Accelerometer tap detection to initiate NFC communication

• US 9,106,275 B2
• Filed: 09/24/2009
• Issued: 08/11/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Griffin, Jason T., Walker, David Ryan
• Primary Examiner(s): LIAO, HSINCHUN
• Application Number:
  US12/565,912
• Publication Number:
  US 20110070829A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,147 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.1, 455/41.3, 455/418, 455/550.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/48 Transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface
• 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

Abstract

A communications device, method and system include a processor and a Near Field Communications (NFC) circuit connected to the processor and configured to communicate using an NFC communications protocol. An accelerometer is connected to the processor and configured to generate a signal to the processor upon a tapping engagement with an NFC enabled device. In response, the processor activates the NFC circuit to transmit or receive data with the NFC enabled device using the NFC communications protocol.

Claims

1. A communications device, comprising:

a processor and radio frequency (RF) circuitry;

a Near Field Communications (NFC) circuit connected to the processor and configured to communicate using an NFC communications protocol;

an accelerometer connected to the processor, wherein the accelerometer generates signals indicative of vibration measurements and provides the signals to the processor responsive to a tapping engagement between the communications device and an NFC enabled device, wherein the processor generates a tap profile according to the vibration measurements, wherein the generated tap profile includes a group of measured vibrations; and

a memory storing known tap profiles, wherein each of the known tap profiles is indicative of a plurality of vibrations generated when tapping with the communications device against a particular NFC enabled device;

wherein the processor compares the generated tap profile with the known tap profiles,

wherein the processor selects a particular known tap profile from among the stored known tap profiles based on the comparison according to a match between the group of measured vibrations of the generated tap profile and the plurality of vibrations of the particular known tap profile,

wherein the processor switches on the NFC circuit and activates the NFC circuit to transmit or receive communications protocol data with the NFC enabled device using the NFC communications protocol in response to the selecting of the particular known tap profile,

wherein the NFC circuit is in a lower power state when not switched on, and

wherein the communications protocol data is related to establishing a non-NFC communications connection between the communications device and another communications device and the RF circuitry is activated after the NFC circuit receives communications protocol data related to the non-NFC communications connection.

2. The communications device according to claim 1, and further comprising an analog-to-digital converter connected to said accelerometer and processor and configured to receive analog acceleration signals from said accelerometer and convert said analog acceleration signals to digital signals for subsequent processing by said processor.

3. The communications device according to claim 1, wherein the comparing the generated tap profile with the known tap profiles is based on accelerometer parameters that are met or exceeded.

4. The communications device according to claim 1, wherein the comparing of the generated tap profile with the known tap profiles is based on detecting a cadence of vibrations.

5. The communications device according to claim 1, wherein said accelerometer comprises a dual axis or tri-axis accelerometer.

6. The communications device according to claim 1, wherein said communications device comprises a mobile wireless communications device configured for handheld use.

7. The communications device according to claim 6, wherein said wireless communications comprise WiFi or Bluetooth communications.

8. The communications device according to claim 1, wherein the NFC enabled device comprises an NFC tag.

9. A method comprising:

generating, by an accelerometer of a communications device, signals indicative of vibration measurements responsive to a tapping engagement between the communications device and an NFC enabled device;

generating, by a processor of the communication device, a tap profile according to the vibration measurements, wherein the generated tap profile includes a group of measured vibrations;

storing, by a memory of the communications device, known tap profiles, wherein each of the known tap profiles is indicative of a plurality of vibrations generated when tapping with the communications device against a particular NFC enabled device;

comparing, by the processor, the generated tap profile with the known tap profiles,

selecting, by the processor, a particular known tap profile from among the stored known tap profiles based on the comparing according to a match between the group of measured vibrations of the generated tap profile and the plurality of vibrations of the particular known tap profile,

switching on and activating the NFC circuit to transmit or receive communications protocol data with the NFC enabled device using an NFC communications protocol in response to the selecting of a particular known tap profile, wherein the NFC circuit is in a lower power state when not switched on, and wherein the communications protocol data is related to establishing a non-NFC communications connection between the communications device and another communications device and the RF circuitry is activated after the NFC circuit receives communications protocol data related to the non-NFC communications connection.

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising receiving analog acceleration signals from the accelerometer and converting the analog acceleration signals to digital signals for subsequent processing by the processor.

11. The method according to claim 9, further comprising processing data derived from the tapping engagement of the communications device with an NFC enabled device and generating a profile based on accelerometer parameters that are met or exceeded.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the comparing of the generated tap profile with the known tap profiles includes comparing accelerometer parameters against known accelerometer parameters.

13. The method according to claim 9, further comprising forming the accelerometer as a dual axis or tri-axis accelerometer.

14. The method according to claim 9, further comprising establishing a Bluetooth or WiFi connection.

15. The method according to claim 9, wherein the communications device is a portable wireless communications device, and wherein the tapping engagement between the communications device and an NFC enabled device is at a designated tapping interface of the NFC enabled device.

16. A system for communicating, comprising:

a Near Field Communications (NFC) enabled device; and

a communications device comprising a processor, radio frequency (RF) circuitry connected to the processor, an NFC circuit connected to the processor and configured to communicate using an NFC communications protocol, and an accelerometer connected to the processor, and a memory storing known accelerometer profiles that are each indicative of an accelerometer profile generated when tapping with the communications device against a particular NFC enabled device, and said accelerometer is configured to generate a signal indicative of the accelerometer profile to the processor upon a tapping engagement with the NFC enabled device and in response, the processor configured to compare the generated accelerometer profile with a stored accelerometer profile and switch on the NFC circuit and activate the NFC circuit to transmit or receive data with the NFC enabled device using the NFC communications protocol and wherein the NFC circuit is in a lower power state when not switched on, wherein the communications protocol data is related to establishing a non-NFC communications connection between the communications device and another communications device and the RF circuitry is activated after the NFC circuit receives communications protocol data related to the non-NFC communications connection, wherein the comparing of the generated accelerometer profile with the stored accelerometer profile comprises determining a match of a group of vibrations of the profiles.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein said NFC enabled device comprises a NFC enabled tag.