EMULATED RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION

• US 20130207777A1
• Filed: 01/25/2013
• Published: 08/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Varia Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: Varia Holdings LLC
• Inventors: Zatloukal, Peter, Engstrom, G. Eric, Smith, Cindy M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,405,947 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.61
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 1/01 electric
• 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: G06K 7/10366 the interrogation device being adapted for miscellaneous applications
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/77 for interrogation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7246 by connection of exchangeable housing parts

Abstract

A mobile communication device is equipped with hardware and/or software components to enable the device to output a data in a form of a radio frequency signal, emulating outputting of the data by either an active or a passive RFID transponder. The data may be a security key or an identifier. Emulation of an active RFID transponder includes facilitating selection of the data and instruction to output by a user. Emulation of a passive RFID transponder includes detecting for proximal presence of a RFID reader. Either case, provision of the data to the mobile communication device may include provision of associated signal attribute(s).

Claims

1-60. -60. (canceled)

61. A method for providing a radio frequency identification (RFID) from a mobile communication device capable of RFID communication and voice call communication, the method comprising:

receiving, by the mobile communication device, from an RFID reader external to the mobile device, an instruction to output first RFID transponder data in a format compatible with said RFID reader;

switching the mobile communication device from a first state to a second state upon reception of said instruction, the mobile communication device being configured to output voice call signals in the first state and to output the first RFID transponder data in the format compatible with said RFID reader in the second state; and

outputting, by the mobile communication device in the second state, the first RFID transponder data in the format compatible with said RFID reader.

62. The method of claim 61, wherein said mobile communication device comprises a first signal processing unit configured to process voice call signals and a second signal processing unit configured to process RFID signals, said switching comprising coupling the second signal processing unit to a transmission path.

63. The method of claim 61, wherein said first RFID transponder data comprises a selected one of a security key and an identifier.

64. The method of claim 63, wherein said security key comprises a selected one of a garage door key, an exterior door key, an interior door key, and a motor vehicle door key.

65. The method of claim 61, wherein said first RFID transponder data comprises an identifier, and said identifier comprises a selected one of a social security number, a driver'"'"'s license number, an affinity program account number, and a credit card number.

66. The method of claim 61, wherein the method further comprises facilitating the user in selecting the first RFID transponder data from a plurality of RFID transponder data using the mobile communication device.

67. The method of claim 61, wherein the method further comprises facilitating provision of the first RFID transponder data to the mobile communication device.

68. The method of claim 67, wherein said facilitating of the provisioning of the RFID transponder data to the mobile communication device includes facilitating provision of at least a signaling attribute associated with the outputting of the RFID transponder data in the format compatible with said RFID reader.

69. The method of claim 61, wherein the method further comprises:

monitoring for proximal presence of the RFID reader by the mobile communication device; and

on detection of the RFID reader by the mobile communication device, outputting, by the mobile communication device in the second state, the first RFID transponder data in the format compatible with said RFID reader, and

wherein the mobile communication device emulates an RFID transponder of a passive type.

70. The method of claim 69, wherein said monitoring comprises sensing for a probing radio frequency signal of the RFID reader by the mobile communication device.

71. The method of claim 69, wherein said sensing is performed at regular intervals.

72. The method of claim 61, wherein the mobile communication device is a selected one of a wireless mobile phone and a personal digital assistant equipped with communication capability.

73. A method for providing a radio frequency identification (RFID) from a mobile communication device capable of RFID communication and voice call communication, the method comprising:

monitoring for a proximal presence of a proximal RFID reader external to said mobile communication device by said mobile communication device, the mobile communication device having communication circuitry configured to output, in a first state, RFID transponder data in a format compatible with said RFID reader upon the mobile communication device determining the proximal presence of said RFID reader, and the communication circuitry being also configured to output, in a second state, a voice call signal for transmission at least in part over a wireless network; and

on detection of said RFID reader, outputting, by the transceiver, the RFID transponder data in a format compatible with said RFID reader as a radio frequency signal.

74. The method of claim 73, wherein said monitoring comprises sensing for a first probing signal from said RFID reader and sensing for a second probing signal from a different RFID reader.

75. The method of claim 73, wherein said data comprises a security key.

76. The method of claim 75, wherein said security key comprises a door key.

77. The method of claim 76, wherein said door key comprises a selected one of a garage door key, an exterior door key, an interior door key, and a motor vehicle door key.

78. The method of claim 73, wherein the method further comprises facilitating provision of the RFID transponder data to the mobile communication device.

79. The method of claim 78, wherein said facilitating of the provisioning of the RFID transponder data to the mobile communication device includes facilitating provision of at least a signaling attribute associated with the outputting of the RFID transponder data in the format employed by the RFID reader.

80. The method of claim 73, wherein the mobile communication device is one of a wireless mobile phone and a personal digital assistant equipped with communication capability.

81. A mobile communication device capable of RFID communication and voice call communication, the mobile communication device comprising:

communication circuitry configured to output voice call signals in a first radio frequency range and to output first RFID transponder data in a second radio frequency range;

a storage medium storing first data and instructions for the communication circuitry to;

monitor for proximal presence of one or more RFID readers external to the mobile communication device; and

output a voice call signal for transmission over a wireless network; and

output the first RFID transponder data as RFID transponder signals in a format employed by a proximal RFID reader, in response to detection by the mobile communication device of the proximal presence of the one or more RFID readers external to the mobile communication device.

82. The device of claim 81, wherein said first RFID transponder data comprises a selected one of a security key and an identifier.

83. The device of claim 82, wherein said first RFID transponder data comprises a security key, and said security key comprises a door key.

84. The device of claim 83, wherein said door key comprises a selected one of a garage door key, an exterior door key, an interior door key, and a motor vehicle door key.

85. The device of claim 82, wherein said first RFID transponder data comprises an identifier, and said identifier comprises a selected one of a social security number, a driver'"'"'s license number, an affinity program account number, and a credit card number.

86. The device of claim 81, wherein the instructions are further designed to facilitate the user in selecting the first RFID transponder data from a plurality of RFID transponder data.

87. The device of claim 81, wherein the instructions are further designed to facilitate provision of the first RFID transponder data to the mobile communication device.

88. The device of claim 87, wherein the instructions are further designed to include with said facilitating, provisioning of at least a signaling attribute associated with the outputting of the first RFID transponder data in the form of a radio frequency signal.

89. The device of claim 81, wherein the instructions are further designed to sense for a probing radio frequency signal of the RFID reader.

90. The device of claim 81, wherein the first data includes information identifying a user.

91. The device of claim 81, wherein the mobile communication device is one of a wireless mobile phone and a personal digital assistant equipped with communication capability.

92. A mobile communication device capable of radio frequency identifier RFD communication and voice call communication, the mobile communication device comprising:

communication circuitry configured to transmit a voice call signal in a first operational state and a RFID transponder signal in a second operational state;

a storage medium storing first data and instructions for the communication circuitry to selectively (a) monitor for proximal presence of a proximal RFID reader, and on detection of the proximal RFID reader, output RFID transponder data as an RFID signal in a format employed by the proximal RFID reader, and (b) transmit a voice call signal to another user of another communication device at least in part over a wireless network.

93. The device of claim 92, wherein said instructions are further designed to sense for a probing radio frequency signal of the proximal RFID reader.

94. The device of claim 92, wherein said RFID transponder data comprises a security key.

95. The device of claim 94, wherein said security key comprises a door key.

96. The device of claim 95, wherein said door key comprises a selected one of a garage door key, an exterior door key, an interior door key, and a motor vehicle door key.

97. The device of claim 92, wherein the instructions are further designed to facilitate provision of the RFID transponder data to the mobile communication device.

98. The device of claim 97, wherein the instructions are further designed to include with said facilitating, provisioning of at least a signaling attribute associated with the outputting of the RFID transponder data in the form of a radio frequency signal.

99. The device of claim 92, wherein the mobile communication device is one of a wireless mobile phone and a personal digital assistant equipped with communication capability.