APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE BELL SOUND, THE CAMERA, AND THE COMMUNICATION FUNCTION OF A MOBILE PHONE VIA AN NFC CHIP MODULE AND AN EXTERNAL RF READER

• US 20110250839A1
• Filed: 12/16/2009
• Published: 10/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AQ Company Limited
• Original Assignee: AQ Company Limited
• Inventors: Lee, Sang Hoon
• Granted Patent: US 8,761,665 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3816 Mechanical arrangements for accommodating identification devices, e.g. cards or chips; with connectors for programming identification devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/48 Transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0202 Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. of speakers or microphones H04M1/03
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/04 including near field communication means, e.g. RFID
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/14 including a card reading device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/52 including functional features of a camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/02 Access restriction performed under specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/22 Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

Disclosed herein is an apparatus for controlling the ringtone, camera, and communication functions of a mobile terminal using a Near Field Communication (NFC) chip module and an external Radio Frequency (RF) reader. The apparatus includes an NFC chip module, a base band chip, and a USIM card. The NFC chip module is electrically connected to the base band chip of a mobile terminal, allows a command data signal, received from an external RF reader via an RF antenna, to be transmitted to the base band chip or a Universal Subscriber Identity Module (USIM) card of the mobile terminal, and receives the result of terminal processing of the base band chip which operates in compliance with an external command, and transmits the result of the terminal processing to the external RF reader via the RF antenna.

Claims

1. An apparatus for controlling ringtone, camera, and communication functions of a mobile terminal using a Near Field Communication (NFC) chip module and an external Radio Frequency (RF) reader, the apparatus comprising:

an NFC chip module electrically connected to a base band chip provided in a mobile terminal, configured to perform selection such that a command data signal, received from an external RF reader via an RF antenna, is transmitted to the base band chip or a Universal Subscriber Identity Module (USIM) card of the mobile terminal, and configured to receive a result of terminal processing of the base band chip which operates in compliance with the command data signal received from the external RF reader, and configured to transmit a result of the terminal processing to the external RF reader via the RF antenna;

the base band chip electrically connected to the NFC chip module, configured to receive the command data signal from the external RF reader, configured to change a main operation mode of the mobile terminal in accordance with a set mode of the external RF reader in compliance with the command data signal received from the external RF reader, and configured to transmit the result of the terminal processing of the mobile terminal, obtained through conversion, to the NFC chip module; and

the USIM card electrically connected to the base band chip and the NFC chip module, configured to perform at least one of network authentication, electronic commerce, and a global roaming communication service, and configured, when a communication connection signal of the NFC chip module is received, to receive an RF-related command including an Single Wired Protocol (SWP) and process the RF-related command in compliance with the command data signal received from the external RF reader.

2. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the NFC chip module comprises:

the RF antenna for performing an RF (contactless) reader function or a tag function depending on the contactless-type external RF reader, receiving the command data signal, transmitting the command data signal to a tuning unit, and transmitting a response data signal from an NFC main chip to the external RF reader;

a tag circuit unit for amplifying the command data signal tagged and received via the RF antenna, transmitting the amplified command data signal to the NFC main chip, modulating response data transmitted from the NFC main chip, and transmitting the modulated response data to the RF antenna;

a receiver circuit unit for filtering and amplifying the command data signal received by the RF (contactless) reader via the RF antenna, demodulating the amplified command data signal into a digital signal, and then transmitting the demodulated command data signal to the NFC main chip;

the NFC main chip for performing control such that the command data signal, received from the external RF reader through the tag circuit unit or the receiver circuit unit, is selected to be transmitted to the base band chip or the USIM card, and a terminal processing response data signal of the base band chip which operates in compliance with the command data signal received from the external RF reader is received and then transmitted to the external RF reader via the RF antenna; and

a Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter (UART) host interface unit for transmitting the terminal processing response data signal of the base band chip which operates in compliance with the external command data signal received from the external RF reader to the NFC main chip.

3. The apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein the RF antenna is formed of an integrated-type dual antenna structure in which an initiator antenna and a tag antenna are integrated in a stacked structure.

4. The apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein the NFC main chip is connected to the base band chip of the mobile terminal through the UART host interface unit, configured to receive the terminal processing response data signal of the base band chip which operates in compliance with the command data signal received from the external RF reader, configured to connect the receiver circuit unit to a receiver input terminal, configured to receive the command data signal of an external RF terminal which was received through the receiver circuit unit, configured to include an internal reference voltage terminal connected to a power unit of the receiver circuit unit in order to transmit internal reference voltage to the receiver circuit unit, configured to include two transmitter terminals which are connected to the tag circuit unit in order to output 13.56 MHz to the tag circuit unit, configured to perform matching on the external RF terminal in order to receive the command data signal from the external RF terminal, configured to include an interrupt request terminal which is connected to an input terminal of the base band chip of the mobile terminal, configured to transmit an interrupt event signal to the base band chip of the mobile terminal, configured to transmit the command data signal from the external RF terminal, configured to include a NOT reset•

power down terminal which is connected to an output terminal of the base band chip of the mobile terminal, configured to switch off internal current connection when a low signal is received from the base band chip, configured to stop a drive of an oscillator, and configured to block connection between the external RF reader and the receiver input terminal and connection between the external RF reader and the two transmitter terminals.

5. The apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein the NFC main chip comprises a communication interface input terminal and a communication interface output terminal which are connected to the USIM card using SWP, and transmits the command data signal from the external RF reader via the RF antenna, so that the command data signal from the external RF reader is transmitted to the base band chip while network authentication, electronic commerce, and/or a global roaming communication service are performed using the USIM card.

11. The automatic transmission system of claim 1, wherein the mobile terminal is a mobile phone.

6. A method for controlling a function of a mobile terminal using a Near Field Communication (NFC) chip module and an external Radio Frequency (RF) reader, the method comprising:

setting a command data signal used to set/release a specific function mode of the mobile terminal in the external RF reader;

tagging the mobile terminal in which an NFC chip module is provided with the external RF reader, and transmitting the command data signal received from the external RF reader by the NFC chip module to a base band chip;

performing, in the base band chip, conversion of an operation mode of the mobile terminal along a camera function restriction mode of the external RF reader in response to the command data signal received from the NFC main chip, displaying a result of terminal processing of the mobile terminal on the display of the mobile terminal in the form of information, and transmitting the result to the NFC chip module; and

receiving in the NFC chip module the result of the terminal processing of the base band chip which operates in compliance with the command data signal, and transmitting the result of the terminal processing to the external RF reader.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the function is at least one selected from the group consisting of a ringtone function, a camera function and a communication function.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the operation mode of the mobile terminal is set as or released from a silent ringtone mode after performing the conversion.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the operation mode of the mobile terminal is set as or released from a camera function restriction mode after performing the conversion.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the operation mode of the mobile terminal is set as or released from a communication zone grouping mode after performing the conversion.

12. An apparatus for controlling ringtone, camera, and communication functions of a mobile terminal using a Near Field Communication (NFC) chip module and an external Radio Frequency (RF) reader, the apparatus comprising:

an NFC chip module electrically connected to a base band chip provided in a mobile terminal, configured to perform selection such that a command data signal, received from an external RF reader via an RF antenna, is transmitted to the base band chip or a Universal Subscriber Identity Module (USIM) card of the mobile terminal, and configured to receive a result of terminal processing of the base band chip which operates in compliance with the command data signal received from the external RF reader, and configured to transmit a result of the terminal processing to the external RF reader via the RF antenna, the NFC chip module comprises;

the RF antenna for performing an RF (contactless) reader function or a tag function depending on the contactless-type external RF reader, receiving the command data signal, transmitting the command data signal to a tuning unit, and transmitting a response data signal from an NFC main chip to the external RF reader;

a tag circuit unit for amplifying the command data signal tagged and received via the RF antenna, transmitting the amplified command data signal to the NFC main chip, modulating response data transmitted from the NFC main chip, and transmitting the modulated response data to the RF antenna;

a receiver circuit unit for filtering and amplifying the command data signal received by the RF (contactless) reader via the RF antenna, demodulating the amplified command data signal into a digital signal, and then transmitting the demodulated command data signal to the NFC main chip;

the NFC main chip for performing control such that the command data signal, received from the external RF reader through the tag circuit unit or the receiver circuit unit, is selected to be transmitted to the base band chip or the USIM card, and a terminal processing response data signal of the base band chip which operates in compliance with the command data signal received from the external RF reader is received and then transmitted to the external RF reader via the RF antenna, the NFC main chip connected to the base band chip of the mobile terminal through the UART host interface unit, configured to receive the terminal processing response data signal of the base band chip which operates in compliance with the command data signal received from the external RF reader, configured to connect the receiver circuit unit to a receiver input terminal, configured to receive the command data signal of an external RF terminal which was received through the receiver circuit unit, configured to include an internal reference voltage terminal connected to a power unit of the receiver circuit unit in order to transmit internal reference voltage to the receiver circuit unit, configured to include two transmitter terminals which are connected to the tag circuit unit in order to output 13.56 MHz to the tag circuit unit, configured to perform matching on the external RF terminal in order to receive the command data signal from the external RF terminal, configured to include an interrupt request terminal which is connected to an input terminal of the base band chip of the mobile terminal, configured to transmit an interrupt event signal to the base band chip of the mobile terminal, configured to transmit the command data signal from the external RF terminal, configured to include a NOT reset•

power down terminal which is connected to an output terminal of the base band chip of the mobile terminal, configured to switch off internal current connection when a low signal is received from the base band chip, configured to stop a drive of an oscillator, and configured to block connection between the external RF reader and the receiver input terminal and connection between the external RF reader and the two transmitter terminals; and

a Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter (UART) host interface unit for transmitting the terminal processing response data signal of the base band chip which operates in compliance with the command data signal received from the external RF reader to the NFC main chip;

the base band chip electrically connected to the NFC chip module, configured to receive the command data signal from the external RF reader, configured to change a main operation mode of the mobile terminal in accordance with a set mode of the external RF reader in compliance with the command data signal received from the external RF reader, and configured to transmit the result of the terminal processing of the mobile terminal, obtained through conversion, to the NFC chip module; and

the USIM card electrically connected to the base band chip and the NFC chip module, configured to perform at least one of network authentication, electronic commerce, and a global roaming communication service, and configured, when a communication connection signal of the NFC chip module is received, to receive an RF-related command including an Single Wired Protocol (SWP) and process the RF-related command in compliance with the command data signal received from the external RF reader.

13. The apparatus as set forth in claim 12, wherein the NFC main chip comprises a communication interface input terminal and a communication interface output terminal which are connected to the USIM card using SWP, and transmits the command data signal from the external RF reader via the RF antenna, so that the command data signal from the external RF reader is transmitted to the base band chip while network authentication, electronic commerce, and/or a global roaming communication service are performed using the USIM card.