Near-field communication (NFC) system providing low power peer-to-peer recognition mode and related methods
First Claim
1. A near-field communication (NFC) device comprising:
- an NFC circuit configured to wirelessly communicate using an NFC communications protocol;
a cellular transceiver; and
a processor coupled to said NFC circuit and said cellular transceiver, the processor being configured tosynchronize an internal timing signal to an external timing signal from a cellular network,cycle power to said NFC circuit to periodically switch the NFC circuit between a peer-to-peer recognition state and a low power state based upon the synchronized internal timing signal, andinitiate peer-to-peer NFC communications with another NFC device when in range thereof and upon being switched to the peer-to-peer recognition state therewith.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A near-field communication (NFC) system may include a plurality of NFC devices each including an NFC circuit configured to wirelessly communicate using an NFC communications protocol, and a processor coupled to the NFC circuit. The processor may be configured to synchronize an internal timing signal to an external timing signal, cycle power to the NFC circuit to periodically switch the NFC circuit between a peer-to-peer recognition state and a low power state based upon the synchronized internal timing signal, and initiate peer-to-peer NFC communications with another one of the plurality of NFC devices when in range thereof and upon being switched to the peer-to-peer recognition state therewith.
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Citations
8 Claims
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1. A near-field communication (NFC) device comprising:
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an NFC circuit configured to wirelessly communicate using an NFC communications protocol; a cellular transceiver; and a processor coupled to said NFC circuit and said cellular transceiver, the processor being configured to synchronize an internal timing signal to an external timing signal from a cellular network, cycle power to said NFC circuit to periodically switch the NFC circuit between a peer-to-peer recognition state and a low power state based upon the synchronized internal timing signal, and initiate peer-to-peer NFC communications with another NFC device when in range thereof and upon being switched to the peer-to-peer recognition state therewith. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
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2. A near-field communication (NFC) method for an NFC device comprising an NFC circuit configured to wirelessly communicate using an NFC communications protocol and a cellular transceiver, the method comprising:
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synchronizing an internal timing signal of the NFC device to an external timing signal from a cellular network; cycling power to the NFC circuit to periodically switch the NFC circuit between a peer-to-peer recognition state and a low power state based upon the synchronized internal timing signal; and initiating peer-to-peer NFC communications with another NFC device when in range thereof and upon being switched to the peer-to-peer recognition state therewith.
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3. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for causing a near-field communication (NFC) device comprising a cellular transceiver and an NFC circuit configured to wirelessly communicate using an NFC communications protocol to perform steps comprising:
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synchronizing an internal timing signal of the NFC device to an external timing signal from a cellular network; cycling power to the NFC circuit to periodically switch the NFC circuit between a peer-to-peer recognition state and a low power state based upon the synchronized internal timing signal; and initiating peer-to-peer NFC communications with another NFC device when in range thereof and upon being switched to the peer-to-peer recognition state therewith.
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4. A near field communication (NFC) device comprising:
an NFC circuit configured to wirelessly communicate using an NFC communications protocol; a satellite positioning device; and a processor coupled to said NFC circuit and said satellite positioning device, the processor being configured to synchronize an internal timing signal to an external timing signal from a satellite positioning system, cycling power to the NFC circuit to periodically switch the NFC circuit between a peer-to-peer recognition state and a low power state based upon the synchronized internal timing signal; and initiating peer-to-peer NFC communications with another NFC device when in range thereof and upon being switched to the peer-to-peer recognition state therewith. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6)
Specification