Communications device for intelligently routing information among multiple user interfaces

• US 9,749,016 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2016
• Issued: 08/29/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NXP USA, Inc. (NXP Semiconductors NV)
• Original Assignee: NXP USA, Inc. (NXP Semiconductors NV)
• Inventors: Cox, David Grant
• Primary Examiner(s): Milord, Marceau
• Application Number:
  US15/082,198
• Publication Number:
  US 20160211890A1
• Time in Patent Office: 519 Days
• Field of Search: 455 411, 455 412, 455573, 4553432, 455410, 4553435
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3212 Monitoring battery levels, e.g. power saving mode being initiated when battery voltage goes below a certain level
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/00 Near-field transmission systems, e.g. inductive or capacitive transmission systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/04 including near field communication means, e.g. RFID
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/16 including more than one display unit
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0261 managing power supply demand, e.g. depending on battery level
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0267 by controlling user interface components
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0274 by switching on or off the equipment or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0277 according to available power supply, e.g. switching off when a low battery condition is detected
• 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

A near field communications (NFC) device is disclosed that intelligently routes NFC data from a NFC device between multiple user interfaces based upon a power level of its internal batteries. The communications device utilizes a communications device user interface to send and/or receive the NFC data from the NFC device when its internal batteries are sufficient to operate the communications device user interface. The communications device begins to route some of this NFC data from being sent and/or received by the communications device user interface to a NFC user interface as its internal batteries deplete. Eventually, all of the NFC data will be sent to and/or received by the NFC user interface as the internal batteries of the communications device become so depleted that they are unable to reliably operate the communications device user interface.

Claims

1. A communications device, comprising:

a first communications module configured to perform a first service;

a controller configured to route information related to the first service to a first user interface when a battery level is insufficient to operate a second user interface, wherein the first user interface is configured to provide at least one of a visual notification or an audible notification relating to the information; and

a second communications module configured to perform a second service that is different from the first service,

wherein the controller is further configured to route the information to the second user interface when the battery level is sufficient to operate the second user interface and to stop being configured to route the information to the second user interface when the battery level is insufficient to operate the second user interface in its entirety.

2. The communications device of claim 1, wherein the communications module comprises:

a near field communications (NFC) module configured to provide NFC with another NFC capable device.

3. The communications device of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to harvest power from a communication signal to operate the first user interface.

4. The communications device of claim 3, wherein the controller is further configured to harvest the power from the communication signal when the battery level is insufficient to operate the second user interface.

5. The communications device of claim 3, wherein the controller is further configured to transition from routing the information based on the battery level to routing the information based on the harvested power when the battery level is insufficient to operate the second user interface.

6. The communications device of claim 1, wherein the second user interface is configured to provide an operator with a full complement of services to be performed by the communications device when the battery level is sufficient to operate the second user interface, and wherein the full complement of services is split between the first user interface and the second user interface when the battery level is insufficient to operate the second user interface in its entirety.

7. The communications device of claim 1, wherein the first service relates to near field communications (NFC), and wherein the second service relates to communications other than NFC.

8. A method for operating a mobile communications device, comprising:

receiving, via the mobile communications device, information while performing a service;

routing, within the mobile communications device, the information related to the service to a first user interface when a battery level is insufficient to operate a second user interface;

providing, via the mobile communications device, at least one of a visual notification or an audible notification relating to the information; and

receiving, via a second communications module, second information while performing a second service that is different from the first service, routing the information to the second user interface when the battery level is sufficient to operate the second user interface and to stop routing the information to the second user interface as when the battery level is insufficient to operate the second user interface in its entirety.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

harvesting power from a communication signal to operate the first user interface.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the harvesting the power comprises:

harvesting the power from the communication signal when the battery level is insufficient to operate the second user interface.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

transitioning from routing the information based on the battery level to routing the information based on the harvested power when the battery level is insufficient to operate the second user interface.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

providing an operator, via the second user interface, with a full complement of services to be performed by the communications device when the battery level is sufficient to operate the second user interface, and wherein the full complement of services is split between the first user interface and the second user interface when the battery level is insufficient to operate the second user interface in its entirety.

13. A communications device, comprising:

a near field communications (NFC) user interface;

a non-NFC user interface; and

an NFC device comprising;

a controller configured to route information related to a service to the NFC user interface when a battery level is insufficient to operate the non-NFC user interface, to route the information to the non-NFC user interface when the battery level is sufficient to operate the non-NFC user interface, and to stop being configured to route the information to the non-NFC user interface when the battery level is insufficient operate the non-NFC user interface in its entirety, wherein the NFC user interface is configured to provide at least one of a visual notification or an audible notification relating to the information.

14. The communications device of claim 13, wherein the NFC user interface is configured to display information relating to services provided by the NFC device.

15. The communications device of claim 14, wherein the visual notification indicates a status of the NFC device.

16. The communication device of claim 14, wherein the NFC user interface comprises a display configured to operate based on power harvested from a communication signal.

17. The communication device of claim 16, wherein the NFC device is further configured to harvest the power from the communication signal when the battery level is insufficient to operate the non-NFC user interface.

18. The communications device of claim 16, wherein the NFC device is further configured to transition from routing the information based on the battery level to routing the information based on the harvested power when the battery level is insufficient to operate the non-NFC user interface.