Mobile communication terminal and method for providing RFID technique

• US 7,710,241 B2
• Filed: 02/01/2007
• Issued: 05/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Jung, Hyun-Ho
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu; Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sherwin; Ryan W
• Application Number:
  US11/670,050
• Publication Number:
  US 20070181665A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,188 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 713/1, 340/7.39, 455/550.1, 455/557
• US Class Current: 340/10.5
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3278 RFID or NFC payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions

Abstract

A mobile communication terminal and method for providing an RFID technique is provided. The terminal includes an RFID reader unit for receiving identification information from an RFID tag and a controller for detecting a pre-set theme corresponding to the identification information and outputting a control signal based on the detected theme.

Claims

1. A mobile communication terminal for providing an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technique, the mobile communication terminal comprising:

an RFID reader unit configured to transmit an RF signal to an RFID tag; and

a controller configured to preset at least one supplementary function corresponding to a function selected for presetting a theme,

wherein the RFID reader unit receives first identification information from the RFID tag via the transmitted RF signal to complete presetting of the theme when the controller has preset the at least one supplementary function,

wherein the controller detects the preset theme corresponding to second identification information received from the RFID tag that matches the first identification information, and outputs a control signal according to the detected preset theme.

2. The terminal of claim 1, further comprising:

a memory configured to store the first identification information and the preset theme corresponding to the first identification information.

3. The terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to set the at least one preset supplementary function according to the control signal.

4. The terminal of claim 3, wherein the at least one preset supplementary function is related to one of characters, audio and images.

5. The terminal of claim 4, wherein the at least one preset supplementary function is one of a font, a bell sound, an incoming call notification, a background screen, a menu screen, an icon and colors.

6. The terminal of claim 4, further comprising at least one of a display unit and an audio processing unit configured to receive the control signal from the controller to set the at least one preset supplementary function.

7. The terminal of claim 1, wherein the RFID reader unit is further configured to transmit power to the RFID tag.

8. The terminal of claim 1, wherein at least one RFID tag is installed at pre-set positions.

9. A method for providing an RFID technique in a mobile communication terminal, the method comprising:

presetting at least one supplementary function corresponding to a function selected for presetting a theme;

receiving first identification information from an RFID tag via a transmitted RF signal when presetting the at least one supplementary function has been completed;

receiving second identification information from the RFID tag;

detecting the preset theme when the first and second identification information match; and

outputting a control signal according to the detected preset theme.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

storing the first identification information and the preset theme corresponding to the first identification information.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising setting the at least one preset supplementary function according to the control signal.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the at least one preset supplementary function is related to one of characters, audio and images.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the at least one preset supplementary function is one of a font, a bell sound, an incoming call notification, a background screen, a menu screen, an icon and colors.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising determining if the received second identification information matches the first identification information stored in memory.

15. The method of claim 9, further comprising transmitting power to the RFID tag.

16. The method of claim 9, further comprising installing at least one RFID tag at pre-set positions.

17. A method for providing an RFID technique in a mobile communication terminal, the method comprising:

presetting at least one supplementary function corresponding to a function selected for presetting a theme;

receiving first identification information from an RFID tag via a transmitted RF signal when presetting the at least one supplementary function corresponding to the selected function has been completed;

storing the first identification information and the preset theme corresponding to the first identification information;

receiving second identification information from the RFID tag;

determining that the received second identification information matches the received first identification information stored in memory;

detecting the preset theme corresponding to the matched identification information;

outputting a control signal according to the detected preset theme; and

setting the at least one preset supplementary function according to the control signal.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the at least one preset supplementary function is related to one of characters, audio and images.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the at least one preset supplementary function is one of a font, a bell sound, an incoming call notification, a background screen, a menu screen, an icon and colors.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising transmitting power to the RFID tag.