Terminal, method and computer program product for interacting with a signaling tag

• US 7,909,252 B2
• Filed: 07/02/2010
• Issued: 03/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Jalkanen, Janne, Vesikivi, Petri, Huomo, Heikki
• Primary Examiner(s): Trail; Allyson N
• Application Number:
  US12/830,170
• Publication Number:
  US 20100271183A1
• Time in Patent Office: 263 Days
• Field of Search: 235/382, 235/376, 705/1, 705/22, 455/66.1, 455/517, 709/203, 344/731
• US Class Current: 235/451
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/203 Inventory monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72445 for supporting Internet browser applications
• 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 48/08 Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery signalling during connection H04W76/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/24 Transfer of terminal data
• 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

A terminal for interacting with a signaling tag includes a controller capable of selecting a signaling tag and thereafter receiving a tag type from the signaling tag at least partially over an air interface. The controller is also capable of determining if the terminal is actively operating an application. In this regard, the controller is capable of performing a predefined action based upon the tag type, such as based upon a tag type of “Read Only,” “Read/Write” or “Transceiver in Show Mode.” And when the controller is actively operating an application, the controller is capable of performing the predefined action further based upon the application and a state of the application.

Claims

1. A method in an apparatus, comprising:

receiving information regarding a device over a radio frequency identification interface,

determining whether an application is actively operating within the apparatus; and

when there is an actively operating application;

performing a predefined action based upon said application and a state of said application;

wherein said predefined action comprises at least initiating a wireless short-range communication connection with the other device based at least partly on said information received over the radio frequency identification interface.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said predefined action further comprises at least one of transmitting and receiving information via the radio frequency interface for establishing the wireless short-range communication connection with the other device.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising receiving information regarding a wireless short-range communication module of the other device over said radio frequency identification interface.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving information regarding a radio frequency identification module of the other device over said radio frequency identification interface.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said information regarding the radio frequency identification module includes information on transmission and/or reception capabilities of said radio frequency identification module.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a state of an actively operating application, and if said application is in a state for presenting information, transmitting currently presented information via said wireless short-range communication connection.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a state of an actively operating application, and if said application is in a state for receiving information, entering data received via said wireless short-range communication connection into said application.

8. An apparatus comprising:

a radio frequency identification communication module;

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including executable instructions, the at least one memory and the executable instructions being configured to, in cooperation with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following;

receive information regarding a device via the radio frequency identification communication module,

determine whether an application is actively operating within the apparatus; and

when there is an actively operating application;

perform a predefined action based upon said application and a state of said application;

wherein said predefined action comprises at least initiation of a wireless short-range communication connection with the other device based at least partly on said information received via the radio frequency identification communication module.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a wireless short-range communication module configured to establish the wireless short-range communication connection with the other device.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the at least one memory and the executable instructions further being configured to, in cooperation with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to receive information regarding a wireless short-range communication module of the other device over said radio frequency identification interface.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the at least one memory and the executable instructions further being configured to, in cooperation with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to determine a state of an actively operating application, and if said application is in a state for receiving information, enter data received via said wireless short-range communication connection into said application.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the at least one memory and the executable instructions further being configured to, in cooperation with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to receive information regarding a radio frequency identification module of the other device over said radio frequency identification interface.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said information regarding the radio frequency identification module includes information on transmission and/or reception capabilities of said radio frequency identification module.

14. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the at least one memory and the executable instructions further being configured to, in cooperation with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to determine a state of an actively operating application, and if said application is in a state for presenting information, transmit currently presented information via said wireless short-range communication connection.

15. A computer program product comprising computer executable program code recorded on a computer readable storage medium, the computer executable program code comprising:

code configured for causing receiving information regarding a device over a radio frequency identification interface,

code configured for causing determining whether an application is actively operating within the apparatus; and

when there is an actively operating application;

code configured for performing a predefined action based upon said application and a state of said application;

wherein said predefined action comprises at least initiating a wireless short-range communication connection with the other device based at least partly on said information received over the radio frequency identification interface.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, further comprising code configured for causing determining a state of an actively operating application, and if said application is in a state for presenting information, code configured for causing transmitting currently presented information via said wireless short-range communication connection.

17. The computer program product of claim 15, further comprising code configured for causing determining a state of an actively operating application, and if said application is in a state for receiving information, code configured for causing entering data received via said wireless short-range communication connection into said application.