System and method for close proximity communication

• US 10,103,786 B2
• Filed: 08/01/2017
• Issued: 10/16/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Freelinc Holdings, LLC
• Original Assignee: Freelinc Technologies Inc.
• Inventors: Dobyns, Douglas Howard
• Primary Examiner(s): Milord, Marceau
• Application Number:
  US15/666,377
• Publication Number:
  US 20180034513A1
• Time in Patent Office: 441 Days
• Field of Search: 455 411, 455 412, 455411, 455418
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/26 using coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/263 Multiple coils at either side
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0608 Antenna selection according to transmission parameters

Abstract

A method for close proximity communication is disclosed. The method comprises detecting a signal transmitted by a close proximity communication (CPC) device at one of a distance of greater than or less than a CPC detection perimeter with a multi-mode magnetic induction communication (MMMIC) device with at least one antenna. The method further comprises identifying the type of device transmitting the detected signal. The method further comprises enabling the MMMIC device to communicate with the close proximity communication device at one of the distance of greater than the CPC detection perimeter and the distance of less than the CPC detection perimeter based on the type of device that is identified.

Claims

1. An apparatus of a multi-mode magnetic induction communication (MMMIC) device, the MMMIC device configured to:

detect a signal transmitted by a close proximity communication (CPC) device at one of a distance of greater than or less than a CPC detection perimeter;

identify the type of device transmitting the detected signal; and

communicate with the CPC device at one of the distance of greater than the CPC detection perimeter and the distance of less than the CPC detection perimeter based on the type of device that is identified;

detect the signal using magnetic induction diversity selected from at least two orthogonal antennas at the MMIC device; and

select a magnetic induction diversity scheme for the MMMIC device to communicate based on the distance selected over which to communicate with the identified device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the MMMIC device is further configured to detect a signal transmitted by a device compliant with a standard selected from the group consisting of an ISO 14443A standard and an ISO 14443B standard.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the MMMIC device is further configured to communicate with the CPC device at one of the distance of greater than the CPC detection perimeter and the distance of less than the CPC detection perimeter based on an amount of a financial transaction to be completed between the MMMIC device and the CPC device.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the MMMIC device is further configured to set the amount of the financial transaction at which the MMMIC device can communicate with the CPC device at the distance of greater than the CPC detection perimeter.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the MMMIC device is further configured to communicate with the CPC device at one of the distance of greater than the CPC detection perimeter and the distance of less than the CPC detection perimeter based on a desired security level for information communicated between the MMMIC device and the CPC device.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the MMMIC device is further configured to query a user for credential information when the desired security level is greater than a predetermined level and the distance is greater than the CPC detection perimeter.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the MMMIC device is further configured to communicate with the CPC device at the distance of less than the CPC detection perimeter when the CPC device is identified as a point of sale terminal.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the MMMIC device is further configured to communicate with the CPC device at the distance of greater than the CPC detection perimeter when the CPC device is identified as an advertising terminal.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the MMMIC device is further configured to communicate with the CPC device at the distance of greater than the CPC detection perimeter when the close proximity communication device is identified as not being a point of sale terminal.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the MMMIC device is further configured to be in compliance with the NFC specification when the MMMIC device is communicating with the close proximity communication device at the distance of less than the CPC detection perimeter.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the MMMIC device is further configured to be in compliance with the NFC specification while selected secure information is communicated, and then enabling the MMMIC device to communicate at the distance of greater than the CPC detection perimeter to communicate selected non-secure information to one of an NFC compliant device and a non-NFC compliant device.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the MMMIC device is further configured to select one of the at least two antennas to communicate with the CPC device at the distance of less than the CPC detection perimeter, wherein the antenna selected is a most inefficient antenna of the at least two antennas.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the MMMIC device is further configured to select one of the at least two antennas to communicate with the close proximity communication device at the distance of less than the CPC detection perimeter, wherein the antenna selected is not a most efficient antenna of the at least two antennas.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the MMMIC device is further configured to communicate with the CPC device based on the type of device that is identified at the distance of greater than the CPC detection perimeter and at a distance that is less than a near field region.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the MMMIC device is further configured to select a magnetic induction diversity scheme further comprising selecting a single antenna when communicating at the distance of less than the CPC detection perimeter.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the MMMIC device is further configured to select a magnetic induction diversity scheme further comprising selecting one of the at least two antennas to communicate with the CPC device at the distance of less than the CPC detection perimeter while simultaneously communicating with an additional near field magnetic inductive (NFMI) communication device using at least one other of the at least two antennas.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the CPC detection perimeter is one of about 10 cm, 20 cm, or 50 cm.

18. An apparatus of a close proximity communication (CPC) device, the CPC device configured to:

transmit a signal at one of a distance of greater than or less than a CPC detection perimeter; and

enable a MMMIC device to communicate with the CPC device at one of the distance of greater than the CPC detection perimeter and the distance of less than the CPC detection perimeter based on the type of CPC device;

enable a MMMIC device to detect the signal using magnetic induction diversity selected from at least two orthogonal antennas at the MMIC device; and

enable a MMMIC device to select a magnetic induction diversity scheme for the MMMIC device to communicate based on the distance selected over which to communicate with the identified device.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the CPC device is further configured to communicate with the MMMIC device at one of the distance of greater than the CPC detection perimeter and the distance of less than the CPC detection perimeter based on an amount of a financial transaction to be completed between the MMMIC device and the CPC device.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the CPC device is further configured to communicate with the MMMIC device at one of the distance of greater than the CPC detection perimeter and the distance of less than the CPC detection perimeter based on a desired security level for information communicated between the MMMIC device and the CPC device.

21. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the CPC device is further configured to communicate with the MMMIC device at the distance of less than the CPC detection perimeter when the CPC device is identified as a point of sale terminal.

22. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the CPC device is further configured to communicate with the MMMIC device at the distance of greater than the CPC detection perimeter when the CPC device is identified as an advertising terminal.

23. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the CPC device is further configured to communicate with the MMMIC device at the distance of greater than the CPC detection perimeter when the close proximity communication device is identified as not being a point of sale terminal.

24. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the CPC device is further configured to communicate with the MMMIC device based on the type of device that is identified at the distance of greater than the CPC detection perimeter and at a distance that is less than a near field region.

25. At least one non-transitory machine readable storage medium having instructions embodied thereon for performing close proximity communication, the instructions when executed by a MMMIC device perform the following:

detect a signal transmitted by a close proximity communication (CPC) device at one of a distance of greater than or less than a CPC detection perimeter;

identify the type of device transmitting the detected signal; and

enable the MMMIC device to communicate with the CPC device at one of the distance of greater than the CPC detection perimeter and the distance of less than the CPC detection perimeter based on the type of device that is identified;

detect the signal using magnetic induction diversity selected from at least two orthogonal antennas at the MMIC device; and

select a magnetic induction diversity scheme for the MMMIC device to communicate based on the distance selected over which to communicate with the identified device.

26. The at least non-transitory one machine readable storage medium of claim 25, wherein the instructions when executed by a MMMIC device also perform the following:

communicate with the CPC device at one of the distance of greater than the CPC detection perimeter and the distance of less than the CPC detection perimeter based on an amount of a financial transaction to be completed between the MMMIC device and the CPC device.

27. The at least one non-transitory machine readable storage medium of claim 25, wherein the instructions when executed by a MMMIC device also perform the following:

communicate with the CPC device at one of the distance of greater than the CPC detection perimeter and the distance of less than the CPC detection perimeter based on a desired security level for information communicated between the MMMIC device and the CPC device.