Method and apparatus for selecting an application of a device having an NFC interface

A router module located on a first device having an NFC interface and comprising a plurality of installed applications capable of receiving and/or transmitting NFC messages, said router module controlling the receiving and routing of messages from the NFC interface, each message comprising a message type, said router module further comprising a table linking, for one message type, at least one installed application capable of receiving and/or transmitting NFC messages and one icon, said router module being adapted to:

• detect a second device having a NFC interface via the NFC interface of the first device;
• obtain via the NFC interface of the first device a message comprising a message type and a service identification;
• check if an application is registered for that message type, and if an application is registered for the message type, establishing the communication between the registered application and the second device via the NFC interface of the first device, and
• if an application is not registered for the message type:
• select at least one installed application, from among the plurality of installed applications, matching the message type and the service identification using the table;
• display on a first device a prompt to accept a communication between a second device and the selected application;
• input a selection indicating that the communication between the second device and the selected application has been accepted;
• notify the selected application of the message type;
• establish the communication between the selected application and the second device via the NFC interface;
• and
• register the selected application with the message type.

A main device comprising:

• a processor;
• a memory connected to the processor for storing a plurality of installed applications;
• an NFC interface connected to the processor;
• an input device connected to the processor;
• and
• an output device connected to the processor;
• wherein the processor is configured to
• detect a second device having a NFC interface via the NFC interface of the first device;
• obtain via the NFC interface of the first device a message comprising a message type and a service identification;
• check if an application is registered for that message type, and if an application is registered for the message type, establishing the communication between the registered application and the second device via the NFC interface of the first device, and if an application is not registered for the message type:
• select at least one installed application, from among the plurality of installed applications, based on the message type and the service identification of the NFC message, the at least one installed application being capable of receiving and/or transmitting NFC messages;
• display on the main device a prompt to accept a communication between the second device and the selected application;
• input a selection indicating that the communication between the second device and the selected application has been accepted;
• notify the selected application of the message type;
• establish the communication between the selected application and the second device via the NFC interface;
• and
• register the selected application with the message type.