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Java applets support on TRF7970A

Other Parts Discussed in Thread: TRF7970A, MSP430F5529, DLP-7970ABP

Hi,


I am using TRF7970A with MSP430F5529 for my NFC cared development.  Since TRF7970A can support APDU/ISO7816 commands, I am looking to develop a java applets for the same.

Does TRF7970A supports JAVA applets programming or it just supports APDU based app development in C?

 

Thanks for your help

 

  • The TRF7970A and its related family members are not programmable - they are highly integrated NFC/RFID analog front ends. This means that if you can communicate with the part, configure it and form a packet, it will send it out over the air. The part is only forming the SOF, CRC and EOF (in Direct Mode 2), then checking the response coming back for the standard its configured for. (for example ISO14443, like you mention you are interested in using Layer 4 of that standard, in conjuncton with ISO7816) - i can only guess here you want to do payments, but on the other hand not sure yet why you need Java involved there at basically the PHY layer.

    The MSP430F5529 is really what you are asking about. I would not think the MSP430 is suitable for Java directly - i bet you run out of resources quick -  maybe you could convert what you write in Java into C and load it, but i am thinking the MCU should be swapped for either a 32 bit part or better yet, for an MPU (like the AM35xx or AM43xx) 

    We do have a Linux project which uses the TRF7970A, on AMxxx platform - perhaps that is a better starting point for you?

  • Hi Josh Wyatt,

    Thank you for your quick response.

    I am working with MSP + TRF7970A.  Since this combination  supports ISO  7816 as per TI documents, I was expecting it to support JAVA CARD programming methods too.  

    We do have a Linux project which uses the TRF7970A, on AMxxx platform - perhaps that is a better starting point for you?
    Thanks for bringing this to y notice. I will be more than happy to use AMXX + TRF7970A combination in linux to start with.   Please can you help me to figure out answer for below points? 

    • Link for Linux source code
    • Which is the platform to be used? AM35X or AM37X? Beagle board XM should be fine? please clarify.
    • Can I run JAVA applets? (I am  not happy with C for applet programming and Java is must :) )

    If I can't run Java applet on above platform, then please can suggest me any alternate hardware from TI to support this? 

    I am looking for something like this from TI on NFC - www.usmartcards.com/giesecke-devrient-java-cards.html

  • just to clarify here - you want to interact with these JCOP cards as a reader? then MSP430 can do it - you don't need Java on that side i think - the Java is loaded on the card

    or do you want to emulate one of these?

    here is the released Linux project - it runs on BBW, and we have it ported to BBB, too - and this will be released shortly.

    www.ti.com/.../linux-nfc-trf7970a
  • Hi Josh wyatt,

    Once again thanks for the immediate reply and sharing the links.

    I am using Android mobile as NFC reader. SO I want to use TI chipset as NFC CARDS (TAGS). In other words, yes I want to emulate NFC TYPE-4 tags using TI chipset.

    Hope This is possible with linux version you have shared. Please let me know.

    Thanks !
  • Linux NFC (neard) does not support Card Emulation yet (this part is driven by the maintainer) - you can visit https://01.org/linux-nfc
    do you want to do NFC or payments? (they are not the same, and i thought you meant the JCOP cards)
    if you want to emulate JCOP card, then i think you will have to use the drivers we have for the TRF7970A (in the mainline kernel) and do something custom.
  • Hi Josh,

    Here is my understandingsof NFC+java card environment.
    NFC TAG TYPE4 (DESFire) can support NDEF+APDU i.e. NFC+smart card protocols.
    I am looking to emulate this TI TRF7970A in this mode. i.e. NFC+smart card mode where TRF7970A acts as a smart card using NFC+ISO7816.
    Here, various vendors (like ST - for example) support smart card protocol(ISO 7816) on top of NFC/RFID protocols.
    Even TRF7970A documents and user guides says this mode is supported.

    My requirements:
    1. program TRF7970A to support ISO7816(APDU command sets). Since this is type 4 NFC tag - layer below ISO7816 is NFC(ISO14443) and I am not bothered much about it.

    2. When I say ISO7816, I would like to run java applets instead of simple C programs. This will enable me to re-use some of previous programs + many other obvious advantages of Java card in market today :)

    Sorry, If I confused you in my previous post :)

    Thank you
  • Sure, the TRF7970A can emulate Type A or Type B and can be used for T4T platforms (which use ISO14443-4 framework and ISO7816 APDUs, this is what a T4A or T4B tag is, after all) This is no problem.

    suggestion here for getting started would be to use either the standalone CE project located here ==> www.ti.com/.../TIDM-NFC-CE and possibly port your applet to C or port this code to a TM4C or other 32 bit MCU that could handle being a VM, or use NFCLink (NCI) located here ==> http://www.ti.com/tool/nfclink and see if loading your file as MIME would work at all for you.

    both of these code projects run on -F5529 EXP and LP boards, and use either the TRF7970ATB or the DLP-7970ABP

    sorry i am not more helpful on the Java side, but it sounds like you are expert - let us know if any of these suggestions are viable for you.
  • Josh,

    Thanks for your support.  I think I got valuable info from you to move further on this.  I will post back when required again .

    Thanks a lot !