Methods and apparatus for improving RF discovery for peer mode communications

• US 9,054,750 B2
• Filed: 04/23/2012
• Issued: 06/09/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Hillan, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Wendell, Andrew
• Assistant Examiner(s): Soltanzadeh, Maryam
• Application Number:
  US13/453,078
• Publication Number:
  US 20130281013A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,142 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.1, 455/41.2, 455/41.3
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/48 Transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0277 according to available power supply, e.g. switching off when a low battery condition is detected
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Aspects disclosed herein relate to providing peer mode passive communications while accounting for a power level available to operate a NFC device. In the disclosed aspects, a near field communication (NFC) device may be equipped to detect a value for a power level available to operate the NFC device. The NFC device may be further equipped to determine a first duration to allocate for a listening mode and a second duration to allocate for a polling mode based at least in part on the determined available power level value and select a RF discovery loop based on the determined first duration and second duration. The NFC device may be further operable to perform peer mode discovery using the selected RF discovery loop.

Claims

1. A method of wireless communications, comprising:

detecting by a communication device a power level available to operate a near field communication (NFC) device;

determining a first duration to allocate for a listening mode and a second duration to allocate for a polling mode based at least in part on the detected available power level;

selecting a RF discovery loop from a plurality of RF discovery loops based on the determined first duration and second duration; and

performing peer mode discovery using the selected RF discovery loop.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of RF discovery loops is stored on the NFC device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein each RF discovery loop stored on the NFC device is defined by a different first duration and second duration.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein each RF discovery loop stored on the NFC device is characterized by a different frequency of occurrence for the first duration and for the second duration.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the available power level is less than or equal to a first threshold;

and

wherein the determining the first and second durations further comprises allocating a greater time for the first duration than the second duration.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the available power level is greater than a second threshold;

and

wherein the determining the first and second durations further comprises allocating a greater time for the second duration than the first duration.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the available power level indicates that the device is charging;

and

wherein the determining the first and second durations further comprises determining the first and second durations based at least in part on the indication that the device is charging.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the available power level indicates that the device is coupled to a substantially continuous power supply;

and

wherein the determining the first and second durations further comprises determining the first and second durations based at least in part on the indication that the device is coupled to the substantially continuous power supply.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the available power level indicates a percentage value of power available from a battery;

and

wherein the determining the first and second durations further comprises allocating a percentage of time to the second duration that is substantially equal to the percentage value indicating the available power level.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining the first and second durations is further based on at least one of a user input, a device location, a device orientation, a device motion, or a history of power consumption.

11. A computer program product, comprising:

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

detecting a power level available to operate a near field communication (NFC) device;

determining a first duration to allocate for a listening mode and a second duration to allocate for a polling mode based at least in part on the detected available power level;

selecting a RF discovery loop from a plurality of RF discovery loops based on the determined first duration and second duration; and

performing peer mode discovery using the selected RF discovery loop.

12. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the plurality of RF discovery loops is stored on the NFC device.

13. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein each RF discovery loop stored on the NFC device is defined by a different first duration and second duration.

14. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein each RF discovery loop stored on the NFC device is characterized by a different frequency of occurrence for the first duration and for the second duration.

15. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the available power level is less than or equal to a first threshold;

and

wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises code for allocating a greater time for the first duration than the second duration.

16. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the available power level is greater than a second threshold;

and

wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises code for allocating a greater time for the second duration than the first duration.

17. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the available power level indicates that the device is charging;

and

wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises code for determining the first and second durations based at least in part on the indication that the device is charging.

18. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the available power level indicates that the device is coupled to a substantially continuous power supply;

and

wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises code for determining the first and second durations based at least in part on the indication that the device is coupled to the substantially continuous power supply.

19. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein the available power level indicates a percentage value of power available from a battery;

and

wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises code for allocating a percentage of time to the second duration that is substantially equal to the percentage value indicating the available power level.

20. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises code for:

determining the first and second durations is further based on at least one of a user input, a device location, a device orientation, a device motion, or a history of power consumption.

21. An apparatus, comprising:

means for detecting a power level available to operate a near field communication (NFC) device;

means for determining a first duration to allocate for a listening mode and a second duration to allocate for a polling mode based at least in part on the detected available power level;

means for selecting a RF discovery loop from a plurality of RF discovery loops based on the determined first duration and second duration; and

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

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the plurality of RF discovery loops is stored on the NFC device.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein each RF discovery loop stored on the NFC device is characterized by a different first duration and second duration.

24. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein each RF discovery loop stored on the NFC device is defined by a different frequency of occurrence for the first duration and for the second duration.

25. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the available power level is less than or equal to a first threshold;

and

wherein the means for determining the first and second durations further comprises means for allocating a greater time for the first duration than the second duration.

26. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the available power level is greater than a second threshold;

and

wherein the means for determining the first and second durations further comprises means for allocating a greater time for the second duration than the first duration.

27. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the available power level indicates that the device is charging;

and

wherein the means for determining the first and second durations further comprises means for determining the first and second durations based at least in part on the indication that the device is charging.

28. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the available power level value indicates that the device is coupled to a substantially continuous power supply;

and

wherein the means for determining the first and second durations further comprises means for determining the first and second durations based at least in part on the indication that the device is coupled to the substantially continuous power supply.

29. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the available power level indicates a percentage value of power available from a battery;

and

wherein the means for determining the first and second durations further comprises means for allocating a percentage of time to the second duration that is substantially equal to the percentage value indicating the available power level.

30. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the means for determining the first and second durations is further based on at least one of a user input, a device location, a device orientation, a device motion, or a history of power consumption.

31. An apparatus for NFC communications, comprising:

a power supply;

a memory;

a processor coupled to the memory; and

a RF discovery loop selection module coupled to at least one of the memory or the processor and configured to;

detect a power level available for operation using the power supply;

determine a first duration to allocate for a listening mode and a second duration to allocate for a polling mode based at least in part on the detected available power level;

select a RF discovery loop from a plurality of RF discovery loops based on the determined first duration and second duration; and

perform peer mode discovery using the selected RF discovery loop.

32. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the plurality of RF discovery loops is stored on the NFC device.

33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein each RF discovery loop stored in the memory on the NFC device is defined by a different first duration and second duration.

34. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein each RF discovery loop stored in the memory on the NFC device is characterized by a different frequency of occurrence for the first duration and for the second duration.

35. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the available power level associated with the power supply is less than or equal to a first threshold;

and

wherein the RF discovery loop selection module is further configured to allocate a greater time for the first duration than the second duration.

36. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the available power level associated with the power supply is greater than a second threshold;

and

wherein the RF discovery loop selection module is further configured to allocate a greater time for the second duration than the first duration.

37. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the available power level associated with the power supply indicates that the device is charging;

and

wherein the RF discovery loop selection module is further configured to determine the first and second durations based at least in part on the indication that the device is charging.

38. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the available power level associated with the power supply indicates that the device is coupled to a substantially continuous power supply;

and

wherein the RF discovery loop selection module is further configured to determine the first and second durations based at least in part on the indication that the device is coupled to the substantially continuous power supply.

39. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the available power level indicates a percentage value of power available from a battery;

and

wherein the RF discovery loop selection module is further configured to allocate a percentage of time to the second duration that is substantially equal to the percentage value indicating the available power level.

40. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the RF discovery loop selection module is further configured to determine the first and second durations is further based on at least one of a user input, a device location, a device orientation, a device motion, or a history of power consumption.