RFID/NFC GLOSSARY A Active communication A communication mode in which each device generates its own RF field to send a message to another device. Active tag RFID device having the ability of producing a radio signal by itself thanks to a permanent internal power source (ex: battery). Addressability Ability to address defined areas of memory within a tag: bits, fields, pages, files or other areas. AFI Cf. Application Family Identifier Agile reader A generic term that refers to an RFID reader able to read tags operating at different frequencies or using different communication methods between the tags and readers. AID Cf. Application ID Air interface protocol The rules that govern how tags and readers communicate. Amplitude modulation Method of changing the amplitude of a radio wave, also known as “amplitude shift keying” or ASK. A higher wave is interpreted as a 1 and a normal wave is interpreted as a zero. By changing the wave, the RFID tag and reader can communicate and interpret a string of binary digits. See Modulation Amplitude Shift Keying (ASK) Cf. Amplitude modulation Antenna The tag antenna is the conductive element that enables the tag to send and receive data. Passive, low-frequency (135 kHz) and high-frequency (13.56 MHz) tags usually have a coiled antenna that couples with the coiled antenna of the reader to form a magnetic field. Ultra-high-frequency (900 MHz) tag antennas can be a variety of shapes. Readers also have antennas which are used to emit radio waves. The RF energy from the reader antenna is "harvested" by the tag antenna and used to power up the microchip, which then changes the electrical load on the antenna to reflect back its own signals. Antenna gain The ratio of the power required at the input of a loss-free reference antenna to the power supplied to the input of the given antenna to produce, in a given direction, the same field strength at the same distance. Antenna gain is usually expressed in decibels and the higher the gain the more powerful the energy output. Antennas with higher gain will be able to read tags from farther away.

Anti-collision A general term used to cover methods of preventing radio waves from one device from interfering with radio waves from another. Anti-collision algorithms are also used to read more than one tag in the same reader's field. APDU Cf. Application Protocol Data Unit Application family identifier (AFI) Mechanism used in the data protocol and the air interface protocol to select a class of RFID tags relevant to an application, or aspect of an application, and to ignore further communications with other classes of RFID tags with different identifiers. Application ID (AID) Defined in [ISO/IEC_7816-4], this is a specific type of Dedicated File (DF) name which is used in a SELECT command to identify applications. Application Protocol Data Unit (APDU) The communication unit between a smart card reader and a smart card. The structure of the APDU is defined by ISO/IEC 7816-4. ASK Cf. Amplitude shift keying Asynchronous tag RF tag whose timing is derived from its internal, independent oscillator. Authentication Process where an entity's identity is authenticated, typically by providing evidence that it holds a specific digital identity such as an identifier and the corresponding credentials. Auto-ID Center A non-profit collaboration between private companies and academia that pioneered the development of an Internet-like infrastructure for tracking goods globally through the use of RFID tags. Auto-ID Labs is responsible for managing and funding continued development of EPC technology. See EPC Global. Automatic Identification A broad term that covers methods of collecting data and entering it directly into computer systems without human involvement. Technologies normally considered part of auto-ID include bar codes, biometrics, RFID and voice recognition.

B Bi-directional Capable of operating/communicating in either of two directions, which are the opposite of each other. Binary phase shift key (BPSK) Cf. Phase shift key (PSK) Bit rate The rate at which data is processed or transferred. It is usually measured in seconds, ranging from bps for smaller values to Kbps and Mbps. Bit rate is also known as bitrate or data rate.

BPSK Cf. Binary phase shift key

C Card Emulation mode Card emulation mode enables NFC devices to act like smart cards, allowing users to perform transactions such as payment or transit access with just a touch. This mode should be capable of functioning when the device is powered-off, although it is the service provider’s decision whether to allow this. An example is where an NFC smartphone acts as an NFC tag or access control card. Carrier frequency The main frequency of a transmitter, or RFID reader, such as 915 MHz. The frequency is then changed, or modulated, to transmit information. Checksum A code added to the contents of a block of data stored on an RFID microchip that can be checked before and after data is transmitted from the tag to the reader to determine whether the data has been corrupted or lost. The cyclic redundancy check (CRC) is one form of checksum. Chipless RFID tag An RFID tag that does not contain any silicon microchip. Some chipless tags use plastic or conductive polymers instead of silicon-based microchips. Other chipless tags use materials that reflect back a portion of the radio waves beamed at them. A computer takes a snapshot of the waves beamed back and uses it like a fingerprint to identify the object with the tag. For example companies are experimenting with embedding RF reflecting fibers in paper to prevent unauthorized photocopying of certain documents. Circular-polarized antenna A UHF reader antenna that emits radio waves in a circular pattern. These antennas are used in situations where the orientation of the tag to the reader cannot be controlled. Since the waves are moving in a circular pattern, they have a better chance of hitting the antenna in any position. Circular-polarized antennas have a shorter read range than linear-polarized antennas. Closed-loop systems RFID tracking systems set up within a company. Since the tracked item never leaves the company's control, it does not need to worry about using technology based on open standards. Collision If more than one tag respond at the same time to a reader’s request, the overlapped signals cause a collision on the RF communication channel. Concentrator A device connected to several RFID readers to gather data from the readers. The concentrator usually performs some filtering and then passes only useful information from the readers on to a host computer. Contactless smart card An awkward name for a credit card or loyalty card that contains an RFID chip to transmit information to a reader without having to be introduced into or swiped through a reader. CRC Cf. Cyclic Redundancy Check

CVM Cf. Tap-and-Go Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) A method of checking data stored on an RFID tag to be sure that it has not been corrupted or some of it lost (See Checksum).

D Data integrity Data integrity is a set of security services verifying that the content of a message has not been modified, and if a sequence of messages is transferred, that the sequence has been preserved. Data transfer rate The number of characters that can be transferred from an RFID tag/reader to a reader/tag within a given time. Baud rates are also used to quantify how fast readers can read the information on the RFID tag. This differs from the read rate, which refers to how many tags can be read within a given period of time. Decibel (dB) A measure of the gain of an antenna compared to a reference (generally an isotropic antenna). The gain in dB is expressed as 10xlog(G/G(iso)). See Antenna gain. Dense interrogator environment An operating environment within which most or all of the available channels are occupied by active interrogators. De-tune UHF antennas are tuned to receive RFID waves of a certain length from a reader, just as the tuner on the radio in a car changes the antenna to receive signals of different frequencies. When UHF antenna is close to metal or metallic material, the antenna can be de-tuned, resulting in poor performance. Die The silicon block onto which circuits have been etched to create a microchip. Duplex A channel capable of transmitting data in both directions at the same time. Half duplex is a channel capable of transmitting data in both directions, but not simultaneously. Duty cycle The length of time the reader can be emitting energy. A duty cycle is the percentage of one period in which a signal is active. Thus, a 60% duty cycle means the signal is on 60% of the time but off 40% of the time.

E EAN Cf. European Article Numbering EAS Cf. Electronic Article Surveillance

EEPROM A method of storing data on microchips. Usually bytes can be erased and reprogrammed individually. RFID tags that use EEPROM are more expensive than factory-programmed tags, where the number is written into the silicon when the chip is made, but they offer more flexibility because the end user can write an ID number to the tag at the time the tag is going to be used. Effective isotropic radiated power (EIRP) A measurement of radiated output power of RFID reader antennas mainly used in the United States. EIRP is usually expressed in watts. EIRP is the product of the conducted power by the antenna gain relative to isotropic antenna. EIRP Cf. Effective isotropic radiated power Electromagnetic interference (EMI) Interference caused when the radio waves of one device distort the waves of another. Cell phones, wireless computers and even robots in factories can produce radio waves that interfere with RFID tags. Electronic article surveillance (EAS) Simple electronic tags that can be turned on or off. When an item is purchased (or borrowed from a library), the tag is turned off. When someone passes a gate area holding an item with a tag that hasn't been turned off, an alarm sounds. EAS tags are embedded in the packaging. They can be RF-based, or acousto-magnetic. Electronic Product Code (EPC) A serial number, initiated by the Auto-ID Center, that will complement barcodes. The EPC has digits to identify the manufacturer, the product category and the individual item. EMI Cf. Electromagnetic interference Europay, MasterCard and Visa® (EMV) A global standard for credit and debit payment cards based on chip card technology. EMV chip-based payment cards, also known as smart cards, contain an embedded microprocessor, a type of small computer. The microprocessor chip contains the information needed to use the card for payment, and is protected by various security features. Chip cards are a more secure alternative to traditional magnetic stripe payment cards. EMV Cf. Europay, MasterCard and Visa® EMVCo EMVCo manages, maintains and enhances the EMV® Integrated Circuit Card Specifications for chip-based payment cards and acceptance devices, including point of sale (POS) terminals and ATMs. EMVCo also establishes and administers testing and approval processes to evaluate compliance with the EMV Specifications. EMVCo is currently owned by American Express, JCB, MasterCard and Visa. Energy Harvesting A term sometimes used to describe the way passive tags gather energy from an RFID reader antenna or from any other source of energy (temperature, light, movement, etc.). EPC Cf. Electronic Product Code

EPC Discovery Service An EPC Global Network service that allows companies to search for every reader that has read a particular EPC tag. EPC Global A non-profit organization set up by the Uniform Code Council and EAN International, the two organizations that maintain barcode standards, to commercialize EPC technology. EPCglobal is made up of chapters in different countries and regions. It is commercializing the technology originally developed by the Auto-ID Center. EPC Information Service Part of the EPC Network. The EPC Information Service is a network infrastructure that enables companies to store data associated with EPCs in secure databases on the Web. The EPC Information Service will enable companies to provide different levels of access to data to different groups. Some information associated with an EPC might be available to everyone. Other information might be available only to a manufacturer's retail customers. The service also includes a number of applications, such as the EPC Discovery Service. Error correcting code A code stored on an RFID tag to enable the reader to figure out the value of missing or garbled bits of data. It is needed to make sure the reader might not misinterpret some data from different tags and mix different products. ETSI Cf. European Telecommunications Standards Institute European Article Numbering (EAN) The bar code standard used throughout Europe, Asia and South America. It is administered by EAN International. EAN is often taken as the base for EPC codes. European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) The European Union body that recommends standards for adoption by member countries. Excite The reader is said to "excite" a passive tag when the reader transmits RF energy to wake up the tag and enable it to transmit back.

F Factory programming Some read-only tags have to have their identification number written into the silicon microchip at the time the chip is made. The process of writing the number into the chip is called factory programming. This data can't be written over or changed. False read Cf. Phantom read Far-field communication RFID reader antennas emit electromagnetic radiation (radio waves). If an RFID tag is outside of one full wavelength of the reader, it is said to be in the "far field". If it is within one full wavelength away, it is said to be in the "near field". The far field signal decays as the square of the distance from the antenna, while the near field signal decays as the cube of distance from the antenna. So passive RFID systems that rely on far-field communications (typically UHF and microwave systems) have a longer

read range than those that use near-field communications (typically low- and high-frequency systems). See Near-field communication. FeliCa FeliCa is a contactless technology developped by Sony in Japan. It is based on the protocol JIS X 6319-4 and on the NFC Forum Digital Protocol NFC-F. FeliCa is used in various commercial platforms, not only for cards but also for mobile, personal computers, and consumer electronics. Field programming Tags that use EEPROM, or non-volatile memory, can be programmed after it is shipped from the factory. That is, users can write data to the tag when it is placed on a product. See EEPROM. Frequency The number of repetitions of a complete wave within one second. 1 Hz equals one complete waveform in one second. 1 KHz equals 1,000 waves in a second. RFID tags use low, high, ultra-high or microwave frequencies. Each frequency has advantages and disadvantages that make them more suitable for some applications than for others. Frequency hopping A technique used to prevent readers from interfering with one another. In the United States, UHF RFID readers actually operate between 902 and 928 MHz (typically 915 MHz). The readers may jump randomly or in a programmed sequence to any frequency between 902 MHz and 928 MHz. If the band is wide enough, the chances of two readers operating at exactly the same frequency is small. The UHF bands in Europe and Japan are much smaller so this technique is not as effective for preventing reader interference. Frequency modulation Cf. Modulation Frequency shift keying (FSK) Modulation in which a modulating digital signal varies the frequency of the output signal among a fixed number of predetermined values. FSK Cf. Frequency Shift Keying Full duplex Cf. Duplex

G Gain Cf. Antenna gain GlobalPlatform (GP) GlobalPlatform is a cross industry, non-profit association which identifies, develops and publishes specifications that promote the secure and interoperable deployment and management of multiple applications on secure chip technology. GP Cf. GlobalPlatform

Groupe Speciale Mobile Association (GSMA) The GSMA represents the interests of mobile telecommunications operators (Mobile Network Operators) worldwide. Spanning 219 countries, the GSMA unites nearly 800 of the world’s mobile operators, as well as more than 200 companies in the broader mobile ecosystem, including handset makers, software companies, equipment providers, Internet companies, and media and entertainment organizations. Mobile Network Operators own and manage the SIM Card – the UICC on which the mobile subscription is managed – which can be capable of acting as a Secure Element. GSMA Cf. Groupe Speciale Mobile Association

H Half duplex Cf. Duplex High frequency (HF) Frequencies from 3 MHz to 30 MHz. Most HF RFID tags operate at 13.56 MHz. Typically, they can be read from less than 3 feet away and transmit data faster than low-frequency tags, but they consume more power than low-frequency tags. HF Cf. High frequency

I Identifier An identifier is a code that identifies (that is, labels the identity of) either a unique object or a unique class of objects. RFID makes use of different identifiers depending on whether it refers to microchip (CID, Chip Identifier), tag (TID, Tag Identifier), Item (UID, Unique Identifier, UII, Unique Item Identifier) etc. Inductive coupling In RFID a reader and a tag are referred to as mutual-inductively coupled or magnetically coupled when they are configured in such a way that a change in current flow through one wire induces a voltage across the ends of the other wire through electromagnetic induction. The amount of inductive coupling between two conductors is measured by their mutual inductance. Such coupling is mainly used in LF and HF RFID systems. Initiator A role of an NFC Forum Device reached when an NFC Forum Device in Poll Mode has gone through a number of Activities; in this mode the NFC Forum Device communicates using the NFC-DEP Protocol. Inlay An RFID microchip attached to an antenna and mounted on a substrate. Inlays are essentially unfinished RFID labels. They are usually sold to label converters who turn them into smart labels used for the end-product. Integrated circuit (IC) A microelectronic semiconductor device comprising many interconnected transistors and other components. Most RFID tags include ICs.

IC Cf. Integrated circuit Industrial, Scientific, and Medical (ISM) bands A group of unlicensed frequencies of the electromagnetic spectrum. Interoperability Guarantee of a certain level of compatibility between different implementations of the same standard. The desired level of compatibility is specific to a given standard, and can be limited to basic services. Interconnection and interoperability are the main objectives of standardization. Interrogation zone Region in which a transponder (tag) or group of transponders can be effectively read by an associated radio frequency identification reader/interrogator. Interrogator Cf. Reader. ISM Cf. Industrial, Scientific, and Medical (ISM) bands ISO 14443 ISO standard governing RFID HF communications, typically proximity smartcards. ISO/IEC 15693 An international standard for vicinity cards, i.e. contactless cards operating at the 13.56 MHz frequency, with a maximum operating distance of 1 to 1.5 metres. ISO/IEC 18000-X An international standard that describes a series of RFID technologies, each using a unique frequency range. ISO NFC-IP1 (ISO 18092 or ECMA 340) The NFC base standard for physical layer and for the communication between two NFC devices. It is directly inherited from older ISO 14443 and from Japanese JIS 6319-4 (on which Sony FeliCa is based). ISO NFC-IP2 (ISO 21481 or ECMA 352) ISO standard that specifies the mechanism to detect and select one out of the three possible communication modes between two NFC devices : ISO 14443, JIS 6319-4 and ISO 15693.

J JIS Japanese Industrial Standard

K Kill function Many UHF RFID tags include a built-in “kill” function. When provided with the correct pass-code, a tag never answers to any interrogator’s command, rendering it useless.

L Linear-polarized antenna A UHF antenna that radiates radio energy in a way that electric and magnetic fields are contained in planes perpendicular to the propagation direction. This increases the read distance possible and provides greater penetration through dense materials. Tags designed to be used with a linear polarized reader antenna must be aligned with the reader antenna in order to be read. Listen mode Initial mode of an NFC Forum Device when it does not generate a carrier. In this mode, the NFC Forum Device listens for the Remote Field of another device. Loop antenna A coil, used as an antenna, especially for LF and HF RFID systems. The current that flows in a loop antenna creates the magnetic field required to power the surrounding tags. Low frequency (LF) Frequencies from 30 kHz to 300 kHz. Low-frequency tags typical operate at 125 kHz or 134 kHz. The main disadvantages of low-frequency tags are that they have to be read from within three feet and the rate of data transfer is slow. But they are less subject to interference than UHF tags, and thus are more efficient in wet or metallic environments. LF Cf. Low frequency

M Master/Slave Communication An NFC Forum Device communicating using the half-duplex transmission protocol. The NFC Forum Device is either operating in NFC Forum Reader/Writer Mode (master) or in NFC Forum Card Emulation Mode (slave). Memory block Memory on the microchip in an RFID tag is usually divided into sections, which can be read or written to individually. Some blocks might be locked, so data cannot be overwritten, while others are not. Microwave tags A term that is sometimes used to refer to RFID tags that operate at 5.8 GHz. They have very high transfer rates and can be read from as far as 30 feet away, but they use a lot of power and are expensive. (Some people refer to any tag that operates above about 415 MHz as a microwave tag.) Middleware Software program used to link together other software programs. RFID middleware is used to interface RFID systems and readers with the user’s core-business software (ERP, information systems, etc.). MIFARE MIFARE is the most broadly deployed contactless card. Developed and licenced by NXP (ex-Philips Semiconductor), it is based on ISO 14443-A communication protocol. MNO Cf. Mobile Network Operator

Mobile Network Operator (MNO) A mobile network operator is a telecommunications service provider organization that provides wireless voice and data communication for its subscribed mobile users. Mobile network operators are also known as "carrier service providers", "mobile phone operators" and "mobile network carriers". Modulation Changing the radio waves traveling between the reader and the transponder in ways that enable the transmission of information. Waves be changed in a variety of ways that can be picked up by the reader and turned into the ones and zeroes of binary code. Waves can be made higher or lower (amplitude modulation - ASK) or shifted forward (phase modulation - BPSK). The frequency can be varied (frequency modulation - FSK), or data can be contained in the duration of pulses (pulse-width modulation - PWM). Multiple access schemes Methods of increasing the amount of data that can be transmitted wirelessly within the same frequency spectrum. Some RFID readers use Time Division Multiple Access, or TDMA, meaning they read tags at different times to avoid interfering with one another. Multiple-interrogator environment Operating environment within which a modest number of the available channels are occupied by active interrogators. See “Dense-interrogator environment”. Multiplexer An electronic device that allows a reader to have more than one antenna. Each antenna scans the field in a preset order. This reduces the number of readers needed to cover a given area, such as a dock door, and prevents the antennas from interfering with one another.

N NDEF Cf. NFC Data Exchange Format NFC Data Exchange Format (NDEF) The NDEF specification defines a message encapsulation format to exchange information between an NFC Forum Device and another NFC Forum Device or an NFC Forum Tag. NDEF is a lightweight, binary message format that can be used to encapsulate one or more records into a single message. Each record contains application-defined payloads of arbitrary type and size. NDEF payload The application data carried within an NDEF record. NFC Cf. Near-field communication Near-field communication (NFC) RFID reader antennas emit electromagnetic radiation (radio waves). If an RFID tag is within full wavelength of the reader, it is said to be in the "near field". If it is more than the distance of one full wavelength away, it is said to be in the "far field". The near field signal decays as the cube of distance from the antenna, while the far field signal decays as the square of the distance from the antenna. So, passive RFID systems that rely on near-field communication (typically low- and high-frequency systems) have a shorter read range than those that use far-field communication (UHF and microwave systems). See Far-field communication.

NFC device Cf. NFC Forum device NFC Forum Card Emulation mode Card emulation mode enables NFC devices to act like smart cards, allowing users to perform transactions such as retail purchases and transit access with just a touch. This mode is capable of functioning when the device is powered-off, although it is the service provider’s decision whether to allow this. An example is where an NFC device acts as an NFC tag. NFC Forum device A device that implements at least the mandatory parts of the NFC Forum Protocol Stack and complies with the NFC Forum conformance requirements. Such a device is capable of operating either in NFC Forum Peer Mode, in NFC Forum Reader/Writer Mode, or in NFC Forum Card Emulation Mode. NFC Forum Peer mode An Asynchronous Balanced communication mode (ABM) between the devices, allowing two similar NFC Forum Devices to interact in both ways. See Peer-to-Peer mode. NFC Forum Reader/Writer mode This mode allows a master–slave communication between the NFC Forum device and the tag. NFC Forum tag A contactless tag or (smart) card supporting NDEF. NFC tag Cf. NFC Forum tag NFC-A The technology based on the modulation scheme, bit-level coding, and frame format as defined in NFCIP-1 and [ISO/IEC 14443] Type A. NFC-B The technology based on the modulation scheme, bit-level coding, and frame format as defined in [ISO/IEC 14443] Type B. NFC-F The technology based on the FeliCa standard, as defined in [JIS X 6319-4] Type F. NFCIP-2 Cf. ISO NFC-IP2 NFC Forum An entity formed in 2004 to advance the use of NFC technology by developing specifications, ensuring interoperability among devices and services, and educating the market about NFC technology. NFC-V The technology based on the modulation scheme, bit-level coding, and frame format as defined in [ISO/IEC 15693] Type V or Vicinity. The Type V is not yet included in the NFC Forum standard (as of May 2014). Noise Unwanted ambient electrical signals or electromagnetic energy found in the operating environment of RFID equipment. Noise can be caused by other RF devices, robots, electric motors and other machines.

Non-return to zero encoding Non-return to zero encoding is used in slow speed synchronous and asynchronous transmission interfaces. A logic 1 bit is sent as a high value and a logic 0 bit is sent as a low value (i.e. no encoding). NRZ encoding Cf. Non-return to zero encoding

O objectID Cf. Object identifier Object identifier (OID) or objectID (OID) Value (distinguishable from all other such values) which is associated with an object. Object Name Service (ONS) An Auto-ID Center-designed system for looking up unique Electronic Product Codes and pointing computers to information about the item associated with the code. ONS is similar to the Domain Name Service, which points computers to sites on the Internet. OID Cf. Object identifier ONS Cf. Object Name Service OOK Cf. On-Off Keying On-Off Keying (OOK) A special case of amplitude shift keying (ASK) in which the carrier is switched between full carrier amplitude and zero or absence of carrier amplitude, according to data value (1 or 0). Operating Field The magnetic field created by an NFC Forum Device in Poll Mode or an RFID reader within the Operating Volume (or reader interrogation zone). Orientation The position of a tag antenna vis-a-vis a reader antenna. With UHF systems, readers can be either circular-polarized or linear-polarized. When using a linear polarized antenna, the tag reader and antenna reader must be in alignment in order to achieve the longest reading distance. If that tag antenna is aligned vertically and the reader is sending out signals horizontally, only a small portion of the energy emitted by the reader will hit the tag antenna. OTA Cf. Over-the-air Out-of-field reporting Mode of operation in which the identification of a transponder is reported as or once the transponder leaves the reader interrogation zone. Over-the-air (OTA) Over-the-air (OTA) provisioning is the ability to download and manage content on a device over a

cellular or wireless network. This applies to the over-the-air personalization and life cycle management in the NFC secure element in a mobile device. This process is commonly executed through the mediation of a Trusted Service Manager (TSM), employing cellular and wireless networks to reach the mobile device.

P P2P Cf. Peer-to-peer (P2P) mode Passive communication A communication mode in which one device generates an Operating Field and sends Commands to a second device. To respond, this second device uses load modulation, which means that it does not generate an Operating Field but it draws power from a Remote Field. Passive tag RFID device which reflects and modulates a carrier signal received from an interrogator. Passive tag generally uses energy radiated by the reader to power up. Payload Cf. NFC Forum payload PCD Cf. Proximity Coupling Device Peer-to-peer (P2P) mode Peer-to-peer mode enables two NFC devices to communicate with each other to exchange information and share files. Users of NFC-enabled devices can quickly share contact information and other files with a touch. Two NFC-enabled devices create a connection to share information. Peer-to-peer mode is based on ISO NFC Forum Logical Link Control Protocol (LLCP). Penetration The ability of a particular radio frequency to pass through non-metallic materials. Low-frequency systems have better penetration than UHF systems. Permalocked Memory location, for UHF tags, whose lock status is unchangeable (i.e. the memory location is permanently locked or permanently unlocked). Personal Identification Number (PIN) Numeric password shared between a user and a system that can be used to authenticate the user to the system. Phantom read, or Phantom transaction, or False read When a reader reports the presence of a tag that doesn't exist. Phantom transaction Cf. Phantom read Phase modulation Cf. Modulation Phase reversal amplitude shift keying (PR-ASK) Cf. Amplitude modulation

Phase shift keying (PSK) A digital modulation scheme based on changing, or modulating, the initial phase of a carrier signal. PSK is used to represent digital information, such as binary digits zero (0) and one (1). PSK is typically applied in wireless local area networks (WLAN), Bluetooth technology and RFID standards used in biometric passport and contactless payment systems. PICC Cf. Proximity Coupling Device PIN Cf. Personal Identification Number Point of sale (POS) terminal In credit card parlance, a point of sale terminal is a contact and/or a contactless card reader that a retailer uses to record a sale and initiate a payment's approval. Either the retailer or the customers themselves will swipe, insert or tap the card to begin a transaction. POS Cf. Point of sale (POS) terminal Power level The amount of RF power radiated from a reader or an active tag. The higher the power output, the longer the read range, but most governments regulate power levels to avoid interference with other devices. Power levels are often expressed in Watts, dB or dBm. Privacy Privacy is the right of the identified or identifiable person to have his/her identity and action protected from any unwanted scrutiny and interference. Privacy reinforces the individual's right to decisional autonomy and self-determination, which are fundamental rights accorded to individuals in Europe. PR-ASK Cf. Phase reversal amplitude shift keying Proximity Closeness of one system component with respect to another, such as that of a transponder with respect to a reader. Proximity is used mainly for RFID systems based on ISO 14443 protocol for which the range is below 20 cm. Proximity Coupling Device (PCD) A transmitter that can read tags based on ISO 14443. The reader emits a magnetic field that powers a tag/transmitter by inductivity. The PCD communicates with the tag (also called PICC) using load modulation scheme. PSK Cf. Phase shift keying

Q Quick Response code Type of matrix barcode (or two-dimensional barcode), an optically machine-readable label that is attached to an item and that records information related to that item. QR code Cf. Quick Response code

R Radio frequency A frequency or band of frequencies that lies in the range of 10 KHz to 300 GHz and can be used for radio communications and broadcasting. RF Cf. Radio frequency Radio frequency identification (RFID) RFID uses electromagnetic or inductive coupling in the radio frequency portion of the spectrum to communicate to or from a tag through a variety of modulation and encoding schemes to uniquely read the identity of an RF Tag. RFID is a method of identifying unique items. Typically, a reader communicates with a tag, which holds digital information in a microchip. But there are “chipless” forms of RFID tags that use material to reflect back a portion of the radio waves beamed at them. Reader or Interrogator Device used to gather information from RFID tags or Contactless Smart Cards. Radio waves at different frequencies can be used to transfer data from the tag to the reader. RFID is a technology similar in theory to bar codes. However, the RFID tag does not have to be scanned directly, nor does it require line-of-sight to a reader. The RFID tag must be within the range of an RFID reader, which ranges from 0 to 100 meters depending on the technology and frequency used, in order to be read. RFID technology allows several items to be quickly scanned and enables fast identification of a particular product, even when it is surrounded by several other items. RFID Cf. Radio frequency identification

S SE Cf. Secure element Secure element (SE) Cryptographic device managing applications, including payment security in the handset or SIM card. In NFC standards, SE is defined as an embedded processing element which ensures that outside communication is processed in encrypted form and stores protected information that should only be made accessible under certain conditions.

T Tag ID Reference number which uniquely identifies the chip of a tag. This number is generally encoded by the chip manufacturer and cannot be modified. See Identifier. Tap, Confirm and Reconfirm The end user taps the mobile device as if for a convenience transaction. When prompted, the end user enters pass code information into the mobile device and then taps the mobile device to the Point of Sale (POS). Finally, the end user is prompted to tap again to receive payment confirmation.

Tap-and-Confirm, or Touch-and-Confirm The end user taps the mobile device as if for a convenience transaction, when prompted, the end user enters the pass code into the mobile device and taps the mobile device again. Pass code information is validated by the payment applications and approval or failure is transmitted to a third party. Tap and confirm is the only approved method, all card verification methods must follow the tap and confirm process once deemed acceptable by payment networks. Tap-and-Connect, or Touch-and-Connect The end user taps the mobile device. When prompted, the end user taps the device again, establishing a two-way connection. Once the two-way connection is established, the end-user enters the pass code onto the mobile device. For this card verification method, an open connection must be maintained for the entire card verification method process. Tap-and-Go, or Touch-and-Go Means that no user interaction is required other than tapping the NFC device on a reader. The end user taps the mobile device only once. No CVM (Card Verification Method) process is performed; this is used for convenience transactions. Tap-and-Explore, or Touch-and-Explore This is an extension of the “Tap-and-Connect” method. Here, the end user taps the mobile device and establishes a connection. The connection is used both to verify the card and to pass loyalty information. TID Cf. Identifier Touch-and-Confirm Cf. Tap-and-Confirm Touch-and-Connect Cf. Tap-and-Connect Touch-and-Go Cf. Tap-and-Go Touch-and-Explore Cf. Tap-and-Explore

U UHF Cf. Ultra-high frequency Ultra-high frequency (UHF) Frequencies from 300 MHz through 3 GHz.

W Write range Range at which an RFID system may reliably write to desired tags under defined conditions. Write protection Capability provided in the tag design which permits all or part of the memory to be shielded from modification, superimposition or erasure.