This page explains why the validatorValidator is a device with contactless card reader, registering card taps and validating access to the transit services. It is not a point of sale in UniTiAg model. More cannot wait for the card issuer authorization before granting access to the transit service. Waiting for the issuer response would impact the transit systems’ throughput and patron experience.
For the beginning, we will determine all components of contactless transaction latency, i. e. the period of time between card tapping and issuer response coming to the validatorValidator is a device with contactless card reader, registering card taps and validating access to the transit services. It is not a point of sale in UniTiAg model. More.
NFC Channel Latency (250 – 450 msec)
Detailed analysis of cEMVContactless EMV More tap latency is provided in this PCNPayments Consulting Network article. You can laso measure this latency using our android application NFC EMV Explorer.
Wireless Latency ( 30 msec to eternity)
This latency is important for wireless validatorsValidator is a device with contactless card reader, registering card taps and validating access to the transit services. It is not a point of sale in UniTiAg model. More, installed on vehicles. If the validatorValidator is a device with contactless card reader, registering card taps and validating access to the transit services. It is not a point of sale in UniTiAg model. More needs to connect to the TAA transit operator or an agency representing several transit operators. The TA acts as a merchant from the UniTiAg’s standpoint. More to send a message and receive a response via a wireless network, there will be time elapsed between sending a message to the host and receiving a response.
The current state of the wireless data communication technology demonstrates that the wireless latency can be as low as 30 msec. This latency is demonstrated if a wireless network has nothing else to do at that moment. We will treat this value as a low limit.
Unfortunately, the upper limit can not be determined. It could be up to several seconds or even minutes. Nobody knows how the wireless system will behave if there are several thousand bus validatorsValidator is a device with contactless card reader, registering card taps and validating access to the transit services. It is not a point of sale in UniTiAg model. More hammering the network with two requests per second at the rush time. Nobody knows how the cellular system will behave if there are many phone calls, SMS, or emails at the same time in a specific region. Current open-loopOpen-loop card is a payment card that can be accepted in many places, such as Visa card, Mastercard card, etc. Open-loop ticketing system allows fare payments with open-loop cards. More pilot projects run relatively small number of open-loopOpen-loop card is a payment card that can be accepted in many places, such as Visa card, Mastercard card, etc. Open-loop ticketing system allows fare payments with open-loop cards. More transactions via wireless channels and there is no reliable empiric data. The situation is even worse: there cannot be reliable statistical data or estimates of that kind obtained because of many unpredictable influential factors impacting the wireless data system throughput.
The wireless latency in satellite networks is more predictable but unacceptably high. It is equal to 480 msec. The speed of light is 300,000 km/sec and it takes minimal 120 msec to the signal to reach a satellite on the geostationary orbit which is 36,000 km high. This latency comprises four 120 msec periods because the signal must first reach the satellite, then return back to the Earth to reach the host, and then make the same way back.
TA Latency (70 msec)
The TAA transit operator or an agency representing several transit operators. The TA acts as a merchant from the UniTiAg’s standpoint. More computer host will require some time to process the transaction. We should reasonably allow at least 70 msec to process a validatorValidator is a device with contactless card reader, registering card taps and validating access to the transit services. It is not a point of sale in UniTiAg model. More request and prepare the response. Note, that this would be a pretty expensive and very fast host. We do not count here the time the host needs to “talk” to some other system such as Visa or MasterCard.
Authorization Latency (150 msec – 5 sec)
This is the time the TAA transit operator or an agency representing several transit operators. The TA acts as a merchant from the UniTiAg’s standpoint. More needs to obtain the card issuer authorization. Visa and Mastercard have recently made a significant progress in decreasing their network latency but they cannot beat the problem caused by the limited speed of signal propagation. If a cardholder from New Zealand tries his or her card at a point of sale in England, it takes 140 msec only for the signal to travel to the card issuer and back. Another problem is the card issuer latency. There are fast issuers that have computer hosts which can process the transaction authorization within 70 msec, and there are slow issuers that require up to 1 second or even more to authorize transactions originated by their cards. The common payment network limit for the authorization latency is 5 sec.
Summarizing this, we can say that the authorization latency range is between 150 msec and 5,000 msec. For overseas issuers, the minimal latency is 290 msec.
Cumulative Tap Latency
The following tables represent the estimates for the time required if the card issuer authorization approval message needs to be obtained
Wired Validator – Full Authorization
| Latency (msec) | NFCNear-Field Communications, a protocol used for data exchange between contactless cards and readers. More Channel | TA Host | Issuer Approval | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| min | 250 | 70 | 150 | 470 |
| max | 450 | 1000 | 5000 | 6450 |
Additional Latency for Wireless Validator
| min | 30 |
|---|---|
| max | none can be guaranteed |
Maximal Allowed Transit Tap Latency
The reasonable tap latency in transit environment must not exceed in average 350-500 msec at subway turnstile and 500 – 1000 msec at bus validatorValidator is a device with contactless card reader, registering card taps and validating access to the transit services. It is not a point of sale in UniTiAg model. More.