NEAR FIELD COMMUNICATION (NFC) METHOD, APPARATUS, AND SYSTEM EMPLOYING A WIRELESS-COMMUNICATIONS CAPABLE COMPUTING DEVICE

• US 20150065044A1
• Filed: 11/04/2014
• Published: 03/05/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Syndefense
• Original Assignee: Robin Dua
• Inventors: DUA, Robin
• Granted Patent: US 9,231,664 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/44 Browsing; Visualisation therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3278 RFID or NFC payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/48 Transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/77 for interrogation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2809 indicating that an appliance service is present in a home automation network monitoring functionality H04L43/0817; discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services, H04L67/51
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/281 indicating a format for calling an appliance service function in a home automation network for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2816 Controlling appliance services of a home automation network by calling their functionalities arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station; in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom H04Q9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/282 based on user interaction within the home receiver circuitry for displaying additional information being controlled by a remote control apparatus H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1068 Discovery involving direct consultation or announcement among potential requesting and potential source peers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0264 for a camera module assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0266 for a display module assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/60 Subscription-based services using application servers or record carriers, e.g. SIM application toolkits
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/70 Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC]
• 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 76/14 : Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 : Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• 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

Cellular-capable computing device and a related system and methodology are disclosed. The computing device includes a touch screen display, one or more processors, a memory device, and a first near field communication (NFC) module and first NFC antenna configured to be communicatively coupled to a second NFC module and second NFC antenna of an electronic device. The computing device includes a wireless transceiver configured to communicate with the at least one electronic device based on a predetermined wireless communications protocol. The memory device stores one or more applications configured to be executed by the one or more processors, and the computing device is configured to transmit to the at least one electronic device a representation of one or more electronic credentials stored in the at least one memory device based on the first NFC antenna being within a radio frequency (RF) field of the second NFC antenna.

Claims

1. A computing device, comprising:

a touch screen display;

one or more processors;

at least one memory device;

a first near field communication (NFC) module and first NFC antenna configured to be communicatively coupled to a second NFC module and second NFC antenna of at least one electronic device; and

a wireless transceiver configured to communicate with the at least one electronic device based on a predetermined wireless communications protocol;

wherein the at least one memory device stores one or more applications configured to be executed by the one or more processors, and

wherein the computing device is configured to transmit to the at least one electronic device a representation of one or more electronic credentials stored in the at least one memory device based on the first NFC antenna being within a radio frequency (RF) field of the second NFC antenna.

2. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the first NFC module operates as a NFC tag.

3. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the first NFC module operates as a NFC reader.

4. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the at least one memory device includes a first memory device external to the first NFC module and accessible by the one or more processors, and a second memory device in the first NFC module, the one or more electronic credentials being stored in at least one of the first memory device and the second memory device.

5. The computing device of claim 4, wherein the one or more electronic credentials are stored in the second memory device, and the second memory device is a tamper-resistant memory device.

6. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the one or more electronic credentials include at least one of a payment card and an electronic key.

7. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the at least one memory device includes a secure memory device such that access to the secure memory device is limited to one or more predetermined applications.

8. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the first NFC module is compatible with RF 13.56 MHz NFC devices.

9. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the first NFC module is compatible with one or more international standards, including ISO 14443 NB, ISO 15693, FELICA, and NFC.

10. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the first NFC module includes a NFC controller configured to manage all communication between a central processing unit (CPU) of the computing device and the first NFC module.

11. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the NFC controller is configured to transmit to the CPU of the computing device a notification regarding a success or failure of a communication operation between the first NFC module and the at least one electronic device to which the first NFC module is coupled via a NFC communication link.

12. The computing device of claim 11, wherein the one or more processors are configured to control at least one of the touch screen display and a speaker to generate a notification signal corresponding to the success or failure of the communication operation.

13. The computing device of claim 1, wherein an application program interface (API) supports communication between one or more applications and the electronic device via the first NFC module and the first NFC antenna.

14. The computing device of claim 13, wherein the applications include at least one wallet application for transmitting the representation of the one or more electronic credentials stored in the at least one memory device to the at least one electronic device.

15. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the first NFC module is configured to receive an interrogation signal from the at least one electronic device and to transmit the representation of the one or more electronic credentials to the at least one electronic device based on receiving the interrogation signal.

16. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the computing device is configured to transmit a representation of a payment credential stored in the at least one memory device, in connection with a financial transaction, to an e-commerce system via at least one of the wireless transceiver and a network transceiver configured to communicate with a cellular communications network.

17. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the computing device is configured to launch at least one of the applications based on a data exchange between the first NFC module and the at least one electronic device to which the first NFC module is coupled via a NFC communication link.

18. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the first NFC module is configured to exchange one or both of device data and communication settings with the at least one electronic device, and

the computing device is configured to automatically set up a wireless network connection for communicating via the wireless transceiver based on the exchange of one or both of the device data and communication settings.

19. The computing device of claim 1, further comprising:

a biometric characteristic reader for reading a biometric characteristic of a user,

wherein the computing device is configured to permit one or more operations of the computing device based on comparing the biometric characteristic of the user with pre-stored biometric information.

20. The computing device of claim 1, further comprising a network transceiver configured to initiate and receive voice and data transmissions via a cellular communications network.

21. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the wireless transceiver is configured to communicate with the at least one electronic device via one or both of a Bluetooth access point and a WiFi access point.

22. The computing device of claim 1, further comprising at least one of a microphone, a camera, and an audio port for connecting an audio output device.

23. A method, comprising:

storing in at least one memory device of a computing device one or more applications configured to be executed by one or more processors of the computing device, the computing device including a touch screen display, a first near field communication (NFC) module and a first NFC antenna configured to be communicatively coupled to a second NFC module and second NFC antenna of at least one electronic device, and a wireless transceiver for communicating wirelessly according to a predetermined wireless protocol; and

transmitting to the at least one electronic device a representation of one or more electronic credentials stored in the at least one memory device based on the first NFC antenna being within a radio frequency (RF) field of the second NFC antenna.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the first NFC module operates as a NFC tag.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the first NFC module operates as a NFC reader.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein the at least one memory device includes a first memory device accessible by the one or more processors, and a second memory device in the first NFC module, and the one or more electronic credentials are stored in at least one of the first memory device and the second memory device.

27. The method of claim 23, wherein the one or more electronic credentials are stored in the second memory device, and the second memory device is a tamper-resistant memory device.

28. The method of claim 23, wherein the one or more electronic credentials include at least one of a payment card and an electronic key.

29. The method of claim 23, wherein the at least one memory device includes a secure memory device such that access to the secure memory device is limited to one or more predetermined applications.

30. The method of claim 23, wherein the first NFC module is compatible with RF 13.56 MHz NFC devices.

31. The method of claim 23, wherein the first NFC module is compatible with one or more international standards, including ISO 14443 NB, ISO 15693, FELICA, and NFC.

32. The method of claim 23, wherein the first NFC module includes a first NFC controller configured to manage all communication between a central processing unit (CPU) of the computing device and the first NFC module.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

transmitting, by the first NFC controller to the CPU of the computing device, a notification regarding a success or failure of a communication operation between the first NFC module and the at least one electronic device.

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising:

generating, by at least one of the touch screen display and a speaker, a notification signal corresponding to the success or failure of the communication operation.

35. The method of claim 23, wherein an application program interface (API) supports communication between one or more applications and the at least one electronic device via the first NFC module and the first NFC antenna of the computing device.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the applications include at least one wallet application for transmitting the representation of the one or more electronic credentials stored in the at least one memory device to the at least one electronic device.

37. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

receiving, by the first NFC module, an interrogation signal from the at least one electronic device; and

transmitting, by the first NFC module, the representation of the one or more electronic credentials to the at least one electronic device based on receiving the interrogation signal.

38. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

transmitting a payment credential stored in the at least one memory device, in connection with a financial transaction, to an e-commerce system via at least one of the wireless transceiver and a network transceiver configured to communicate via a cellular communications network.

39. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

launching at least one of the applications based on a data exchange between the first NFC module and the at least one electronic device.

40. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

exchanging, by the first NFC module, one or both of device data and communication settings with the at least one electronic device; and

automatically setting up a wireless network connection to communicate via the wireless transceiver based on the exchange of one or both of the device data and the communication settings.

41. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

detecting, by a biometric reader, a biometric characteristic of a user; and

permitting one or more operations of the computing device based on comparing the biometric characteristic of the user with pre-stored biometric information.

42. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

performing, by a network transceiver of the computing device, one or both of initiating and receiving voice and data transmissions via a cellular communications network.

43. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

communicating, by the wireless transceiver, with the at least one electronic device via one or both of a Bluetooth access point and a WiFi access point.

44. The method of claim 23, further comprising at least one of a microphone, a camera, and an audio port for connecting an audio output device.

45. A computing system, comprising:

a portable computing device including a touch screen display, one or more processors, at least one memory device, a first NFC module and a first NFC antenna, and a wireless transceiver configured to communicate according to a predetermined wireless protocol; and

an electronic device including a second near field communication (NFC) module and a second NFC antenna,

wherein the first NFC module and the first NFC antenna are configured to communicate with the second NFC module and second NFC antenna of the electronic device,

wherein the at least one memory device stores one or more applications configured to be executed by the one or more processors, and

wherein the portable computing device is configured to transmit to the electronic device a representation of one or more electronic credentials stored in the at least one memory device based on the first NFC antenna of the portable computing device being within a radio frequency (RF) field of the second NFC antenna of the electronic device.

46. The computing system of claim 45, wherein the first NFC module operates as a NFC tag and the second NFC module operates as a NFC reader.

47. The computing system of claim 45, wherein the first NFC module of the portable computing device operates as a NFC reader.

48. The computing system of claim 45, wherein the at least one memory device includes a first memory device accessible by the one or more processors, and a second memory device in the first NFC module, and the one or more electronic credentials are stored in one of the first memory device and the second memory device.

49. The computing system of claim 45, wherein the one or more electronic credentials are stored in the second memory device, and the second memory device is a tamper-resistant memory device.

50. The computing system of claim 45, wherein the one or more electronic credentials include at least one of a payment card and an electronic key.

51. The computing system of claim 45, wherein the at least one memory device includes a secure memory device such that access to the secure memory device is limited to one or more predetermined applications.

52. The computing system of claim 45, wherein the first NFC module is compatible with RF 13.56 MHz NFC devices.

53. The computing system of claim 45, wherein the first NFC module is compatible with one or more international standards, including ISO 14443 NB, ISO 15693, FELICA, and NFC.

54. The computing system of claim 45, wherein the first NFC module includes a NFC controller configured to manage all communication between a central processing unit (CPU) of the portable computing device and the first NFC module.

55. The computing system of claim 45, wherein the NFC controller is configured to transmit to the CPU of the portable computing device a notification regarding a success or failure of a communication operation between the first NFC module of the portable computing device and the electronic device to which the first NFC module is coupled via a NFC communication link.

56. The computing system of claim 55, wherein the one or more processors are configured to control at least one of the touch screen display and a speaker to generate a notification signal corresponding to the success or failure of the communication operation.

57. The computing system of claim 45, wherein an application program interface (API) supports communication between one or more applications and the electronic device via the first NFC module the first NFC antenna of the portable computing device.

58. The computing system of claim 57, wherein the applications include at least one wallet application for transmitting the representation of the one or more electronic credentials stored in the at least one memory device to the at least one electronic device.

59. The computing system of claim 45, wherein the first NFC module is configured to receive an interrogation signal from the electronic device and to transmit the representation of the one or more electronic credentials to the electronic device based on receiving the interrogation signal.

60. The computing system of claim 45, wherein the portable computing device is configured to transmit a representation of a payment credential stored in at the least one memory device, in connection with a financial transaction, to an e-commerce system via at least one of the wireless transceiver and a network transceiver configured to communicate via a cellular communications network.

61. The computing system of claim 45, wherein the portable computing device is configured to launch at least one of the applications based on a data exchange between the first NFC module of the portable computing device and the electronic device to which the first NFC module of the portable computing device is coupled via a NFC communication link.

62. The computing system of claim 45, wherein the first NFC module is configured to exchange one or both of device data and communication settings with the electronic device, and

the portable computing device is configured to automatically set up a wireless network connection to communicate via the wireless transceiver based on the exchange of the one or both of the device data and communication settings.

63. The computing system of claim 45, wherein the portable computing device further comprises:

a biometric characteristic reader for reading a biometric characteristic of a user,

wherein the portable computing device is configured to permit one or more operations of the portable computing device based on comparing the biometric characteristic of the user with pre-stored biometric information.

64. The computing system of claim 45, wherein a network transceiver configured to initiate and receive voice and data transmissions via a cellular communications network.

65. The computing system of claim 45, wherein the wireless transceiver is configured to communicate with the electronic device via one or both of a Bluetooth access point and a WiFi access point.

66. The computing system of claim 45, further comprising at least one of a microphone, a camera, and an audio port for connecting an audio output device.