
The names of basic elements, e.g. specific fields, are written with a capital initial letter.
6 External RF field detection
During external RF field detection, NFCIP-2 devices shall, for a period of TIDT + n × TRFW (see 11.1.1 of ECMA-
340), detect external RF fields at fc with a value higher than HTHRESHOLD and shall not switch on their own RF
field.
7 Mode selection and switching
Mode switching specifies the procedure for NFCIP-2 devices to enter the NFC MODE, or the PCD MODE or
PICC MODE or VCD MODE selected prior to the following sequence.
NFCIP-2 devices shall execute the following sequence:
1. The NFCIP-2 device shall have its RF field switched off.
2. If the PICC MODE has been selected, the NFCIP-2 device shall enter the PICC MODE.
3. If the NFCIP-2 device detects an external RF field, as specified in Clause 6, it shall enter the NFC MODE as
a Target.
2 © Ecma International 2013
4. If the NFCIP-2 device does not detect an external RF field and the NFC MODE has been selected, it shall
enter the NFC MODE as an Initiator.
5. If the NFCIP-2 device does not detect an external RF field and the PCD MODE or the VCD MODE has been
selected, it shall perform external RF field detection and Initial RF generation as specified in Clause 8.
Figure 1 illustrates the above procedure.
Start
NFCIP-2 device shall
have its RF field
switched off
PICC MODE External
Selected ? RF field
detected
no
External RF field External
detected ? RF field
yes detected
yes
no
NFC MODE,
PCD MODE or
VCD MODE
VCD MODE
selected?
PCD MODE
NFC
MODE External External
RF field RF field
detected or detected or
Timeout? Timeout?
RF waiting
RF waiting time expired
time expired
PICC MODE NFC MODE PCD MODE VCD MODE
END
Figure 1 — Mode selection
© Ecma International 2013 3
8 External RF field detection and initial RF generation
When the NFCIP-2 device detects an external RF field, as specified in Clause 6, during the time
TIDT + n × TRFW it shall recommence the procedure specified in Clause 7.
If the NFCIP-2 device does not detect an external RF field during the time TIDT + n × TRFW, it shall switch on its
RF field, and enter the selected communication mode while observing TIRFG. See 11.1.1 of ECMA-340 for TIDT,
TRFW and n. TIRFG is the initial guard-time between switching on RF field and starting modulation to send
command or data. 5.1 of ISO/IEC 14443-3:2011 and 7.3 of ISO/IEC 15693-2:2006 specify TIRFG for PCD MODE
and VCD MODE, respectively.
Figure 2 illustrates the external RF field detection and initial RF generation.
Data or
RF On Command
TRFW
Start
TIDT n * TRFW TIRFG
Figure 2 — RF detection and initial RF generation for PCD MODE and VCD MODE
4 © Ecma International 2013
© Ecma International 2013
