Near-field communication device with variable path-loss

A first near-field device, comprising:

• a near-field antenna;
• a tuning circuit;
• a transceiver circuit coupled to the near-field antenna and tuning circuit;
• a controller coupled to the tuning circuit and the transceiver circuit;
• wherein the first near-field device is configured to have an adjustable near-field communications channel path-loss with respect to a second near-field device;
• wherein the path-loss sets a maximum distance between the first near-field device and the second near-field device within which the first near-field device and the second near-field device can exchange data;
• wherein the controller is configured to set the path-loss to a first channel path-loss before the first and second near-field devices come within a predefined threshold distance;
• wherein the first channel path-loss enables the first near-field device and the second near-field device to exchange data only within the predefined threshold distance;
• wherein the controller is configured to set the path-loss to a second channel path-loss automatically after the first and second near-field devices have come within the predefined threshold distance;
• wherein the second channel path-loss enables the first near-field device and the second near-field device to exchange data beyond the predefined threshold distance;
• and
• wherein the first path-loss is greater than the second path-loss.