Mobile terminal apparatus using a communication protocol capable of flexible communication between non-contact communication means and internal control means

• US 7,184,706 B2
• Filed: 09/24/2004
• Issued: 02/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications Japan Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Imai, Atsushi, Someya, Takahisa, Imai, Hideaki, Takahashi, Hidehiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Kincaid; Lester G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Figueroa; Marisol
• Application Number:
  US10/948,148
• Publication Number:
  US 20050108317A1
• Time in Patent Office: 886 Days
• Field of Search: 455/558, 455/552.1, 455 412- 413, 455/550.1, 235/514
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• 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: G06Q 20/341 Active cards, i.e. cards including their own processing means, e.g. including an IC or chip
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/357 Cards having a plurality of specified features
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72406 by software upgrading or downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces

Abstract

At a mobile terminal apparatus provided with a non-contact IC, flexible communication is carried out between the external reader/writer , non-contact IC and the internal application manager controller, and a program designated in the form of a push from the external reader/writer is activated and executed in a smooth manner at the mobile terminal apparatus. Normally, the non-contact IC cannot communicate with the application manager controller during communication with the external reader/writer, and cannot communicate with the external reader/writer during communication with the application manager controller. A specific command is transmitted from the external reader/writer together with information specifying a prescribed application during communication between the external reader/writer and the non-contact IC. When the specific command is received, the non-contact IC shifts to a communication state enabling communication with the application manager controller. The application manager controller captures and executes information specifying the application at the timing of the transition.

Claims

1. A mobile terminal apparatus, comprising:

internal control means for controlling execution of prescribed applications; and

non-contact communication means equipped with a first communication state for carrying out non-contact communication with an external communication apparatus over short distances and a second communication state for carrying out communication with said internal control means, for carrying out communication with said external communication apparatus or said internal control means by changing communication state between said first communication state and said second communication state;

said non-contact communication means having

(a) receiving means for receiving at least interrupt information and execution application information indicating the application to be executed transmitted from said external communication apparatus using said non-contact communication in said first communication state,

(b) notification means for giving a notification to said internal control means when said interrupt information is received by said receiving means, and

(c) communication state changing means for changing said first communication state into said second communication state when said interrupt information is received by said receiving means,

wherein said internal control means carries out communication with said non-contact communication means in the second communication state which is changed by said communication state changing means, takes in said execution application information received by said receiving means, and controls so as to execute applications corresponding to said taken-in execution application information received by said receiving means when said notification is given by said notification means of said non-contact communication means, and

wherein said non-contact communication means receives a communication termination information transmitted from said external communication apparatus by said receiving means when said internal control means completes said take-in of said execution application information in said second communication state, and said communication state changing means changes said second communication state into said first communication at receiving said communication termination information.

2. The mobile terminal apparatus according to claim 1,

said non-contact communication means further having a non-volatile memory means for storing said execution application information;

wherein said non-contact communication means stores said execution application information transmitted form said external communication apparatus to said non-volatile memory means when said receiving means of said non-contact communication means receives said execution application information, and

said internal control means takes in said execution application information stored in said non-volatile memory means when said notification is given by said notification means of said non-contact communication means, and controls said memory means so as to erase said execution application information after said take-in.

3. A mobile terminal apparatus, comprising:

internal control means for controlling execution of prescribed applications; and

non-contact communication means equipped with a fast communication state for carrying out non-contact communication with an external communication apparatus over short distances and a second communication state for carrying out communication with said internal control means, for carrying out communication with said external communication apparatus or said internal control means by changing communication state between said first communication state and said second communication state;

said non-contact communication means having

(a) receiving means for receiving at least interrupt information and execution application information indicating the application to be executed transmitted from said external communication apparatus using said non-contact communication in said first communication state,

(b) notification means for giving a notification to said internal control means when said interrupt information is received by said receiving means,

(c) communication state changing means for changing said fast communication state into said second communication state when, said interrupt information is received by said receiving means, and

(d) a non-volatile memory means for storing said execution application information,

wherein said internal control means carries out communication with said non-contact communication means in the second communication state which is changed by said communication state changing means, takes in said execution application information received by said receiving means, and controls so as to execute applications corresponding to said taken-in execution application information received by said receiving means when said notification is given by said notification means of said non-contact communication means,

wherein said non-contact communication means stores said execution application information transmitted form said external communication apparatus to said non-volatile memory means when said receiving means of said non-contact communication means receives said execution application information, and

said internal control means takes in said execution application information stored in said non-volatile memory means when said notification is given by said notification means of said non-contact communication means, and controls said non-volatile memory means so as to erase said execution application information after said take-in.

4. A mobile terminal apparatus, comprising:

internal control means for controlling execution of prescribed applications; and

non-contact communication means equipped with a first communication state for carrying out non-contact communication with an external communication apparatus over short distances and a second communication state for carrying out communication with said internal control means, for carrying out communication with said external communication apparatus or said internal control means by changing communication state between said first communication state and said second communication state, said non-contact communication means having;

(a) communication detecting means for detecting that communication with said external communication apparatus is commenced when the level of electromagnetic waves from said external communication apparatus becomes more than a prescribed level, and detecting that communication with said external communication apparatus is terminated when the level of electromagnetic waves from said external communication apparatus becomes less than a prescribed level,

(b) communication state changing means for changing a communication state of said non-contact communication means to said first communication state when said communication detecting means detects that communication with said external communication apparatus is commenced, and changing a communication state of said non-contact communication means to said second communication state when said communication detecting means detects that communication with said external communication apparatus is terminated, and

(c) receiving means for receiving an execution application information indicating the application to be executed transmitted from said external communication apparatus using said non-contact communication in said first communication state;

wherein said internal control means takes in said execution application information received by said receiving means, and controls so as to execute applications corresponding to said taken-in execution application information, when said communication detecting means detects that communication with said external communication apparatus is terminated and said communication state changing means changes the communication state of said non-contact communication means to said second communication state.

5. The mobile terminal apparatus according to claim 4,

said non-contact communication means further having a non-volatile memory means for storing an execution application information;

wherein said non-contact communication means stores said execution application information transmitted form said external communication apparatus to said non-volatile memory means when said receiving means of said non-contact communication means receives said execution application information, and

said internal control means takes in said execution application information stored in said non-volatile memory means when said communication detecting means detects that communication with said external communication apparatus is terminated and said communication state changing means changes the communication state of said non-contact communication means to said second communication state, and controls said memory means so as to erase said execution application information after said take-in.

6. A mobile terminal apparatus, comprising:

internal controller which controls execution of prescribed applications; and

non-contact communication IC equipped with a first communication state for carrying out non-contact communication with an external communication apparatus over short distances and a second communication state for carrying out communication with said internal controller, for carrying out communication with said external communication apparatus or said internal controller by changing communication state between said first communication state and said second communication state, said non-contact communication IC having;

(a) radio frequency unit which receives at least interrupt information and execution application information indicating the application to be executed transmitted from said external communication apparatus using said non-contact communication in said first communication state,

(b) notification terminal which gives a notification to said internal controller when said interrupt information is received by said radio frequency unit, and

(c) control unit which changes said first communication state to said second communication state when said interrupt information is received by said radio frequency unit;

wherein said internal controller carries out communication with said non-contact communication IC in the second communication state which is changed by said control unit, takes in said execution application information received by said radio frequency unit, and controls so as to execute applications corresponding to said taken-in execution application information received by said radio frequency unit when said notification is given by said notification terminal of said non-contact communication IC, and

said non-contact communication IC receives a communication termination information transmitted from said external communication apparatus by said radio frequency unit when said internal controller completes said take-in of said execution application information in said second communication state, and said control unit changes said second communication state into said first communication at receiving said communication termination information.

7. The mobile terminal apparatus according to claim 6,

said non-contact communication IC further having a non-volatile memory for storing said execution application information;

wherein said non-contact communication IC stores said execution application information transmitted form said external communication apparatus to said non-volatile memory when said radio frequency unit of said non-contact communication IC receives said execution application information, and

said internal controller takes in said execution application information stored in said non-volatile memory when said notification is given by said notification terminal of said non-contact communication IC, and controls said memory so as to erase said execution application information after said take-in.

8. A mobile terminal apparatus, comprising:

internal controller which controls execution of prescribed applications; and

non-contact communication IC equipped with a first communication state for carrying out non-contact communication with an external communication apparatus over short distances and a second communication state for carrying out communication with said internal controller, for carrying out communication with said external communication apparatus or said internal controller by changing communication state between said first communication state and said second communication state, said non-contact communication IC having;

(a) radio frequency unit which receives at least interrupt information and execution application information indicating the application to be executed transmitted from said external communication apparatus using said non-contact communication in said first communication state,

(b) notification terminal which gives a notification to said internal controller when said interrupt information is received by said radio frequency unit,

(c) control unit which changes said first communication state to said second communication state when said interrupt information is received by said radio frequency unit, and

(d) a non-volatile memory which stores said execution application information,

wherein said internal controller carries out communication with said non-contact communication IC in the second communication state which is changed by said control unit, takes in said execution application information received by said radio frequency unit, and controls so as to execute applications corresponding to said taken-in execution application information received by said radio frequency unit when said notification is given by said notification terminal of said non-contact communication IC,

said non-contact communication IC stores said execution application information transmitted form said external communication apparatus to said non-volatile memory when said radio frequency unit of said non-contact communication IC receives said execution application information, and

said internal controller takes in said execution application information stored in said non-volatile memory when said notification is given by said notification terminal of said non-contact communication IC, and controls said memory so as to erase said execution application information after said take-in.