Smartphone proximity card emulation
AssigneeMicrosoft Technology Licensing, LLC
InventorAlex McKelvey
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods, systems, and computer program products are provided that enable a portable computing device to emulate a proximity card. A portable computing device is provided that includes an antenna, storage that stores an identification number, and a processor. The processor is configured to control modulation of the identification number onto a carrier signal received by the antenna from a proximity card reader device. In this manner, an applicable function may be enabled, and the portable computing device emulates a proximity card. The antenna may be specific to proximity card emulation, or may be shared with other portable computing device functions, such as wireless charging.
Claims20
A portable computing device, comprising:
- an antenna;
- storage that stores an identification number;
- and
- a processor configured to control modulation of the identification number onto an unmodulated carrier signal received by the antenna from a proximity card reader device to enable the portable computing device to emulate a proximity card;
- wherein the portable computing device is configured to emulate a proximity card by responding to the proximity card reader device in a first mode using the antenna, and to receive a wireless charging signal from a wireless charger using the antenna to charge a rechargeable battery in a second mode, the processor enabling the identification number to be modulated onto the unmodulated carrier signal for a predetermined time duration, and causing the portable computing device to enter the second mode after expiration of the predetermined time duration to wirelessly charge the rechargeable battery.
A method in a portable computing device, comprising:
- operating in a first mode to emulate a proximity card, including
- receiving an unmodulated carrier signal transmitted by a proximity card reader device at an antenna of the portable computing device,
- accessing an identification number stored in storage of the portable computing device, and
- modulating the identification number onto the unmodulated carrier signal for a predetermined time duration to enable the portable computing device to emulate a proximity card;
- and
- operating in a second mode for wireless charging after expiration of the predetermined time duration, including
- receiving a wireless charging signal from a wireless charger using the antenna, and
- charging a rechargeable battery of the portable computing device with the charge from the wireless charging signal.
A computer readable storage medium having computer program instructions stored in the computer readable storage medium that enable a processor to perform a method in a portable computing device, the method comprising:
- accessing an identification number stored in storage of the portable computing device;
- receiving an indication of an unmodulated carrier signal received at an antenna of the portable computing device from a proximity card reader device;
- disabling wireless charging capability associated with the antenna to operate in a first mode;
- providing the identification number to a modulation circuit of the portable computing device according to predetermined timing for a predetermined time duration to modulate the identification number onto the unmodulated carrier signal by the antenna to enable the portable computing device to emulate a proximity card;
- and
- enabling wireless charging capability associated with the antenna to operate in a second mode after expiration of the predetermined time duration.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.