Electronic Near Field Communication enabled multifunctional device and method of its operation

• US 8,564,408 B2
• Filed: 04/09/2008
• Issued: 10/22/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Rowse, Graham, Pendlebury, Joe
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Nam V
• Application Number:
  US12/082,413
• Publication Number:
  US 20100026454A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,022 Days
• Field of Search: 340/10.1, 340/10.4, 340/10.41, 340/572.2, 340/505, 340/551, 455/127, 455/38.3, 70/70
• US Class Current: 340/10.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0008 General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10237 the reader and the record carrier being capable of selectively switching between reader and record carrier appearance, e.g. in near field communication [NFC] devices where the NFC device may function as an RFID reader or as an RFID tag
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/327 Short range or proximity payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3278 RFID or NFC payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/352 Contactless payments by cards
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/45 Transponders
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/48 Transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/77 for interrogation

Abstract

A computer program stored in a memory unit of an electronic near field communication (NFC) module for near field communication devices in environments with different data formats according to different protocols is able to carry out a first initiation operation using a first data format according to a protocol of a first standard, a second initiation operation using a second data format according to a protocol of a second standard, a delay operation, and is able to repeat these operations in a repetitive process. Such devices can search their environment periodically for available RFID tags, RFID readers, NFC multifunctional devices, or the like. The delay can be fixed, variable in length, or both fixed and variable delays can be used. The invention enables for instance a mobile phone to act as an RFID reader of multiple tag formats, to emulate a tag, or to communicate with other NFC devices.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

determining to perform a first reader mode initiation procedure in a first data format according to a first protocol,

determining to perform a second reader mode initiation procedure in a second data format according to a second protocol,

determining to perform a delay, and

determining to perform any of these operations in a repetitive process wherein said delay comprises a plurality of delays including at least one fixed delay period and at least one share/exchange state lockout prevention random delay period, and wherein said at least one share/exchange state lockout prevention random delay period randomizes periodicity of share/exchange state.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

determining to perform a second passive detection procedure in the first or the second data format or in a fourth data format according to a fourth protocol.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein performing said delay comprises passively detecting an external radio frequency signal.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein performing said first passive detection procedure comprises detecting an external radio frequency signal.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein performing said first initiation procedure comprises receiving data in said first data format.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein performing said first initiation procedure comprises transmitting an initiation signal in said first data format.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

determining to perform at least one further initiation procedure in at least one further data format.

8. The method according to claim 2, further comprising:

determining to perform at least one further passive detection procedure in at least one further data format.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising determining to perform a first passive detection procedure in a tag emulation mode in at least the first data format or the second data format.

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising determining to perform the first passive detection procedure in the tag emulating mode in a third data format according to a third protocol.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of delays include delays of different fixed length delay periods.

12. The method according to of claim 1, wherein said random delay period is selected from a predetermined time range not including zero and for any other delays performed as a delay of a random length period of time, said random length period is selected from a predetermined time range including zero.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein said delay of said random delay period is performed after said first and said second reader mode initiation procedures.

14. The method according to claim 9, wherein said delay of said fixed delay period is performed after said first passive detection procedure.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein after a successful reader mode initiation procedure in one of said first or second data format, data is transmitted or received in the corresponding data format.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein said data is received or transmitted in a data communication procedure during said repetitive process.

17. The method according to claim 1, wherein said performing of an initiation procedure comprises:

determining to send a first signal sequence for a first predetermined period of time with a first output power,

receiving data signals, and

determining to send a second signal sequence for a second predetermined period of time with a second output power, if no data signal has been received.

18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising determining to evaluate received data signals according to timing of at least one data format, if a data signal has been received.

19. The method according to claim 1, wherein said method is performed by a near field communication multifunction device that is a multifunctional RFID reader.

20. The method according to claim 19, further comprising said near-field communication multifunction device determining to perform a passive detection procedure in a tag emulation mode.

21. The method according to claim 19, further comprising said near-field communication multifunction device determining to perform a passive detection procedure in a target mode.

22. The method according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of delays include at least two fixed delay periods.

23. A computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium storing program codes thereon for use in a communication device, wherein said program codes comprise:

instructions for determining to perform a first reader mode initiation procedure in a first data format according to a first protocol,

instructions for determining to perform a second reader mode initiation procedure in a second data format according to a second protocol,

instructions for determining to perform a delay, and

instructions for determining to perform any of these operations in a repetitive process wherein said delay comprises a plurality of delays including at least one fixed delay period and at least one share/exchange state lockout prevention random delay period, and wherein said at least one share/exchange state lockout prevention random delay period randomizes periodicity of share/exchange state.

24. The computer program product according to claim 23, wherein said instructions for determining to perform said first or said second reader mode initiation procedure comprise:

instructions for determining to send a first signal sequence for a first predetermined period of time with a first output power,

instructions for receiving data signals, and

instructions for determining to send a second signal sequence for a second predetermined period of time with a second output power, if no data signal has been received.

25. A computer program product according to claim 23, wherein said program codes are downloadable from a server in communication with said communication device.

26. An apparatus, comprising:

a transceiver configured to receive signals in at least one radio frequency band and to transmit signals in said radio frequency band, and

a processor coupled to said transceiver, wherein said processor is configured to;

determine to perform a first reader mode initiation procedure in a first data format according to a first protocol,

determine to perform a second reader mode initiation procedure in a second data format according to a second protocol,

determine to perform a delay, and

determine to perform any of these operations in a repetitive process wherein said delay comprises a plurality of delays including at least one fixed delay period and at least one share/exchange state lockout prevention random delay period, and wherein said at least one share/exchange state lockout prevention random delay period randomizes periodicity of share/exchange state.

27. The apparatus according to claim 26, further comprising a memory coupled to said processor, wherein executable instructions that if executed cause the processor to perform said operations are stored in said memory.

28. The apparatus according to claim 26, further comprising:

a random value generator; and

a timer, both coupled to said processor,

and wherein said processor is further configured to determine lengths of different time periods in accordance with said timer and to determine lengths of random length delays of said at least one random delay period in accordance with random values obtained from said random value generator.

29. The apparatus according to claim 26, wherein said apparatus is hard-coded in a built-in memory device configured to carry out said first and second reader mode initiation procedures, said delay, and said repetitive process.

30. A device, comprising the apparatus according to claim 26 and a storage device configured to store received and evaluated data.

31. The device according to claim 30, further comprising a user interface.

32. The device according to claim 30, further comprising an interface to a communication network.

33. The device according to claim 32, wherein said interface to a communication network is an interface to a cellular telephone network.

34. The device according to claim 30, wherein said device is a multifunctional RFID reader.

35. The apparatus according to claim 26, wherein performing said delay comprises passively detecting an external radio frequency signal.

36. The apparatus according to claim 26, wherein performing said first passive detection procedure comprises detecting an external radio frequency signal.

37. The apparatus according to claim 26, wherein performing said first reader mode initiation procedure comprises receiving data in said first data format.

38. The apparatus according to claim 26, wherein performing said first reader mode initiation procedure comprises transmitting an initiation signal in said first data format.

39. The apparatus according to claim 26, wherein said processor is further configured to determine to perform at least one further reader mode initiation procedure in said first or second data format or in a further data format according to a further protocol.

40. The apparatus according to claim 26, wherein said processor is further configured to determine to perform at least one further passive detection procedure in said first, second or third data format or in a further data format according to a further data format.

41. The apparatus according to claim 26, wherein said processor is further configured to determine to perform a first passive detection procedure in a tag emulation mode in at least the first data format or the second data format.

42. The apparatus according to claim 41, wherein said processor is further configured to determine to perform said first passive detection procedure in said tag emulation mode in a third data format according to a third protocol.

43. The apparatus according to claim 26, wherein said plurality of delays include delays of different fixed length delay periods.

44. The apparatus according to of claim 26, wherein said random delay period is selected from a predetermined time range not including zero and for any other delays performed as a delay of a random length period of time, said random length period is selected from a predetermined time range including zero.

45. The apparatus according to claim 26, wherein said delay of said random delay period is performed after said first and second reader mode initiation procedures.

46. The apparatus according to claim 41, wherein said delay of said fixed delay period is performed after said first passive detection procedure.

47. The apparatus according to claim 26, wherein after a successful reader mode initiation procedure in one of said first or second data format, data is transmitted or received in the corresponding data format.

48. The apparatus according to claim 47, wherein said data is received or transmitted in a data communication procedure during said repetitive process.

49. The apparatus according to claim 26, wherein said performing of an initiation procedure comprises:

determining to transmit a first signal sequence for a first predetermined period of time with a first output power via a transmitter part of said transceiver,

receiving data signals via a receiver part of said transceiver, and

determining to transmit a second signal sequence for a second predetermined period of time with a second output power via said transmitter part of said transceiver, if no data signal has been received.

50. The apparatus according to claim 49, wherein the processor is further configured to determine to evaluate received data signals according to timing of at least one data format, if a data signal has been received.