PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND METHOD FOR ALTERNATE DATA CONVEYANCE OPERATIONS RESPONSIVE TO AN INVARIABLE ACTIVATION COMMAND

• US 20100038436A1
• Filed: 10/21/2009
• Published: 02/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DH International Ltd. (G. Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: G. Holdings Ltd.
• Inventors: Gaillard, Joël
• Granted Patent: US 9,022,294 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/492
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0022 arrangements or provisions for transferring data to distant stations, e.g. from a sensing device "transfer between computer elements G06F13/00 "; data-transmission H04L
• 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 19/07345 by activating or deactivating at least a part of the circuit on the record carrier, e.g. ON/OFF switches
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07354 by biometrically sensitive means, e.g. fingerprint sensitive fingerprint sensors in general G06V40/12; biometrically activated access control G07C9/25
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07703 the interface being visual
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07769 the further communication means being a galvanic interface, e.g. hybrid or mixed smart cards having a contact and a non-contact interface

Abstract

The portable electronic device includes an electronic circuit, a control device operatively linked to the electronic circuit, first and second data transceivers operatively linked to the electronic circuit, a cue receiver operatively linked to the electronic circuit, a data conveyance switching element operatively linked to the electronic circuit and capable of being in either one of a first and a second state, and power means for providing power to the portable electronic device. The method of data conveyance includes awaiting for an activation cue to be received at the cue receiver; if an activation cue is received at the cue receiver, assigning its first state to the switching element, while if no activation cue is received at the cue receiver, assigning its second state to the switching element; and selectively triggering the control device to issue an invariable activation command. Upon the control device being triggered, if the switching element is in its first state, first data will be forwarded to the first data transceiver for initiating a data exchange operation with a first external data exchange device; while if the switching element is in its second state, second data will be forwarded to the second data transceiver for initiating a data exchange operation with a second external data exchange device.

Claims

1. A portable electronic device, comprising:

an electronic circuit capable of storing data therein, capable of processing data, and capable of data input and output;

a control device operatively linked to said electronic circuit with an invariable activation command being issued when said control device is selectively triggered;

a first data transceiver operatively linked to said electronic circuit, said first data transceiver being for exchanging data between said electronic circuit and a first external data exchange device;

a second data transceiver operatively linked to said electronic circuit, said second data transceiver being for exchanging data between said electronic circuit and a second external data exchange device;

a cue receiver operatively linked to said electronic circuit for receiving an activation cue from a source external to said portable electronic device;

a data conveyance switching element operatively linked to said electronic circuit said switching element being assigned a first state upon an activation cue having been received by said cue receiver, and being assigned a second state when no activation cue was received by said cue receiver;

and

power means for providing power to said portable electronic device;

wherein upon said control device being selectively triggered to issue said invariable activation command;

if said switching element is in said first state, a first data conveyance operation will be initiated through the instrumentality of said first data transceiver for sending data from said electronic circuit to the first external data exchange device; and

if said switching element is in said second state, a second data conveyance operation will be initiated through the instrumentality of said second data transceiver for sending data from said electronic circuit to the second external data exchange device.

2. A portable electronic device as defined in claim 1, further comprising a display screen operatively linked to said electronic circuit.

3. A portable electronic device as defined in claim 1, wherein said first data transceiver includes said cue receiver.

4. A portable electronic device as defined in claim 1, wherein said control device is one of a manually activated button, a keypad for receiving a PIN code, a biometric parameter detector and a combination thereof.

5. A portable electronic device as defined in claim 1, wherein said electronic circuit includes said switching element.

6. A portable electronic device as defined in claim 5, wherein said electronic circuit comprises a microchip, and wherein said switching element is a series of instructions programmed onto said microchip.

7. A portable electronic device as defined in claim 1, wherein said switching element comprises a logical circuit.

8. A portable electronic device as defined in claim 1, wherein said first data transceiver comprises a proximity transceiver for accomplishing a wireless data exchange with a nearby first external data exchange device through a direct link.

9. A portable electronic device as defined in claim 1, wherein said second data transceiver comprises a communication network transceiver for wireless communication through a communication network with one of a remote portable electronic device, a remote server, a remote terminal and a combination thereof.

10. A portable electronic device comprising:

an electronic circuit capable of storing data therein, capable of processing data, and capable of data input and output;

a control device operatively linked to said electronic circuit, with an invariable activation command being issued when said control device is triggered;

first and second data conveyance operations programmed in said electronic circuit;

first and second data transceivers operatively linked to said electronic circuit;

a cue receiver operatively linked to said electronic circuit for receiving an activation cue from a source external to said portable electronic device; and

power means, for providing power to said portable electronic device;

wherein upon said control device being selectively triggered to issue said invariable activation command;

if an activation cue was received by said cue receiver, said electronic circuit will accomplish said first data conveyance operation to convey data from said electronic circuit to said first data transceiver for transmitting data through said first data transceiver; and

if no activation cue was received by said cite receiver, said electronic circuit will accomplish said second data conveyance operation to convey data from said electronic circuit to said second data transceiver for transmitting data through said second data transceiver.

11. A data exchange system comprising:

a first data exchange device;

a second data exchange device; and

a portable electronic device, comprising;

an electronic circuit capable of storing data therein, capable of processing data, and capable of data input and output;

a control device operatively linked to said electronic circuit, with an invariable activation command being issued when said control device is selectively triggered;

a first data transceiver operatively linked to said electronic circuit, said first data transceiver being for exchanging data between said electronic circuit and said first data exchange device through a direct link;

a second data transceiver operatively linked to said electronic circuit said second data transceiver being for exchanging data between said electronic circuit and said second data exchange device through a communication network;

a cue receiver operatively linked to said electronic circuit for receiving an activation cue from said first data exchange device;

a data conveyance switching element operatively linked to said electronic circuit, said switching element being assigned a first state upon an activation cue having been received by said cue receiver, and being assigned a second state when no activation cue was received by said cue receiver; and

power means for providing power to said portable electronic device;

wherein upon said control device being selectively triggered to issue said invariable activation command;

if said switching element is in said first state, a first data conveyance operation will be initiated through the instrumentality of said first data transceiver for exchanging data between said electronic circuit and the first external data exchange device;

if said switching element is in said second state, a second data conveyance operation will be initiated through the instrumentality of said second data transceiver for exchanging data between said electronic circuit and the second external data exchange device.

12. A method for data conveyance with a portable electronic device of the type comprising:

an electronic circuit capable of storing data therein, capable of processing data, and capable of data input and output, a control device operatively linked to said electronic circuit, first and second data transceivers operatively linked to said electronic circuit, a cue receiver operatively linked to said electronic circuit, a data conveyance switching element operatively linked to said electronic circuit and capable of being in either one of a first and a second state, and power means for providing power to said portable electronic device, said method comprising the steps of;

awaiting for an activation cue to be received at said cue receiver;

if an activation cue is received at said cue receiver, assigning said first state to said switching element, while if no activation cue is received at said cue receiver, assigning said second state to said switching element; and

selectively triggering said control device to issue an invariable activation command whereby;

if said switching element is in said first state, forwarding first data to said first data transceiver for initiating a data exchange operation with a first external data exchange device; and

if said switching element is in said second state, forwarding second data to said second data transceiver for initiating a data exchange operation with a second external data exchange device.

13. A method as defined in claim 12, further comprising the following step before the step forwarding first data to said first data transceiver for initiating a data exchange operation with a first external data exchange device:

forwarding third data to and displaying said third data on a display screen provided on said portable electronic device, wherein said third data is representative of the content of said first data.

14. A method as defined in claim 13, wherein after the step of forwarding said third data to the display screen, the method comprises the following step:

awaiting for an authorization command to be inputted through a user confirmation input device provided on said portable electronic device before forwarding said first data to said first data transceiver.

15. A method as defined in claim 14, further comprising the following steps before the step forwarding second data to said second data transceiver for initiating a data exchange operation with a second external data exchange device:

forwarding fourth data to and displaying said fourth data on said display screen, wherein said fourth data is representative of the content of said second data; and

awaiting for an authorization command to be inputted through said user confirmation input device before forwarding said second data to said second data transceiver.

16. A method as defined in claim 14, wherein said control device includes said user confirmation input device.

17. A method as defined in claim 12, wherein said first and second data are identical.

18. A method as defined in claim 12, wherein said first data transceiver is a proximity transceiver and the step of forwarding said first data to said first transceiver is for initiating a wireless data exchange operation with a proximate first external data exchange device through a direct link.

19. A method as defined in claim 12, wherein said second data transceiver is a communication network transceiver and the step of forwarding said second data to said second data transceiver is for initiating a wireless data conveyance operation is through a communication network with one of a remote portable electronic device, a remote server, a remote terminal and a combination thereof.

20. A method as defined in claim 12, wherein the step of selectively triggering said control device to issue an invariable activation command comprises selectively triggering one of a manually activated button, a keypad for receiving a PIN code, a biometric parameter detector and a combination thereof.