Data communication in an electronic device

• US 9,442,643 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2013
• Issued: 09/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Mobile Communications Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Lessing, Simon
• Primary Examiner(s): LIAO, HSINCHUN
• Application Number:
  US14/067,576
• Publication Number:
  US 20140053080A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,049 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.1, 455/41.2, 455/41.3, 455/456.3, 340/568.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• 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: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication
• 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 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/64 file transfer between terminals download of applications H04M1/72406; transfer of messages, e.g. SMS, e-mail or MMS H04M1/7243
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00307 with a mobile telephone apparatus constructional features of portable telephone sets H04M1/0202; mobile radio systems H04W84/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00342 with a radio frequency tag transmitter or receiver storage of additional information in an RFID tag attached to an image bearing paper sheet H04N1/32138
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0035 User-machine interface; Control console input or output arrangements for computers G06F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00411 the display also being used for user input, e.g. touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32138 in an electronic device attached to the sheet, e.g. in an RFID tag
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32765 Initiating a communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32767 in response to a user operation, e.g. actuating a switch H04N1/32769 and H04N1/32771 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0036 Detecting or checking connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0055 By radio

Abstract

The invention relates to an electronic device (10) and a method for data communication with such an electronic device. The electronic device combines, on the one hand, a Near Field Communication (NFC) interface, including an antenna and a circuit for generating a modulated electromagnetic wave, and on the other hand a user interface including a touch-sensitive display configured to present an object relating to a communication action executable by means of the NFC interface. A control unit connected to the NFC interface and the user interface, is configured to trigger the NFC interface to execute the communication action responsive to simultaneous detection of the presented object being touched and the NFC interface being in communicative connection with a second NFC interface of a second device.

Claims

1. An electronic device equipped to provide communication capabilities for interaction in many different communication systems, comprising:

a Near Field Communication interface, including an antenna and a circuit for generating a modulated electromagnetic wave; and

a user interface including a touch-sensitive display configured to present an object, relating to a communication action executable by means of the Near Field Communication interface;

wherein a control unit, connected to the Near Field Communication interface and to the user interface, configured to trigger the automatic selection of Near Field Communication as communication system and the Near Field Communication interface to execute the communication action, responsive to simultaneous detection of the presented object, wherein the object represent a data item, being touched and the Near Field Communication interface being in communicative connection with a second Near Field Communication interface of a second device, wherein the communication action comprise transceiving of the data item, represented by the touched object, with the second device via said second Near Field Communication interface.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the user interface is configured to present a plurality of separate objects, where each of the objects are separately touchable on the display to execute the related communication action by means of the Near Field Communication interface.

3. The electronic device of claim 2, where the objects represent different data items.

4. The electronic device of claim 3, wherein the same communication action is tied to each object, and wherein the control unit is configured to execute the communication action on the data item to which a touched object relates.

5. The electronic device of claim 2, wherein the user interface comprises an input key, activation of which triggers the user interface to present the plurality of separate objects on the display.

6. The electronic device of claim 2, wherein the control unit is configured to trigger the user interface to present the plurality of separate objects on the display responsive to the Near Field Communication interface establishing a communication connection with a second Near Field Communication interface.

7. The electronic device of claim 2, wherein each one of the objects relate to a data item, wherein the control unit is configured to execute sending of a data item to the second electronic device responsive to sensing touching of the related object.

8. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the user interface comprises an indicator configured to provide a visual signal responsive to the Near Field Communication interface being in communicative connection with a second Near Field Communication interface of a second device.

9. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the user interface is configured to present a plurality of pictures or icons, where each of the pictures or icons are separately touchable on the display to execute sending of data related to the picture or icon by means of the Near Field Communication interface.

10. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the user interface is configured to present a plurality of command options, where each command option relates to sending of different types of data, wherein each of the command option are separately touchable on the display to execute sending of data related to the command option by means of the Near Field Communication interface.

11. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the device is a mobile telephone.

12. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the second device is a mobile telephone.

13. The electronic device of claim 1, where the second device is a Near Field Communication tag.

14. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the Near Field Communication interface comprises:

a modulator for sending data by modulating electromagnetic waves.

15. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the Near Field Communication interface comprises:

an electromagnetic wave generator for forming a radio frequency field, connected to the antenna;

a demodulator connected to the antenna for acquiring data modulated in an electromagnetic wave.

16. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the antenna comprises a closed loop coil.

17. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the Near Field Communication interface is configured to operate in the 13.56 MHz frequency band.

18. A method for data communication in an electronic device equipped to provide communication capabilities for interaction in many different communication systems, comprising the steps of:

providing an electronic device including a Near Field Communication interface with an antenna connected to a circuit for modulating an electromagnetic wave, and a user interface comprising a touch-sensitive display;

positioning the Near Field Communication interface within communication range of a second Near Field Communication interface of a second device;

presenting an object, relating to a communication action executable by means of the Near Field Communication interface, on the display; and

sensing touching of the presented object;

automatically selecting Near Field Communication as communication system and executing the communication action, responsive to simultaneously detecting touching of the presented object, wherein the object represent a data item, and a present communicative connection between the Near Field Communication interface and the second Near Field Communication interface, wherein the communication action comprise transceiving of the data item, represented by the touched object, with the second device via said second Near Field Communication interface.

19. The method of claim 18, comprising the steps of:

presenting a plurality of separate objects, where each of the objects are separately touchable on the display to execute the related communication action by means of the Near Field Communication interface.

20. The method of claim 19, where the objects represent different data items.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the same communication action is tied to each object, comprising the steps of:

executing the communication action on the data item to which a touched object relates.

22. The method device of claim 19, comprising the step of:

presenting the plurality of separate objects on the display responsive to sensing activation of an input key.

23. The method of claim 19, comprising the step of:

presenting the plurality of separate objects on the display responsive to the Near Field Communication interface establishing a communication connection with the second Near Field Communication interface.

24. The method of claim 19, wherein each one of the objects relate to a data item, comprising the step of:

sending a data item to the second electronic device responsive to sensing touching of the related object.

25. The method of claim 18, comprising the step of:

visually indicating that the Near Field Communication interface is in communicative connection with the second Near Field Communication interface.

26. The method of claim 18, comprising the steps of:

presenting a plurality of command options, where each command option relates to sending of different types of data; and

sending data related to the command option by means of the Near Field Communication interface, responsive to detecting touching of the related command option.

27. The method of claim 18, wherein the device is a mobile telephone.

28. The method of claim 18, wherein the second device is a mobile telephone.

29. The method of claim 18, where the second device is a Near Field Communication tag.

30. The method of claim 18, wherein the Near Field Communication interface operates in the 13.56 MHz frequency band.