Communication device, reader/writer device, communication system, and communication method

• US 9,124,312 B2
• Filed: 05/24/2011
• Issued: 09/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Hatakeyama, Koichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Wendell, Andrew
• Application Number:
  US13/114,138
• Publication Number:
  US 20110294428A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,561 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.1, 455/41.2, 455/62, 455/66.1, 455/88, 455/550.1, 455/552.1, 455/553.1, 340/10.1, 340/4.42, 340/10.3, 340/12.3, 340/10.51
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/77 for interrogation
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer

Abstract

There is provided a communication device including a secure communication unit configured to perform secure communication with an external reader/writer device, the secure communication being secure close-proximity communication, a first communication unit configured to perform high-speed communication with the reader/writer device, the high-speed communication being close-proximity communication that is faster than the secure communication, a second communication unit configured to, when communication via the high-speed communication is disconnected, communicate with the reader/writer device with a communication mode that is different from a communication mode of the high-speed communication, a power transmission unit configured to receive power transmitted from the reader-writer device by power transmission, and a secondary battery configured to store the power received by the power transmission unit. The second communication unit may be configured to, when communication via the high-speed communication is disconnected, operate with the power stored in the secondary battery.

Claims

1. A communication device comprising:

a close-proximity communication unit configured to perform a low-speed close-proximity communication with an external reader/writer device;

a first communication unit configured to perform high-speed close-proximity communication with the reader/writer device, that is faster than the low-speed close-proximity communication;

a second communication unit configured to, in response to a negotiation request from the reader/writer device when disconnection of communication via the high-speed close-proximity communication is detected at the reader/writer device, negotiate for medium-range communication and perform the medium-range communication with the reader/writer device;

a power transmission unit configured to receive power transmitted from the reader/writer device by power transmission; and

a secondary battery configured to store the power received by the power transmission unit,

in which the second communication unit is configured to, when communication via the high-speed close-proximity communication is disconnected, operate with the power stored in the secondary battery, and

in which the medium-range communication corresponds to a communication mode that is different from that of the high-speed close-proximity communication and from that of the low-speed close-proximity communication, such that the communication device is configured to perform three different types of communication.

2. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the second communication unit is configured to, if the negotiation has been successful, communicate with the reader/writer device by the medium-range communication.

3. The communication device according to claim 2, further comprising a storage unit configured to store information about communication performed by each of the first communication unit and the second communication unit, wherein the information stored in the storage unit is used for the negotiation.

4. A reader/writer device comprising:

a close-proximity communication unit configured to perform a low-speed close-proximity communication with an external portable communication device;

a first communication unit configured to perform high-speed close-proximity communication with the portable communication device, that is faster than the low-speed close-proximity communication; and

a second communication unit configured to, when disconnection of communication via the high-speed communication is detected at the reader/writer device, negotiate for medium-range communication and perform the medium-range communication with the portable communication device,

in which the medium-range communication corresponds to a communication mode that is different from that of the high-speed close-proximity communication and from that of the low-speed close-proximity communication, such that the reader/writer is configured to perform three different types of communication.

5. The reader/writer device according to claim 4, further comprising a power transmission unit configured to transmit power to the portable communication device by power transmission, wherein when communication via the high-speed close-proximity communication is disconnected, transmission of power by the power transmission unit is stopped.

6. The reader/writer device according to claim 4, wherein when the portable communication device has not responded to data transmitted via the high-speed close-proximity communication, the second communication unit starts to communicate by the medium-range communication with the portable communication device.

7. A communication system comprising:

a portable communication device having

(i) a close-proximity communication unit configured to perform a low-speed close-proximity communication with an external reader/writer device;

(ii) a first communication unit configured to perform high-speed close-proximity communication with the reader/writer device, that is faster than the low-speed close-proximity communication; and

(iii) a second communication unit configured to, in response to a negotiation request from the reader/writer device when disconnection of communication via the high-speed close-proximity communication is detected at the reader/writer device, negotiate for medium-range communication and perform the medium-range communication with the reader/writer device,

in which the medium-range communication corresponds to a communication mode that is different from that of the high-speed close-proximity communication and from that of the low-speed close-proximity communication, such that the portable communication device is configured to perform three different types of communication; and

the reader/writer device configured to communicate with the portable communication device using one of the low-speed close-proximity communication, the high-speed close-proximity communication, and the medium-range communication.

8. The communication system according to claim 7, wherein the reader/writer device further includes a power transmission unit configured to transmit power to the portable communication device by power transmission, wherein when communication via the high-speed close-proximity communication is disconnected, transmission of power by the power transmission unit is stopped.

9. The communication system according to claim 8, wherein the portable communication device further includes a power transmission unit and a secondary battery, the power transmission unit being configured to receive the power transmitted from the reader/writer device by the power transmission, and the secondary battery being configured to store the power received by the power transmission unit, and wherein the second communication unit is configured to, when communication via the high-speed close-proximity communication is disconnected, operate with the power stored in the secondary battery.

10. A communication method comprising the steps of:

causing a portable communication device and a reader/writer device to perform low-speed close-proximity communication;

causing the portable communication device and the reader/writer device to perform high-speed close-proximity communication that is faster than the low-speed close-proximity communication; and

causing the portable communication device and the reader/writer device to, when disconnection of communication via the high-speed close-proximity communication is detected, negotiate for medium-range communication and perform the medium-range communication,

in which the medium-range communication corresponds to a communication mode that is different from that of the high-speed close-proximity communication and from that of the low-speed close-proximity communication, such that the portable communication device and the reader/writer are caused to perform three different types of communication.