(19)
(11)EP 2 665 197 A3

(12)EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88)Date of publication A3:
02.03.2016 Bulletin 2016/09

(43)Date of publication A2:
20.11.2013 Bulletin 2013/47

(21)Application number: 12006413.4

(22)Date of filing:  12.09.2012
(51)Int. Cl.: 
H04B 5/00  (2006.01)
(84)Designated Contracting States:
AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR
Designated Extension States:
BA ME

(30)Priority: 16.05.2012 US 201213473222

(71)Applicant: Broadcom Corporation
Irvine, CA 92617 (US)

(72)Inventors:
  • Hall, Steven
    Olivenhain, CA 92024 (US)
  • Brand, Robert W.
    La Jolla, CA 92037 (US)

(74)Representative: Jehle, Volker Armin 
Bosch Jehle Patentanwaltsgesellschaft mbH Flüggenstrasse 13
80639 München
80639 München (DE)

  


(54)NFC device context determination through proximity gestural movement detection


(57) An apparatus and system are provided for interpreting the gestural path of a first NFC device within NFC range of a second NFC device, or the gestural path of the second NFC device within range of the first NFC device, to determine context for a pre-determined function. The second NFC device includes a plurality of inductive coupling elements, each element configured to output a signal when within range of the first NFC device. A controller module receives the signal from each element when the first NFC device is within range and determines a path of the first NFC device across the second NFC device based on a time difference of receipt at the controller of the signals. The plurality of inductive coupling elements may be active or passive, and interact with the first NFC device in a peer-to-peer mode or read/write mode, depending on the configuration of each device.