Contactless data transfer systems and methods
Data may be transferred from a communication subsystem of a first device to a communication subsystem of a second device contactlessly, at high speed, and without intervention by host processors of either device. Devices may be programmed or personalized at the factory or warehouse, and may personalized at a warehouse or at a point of sale while in the box. Various modes of operation and use scenarios are described. Portions of the devices themselves, or a transmission path between the devices may be shielded against snooping by a material which degrades an EHF signal passing therethrough.
1. A method of data transfer comprising:
transferring data contactlessly over an extremely high frequency (EHF) contactless link between a first device and a second device, wherein the EHF contactless link enables EHF signals to be contactlessly transmitted over an anisotropic physical path through a dielectric medium, wherein the anisotropic physical path through the dielectric medium is characterized by a point-to-point contactless communications scheme that has an effective range on the order of one centimeter when the dielectric medium is air, comprising:
point of sale programming the second device comprising:
transferring data comprising an operating system or firmware to the second device;
performing a quality assurance check on the second device with respect to the operating system or firmware transferred thereto; and
personalizing the second device for a customer associated with the second device.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising executing the point of sale programming of the second device while the second device is boxed within OEM packaging.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein performing the quality assurance check on the second device comprises activating a warranty for the second device.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the point of sale programming further comprises personalizing the second device at a point of sale (POS).
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein personalizing the second device for a customer associated with the second device comprises loading purchased content on to the second device.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein personalizing the second device for a customer associated with the second device comprises loading at least one application on to the second device.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein transferring data contactlessly over the EHF contactless link further comprises:
at the first device, identifying data to be transferred;
at the first device, transmitting a beacon to discover the second device;
at the second device, detecting and responding to the beacon;
setting up and commencing transfer of the identified data; and
initiating the data transfer automatically or on request.
8. A method of transferring data contactlessly over an extremely high frequency (EHF) contactless link between a first device and a second device, comprising:
communicating permissions and preferences via the EHF contactless link between a user device and a shared system, wherein the EHF contactless link enables EHF signals to be contactlessly transmitted over an anisotropic physical path through a dielectric medium, wherein the anisotropic physical path through the dielectric medium is characterized by a point-to-point contactless communications scheme that has an effective range on the order of one centimeter when the dielectric medium is air; and
sharing data via the contactless link between the user device and the shared system based on the communicated permissions and preferences such that the sharing of data modifies the shared system.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the shared system is a car.
10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the shared system is a digital checkout facility.
11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the digital checkout facility is a library or a rental agency.
12. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
detecting a beacon sent by the user device; and
establishing the EHF contactless link between the shared system and the user device in response to detecting the beacon.