Method of communication with the POS terminal, the frequency converter for the post terminal

• US 9,081,997 B2
• Filed: 10/11/2009
• Issued: 07/14/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SMK Corporation
• Original Assignee: Logomotion, S.R.O.
• Inventors: Florek, Miroslav, Masaryk, Michal
• Primary Examiner(s): AN, IG TAI
• Application Number:
  US12/747,359
• Publication Number:
  US 20100262503A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,102 Days
• Field of Search: 705 16- 18, 705/21, 705/27.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• 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: G06Q 20/204 comprising interface for record bearing medium or carrier for electronic funds transfer or payment credit

Abstract

The communication method with the POS terminal that improves transmission characteristics of the authorized payment from the mobile communication device (9) is based upon a fact that the frequency converter (1) on that side of the communication channel where the POS terminals NFC antenna (8) is. The frequency converter (1) receives and processes the signal from the POS terminals NFC antenna (8) on the 13.56 MHz frequency, sends it on a higher frequency into the mobile communication device (9) and vice versa. The frequency converter (1) is outwardly energetically passive and is power supplied from the electromagnetic field received from the POS terminals antenna (8). The frequency converter (1) contains an antenna, tuned to the frequency in the range of 13.00 to 14.00 MHz, that is connected to the power supply element (4). The frequency converter (1) is located in the proximity of the POS terminal'"'"'s antenna.

Claims

1. A system for contactless payment via a mobile communication device, the system comprising:

a point-of-sale (POS) terminal having a near-field communication (NFC) antenna;

a removable memory card inserted in a respective slot of the mobile communication device, the removable memory card having an antenna; and

a frequency converter positioned between the removable memory card and the NFC antenna of the POS terminal, the antenna on the removable memory card being tuned for communication with the frequency converter,

wherein the frequency converter is a flat object in a shape of a sticker and is placed in range of the POS antenna and is adapted to receive a first signal from the NFC antenna of the POS terminal, to convert the first signal to a frequency suitable for reception by the removable memory card in the mobile communication device, and to communicate the converted first signal to the removable memory card in the mobile communication device,

wherein the frequency converter is further adapted to receive a second signal from the removable memory card in the mobile communication device, to convert the second signal to a frequency suitable for reception by the NFC antenna of the POS terminal, and to communicate the converted second signal to the NFC antenna of the POS terminal,

wherein the frequency converter is outwardly energetically passive and is powered by an electromagnetic field on a communication path between the mobile communication device and the NFC antenna of the POS terminal, said electromagnetic field being received from the NFC antenna of the POS terminal, and

wherein the flat object of the frequency converter is placed on the outside surface of the POS terminal antenna and a center of mass of a surface of the frequency converter antenna is at a distance of less than 20 mm from a center of mass of a surface of the POS terminal antenna.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the frequency converter includes an antenna that receives the first signal from the NFC antenna of the POS terminal, processes the received signal in a first modulation and demodulation unit, sends data from the received signal into a second modulation and demodulation unit, from where the data signal is sent over a transmitter on a higher frequency that corresponds to a receiving frequency of the mobile communication device.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the frequency converter includes a receiver that is adapted to receive a signal from the mobile communication device on a first frequency, to process the received signal in the second modulation and demodulation unit, to send data from the received signal into the first modulation and demodulation block, from where the data signal is sent via the frequency converter antenna using the frequency that corresponds to the frequency of the NFC antenna of the POS terminal.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the transmitter operates at a frequency that is different from a frequency at which the receiver operates.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the transmitter and the receiver each operates at a frequency of 433.05-434.79 MHz, 902-928 MHz, 2.400-2.500 GHz, or 5.725-5.875 GHz.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the frequency at which the transmitter operates is an xth multiple of the frequency at which the receiver operates, or the frequency at which the receiver operates is an xth multiple of the frequency at which the transmitter operates, and x has a value of 1.75 to 2.45.

7. A method for near-field communication (NFC) between a point-of-sale (POS) terminal and an antenna on a removable memory card in a mobile communication device, the POS terminal having an NFC antenna, the method comprising:

locating a frequency converter within a flat object in a shape of a sticker on the outside surface of the POS terminal in proximity to the NFC antenna of the POS terminal such that the frequency converter is supplied with energy from an electromagnetic field generated by the NFC antenna of the POS terminal during transmission of data from the POS terminal to the mobile communication device, wherein the flat object of the frequency converter is placed on the outside surface of the POS terminal antenna and a center of mass of a surface of the frequency converter antenna is at a distance of less than 20 mm from a center of mass of a surface of the POS terminal antenna;

receiving at the frequency converter a first signal containing first data transmitted from the NFC antenna of the POS terminal, the first signal having a first transmission frequency; and

transmitting from the frequency converter to the antenna on the removable memory card in the mobile communication device, a second signal containing the first data, the second signal having a second transmission frequency that is higher and differs from the first transmission frequency.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

receiving at the frequency converter a third signal containing second data transmitted from the mobile communication device, the third signal having a third transmission frequency that is different from the first and second frequencies and wherein the second frequency is an xth multiple of the third frequency, or the third frequency is an xth multiple of the second frequency, and x has a value of 1.75 to 2.45.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

transmitting from the frequency converter to the antenna of the POS terminal, a fourth signal containing the second data, the fourth signal having a fourth transmission frequency that is the same as the first transmission frequency.