Apparatus, system, method and computer program product for implementing an automatic identification system with a personal communication system to improve functionality

• US 7,474,196 B2
• Filed: 08/26/2005
• Issued: 01/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Wakim, Peter Anthony, Vesikivi, Petri, Ranta, Sami
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass; Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): LAI, ANNE VIET NGA
• Application Number:
  US11/211,702
• Publication Number:
  US 20060043201A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,229 Days
• Field of Search: 340/10.1, 340/10.3, 340/10.4, 340/10.5, 340/572.1, 340/572.4, 455/41.1, 455/41.2, 345/169, 345/172, 434/322, 434/335, 434/336, 235/375, 235/380, 235/382, 235/385, 235/492
• US Class Current: 340/10.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27453 Directories allowing storage of additional subscriber data, e.g. metadata
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/275 implemented by means of portable electronic directories
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/205 Transfer to or from user equipment or user record carrier

Abstract

An apparatus, system, method and computer program product for implementing an automatic identification system to improve the functionality of a personal communication device. A data carrier that contains one or more data items transmits a data signal wirelessly to a personal communication device equipped with an RFID reader. The personal communication device decodes the data signal and at least a portion of the data is used by the personal communication device to establish a communication connection with another device or network. The data subsequently transmitted by the personal communication device is accomplished using GSM, GPRS, WAP, EDGE, UMTS or other similar wireless network protocol. The communication connection is used to provide a request for a service such as a phone call, an Internet connection, a third party service, or to request for the storage of data in a network.

Claims

1. A data carrier, comprising:

a data carrier having a plurality of RFID transponders, each of said RFID transponders being associated with a respective one of a corresponding plurality of different data fields, each data field containing distinctive contact information related to user selectable options for contacting a third party identified by the data carrier;

an additional RFID transponder on said data carrier associated with an additional data field containing information identifying said data carrier and the number of said plurality of different data fields;

wherein the data content of said plurality of RFID transponders is at least partly retrievable by a user for later use.

2. The data carrier of claim 1, wherein at least one of said plurality of data fields contains machine-readable data or textual data, and the remaining said plurality minus one data fields contain said distinctive contact information.

3. The data carrier of claim 1, wherein at least one of said plurality of data fields contains graphical data.

4. The data carrier of claim 3, wherein said graphical data is a drawing, an image or a photograph.

5. The data carrier of claim 1, where at least one of said plurality of RFID transponders is a passive or active transponder.

6. The data carrier of claim 1, wherein data content of at least one of said plurality of RFID transponders related to said distinctive contact information in at least one of said plurality of data fields is communicated by a signal from an RFID transponder to an RFID reader proximate to said data carrier.

7. The data carrier of claim 1, wherein the data content of at least one of said plurality of RFID transponders is associated with an identification of said data carrier.

8. The data carrier of claim 1, wherein the data content of at least one of said plurality of RFID transponders is associated with graphical data stored on the data carrier.

9. The data carrier of claim 1, wherein each of said data fields is associated with at least one RFID transponder.

10. The data carrier of claim 1, wherein the data carrier is a business card with at least one of said plurality of data fields comprising:

name data;

address data;

phone number data; and

business data;

wherein the data content of a corresponding one of said plurality of RFID transponders is related to the data content of at least one of said plurality of data fields.

11. The data carrier of claim 1, wherein the data content of at least one of said plurality of RFID transponders includes data for initializing a communication connection.

12. The data carrier of claim 11, wherein the communication connection is a mobile phone network connection or computer network connection.

13. The carrier of claim 1, wherein said data carrier is a questionnaire, comprising:

a plurality of data fields containing at least one question having a corresponding selectable answer; and

a plurality of RFID transponders associated with each said selectable answer corresponding to said question.

14. The data carrier of claim 13, further comprising at least one RFID transponder including data for setting up a communication connection for sending a response to said questionnaire.

15. The data carrier of claim 1, wherein said data carrier is a questionnaire, comprising:

a plurality of data fields containing at least one proposal having a corresponding selectable opinion; and

a plurality of RFID transponder associated with each said selectable opinion corresponding to said proposal.

16. The data carrier of claim 15, further comprising at least one RFID transponder including data for setting up a communication connection for sending a response to said questionnaire.

17. The data carrier of claim 1, wherein the data content of at least one of said plurality of RFID transponders includes data for triggering a request for a service or a request for data storage in a computer network.