Enabling NFC Forum Certification for the Full Lifecycle of a Device

For NFC-enabled devices to deliver their full potential and offer unparalleled convenience to the end user, the NFC technology itself must work right first time, every time. The optimal use of NFC technology will enable a flawless user experience – consistent across NFC implementations – creating a familiar and trusted user journey across a host of cross market implementations.

The key to achieving this success is the NFC Forum Certification Program, which provides manufacturers, vendors, and end users alike with quality assurance that their product can interact seamlessly with millions of others across countless use cases. The Certification Program tests product conformance against the latest functional and security standards, giving proof that it works as expected, and earning the right to use the NFC Forum Certification Mark.

The latest feature added to the NFC Forum Certification Program as part of v3.1 of the NFC Forum Certification Policy – the Inheritance by Operating System (OS) update – now enables device manufacturers to maintain their NFC Forum Certification on previously certified device hardware. This means that they no longer need to re-certify devices when making OS updates that do not impact the functionality of the NFC technology used within the device. In this way, NFC Forum Certification can now last the entire lifecycle of the product.

Addressing the Challenges of Evolution

One of the hallmarks of the modern technological age is the speed of technology’s evolution. To keep up with rapidly changing consumer expectations and a constantly dynamic threat landscape, device can no longer remain static after its launch.

As a product progresses through its lifecycle, software updates are necessary to update the device with new innovations. However, these changes also evolve devices from the original that was tested and certified by NFC Forum.

This doesn’t mean that every part of the certification is obsolete though. NFC Forum Certification is divided into two types of tests: Analog to test the Hardware and Digital for the Software. When a device in the field receives an update, it is only the software that is changes. The Hardware, namely the antenna and tuning components, still remains the same. V3.1 of the Certification Policy recognises this, and allows for the first time Analog testing to be inherited.

For Digital tests, the question we must ask is, does a device need to undergo the same level of certification for every software update, even if the change has no impact on the functionality of the embedded NFC technology?

A Faster Path for Recertification

The answer comes via an extension of the current Fast Path route known as inheritance. This extension creates an additional more efficient route for engineers and product managers to retain their Certification when updating the OS using a three-step process:

• Step One: Fill in a new Implementation Conformance Statement (ICS) or Implementation eXtra Information for Testing (IXIT) form.

• Step Two: Complete a written self-assessment describing all changes made to the parts of the software related to the Certified Implementation and the Test Group list of the impacted Test Cases.

• Step Three: Sign an attestation to confirm that the hardware implementation contains no modifications from the Certified Implementation.

By following this process, engineers and product managers allow their device to inherit Certification for any unchanged implementations and only require new testing on the impacted test cases identified. And if there is no change related to the NFC implementation at all, only the administrative information needs to be completed without the need to send your device to a test lab.

This means that at each different entry point to the certification process, only the necessary tests are conducted. All other tests unchanged elements of the software and all Analog tests on the Hardware can simply be inherited.

Accessible Certification for Life

The Inheritance by OS update in the NFC Forum Certification Program enables product designers and managers to ensure compliance throughout the lifecycle of their product in an efficient and affordable way.

Routine software updates can be made, and the evolved product can be recertified much more efficiently using a Certification Program built around inheritance. Ultimately, this allows devices to be continuously refined and updated, while ensuring they continue to work as expected and deliver the optimal user experience throughout their entire lifecycle. We strongly recommend device manufacturers take advantage of this new path to keep their NFC Forum Certification valid in the most cost and time efficient way possible.

Accessible for both members of the Forum and non-members alike, the NFC Forum Certification Program exists for the betterment of the entire NFC ecosystem. Learn more by visiting the NFC Forum Certification Program webpage.

Should you have any questions or comments, please contact us at cert-admin@nfc-forum.org