Data communication in an electronic device

• US 9,489,109 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2006
• Issued: 11/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Lessing, Simon
• Primary Examiner(s): LIAO, HSINCHUN
• Application Number:
  US11/277,951
• Publication Number:
  US 20070239981A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,876 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.1, 455/41.2, 455/41.3, 713/164
• 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, comprising:

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

a user interface including a touch-sensitive display configured to present an object relating to a predetermined communication action executable by the NFC interface; and

a control unit connected to the NFC interface and the user interface, the control unit is configured to detect, as a user confirmation to undertake the predetermined communication action, simultaneous touching of the presented object on the touch-sensitive display and the NFC interface being in communicative connection with a second NFC interface of a second device, and the control unit is configured to trigger the NFC interface to execute the predetermined communication action when the detection of the simultaneous touching and communicative connection is made,

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 the NFC interface,

wherein the user interface is configured to provide a visual signal indicating that the NFC interface is in communicative connection with a second NFC interface of a second device, and

wherein the plurality of separate objects presented by the user interface comprise a plurality of selectable commands visually identifying;

a particular device with which the selectable command is associated; and

an object transferred to the particular device upon execution, wherein the NFC interface is in communicative connection with the particular device.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, where the objects represent different commands.

3. The electronic device of claim 1, where the objects represent different data items stored by a memory of the electronic device.

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 1, 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 1, wherein the control unit is configured to trigger the user interface to present the plurality of separate objects on the display as a default action responsive to the NFC interface establishing a communication connection with a second NFC interface.

7. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein each one of the objects relate to a data item stored in a memory of the electronic device, wherein the control unit is configured to execute sending of the data item corresponding to the touched object to the second electronic device as the predetermined communication action.

8. 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 NFC interface.

9. 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 NFC interface.

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

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

12. The electronic device of claim 1, where the second device is an NFC tag.

13. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the NFC 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.

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

15. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the NFC interface is configured to operate in the 13.56 MHz frequency band.

16. A method for data communication in an electronic device, comprising the steps of:

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

positioning the NFC interface within communication range of a second NFC interface of a second device;

presenting an object, relating to a predetermined communication action executable by means of the NFC interface, on the display;

sensing as a user confirmation to undertake the predetermined communication action, simultaneous touching on the touch-sensitive display of the presented object and the NFC interface being in communicative connection with a second NFC interface of a second device;

provide via the user interface a visual signal indicating that the NFC interface is in communicative connection with the second NFC interface of the second device;

executing the predetermined communication when the detection of the simultaneous touching and communicative connection is made; and

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 NFC interface,

wherein the presented plurality of separate objects comprise a plurality of selectable commands visually identifying;

a particular device with which the selectable command is associated; and

an object transferred to the particular device upon execution, wherein the NFC interface is in communicative connection with the particular device.

17. The method of claim 16, where the objects represent different commands.

18. The method of claim 16, where the objects represent different data items stored by a memory of the electronic device.

19. The method of claim 18, 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.

20. The method of claim 16, comprising the step of:

visually indicating that the NFC interface is in communicative connection with the second NFC interface.

21. The method device of claim 16, comprising the step of:

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

22. The method of claim 16, comprising the step of:

presenting the plurality of separate objects on the display as a default action responsive to the NFC interface establishing a communication connection with the second NFC interface.

23. The method of claim 16, wherein each one of the objects relate to a data item stored in a memory of the electronic device, comprising the step of:

sending the data item corresponding to the touched object to the second electronic device as the predetermined communication action.

24. The method of claim 16, comprising the steps of:

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

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

25. The method of claim 16, wherein the device is a mobile telephone.

26. The method of claim 16, wherein the second device is a mobile telephone.

27. The method of claim 16, where the second device is an NFC tag.

28. The method of claim 16, wherein the NFC interface operates in the 13.56 MHz frequency band.