Communication devices and method of communication
View Patent ↗In a portable communications device, information provided by an identification means is used to establish communication between communication means and a second device, such as a point of sale machine, to ensure that the correct portable communications device is connected to the second device where there may be a large number of second devices and a large number of portable communications devices in close proximity.
1. An apparatus comprising:
a processor,
a communication transceiver, and
a tag bearing identification information of the apparatus,
the processor and the communication transceiver being configured to cause the apparatus to establish a communication connection over a first communication link with a communication device, wherein the communication device provides a service access point, and wherein the identification information is provided to the communication device over a second communication link.
2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the tag comprises a bar code, and the second communication link comprises a bar code reader.
3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the bar code comprises at least one of:
a bar code on the exterior of the apparatus, and
a bar code configured to be displayed on a display of the apparatus.
4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the tag comprises a radio frequency tag, and the communication device comprises a radio frequency tag receiver.
5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the radio frequency tag comprises an integrated circuit.
6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the integrated circuit is configured to cause the transmission of the identification information to the communication device in response to a radio frequency interrogation signal provided by the communication device.
7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the tag comprises a magnetic data carrying arrangement, and the second communication link comprises a magnetic data reader.
8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the magnetic data carrying arrangement comprises a magnetic strip.
9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the identification information comprises one or more of the following:
an identity of the device;
an address of the device when the first communication link is used; and
an identity of a user.
10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the communication device is one of the following devices:
a point of sale device;
a ticket gate device; and
an information kiosk.
11. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first communication link is a wireless link.
12. An apparatus as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the wireless link is a high frequency link.
13. An apparatus as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the high frequency link is of the order of giga Hertz.
14. An apparatus as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the wireless link is a Bluetooth link.
15. An apparatus as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the wireless link is an infrared link.
16. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is a mobile telephone.
17. An apparatus providing a service access point, the apparatus comprising a wireless communication interface and a reader, wherein a communications device is configured to:
receive, through the reader, identification information identifying a portable communications device; and
establish a wireless communication connection over a first communications link with the portable communications device in response to the received identification information, wherein the identification information is received over a link different from said first communication link.