Skip to main content

NFC tags

NFC tags can be used with multiple Flow modules. Students scan a physical tag with their phone, and Flow performs the action associated with that tag and its configured location.

NFC tags currently support the following workflows:

  • Access control: Users scan a tag to request access to a configured door or facility.
  • Digital Attendance List: Students scan a tag to record attendance for the event currently taking place at the configured location. This allows attendance to be recorded without a lecturer displaying a QR code.

Setup process​

The setup process is shared by all modules that use NFC tags:

  1. Contact Studo support and describe the planned NFC workflow and locations.
  2. Studo provides the required number of compatible NFC tags.
  3. Register the tags and their associated doors in Flow.
  4. Install the tags at the intended locations.
  5. Test each tag with the relevant user roles and module configuration before making it available to users.

Tag placement​

The appropriate placement depends on the workflow:

  • Access control: Mount the tag next to the corresponding door or access point.
  • Digital Attendance List:
    • Place a tag on the lecturer's desk.
    • Mount tags near the entrances to the lecture room. Busy entrances may require a tag on each side.
    • Mount tags on rows of seats or individual seats when the room layout requires more distributed access.

Tags should be accessible to users without obstructing entrances or other university infrastructure.

Concepts​

Flow uses two concepts for NFC configuration:

  1. Tag: A tag represents a physical NFC tag. Its descriptor allows Flow to identify and authenticate the tag before performing the associated action.
  2. Door: A door represents the location or action to which one or more tags belong. It can represent a physical door, but it can also represent another location such as a lecturer's desk used for attendance recording.

Configure NFC in Flow​

Users need the Administrator or NFC tag manager permission to register and manage NFC tags. Tags and doors are configured in the NFC area of the Flow configuration.

Supported tags​

Flow currently supports Infineon Secora NFC tags.

Authentication​

Flow performs challenge-response authentication to confirm that a genuine tag was scanned. Two authentication options are available:

  • Flow authentication: Flow performs the tag authentication.
  • External authentication: The university performs authentication through an external system. Contact Studo before using this option.

JSON descriptor​

The JSON descriptor contains the tag ID and the public keys Flow uses to verify the tag. A descriptor must be collected from each physical tag before the tag can be registered in Flow.

To collect the descriptor:

  1. Open the side menu in the Campus App and select Get NFC tag descriptor.
  2. Hold the phone near the NFC tag to scan it.
  3. Transfer the JSON descriptor from the phone's clipboard to Flow.

If Get NFC tag descriptor is not available, verify that the user has the Administrator or NFC tag manager permission.