Terminal, method and computer program product for interacting with a signaling tag

Abstract

A terminal for interacting with a signaling tag includes a controller capable of receiving information regarding a signaling tag at least partially over an air interface. The controller is also capable of determining whether the controller is actively operating an application. In this regard, if the terminal is actively operating an application, the controller is capable of performing a predefined action based upon the application and a state of the application.

Description

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating various steps in a method of interacting with a signaling tag in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. Further, FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a method 100. In some embodiments, the method 100 can comprise: receiving information regarding a signaling tag at a terminal at least partially over an air interface via a short-range radio frequency transceiver or interrogator, the information regarding the signaling tag including at least a tag type of the signaling tag, at block 102. In some embodiments, the method 100 can further comprise: determining whether the terminal is actively operating an application, at block 104. In some embodiments, the method 100 can further comprise: if the terminal is actively operating an application, performing a first predefined action based upon the tag type, the application and a state of the application, wherein the first predefined action comprises: initiating communication between the terminal and a device associated with the signaling tag and transmitting data to the device associated with the signaling tag when the tag type indicates that the signaling tag is a radio frequency transceiver and the active application is in a state of presenting data, wherein said transmitting data to the device comprises transmitting the presented data to the device via infra-red, Bluetooth or WLAN communication, at block 106. In some embodiments, the method 100 can further comprise: if the terminal is not actively operating an application, performing a second predefined action based upon the tag type, wherein the second predefined action comprises: reading data from the signaling tag and acting upon the received data when the tag type indicates that the signaling tag comprises a RFID transponder tag capable of at least transmitting data to the terminal, at block 108.

Accordingly, blocks or steps of the flowcharts support combinations of means for performing the specified functions, combinations of steps for performing the specified functions and program instruction means for performing the specified functions. It will also be understood that each block or step of the flowchart, and combinations of blocks or steps in the flowchart, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-based computer systems which perform the specified functions or steps, or combinations of special purpose hardware and computer instructions.

Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which this invention pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.

Claims

1. A method of interacting with a signaling tag, wherein the signaling tag comprises a radio frequency identification (rfid) transponder tag or a radio frequency transceiver, comprising:

receiving information regarding a signaling tag at a terminal at least partially over an air interface via a short-range radio frequency transceiver or interrogator, the information regarding the signaling tag including at least a tag type of the signaling tag;

determining whether the terminal is actively operating an application; and

if the terminal is actively operating an application, performing a first predefined action based upon the tag type, the application and a state of the application, wherein the first predefined action comprises:

initiating communication between the terminal and a device associated with the signaling tag and transmitting data to the device associated with the signaling tag when the tag type indicates that the signaling tag is a radio frequency transceiver and the active application is in a state of presenting data, wherein said transmitting data to the device comprises transmitting the presented data to the device via infra-red, Bluetooth or wireless local area network (WLAN) communication; and

if the terminal is not actively operating an application, performing a second predefined action based upon the tag type, wherein the second predefined action comprises:

reading data from the signaling tag and acting upon the received data when the tag type indicates that the signaling tag comprises a rfid transponder tag capable of at least transmitting data to the terminal.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein performing a the first predefined action comprises reading data from the signaling tag into an actively operating application when:

the information regarding the signaling tag indicates that the signaling tag is a rfid transponder tag capable of at least transmitting data to the terminal;

the terminal is actively operating an application; and

the application is in a state of receiving data.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein performing a the first predefined action comprises reading data from the signaling tag into the terminal when the information regarding the signaling tag indicates that the signaling tag is a rfid transponder tag capable of at least transmitting data to the terminal and one of:

the terminal is not actively operating an application; and

the terminal is actively operating an application in a state other than a state of receiving data.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein performing a the first predefined action comprises writing data to the signaling tag when:

the information regarding the signaling tag indicates that the signaling tag is a rfid transponder tag capable of at least receiving data;

the terminal is actively operating an application; and

the application is in a state of presenting data.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein performing a the first predefined action comprises reading data from the signaling tag into the terminal when:

the information regarding the signaling tag indicates that the signaling tag is a rfid transponder tag capable of at least transmitting data and one of:

the terminal is not actively operating an application; and

the terminal is actively operating an application in a state other than a state of one of receiving data and presenting data.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the signaling tag comprises a radio frequency transceiver, wherein performing a the first predefined action comprises reading data from a device associated with the radio frequency transceiver into an actively operating application when:

the information regarding the signaling tag indicates that the radio frequency transceiver is capable of at least transmitting data;

the terminal is actively operating an application; and

the application is in a state of receiving data, and

wherein reading data from the device comprises reading data from the device in a manner independent of the radio frequency transceiver.

7. A method according to claim 6 further comprising:

receiving at least one connection parameter from the device via the radio frequency transceiver, wherein reading data from the device comprises reading data from the device based upon the at least one connection parameter and in a manner independent of the radio frequency transceiver.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the signaling tag comprises a radio frequency transceiver, wherein performing a the first predefined action comprises writing data to a device associated with the radio frequency transceiver when:

the information regarding the signaling tag indicates that the radio frequency transceiver is capable of at least receiving data;

the terminal is actively operating an application; and

the application is in a state of presenting data, and

wherein writing data to the device comprises writing data to the device in a manner independent of the radio frequency transceiver.

9. A method according to claim 8 wherein the radio frequency transceiver is one of a short-range radio frequency transceiver or interrogator, the method further comprising:

receiving at least one connection parameter from the device via the short-range radio frequency transceiver or interrogator, wherein writing data to the device comprises writing data to the device based upon the at least one connection parameter and in a manner independent of the short-range radio frequency transceiver or interrogator.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein the signaling tag comprises a radio frequency transceiver, wherein performing a the first predefined action comprises initiating communication between the terminal and a device associated with the radio frequency transceiver when the information regarding the signaling tag indicates that the radio frequency transceiver is capable of at least transmitting data and one of:

the terminal is not actively operating an application; and

the terminal is actively operating an application in a state other than a state of one of receiving data and presenting data, and

wherein initiating communication comprises initiating communication between the terminal and the device in a manner independent of the radio frequency transceiver.

11. A method according to claim 1 further comprising:

selecting a signaling tag before receiving information regarding the signaling tag, wherein the signaling tag comprises a radio frequency identification (rfid) transponder tag.

12. A method according to claim 11 further comprising:

sending an interrogation signal to the rfid transponder tag, wherein receiving information regarding a signaling tag comprises receiving a tag type from the rfid transponder tag in response to the interrogation signal.

13. A method according to claim 11 further comprising:

sending at least one interrogation signal to the rfid transponder tag, wherein each interrogation signal is associated with a different tag type;

receiving a response from the rfid transponder tag to one of the at least one interrogation signal that triggers the response; and

identifying a tag type based upon the interrogation signal that triggers the response, wherein receiving information regarding a signaling tag comprises receiving the identified tag type.

14. A method according to claim 11, wherein selecting a signaling tag comprises passing the terminal within a predefined distance of a signaling tag.

15. A terminal for interacting with a signaling tag wherein the signaling tag comprises a radio frequency identification (rfid) transponder tag or a radio frequency transceiver, the terminal comprising:

a controller capable of actively operating an application, wherein the controller is capable of receiving information regarding a signaling tag at least partially over an air interface via a short-range radio frequency transceiver or interrogator, the information regarding the signaling tag including at least a tag type of the signaling tag, wherein the controller is also capable of determining whether the terminal is actively operating an application, and

if the controller is actively operating an application, performing a first predefined action based upon the tag type, the application and a state of the application, wherein the first predefined action comprises:

initiating communication between the terminal and a device associated with the signaling tag and transmitting data to the device associated with the signaling tag when the tag type indicates that the signaling tag is a radio frequency transceiver and the active application is in a state of presenting data;

wherein said transmitting data to the device comprises transmitting the presented data to the device via infra-red, Bluetooth or wireless local area network (WLAN) communication; and

if the terminal is not actively operating an application, performing a second predefined action based upon the tag type, wherein the second predefined action comprises:

reading data from the signaling tag and acting upon the received data when the tag type indicates that the signaling tag comprises a rfid transponder tag capable of at least transmitting data to the terminal.

16. A terminal according to claim 15, wherein the controller is capable of performing a the first predefined action by reading data from the signaling tag into an actively operating application when:

the information regarding the signaling tag indicates that the signaling tag is a rfid transponder tag capable of at least transmitting data to the terminal;

the controller is actively operating an application; and

the application is in a state of receiving data.

17. A terminal according to claim 15, wherein the controller is capable of performing a the first predefined action by reading data from the signaling tag into the terminal when the information regarding the signaling tag indicates that the signaling tag is a transponder tag capable of at least transmitting data to the terminal and one of:

the controller is not actively operating an application; and

the controller is actively operating an application in a state other than a state of receiving data.

18. A terminal according to claim 15, wherein the controller is capable of performing a the first predefined action by writing data to the signaling tag when:

the information regarding the signaling tag indicates that the signaling tag is a rfid transponder tag capable of at least receiving data;

the controller is actively operating an application; and

the application is in a state of presenting data.

19. A terminal according to claim 15, wherein the controller is capable of performing a the first predefined action by reading data from the signaling tag into the terminal when:

the information regarding the signaling tag indicates that the signaling tag is a rfid transponder tag capable of at least transmitting data and one of:

the controller is not actively operating an application; and

the controller is actively operating an application in a state other than a state of one of receiving data and presenting data.

20. A terminal according to claim 15, wherein the signaling tag comprises a radio frequency transceiver, wherein the controller is capable of performing a the first predefined action by reading data from a device associated with the radio frequency transceiver into an actively operating application when:

the information regarding the signaling tag indicates that the radio frequency transceiver is capable of at least transmitting data;

the controller is actively operating an application; and

the application is in a state of receiving data, and

wherein the controller is capable of reading data from the device in a manner independent of the radio frequency transceiver.

21. A terminal according to claim 20, wherein the radio frequency transceiver is one of a short-range radio frequency transceiver or an interrogator, wherein the controller is capable of receiving at least one connection parameter from the device via the short-range radio frequency transceiver or interrogator, and wherein the controller is capable of reading data from the device based upon the at least one connection parameter and in a manner independent of the short-range radio frequency transceiver or interrogator.

22. A terminal according to claim 15, wherein the signaling tag comprises a radio frequency transceiver, wherein the controller is capable of performing a the first predefined action by writing data to a device associated with the radio frequency transceiver when:

the information regarding the signaling tag indicates that the radio frequency transceiver is capable of at least receiving data;

the controller is actively operating an application; and

the application is in a state of presenting data, and

wherein the controller is capable of writing data to the device in a manner independent of the radio frequency transceiver.

23. A terminal according to claim 22, wherein the radio frequency transceiver is one of a short-range radio frequency transceiver or an interrogator, wherein the controller is capable of receiving at least one connection parameter from the device via the short-range radio frequency transceiver or interrogator, and wherein the controller is capable of writing data to the device based upon the at least one connection parameter and in a manner independent of the short-range radio frequency transceiver or interrogator.

24. A terminal according to claim 15, wherein the signaling tag comprises a radio frequency transceiver, wherein the controller is capable of performing a the first predefined action by initiating communication a device associated with the radio frequency transceiver when the information regarding the radio frequency transceiver indicates that the transceiver is capable of at least transmitting data and one of:

the controller is not actively operating an application; and

the controller is actively operating an application in a state other than a state of one of receiving data and presenting data, and

wherein the controller is capable of initiating communication with the device in a manner independent of the radio frequency transceiver.

25. A terminal according to claim 15, wherein the controller is further capable of selecting a signaling tag before receiving information regarding the signaling tag, wherein the signaling tag comprises a radio frequency identification (rfid) transponder tag.

26. A terminal according to claim 25, wherein the radio frequency transceiver is one of a short-range radio frequency transceiver or an interrogator, wherein the controller is further capable of sending an interrogation signal to the rfid transponder tag via the short-range radio frequency transceiver or interrogator, wherein the controller is capable of receiving information regarding a signaling tag comprising a tag type from the rfid transponder tag in response to the interrogation signal.

27. A terminal according to claim 25, wherein the controller is capable of sending at least one interrogation signal to the rfid transponder tag, wherein each interrogation signal is associated with a different tag type, wherein the controller is capable of receiving a response from the rfid transponder tag to one of the at least one interrogation signal that triggers the response, and wherein the controller is also capable of identifying a tag type based upon the interrogation signal that triggers the response, wherein the information regarding a signaling tag comprises the identified tag type.

28. A terminal according to claim 25 further comprising:

a transceiver coupled to the controller, wherein the controller is capable of selecting a signaling tag by the transceiver being passed within a predefined distance of a signaling tag.

29. A computer program product for interacting with a signaling tag, wherein the signaling tag comprises a radio frequency identification (rfid) transponder tag or a radio frequency transceiver, the computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein, the computer-readable program code portions comprising: a first executable portion receiving information regarding a signaling tag at a terminal at least partially over an air interface via a short-range radio frequency transceiver or interrogator, the information regarding the signaling tag including at least a tag type of the signaling tag; a second executable portion for determining, whether the terminal is actively operating an application; and if the terminal is actively operating an application, a third executable portion for performing a first predefined action based upon the application and a state of the application, wherein the first predefined action comprises: initiating communication between the terminal and a device associated with the signaling tag and transmitting data to the device associated with the signaling tag when the tag type indicates that the signaling tag is a radio frequency transceiver and the active application is in a state of presenting data; wherein said transmitting data to the device comprises transmitting the presented data to the device via infra-red. Bluetooth or wireless local area network (WLAN) communication; and if the terminal is not actively operating an application, performing a second predefined action based upon the tag type, wherein the second predefined action comprises: reading data from the signaling tag and acting upon the received data when the tag indicates that the signaling tag comprises a rfid transponder tag capable of at least transmitting data to the terminal.

30. A computer program product according to claim 29, wherein the third executable portion is adapted to perform a the first predefined action by reading data from the signaling tag into an actively operating application when:

the information regarding the signaling tag indicates that the signaling tag is a rfid transponder tag capable of at least transmitting data to the terminal;

the terminal is actively operating an application; and

the application is in a state of receiving data.

31. A computer program product according to claim 29, wherein the third executable portion is adapted to perform a the first predefined action by reading data from the signaling tag into the terminal when the information regarding the signaling tag indicates that the signaling tag is a rfid transponder tag capable of at least transmitting data to the terminal and one of:

the terminal is not actively operating an application; and

the terminal is actively operating an application in a state other than a state of receiving data.

32. A computer program product according to claim 29, wherein the third executable portion is adapted to perform a the first predefined action by writing data to the signaling tag when:

the information regarding the signaling tag indicates that the signaling tag is a rfid transponder tag capable of at least receiving data;

the terminal is actively operating an application; and

the application is in a state of presenting data.

33. A computer program product according to claim 32, wherein the third executable portion is adapted to perform a the first predefined action by reading data from the signaling tag into the terminal when:

the information regarding the signaling tag indicates that the signaling tag is a rfid transponder tag capable of at least transmitting data and one of:

the terminal is not actively operating an application; and

the terminal is actively operating an application in a state other than a state of one of receiving data and presenting data.

34. A computer program product according to claim 29, wherein the signaling tag comprises a radio frequency transceiver, wherein the third executable portion is adapted to perform a the first predefined action by reading data from a device associated with the radio frequency transceiver into an actively operating application when:

the information regarding the signaling tag indicates that the radio frequency transceiver is capable of at least transmitting data;

the terminal is actively operating an application; and

the application is in a state of receiving data, and

wherein the third executable portion is adapted to read data from the device in a manner independent of the radio frequency transceiver.

35. A computer program product according to claim 34 wherein the radio frequency transceiver is one of a short-range radio frequency transceiver or an interrogator, the computer program product further comprising:

a fourth executable portion for receiving at least one connection parameter from the device via the short-range radio frequency transceiver or interrogator, wherein the third executable portion is adapted to perform a the first predefined action by reading data from the device based upon the at least one connection parameter and in a manner independent of the short-range radio frequency transceiver or interrogator.

36. A computer program product according to claim 29, wherein the signaling tag comprises a radio frequency transceiver, wherein the third executable portion is adapted to perform a the first predefined action by writing data to a device associated with the radio frequency transceiver when:

the information regarding the signaling tag indicates that the radio frequency transceiver is capable of at least receiving data;

the terminal is actively operating an application; and

the application is in a state of presenting data, and

wherein the third executable portion is adapted to write data to the device in a manner independent of the radio frequency transceiver.

37. A computer program product according to claim 36 wherein the radio frequency transceiver is one of a short-range radio frequency transceiver or an interrogator, the computer program product further comprising:

a fourth executable portion for receiving at least one connection parameter from the device via the short-range radio frequency transceiver or interrogator, wherein the third executable portion is adapted to perform a the first predefined action by writing data to the device based upon the at least one connection parameter and in a manner independent of the short-range radio frequency transceiver or interrogator.

38. A computer program product according to claim 29, wherein the signaling tag comprises a radio frequency transceiver, wherein the third executable portion is adapted to perform a the first predefined action by initiating communication between the terminal and the device associated with the radio frequency transceiver when the information regarding the signaling tag indicates that the radio frequency transceiver is capable of at least transmitting data and one of:

the terminal is not actively operating an application; and

the terminal is actively operating an application in a state other than a state of one of receiving data and presenting data, and

wherein the third executable portion is adapted to initiate communication between the terminal and the device in a manner independent of the radio frequency transceiver.

39. A computer program product according to claim 29 further comprising:

a fourth executable portion for selecting a signaling tag before the first executable portion receives information regarding the signaling tag, wherein the signaling tag comprises a radio frequency identification (rfid) transponder tag.

40. A computer program product according to claim 39 further comprising:

a fifth executable portion for sending an interrogation signal to the rfid transponder tag, wherein the first executable portion is adapted to receive information regarding a signaling tag comprising a tag type from the rfid transponder tag in response to the interrogation signal.

41. A computer program product according to claim 39 further comprising:

a fifth executable portion for sending at least one interrogation signal to the rfid transponder tag, wherein each interrogation signal is associated with a different tag type;

a sixth executable portion for receiving a response from the rfid transponder tag to one of the at least one interrogation signal that triggers the response; and

a seventh executable portion for identifying a tag type based upon the interrogation signal that triggers the response, wherein the first executable portion is adapted to receive information regarding a signaling tag comprising the identified tag type.