ISO/IEC 15693-3:2019

ISO/IEC 15693-3:2019 - Overview

ISO/IEC 15693-3:2019 is Part 3 of the ISO/IEC 15693 series for cards and security devices for personal identification - contactless vicinity objects. This document specifies the anticollision and transmission protocol used to initialize and manage communications between a vicinity integrated circuit card (VICC) and a vicinity coupling device (VCD). The standard covers the protocol formats, command sets, timing, and methods to detect and communicate with one card among several (anticollision). Annex A allows incorporation of other standard technologies on the card.

Key Topics and Technical Requirements

• Protocol and command definitions
  • Mandatory and optional commands (e.g., Inventory, Stay Quiet, Read/Write block variants, Select, Get system information).
• Anticollision mechanisms
  • Procedures and parameters to detect and select a single VICC among multiple cards in the RF field.
• Addressing and selection modes
  • Modes such as addressed, non-addressed and select to control card responses.
• Data elements and identifiers
  • UID (unique identifier), AFI (Application Family Identifier), DSFID (Data Storage Format Identifier), CRC and other data element definitions.
• Response formats and flags
  • Request/response flag formats, error codes, in-process replies, waiting time extension mechanisms.
• VICC states and timing
  • Defined card states (Ready, Quiet, Selected, etc.) and precise timing specifications for reliable communication.
• Security framework
  • Security-related parameters and command flows (authenticate, challenge, key update) and block security status handling.
• Extended and proprietary commands
  • Support for extended reads/writes and optional/custom/proprietary functions to enable advanced applications.

Practical Applications

ISO/IEC 15693-3:2019 is applied where vicinity (longer-range) contactless identification and multi-tag environments are common:

• Library management (book tagging and inventory)
• Asset tracking and logistics
• Access control and secure ID systems
• Public services and information kiosks
• Industrial and supply-chain tag readers

Who should use this standard

• IC and smartcard designers implementing VICC behavior
• Reader (VCD) manufacturers ensuring reliable anticollision and timing
• System integrators deploying multi-tag reading systems
• Security architects and test laboratories validating compliance and interoperability

Related standards

• Part of the ISO/IEC 15693 series (contactless vicinity objects).
• Commonly referenced alongside other contactless ID standards (e.g., proximity card standards) when designing interoperable systems.

ISO/IEC 15693-3:2019 provides the essential protocol and anticollision foundations to build robust, interoperable vicinity RFID systems for multi-card environments, with clear definitions of commands, timing, and security behaviors.