Abstract:
Systems and methods for interacting with a portable electronic device are provided. In this regard, a representative system includes: a cover sized and shaped for removable attachment to an exterior of the portable electronic device; a first antenna disposed on the cover; and a first wireless controller coupled to the first antenna and disposed on the cover and configured for transmitting a first data from the cover to the portable electronic device via the first antenna to identify the cover to the portable electronic device.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional application entitled “Systems and Methods for Interacting with a Cover/Carrying Solution and a Portable Electronic Device”, having Ser. No. 61/650,993, filed May 23, 2012, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present disclosure generally relates to portable electronic devices. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Oftentimes, portable electronic devices (such as smartphones and tablet computers) may be easily damaged (for example, by a surface of the device being scratched). To remedy this problem, protective covers (sometimes referred to as a carrying solution) made from various types of materials are provided. Such a cover usually covers the back of an electronic device and may have an aperture to expose a portion of the device (such as to provide access to a camera lens). Notably, such a cover may also be used to alter the decorative appearance of the device. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    Systems and methods for interacting with portable electronic devices are provided. Briefly described, one embodiment, among others, is a system for interacting with a portable electronic device comprising: a cover sized and shaped for removable attachment to an exterior of the portable electronic device; a first antenna disposed on the cover; and a first wireless controller coupled to the first antenna and disposed on the cover and configured for transmitting a first data from the cover to the portable electronic device via the first antenna to identify the cover to the portable electronic device. 
         [0005]    Another embodiment is a method for interacting with a cover and a portable electronic device comprising a processing unit, the method comprising: detecting, by the portable electronic device, first information stored in the cover attached to the portable electronic device; and
   enabling a corresponding application of the portable electronic device in response to detection of the first information.   
 
         [0007]    Still another embodiment is a portable electronic device having a tag reader system operative to alter operation of the portable electronic device responsive to detection of a tag carried by a cover of the portable electronic device. 
         [0008]    Other systems, methods, features, and advantages of the present disclosure will be or may become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the present disclosure, and be protected by the accompanying claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    Many aspects of the disclosure can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of an example embodiment of a system. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a flowchart depicting an example embodiment of a method for interacting with a portable electronic device. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram of another example embodiment of a system. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a flowchart depicting another example embodiment of a method for interacting with a portable electronic device. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram of an example embodiment of a system, showing interaction of a portable electronic device and a device cover. 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a flowchart depicting an example embodiment of a method for interacting with a portable electronic device. 
           [0016]      FIGS. 7A-7C  are schematic diagrams of an example embodiment of a system, showing an example embodiment of a moveable component for repositioning a tag antenna. 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  is a schematic diagram of another example embodiment of a system. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0018]    Having summarized various aspects of the present disclosure, reference will now be made in detail to that which is illustrated in the drawings. While the disclosure will be described in connection with these drawings, there is no intent to limit the scope of legal protection to the embodiment or embodiments disclosed herein. Rather, the intent is to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents included within the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims. 
         [0019]    In this regard, systems and methods for interacting with portable electronic devices are provided. In some embodiments, interacting with a portable electronic device (e.g., a mobile phone, tablet computer, PDA) involves identifying a cover that is attached to the device. By way of wireless communication, radio communication or optical communication with the cover and portable electronic device for example, WiFi communication, Bluetooth communication, near field communication (NFC), Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), barcode, or other manners of identification associated with a cover may be used. Specifically, a tag using such a manner of identification may be placed or installed in a cover that is attached or otherwise affixed to the portable electronic device. The tag is identified by an associated reader resident on the portable electronic device. In response to detection of the tag, the device may activate a corresponding function. Thus, the cover alters a function of the portable electronic device. 
         [0020]      FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of an example embodiment of a system. As shown in  FIG. 1 , system  100  includes a portable electronic device  102  and a cover  104 . The cover  104  is an accessory that is physically separate from the portable electronic device  102  and may be attached or mechanically installed on a side of the portable electronic device  102 . The cover  104  incorporates a first wireless controller  106  and a first antenna  108  as a tag, with the first wireless controller  106  being able to communicate information (e.g., ID information) that identifies the cover  104  (such as by use of a unique identifier) or other stored information with the portable electronic device  102 . The first antenna  108  propagates the information from the first wireless controller  106  to the portable electronic device  102 . Notably, the first antenna  108  may be an NFC antenna and the first wireless controller  106  may be NFC controller. 
         [0021]    Device  102  comprises a second antenna  110  and a second wireless controller  112 . Based on proximity of the cover  104  to the device  102  (and, more specifically, the proximity of the first antenna  108  to the second antenna  110 ), the second wireless controller  112  receives information from the cover  104  or transmits information to the cover  104  as a reader or writer. In response to the information, the second wireless controller  112  may generate a signal for altering operation of the device  102 . In some embodiments, one or more of various functions may be altered. By way of example, a button of the device may be repurposed to perform a different function than previously exhibited, a display may be changed or a disabled feature may be enabled, among possible others. 
         [0022]      FIG. 2  is a flowchart depicting an example embodiment of a method for interacting with a portable electronic device. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the method (which may be performed by an example tag reader system, for example), involves detecting a tag embedded in a cover of a portable electronic device (block  130 ). Please refer to  FIG. 1 . The tag may be an NFC tag, which has a NFC controller and a NFC antenna. The portable electronic device (usually a mobile phone) generates a magnetic field through the use of the second antenna  110  with the control of the second wireless controller  112  and the magnetic field induces an electric current in the first antenna  108  of the cover  102  which powers up the NFC controller. The NFC tag then creates a further magnetic field through the use the first antenna  108  with the control of the first wireless controller  106  which can in return be read by the second wireless controller  112  through the use of the second antenna  110 . In block  132 , operation of the portable electronic device  102  is altered or interrupted in response to detection of the tag in the cover  104 . 
         [0023]      FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram of another example embodiment of a system. As shown in  FIG. 3 , system  140  incorporates a device  150  and a cover  170 . In particular, device  150  includes a processing unit  152 , which is coupled to a storage unit such as a memory module  154 , a display  156 , a camera  158 , an second NFC controller  160 , a second NFC antenna  162  and wireless module  164 . The cover  170  includes a first NFC controller  172  coupled to a first antenna  174 . 
         [0024]    It should be noted that, in some embodiments, the cover  170  may be a decorative/protective cover for the portable electronic device  150 . As such, the cover  170  may be removably coupled to the backside of the device  150 . Various covers may be embedded with different NFC tags for activating different functions on the portable electronic device  150 . The user may choose a cover  170  from various covers and attach the chosen cover on the portable electronic device  150  for activation of a desired function on the portable electronic device  150  by the NFC tag embedded on the cover  170 . 
         [0025]    In operation, the wireless module  164  is used to connect to a network (e.g., a wireless and/or wired network). The wireless module  164  may use one or more of various configurations and/or protocols, such as WiFi, GSM, CDMA and GPRS, and 3G networks such as W-CDMA, EDGE or CDMA2000, as well as 4G networks such as LTE, LTE advance, or WiMAX, for example. Additionally, the wireless module  164  may store information obtained by the device from the network into the memory module  154 . 
         [0026]    The second NFC controller  160  couples with the second antenna  162  forming an NFC reader/writer and allows for close range communication with the first NFC controller  172  placed in the cover  170 , and may comply with standards such as ISO 18092 or ISO 21481. The second NFC controller  160  may support three modes of operation—reader/writer, peer-to-peer, and card emulation. The different operating modes may be based on the ISO/IEC 18092 NFC IP-1 and ISO/IEC 14443 contactless smart card standards. In reader/writer mode, the second NFC controller  160  may be capable of reading NFC Forum-mandated tag types, such as a tag embedded in an NFC smart poster such as a cover of the portable electronic device  150 . The reader/writer mode on the RF interface may be compliant with the ISO 14443 and FeliCa schemes. In Peer-to-Peer mode, the second NFC controller  150  and the first NFC controller  172  can exchange data. For example, Bluetooth or WiFi link set-up parameters can be shared and/or data such as virtual business cards or digital photos can be exchanged. Peer-to-Peer mode may be standardized on the ISO/IEC 18092 standard. In Card Emulation mode, the second NFC controller  160  may appear to an external reader much the same as a traditional contactless smart card. This enables contactless payments and ticketing by the second NFC controller  160  without changing the existing infrastructure. In some embodiments, the second NFC controller  160  may allow for close range communication at relatively high data rates (560 Mbps}, and may comply with the TransferJet protocol. Close range communication with the second NFC controller  160  may take place via magnetic field induction, allowing the second NFC controller  160  with second NFC antenna  162  to communicate with first NFC controller  172 , which is carried by cover  170 . The portable electronic device  150  generates a magnetic field through the use the second antenna  162  with the control of the second wireless controller  160  and the magnetic field induces an electric current in the first NFC antenna  174  of the cover which powers up the first NFC controller  172 . Under control of the first NFC controller  172 , the first NFC antenna  174  then creates a further magnetic field through the use the first NFC antenna  174  with the control of the first NFC controller  172  which can in return be read by the second NFC controller  160  through the use of the second NFC antenna  162 . The second NFC controller  160  may be useful in establishing an initial communication link between the portable electronic device  150  and the cover  170 . It should be noted that the second NFC controller  160  may be the primary communication link between the device  150  and the cover  170  or may merely allow an initial exchange of communication particulars (e.g., identifier, key, certificate and/or security code) so that a subsequent secure communication link may be established via a different mechanism, such as over a wireless LAN, cellular network or Bluetooth network, for example. 
         [0027]    The second NFC controller  160  may store identity information such as IMEI, email, user information, security ID in the memory of the first wireless controller  172 . The identity information written into the memory of the first wireless controller  172  may be used to identify the user or owner of the cover  170 . The embedded data in the memory of the first wireless controller  172  may be read in close proximity to the device  150 . In some embodiments, this may automatically launch an associated function (e.g., a service) according to the data read from the memory of the first wireless controller  172 . Optionally, a user may be able to replace the content of the memory of the first wireless controller  172  with other data. The storage unit  154  on the portable electronic device  150  stores at least one set of data and each set of data has a pre-built identification code and a corresponding pre-assigned instruction. When the received data from the first wireless controller  172  matches the pre-built identification code, the processing unit enables or disables a corresponding application in response to the pre-assigned instruction. The pre-assigned instruction may be enabling the image sensor  158  on the portable electronic device  150  and changing the function of a button on the portable electronic device  170  to capture an image by using the image sensor  158  when the button is pressed. 
         [0028]    The first NFC antenna  174  may be electrically coupled with the first NFC controller  172 . The first NFC antenna  174  may receive NFC signals or electromagnetic signals for the first NFC controller  172  to process, and may transmit NFC signals or electromagnetic signals generated by the first NFC antenna  174 . The first NFC controller  174  may store an identification code that indicates the type of cover (e.g., famous designer cover, special function cover) or communication particulars. The first NFC controller  174  may transmit this identification code to device  150 . 
         [0029]    In some embodiments, the NFC tag module is a passive NFC circuit. The first NFC controller  172  with the first NFC antenna  174  may work in a passive mode on a passive device (for example, integrated in a smart poster, such as the cover) that stores data that can be read by an NFC-enabled device such as the portable electronic device  150  with second NFC controller  160  and the second antenna  162 . The passive NFC circuitry enables the second NFC controller  160  to obtain the data stored in a memory of the first NFC controller  172  as well as write data to the memory of the first NFC controller  172  without requiring cover  170  to supply any power to the first NFC controller  172 . The magnetic field induces an electric current in the first antenna  174  of the cover  170  which powers up the first NFC controller  172 . The first NFC controller  172  then creates a further magnetic field through the use the first antenna  174  which can in return be read by the second wireless controller  160  through the use of the second antenna  162 . Alternatively, the first NFC controller  172  may be an active NFC circuit. Active NFC circuitry requires power system from the cover to provide data stored therein to the memory of the first NFC controller  172 . 
         [0030]    Memory  154  or the memory of the first NFC controller  172  may include one or more different types of memory, which may be used for performing device functions. For example, memory may include cache, Flash, ROM, RAM, or one or more different types of memory used for temporarily or permanently storing data. Memory  154  may be specifically dedicated to storing application or data received or downloaded from the Internet. 
         [0031]      FIG. 4  is a flowchart depicting an example embodiment of a method for interacting with a portable electronic device. As shown in  FIG. 4 , the process may be construed as beginning at block  180 , in which a tag comprising a first wireless controller and first antenna located on a cover is detected. In some embodiments, this may involve a processing unit activating an associated second wireless controller that is operative for detecting tags. Notably, such a second wireless controller with a second antenna may be operative to read from and/or write to passive, active and/or semi-passive tags. The tag may be an RFID or NFC tag that can be wirelessly communicated. For example, the processing unit activates or enables the second wireless controller to read the tags when the user attaches the cover to the portable electronic device (block  182 ). The second wireless controller may generate a first radio frequency signal by using the second antenna to charge the passive tags that are placed in the cover. The first wireless controller receives the generated first radio frequency signal through the use of the first antenna. The first wireless controller responds to the generated first radio frequency signal by generating second radio frequency signals back to the second wireless controller by using the first antenna to generate electromagnetic signals. The second antenna receives the second radio frequency signals and transmitted to the second wireless controller. The first and second radio frequency signals may be encoded with data or information and may be decoded by the first or second wireless controller. 
         [0032]    After receiving the information decoded from the second radio frequency signal from the first wireless controller, the portable electronic device may activate or enable a function or device based on the data received by the second antenna. In particular, in this embodiment, the portable electronic device may retrieve or download content information from a remote content source or server associated or identified by the information (block  184 ). By way of example, based on information (e.g. tag ID) or data (e.g. content identification information or content ID), downloadable content associated with the tag may be retrieved though the use of a wireless module. For example, the NFC reader/writer may read the tag information from the first wireless controller and pass the information to a processing unit. The processing unit sends the data that is obtained from the tag to a remote content source (e.g., a digital rights management service provider). The processing unit may utilize a secure channel (e.g. SSL link) through the wireless module to receive the desired content from the remote content source that has been identified by the data or information that is obtained from the tag. 
         [0033]    In some embodiments, the portable electronic device may also connect with a designated web location using a URL stored in a storage unit of the first wireless controller. For example, this may be accomplished to obtain content from a service provider, with the content being, for example, an artist/song web page. As such, receiving media content in the form of audio and/or video media or other online service information may be performed in response to receiving information or data. 
         [0034]    Additionally or alternatively, a portable electronic device may change various functions, such as the background, ring tone, skin color, and/or theme in response to receiving information from the first wireless controller. For example, when a cover is designed for a particular artist and has the NFC tag stored with related data associated to the particular artist, the portable electronic device may retrieve artist-related applications, ring tones, backgrounds, associated color skins and themes. Notably, the portable electronic device may automatically launch the associated services or function based on the data read from the NFC tag. 
         [0035]    As another example, while the user attaches the cover to a portable electronic device, an NFC reader/writer may be activated before (or after) the cover is secured in position to read passive NFC tags. For instance, the NFC tag may be placed in moveable mechanism of the cover, such that the NFC tag may be moved in and out of the range of NFC reader/writer (such as depicted in  FIG. 5 ). As an example, the first antenna or the first antenna with the first wireless controller may be placed on the moveable mechanism and is movable between a first position, which is detectable by the portable electronic device, and a second position, which is not detectable by the portable electronic device. 
         [0036]    As shown in  FIG. 5 , system  200  includes a portable electronic device  202  and a cover  204 . For device  202 , a back of the device  202  is shown with an antenna  206  depicted in dashed lines. The cover includes a movable component  208 . In this embodiment, component  208  is seated within a recess and is movable between the depicted position and another position (not depicted), in which the component is seated toward the top of the recess. Notably, the position shown corresponds to a detected position as this position place the carried antenna  210  in proximity to the antenna  206 . 
         [0037]    In operation (and as shown in the flowchart of  FIG. 6 ), once the cover  204  is attached to the device  202 , if the user does not desire enabling the associated function, the NFC tag  210  is positioned toward the top of the recess (not shown in  FIG. 5 ) so that a NFC reader/writer  206  of device  202  is unable to read the data in the NFC tag due to the fact that the NFC tag  210  is out of the range of NFC reader/writer  206 . As user wants to activate or enable one or more functions or device (such as image sensor, camera, GPS, loudspeaker, user profile, for example), the user may adjust the component  208  so the NFC tag  210  may be in the range of detection of the NFC reader/writer  206  (block  220 ). Responsive thereto, the device may read the NFC tag information (block  222 ), and activate a function (e.g., automatically launch an associated service) based on the data read from the NFC tag  210  when the NFC tag  210  is detected by the NFC reader/writer  206  (block  224 ). As an example, the user wants to activate or enable the camera function and camera to take a picture, the user may adjust or move the movable component  208  from the first position which cover or block the light entering the camera to a second position that allows light enter the camera. 
         [0038]      FIGS. 7A-7C  are schematic diagrams of another example embodiment of a system, showing an example embodiment of a moveable component for repositioning a antenna. As shown in  FIG. 7A , a device cover  230  includes an NFC tag  232  that is positioned at a disable position, at which an NFC reader/writer of an associated portable electronic device is unable to read the data in the NFC tag. Specifically, the NFC tag  232  is carried by a movable component  234  that, in the depicted position of  FIG. 7A , is out of the range of NFC reader/writer. Notably, such a NFC reader/writer is associated with antenna  236  of the portable electronic device, and which is depicted in dashed lines. 
         [0039]    In  FIG. 7B , movement of the component  234  is depicted toward the position shown in  FIG. 7C , in which the NFC tag  232  is in an enable position. Notably, moving the mechanism to the enable position places the NFC tag  232  in the range of detection of the NFC reader/writer. After the NFC tag  232  is detected by the NFC reader/writer, the device activates the camera function of the portable electronic device, for example). 
         [0040]      FIG. 8  is a schematic diagram of another example embodiment of a system. As shown in  FIG. 8 , in which the back of a device is shown with an attached cover  250 , a movable component  252  is provided that carries a tag  254 . Component  252  is depicted in a detect position, in which a corresponding antenna  256  (in combination with other components of the device that are not shown in  FIG. 8 ) is able to detect tag  254 . In this embodiment, responsive to detecting of the tag  254 , the device automatically launches a function, which alters operation of an actuator of the device. In this example, the actuator is a physical button  260 ; however, in other embodiments, the actuator may be a virtual key, for example. For instance, button  260  may be altered to function as a shutter button responsive to detection of the tag, while at other times this button may be the volume button for the device. 
         [0041]    In some embodiments, a portable electronic device may incorporate a secondary sensor. In such an embodiment, responsive to the detection of an NFC tag, the secondary sensor may be activated to sense a condition of the device associated with user interaction. For example, the secondary sensor may be gravity sensor or accelerometer. Upon detection of the NFC tag, the device activates the camera function and the secondary sensor is used to sense the orientation of the device. The device may automatically adjust the orientation of the picture taken by the camera based on sensed condition by the secondary sensor. 
         [0042]    In some embodiments, a secondary sensor may be active before detecting an NFC tag. For example, such a secondary sensor may be a capacitive sensor that detects whether or not the user is holding the device and then use that information to activate an associated reader for detecting a tag. 
         [0043]    It should be noted that various functionality associated with the above-described embodiments may be implemented by hardware, software or combinations thereof. If embodied in software, it should be noted that each block depicted in the flowcharts may represent a module, segment, or portion of code that comprises program instructions stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium to implement the specified logical function(s). In this regard, the program instructions may be embodied in the form of source code that comprises statements written in a programming language or machine code that comprises numerical instructions recognizable by a suitable execution system such as a processing unit. The machine code may be converted from the source code, etc. If embodied in hardware, each block may represent a circuit or a number of interconnected circuits to implement the specified logical function(s). Additionally, although the flowcharts show specific orders of execution, it is to be understood that the orders of execution may differ. 
         [0044]    It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments are merely examples of possible implementations. Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments without departing from the principles of the present disclosure. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure and protected by the following claims.