Method and device for operating a multifunctional near-field communication device supporting several data formats

• US 9,268,976 B2
• Filed: 07/25/2005
• Issued: 02/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Nystrom, Sebastian, Saarisalo, Mikko
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehmood, Jennifer
• Assistant Examiner(s): POINT, RUFUS C
• Application Number:
  US11/996,915
• Publication Number:
  US 20080224825A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,865 Days
• Field of Search: 340/10.1, 340/10.51, 340/10.2
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3206 Monitoring of events, devices or parameters that trigger a change in power modality
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3278 Power saving in modem or I/O interface
• 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: G06K 7/10237 the reader and the record carrier being capable of selectively switching between reader and record carrier appearance, e.g. in near field communication [NFC] devices where the NFC device may function as an RFID reader or as an RFID tag
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10297 arrangements for handling protocols designed for non-contact record carriers such as RFIDs NFCs, e.g. ISO/IEC 14443 and 18092 cryptographic protocols H04L9/00; network security protocols H04L63/00; real-time communication protocols in data switching networks H04L65/00; network protocols for data switching network services H04L67/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/04 including near field communication means, e.g. RFID
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/10 including a GPS signal receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0229 where the received signal is a wanted signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0241 where no transmission is received, e.g. out of range of the transmitter
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0258 controlling an operation mode according to history or models of usage information, e.g. activity schedule or time of day
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

The present invention relates in the field of power saving battery-operated radio frequency identification (RFID) and near field communication (NFC) devices and provides a method to operate a multifunctional NFC/RFID device that supports two or more data formats according to respective protocols of respective standards. The method of the invention comprises obtaining context information about the context of said multifunctional near-field communication device, and selecting an operation mode for the multifunctional near-field communication device for communicating with external devices on the basis of said obtained context information. In the method said selected operation mode defines proportionality values for communicating according to said two or more supported data formats according to respective protocols of respective standards. Said operation mode is used to for switching operation of said multifunctional near-field communication device between said two or more supported data formats according to respective protocols of respective standards based on the proportionality values.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving context information about the context of a multifunctional near-field communication device configured to support two or more near-field communication data formats according to respective protocols,

causing selection of an operation mode for the multifunctional near-field communication device for communicating with external near-field communication devices on the basis of said received context information, wherein said selected operation mode defines proportionality values for communicating according to said two or more supported data formats according to respective protocols of respective standards for switching operation of said multifunctional near-field communication device between said two or more supported data formats according to respective protocols based on the proportionality values,

receiving updated context information based at least in part on data associated with at least one external near-field communication device, and

causing adjustment of the operation mode of the multifunction near-field communication device for communicating with the external near-field communication devices on the basis of the received updated context information.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said updated context information is obtained with a subsequent process.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said context information is obtained on the basis of the frequency of detected devices using a particular one of the supported communication protocols.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said context information is obtained during an adaptation period, during which all notified target types are logged.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said context information is obtained on the basis of location information.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said context information is obtained on the basis of history information.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein said receiving context information comprises receiving initial context information from a wireless communication network.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein said receiving of context information from a wireless communication network comprises:

establishing a connection to said wireless communication network, and

receiving said requested context information.

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising

sending a request for context information to said communication network.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

sending received context information to a wireless communication network.

11. The method for operating a multifunctional near-field communication device according to claim 3, wherein context information is obtained by a combination of a least two different methods for receiving said context information.

13. The method according to claim 7 further comprising providing context information to the multifunctional near-field communication device connected to a wireless communication network, wherein providing context information comprises (i) detecting a multifunctional near-field communication device connected to said communication network, and (ii) sending context information to said multifunctional near-field communication device based on at least a determined location of said multifunctional near-field communication device.

18. Computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium having program code portions stored thereon, the program code portions being configured when run on a computer or network device to carry out the method of claim 1.

12. A method comprising:

detecting a multifunctional near-field communication device connected to a communication network,

causing sending of context information to said multifunctional near-field communication device based on at least a determined location of said multifunctional near-field communication device,

receiving a request for updated context information from the multifunctional near-field communication device, and

causing sending of updated context information, wherein the updated context information is based at least in part on data associated with at least one external near-field communication device.

37. Computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium having program code portions stored thereon, the program code portions being configured when run on a computer or network device to carry out the method of claim 12.

14. A method comprising:

receiving location data about the location of a multifunctional near-field communication device configured to support two or more near-field communication date formats according to respective protocols,

causing selection of an operation mode for the multifunctional near-field communication device for communicating with external near-field communication devices on the basis of said obtained location data,

receiving updated context information based at least in part on data associated with at least one external near-field communication device, and

causing adjustment of the operation mode of the multifunction near-field communication device for communicating with the external near-field communication devices on the basis of the received updated context information.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein said selected operation mode defines proportionality values for communicating according to said two or more supported data formats according to respective protocols of respective standards for switching operation of said multifunctional near-field communication device between said two or more supported data formats according to respective protocols based on the proportionality values.

16. The method according to claim 14 further comprising:

detecting the frequency used by devices with a particular one of the supported communication protocols, and

adjusting said operation mode of the multifunctional near-field communication device for communicating with external devices on the basis of said detected frequency.

17. The method according to claim 14, wherein the received location information and selected operation mode are logged.

19. Computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium having program code portions stored thereon, the program code portions being configured when run on a computer or network device to carry out the method of claim 14.

20. An apparatus comprising

a processor and a memory including computer program code, the memory and the computer program code configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to:

receive context information about the context of a multifunctional near-field communication device configured to support two or more near-field communication data formats according to respective protocols,

cause selection of an operation mode for the multifunctional near-field communication device for communication with external near-field communication devices on the basis of said received context information, wherein said selected operation mode defines proportionality values for communicating according to said two or more supported data formats according to respective protocols of respective standards for switching operation of the multifunctional near-field communication device between said two or more supported data formats according to respective protocols based on the proportionality values,

receive updated context information based at least in part on data associated with at least one external near-field communication device, and

cause adjustment of the operation mode of the multifunction near-field communication device for communicating with the external near-field communication devices on the basis of the received updated context information.

21. The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the context information is obtained with a subsequent process.

22. The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said received context information is based on initial context information received from a wireless communication network.

23. The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to store history information.

24. The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the context information is obtained on the basis of location information.

25. The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the context information is obtained on the basis of frequency of detected devices using a particular one of the supported communication protocols.

26. The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to establish a connection to a wireless communication network.

27. The apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the context information is obtained from a GPS navigation module.

28. The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to pay for certain services.

29. An apparatus comprising

a processor and a memory including computer program code, the memory and the computer program code configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to:

receive location data about the location of a multifunctional near-field communication device configured to support two or more near-field communication date formats according to respective protocols,

cause selection of an operation mode for the multifunctional near-field communication device for communicating with external near-field communication devices on the basis of said obtained location data,

receive updated context information based at least in part on data associated with at least one external near-field communication device, and

cause adjustment of the operation mode of the multifunction near-field communication device for communicating with the external near-field communication devices on the basis of the received updated context information.

30. The apparatus according to claim 29, wherein said selected operation mode defines proportionality values for communicating according to said two or more supported data formats according to respective protocols of respective standards for switching operation of the multifunctional near-field communication device between said two or more supported data formats according to respective protocols based on the proportionality values.

31. The apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to

detect the frequency used by devices with a particular one of the supported communication protocols, and adjust said operation mode of the multifunctional near-field communication device for communicating with external devices on the basis of detected frequencies.

32. The apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the context information is obtained with a subsequent process.

33. An apparatus comprising:

means for receiving context information about the context of a multifunctional near-field communication device configured to support two or more near-field communication data formats according to respective protocols,

means for causing selection of an operation mode for the multifunctional near-field communication device for communicating with external near-field communication devices on the basis of said received context information, wherein said selected operation mode defines proportionality values for communicating according to said two or more supported data formats according to respective protocols of respective standards for switching operation of said device between said two or more supported data formats according to respective protocols based on the proportionality values,

means for receiving updated context information based at least in part on data associated with at least one external near-field communication device, and

means for causing adjustment of the operation mode of the multifunction near-field communication device for communicating with the external near-field communication devices on the basis of the received updated context information.

34. An apparatus comprising:

means for receiving location data about the location of a multifunctional near-field communication device configured to support two or more near-field communication data formats according to respective protocols,

means for causing selection of an operation mode for the device for communicating with external near-field communication devices on the basis of said received location data,

means for receiving updated context information based at least in part on data associated with at least one external near-field communication device, and

means for causing adjustment of the operation mode of the multifunction near-field communication device for communicating with the external near-field communication devices on the basis of the received updated context information.

35. An apparatus comprising a processor and a memory including computer program code, the memory and the computer program code configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to:

detect a multifunctional near-field communication device connected to a communication network,

cause sending of context information to said multifunctional near-field communication device based on at least a determined location of said multifunctional near-field communication device,

receive a request for updated context information from the multifunctional near-field communication device, and

cause sending of updated context information, wherein the updated context information is based at least in part on data associated with at least one external near-field communication device.

36. An apparatus comprising:

means for detecting a multifunctional near-field communication device connected to a communication network,

means for causing sending of context information to said multifunctional near-field communication device based on at least a determined location of said multifunctional near-field communication device,

means for receiving a request for updated context information from the multifunctional near-field communication device, and

means for causing sending of updated context information, wherein the updated context information is based at least in part on data associated with at least one external near-field communication device.