INTRODUCTION"NFC & BLUETOOTH BASED CONTACTLESS DOOR LOCK" focuses on exploiting the full potentials of NFC( Near Field Communications) and Bluetooth for implementing an automated door locking/unlocking System.

The ProblemTechnology has not replaced conventional Locking systems with smarter systems .Cost Effective Electronic Locking system is the need of the hour.Traditional locks are not user-friendly to Handicapped people.In traditional locks if a key is lost, the lock tends useless.Keys cant be customized for locks by the user.

The SolutionNFC & Bluetooth based Access Control System/ Door Lock.

Near Field Communication (NFC)NFC is a short range wireless technology which is based on RFID technology, but has a operating range/distance constraint of maximum 10cm.

This feature of NFC based devices turns them comparatively more secure than their Bluetooth and RFID counterparts.

NFC - Merits over RFIDNFC has higher transfer rates than RFID (upto 424Kb/s).NFC consumes less power than RFID.Unlike RFID, NFC is integrated into modern smartphones, hence finds application in day-to-day life.Eg: Banking Applications, Railway Reservations, Advertisements.

NFC TagsDifferent from Bluetooth NFC utilizes smart tags. Tags are tiny electronic chips which operate passively( i.e., need no battery to power the device)Tags consume required power by wireless means from their master device, i.e the active NFC READER/WRITER modules.

NFC Tags in our contextThese rewritable tiny tags store the digital keys , which can be read by the NFC reader module.

The read keys are routed to the Microcontroller which in turn compares those keys read from the tag with the key already stored in the EEPROM and thereby controls the electronic strike( door lock) .

NFC in our contextAs an alternative to the cost wise cheap tiny tags (which are available in the market as cards, keychains, small stickers, etc) one can also use an NFC enabled phone to lock/unlock the door.

BLUETOOTHNFC enabled phones are slightly costly/rare in India , and that is the primary reason we add Bluetooth capabilities to the lock.Bluetooth is a wireless technology standard for exchanging data over short distances using 2.4 to 2.485 GHz spectrum.

BLUETOOTH vs. NFC

MODES OF OPERATIONOur innovative and unique approach combines the capabilities of both Bluetooth and NFC into a single lock, i.e., the lock can be used in 2 modes:Bluetooth alone mode (NFC remains switched off)

NFC/Bluetooth dual mode.

ANDROID APPAdditionally we developed an android app for the lock which communicates using Bluetooth with the lock.The Android app will have the following capabilities based on the above mentioned modes of operation of the lock:lock/unlock door using phone's Bluetooth.

Set a new tag/Reset it when needed.

COMPONENTS REQUIRED

COMPONENTS REQUIRED

Programming Environments UsedArduino Programming Language (Based on C) for programming the microcontroller.

Android SDK with Basic4Android IDE, for developing the Android App.

Architectural Design

WORKING OF THE LOCKWhenever we show a tag against the lock, yellow LED glows indicating that the tag is being read.

WORKING OF THE LOCKRed Led light - On Indicates that the door is locked.

Red Led light - OffIndicates that the door is unlocked.

WORKING OF THE LOCKWhite LedWhen we try to set a new tag to our lock, the White Led Flashes.

This White Light indicates that the new tag has been successfully set.

AdvantagesThe primary advantages of our unique Access Control System are:

No need to carry a physical key.

Two or more locks can be configured to lock/unlock using the same tag.

AdvantagesIn large industries and Institutions one needs to lock/unlock many no. of rooms.The person in charge usually carries individual keys for each door and takes lot of trouble and time in finding the correct key and locking/unlocking each door. A single NFC tag is the supreme solution to this problem.

AdvantagesNFC tags are a boon to old and blind people - as they will easily lock or unlock the door by just bringing the tag near the door.Parental Control is possible. For instance, the master of a family can alone have the android-access to the lock and the tags shall alone be given to other members of the family.

AdvantagesIf a key is lost ,no need to replace the lock.

Simply buy a new tag (just Rs.50 approx) and reset the tag associated with the lock. So simple!The old tag becomes obsolete.The new tag becomes the key.

AdvantagesMoreover, the user of the lock alone knows where in the door, exactly the lock's NFC tag-READER is installed , so that he can show the tag next to it!Even if the tag reaches wrong hands, the thief wont know exactly where to show the tag, to unlock the door.

ConclusionQuoting all the above features and advantages, we are confident that our lock/project will be a revolutionary, user-friendly solution to today's need for replacing the old conventional locking techniques.

ReferencesReferences:

http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/articleDetails.jsp?arnumber=4658420

http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/articleDetails.jsp?arnumber=6197001