NDEF message transfer app between Android and ...

NDEF message transfer app between Android and Windows OS running smart devices S M Abdullah-Al-Mamun Department of Electronics Engineering Istanbul Technical University Istanbul, Turkey [email protected]

Abstract— NFC (Near Field Communication) is an emerging wireless communication which is based on existing standards of the RFID (Radio frequency Identification) infrastructure. Nowadays application for NFC enabled devices are increasing at a high rate. NFC is a short range wireless technology which works also as a peer to peer connection between mobile phones. Smart phones are now available with different operating systems and among them Android and Windows are in the most popular list. In this paper, an app is designed for Android OS that can be able to use the Android beam feature and send NDEF (NFC Data Exchange Format) messages to Windows OS. From Windows side the touch and tap service can help to send the same short of NDEF message. It is now published on Google play store for the users. This app was very first in Android platform for sharing URL, contacts and maps etc to other OS. It creates understand able message for the Windows OS and receives the same. This new cross platform communication can change the NFC devices application in much broader sense for academic research and developers. Keywords—NFC; SNEP; P2P; NFC Sharing; Android app

I.

INTRODUCTION

LLCP (Logic Link Control Protocol) is essential for any NFC application that performs bi-directional communication. NFC can be used to transfer any kind of data, but it is not only designed for communication between devices. It also supports one-way applications where active devices like NFC-enabled smart phones interact with passive infrastructure like RFID or NFC tags, something that you might have heard about before. Near Field Communication requires low power and can establish connections very quickly in less than 0.01 of a second but its transfer speeds are slower than those of other wireless communication. An interesting use case hence is to use NFC as bootstrapping technology for other communication channels. For example, due to the low reception range unwanted communication between devices is unlikely; NFC-enabled devices therefore may allow to initiate

typically more complex to set up connections like Bluetooth or Wi-Fi automatically. There after a NFC connection between two peers has been established. The benefit is that the user does not need to perform multiple manual steps like enabling a connection and confirm security measurements. This is used some Android devices to create ad-hoc Wi-Fi connections that you do not need to configure manually at all. NDEF(NFC Data Exchange Format) is a lightweight, binary message format that can be used to encapsulate one or more application-defined payloads of arbitrary type and size into a single construct called NDEF message. An application-defined payload is encapsulated inside one single NEDF record, or chunked into two or more NDEF records. One or more application-defined payload contains the Application Data. Each application-defined payload is described by a Type, and an Optional Identifier.Type identifiers may be URIs, MIME media types, or NFC specific types like NDEF, NFC RTDURI, Text, Smart Poster. Optional Identifier enables association of multiple payloads and cross-referencing between them. In this study, sharing limitations of NDEF messages and contents between Android and Windows phone 8 were focused and solved. The application is now available on Google play store [5] and other popular app sites in order to reach masses. As a very first app it has some limitations regarding MIME media types. Media type files are not possible to share with the present version of the app. Another limitation is large file is not possible to share because of cross platform and data format. In future it can be solved. The use of this method for cross platform sharing can bring new ideas and applications for NFC enabled devices. The number of NFC supported devices are increasing day by day including desktop, laptops, tablet and smart phones.

II.

RELATED WORKS

By the end of last year 2012, there was one similar work which can be found online. It has a published video online and implementation of simple URI and contacts sharing only [2]. The current study will make difference to exchange peer to peer NDEF messages between Android and Windows phone. Simply API 14 and upper will be mostly supported. It can also share Google map links or contacts as well. Another recent relase was from Windows OS side to share contents with Android [3]. Samsung launched only for ATIV Beam for NFC file sharing between its Android and Windows phone. They are capable of sharing musics, pictures and videos. But non-ATIV users can not be benefited from it. At the same time the current study app will support most of the brand providing Android smart phones with minimum API 14.

III.

APP DESIGN

Fig. 1: Interface view designed for the sharing app Near Field Communication (NFC) technology is supported by the leading mobile device, infrastructure and technology manufacturers and by all major payment providers. NFC Forum is a non-profit organization [4] and whose mission is to advance the use of NFC technology by developing standard specifications, ensuring interoperability among devices and services. NFC Forum has published the Simple NDEF Exchange Protocol (SNEP) specification and setting out a common data format that can be used across all NFC devices for both peer-to-peer and read/write NFC applications. SNEP is an application-level protocol suitable for sending/retrieving app data units. NFC Data Exchange Format (NDEF) messages between two NFC enabled devices operating in NFC peer Mode. The protocol makes use of the forum's existing Logical Link Control Protocol (LLCP) to provide a reliable data exchange. An implementation of SNEP, with the hope that it will became the definitive standard for peer-to-peer communication over NFC. For this current project, SNEP was used and the open source library is available online [1]. In this current study, the designed app was aimed to transfer NDEF messages between different NFC enabled devices with cross platforms. It was successfully finished with Android and Windows 8 connection. The app interface is very simple and clean. The main view of the application iterface looks like Fig 1. When the main interface will be opened and touch then beam service will send a NDEF message to the Windows phone. In any other case, if user wants to send a URL link then the open screen should be touched with Windows back to back and only a touch will be enough to send this URL as a message. It is also applicable for Google maps and contacts from the phone list.

The application was published over different nick name Xtreme Thinkers Code.

IV.

APP FUNCTIONS

A peer-to-peer data exchange can be performed using Android Beam service. An application can transfer data by calling setNdefPushMessage(NdefMessage), where attached NdefMessage contains information about data to transfer (e.g. URI for the file to transfer) or the data itself. It is also possible to initiate Beam by calling setNdefPushMessageCallback(), which accepts a callback, when an NDEF message can be created. This way it is guaranteed that the message is created once it is needed. Once the message is set, user can put two devices near each other and confirm data transfer. After that, a transfer is initiated. NFC technology allows three modes of operations: read/write mode, peer-to-peer mode and card emulation mode. Then, a NFC device can act as a NFC tag emulator or a tag reader. In this application the main changes were in Android manifest which contorls the application permissions and how to handle the android beam process. Another process was in the main activity. The necessary text, map link or contact will be send as NDEF messages. So, finally any kind of NFC enabled device will be able to read it because of the payload and record it will create. The main problem with SNEP library was it will send a blank message or create a default NFC message sound but the user can’t able to read it.

This app can solve this problem. Users can open the contact, URL link or Google map link to send another device and it recieves successfully. Windows 8 supported phone has a similar application [3] which allows the same facilities. It will be easy to share things just by touching once.

versions. It is actually designed for Android API 14 and uppers. For the increasing number of users the pro version will be launched very soon.

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VII. CONCLUSIONS

V.

FUTURE USES

Cross platform device to device NDEF message exchange and content sharing have many potentails for future uses. NFC also supports different tags. The usage has been increasing vastly in daily life to make things easier. NFC Tags can save information in a very simple way and capable of read/write which is new to the market and useful. It can be activated in a moment and necessary work or instructions can be done by the smart phone or tablet. The most popular uses were in moble credit payments and indoor navigation. So, it is also possible to apply with this new process of NDEF messaging and app development. The main benefit of this is new devices can also work instantly. Credit transfer among friends or a in group will be much easier in future for this reason.

VI.

PERFORMANCE ANALAYSIS

NFC enabled devices are operating at 13.56 MHz and transferring data at up to 424 Kbits/s, NFC provides intuitive, simple, and safe communication between electronic devices. Some of the NFC applications suggested for usage of a secure element [4] to turn payment and ticketing more secure. A secure element is used to store confidential and sensitive information such as a credit card pin or key. At this moment there are only three places that can be used as secure element: the subscriber identity module (SIM) card, the external memory card, or a phone’s embedded NFC chip. Near field communication P2P mode (ISO 18092) allows two NFCenabled devices to exchange data among them. In the experiment the data transfer time was 31.300 ms. SNEP based establishment time was 240 ms. For this purpose NFC permits data exchange rate in 3 kb/sec. All the test data were taken by using the application between Google Galaxy Nexus and HTC Windows phone 8. The connections are made in a very short time and the whole processes is very fast. To apply this new application in credit payment system security related topics must be checked again. Moreover, payment for shops, transportations, business cards and indoor navigations can be benefited with a new possibities. The beauty of the process is creating a bridge connection between two different devices and work instantaneously. The current study has been tested in a limited

Future applications for NFC enabled devices can be much benefited with this new application process. New things always take time to develop and spread all over the world. The necessity of NFC has been increasing day by day. So, the most popular operating systems should be connected for sharing user’s content and secured services by NFC. At the same time academic research will support this idea to mostly in security level and different applications for coming days. As it is explained clearly that, still there are some limitations for cross platform applications in all purposes. NFC forum or Google can collaborate and develop the system faster but at the same time other NFC device provider smart phone brands like Windows and Blackberry should enhance their hands for this. In the near future all other devices like laptop, desktop and tablet will be connected through this same process. It will be much easier and effective system for all type of users. It will create an inter-active intelligent system which is able to connect many devices to each other and follow the necessary instructions.

REFERENCES [1]

[2]

[3]

[4] [5]

ismb-snep-java (30 Aug, 2012). Open Source library to facilitate P2P communication over NFC (SNEP), retrieved from: https://code.google.com/p/ismb-snep-java/ Joe Fedewa, (29 Oct, 2012).NFC sharing between Windows Phone 8 and Android actually works [Video], retrieved from: http://winsource.com/2012/10/29/nfc-sharing-between-windows-phone8-and-android-works-video/ Mihaita Bamburic,(Jun, 2013). Samsung launches ATIV Beam for NFC file sharing between its Android and Windows Phone lineups, retrieved from: http://betanews.com/2013/06/25/samsung-launches-ativ-beam-fornfc-file-sharing-between-its-android-and-windows-phone-lineups/ The NFC Forum,(Jan, 2005).retrieved from: http://members.nfcforum.org/home/ Xtreme Thinkers Code, (21 sept, 2013). NFC sharing WindowsAndroid, retrieved from: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nfcsharing2windows &hl=en .