PERFORMING CONTACTLESS APPLICATIONS IN BATTERY OFF MODE

• US 20100029202A1
• Filed: 02/04/2008
• Published: 02/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Deprun, Jean-Francois, Jolivet, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 8,867,988 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.100
• 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 7/10297 arrangements for handling protocols designed for non-contact record carriers such as RFIDs NFCs, e.g. ISO/IEC 14443 and 18092 cryptographic protocols H04L9/00; network security protocols H04L63/00; real-time communication protocols in data switching networks H04L65/00; network protocols for data switching network services H04L67/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/20 using microwaves or radio frequency waves
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00045 Authentication, i.e. circuits for checking compatibility between one component, e.g. a battery or a battery charger, and another component, e.g. a power source

Abstract

Contactless services, applications, and/or transactions can be performed between a mobile terminal and a contactless reader even when the mobile terminal battery power is found to be insufficient or if there is some other problem with the battery. Current is induced from electromagnetic (EM) fields or radio frequency (RF) signals detected near the mobile terminal such that sufficient power can be momentarily and/or temporarily used to access information from a smart card or other components within the mobile terminal, and allow user interaction via the contactless reader.

Claims

1. A method of contactless service for a terminal, the method comprising:

transferring a user interaction to another device when the terminal is determined to be in insufficient operation mode.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising, before the transferring step:

detecting a wireless communication status;

receiving a request for a transaction from the another device based upon the detecting step; and

processing the transaction that requires a user interaction in the insufficient operation mode.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the insufficient operation mode is determined if at least one condition among those indicating that the terminal is in battery off mode, the battery is too low, the battery is empty, the battery is inoperable, the battery is broken, and the battery is detached is satisfied.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the transaction is related to at least one of financial payments, access techniques, membership programs, and loyalty programs.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the request for a transaction indicates that the another device is able to perform the user interaction.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the processing step is performed in battery off mode, if the another device is able to perform the user interaction.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the battery off mode is when the battery power is relatively low for terminal operation or is disconnected.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the transferring is performed using power induced from radio frequency (RF) field detection.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein the user interaction relates to user authorization using at least one of a PIN confirmation, user identification, and biometrics.

10. The method of claim 5, wherein the another device is a point-of-sale (PoS) reader.

11. A method of contactless service with user interaction in battery off mode, the method comprising:

detecting a wireless communication status;

receiving a request for a transaction from another device based upon the detecting step; and

transferring a user interaction related to the transaction to the another device.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

processing the transaction that requires the user interaction in battery off mode.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the user interaction cannot be performed or is not supported by the terminal.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the user interaction relates to user authorization using at least one of a PIN confirmation, user identification, and biometrics.

15. A method of contactless service with user interaction in battery off mode, the method comprising:

detecting a wireless communication status;

sending a request for a transaction to a different device based upon the detecting step; and

transferring a user interaction related to the transaction to the different device.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the wireless communication status is related to radio frequency (RF) signals or electromagnetic (EM) fields.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the transaction is related to at least one of a contactless service, a wirelessly activated function, or a user application employing near-field communication (NFC) techniques that supports at least one of making financial payments, gaining public transportation access, user identification, user authentication, entertainment services, and personal or business activities.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the user interaction is related to at least one of providing inputs and receiving outputs in a visual, audible, and/or tactile manner.

19. A terminal to support a method of contactless service, the terminal comprising:

a secure element that supports contactless service;

an interface related to the secure element to support information exchange for the contactless service; and

a processor that cooperates with the secure element and the interface to transfer a user interaction for the contactless service to a different device when the terminal is in battery off mode or when the terminal has insufficient battery power.

20. The terminal of claim 19, wherein the secure element is at least one of a smart card, UICC, and a removable memory device that supports contactless service, and the processor is related to a contactless function module that supports contactless service.

21. The terminal of claim 20, wherein the interface supports at least one of wireless protocols and wired protocols that allow the information exchange for contactless service.

22. The terminal of claim 21, wherein the user interaction is related to at least one of providing inputs and receiving outputs in a visual, audible, and/or tactile manner for contactless service.

23. A contactless function processor to support a method of contactless service with user interaction, the entity comprising:

a first module to detect a wireless communication status based on radio frequency (RF) signals or electromagnetic (EM) fields;

a second module to receive a request for a transaction from a different device based upon the detection,

wherein the transaction is related to at least one of a contactless service, a wirelessly activated function, or a user application employing near-field communication (NFC) techniques that supports personal or business activities; and

a third module to process the transaction that requires a user interaction even if battery power is insufficient,

wherein the user interaction is related to at least one of providing inputs and receiving outputs in a visual, audible, and/or tactile manner.

24. The processor of claim 23, wherein the first, second, and third modules are implemented in a mobile terminal.