Patent ID: 8140010

Claim:
A near field RF communicator for initiating communication with a second near field RF communicator, the near field RF communicator comprising: a first inductive coupler operable to couple inductively to a second inductive coupler included within the second near field RF communicator in near field range; a first signal provider operable to cause the first inductive coupler to provide a first signal to the second near field RF communicator, wherein the first signal is insufficient to cause initiation of communication with the second near field RF communicator; a sensor operable to sense a change in an impedance of the first inductive coupler due to inductive coupling between the first inductive coupler and the second inductive coupler; a determiner operable to determine whether the second near field RF communicator is in near field range on a basis of any change in the impedance of the first inductive coupler sensed by the sensor; and an activation signal provider operable, in response to the determiner determining that the second near field RF communicator is in near field range, to supply a second signal to initiate communication between the near field RF communicator and the second near field RF communicator, wherein the first signal provider and the activation signal provider are different signal providers.