Communication device, communication method, program and communication system

• US 9,325,387 B2
• Filed: 01/29/2015
• Issued: 04/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Takayama, Yoshihisa
• Primary Examiner(s): Urban, Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rachedine, Mohammed
• Application Number:
  US14/608,783
• Publication Number:
  US 20150140931A1
• Time in Patent Office: 453 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/48 Transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/22 Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A communication device includes: an electromagnetic-wave generating unit for outputting an electromagnetic wave; and a transmitting/receiving unit for transmitting data by modulating the electromagnetic wave in accordance with data and receiving data transmitted from the other device by demodulating the electromagnetic wave outputted by the electromagnetic-wave generating unit or the electromagnetic wave outputted by the other device as the other party of communication, wherein the transmitting/receiving unit transmits attribute information indicating communication ability of the device and receives attribute information indicating communication ability of the other device, and the electromagnetic-wave generating unit reduces power of the electromagnetic wave to be outputted after receiving the attribute information.

Claims

1. A communication device comprising:

an electromagnetic-wave generating unit for outputting a first electromagnetic wave;

a transmitting and receiving unit for transmitting signal by modulating the first electromagnetic wave in accordance with data and receiving signal transmitted from a second device by demodulating the first electromagnetic wave outputted by the electromagnetic-wave generating unit or a second electromagnetic wave outputted by the second device as a second party of communication; and

a control unit for controlling output of the first electromagnetic wave in at least one of a first mode and a second mode,

wherein power consumption of the communication device in the second mode is lower than the first mode;

wherein the control unit is configured to select the at least one of the first mode and the second mode based on signal outputted from the second device; and

wherein the first electromagnetic wave outputted by the electromagnetic-wave generating unit in the second mode includes a shorter period than the first mode.

2. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic-wave generating unit outputs the first electromagnetic wave at a power in the second mode lower than the first mode.

3. The communication device according to claim 2, wherein the power in the second mode is higher than 0.3 A/m and lower than 1.5 A/m.

4. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the transmitting and receiving unit is configured to transmit attribute information indicating communication ability of a first device and to receive attribute information indicating communication ability of the second device, and wherein the electromagnetic-wave generating unit is configured to reduce power of the first electromagnetic wave after receiving the attribute information.

5. The communication device according to claim 3, wherein the attribute information includes information about an intermittent RF output communication for performing communication in which output of the first electromagnetic wave is repeatedly stopped for a fixed period.

6. The communication device according to claim 3, wherein the attribute information includes information about a low RF output communication for performing communication at a low power.

7. A communication method in a communication device including an electromagnetic-wave generating unit and a transmitting and receiving unit, the method comprising:

transmitting signal by modulating a first electromagnetic wave in accordance with data;

receiving signal transmitted from a second device by demodulating the first electromagnetic wave outputted by the electromagnetic-wave generating unit or a second electromagnetic wave outputted by the second device as a second party of communication; and

selecting the first electromagnetic wave in at least one of a first mode and a second mode,

wherein power consumption of the communication device in the second mode is lower than the first mode, and wherein the first electromagnetic wave outputted by the electromagnetic-wave generating unit in the second mode includes a shorter period than the first mode.

8. A communication system comprising:

a first communication device; and

a second communication device, wherein the first communication device includes;

an electromagnetic-wave generating unit for outputting a first electromagnetic wave;

a first transmitting and receiving unit for transmitting signal by modulating the first electromagnetic wave in accordance with data and receiving signal transmitted from the second communication device by demodulating the first electromagnetic wave outputted by the electromagnetic-wave generating unit or a second electromagnetic wave outputted by the second communicate device; and

a control unit for controlling output of the first electromagnetic wave in at least one of a first mode and a second mode, wherein power consumption of the first communication device in the second mode is lower than the first mode;

wherein the control unit is configured to select the at least one of the first mode and the second mode based on signal outputted from the second device; and

wherein the first electromagnetic wave outputted by the electromagnetic-wave generating unit in the second mode includes a shorter period than the first mode, the second communication device includes;

a second transmitting and receiving unit for receiving the signal transmitted from the first communication device by demodulating the first electromagnetic wave outputted by the first communication device, and transmitting signal by modulating the first electromagnetic wave outputted by the first communication device or the second electromagnetic wave outputted by the second communication device.

9. The communication system according to claim 8, wherein the first communication device includes at least one of a reader and writer, a personal computer, a cell phone, a watch, a pen, and a personal digital assistant, and the second communication device includes an IC card.

10. The communication system according to claim 8, wherein the electromagnetic-wave generating unit outputs the first electromagnetic wave at a power in the second mode lower than the first mode.

11. The communication system according to claim 10, wherein the power in the second mode is higher than 0.3 A/m and lower than 1.5 A/m.

12. The communication system according to claim 8, wherein the first transmitting and receiving unit is configured to transmit attribute information indicating communication ability of the first communication device and to receive attribute information indicating communication ability of the second communication device, and wherein the electromagnetic-wave generating unit is configured to reduce power of the first electromagnetic wave after receiving the attribute information.

13. The communication system according to claim 11, wherein the attribute information includes information about an intermittent RF output communication for performing communication in which output of the first electromagnetic wave is repeatedly stopped for a fixed period.

14. The communication system according to claim 11, wherein the attribute information includes information about a low RF output communication for performing communication at a low power.