Methods and apparatus for improving peer communications using an active communication mode

• US 9,214,988 B2
• Filed: 11/05/2012
• Issued: 12/15/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Hillan, John, Haverinen, Anssi Kaleva
• Primary Examiner(s): Dao, Minh D
• Application Number:
  US13/668,825
• Publication Number:
  US 20130203349A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,135 Days
• Field of Search: 455/229, 455/63.1, 455/67.13, 455/224, 455/41.1, 340/856.3, 340/545.3
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/48 Transceivers
• 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 52/0209 in terminal devices terminal devices per se H04W88/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/0816 with collision avoidance
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/23 Manipulation of direct-mode connections
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Aspects disclosed herein relate to providing peer communications between NFC enabled devices using an active communication mode. In one example, a communications device is equipped to detect a remote NFC device field within an operating volume, establish a peer communication link with the remote NFC device using an active communication mode, determine that the peer communication link is to be deselected, and transmit a deselection request message to the remote NFC device indicating to the remote NFC device that it has been deselected while maintaining the peer communication link. In another example, a communications device is equipped to sense an operating volume, as part of an active communication mode collision avoidance procedure, determine that no field is sensed, initiate an unmodulated carrier as part of switching an operating field to an on state, and maintain the unmodulated carrier for a collision avoidance threshold duration of time.

Claims

1. A method of wireless communications, comprising:

sensing an operating volume for a presence of a field generated by a remote near field communication (NFC) device as part of an active communication mode collision avoidance procedure;

determining that no field is sensed within the operating volume of an NFC device;

initiating an unmodulated carrier as part of switching an operating field for the NFC device to an on state; and

maintaining the unmodulated carrier for a collision avoidance threshold duration of time.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

concluding the active communication mode collision avoidance procedure upon a determination that the collision avoidance threshold duration of time has elapsed.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the collision avoidance threshold is a duration between switching on the unmodulated carrier and starting to send a command.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the collision avoidance threshold is an active radio frequency guard time (T_ARFG) as defined as part of an enhanced NFC Digital Protocol specification.

5. A a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising:

code for sensing an operating volume for a presence of a field generated by a remote near field communication (NFC) device as part of an active communication mode collision avoidance procedure;

code for determining that no field is sensed within the operating volume of an NFC device;

code for initiating an unmodulated carrier as part of switching an operating field for the NFC device to an on state; and

code for maintaining the unmodulated carrier for a collision avoidance threshold duration of time.

6. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 5, further comprising:

code for concluding the active communication mode collision avoidance procedure upon a determination that the collision avoidance threshold duration of time has elapsed.

7. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 5, whereint he colilsion avoidance threshold is a duration between switching ont he unmodulated carrier and starting to send a command.

8. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 5, wherein the collision avoidance threshold is an active radio frequency guard time (T_ARFG) as defined as part of an enhanced NFC Digital Protocol specification.

9. An apparatus for communications, comprising:

means for sensing an operating volume for a presence of a field generated by a remote near field communication (NFC) device as part of an active communication mode collision avoidance procedure;

means for determining that no field is sensed within the operating volume of an NFC device;

means for initiating an unmodulated carrier as part of switching an operating field for the NFC device to an on state; and

means for maintaining the unmodulated carrier for a collision avoidance threshold duration of time.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising:

means for concluding the active communication mode collision avoidance procedure upon a determination that the collision avoidance threshold duration of time has elapsed.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the collision avoidance threshold is a duration between switching on the unmodulated carrier and starting to send a command.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the collision avoidance threshold is an active radio frequency guard time (T_ARFG) as defined as part of an enhanced NFC Digital Protocol specification.

13. An apparatus for NFC communications, comprising:

a transceiver;

a memory;

a processor coupled to the memory; and

an active communication mode module coupled to at least one of the memory or the processor and configured to;

sense an operating volume for a presence of a field generated by a remote near field communication (NFC) device as part of an active communication mode collision avoidance procedure;

determine that no field is sensed within the operating volume of an NFC device;

initiate an unmodulated carrier as part of switching an operating field for the NFC device to an on state; and

maintain the unmodulated carrier for a collision avoidance threshold duration of time.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the active communication mode module is further configured to:

conclude the active communication mode collision avoidance procedure upon a determination that the collision avoidance threshold duration of time has elapsed.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the collision avoidance threshold is a duration between switching on the unmodulated carrier and starting to send a command.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the collision avoidance threshold is an active radio frequency guard time (T_ARFG) as defined as part of an enhanced NFC Digital Protocol specification.