Barcode Widget - The NFC tag (Near-field communication)

Tags

1. What is the purpose of scanning NFC tags?

Using this functionality, Ermeo allows your field operators to scan a NFC tag in order to find an asset?

2. What is the NFC technology?

NFC (Near Field Communication) technology is a derivative of RFID technology. It is a technology operating through a chip allowing data to be exchanged between a reader and any terminal through making two objects closer. Wireless communication works only at short range and at high frequency, for a distance of about 10 cm.

3. What are the differences between NFC and RIFD?

NFC technology is a derivative of RFID technology. The differences are as follows:

  • NFC technology signal is more secure than RFID technology signal. This is because the NFC signal only works at a very short range (about 10 cm). RFID signals, on the other hand, can work up to 100 meters away.
  • The operating modes are different. The NFC reader emits an electric current allowing it to be linked to the communicating device (with the NFC tag). The reader and the device are thus linked and can exchange data. For RFID technology, the reader and the device communicate using an antenna to carry the signal.

4. How is NFC technology implemented in Ermeo?

The Ermeo application has an NFC plugin.

  • The application's NFC reader returns the NDEF if it exists. NDEF (NFC Data Exchange Format) is a standard format for standardizing exchanges between a device and an NFC tag.
  • Otherwise, the reader returns the UID (Unique IDenfication also known as Card Serial Number) of the NFC card.

5. What types of tags can be read in Ermeo?

The Ermeo application can read the following types of tags:

  • NFC-A (ISO 14443-3A)
  • NFC-B (ISO 14443-3B)
  • ISO-DEP (ISO 14443-4)
  • NFC-V (ISO 15693).
  • NFC-F (JIS 6319-4)

Be careful with NFC-V tags, the reader returns the UID in reverse (AA-BB-CC-DD becomes DD-CC-BB-AA).

6. What operating systems does NFC tag scanning work on?

  • Android
  • iOS only for MIFARE DESFire type tags (ISO 14443-4 therefore ISO-DEP)

7. How to set up the NFC tag on Ermeo?

Context: Imagine a company listing pumps in factories. Each pump is defined by an NFC tag code. Each pump corresponds to assets on the platform and will be define by a bar code. These pumps will be classified within the same database named Pumps.

a. Go to the Databases section of the platform

b. Go to the Pumps database and click on Create a new attribute.

c. Choose the "NFC Tag" type as the attribute type and then enter the name of the attribute created (eg: NFC tag of the pump)

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d. Enter the NFC tag code in the "NFC pump tag" attribute for the desired pump.

e. Go to the mobile application.

f. Click on the Resources menu and click on the loop to search for an asset.

g. Scan the NFC tag of the pump

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h. Your asset has been found by the Ermeo application, using its NFC tag.

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Notes
  • From the editing studio, you can associate a "barcode" type Form widget to an "NFC tag" type attribute.
  • The "NFC" attribute is also used to create RFID tags.
  • It is now possible to use an external tool to scan NFC tags. Access rights must be activated by setting the user role.

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