Methods and apparatus for improving NFC RF discovery loop tuning based on device sensor measurements

• US 8,923,761 B2
• Filed: 05/17/2012
• Issued: 12/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Hillan, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Milord, Marceau
• Application Number:
  US13/473,927
• Publication Number:
  US 20130309965A1
• Time in Patent Office: 957 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.1, 455/41.2, 455/435.2, 455/435.3, 455/512, 455/67.11, 455/405, 235/492, 235/451, 428/41.3, 428/212, 340/10.4
• US Class Current: 455/41.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/00 Near-field transmission systems, e.g. inductive or capacitive transmission systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/04 including near field communication means, e.g. RFID
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/062 Pre-authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1452 Polymer derived only from ethylenically unsaturated monomer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24942 including components having same physical characteristic in differing degree

Abstract

Aspects disclosed herein relate to providing improved selection of a near field communication (NFC) radio frequency (RF) discovery loop based on one or more measurements obtained from one or more sensors associated with a NFC device. In the disclosed aspects, a NFC device may be equipped to obtain an informational value for a device based on a measurement obtained from one or more device sensors. The NFC device may be further equipped to select a RF discovery loop based on the obtained informational value. The NFC device may be further operable to perform RF discovery using the selected RF discovery loop.

Claims

1. A method of wireless communications, comprising:

obtaining an informational value for a device based on a measurement obtained from one or more device sensors;

selecting, from a plurality of radio frequency (RF) discovery loops having different mode duration allocations and stored on the device, a RF discovery loop based on the obtained informational value; and

performing RF discovery using the selected RF discovery loop.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the informational value is a time of day;

and

wherein the selecting further comprises selecting a RF discovery loop that is associated with the time of day.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the informational value is a day of the week;

and

wherein the selecting the RF discovery loop further comprises selecting the RF discovery loop that is also associated with the day of the week.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the informational value is a location;

and

wherein the selecting further comprises selecting a RF discovery loop that is associated with the location.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the informational value comprises one or more values from an accelerometer associated with the device;

and

wherein the selecting further comprises;

inferring a user action from the one or more values from the accelerometer; and

selecting a RF discovery loop that is associated with the inferred action.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the informational value comprises one or more values a from a gyroscope associated with the device;

and

wherein the selecting further comprises;

inferring a user action from the one or more values from the gyroscope; and

selecting a RF discovery loop that is associated with the inferred action.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the analyzing further comprises determining that the device is oriented either substantially horizontal or substantially vertical in comparison with a ground level;

and

wherein the selecting the RF discovery loop further comprises selecting either a first RF discovery loop or a second RF discovery loop from the plurality of RF discovery loops based on whether the device orientation is determined to be substantially horizontal or substantially vertical in comparison with the ground level.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing an event in storage associated with the device, wherein the event includes at least two of:

the informational value, the selected RF discovery loop, a timestamp, and a location tag.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the stored event includes the timestamp, and further comprising removing the event from the storage after a threshold time has elapsed.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the RF discovery loop defines durations allocated for a listening mode and for a polling mode, and wherein the selecting further comprises selecting the RF discovery loop in which more time is allocated for either the listening mode or the polling mode.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the selecting further comprises selecting the RF discovery loop by balancing improvement in power consumption with potential delay in RF discovery, wherein a factor used in the balancing is the obtained informational value.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the selecting is based on a probability that the device will be used for at least one of:

a reader/writer, a card emulation, or peer to peer communications.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the informational value includes at least one of:

user input;

device location;

device orientation;

device motion;

or

history of device power consumption.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more device sensors includes at least one of:

a user interface;

a location sensor;

a gyroscope;

an accelerometer;

a light sensor;

or

an auditory input.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

obtaining a second informational value for the device based on a second measurement obtained from the one or more device sensors; and

wherein the selecting further comprises;

determining a first priority value associated with the informational value and a second priority value associated with the second informational value; and

selecting a RF discovery loop associated a comparatively greater priority value between the first priority value and the second priority value.

16. A computer program product, comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising code for;

obtaining an informational value for a device based on a measurement obtained from one or more device sensors;

selecting, from a plurality of radio frequency (RF) discovery loops having different mode duration allocations and stored on the device, a RF discovery loop based on the obtained informational value; and

performing RF discovery using the selected RF discovery loop.

17. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein the informational value is a time of day;

and

wherein the code for selecting further comprises code for selecting a RF discovery loop that is associated with the time of day.

18. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the informational value is a day of the week;

and

wherein the code for selecting a RF discovery loop further comprises code for selecting the RF discovery loop that is also associated with the day of the week.

19. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein the informational value is a location;

and

wherein the code for selecting further comprises code for selecting the RF discovery loop that is associated with the location.

20. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein the informational value comprises one or more values from an accelerometer associated with the device;

and

wherein the code for selecting further comprises code for;

inferring a user action from the one or more values from the accelerometer; and

selecting the RF discovery loop that is associated with the inferred action.

21. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein the informational value comprises one or more values a from a gyroscope associated with the device;

and

wherein the code for selecting further comprises code for;

inferring a user action from the one or more values from the gyroscope; and

selecting a RF discovery loop that is associated with the inferred action.

22. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein the code for analyzing further comprises code for determining that the device is oriented either substantially horizontal or substantially vertical in comparison with a ground level;

and

wherein the code for selecting the RF discovery loop further comprises code for selecting either a first RF discovery loop or a second RF discovery loop from the plurality of RF discovery loops based on whether the device orientation is determined to be substantially horizontal or substantially vertical in comparison with the ground level.

23. The computer program product of claim 16, further comprising code for storing an event in storage associated with the device, wherein the event includes at least two of:

the informational value, the selected RF discovery loop, a timestamp, and a location tag.

24. The computer program product of claim 23, wherein the stored event includes the timestamp, and further comprising code for removing the event from the storage after a threshold time has elapsed.

25. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein the RF discovery loop defines durations allocated for a listening mode and for a polling mode, and wherein the code for selecting further comprises code for selecting the RF discovery loop in which more time is allocated for either the listening mode or the polling mode.

26. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein the code for selecting further comprises code for selecting the RF discovery loop by balancing improvement in power consumption with potential delay in RF discovery, wherein a factor used in the balancing is the obtained informational value.

27. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein the code for selecting is based on a probability that the device will be used for at least one of:

a reader/writer, a card emulation, or peer to peer communications.

28. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein the informational value includes at least one of:

user input;

device location;

device orientation;

device motion;

or

history of device power consumption.

29. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein the one or more device sensors includes at least one of:

a user interface;

a location sensor;

a gyroscope;

an accelerometer;

a light sensor;

or

an auditory input.

30. The computer program product of claim 16, further comprising code for:

obtaining a second informational value for the device based on a second measurement obtained from the one or more device sensors; and

wherein the code for selecting further comprises code for;

determining a first priority value associated with the informational value and a second priority value associated with the second informational value; and

selecting a RF discovery loop associated a higher priority value between the first priority value and the second priority value.

31. An apparatus for communications, comprising:

means for obtaining an informational value for a device based on a measurement obtained from one or more device sensors;

means for selecting, from a plurality of radio frequency (RF) discovery loops having different mode duration allocations and stored on the device, a RF discovery loop based on the obtained informational value; and

means for performing RF discovery using the selected RF discovery loop.

32. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the informational value is a time of day;

and

wherein the means for selecting further comprises means for selecting a RF discovery loop that is associated with the time of day.

33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the informational value is a day of the week;

and

wherein the means for selecting a RF discovery loop further comprises means for selecting the RF discovery loop that is also associated with the day of the week.

34. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the informational value is a location;

and

wherein the means for selecting further comprises means for selecting the RF discovery loop that is associated with the location.

35. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the informational value comprises one or more values from an accelerometer associated with the device;

and

wherein the means for selecting further comprises;

means for inferring a user action from the one or more values from the accelerometer; and

means for selecting a RF discovery loop that is associated with the inferred action.

36. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the informational value comprises one or more values a from a gyroscope associated with the device;

and

wherein the means for selecting further comprises;

means for inferring a user action from the one or more values from the gyroscope; and

means for selecting a RF discovery loop that is associated with the inferred action.

37. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the means for analyzing further comprises means for determining that the device is oriented either substantially horizontal or substantially vertical in comparison with a ground level;

and

wherein the means for selecting the RF discovery loop further comprises means for selecting either a first RF discovery loop or a second RF discovery loop from the plurality of RF discovery loops based on whether the device orientation is determined to be substantially horizontal or substantially vertical in comparison with the ground level.

38. The apparatus of claim 31, further comprising means for storing an event in storage associated with the device, wherein the event includes at least two of:

the informational value, the selected RF discovery loop, a timestamp, and a location tag.

39. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the stored event includes the timestamp, and further comprising means for removing the event from the storage after a threshold time has elapsed.

40. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the RF discovery loop defines durations allocated for a listening mode and for a polling mode, and wherein the means for selecting further comprises means for selecting the RF discovery loop in which more time is allocated for either the listening mode or the polling mode.

41. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the means for selecting further comprises means for selecting the RF discovery loop by balancing improvement in power consumption with potential delay in RF discovery, wherein a factor used in the balancing is the obtained informational value.

42. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the means for selecting is based on a probability that the device will be used for at least one of:

a reader/writer, a card emulation, or peer to peer communications.

43. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the informational value includes at least one of:

user input;

device location;

device orientation;

device motion;

or

history of device power consumption.

44. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the one or more device sensors includes at least one of:

a user interface;

a location sensor;

a gyroscope;

an accelerometer;

a light sensor;

or

an auditory input.

45. The apparatus of claim 31, further comprising:

means for obtaining a second informational value for the device based on a second measurement obtained from the one or more device sensors; and

wherein the means for selecting further comprises;

means for determining a first priority value associated with the informational value and a second priority value associated with the second informational value; and

means for selecting a RF discovery loop associated a higher priority value between the first priority value and the second priority value.

46. A near field communication (NFC) device for communications, comprising:

one or more device sensors;

a memory;

a processor coupled to the memory; and

a radio frequency (RF) discovery loop selection module coupled to at least one of the memory, the processor, or the one or sensors and configured to;

obtain an informational value for the NFC device based on a measurement obtained from the one or more device sensors;

select, from a plurality of RF discovery loops having different mode duration allocations and stored on the NFC device, a RF discovery loop based on the obtained informational value; and

perform RF discovery using the selected RF discovery loop.

47. The NFC device of claim 46, wherein the informational value is a time of day;

and

wherein the RF discovery loop selection module is further configured to select a RF discovery loop that is associated with the time of day.

48. The NFC device of claim 47, wherein the informational value is a day of the week;

and

wherein the RF discovery loop selection module is further configured to select the RF discovery loop that is also associated with the day of the week.

49. The NFC device of claim 46, wherein the informational value is a location;

and

wherein the RF discovery loop selection module is further configured to select a RF discovery loop that is associated with the location.

50. The NFC device of claim 46, wherein the informational value comprises one or more values from an accelerometer associated with the device;

and

wherein the RF discovery loop selection module is further configured to;

infer a user action from the one or more values from the accelerometer; and

select a RF discovery loop that is associated with the inferred action.

51. The NFC device of claim 46, wherein the informational value comprises one or more values a from a gyroscope associated with the device;

and

wherein the RF discovery loop selection module is further configured to;

infer a user action from the one or more values from the gyroscope; and

select a RF discovery loop that is associated with the inferred action.

52. The NFC device of claim 51, wherein the RF discovery loop selection module is further configured to:

determine that the device is oriented either substantially horizontal or substantially vertical in comparison with a ground level; and

select either a first RF discovery loop or a second RF discovery loop from the plurality of RF discovery loops based on whether the device orientation is determined to be substantially horizontal or substantially vertical in comparison with the ground level.

53. The NFC device of claim 46, wherein the RF discovery loop selection module is further configured to store an event in storage associated with the device, wherein the event includes at least two of:

the informational value, the selected RF discovery loop, a timestamp, and a location tag.

54. The NFC device of claim 53, wherein the stored event includes the timestamp, and wherein the RF discovery loop selection module is further configured to remove the event from the storage after a threshold time has elapsed.

55. The NFC device of claim 46, wherein the RF discovery loop defines durations allocated for a listening mode and for a polling mode, and wherein the RF discovery loop selection module is further configured to select the RF discovery loop in which more time is allocated for either the listening mode or the polling mode.

56. The NFC device of claim 46, wherein the RF discovery loop selection module is further configured to select the RF discovery loop by balancing improvement in power consumption with potential delay in RF discovery, wherein a factor used in the balancing is the obtained informational value.

57. The NFC device of claim 46, wherein the RF discovery loop selection module is further configured to select the RF discovery loop based on a probability that the device will be used for at least one of:

a reader/writer, a card emulation, or peer to peer communications.

58. The NFC device of claim 46, wherein the informational value includes at least one of:

user input;

device location;

device orientation;

device motion;

or

history of device power consumption.

59. The NFC device of claim 46, wherein the one or more device sensors includes at least one of:

a user interface;

a location sensor;

a gyroscope;

an accelerometer;

a light sensor;

or

an auditory input.

60. The NFC device of claim 46, wherein the RF discovery loop selection module is further configured to:

obtain a second informational value for the NFC device based on a second measurement obtained from the one or more device sensors;

determine a first priority value associated with the informational value and a second priority value associated with the second informational value; and

select a RF discovery loop associated a higher priority value between the first priority value and the second priority value.