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HK1179713B - Communications device for intelligently routing information among multiple user interfaces - Google Patents

Communications device for intelligently routing information among multiple user interfaces Download PDF

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Publication number
HK1179713B
HK1179713B HK13106736.1A HK13106736A HK1179713B HK 1179713 B HK1179713 B HK 1179713B HK 13106736 A HK13106736 A HK 13106736A HK 1179713 B HK1179713 B HK 1179713B
Authority
HK
Hong Kong
Prior art keywords
user interface
nfc
communication device
power
actual charge
Prior art date
Application number
HK13106736.1A
Other languages
Chinese (zh)
Other versions
HK1179713A1 (en
Inventor
戴维．格兰特．考克斯
Original Assignee
Nxp Usa, Inc.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from US13/157,518 external-priority patent/US8548380B2/en
Application filed by Nxp Usa, Inc. filed Critical Nxp Usa, Inc.
Publication of HK1179713A1 publication Critical patent/HK1179713A1/en
Publication of HK1179713B publication Critical patent/HK1179713B/en

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Abstract

The present invention is directed to a communications device for intelligently routing information among multiple user interfaces. A near field communications (NFC) device 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.

Description

Communication device for intelligently routing information between multiple user interfaces
Technical Field
The present invention relates to Near Field Communication (NFC), and more particularly, to intelligently operating multiple user interfaces within a communication device.
Background
Near Field Communication (NFC) devices are being incorporated into communication devices, such as mobile phones to provide examples, to facilitate daily transactions using these communication devices. For example, instead of carrying a large number of credit cards, the credit information provided by the credit cards may be stored on the NFC device. The communication device is simply placed on the credit card terminal to transmit the credit information to complete the transaction. As another example, ticketing writing systems (ticketing writing systems), such as those used in bus and train terminals to provide examples, can simply write fare information onto NFC devices without providing passengers with tickets. The passenger simply places the communication device on the reader to take a bus or train without using a paper ticket.
Generally, NFC requires that NFC devices be at a small distance from each other so that their respective magnetic fields can exchange information. Typically, the first NFC device transmits or generates a magnetic field modulated by this information (such as credit information or fare information providing some examples). The magnetic field is inductively coupled to a second NFC device in proximity to the first NFC device. The second NFC device may respond to the first NFC device by modulating its magnetic field or by generating its own modulated magnetic field and inductively coupling the modulated magnetic field to the first NFC device.
Typically, the communication device includes a conventional user interface shared with the NFC device to allow an operator to operate and/or control the communication device and the NFC device. For example, a conventional user interface operates as an output device to receive information, such as one or more commands and/or data providing some examples, from a communication device and/or NFC device to be provided to an operator. Conventional user interfaces also operate input devices to provide information (such as one or more commands and/or data providing some examples) from an operator to the communication device and/or NFC device. Conventional user interfaces derive their power from the internal battery of the communication device.
Operation of the first and second NFC devices as described above discharges the internal batteries of their respective communication devices. In some cases, an NFC device may have to obtain power from the magnetic field of another NFC device when the internal battery of its respective communication device is quickly drained. However, the magnetic field may not provide sufficient power for conventional user interfaces. For example, the magnetic field may not provide sufficient power to operate a touch screen of a mobile device incorporating NFC. Thus, the operator of the communication device is no longer able to operate and/or control the NFC apparatus unless the internal battery of its respective communication device is recharged.
Thus, when the internal battery of the communication device is depleted such that sufficient power is no longer available for the conventional user interface, it is necessary to operate and/or control the NFC device. Other aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description.
Disclosure of Invention
The invention provides a communication device, comprising a communication device function body, a first service execution module and a second service execution module, wherein the communication device function body is constructed to execute a first service; and a Near Field Communication (NFC) device configured to perform a second transaction to route information generated by the first transaction and the second transaction to the communication device user interface when an actual charge stored within the battery is greater than a first power threshold of the plurality of power thresholds and to route information generated by the second transaction to the NFC user interface when the actual charge is greater than a second power threshold of the plurality of power thresholds, the second power threshold being less than the first power threshold.
The present invention also provides a method of performing one or more services by a communications device, comprising: (a) executing, by the communication device, the first service and the second service; (b) comparing an actual charge stored within a battery of the communication device to a plurality of power thresholds; (c) routing, by the communication device, information generated by the first and second services to a communication device user interface when the actual charge stored within the battery is greater than a first power threshold of the plurality of power thresholds; and (d) routing, by the communication device, information generated by the second service to the NFC user interface when the actual charge is greater than a second power threshold of the plurality of power thresholds, the second power threshold being greater than the first power threshold.
Drawings
Embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference numbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements. Furthermore, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the drawing in which the reference number first appears.
FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a communication device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
fig. 2 shows a block diagram of an NFC device implemented as part of a communication device according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention;
fig. 3 shows a block diagram of a user interface controller implemented as part of an NFC device according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of a second communication device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
fig. 5A illustrates a first exemplary NFC user interface implemented within a communication device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
fig. 5B illustrates a second exemplary NFC user interface implemented within a communication device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
fig. 5C illustrates a third exemplary NFC user interface implemented within a communication device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
fig. 5D illustrates a fourth exemplary NFC user interface implemented within a communication device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
fig. 6 shows a third communication device comprising a communication device user interface and an NFC user interface sharing a main display of the communication device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
fig. 7 illustrates a fourth communication device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
fig. 8A schematically illustrates a service that may be performed by a communication device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 8B schematically illustrates a first mapping of services to a user interface according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 8C schematically illustrates a second mapping of services to a user interface according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 8D schematically illustrates a third mapping of services to a user interface according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 8E schematically illustrates a fourth mapping of services to a user interface according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating exemplary operational steps of a user interface controller, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and
fig. 10 shows a block diagram of a third communication device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference numbers generally indicate identical, functionally similar, and/or structurally similar elements. The drawing in which an element first appears is indicated by the leftmost digit(s) in the reference number.
Detailed Description
The following detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings to illustrate exemplary embodiments consistent with this invention. References in the detailed description to "one exemplary embodiment," "an example exemplary embodiment," etc., indicate that the exemplary embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but every exemplary embodiment may not necessarily include the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same exemplary embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an exemplary embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the relevant art that such feature, structure, or characteristic may be affected in connection with other exemplary embodiments whether or not explicitly described.
The exemplary embodiments described herein are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Other exemplary embodiments are possible, and these exemplary embodiments may be modified within the spirit and scope of the present invention. The detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense. Rather, the scope of the invention is to be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.
Embodiments of the invention may be implemented in hardware, firmware, software, or a combination thereof. Embodiments of the invention may also be implemented as instructions stored on a machine-readable medium, which may be read and executed by one or more processors. A machine-readable medium may include any mechanism for storing or transmitting information in a form readable by a machine (such as a computing device). For example, a machine-readable medium may include Read Only Memory (ROM); random Access Memory (RAM); a magnetic disk storage medium; an optical storage medium; a flash memory device; electrical, optical, acoustical or other form of propagated signals (such as carrier waves, infrared signals, digital signals, etc.), and others. Further, firmware, software, routines, and instructions may be described herein for performing certain actions. However, it should be understood that such descriptions are merely for convenience and that such actions in fact result from computing devices, processors, controllers, or other devices executing the firmware, software, routines, instructions, etc.
The following detailed description of exemplary embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the invention that others can, by applying knowledge within the skill of the relevant art, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such exemplary embodiments, without undue experimentation, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, such adaptations and modifications are intended to be within the meaning and range of equivalents of the exemplary embodiments, based on the teaching and guidance presented herein. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation, such that the terminology or phraseology of the present specification is to be interpreted by the skilled artisan in light of the teachings herein.
First exemplary communication device with near field communication capability
Fig. 1 shows a block diagram of a communication device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The NFC device may be integrated within the communication device 100. The communication device 100 routes NFC data from NFC devices between multiple user interfaces based on the power level of its internal battery. The communication device 100 uses the communication device user interface to send and/or receive NFC data from the NFC device when the internal battery of the communication device is sufficient to operate the communication device user interface. When the internal battery of the communication device is depleted, the communication device 100 begins to route some of this NFC data being sent and/or received by the communication device user interface to the NFC user interface. Finally, when all internal batteries of the communication device 100 are depleted such that the communication device user interface cannot be reliably operated, all NFC data will be sent and/or received by the NFC user interface. The communication device 100 includes a communication device battery 102, a communication device functionality 104, an NFC apparatus 106, a communication device user interface 108, and an NFC user interface 110.
Without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, communication apparatus 100 may represent a mobile phone, portable computing device, other computing device (such as a personal, laptop, or desktop computer), computer peripheral (such as a printer), portable audio and/or video player, payment system, ticket writing system (such as a parking and ticketing system, a bus ticketing system, a train ticketing system, or a ticket system to provide some examples), or a ticket reading system, toy, gaming machine, poster, packaging, advertising material, product inventory checking system, and/or any other suitable electronic device apparent to those skilled in the relevant art.
The communication device battery 102 provides power to the communication device 100. The communication device battery 102 may include one or more nickel cadmium (NiCd), one or more nickel metal hydride (NiMH), and/or one or more lithium ion (Li-ion) batteries, however, this example is not limiting and those skilled in the relevant art may implement the communication device battery 102 using other battery chemistries without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. One or more cells of the communication device battery 102 convert chemical energy into electrical energy through an electrochemical reaction. The communication device 100 may reverse the electrochemical reaction to allow the communication device battery 102 to be restored or recharged. The communication device battery 102 may be recovered or recharged through the use of an external energy source and/or by deriving power from the communication signal.
The communication device battery 102 provides a battery power indicator 152 to the NFC device 106 and the communication device functionality 104. The battery power indicator 152 indicates the charge stored within the communication device battery 102. For example, the battery power indicator 152 may represent an indicator of the actual charge stored within the communication device battery 102. The indicator may include a plurality of coded bits representing the actual power stored within the communication device battery 102. As another example, the battery power indicator 152 may be the actual charge stored within the communication device battery 102. The communication device battery 102 may also receive the harvested power 150(harvestedpower) from the NFC device 106. The derived power 150 represents power that may be derived or derived from a communication signal (such as the received communication signal 168 as an example) and will be described in more detail in fig. 2.
As described above, the communication apparatus 100 may be formed integrally with the NFC device 106. The communication device 100 may perform those services by the NFC device 106 as well as other services. The communication device functionality 104 is representative of these other functions supported by the communication device 100, which may include wireless communication, computing capabilities, and/or any other suitable functions apparent to those skilled in the relevant art(s) without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The communication device functionality 104 may also support computing capability related services such as Short Message Service (SMS), email, internet access, gaming, short range wireless communications, cameras, Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) messages, digital audio players, radio, and Global Positioning System (GPS) services and/or any other suitable services that will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art(s) without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
For example, as shown in fig. 1, the communication device functionality 104 may receive a received communication signal 160 from another communication device. Communication device functionality 104 downconverts, demodulates, and/or decodes the received communication signal 160 to recover information, such as, as some examples, one or more commands and/or data embedded within received communication signal 160 for execution by communication device 100. The communication device functionality 104 provides this information to the NFC device 106 as NFC device data 154 and/or to services supported by the communication device functionality 104. As another example, the communication device functionality 104 may provide the transmitted communication signal 162 to another communication device. The communication device functionality 104 may up-convert, modulate and/or decode information (such as, as some examples, one or more commands and/or data to be executed by another communication device) to provide the transmitted communication signal 162. The information may represent NFC device data 154 provided by the NFC device 106 and/or information from services supported by the communication equipment functionality 104. As another example, the communication device functionality 104 may receive the received communication signal 160 and provide the transmitted communication signal 162 to another communication device.
The NFC device 106 interacts with another NFC-enabled device to exchange information between devices, such as data and/or one or more commands that provide some examples. This information may be received from the communication device functionality 104, the communication device user interface 108, and/or the NFC user interface 110 and/or may be generated by the NFC device 106 itself. The NFC device 106 may operate according to an active communication mode and/or a passive communication mode. In the active communication mode, the NFC device 106 generates a magnetic field and modulates the magnetic field with the information to provide the transmitted data communication 170. Additionally, in the passive communication mode, the NFC device 106 uses this information to modulate a magnetic field provided by another NFC-enabled device to provide the transmitted data communication 170.
The NFC device 106 recovers information, such as data providing an instance and/or one or more commands executed by the communication apparatus 100, from a received communication signal 168 from another NFC-enabled device. When the NFC device 106 is operating in an active mode of operation, another NFC-enabled device modulates information into the magnetic field generated by the NFC device 106. In addition, when the NFC device 106 is operating in the passive mode of operation, another NFC-enabled device generates its own magnetic field and modulates the magnetic field with this information.
The NFC device 106 performs similar/dissimilar other services in addition to the services performed by the communication device functionality 104. The NFC device 106 intelligently routes information from the traffic performed by the NFC device 106 and/or the communication device functionality 104 to the communication device user interface 108 and/or the NFC user interface 110. Specifically, the NFC device 106 receives a battery power indicator 152 representing the actual charge stored within the communication device battery 102. The NFC device 106 also receives the obtained power 150 representing power obtained from a communication signal, such as the received communication signal 168. The NFC device 106 also receives information embedded in the received communication signal 168 and/or NFC device data 154. Based on the battery power indicator 152 and/or the obtained power 150, the NFC device 106 intelligently routes information embedded in the received communication signal 168, the NFC device data 154, and/or information generated by the NFC device 106 itself to the communication device user interface 108 as the communication device user interface data 158 and/or to the NFC user interface 110 as the NFC user interface data 156.
In an exemplary embodiment, the communication device 100 does not include a communication device battery 102. In this exemplary embodiment, the NFC device 106 intelligently routes information to the NFC user interface 110 based on the obtained power 150. In another exemplary embodiment, the NFC device 106 intelligently routes information based on the battery power indicator 152 as long as the battery power indicator 152 indicates the actual charge within the communication device battery 102. However, when the battery power metric 152 does not indicate the actual charge within the communication device battery 102, the NFC device 106 intelligently routes information based on the obtained power 150.
For example, the battery power indicator 152 represents the actual charge stored within the communication device battery 102, and the power 150 obtained is sufficient to operate the communication device user interface 108, the NFC device 106 routes information embedded in the received communication signal 168 and NFC device data 154 and/or generated by the NFC device 106 itself to the communication device user interface 108. In this example, the communication device user interface 108 provides the operator with a full suite of services (afullcomplementservices) that may be executed by the communication device functionality 104 and/or the NFC device 106. The full set of services may include, but is not limited to, making a telephone call, editing a text message, verifying a time of day, verifying a date, verifying a power level of a battery, editing an email, searching over the internet, taking a picture, storing data, adjusting settings, verifying a transaction status, verifying an account balance after completing a transaction, and/or any other suitable service that will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
As another example, when the battery power indicator 152 begins to indicate that the actual charge stored within the communication device battery 102 is depleted, the NFC device 106 may begin to route at least some information embedded in the received communication signal 168 and NFC device data 154 and/or generated by the NFC device 106 itself to the NFC user interface 110 as NFC user interface data 156 based on the battery power indicator 152 and/or the obtained power 150. In this example, the information provided to the operator is split between the communication device user interface 108 and the NFC user interface 110, which is related to the suite of services that may be performed by the communication device functionality 104 and/or the NFC device 106.
As yet another example, when the battery power indicator 152 indicates that the actual charge stored within the communication device battery 102 cannot reliably operate the communication device user interface 108, based on the obtained power 150, the NFC device 106 routes information embedded in the received communication signal 168 and NFC device data 154 and/or information generated by the NFC device 106 itself to the NFC user interface 110. In this example, the NFC device transitions from routing information based on the battery power metric 152 and/or the obtained power 150 to routing information based only on the obtained power 150. The NFC user interface 110 allows an operator to command and/or control the NFC device 106 to perform some service. The services available to the operator through the NFC user interface 110 may include, but are not limited to, verifying the time of day, verifying the date, verifying the power level, verifying the transmitted signal level, verifying the source of the incoming power, verifying the status of the transaction, verifying the account balance after completing the transaction, and/or any other suitable service apparent to one skilled in the relevant art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
As yet another example, as described above, in exemplary embodiments that do not include the communication device battery 102, the battery power indicator 152 is unavailable. In this case, the NFC device 106 functions substantially as it did when the communication device battery was unable to reliably operate the communication device user interface 108 as described above. Based on the obtained power 150, the NFC device 106 routes information embedded in the received communication signal 168 and NFC device data 154 and/or information generated by the NFC device 106 itself to the NFC user interface 110. In this example, the NFC user interface 110 allows an operator to command and/or control the NFC device 106 to perform some service. The communication device user interface 108 receives communication device user interface data 158 from the NFC device 106. The communication device user interface 108 serves as an output means to receive communication device user interface data 158 from the NFC device 106. The communication device user interface data 158 may represent data to be displayed by the communication device user interface 108 and/or one or more commands to be executed by the communication device user interface 108. The communication device user interface 108 serves as an input means to receive information from an operator to be provided to the NFC device 106 as communication device user interface data 158. The information from the operator may represent data from the operator and/or one or more commands to be executed by the communication device 100. The communication device user interface 108 may include a touch screen display, an alphanumeric keypad, a microphone, a mouse, a speaker, any other suitable user interface apparent to those skilled in the relevant art, or any combination thereof, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
The NFC user interface 110 receives NFC user interface data 156 from the NFC device 106. The NFC user interface 110 serves as an output device to receive NFC user interface data 156 from the NFC device 106. NFC user interface data 156 may represent data to be displayed by NFC user interface 110 and/or one or more commands to be executed by NFC user interface 110. The NFC user interface 110 serves as an input device to receive information from an operator to be provided to the NFC device 106 as NFC user interface data 156. The information from the operator may represent data from the operator and/or one or more commands to be executed by the communication device 100. The NFC user interface 110 may include a touch screen display, an alphanumeric keypad, a microphone, a mouse, a speaker, a single Light Emitting Diode (LED), a digital LED display, a dot matrix display, a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) with or without backlighting, an Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED), an electronic ink device, and/or any other suitable user interface capable of reliably operating from power derived from communication signals, as will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art, or any combination thereof, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
First exemplary NFC device
Fig. 2 shows a block diagram of an NFC device implemented as part of a communication device according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. NFC device 200 interacts with other NFC devices to exchange information, such as data and/or one or more commands to be executed, as some examples. Based on the battery power indicator 152 and/or the obtained power 150, the NFC device 200 routes information embedded in the received communication signal 168 and NFC device data 154 and/or generated by the NFC device 200 itself among a plurality of user interfaces, such as the communication device user interface 108 and the NFC user interface 110. The NFC apparatus 200 interfaces with the communication device user interface 108 when the battery power indicator 152 and/or the obtained power 150 indicate that the internal battery of the communication device is sufficient to operate the communication device user interface 108. When the battery power indicator 152 and/or the obtained power 150 indicate that the internal battery of the communication device begins to drain, the NFC device 200 begins to interface with the NFC user interface 110. Finally, the NFC device 200 only interfaces with the NFC user interface 110 when the battery power indicator 152 and/or the harvested power 150 indicate that the internal battery of the communication device has been depleted, thereby failing to reliably operate the communication device user interface 108. The NFC device 200 includes an NFC communication module 214, an NFC operation controller 216, and a memory 218. The NFC device 200 may represent an exemplary embodiment of the NFC device 106.
The NFC communication module 214 provides NFC communication capabilities for other NFC capable devices and/or other NFC capable communication devices. The NFC communication module 214 includes a modulator 204, a demodulator 208, an antenna module 206, and a power harvesting module 212.
When no other large magnetic field from other NFC-enabled devices is inductively coupled to the antenna module 206, the modulator 204 generates a Radio Frequency (RF) carrier and modulates the transmission data 252 onto the RF carrier using any suitable analog or digital modulation technique to provide modulated data 254. Suitable analog or digital modulation techniques may include Amplitude Modulation (AM), Frequency Modulation (FM), Phase Modulation (PM), Phase Shift Keying (PSK), Frequency Shift Keying (FSK), amplitude keying (ASK), Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM), and/or any other suitable modulation technique that will be apparent to one skilled in the relevant art. After modulating the transmission data 252 onto the RF carrier, the modulator 204 continues to provide the RF carrier as modulated data 254 after modulating the transmission data 252 onto the radio frequency carrier in the passive communication mode. Conversely, the modulator 204 stops providing the modulated data 254 after modulating the transmission data 252 onto the RF carrier in the active communication mode.
When no other large magnetic field of other NFC-enabled devices is inductively coupled to the inductive coupling element, the antenna module 206 applies the modulation data 254 to the inductive coupling element (such as the resonance tuning circuit providing an example) to generate a magnetic field, thereby providing the communicated data communication 170. However, when other large magnetic fields are inductively coupled to the inductive coupling element, the antenna module 206 may modulate these large magnetic fields in accordance with the modulation data 254 to provide the transmitted data communication 170. In general, the antenna module 206 load modulates these large magnetic fields in accordance with the modulation data 254 to provide the transmitted data communications 170.
Other NFC-enabled devices may inductively couple the received communication signal 168 to the inductive coupling element of the antenna module 206 to provide a recovered communication signal 260. For example, when the other NFC communicator operates in an active communication mode, the other NFC-enabled device may apply its respective information to its respective magnetic field (inductively coupled to the antenna module 206) as the received communication signal 168. Alternatively, when other NFC-enabled devices operate in a passive communication mode, other NFC-enabled devices may modulate corresponding information onto the magnetic field generated by the antenna module 206 to provide the received communication signal 168.
Demodulator 208 demodulates recovered communication signal 260 using any suitable analog or digital modulation technique to provide recovered information 262. Suitable analog or digital modulation techniques may include Amplitude Modulation (AM), Frequency Modulation (FM), Phase Modulation (PM), Phase Shift Keying (PSK), Frequency Shift Keying (FSK), amplitude keying (ASK), Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM), and/or any other suitable modulation technique that will be apparent to one skilled in the relevant art.
The power harvesting module 212 may derive or harvest power from the received communication signal 168. The power harvesting module 212 may derive or harvest power for the NFC device 200 from the received communication signal 168. The obtained power may include power large enough to operate the NFC device 200. However, the power drawn is not sufficient to reliably operate the communication device user interface 108. Specifically, the power harvesting module 212 conditions and/or conditions the received communication signal 168 to provide the harvested power 150. The obtained power 150 may represent a charging voltage and/or charging current that is used to restore or recharge an internal battery of the communication device, such as the communication device battery 102. Alternatively, the harvested power 150 may represent a voltage and/or current that is directly used to operate the NFC device 200.
The NFC operation controller 216 controls the operation of the NFC device 200. NFC operation controller 216 includes NFC controller 210 and user interface controller 202. The NFC controller 210 controls the overall operation and/or configuration of the NFC apparatus 200 and other NFC-enabled devices. NFC controller 210 processes NFC device data 154 to appropriately route information (such as one or more commands and/or data) embedded within NFC device data 154 to user interface controller 202 as user interface information 268, to NFC communication module 214 as transfer data 252, and/or to memory 218 as NFC data 270. For example, NFC controller 210 may issue and/or execute one or more commands embedded within NFC device data 154 to control the overall operation and/or configuration of NFC communications module 214. The one or more commands may include transmission power, transmission data rate, transmission frequency, modulation scheme, bit and/or byte encoding scheme of other NFC-enabled devices and/or any other suitable operating parameters apparent to one skilled in the relevant art(s) without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
As another example, NFC controller 210 may format NFC data 270 into a data frame for transmission to other NFC-enabled devices, and may perform error coding (such as providing an example Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC)) on the data frame to provide transmission data 252. The data frames may include frame delimiters (framedelimiters) to indicate the beginning and/or end of each of the data frames. As yet another example, NFC controller 210 may parse user interface information 268 and/or NFC data 270 from NFC device data 154. The NFC device data 154 may include one or more bits of a header as part of the information. One or more bits of the header may be interpreted by the NFC controller 210 to determine whether to route the NFC device data 154 to the user interface controller 202 as user interface information 268 and/or to the memory 218 as NFC data 270.
Further, NFC controller 210 processes recovery information 262 to appropriately route information (such as one or more commands and/or data) embedded within recovery information 262 to user interface controller 202 as user interface information 268, to NFC communication module 214 as transfer data 252, and/or to memory 218 as NFC data 270. For example, NFC controller 210 may issue and/or execute one or more commands embedded within resume information 262 to control the overall operation and/or configuration of NFC communications module 214. The one or more commands may include transmission power, transmission data rate, transmission frequency, modulation scheme, bit and/or byte encoding scheme of other NFC devices and/or any other suitable operating parameters apparent to one skilled in the relevant art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. As another example, NFC controller 210 may format recovery information 262 as a data frame for transmission to other NFC-enabled devices, and may perform error coding (such as providing an example Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC)) on the data frame to provide transmission data 252. The data frames may include frame delimiters to indicate the beginning and/or end of each of the data frames. As yet another example, NFC controller 210 may parse user interface information 268 and/or NFC data 270 from recovery information 262. Recovery information 262 may include one or more bits of a header as part of the information. One or more bits of the header may be interpreted by NFC controller 210 to determine whether to route recovery information 262 to user interface controller 202 as user interface information 268 and/or to memory 218 as NFC data 270.
The memory 218 reads and/or writes NFC data 270 based on a command from the NFC controller 210. The memory 218 may include a data storage device such as a transponder (transponder), a tag, a smart card, a Read Only Memory (ROM), a Random Access Memory (RAM), a magnetic disk storage medium, an optical storage medium, a flash memory device, and/or any other suitable computer readable medium communicatively coupled to the NFC controller 210 as will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
User interface controller 202
Controls the overall operation and/or configuration of the communication device user interface 108 and the NFC user interface 110. The user interface controller 202 processes the user interface information 268 to appropriately route information (such as one or more commands and/or data) embedded within the user interface information 268 as user interface data 156 to the NFC user interface 110 and/or as communication device user interface data 158 to the communication device user interface 108. In particular, based on the battery power indicator 152, the user interface controller 202 intelligently routes information embedded within the user interface information 268 as communication device user interface data 158 to the communication device user interface 108 and/or as user interface data 156 to the NFC user interface 110.
For example, when the battery power indicator 152 indicates that the charge is sufficient to operate the communication device user interface 108, the user interface controller 202 routes information embedded within the user interface information 268 as communication device user interface data 158 to the communication device user interface 108. As another example, when the battery power indicator 152 indicates that the charge is depleted, the user interface controller 202 may begin routing at least some of the information embedded within the user interface information 268 to the NFC user interface 110 as NFC user interface data 156. As yet another example, when the battery power indicator 152 indicates that the charge cannot reliably operate the communication device user interface 108, the user interface controller 202 routes information embedded within the user interface information 268 as NFC user interface data 156 to the NFC user interface 110.
The communication device user interface 108 and the NFC user interface 110 route information (such as one or more commands and/or data) from the operator to the user interface controller 202 as communication device user interface data 158 and NFC user interface data 156, respectively. Specifically, the user interface controller 202 receives the communication device user interface data 158 and the NFC user interface data 156 and routes this information as user interface information 268 to the NFC controller 210. For example, the user interface controller 202 may interleave the communication device user interface data 158 and the NFC user interface data 156 to provide the user interface information 268.
Typically, the NFC device 200 is implemented on a first conventional chip or die. The first general chip includes at least an NFC communication module 214 and an NFC operation controller 216. The communication device functionality 104 is implemented on a second conventional chip or die. The first custom chip and/or the second custom chip or die may include one or more chips or dies. It should be noted, however, that the NFC device 200 and the communication device functionality 104 may also be implemented on a single common chip or die.
Exemplary user interface controller
Fig. 3 is a block diagram of a user interface controller used as part of an NFC device according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. As described above, the user interface controller 300 controls the overall operation and/or configuration of the communication device user interface 108 and/or the NFC user interface 110. The user interface controller 300 processes the user interface information 268 to appropriately route information (such as one or more commands and/or data) embedded within the user interface information 268 to the NFC user interface 110 as NFC user interface data 156 and/or to the communication device user interface 108 as communication device user interface data 158. In particular, based on the battery power indicator 152, the user interface controller 300 intelligently routes information embedded within the user interface information 268 as the communication device user interface data 158 to the communication device user interface 108 and/or as the NFC user interface data 156 to the NFC user interface 110. The user interface controller 300 includes an NFC device power controller 302 and a functional interface display selector 304. User interface controller 300 may represent an exemplary embodiment of user interface controller 202.
NFC device power controller 302 monitors battery power indicator 152 to determine the actual charge stored within communication device battery 102 to provide user interface power 350. As one example, the user interface power 350 may represent an indicator of the actual charge stored within the communication device battery 102. The index may include a plurality of coded bits representing the actual charge represented by the user interface power 350. Alternatively, the user interface power 350 may be the actual charge stored within the communication device battery 102.
User interface power 350 may not be limited to communicating instantaneously with battery power indicator 152. Conversely, the battery power indicator 152 may fluctuate as the operator interfaces with the communication device user interface 108 and/or the NFC user interface 110. The user interface power 350 continuously updates the function interface display selector 304 with respect to the battery power indicator 152. Alternatively, the user interface power 350 updates the function interface display selector 304 periodically with respect to the battery power indicator 152.
Based on the user interface power 350, the functional interface display selector 304 processes the user interface information 268 to intelligently route information (such as one or more commands and/or data) embedded within the user interface information 268 to the NFC user interface 110 as NFC user interface data 156 and/or to the communication device user interface 108 as communication device user interface data 158. In particular, the functional interface display selector 304 compares the user interface power 350 to one or more power thresholds to determine how to route information embedded within the user interface information 268 to the communication device user interface 108 and/or the NFC user interface 110.
Typically, one or more power thresholds are assigned to different levels of service that may be performed by the communication device user interface 108 and/or the NFC user interface 110. For example, a first power threshold of the one or more power thresholds may be assigned to a first traffic class, a second power threshold of the one or more power thresholds may be assigned to a second traffic class, and the second traffic class may include less traffic than the first traffic class. In this example, when the user interface power 350 is greater than or equal to the first power threshold, the functional interface display selector 304 routes information embedded within the user interface information 268 to the communication device user interface 108 and/or the NFC user interface 110 to perform the first service level. Optionally, when the user interface power 350 is less than or equal to the second power threshold, the functional interface display selector 304 routes information embedded within the user interface information 268 to the communication device user interface 108 and/or the NFC user interface 110 to implement the second service level.
Second exemplary communication device
Fig. 4 shows a block diagram of a second communication device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. As described above, the NFC device 200 is implemented on a first common chip or die that includes at least the NFC communication module 214 and the NFC controller 210. However, in this exemplary embodiment, the user interface controller 202 is implemented as part of a second common chip or die with the communication device functionality 104 to form the communication device 400. The communication device 400 includes NFC devices 404, a user interface controller 402, a communication device battery 102, communication device functionality 104, an NFC user interface 110, and a communication device user interface 108. The communication device 400 shares a number of similar features with the communication device 100; therefore, only the differences between the communication apparatus 100 and the communication apparatus 400 will be described in more detail.
As described above, the NFC device 404 includes the NFC communication module 214 and the NFC controller 210. The user interface controller 402 controls the overall operation and/or configuration of the communication device user interface 108 and the NFC user interface 110 in a substantially similar manner as the user interface controller 202. As described above, the NFC device 200 is implemented on a first common chip or die that includes at least the NFC communication module 214 and the NFC controller 216, while the communication device functionality 104 is implemented on a second common chip or die. However, as illustrated in fig. 4, the NFC device 404 is implemented on a first common chip or die and at least the communication device functionality 104 and the user interface controller 402 are implemented on a second common chip or die.
Third exemplary communication device
Fig. 10 shows a block diagram of a third communication device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. As described above, the NFC device 200 is implemented on a first common chip or die that includes at least the NFC communication module 214 and the NFC controller 210. Also as described above, the user interface controller 202 intelligently routes the user interface information 268 to the communication device user interface 108 and the NFC user interface 110. However, in this exemplary embodiment, the NFC controller 210 is implemented as part of a first common chip or die with the NFC user interface controller 1002 and the NFC communications module 214 to form the NFC device 1010. The communication device functionality 104 is implemented as part of a second common chip or die, along with the communication device controller 1004 and the communication device user interface controller 1006 to form a communication control arrangement 1008. The NFC device 1010 and the communication control device 1008 form a communication apparatus 1000. The communication device 1000 shares a number of similar features with the communication device 100; therefore, only the differences between the communication apparatus 100 and the communication apparatus 1000 will be described in more detail.
As described above, the NFC device 1010 includes the NFC communication module 214 and the NFC controller 210 along with the NFC user interface controller 1002. The NFC user interface controller 1002 controls the overall operation and/or configuration of the NFC user interface 110 in a substantially similar manner as the user interface controller 202.
The NFC user interface controller 1002 controls the overall operation and/or configuration of the NFC user interface 110. The NFC user interface controller 1002 processes the user interface information 268 to appropriately route information (such as one or more commands and/or data) embedded within the user interface information 268 as user interface data 156 to the NFC user interface 110. Specifically, based on the battery power indicator 152, the NFC user interface controller 1002 intelligently routes the information embedded within the user interface information 268 to the NFC user interface 110 as NFC user interface data 156.
As described above, the communication control 1008 includes the communication device functionality 104 along with the communication device controller 1004 and the communication device user interface controller 1006. The communication device controller 1004 is similar to the NFC controller 210 in that the communication device controller 1004 controls the overall operation and/or configuration of the communication device 1008. The communication device controller 1004 processes the communication device data 1054 to appropriately route information (such as one or more commands and/or data) embedded within the communication device data 1054 to the communication device user interface controller 1006 as communication device user interface information 1068 and/or communication device controller output data 1052.
Like the NFC device data 154, the communication apparatus data 1054 represents information of services supported by the communication apparatus function 104. Communication device controller output data 1052 represents data formatted for NFC controller 210 such that NFC controller 210 may format communication device controller output data 1052 into data frames to form transfer data 252. Communication device controller output data 1052 may include data received from communication device data 1054 and/or communication device user interface information 1068.
The communication device user interface controller 1006 is similar to the user interface controller 202 in that the communication device user interface controller 1006 controls the overall operation and/or configuration of the communication device user interface 108. The communication device user interface controller 1006 processes the communication device user interface information 1068 to appropriately route information (such as one or more commands and/or data) embedded within the communication device user interface information 1068 to the communication device user interface 108 as communication device user interface data 158. In particular, based on the battery power indicator 152, the communication device user interface controller 1006 intelligently routes information embedded within the communication device user interface information 1068 to the communication device user interface data 158.
As described above, the NFC device 200 is implemented on a first common chip or die that includes at least the NFC communication module and the NFC operation controller 216, while the communication device functionality 104 is implemented on a second common chip or die. However, as shown in fig. 10, the NFC device 1010 is implemented on a first common chip or die and at least the communication control device is implemented on a second common chip or die.
Example of a communication device with a communication device user interface and an NFC user interface
Fig. 6 shows a communication device illustrating a first exemplary arrangement of a communication device user interface and an NFC user interface according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. As shown in fig. 6, the communication device user interface 108 and the NFC user interface 110 are implemented on a single side of the communication device 600. For example, the communication device user interface 108 may be implemented on the NFC user interface 110.
Fig. 7 shows a communication device illustrating a second exemplary arrangement of a communication device user interface and an NFC user interface according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. As shown in fig. 7, the communication device user interface 108 is implemented on a first side 710 of the communication device 700 and the NFC user interface 110 is implemented on a second side of the communication device 700. For example, the communication device user interface 108 may be implemented on the front side of the communication device 700 and the NFC user interface 110 may be implemented on the back side of the communication device 700.
Exemplary embodiments of NFC user interfaces
Fig. 5A illustrates a first exemplary NFC user interface implemented within a communication device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The NFC user interface 502 includes Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) 504.1 through 504. N. However, one skilled in the relevant art will recognize that the NFC user interface 502 may include only the LED504.1 without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. NFC user interface 502 may represent an exemplary embodiment of NFC user interface 110.
NFC user interface 502 features an output device for displaying information to an operator regarding services provided by NFC user interface 502. Specifically, the LEDs 504.1 through 504.N may be configured to illuminate one or more colors by turning on or to cease illuminating one or more colors by turning off. This functionality consumes minimal harvested power 150, but still provides minimal interface capacity to the operator. For example, the LEDs 504.1-504. N may be turned on to illuminate one or more colors or may be turned off to stop illuminating one or more colors and do so in any number of combinations to communicate data to the operator. Each combination of LEDs 504.1 through 504.N that is turned on or off communicates a different status to the operator.
The LEDs 504.1 through 504.N may be configured to illuminate similar or different colors, such as red, green, yellow, orange, blue, or any other suitable color as would be apparent to one skilled in the relevant art. Each color or combination of colors may communicate status information from the NFC device to the operator. For example, an operator may complete a transaction using communication device 100 and/or communication device 400. When the operator conducts a transaction, the NFC user interface 502 communicates the status of the transaction to the operator. If the transaction fails, one or more of the LEDs 504.1 through 504.N may be configured to illuminate a red color to indicate to the operator that the transaction failed. Otherwise, one or more of the LEDs 504.1-504. N may be configured to illuminate green to indicate to the operator that the transaction was successful.
Fig. 5B illustrates a second exemplary NFC user interface implemented within a communication device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The NFC user interface 506 includes digitally combined LEDs 508.1 through 508. N. However, one skilled in the relevant art will recognize that the NFC user interface 506 may include only the digitally combined LED508.1 without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. NFC user interface 506 may represent an exemplary embodiment of NFC user interface 110.
NFC user interface 506 features an output device for displaying information to an operator related to the services provided by NFC user interface 502. In particular, each of the numeric combination LEDs 508.1 through 508.N may include one or more LEDs that may be illuminated in various combinations to form one or more alphanumeric characters. In general, the one or more alphanumeric characters include the numbers 0 through 9, the letters a through Z, and/or any other suitable character or symbol that will be apparent to those of skill in the relevant art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. In general, one or more LEDs of each of the numeric combination LEDs 508.1 through 508.N may be turned on to illuminate a similar or different color, such as red, green, yellow, orange, blue, or any other suitable color apparent to one skilled in the relevant art, or may be turned off to cease illuminating one or more colors and do so in any number of combinations to form one or more alphanumeric characters.
For example, an operator may complete a transaction using communication device 100 and/or communication device 400. When the operator makes a transaction, the NFC user interface 506 communicates the transaction status to the operator. If the transaction fails, one or more of the number combination LEDs 508.1-508. N may be configured to illuminate an alphanumeric word and/or word, such as "incomplete," "unsuccessful," or "failed" to provide some examples, to indicate to the operator that the transaction failed. Otherwise, one or more of the number combination LEDs 508.1 through 508.N may be configured to illuminate another alphanumeric word and/or word, such as to provide some example "complete", "successful", or "pass" to indicate to the operator that the transaction was successful.
Fig. 5C illustrates a third exemplary NFC user interface implemented within a communication device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. NFC user interface 510 includes symbols 512.1 through 512. N. However, those skilled in the relevant art will recognize that NFC user interface 510 may include only symbol 512.1 without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. NFC user interface 510 may represent an exemplary embodiment of NFC user interface 110.
NFC user interface 510 features an output device for displaying information to an operator related to a service provided by NFC user interface 510. Each of the symbols 512.1 values 512.N may include one or more predetermined symbols that may be illuminated in various combinations to convey information to an operator. Typically, the one or more predetermined symbols include symbols related to services provided by NFC user interface 510. For example, the first symbol 512.1 may illuminate to indicate that the actual charge stored in the communication device battery 102 cannot reliably operate the communication device user interface 108. As another example, the second symbol 512.2 may illuminate to indicate that another NFC device has been detected. As yet another example, the third symbol 512.N may illuminate to indicate that information is to be transferred to another NFC device. However, these examples are not limiting, and one skilled in the relevant art will recognize that predetermined symbols are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
Alternatively, symbols 512.1 through 512.N may represent various symbols provided to the NFC device for display on NFC user interface 510. These symbols represent dynamic symbols that may be provided by the NFC device to the NFC user interface 510 for display. For example, an operator may complete a transaction using communication device 100 and/or communication device 400. When the operator conducts a transaction, the NFC device provides a first symbol displayed using the NFC user interface 510 to indicate that the NFC device is transferring information to another NFC-enabled device. The NFC device may provide a displayed second symbol using the NFC user interface 510 to indicate that the transaction failed or may provide a displayed third symbol using the NFC user interface 510 to indicate that the transaction was successful.
Fig. 5D illustrates a fourth exemplary NFC user interface implemented within a communication device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. NFC user interface 512 is characterized by the fact that more services may be provided than NFC user interface 510 to allow an operator to receive more data, such as providing status information for an instance, from an NFC device (such as NFC device 106 or NFC device 404 providing some instances) than NFC user interface 506. In general, NFC user interface 506 may be characterized as consuming more energy than NFC user interface 512. The NFC user interface 506 includes LEDs 514.1 through 514.N that are structured and configured to form a grid of LEDs. NFC user interface 506 may represent an exemplary embodiment of NFC user interface 110.
NFC user interface 512 features an output device for displaying information to an operator related to services provided by the device. Specifically, each of the LEDs 514.1 through 514.N may include one or more alphanumeric characters and/or may be illuminated in various combinations to form one or more alphanumeric characters. In general, the one or more alphanumeric characters include the numbers 0 through 9, the letters a through Z, and/or any other suitable character or symbol apparent to those of ordinary skill in the relevant art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. In general, the LEDs 514.1 through 514.N may each be turned on to illuminate a similar or different color, such as red, green, yellow, orange, blue, or any other suitable color apparent to one skilled in the relevant art, or may be turned off to cease illuminating one or more colors and do so in any number of combinations to form one or more alphanumeric characters.
For example, an operator may complete a transaction using communication device 100 and/or communication device 400. When the operator makes a transaction, the NFC user interface 506 communicates the transaction status to the operator. If the transaction fails, LEDs 514.1 through 514.N may be configured to illuminate an alphanumeric word and/or phrase, such as "fail" as shown in FIG. 5D, to indicate to the operator that the transaction failed. Otherwise, the number combinations 514.1 through 514.N may be configured to illuminate another alphanumeric word and/or word, such as providing a "pass" of the instance, to indicate to the operator that the transaction was successful.
One skilled in the relevant art will recognize that combinations of NFC user interface 502, NFC user interface 506, NFC user interface 510, and NFC user interface 512 may be used to form other embodiments of NFC user interface 110 without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, different combinations of LEDs 504.1-504. N, combination LEDs 508.1-508. N, symbols 512.1-512. N, and/or LEDs 514.1-514. N may be used to form other embodiments of the NFC user interface 110.
Second exemplary user interface controller
Fig. 8A schematically shows a service that may be performed by a communication device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. A communication device, such as communication device 100 or communication device 400, which provide some examples, may be configured to provide different services to an operator. As shown in fig. 8A, the services provided by the communication device include a full set of services a to E. However, this example is for illustration only, and one skilled in the relevant art will recognize that the communication device may be configured to provide more or less services without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
The set of services a through E may include, but is not limited to, placing a telephone call, editing a text message, verifying the time of day, verifying the date, verifying the power level of the battery, editing an email, searching on the internet, taking a picture, storing data, adjusting settings, verifying the status of the transaction, verifying the account balance after completion of the transaction, and/or any other suitable service apparent to those skilled in the relevant art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
One or more of the suite of services a to E may represent a single enabled service (capableservice) to be performed only by a communication device functionality, such as the communication device functionality 104 integrated within a communication device that provides an instance. However, one or more of the suite of services a through E may represent dual-enabled services that may be performed by communication device functionality and/or NFC devices, such as NFC device 106 and NFC device 400 integrated within a communication device, providing some examples. For illustration only, in the descriptions of fig. 8B to 8E to be described below, the service a is characterized as a single-enabled service, and the services B to E are characterized as dual-enabled services.
FIG. 8B schematically illustrates a first mapping of services to a user interface according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. When the battery power indicator 152 indicates that the actual charge stored within the communication device battery 102 is at the first level, a user interface controller, such as the user interface controller 202 providing the instance, intelligently routes information from the ensemble of services a-E to the communication device user interface 108. The operator may use the communication device user interface 108 to receive information from the suite of services a through E, such as one or more commands and/or data to provide some examples. The operator may also provide information (such as one or more commands and/or data providing some examples) to the suite of services a through E using the communication device user interface 108.
FIG. 8C schematically illustrates a second mapping of services to a user interface according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. When the battery power indicator 152 indicates that the actual charge stored within the communication device battery 102 is at the second level, a user interface controller (such as the user interface controller 202 providing the example) intelligently routes information from the ensemble of services a-E to the communication device user interface 108 and/or the NFC user interface 110. The operator may receive information from the suite of services a through D using the communication device user interface 108, such as one or more commands and/or data to provide some examples. The operator also provides information (such as one or more commands and/or data providing some examples) to the suite of services a through D using the communications device user interface 108. Likewise, the operator may use the NFC user interface 110 to receive information from service E, such as one or more commands and/or data that provide some examples. The operator may also provide information to service E, such as one or more commands and/or data providing some examples, using NFC user interface 110.
FIG. 8D schematically illustrates a third mapping of services to a user interface according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. When the battery power indicator 152 indicates that the actual charge stored in the communication device battery 102 is at the (n-1) th levelthIn stages, a user interface controller, such as the user interface controller 202 providing an example, intelligently routes information from the ensemble of services a-E to the communication device user interface 108 and/or the NFC user interface 110. The operator may use the communication device user interface 108 to receive one or more commands and/or data from service A, such as to provide some examplesAnd (4) information. The operator may also provide information to service a, such as one or more commands and/or data providing some examples, using the communication device user interface 108. Likewise, the operator may use the NFC user interface 110 to receive information such as one or more commands and/or data providing some examples from the suite of services B through E. The operator may also provide information, such as one or more commands and/or data providing some examples, to the suite of services B through E using the NFC user interface 110.
FIG. 8E schematically illustrates a fourth mapping of services to a user interface according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. When the battery power indicator 152 indicates that the actual charge stored in the communication device battery 102 is at the nththIn stages, a user interface controller, such as the user interface controller 202 providing an example, intelligently routes information from the ensemble of services a-E to the communication device user interface 108 and/or the NFC user interface 110. N ththThe rating indicates that the actual charge stored in the communication device battery 102 has been depleted such that the communication device user interface 110 cannot be reliably operated. Since service a represents a single enabled service, the communication device may provide service a for a longer period of time when the communication device is no longer reliably operating the communication device user interface 110. An operator may use the NFC user interface 110 to receive information such as one or more commands and/or data to provide some examples from the suite of services B to E. The operator may also provide this information to the ensemble of services B to E using the NFC user interface 110, such as information providing one or more commands and/or data of some instances.
Exemplary operational control flow for a user interface controller
FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating exemplary operational steps of a user interface controller, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The present invention is not limited to this operational description. Rather, it should be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art from the teachings herein that other operational control flows are within the scope and spirit of the invention. The following discussion describes the steps in fig. 9.
In step 910, the operation control flow performs a first service and a second service. The second service relates to NFC communication between a communication device (such as communication device 100 or communication device 400, which provide some examples) and other NFC-enabled communication devices. The first service may include wireless communication between these communication devices and other NFC-incapable communication devices, other computing capabilities such as Short Message Service (SMS), email, internet access, gaming, short-range wireless communication, cameras, Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) messages, digital audio players, radio, and Global Positioning System (GPS) services, and/or other suitable services that will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
In step 920, the operational control flow compares the actual charge stored in the battery of the communication device (such as the communication device battery 102) to a plurality of power thresholds. The operational control flow may provide an indication of the actual charge stored in the battery. The indicator may include a plurality of coded bits that represent the actual charge stored in the battery in step 920. Alternatively, the operational control flow may provide the actual charge stored in the battery in step 920.
In step 930, the operational control flow routes information generated by the first service and the second service to a communication device user interface, such as the communication device user interface 108, when the actual charge stored within the battery is greater than a first power threshold of the plurality of power thresholds. The operational control flow processes information generated by the first traffic and the second traffic to intelligently route the information to the communication device user interface based on the actual charge. In particular, as described above, the operational control flow compares the actual charge to one or more power thresholds to determine how to route information generated by the first traffic and the second traffic to a communication device user interface of the plurality of user interfaces. Then, when the actual charge is greater than the first power threshold, the operational control flow routes information generated by the first service and the second service to the communication device user interface.
In step 940, the operational control flow routes information generated by the second service to an NFC user interface, such as NFC user interface 110, when the actual charge is less than a second power threshold of the plurality of power thresholds, wherein the second power threshold is less than the first power threshold. The operational control flow processes information generated by the second service to intelligently route the information to the NFC user interface based on the actual charge. Specifically, as described above, the operational control flow compares the actual charge to one or more power thresholds to determine how to route the second traffic generated information to the NFC user interface of the plurality of user interfaces. The operational control flow then routes information generated by the second service to the NFC user interface when the actual charge is less than a second power threshold, the second power threshold representing a smaller actual charge than when the actual charge is greater than the first power threshold.
Conclusion
It is to be understood that the detailed description section, and not the abstract section, is intended to be used to interpret the claims. The abstract section may set forth one or more, but not all exemplary embodiments of the invention, and thus, the detailed description and abstract sections are not intended to limit the invention and the appended claims in any way.
The invention has been described above with the aid of functional building blocks illustrating the implementation of specific functions and relationships thereof. The boundaries of these functional building blocks have been arbitrarily defined herein for the convenience of the description. Alternate boundaries can be defined so long as the specified functions and relationships thereof are appropriately performed.
It will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art that various changes in form and detail can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.

Claims (20)

1. A communication device, comprising:
a communication device functionality configured to perform a first service; and
a Near Field Communication (NFC) device configured to perform a second transaction to route information generated by the first transaction and the second transaction to a communication device user interface when an actual charge stored within a battery is greater than a first power threshold of a plurality of power thresholds and to route information generated by the second transaction to an NFC user interface when the actual charge is less than a second power threshold of the plurality of power thresholds, the second power threshold being less than the first power threshold.
2. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the communication device user interface means is configured to receive its power from the battery.
3. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the NFC user interface is configured to derive its power from a communication signal.
4. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the NFC means comprises:
an NFC operations controller configured to route the information generated by the first traffic and the second traffic to the communication device user interface when the actual charge is greater than the first power threshold and route the information generated by the second traffic to the NFC user interface when the actual charge is less than the second power threshold.
5. The communication device of claim 4, wherein the NFC operation controller is further configured to route the information generated by the first traffic to the NFC user interface when the actual charge is less than a third power threshold of the plurality of power thresholds, the third power threshold indicating that the actual charge cannot reliably operate the communication device user interface.
6. The communication device of claim 4, wherein the NFC operation controller comprises:
an NFC device power controller configured to monitor the actual charge to provide a user interface power indicator; and
a functional interface display selector module configured to compare the user interface power indicator and the plurality of power thresholds to route the information generated by the first and second services to the communications device user interface when the user interface power indicator is greater than the first power threshold and to route the information generated by the second service to the NFC user interface when the user interface power indicator is less than the second power threshold.
7. The communication device of claim 4, wherein the NFC operation controller is further configured to route the information generated by the first traffic to the communication device user interface when the actual charge is greater than the first power threshold and route at least some information generated by the first traffic to the NFC user interface when the actual charge is less than the second power threshold.
8. The communication device of claim 4, wherein the NFC apparatus further comprises:
an NFC communications module configured to enable the communications device to exchange information with other NFC capable communications devices.
9. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the communication device is implemented as part of a mobile device.
10. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the second traffic relates to NFC communications between the communication device and other NFC-enabled communication devices, and wherein the second traffic relates to traffic other than the first traffic.
11. A method of performing one or more services by a communication device, comprising the steps of:
(a) executing, by the communication device, the first service and the second service;
(b) comparing an actual charge stored within a battery of the communication device to a plurality of power thresholds;
(c) routing, by the communication device, information generated by the first and second services to a communication device user interface when the actual charge stored within the battery is greater than a first power threshold of the plurality of power thresholds; and
(d) routing, by the communication device, information resulting from the second traffic to a near field communication, NFC, user interface when the actual charge is less than a second power threshold of the plurality of power thresholds, the second power threshold being less than the first power threshold.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein step (d) comprises:
(d) (i) when the actual charge is less than the second power threshold, routing, by the communications device, at least some information generated by the first traffic to the NFC user interface.
13. The method of claim 11, further comprising the steps of:
(e) routing the information generated by the first traffic to the NFC user interface when the actual charge is less than a third power threshold of the plurality of power thresholds, the third power threshold indicating that the actual charge cannot reliably operate the communication device user interface.
14. The method of claim 11, wherein step (b) comprises:
(b) (i) monitoring the actual charge to provide a user interface power indicator.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein step (c) comprises:
(c) (ii) route the information generated by the first traffic and the second traffic to the communications device user interface when the user interface power indicator is greater than the first power threshold.
16. The method of claim 14, wherein step (d) comprises:
(d) (i) when the user interface power indicator is less than the second power threshold, route the information generated by the second traffic to the NFC user interface.
17. A communication device, comprising:
a communication control device configured to perform a first service and route information generated by the first service to a communication device user interface when an actual charge stored within a battery is greater than a first power threshold; and
a Near Field Communication (NFC) device configured to perform a second transaction and route information generated by the second transaction to the NFC user interface when the actual charge is less than a second power threshold.
18. The communication device of claim 17, wherein the NFC means comprises:
an NFC operation controller configured to route the information generated by the first traffic to the NFC user interface when the actual charge is less than the second power threshold, wherein the actual charge being less than the second power threshold indicates that the actual charge is not capable of reliably operating the communication device user interface.
19. The communication device of claim 18, wherein the NFC operation controller comprises:
an NFC user interface controller configured to route the information generated by the second traffic to the NFC device user interface based on the actual charge.
20. The communication device according to claim 17, wherein the communication control means comprises:
a communication device user interface controller configured to route the information generated by the first service to the communication device user interface based on the actual charge.
HK13106736.1A 2011-06-10 2013-06-06 Communications device for intelligently routing information among multiple user interfaces HK1179713B (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US13/157,518 2011-06-10
US13/157,518 US8548380B2 (en) 2011-06-10 2011-06-10 Communications device for intelligently routing information among multiple user interfaces

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HK1179713A1 HK1179713A1 (en) 2013-10-04
HK1179713B true HK1179713B (en) 2016-10-21

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