System, device and method for keeping track of portable items by means of a mobile electronic device

• US 8,199,014 B1
• Filed: 06/29/2007
• Issued: 06/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Kindeberg, Susanne
• Primary Examiner(s): Previl, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US11/770,816
• Publication Number:
  US 20120146786A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,810 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/573.4, 340/568.1, 340/539.32, 340/825.49, 340/687, 340/10.1, 340/3.51
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/0062 in RFID [Radio Frequency Identification] Systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/77 for interrogation

Abstract

The present invention relates to the field of mobile communications, and in particular to a system for near field wireless data communication using RFID for checking whether a portable item is to be brought by a user from one place to another or not by using a mobile electronic device comprising a radio communication device and a method for achieving this.

Claims

1. A system for RFID data communication, comprising:

at least one RFID tag for tagging a portable item;

a RFID reader arranged to receive radio waves received from the RFID tag to render RFID tag data;

a mobile electronic device with a control unit operatively connected to the RFID reader, and having a memory for storing a plurality of RFID tag data, and for storing profiles associated with specific RFID tag data relating to specific portable items;

wherein the control unit is configured to;

select a profile either automatically or after manual initiation by the user,

compare the received RFID tag data with RFID tag data stored in the memory for the selected profile, and

if RFID tag data of at least one item associated with the selected profile is not among the received RFID tag data, load and execute an application for alerting the user.

2. A mobile phone comprising a mobile electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is operatively connected to a display and a GSM/UMTS radio.

3. A radio communication device for RFID data communication, comprising a RFID reader operatively connected to a mobile electronic device according to claim 1.

4. A system for RFID data communication according to claim 1, wherein the portable item is at least one of the following items:

purse, key, lipstick, umbrella, gym entrance card, make-up, commuter-card, credit/ID/parking card, car keys, or lunch coupons.

5. A system according to claim 1, the system comprising a further RFID tag to be tagged onto a fixed position, wherein the control unit is configured to automatically select the profile after receiving RFID tag data from the further RFID tag.

6. A system according to claim 5, wherein the fixed position is an entrance door or exit door of a building and/or the control unit is configured to automatically execute the application after receiving RFID tag data from the further RFID tag.

7. A system according to claim 1, wherein the memory further stores a calendar, and wherein the control unit is configured to automatically select the profile according to a schedule of the calendar.

8. A system according to claim 7, wherein the control unit is configured to automatically execute the application according to a schedule of the calendar.

9. A system according to claim 1, wherein the application turns on an alarm, the alarm comprising a sound and/or vibration of the mobile electronic device.

10. A method for checking whether a user has least one portable item with him/her or not by using RFID data communication, comprising:

providing at least one portable item with an RFID tag;

storing, in a mobile electronic device, a plurality of RFID tag data and profiles associated with specific RFID tag data relating to specific portable items;

selecting a profile either automatically or after manual initiation by the user;

transmitting a radio signal to the RFID tag by means of a mobile electronic device;

receiving a response signal comprising RFID tag data from the RFID tag associated with the portable item by the mobile electronic device;

comparing the received RFID tag data with RFID tag data stored in the memory for the selected profile, and

if RFID tag data of at least one item associated with the selected profile is not among the received RFID tag data, loading and executing an application for alerting the user.

11. A method for RFID data communication according to claim 10, wherein the portable item is at least one of the following items:

purse, key, lipstick, umbrella, gym entrance card, make-up, commuter-card, credit/ID/parking card, car keys, or lunch coupons.

12. A method for RFID data communication according to claim 10, wherein the method further comprises:

providing a fixed position with a further RFID tag;

associating a profile with the further RFID tag; and

selecting the profile automatically after receiving RFID tag data from the further RFID tag.

13. A method for RFID data communication according to claim 10, wherein the method further comprises automatically selecting the profile according to a schedule of a calendar.