Electronic near field communication enabled multifunctional device and method of its operation

• US 20100026454A1
• Filed: 04/09/2008
• Published: 02/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Pendlebury, Joe, Rowse, Graham
• Granted Patent: US 8,564,408 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/10.100
• 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: G06K 7/10237 the reader and the record carrier being capable of selectively switching between reader and record carrier appearance, e.g. in near field communication [NFC] devices where the NFC device may function as an RFID reader or as an RFID tag
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/327 Short range or proximity payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3278 RFID or NFC payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/352 Contactless payments by cards
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/45 Transponders
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/48 Transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/77 for interrogation

Abstract

A computer program stored in a memory unit of an electronic near field communication (NFC) module for near field communication devices in environments with different data formats according to different protocols is able to carry out a first initiation operation using a first data format according to a protocol of a first standard, a second initiation operation using a second data format according to a protocol of a second standard, a delay operation, and is able to repeat these operations in a repetitive process. Such devices can search their environment periodically for available RFID tags, RFID readers, NFC multifunctional devices, or the like. The delay can be fixed, variable in length, or both fixed and variable delays can be used. The invention enables for instance a mobile phone to act as an RFID reader of multiple tag formats, to emulate a tag, or to communicate with other NFC devices.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

performing a first initiation procedure in a first data format according to a first protocol,

performing a second initiation procedure in a second data format according to a second protocol,

performing a first passive detection procedure in the first or the second data format or in a third data format according a third protocol,

performing a delay, and

performing any of these operations in a repetitive process.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

performing a second passive detection procedure in the first or the second data format or in a fourth data format according to a fourth protocol.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein performing said delay comprises passively detecting an external radio frequency signal.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein performing said first passive detection procedure comprises detecting an external radio frequency signal.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein performing said first initiation procedure comprises receiving data in said first data format.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein performing said first initiation procedure comprises transmitting an initiation signal in said first data format.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

performing at least one further initiation procedure in at least one further data format.

8. The method according to claim 2, further comprising:

performing at least one further passive detection procedure in at least one further data format.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein said delay comprises a plurality of delays.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein at least one of said plurality of delays is a delay of a fixed length of time.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein at least one of said plurality of delays is a delay of a random length of time.

12. The method according to of claim 11, wherein said random length of time is selected from a predetermined time range not including zero and for any other delays performed as a delay of a random length period of time, said random length period is selected from a predetermined time range including zero.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein a delay of a random length of time is performed after said first and said second initiation procedures.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein a delay of a fixed length of time is performed after said first passive detection procedure.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein after a successful initiation procedure in one of said first or second data format, data is transmitted or received in the corresponding data format.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein said data is received or transmitted in a data communication procedure during said repetitive process.

17. The method according to claim 1, wherein said performing of an initiation procedure comprises:

sending a signal sequence for a first predetermined period of time with a first output power,

receiving data signals, and

sending a second signal sequence for a second predetermined period of time with a second output power, if no data signal has been received.

18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising evaluating received data signals according to at least one data format'"'"'s timing, if a data signal has been received.

19. The method according to claim 1, wherein said method is performed by a near field communication multifunction device that is a multifunctional RFID reader.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein one of said protocols is used by said near-field communication multifunction device in a tag emulation mode.

21. The method according to claim 19, wherein one of said protocols is used by said near-field communication multifunction device in a target mode.

22. The method according to claim 19, wherein one of said protocols is used by said near-field communication multifunction device in an initiator mode.

23. A computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium storing program codes thereon for use in a communication device, wherein said program codes comprise:

instructions for performing a first initiation procedure in a first data format according to a first protocol,

instructions for performing a second initiation procedure in a second data format according to a second protocol,

instructions for performing a first passive detection procedure in the first or the second data format or in a third data format according a third protocol,

instructions for performing a delay, and

instructions for performing any of these operations in a repetitive process.

24. The computer program product according to claim 23, wherein said instructions for performing said first or said second initiation procedure comprises:

instructions for sending a signal sequence for a first predetermined period of time with a first output power,

instructions for receiving data signals, and

instructions for sending a second signal sequence for a second predetermined period of time with a second output power, if no data signal has been received.

25. A computer program product according to claim 23, wherein said program codes are downloadable from a server in communication with said communication device.

26. An apparatus, configured to detect more than one data format according to more than one protocol at one radio frequency band, comprising:

a transceiver for receiving signals in the radio frequency band and transmitting signals in said radio frequency band, and

a processor coupled to said transceiver,

wherein said processor is configured to perform;

a first initiation procedure in a first data format according to a first protocol,

a second initiation procedure in a second data format according to a second protocol,

a first passive detection procedure in said first or said second data format or in a third data format according to a third protocol, and

a delay,

and wherein said processor is further configured to perform any of these operations in a repetitive process.

27. The apparatus according to claim 26, further comprising a memory coupled to said processor, wherein executable instructions that if executed cause the processor to perform said operations are stored in said memory.

28. The apparatus according to claim 26, further comprising:

a random value generator; and

a timer, both coupled to said processor, and wherein said processor is further configured to determine lengths of different time periods in accordance with said timer and to determine lengths of random length delays in accordance with random values obtained from said random value generator.

29. The apparatus according to claim 26, wherein said apparatus is hard-coded in a built-in memory device configured to carry out said first and second initiation procedures, said first passive detection procedure, said delay, and said repetitive process.

30. A device, comprising the apparatus according to claim 26, and a storage device for storing received and evaluated data.

31. The device according to claim 30, further comprising a user interface.

32. The device according to claim 30, further comprising an interface to a communication network.

33. The device according to claim 32, wherein said interface to a communication network is an interface to a cellular telephone network.

34. The device according to claim 30, wherein said device is a multifunctional RFID reader.

35. The apparatus according to claim 26, wherein said delay includes passively detecting an external radio frequency signal.

36. The apparatus according to claim 26, wherein said first passive detection procedure comprises detecting an external radio frequency signal.

37. The apparatus according to claim 26, wherein said first initiation procedure includes receiving data in said first data format.

38. The apparatus according to claim 26, wherein said first initiation procedure includes transmitting an initiation signal in said first data format.

39. The apparatus according to claim 26, wherein said processor is further configured to perform at least one further initiation procedure in said first or second data format or in a further data format according to a further protocol.

40. The apparatus according to claim 26, wherein said processor is further configured to perform at least one further passive detection procedure in said first, second or third data format or in a further data format according to a further data format.

41. The apparatus according to claim 26, wherein said delay comprises a plurality of delays.

42. The apparatus according to claim 41, wherein at least one of said plurality of delays is a delay of a fixed length period of time.

43. The apparatus according to claim 41, wherein at least one of said plurality delays is a delay of a random length period of time.

44. The apparatus according to of claim 43, wherein said random length period is selected from a predetermined time range not including zero and for any other delays performed as a delay of a random length period of time, said random length period is selected from a predetermined time range including zero.

45. The apparatus according to claim 26, wherein a random length delay is performed after said first and second initiation procedures.

46. The apparatus according to claim 26, wherein a fixed length delay is performed after said first passive detection procedure.

47. The apparatus according to claim 26, wherein after a successful initiation procedure in said first or second data format, data is transmitted or received in the corresponding data format.

48. The apparatus according to claim 47, wherein said data is received or transmitted in a data communication procedure during said repetitive process.

49. The apparatus according to claim 26, wherein said first or second initiation procedure the processor is configured to perform comprises:

transmitting a first signal sequence for a first predetermined period of time with a first output power via said transmitter,

receiving data signals via said receiver, and

transmitting a second signal sequence for a second predetermined period of time with a second output power via said transmitter, if no data signal has been received.

50. The apparatus according to claim 49, wherein said first or second initiation procedure the processor is configured to perform further comprises evaluating received data signals according to at least one data format'"'"'s timing, if a data signal has been received.