Personal function pad
First Claim
1. An electronic device, comprising:
- a surface configured to receive and support a wireless terminal without making a direct electrical contact with the wireless terminal;
a near field communications (NFC) module configured to receive a first NFC signal from the wireless terminal and to responsively transmit a second NFC signal to the wireless terminal in response to the first NFC signal, wherein the second NFC signal modifies a setting and/or initiates a function of the wireless terminal;
a processor coupled to the NFC module and configured to control operations of the NFC module;
a power supply; and
a switch configured to couple the power supply to the processor in response to detecting that an object has been placed on the surface, the switch further configured to disconnect power from the processor if no NFC signal is received by the NFC module within a predetermined period of time.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A personal function pad includes a surface that receives and supports a wireless terminal without making a direct electrical contact with the wireless terminal, and a near field communications (NFC) module that receives a first NFC signal from the wireless terminal and responsively transmits a second NFC signal to the wireless terminal. The second NFC signal modifies a setting and/or initiates a function of the wireless terminal. A wireless terminal according to some embodiments includes a controller and an NFC communications module. The NFC module transmits a first NFC signal and receives a second NFC signal in response to the first NFC signal. The controller modifies a device setting and/or to initiates a device function of the wireless terminal in response to the second NFC signal.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. An electronic device, comprising:
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a surface configured to receive and support a wireless terminal without making a direct electrical contact with the wireless terminal; a near field communications (NFC) module configured to receive a first NFC signal from the wireless terminal and to responsively transmit a second NFC signal to the wireless terminal in response to the first NFC signal, wherein the second NFC signal modifies a setting and/or initiates a function of the wireless terminal; a processor coupled to the NFC module and configured to control operations of the NFC module; a power supply; and a switch configured to couple the power supply to the processor in response to detecting that an object has been placed on the surface, the switch further configured to disconnect power from the processor if no NFC signal is received by the NFC module within a predetermined period of time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A wireless terminal, comprising:
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a controller; and a near field communications (NFC) communications module coupled to the controller and operatively controlled by the controller; wherein the NFC module is configured to transmit a first NFC signal and to receive a second NFC signal in response to the first NFC signal; wherein the controller is configured to modify a device setting and/or to initiate a device function of the wireless terminal in response to the second NFC signal, and wherein the controller is configured to cause the NFC module to establish a peer-to-peer NFC communication path with a further wireless terminal in response to receiving the second NFC signal. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification