RESEARCH PROPOSAL

A MULTIPURPOSE MIDDLEWARE APPICATION FOR ACADEMIC INSTITUTION

SERVICE UTILIZING NEAR FIELD COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY

Archie O. Pachica and Warnner D. Amin

Department of Information Technology, Misamis University Oroquieta City

Corresponding Author: Email: archiepachica@gmail.com

Abstract

In a University environment students and employees need to wait longer for their transaction to
be done in a certain office or department due to the slow movement of the queue especially in the
payment process. In this study a multipurpose middleware application has been developed for
academic institution services utilizing near field communication (NFC) technology. Users of this
application need to tap up a load for their NFC-enabled ID card and just simply tap the loaded
card to the NFC reader attached to the POS terminal upon paying of foods bought at the
University cafeteria thus, reducing the queue of students and employees. The loading and
reloading of NFC-enabled ID card is also done in the university cafeteria. In addition, a mobile
application is also developed in this study in order for the parents to download it in their
smartphone to monitor the payment and load transactions of the students. Based on the
evaluation results, it shows that NFC middleware application has positive impact in terms of fast
payment transaction.

Keywords: NFC, Middleware, Payment Method, Technology

INTRODUCTION
In the recent years, advancements in technology helped people to do less work and allowed
machines to do more (Lavanya, Kumari et al. 2013). Some offices and departments of an
academic institutions offer different services to both students and employees for their safety,
satisfaction, and convenience. The process involves of these services have great dependence of
this recent advancement of technology.
Traditionally, in a university environment students and employees need to wait longer for
their transactions to be done in a certain office or department because of the slow movement of
the queue especially in the payment process. At the present time, there are technologies that are
used as improvements to the traditional process of performing various services in different
offices of the university. One of these is the use of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID). Radio
Frequency Identification is usually used in the ePass toll payment and in the proximity cards
used for office security locks (Charo, 2012). As stated by Rodrigo (2012), RFID consists of a
transmitter chip/IC and a receiving antenna. Each chip has a unique identification number
generally referred to as an RFID tag, which is attached to the object the user wants to discover.
Now the RFID tags are detected and identified using an antenna or a scanning device known as
transceiver, which with the help of radio signals identifies the tag, the object. The RFID tag can
be placed in animal collars or in garments in a clothes shop for inventory purposes and can also
be stored on rental cars or criminals for tracking purposes. According to Yaqub (2012), RFID has
drawbacks especially when use as technology for payment transaction. The reader may detect the
two tags carried by two or more people standing in a queue which lead to errors. As cited by
Curran, et al. (2012), RFID technology is also prone to eavesdropping. The two RFID devices
communicate using radio frequency waves of up to 3 meters. This means that the attacker could

use the antenna to intercept the transmitted signals. The wireless signals generated by data
transfers can be picked up by antennas, modified, and dispatched.
Another latest advancement is the use of Near Field Communication (NFC) which is
being attached to the latest Smartphone wherein users will just simply tap their NFC enabled
Smartphone to the NFC reader connected to the terminal. Near Field Communication (NFC) is
an evolved form of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)but the difference is that while RFID
can be recognized from several meters away, NFC can only be recognized from mere centimeters
(Charo, 2012). As quoted by Yaqub (2012), NFC is an emerging technology for electronic
devices which allow them to communicate with each other by simply touching or bringing them
very close to each other. Using NFC, communication could take place between two active
devices such as cellphones or even between an NFC device and a passive (or unpowered) tag.
Currently, NFC has application mostly in the field of contactless electronic payment like
Electronic Point of Sale terminals at shopping centers and ticketing systems in public transport
such as buses and trains. NFC has also shown promise in being used for data transfer or data
beaming in applications such as smart posters or simplifying the setup of more complex
communication methods such as Wi-Fi or Wi-Max. As elaborated by Gopichand, et al. (2012),
NFC has many advantages. First, it helps to provide high level security because it involves
establishing connection only if two devices are brought close to each other reducing the
interference of the third party. Second, it helps to reduce the risk of swiping the card, entering the
password and choosing from menu making the process more flexible and ease of accessing.
Third major advantage of NFC is its design involving consumption of less power in its area of
application and this is more considerable in implantable medical devices. Fourth,the speed of
establishing a communication link between two devices adds more advantage when compared to

other devices which are not using NFC. Fifth, it has versatility. For example, using NFC one can
perform multiple tasks like check out at a store, purchase and load concert tickets to their
smartphones, read information from smart poster, board the subway, and many other task all
from a single device. Sixth, it has flexibility. Depending on the usage, NFC can be either active
or passive. In active NFC acts as bidirectional communication where as in passive NFC acts as
single mode communication similar RFID tag and NFC is better replacement for RFID tag to
reduce the cost of system. Seventh, NFC provides higher data rates compared to UHF-RFID.
And the bandwidth of NFC channel can be increased. Finally, NFC does not require battery or
external electrical connection, making it compatible with other electronic devices.
Other establishments use NFC card instead of NFC-enabled Smartphone as contactless
payment method becausemost of the phone ownersdont know that their Smartphone has NFC.
Or if they do know, they dont know how to use it or what is it for. So, soft introduction on how
to use NFC has been implemented in the Card for amore easy to understand solution.
Therefore, this study proposes a framework of contactless communication method for
various servicesprovided by a university through Near Field Communication (NFC). The
proposed method will use the ID card with NFC tag to handle the limitations of the RFID.The ID
card can be used to transact the various services within the university by simply tapping it to the
NFC reader connected to the terminal.Card information is secured because the NFC enabled ID
card can be tapped as near as 3 cm away from NFC reader, thus preventing the eavesdropper to
eavesdrop or sniff the communication between the two NFC devices.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This chapter discusses the design and development of the proposed middleware
application that will support the NFC technology intended to several payment and various access
control methods for easier and convenient transaction
3.1 Design
3.1.1 System Architecture

Figure 1. System Architecture for Payment and Campus Entry Method

Figure 1 shows the system architecture of the application of Near Field Communication
as payment and campus entry methodof the University. Basic information of the user will be
stored in the NFC card by the ID registration terminal. The End User can provide data to the
POSand Load terminal and can also view load balance The data provided by the End User in the

POS will be verified from the NFC Load Database before showing it to the End User and before
accepting his payment transaction. The End User can also view information of the NFC card
through the Android Smartphone from the Online Database connected to the Internet. Users info
in the NFC card is verified from the database upon entering the university gate. There will be a
data mirroring between Load Database and Backup Database for fault tolerance.
3.1.2 Data Flow Diagram
In analyzing the flow of data, the researcher will make use of special tools called
context and top level diagrams of the proposed system.
3.1.2.1 Context Diagram
Figure 2 show the context diagram of the proposed system . The diagram
specifies how data flow in the proposed system. The process of the NFC
Supported Services System of Misamis University Oroquieta City is at the center
of the diagram and is presented by a big bubble symbol wherein all processes will
be performed. Surrounding the central process are the two entities namely:
Student and Parents. The Student entity has five outgoing data flow and four
incoming data flow as reply to the outgoing data flow. Parents entity has one
outgoing data flow and one incoming data flow which is the NFC card info and
the balance, load, and payments history.

Figure 2. Context Diagram

3.1.2.2 Top Level Diagram

Figure 3. Top Level Diagram

Figure 3 is the top level diagram of a cashless payment system in a
University canteen and the monitoring of NFC card information online. It shows
five processes, two entities, and three data stores. Process 1.0 involves the storing
of the students information to the database and storing of information in the NFC
card of the student. Process 2.0 contains the loading of an amount purchased by
the student to the NFC card. Before it will be loaded to the NFC card, student
information is verified in the database. Process 3.0 comprises the acceptance of
payment from the student through the NFC card. Before the system accepts the
payment made by the students, it verifies first the student information and the load
information in the database. Process 4.0 encompasses the allowing of student to
inquire his NFC load balance through the NFC reader connected to the POS
terminal. Before the system shows the load balance, it verifies first the student
and load information in the database. Process 5.0 consists of allowing the parents
of the students to inquire the balance of the NFC card online. It also allows them
to check the load history and to monitor the payment transactions made by the
students. Process 6.0 embraces the verification of student identity upon entering
the university campus.

3.1.4 Database

Figure 5. Database Design

Figure 5 shows the database design of the NFC payment system. It has five tables
namely: User, LoadInfo, PaymentInfo, ChargesInfo, and ItemInfo. Each table has its
own attributes. In this diagram the student may purchase one or many loads, may pay
one or many charges, and charges contains many items.

3.1.4 Interfaces
3.1.4.1 Student Information Registration

Figure 7. Student Information Registration

Figure 6 shows the form use for registration of students information to the
database and the storing of that information to the NFC card.
3.1.4.2 NFC Load

Figure 8. NFC Load

Figure 8 shows a form use to load an amount purchased by the students to his NFC card.
3.1.4.3 Android Application on Smartphone

Figure 9. Android Application

Figure 9 shows an interface design for android application in a
Smartphone wherein the parents of the students can inquire the NFC card load
balance and payment transactions through the Internet.
3.2 Development
3.2.1 Hardware Requirements
The researcher will use an NFC card that contains an NFC tag to be given to the
student for testing. This NFC card is programmed with just about any sort of student
information for transfer or read from the NFC reader. Figure 4 shows an example of NFC
card to be used in the payment system.

Figure 10. NFC Card

The researcher will also use an NFC reader to be attached to the computer
terminal. The NFC reader will just simply read information from the NFC card or write
information or data wirelessly to the NFC card. Load balance on the NFC card can be
checked or monitored by simply tapping the card on the NFC reader. Figure 8 shows the
NFC reader.

Figure 11. NFC Reader

The researcher utilizes a Smartphone to be used to inquire load balance,

payments, and load transaction history online. This Smartphone should have an Android
operating system installed. Figure 9 shows the Android Smartphone.

Figure 12. Android Smartphone

A database server is also used to store the information of the users and to store the
load history and payment transactions made.

Figure 13. Database Server

3.2.2 Software Requirements

A. Android Studio
Android Studio is a new Android development environment based on
IntelliJ IDEA. It provides new features, improvements, and it is the official
Android IDE. On top of the capabilities a user expects from IntelliJ, Android
Studio offers:
Flexible Gradle-based build system.
Build variants and multiple APK generation.
Expanded template support for Google Services and various device

types.
Rich layout editor with support for theme editing.

Lint tools to catch performance, usability, version compatibility, and

other problems.
ProGuard and app-signing capabilities.
Built-in support for Google Cloud Platform, making it easy to integrate
Google Cloud Messaging and App Engine.

B. MySql
This is an open source relational database management system (RDBMS)
based on Structured Query Language (SQL)
3.3 Evaluation
To evaluate the cashless payment system, the researcher will conduct a survey to assess
the system performance. A questionnaire will be the instrument for the survey. This type of
evaluation will be conducted to at least 10 randomly selected students and parents from
Misamis University,Oroquieta City. They will be oriented on the system and requested to use
the NFC card and manipulate the android application by themselves. After using and
manipulating the cashless payment system, which assesses the system and application
performance and includes data accuracy, functionality, usability, and speed will be given to them
to answer.

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