Antenna alignment feedback using near field communication devices
Systems and methods for aligning a near field communications (NFC) device and a document having an NFC antenna are disclosed. An exemplary method comprises the steps of accessing a model identifier from the device; associating the model identifier with a device configuration stored in a source; associating the document type of the document with a document configuration stored in the source; generating alignment feedback based on image processing of video of the document produced by the camera of the device; detecting for a data connection between the mobile device and the document; and generating a connection indication when the data connection is detected.
1 . A computer-implemented method for aligning a device and a document of a type having an NFC antenna, the device having a display and a camera operative to capture images and produce video from the images and an NFC reader including an NFC antenna, the method comprising:
accessing a model identifier from the device;
associating the model identifier with a device configuration stored in a source, the device configuration including data indicative of a relative location of the NFC antenna of the device;
associating the type of the document with a document configuration stored in the source, the document configuration including data indicative of a location of the NFC antenna of the document;
generating alignment feedback based on image processing of the video of the document produced by the camera of the device, the device configuration and the document configuration, the image processing of the video further comprising processing video images of the document to:
(1) identify the document; and
(2) identify a location of a document target on the document,
the alignment feedback including providing guidance to a user for aligning the NFC antenna of the device and the NFC antenna of the document, the aligning of the NFC antenna of the device and the NFC antenna of the document occurring when the camera of the device is aligned with the document target, the location of the document target being different than the location of the NFC antenna of the document;
detecting for a data connection between the device and the document; and
generating a connection indication when the data connection is detected.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises installing a mobile device application onto the device.
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein installing the mobile device application onto the device further comprises downloading, from a server of the mobile device application, information regarding the device configuration and the document configuration.
4 . The method of claim 2 , wherein installing the mobile device application onto the device further comprises initializing the device configuration, the device configuration including user preferences for the alignment feedback.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the source comprises at least one of a data structure, a table, or a database to store information regarding the device configuration.
6 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the source is accessed when downloaded to the device during initial device configuration and stored in a non-volatile memory of the device.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the model identifier comprises one of a processor readable number, sequence of numbers, ACII string, or other encoded processor readable string that identifies a model of the device.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the device configuration further comprises at least one of a position of the camera of the device, a strength indicator of the NFC reader on the device, data on whether the device supports haptic feedback, vibration modes, audio and tone capabilities, and information regarding controllable LED.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the image processing comprises reading text written on the document to determine the document type.
10 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the user preferences include a preference for tones or audio information for guidance to be used for the alignment feedback.
11 . A system for aligning a mobile device and a document, the mobile device having an NFC antenna and a camera operative to capture images, and the document having an NFC antenna, comprising:
a processor; and
a memory for storing executable instructions, the processor executing the instructions to:
access a model identifier from the device;
associate the model identifier with a device configuration stored in a source, the device configuration including data indicative of a relative location of the NFC antenna of the device;
associate a type of the document with a document configuration stored in the source, the document configuration including data indicative of a location of the NFC antenna of the document;
generate alignment feedback based on image processing of the video of the document produced by the camera of the device, the device configuration and the document configuration, the image processing of the video further comprising processing video images of the document to:
(1) identify the document; and
(2) identify a location of a document target on the document,
the alignment feedback including providing guidance to a user for aligning the NFC antenna of the device and the NFC antenna of the document, the aligning of the NFC antenna of the device and the NFC antenna of the document occurring when the camera of the device is aligned with the document target, the location of the document target being different than the location of the NFC antenna of the document;
detect for a data connection between the device and the document; and
generate a connection indication when the data connection is detected.
12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the processor further executes the instructions to install a mobile device application onto the device.
13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the instructions to install the mobile device application onto the device further comprise instructions to download, from a server of the mobile device application, information regarding the device configuration and the document configuration.
14 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the instructions to install the mobile device application onto the device further comprise instructions to initialize the device configuration, the device configuration including user preferences for the alignment feedback.
15 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the source comprises at least one of a data structure, a table, or a database to store information regarding the device configuration.
16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the source is accessed when downloaded to the device during initial device configuration and stored in a non-volatile memory of the device.
17 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the model identifier comprises one of a processor readable number, sequence of numbers, ACII string, or other encoded processor readable string that identifies a model of the device.
18 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the device configuration further comprises at least one of a position of the camera of the device, a strength indicator of an NFC reader on the device, data on whether the device supports haptic feedback, vibration modes, audio and tone capabilities, and information regarding controllable LED.
19 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the image processing comprises reading text written on the document to determine the document type.
20 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the user preferences include a preference for tones or audio information for guidance to be used for the alignment feedback.