System and method for wireless data transfer for a mobile unit

• US 20040203352A1
• Filed: 06/18/2002
• Published: 10/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TomTom International BV (TomTom NV)
• Original Assignee: Brigham Young University (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints)
• Inventors: Vawdrey, David K., Knutson, Charles D., Hall, Eric S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,236,742 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0008 General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0235 where the received signal is a power saving command
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A mobile communication device is provided for wirelessly transferring information to and from a base unit. The device comprises an RFID module to receive a wake-up communication from the base unit and to send connection parameters back to the base unit. A wireless communication module is included that is responsive to the connection parameters received from the base unit. A microcontroller is coupled between the RFID module and the wireless communication module to wake-up the wireless communication module when the RFID module receives the wake-up communication from the base unit.

Claims

1. A mobile communication device for wirelessly transferring information to and from a base unit, comprising:

(a) an RFID module to receive a wake-up communication from the base unit and send connection parameters back to the base unit;

(b) a wireless communication module which is responsive to the connection parameters received from the base unit; and

(c) a microcontroller coupled between the RFID module and the wireless communication 10 module to wake up the wireless communication module when the RFID module receives the wake-up communication from the base unit.

2. A device as in claim 1, wherein the connection parameters transmitted by the RFID module enable a reduced inquiry period when the base unit connects to the wireless communication module.

3. A device as in claim 2, wherein the connection parameters transmitted by the RFID module enable a reduction of an inquiry period by at least one second.

4. A device as in claim 1, further comprising a memory module to store information about a person who is carrying the mobile communication device.

5. A device as in claim 4, wherein the memory module stores medical record information for the person who is carrying the mobile communication device.

6. A device as in claim 5, wherein medical personnel can query the mobile communication device and download medical record information using the base unit.

7. A device as in claim 1, wherein the mobile communication device is approximately the size of a credit-card or smaller.

8. A device as in claim 1, further comprising a battery to power the mobile communication device.

9. A device as in claim 1, wherein the wireless communication module is a Bluetooth radio.

10. A device as in claim 1, wherein the RFID module is a passive RFID tag.

11. A device as in claim 1, wherein the wireless communication module remains in a shutdown state with only a clock running until the RFID module receives the wake-up communication from the base unit and enables the microcontroller to wake-up the wireless communication module.

12. A method for wireless data transmission from a wireless communication device to a base unit, comprising the steps of:

(a) connecting to the wireless communication device that is carried on an individual'"'"'s person and is sized to be equal to or smaller than a credit-card; and

(b) transmitting information about the individual from the wireless communication module that is carried on the individual'"'"'s person to the base unit.

13. A method in accordance with claim 12, further comprising the step of waking the wireless communications device that is in a shutdown mode in order to conserve power.

14. A method in accordance with claim 13, wherein the step of waking the wireless communications device further comprises the step of waking the wireless device using an RFID device.

15. A method as in claim 14, wherein the step of connecting to the wireless communication device further comprises the step of connecting to the wireless communication device using connection parameters received from the RFID device.

16. A method as in claim 12, further comprising the step of transmitting the information about the person at a medium range of between 1 meter and 100 meters.

17. A method as in claim 12, further comprising the step of transmitting personal medical information about the individual from the wireless communication device that is carried on the individual'"'"'s person.

18. A method as in claim 17, further comprising the step of receiving the personal medical information at the base unit for medical personnel.

19. A method as in claim 12, further comprising the step of sizing the wireless communication device as a substantially credit-card sized or smaller device.

20. A method for communication of wireless data, comprising the steps of:

(a) sending an RFID signal from a base unit to an RFID module in a wireless communication device;

(b) responding with connection parameters from the RFID module for the wireless communication device;

(c) receiving the connection parameters in a the base unit;

(d) waking up a wireless communication module, using the RFID module and the wireless communication module is responsive to connection parameters received from the base unit;

(e) setting up a connection between the base unit and the wireless communication module using the connection parameters;

(f) transmitting data stored in a memory with the wireless communication device to the base unit.

21. A method as in claim 20, wherein the step of transmitting data stored in a memory further comprises the step of transmitting information stored in the memory about a person who is carrying the mobile communication device.

22. A method as in claim 20, wherein the step of transmitting data stored in a memory further comprises the step of transmitting personal medical information from the memory about a person who is carrying the mobile communication device.

23. A method as in claim 20, further comprising the step of sizing the mobile communication device as a substantially credit-card sized or smaller device.