Communication method between electronic appliances, and corresponding appliances

• US 8,977,198 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2012
• Issued: 03/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
• Original Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
• Inventors: Leutgeb, Thomas, Kargl, Walter, Riegebauer, Josef
• Primary Examiner(s): Trinh, Sonny
• Application Number:
  US13/682,932
• Publication Number:
  US 20130171931A1
• Time in Patent Office: 839 Days
• Field of Search: 455/39, 455/41.2, 455/422.1, 455/411, 455/41.1, 340/10.1, 340/505, 340/572.1
• US Class Current: 455/41.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/14 Handling requests for interconnection or transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/00 Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A communication method for the communication between two appliances which are set up for communication in a first communication mode is provided. The method includes sending an activation sequence in a second communication mode from the first to the second appliance in order to initiate communication based on the first communication mode; sending data from the second appliance to the first appliance based on the first communication mode. The activation sequence sent to the second appliance includes an initialization sequence and a request for data communication in the first communication mode. In addition, a corresponding electronic appliance and system are provided.

Claims

1. A method of communication between two appliances set up for communication in a first communication mode, the method comprising:

sending an activation sequence in a second communication mode from the first to the second appliance in order to initiate communication based on the first communication mode;

sending data from the second appliance to the first appliance based on the first communication mode;

wherein the activation sequence sent to the second appliance comprises;

an initialization sequence; and

a request for data communication in the first communication mode.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the activation sequence contains a piece of configuration information for the requested communication in the first communication mode.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the sending of the data from the second appliance to the first appliance is delayed until the second appliance has detected at least one characteristic feature of the first communication mode.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the characteristic feature comprises a carrier frequency.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first communication mode and the second communication mode have different carrier frequencies.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first communication mode operates with a carrier frequency of 13.56 MHz and the second communication mode operates on a carrier frequency of 150 kHz to 2 MHz.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first communication mode conforms to ISO 14443.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first appliance is a near-field communication front end and the second appliance is a secure element.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein an interface between the first and second appliances operates at a carrier frequency of 13.56 MHz.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the communication in the first communication mode takes place on a higher layer of the OSI layer model than the communication in the second communication mode.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first and second communication modes differ in carrier frequency and coding method.

12. A system, comprising:

a first appliance and a second appliance connected by means of a communication interface and which are set up for communication in a first communication mode, the first appliance operable to send an activation sequence in a second communication mode to the second appliance in order to initiate sending of data by the second appliance based on the first communication mode;

wherein the activation sequence sent from the first to the second appliance comprises;

an initialization sequence; and

a request for the data communication in the first communication mode.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein the activation sequence contains a piece of configuration information for the requested communication in the first communication mode.

14. The system according to claim 12, wherein the first appliance is a near-field communication front end and the second appliance is a secure element.

15. An electronic appliance, comprising:

a communication interface operable for communication with a further appliance in a first communication mode, the electronic appliance being operable to receive an activation sequence in a second communication mode in order to initiate reception of data based on the first communication mode;

wherein the activation sequence to be received by the electronic appliance comprises;

an initialization sequence; and

a request for the data communication in the first communication mode.

16. The electronic appliance according to claim 15, wherein the activation sequence contains a piece of configuration information for the requested communication in the first communication mode.

17. The electronic appliance according to claim 15, wherein the electronic appliance is a secure element.

18. A mobile terminal, comprising:

a first appliance and a second appliance connected by means of a communication interface and which are set up for communication in a first communication mode, the first appliance operable to send an activation sequence in a second communication mode to the second appliance in order to initiate sending of data by the second appliance based on the first communication mode;

wherein the activation sequence sent from the first to the second appliance comprises;

an initialization sequence; and

a request for the data communication in the first communication mode.

19. The mobile terminal according to claim 18, wherein the mobile terminal is a mobile telephone, a portable media player, a smartphone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a hand-held gaming console, a tablet computer, a smartcard, a personal computer, or a laptop.

20. The mobile terminal according to claim 18, wherein the activation sequence contains a piece of configuration information for the requested communication in the first communication mode.