Propinquity detection by portable devices
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A point of sale (POS) terminal comprising:
- a contactless transaction/identification card reader, at least part of said contactless transaction/identification card reader being operative to enable operation of said card reader in a transaction mode for contactless card reading and in a propinquity sensing mode for sensing propinquity with an external propinquity indication element; and
a propinquity verifier operative in said propinquity sensing mode for verifying that said POS terminal has at least predetermined propinquity to said external propinquity indication element,said contactless transaction/identification card reader comprising a propinquity sensing module and an antenna, said propinquity sensing module being operative to control at least one of transmitted signal strength and received signal sensitivity, whereby said contactless transaction/identification card reader is enabled;
in said transaction mode to communicate with conventional contactless cards over a range of a few inches by lowering the transmitted signal strength and employing a first communication protocol which is suitable for contactless card reading; and
in said propinquity sensing mode to communicate with said external propinquity indication element by increasing at least one of the transmitted signal strength and received signal sensitivity and employing a second communication protocol which is suitable for communication with said external propinquity indication element.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A point of sale (POS) terminal including a contactless transaction/identification card reader and a propinquity verifier, coupled to the contactless card reader and verifying at least predetermined propinquity of the POS terminal to a propinquity indication element.
19 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A point of sale (POS) terminal comprising:
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a contactless transaction/identification card reader, at least part of said contactless transaction/identification card reader being operative to enable operation of said card reader in a transaction mode for contactless card reading and in a propinquity sensing mode for sensing propinquity with an external propinquity indication element; and a propinquity verifier operative in said propinquity sensing mode for verifying that said POS terminal has at least predetermined propinquity to said external propinquity indication element, said contactless transaction/identification card reader comprising a propinquity sensing module and an antenna, said propinquity sensing module being operative to control at least one of transmitted signal strength and received signal sensitivity, whereby said contactless transaction/identification card reader is enabled; in said transaction mode to communicate with conventional contactless cards over a range of a few inches by lowering the transmitted signal strength and employing a first communication protocol which is suitable for contactless card reading; and in said propinquity sensing mode to communicate with said external propinquity indication element by increasing at least one of the transmitted signal strength and received signal sensitivity and employing a second communication protocol which is suitable for communication with said external propinquity indication element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A point of sale (POS) terminal system comprising:
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an external propinquity indication element; and a POS terminal comprising; a contactless transaction/identification card reader, at least part of said contactless transaction/identification card reader being operative to enable operation of said card reader in a transaction mode for contactless card reading and in a propinquity sensing mode for sensing propinquity with said external propinquity indication element; and a propinquity verifier operative in said propinquity sensing move for verifying that said POS terminal has at least predetermined propinquity to said external propinquity indication element, said contactless transaction/identification card reader comprising a propinquity sensing module and an antenna, said propinquity sensing module being operative to control at least one of transmitted signal strength and received signal sensitivity, whereby said contactless transaction/identification card reader is enabled; in said transaction mode to communicate with conventional contactless cards over a range of a few inches by lowering the transmitted signal strength and employing a first communication protocol which is suitable for contactless card reading; and in said propinquity sensing mode to communicate with said external propinquity indication element by increasing at least one of the transmitted signal strength and received signal sensitivity and employing a second communication protocol which is suitable for communication with said external propinquity indication element. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An access control terminal system comprising:
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an external propinquity indication element; and an access control terminal comprising; a contactless transaction/identification card reader, at least part of said contactless transaction/identification card reader being operative to enable operation of said card reader in a transaction mode for contactless card reading and in a propinquity sensing mode for sensing propinquity with said external propinquity indication element; and a propinquity verifier operative in said propinquity sensing move for verifying that said POS terminal has at least predetermined propinquity to said external propinquity indication element, said contactless transaction/identification card reader comprising a propinquity sensing module and an antenna, said propinquity sensing module being operative to control at least one of transmitted signal strength and received signal sensitivity, whereby said contactless transaction/identification card reader is enabled; in said transaction mode to communicate with conventional contactless cards over a range of a few inches by lowering the transmitted signal strength and employing a first communication protocol which is suitable for contactless card reading; and in said propinquity sensing mode to communicate with said external propinquity indication element by increasing at least one of the transmitted signal strength and received signal sensitivity and employing a second communication protocol which is suitable for communication with said external propinquity indication element. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. An inventory control terminal system comprising:
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an external propinquity indication element; and an inventory control terminal comprising; a contactless transaction/identification card reader, at least part of said contactless transaction/identification card reader being operative to enable operation of said card reader in a transaction mode for contactless card reading and in a propinquity sensing mode for sensing propinquity with said external propinquity indication element; and a propinquity verifier operative in said propinquity sensing move for verifying that said POS terminal has at least predetermined propinquity to said external propinquity indication element, said contactless transaction/identification card reader comprising a propinquity sensing module and an antenna, said propinquity sensing module being operative to control at least one of transmitted signal strength and received signal sensitivity, whereby said contactless transaction/identification card reader is enabled; in said transaction mode to communicate with conventional contactless cards over a range of a few inches by lowering the transmitted signal strength and employing a first communication protocol which is suitable for contactless card reading; and in said propinquity sensing mode to communicate with said external propinquity indication element by increasing at least one of the transmitted signal strength and received signal sensitivity and employing a second communication protocol which is suitable for communication with said external propinquity indication element. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification