Multi-NFC antenna array and user device detection

Abstract

A communication apparatus is disclosed. The communication device includes a housing including an active surface and a processor associated with the housing. An NFC antenna array is coupled to the processor and below the active surface of the housing. Each NFC antenna in the array of NFC antennas is configured to detect a user device in proximity to the NFC antenna. The user device includes a user device NFC antenna and access data. A non-transitory computer readable medium is coupled to the processor. The non-transitory computer readable medium includes code executable by the processor to cause the processor to perform operations. The operations include sequentially polling the NFC antenna in the NFC antenna array until the NFC antenna in the NFC antenna array detects the user device and the NFC antenna in the NFC antenna array receives the access data.

Description

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application is a PCT application claiming priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 487,655, filed on March 1, 2023, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Background Art

[0003] If a user wants to access a resource using a contactless user device, the user can interact with the communication device. For example, the user device may have a first NFC (near field communication) antenna, and the user device can be tapped against the communication device's location where a second NFC antenna is located. The communication device can be a terminal, such as a contactless door terminal, a contactless payment terminal, a tablet computer, or a laptop computer. When the communication device is a user's personal device (such as a laptop computer), the communication device may not have predefined markings on its housing to indicate where the user should place the user device to allow communication between the user device and the communication device. This can make it difficult for the user to determine where to place their user device relative to the communication device. In some cases, the communication device may have a display, and the software in the communication device may cause the display to display an interaction indicator (e.g., a "Tap here" message) that shows the user where to place their user device. In some cases, it can be difficult for the user to place the user device near the interaction indicator (e.g., the user is unclear about the location of the first NFC antenna on their user device). Furthermore, different manufacturers of communication devices may have NFC antennas in different locations, and any software that displays the interaction indicator would need to know those locations. This can be difficult to do given the number of possibilities for NFC antenna locations in various types of communication devices.

[0004] Embodiments of the present disclosure address this and other problems, individually and collectively. Summary of the Invention

[0005] One embodiment of the present invention includes a communication device comprising: a housing comprising an active surface; a processor associated with the housing; an NFC antenna array coupled to the processor and below the active surface of the housing, each NFC antenna in the NFC antenna array being configured to detect a user device in proximity to the NFC antenna, the user device comprising a user device NFC antenna and access data; and a non-transitory computer-readable medium coupled to the processor, the non-transitory computer-readable medium including code executable by the processor to cause the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising: sequentially polling the NFC antennas in the NFC antenna array until the NFC antennas in the NFC antenna array detect the user device and the NFC antennas in the NFC antenna array receive the access data.

[0006] Another embodiment of the present invention includes a method of using a communication device, the communication device comprising: a housing having an active surface; and a processor associated with the housing; an NFC antenna array coupled to the processor and below the active surface of the housing, the NFC antenna array comprising a plurality of NFC antennas, the method comprising: sequentially polling the NFC antennas in the NFC antenna array until the NFC antennas in the NFC antenna array detect the user device; and receiving, by the communication device, access data from the user device via the NFC.

[0007] Another embodiment of the present invention includes a system comprising: a user device; and a communication device comprising: a housing comprising an active surface; a processor associated with the housing; an NFC antenna array coupled to the processor and below the active surface of the housing, each NFC antenna in the NFC antenna array being configured to detect the user device when the user device is in proximity to the NFC antenna, the user device comprising a user device NFC antenna and access data, and a non-transitory computer-readable medium coupled to the processor, the non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising code executable by the processor to cause the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising: sequentially polling the NFC antennas in the NFC antenna array until the NFC antennas in the NFC antenna array detect the user device and the NFC antennas in the NFC antenna array receive the access data.

[0008] These and other embodiments are described in further detail below.

[0009] the term

[0010] Before discussing specific embodiments of the present invention, some description of some terminology may be helpful.

[0011] A“user” can include an individual. In some embodiments, a user can be associated with one or more personal accounts and / or user devices. In some embodiments, a user can also be referred to as a cardholder, account holder, or consumer.

[0012] A“user device” can be any suitable device operated by a user. Suitable user devices can be portable and can communicate with external entities such as access devices. Examples of user devices include cards on which data is stored, mobile phones, laptop computers, transponders, wearable devices such as smart watches, automobiles with remote communication capabilities, access cards, smart media, and the like. A payment device can be an example of a user device.

[0013] A“payment device” can refer to a device that can be used to conduct a financial transaction such as providing payment information to a merchant. Payment devices can take any suitable form. For example, suitable payment devices can be hand-held and compact so that they can fit into a consumer’s wallet and / or pocket (e.g., pocket-sized). They can include smart cards, magnetic stripe cards, keychain devices (e.g., Speedpass® available from Exxon-Mobil Corp.), and the like. If the payment device is in the form of a debit card, credit card, or smart card, the payment device can also optionally feature, for example, a magnetic stripe. Such devices can operate in a contact or contactless mode. TM

[0014] A“communication device” can be a device that includes one or more electronic components (e.g., integrated chips) that can communicate with another device. For example, a communication device can be a computing device that includes at least one processor coupled to a memory that stores instructions or code for execution by the processor. A“portable communication device” can be a communication device that can be transported and operated by a user. A portable communication device can provide remote communication capabilities with a network. A portable communication device can be configured to transmit data or communications to and receive data or communications from other devices. A portable communication device can take the form of a mobile device such as a mobile phone (e.g., a smart phone, a cellular phone, etc.), a tablet computer, a portable media player, a personal digital assistant device (PDA), a wearable computing device (e.g., a watch), a health monitoring device, an e-reader device, and the like, or take the form of a card (e.g., a smart card) or a pendant, and the like. Examples of portable communication devices can also include portable computing devices (e.g., a laptop computer, a netbook, an ultrabook, and the like). A portable communication device can also take the form of a vehicle (e.g., an automobile), or be integrated as part of a vehicle (e.g., an information system of a vehicle).

[0015] ​A "resource" can be something valuable to a user. For example, a resource can include digital items and / or physical items. A resource can be an obtainable item. A resource can be owned by an entity. A resource can be a physical item such as a commodity. A resource can be a service provided by a merchant. A resource can be a digital item such as a non-fungible token, secure data, etc. Another example of a resource is access to a secure or otherwise access-controlled location.

[0016] A "resource provider" may be an entity that can provide resources such as goods, services, information, and / or access to a location (e.g., a parking space, a transfer station, etc.). Examples of resource providers include businesses, government agencies, security data providers, etc. A resource provider may operate one or more resource provider computers.

[0017] A "resource provider computer" may include any system associated with a resource provider. In some embodiments, the resource provider computer may process functionality of a mobile application and / or website associated with the resource provider, from which a user may obtain resources.

[0018] An "authorizing entity" may be an entity that authorizes a request. Examples of an authorizing entity may be an issuer, a government agency, a document repository, an access administrator, etc. The authorizing entity may operate an authorizing entity computer.

[0019] An "issuer" may refer to a business entity (e.g., a bank) that issues and optionally maintains a user's account. An issuer may also issue payment credentials to a consumer that are stored on a user device such as a cell phone, smart card, tablet computer, or laptop computer.

[0020] "Processor" may refer to any suitable data computing device or devices. A processor may include one or more microprocessors working together to perform a desired function. A processor may include a CPU including at least one high-speed data processor sufficient to execute program components for executing user and / or system generated requests. A CPU may be a microprocessor such as AMD's Athlon, Duron, and / or Opteron; IBM and / or Motorola's PowerPC; IBM and Sony's Cell processor; Intel's Celeron, Itanium, Pentium, Xeon, and / or XScale; and / or similar processors.

[0021] "Memory" may be any suitable device or devices capable of storing electronic data. Suitable memory may include non-transitory computer-readable media storing instructions that can be executed by a processor to implement the desired method. Examples of memory may include one or more memory chips, disk drives, etc. Such memory may operate using any suitable electrical, optical, and / or magnetic operating modes.

[0022] "Access data" may include any suitable data that can be used to access a resource or create data that can access a resource. In some embodiments, the access data may be a credential, a token, or some other type of information that can be used to access a resource.

[0023] A "credential" can be any suitable information that serves as reliable evidence of value, ownership, identity, or authority. A credential can be a string of numbers, letters, or any other suitable characters that can be presented or contained in any object or document that can serve as a confirmation. Examples of user credentials might be a primary account number, driver's license ID, social security number, etc.

[0024] “Payment credentials” may include any suitable information associated with an account (e.g., a payment account and / or payment device associated with the account). Such information may be directly related to the account or may be derived from information related to the account. Examples of account information may include PAN (primary account number or “account number”), username, expiration date, CVV (card verification value), dCVV (dynamic card verification value), CVV2 (card verification value 2), CVC3 card verification value, and the like. CVV2 is generally understood to be a static verification value associated with a payment device. CVV2 values ​​are typically visible to users (e.g., consumers), while CVV and dCVV values ​​are typically embedded in memory or in authorization request messages and are not readily known to users (although they are known to issuers and payment processors). Payment credentials may be any information that identifies a payment account or is associated with a payment account. Payment credentials may be provided to facilitate payments from a payment account. Payment credentials may also include username, expiration date, gift card number or code, and any other suitable information.

[0025] A "token" can be a replacement value for a credential. A token can be a string of numbers, letters, or any other suitable characters. A token can be tied to one or more devices (e.g., user devices). Examples of tokens include access tokens, such as payment tokens, data that can be used to access a secure system or location, and the like. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] Figure 1 A system with an NFC antenna array for detecting and communicating with a user device is illustrated.

[0027] Figure 2A block diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment is shown.

[0028] Figure 3 An NFC antenna array for detecting and communicating with a user device is illustrated.

[0029] Figure 4 A flow chart illustrating a method according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0030] Figure 5 A block diagram of a system according to an embodiment is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] A communication device is disclosed. The communication device includes a housing and a processor, the housing including an active surface, the processor being associated with the housing. An NFC antenna array is coupled to the processor and is located below the active surface of the housing. Each NFC antenna in the NFC antenna array is configured to detect a user device in proximity to the NFC antenna. The user device includes a user device NFC antenna and access data. A non-transitory computer-readable medium is coupled to the processor. The non-transitory computer-readable medium includes code executable by the processor to cause the processor to perform operations. The operations include sequentially polling NFC antennas in the NFC antenna array until an NFC antenna in the NFC antenna array detects the user device and the NFC antenna in the NFC antenna array receives the access data.

[0032] Embodiments of the present invention may allow a user to tap or otherwise interact with a larger area of ​​an NFC-enabled communication device using their NFC-enabled user device. This larger area can increase the likelihood of a successful interaction between the user device and the communication device. For example, by providing a larger area for a user to tap or otherwise interact with their user device, the user is much less likely to tap or otherwise interact with an area of ​​the communication device that is unable to receive NFC signals from the user device. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the area available for interacting with and receiving data from the user device may include the entire display surface of the communication device's display. A user can tap their user device anywhere on the display, not just a small area. This not only reduces the likelihood of an unsuccessful interaction, but also allows software that provides users with less precise instructions on how to interact with their user device and the communication device. For example, the software can cause the communication device to display a message to the user such as "Tap anywhere on the screen," rather than requiring the user to tap their user device at a specific location on the communication device's display (e.g., a bottom corner).

[0033] Figure 1A system 100 including a communication device 102 and a user device 106 that can interact with and provide access data to the communication device 102 is illustrated. The communication device 102 includes an NFC antenna array 104 that can be used to detect and communicate with the user device 106. The user device 106 can be in proximity to the communication device 102 such that an NFC antenna in the NFC antenna array 104 can communicate with the user device 106 via a user device NFC antenna 110. The user device NFC antenna 110 can be a radio frequency (RF) antenna (e.g., using a 13.56 MHz carrier frequency) and can be a loop antenna.

[0034] The communication device 102 can include a housing 112 that includes an active surface 114. In this embodiment, the active surface 114 can include a display screen surface. The active surface 114 can be a surface that is capable of detecting the user device 106 through NFC interaction. In other embodiments, the active surface 114 need not correspond to a display screen surface, but can be a surface such as a solid surface of the housing 112, or can be a surface such as a table surface.

[0035] The NFC antenna array 104 can be enclosed (e.g., partially or completely) by the housing 112 and included under the active surface 114, as indicated by the dashed line. The NFC antenna array 104 can include a plurality of NFC antennas that can be sequentially polled, and an optimal NFC antenna in the NFC antenna array 104 can detect the user device 106 at any location on the active surface 114 selected by the user. Once detected, the user device 106 can provide access data to the communication device 102 via the optimal NFC antenna in the user device 106 and the user device NFC antenna 110.

[0036] The user device 106 can include a chip 108 that communicates with the user device NFC antenna 110. The chip 108 can store access data and other information. If the user device 106 is in the form of a card, the user device can have printed or embossed information such as the user's name and an account number associated with the user device 106.

[0037] Figure 2 A block diagram of the communication device 102 is shown, in accordance with an embodiment.

[0038] The communication device 102 includes a processor 102A. The processor 102A can be any suitable processor operable to execute instructions on the communication device 102. The processor can be associated with a housing of the communication device 102. For example, the processor 102A can be enclosed by the housing of the communication device 102. The processor 102A can be coupled to other components of the communication device 102, including the NFC antenna array 104, the input device 102C, the non-transitory computer readable medium 102D, the output device 102E, the network interface 102F, and a remote antenna 102G, such as a cellular antenna.

[0039] The NFC antenna array 104 can include a plurality of NFC antennas, where each NFC antenna in the NFC antenna array is configured to detect a user device proximate (e.g., within a range to sense wireless signals) to the NFC antennas in the NFC antenna array 104. Each NFC antenna in the NFC antenna array 104 can be a loop antenna. Detection can occur after a poll command is sequentially transmitted by the processor 102A to each of the NFC antennas in the NFC antenna array 104. In some embodiments, an optimal NFC antenna is determined, and the optimal NFC antenna is used to communicate with and receive access data from the user device. Detection of a user device by each of the NFC antennas in the NFC antenna array 104 can be represented by a voltage signal. A higher voltage signal can represent a better and / or stronger wireless communication connection between the NFC antennas in the NFC antenna array 104 and the user device NFC antenna. The highest detection voltage after polling by the NFC antennas in the NFC antenna array 104 can indicate that the NFC antenna is the optimal NFC antenna in the NFC antenna array 104 for the current user device interaction.

[0040] The input device 102C can be a user interface for receiving input from a user. The communication device 102 can include any number of input devices 102C. Example input devices can be a keyboard, a microphone, a touch screen, a mouse pad, an accelerometer, etc.

[0041] The computer readable medium 102D can include code executable by the processor 102A for performing the operations described herein. These operations can include sequentially polling the NFC antennas in the NFC antenna array until a user device is detected by the NFC antennas in the NFC antenna array; and receiving access data from the user device by the communication device via NFC.

[0042] The output device 102E can be a user interface for presenting output (e.g., to a user). The communication device 102 can include any number of output devices 102E. Example output devices can be a display, a speaker, a haptic feedback device, etc.

[0043] The network interface 102F includes an interface that can allow the communication device 102 to communicate with external computers. Some examples of network interfaces 105 can include modems, physical network interfaces (such as Ethernet cards or other network interface cards (NICs)), virtual network interfaces, communication ports, Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) slots and cards, and the like. Wireless protocols enabled by the network interface 206 can include Wi-Fi TM Data transferred via the network interface 102F can be in the form of signals, which can be electrical, electromagnetic, optical, or any other signals capable of being received by an external communication interface (collectively referred to as "electronic signals" or "electronic messages"). These electronic messages, which can include data or instructions, can be provided between the network interface 102F and other devices via communication paths or channels. As described above, any suitable communication paths or channels can be used, such as electrical wires or cables, fiber optics, telephone lines, cellular links, radio frequency (RF) links, WAN or LAN networks, the Internet, or any other suitable medium.

[0044] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the NFC antenna array 104 for detecting and communicating with the user device 106 according to embodiments of the application is illustrated.

[0045] The NFC antenna array 104 can include a plurality of NFC antennas, which can have various shapes (e.g., circular, rectangular, etc.) and sizes. In some embodiments, each of the NFC antennas in the NFC antenna array 104 can have the same general shape and size (e.g., all coils having approximately the same diameter). In some embodiments, the NFC antennas in the NFC antenna array 104 have a size (in the primary dimension) of less than 7 inches. In some embodiments, the NFC antennas in the NFC antenna array 104 have a size (in the primary dimension) of less than 5 inches. Figure 3 In the illustrated embodiment, there are nine NFC antennas: 302, 304, 306, 308, 310, 312, 314, 316, and 318. Other embodiments can have more or fewer NFC antennas in the NFC antenna array 104.

[0046] The NFC antennas in the NFC antenna array 104 can be made of any suitable material. In some embodiments, the NFC antennas in the NFC antenna array 104 can be made of a conductive material printed on a transparent substrate, such as indium tin oxide (ITO). This allows the NFC antenna array to be used with a display screen. In other embodiments, the material of the NFC antennas can be a metal, such as copper or a copper alloy.

[0047] The size of the first NFC antenna 302, the shape of the first NFC antenna 302, and / or the arrangement of the NFC antenna array 104 may depend on at least one of the following: the size of the communication device housing the NFC antenna, the shape of the active surface of the communication device, the user device with which the communication device is configured to interact, the NFC antenna configuration of the user device's NFC antenna, the desired power consumption of the first NFC antenna, the desired power consumption of the NFC antenna array, the expected communication distance between the user device and the first NFC antenna, the shape of the first NFC antenna, the material of the first NFC antenna, the amount of material between the first NFC antenna and the user device, or the type of material between the first NFC antenna and the user device.

[0048] As an example, the NFC antennas of the NFC antenna array 104 can be the size of an ID-1 card (i.e., the standard "credit card" size for identification cards defined by ISO / IEC 7810). The NFC antennas of the NFC antenna array 104 can be seven inches long (e.g., along the major dimension of the NFC antenna). For some implementations, the maximum size of the NFC antennas that are part of the NFC antenna array 104 can be a diameter of seven inches for a circular NFC antenna, or the longer side of a rectangular shape. Larger active surfaces may require more NFC antennas in the NFC antenna array.

[0049] Figure 4 A flow chart illustrating a method 400 for docking a user device with a communication device and determining the optimal NFC antenna in an NFC antenna array to receive data from the user device is shown. The communication device may sequentially poll the NFC antennas in the NFC antenna array to find an NFC antenna that can communicate with the user device. If the NFC antenna array is in a rectangular array, sequentially polling includes polling each NFC antenna in the NFC array in a row-by-row or column-by-column manner.

[0050] At 402, one or more NFC antennas of an NFC antenna array may be polled. Polling may occur using EMV (Europay, MasterCard, Visa) contactless reader polling commands, such as WUPA (Wake-up Poll Type A) and / or WUPB (Wake-up Poll Type B). The polling commands may be transmitted by a processor of the communication device to sense a user device (e.g., a card) in proximity to the field of a corresponding NFC antenna in the NFC antenna array. In certain embodiments, WUPA and WUPB polling commands may be transmitted with an interval of approximately 10 to 20 microseconds between each command. In certain embodiments, after transmitting a polling command, a predetermined amount of time is allowed to elapse before transmitting another polling command. The communication device may have receiver circuitry connected to the NFC antennas of the NFC antenna array, and the receiver circuitry may be capable of detecting and recording the user device response modulation strength (e.g., response trigger voltage) using a voltage value at each NFC antenna.

[0051] In this example, the communication device activates the NFC field of the NFC antennas in the NFC antenna array with a wake-up command and then waits 5.1 milliseconds for a nearby user device to power up. The wake-up command may be a WUPA command for detecting a Type A user device. If there is no response to the WUPA wake-up command, a WUPB command for a Type B user device may be transmitted after another 5.1 milliseconds. Assuming no user device responds to these commands, the communication device turns off the field of the NFC antenna. Overall, this process takes approximately 11.2 milliseconds. The communication device may then activate a different NFC antenna in the NFC antenna array, and the process may continue sequentially through the NFC antennas in the NFC antenna array.

[0052] Polling can occur using one or more NFC antennas in the NFC antenna array at a time. Polling can occur in a random order or in a predefined order. Polling can occur until a user device is detected in proximity to an NFC antenna and the communication signal between the user device and the NFC antenna is strong enough for the NFC antenna to receive access data from the user device.

[0053] At 404, a user device may be detected near an NFC antenna of an NFC antenna array. WUPA and / or WUPB polling commands may be used to detect the user device. An NFC antenna of the NFC antenna array that detects the user device during the polling period will measure a voltage signal associated with a response to the poll. The voltage value associated with the voltage signal may be stored in a memory of the communication device and associated with the NFC antenna of the NFC antenna array.

[0054] At 406, the communication device may determine whether the signal between the NFC antenna that detected the user device and the user device is optimal. In some embodiments, the NFC signal is optimal when the voltage response associated with the NFC antenna is above a threshold voltage level. In some embodiments, the NFC signal is optimal when the voltage response associated with the NFC antenna is higher than all other previously polled NFC antennas. For example, the NFC antenna with the highest voltage response among all polled NFC antennas may be the optimal NFC antenna for communicating with the user device.

[0055] In certain embodiments, the NFC antenna in the NFC antenna array that produces the highest voltage signal associated with a response to a poll (global optimum) or exceeds a threshold voltage value will be determined as the optimal NFC antenna for communicating with the user device.

[0056] At 408, if the signal voltage value for the NFC antenna in the NFC antenna array is determined to be optimal at step 406, the user device may communicate with the communication device using the NFC antenna in the NFC antenna array associated with the optimal voltage response signal and the user device NFC antenna. As described above, the user device may communicate access data to the communication device. Since communication between the user device and the communication device has already begun, further polling of the NFC and NFC antenna array may cease.

[0057] At 406, if the signal associated with a particular NFC antenna is not optimal, the communication device may determine that the signal received by the NFC antenna is too weak to initiate communication with the user device. However, the detection of a weak signal by the NFC antenna array may indicate that a user device is nearby. The communication device may then attempt to find a nearby NFC antenna that generates a better signal voltage value than the currently polled NFC antenna.

[0058] At step 410, NFC antennas surrounding the previously polled NFC antenna may be sequentially polled. For example, all NFC antennas surrounding the previously polled NFC antenna that generate weak signals may be sequentially polled until a stronger voltage signal is obtained and the optimal NFC antenna is identified. This process may be repeated as many times as necessary to find a suitable or optimal NFC antenna for communicating with the user device.

[0059] At 412, if a user device is detected near the polled NFC antenna during step 410, the method may again perform step 406 to determine whether the NFC antenna that detected the user device is the NFC antenna that has received the optimal signal for communicating with the user device. Once the optimal signal is determined, the NFC antenna is determined, and the user device may communicate with the communication device via the NFC antenna as in step 408.

[0060] As an example of method 400, the following describes polling using the NFC antenna array 104 to detect Figure 3 The method of the user device 106 illustrated in FIG.

[0061] Figure 3 The NFC antenna array 104 in FIG. 1 shows an embodiment having an NFC antenna array consisting of nine NFC antennas, with three NFC antennas in each of three rows and three NFC antennas in each of three columns (in embodiments, the NFC antenna array may have more or fewer rows and columns). The xy coordinates of the NFC antennas in the NFC antenna array 104 may be defined as 1X, 2X, 3X, ..., NX across columns to represent the antenna positions along the x-axis, and as 1Y, 2Y, 3Y, ..., nY across rows to represent the antenna positions along the y-axis, where each row and column may contain any number of NFC antennas, denoted by N and n, respectively. Thus, the number of NFC antennas within the antenna array may be represented by the number of NFC antennas in the first x-axis array multiplied by the number of NFC antennas in the second y-axis array (e.g., N*n).

[0062] In this method, the processor begins transmitting a pair of WUPA and WUPB polling commands from the first NFC antenna 302 (at (1X, 1Y)). Once the polling command times out (e.g., the receiver circuit of the first NFC antenna 302 does not receive a response), the method switches to an adjacent NFC antenna (e.g., the second NFC antenna 304 or the fourth NFC antenna 308) and transmits another pair of WUPA and WUPB polling commands using the adjacent NFC antenna. The processor repeats this process until the communication device receives a voltage response from the NFC antenna at the response location XY. A voltage response from an NFC antenna at a certain XY location can indicate a high probability that communication with the user device is possible using that particular NFC antenna or one of its surrounding neighboring NFC antennas. To find the optimal NFC antenna (e.g., the NFC antenna that will provide the best communication), one or each of WUPA and WUPB polling commands may then be transmitted using nearby NFC antennas to determine whether any of the neighboring NFC antennas can obtain better reception than the current optimal NFC antenna's reception (e.g., (voltage at previous optimal X, Y) < voltage at current X, Y antenna position).

[0063] To further illustrate, the communication device may initially use the first NFC antenna 302 to attempt to find the optimal NFC antenna. The communication device may not receive a response from the user device using the first NFC antenna 302, causing the communication device to deactivate the first NFC antenna 302 and try again using the adjacent second NFC antenna 304. This process repeats for the third and fourth NFC antennas 306 and 308, respectively, before reaching the fifth NFC antenna 310. Once the communication device activates the fifth NFC antenna 310 and transmits a WUPA and / or WUPB polling command to the fifth NFC antenna 310, the receiver circuit connected to the fifth NFC antenna 310 may detect a voltage response from the fifth NFC antenna 310 having a value of V1 (e.g., a voltage value).

[0064] After the receiver receives a valid response from the user device 106 (e.g., a card) via the fifth NFC antenna 310 at location XY, the communication device may disable the fifth NFC antenna 310 at location XY, making the NFC antenna at location XY the central NFC antenna, and transmit a WUPA and / or WUPB polling command via an NFC antenna adjacent to the central NFC antenna, such as the NFC antenna at location X(Y+1) (the second NFC antenna 304). If there is no response, the communication device repeats the same process for NFC antenna X(Y-1) (the eighth NFC antenna 316), (X+1)Y (the sixth NFC antenna 312), (X-1)Y (the fourth NFC antenna 308), (X+1)(Y+1) (the ninth NFC antenna), and so on, scanning all adjacent NFC antennas until a response is found from an adjacent NFC antenna with a voltage greater than the current central voltage (in this example, V1 at the fifth NFC antenna 310). The new and better (e.g., better communication, higher voltage sensing) NFC antenna is defined as the new central NFC antenna. Once a new central NFC antenna is established, the process can be repeated until no adjacent NFC antenna is better than the current central NFC antenna (e.g., does not have better reception, does not induce a higher voltage). Once the optimal NFC antenna is found using the process described above, the current central NFC antenna is selected as the communication NFC antenna. The process described above allows for determining where the user has placed the user device relative to an active surface / communication landing plane (e.g., a large active surface, a computer screen, a desktop, etc.).

[0065] In certain embodiments, the optimal NFC antenna among all NFC antennas adjacent to the center NFC antenna is selected as the new center NFC antenna. In certain embodiments, the first NFC antenna that is better than the current center NFC antenna is selected as the new center NFC antenna. In certain embodiments, when searching for the optimal NFC antenna, NFC antennas that have already been polled are not polled again to reduce search time and improve processing efficiency. The order in which to check adjacent NFC antennas (search pattern) can be performed: in a particular order, in a random order, by first checking all adjacent NFC antennas with a Y value higher than the current antenna, by stopping after finding the first NFC antenna with a voltage value higher than the current NFC antenna, etc. Those of ordinary skill in the art, with the benefit of this disclosure, will recognize other search patterns that can be used to find the optimal NFC antenna for communication with a user device that is included in an array of NFC antennas.

[0066] Figure 5 A block diagram of a system 500 is shown in accordance with an embodiment. Each of the devices and computers of system 500 can be in operative communication with one another. For the sake of illustration, a specific number of components are shown in system 500. However, it will be understood that embodiments of the application can include more or fewer components than those shown in system 500.

[0067] The devices and computers in system 500 can communicate with one another using a communications network or line (not depicted). The communications network or line can take any suitable form and can include any one and / or combination of the following: a direct connection or interconnection; the Internet; a local area network (LAN); a metropolitan area network (MAN); an operating mission as a node on the Internet (OMNI); a cellular network; a secure custom connection; a wide area network (WAN); a wireless network (e.g., employing a protocol such as, but not limited to, wireless application protocol (WAP), I-Mode, etc.); and the like. Messages between the computers and devices in system 500 can be transmitted using a communications protocol such as, but not limited to: file transfer protocol (FTP); hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP); secure hypertext transfer protocol (HTTPS); secure sockets layer (SSL); ISO (e.g., ISO 8583); and the like.

[0068] The system includes a user device 106, a communication device 102, a resource provider computer 502, and an authorizing entity computer 504. In certain embodiments, the communication device 102 and the resource provider computer 502 are the same device. The communication device 102 can include an NFC antenna array having a plurality of NFC antennas arranged in some configuration. At least some of the NFC antennas of the NFC antenna array can be configured to detect a user device 106 when the user device 106 is placed in proximity to one or more of the NFC antennas of the NFC antenna array.

[0069] A user can pay for goods or services at a resource provider, such as a merchant, using a user device 106. The merchant can operate a resource provider computer 502 and / or a communication device 102. The resource provider computer 502 can communicate with an authorization entity computer 504 to authorize a transaction with the user device 106. The resource provider computer 502 can communicate with an authorization entity computer 504 operated by an issuer via a transmission computer operated by an acquirer and a processing network, such as a payment processing network.

[0070] A typical payment transaction flow using a user device 106 at a communication device 102 (e.g., a POS terminal) can be described as follows. A user places his user device 106 (which may be similar to a Figure 1 The user device 106 in the communication device 102 is presented to the communication device 102 to pay for the goods or services. The user device 106 and the communication device 102 interact so that access data (e.g., PAN, payment token, verification value, expiration date, etc.) from the user device 106 is received by the communication device 102 (e.g., via a contact or contactless interface). The communication device 102 can then send the data to an external server computer such as the resource provider computer 502. The resource provider computer 502 can then receive the information from the communication device 102 via the external communication interface. The resource provider computer 502 can then generate an authorization request message that includes the information received from the communication device 102 (i.e., the information corresponding to the user device 106) and additional transaction information (e.g., transaction amount, merchant-specific information, etc.), and electronically send the information to the authorization entity computer 504 (e.g., via a transmission computer and processing network) for authorization.

[0071] In some embodiments that do not involve financial transactions, the system 500 may allow a user of the user device 106 to access a secure location. In such embodiments, the communication device 102 and / or the resource provider computer 502 may grant or deny access to the user based on an interaction with the user device 106. The communication device 102 and / or the resource provider computer 502 may send an authorization request message with transaction data to the authorization entity computer 504. In such embodiments, the transaction data may include at least a transaction value (e.g., the user has entered the secure location 5 times, the transaction is assigned a value of 40, etc.) and / or an account identifier (e.g., a primary account number (PAN)).

[0072] Any of the software components or functions described in this application can be implemented as software code executed by a processor using any suitable computer language, such as Java, C, C++, C#, Objective-C, Swift, or a scripting language such as Perl or Python, using, for example, conventional or object-oriented techniques. The software code can be stored as a series of instructions or commands on a computer-readable medium for storage and / or transmission, suitable media including random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), magnetic media such as a hard drive or floppy disk, or optical media such as a compact disc (CD) or digital versatile disc (DVD), flash memory, etc. The computer-readable medium can be any combination of such storage devices or transmission devices.

[0073] Such program can also be used to encode and send using a carrier signal suitable for transmitting via a wired network, an optical network and / or a wireless network that meets multiple protocols including the Internet. Therefore, the computer-readable medium according to some embodiments of the present invention can be created using the data signal encoded with such program. The computer-readable medium encoded with program code can be packaged together with compatible devices, or separately provided (for example, downloaded via the Internet) with other devices. Any such computer-readable medium can reside on or within a single computer product (for example, a hard drive, a CD or an entire computer system), and can be present on or within the different computer products in a system or network. The computer system can include a monitor, a printer, or other suitable displays for providing any result mentioned herein to the user.

[0074] The above description is illustrative and not restrictive. Many variations of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading this disclosure. Therefore, the scope of the present invention should not be determined with reference to the above description, but rather with reference to the pending claims along with their full scope or equivalents.

[0075] One or more features of any embodiment may be combined with one or more features of any other embodiment without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0076] As used herein, the use of "a," "an," or "the" is intended to mean "at least one" unless expressly indicated to the contrary.

Claims

1. A communication device, comprising: a housing comprising an active surface; a processor associated with the housing; an NFC antenna array coupled to the processor and beneath the active surface of the housing, each NFC antenna in the NFC antenna array being configured to detect a user device in proximity to the NFC antenna, the user device comprising a user device NFC antenna and access data; as well as a non-transitory computer-readable medium coupled to the processor, the non-transitory computer-readable medium including code executable by the processor to cause the processor to perform operations comprising: The NFC antennas in the NFC antenna array are sequentially polled until an NFC antenna in the NFC antenna array detects the user device and the NFC antenna in the NFC antenna array receives the access data.

2. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the active surface is a tabletop or screen on a tablet computer, a computer monitor, or a laptop computer. The communication device according to claim 1 , wherein the user device is a card.

4. The communication device of claim 1 , wherein polling the NFC antennas in the NFC antenna array until an NFC antenna in the NFC antenna array detects the user device and the NFC antenna receives the access data comprises: detecting the user device by a first NFC antenna in the NFC antenna array; and polling NFC antennas surrounding the first NFC antenna; and The user device is detected by an optimal NFC antenna in the NFC antenna array, wherein the optimal NFC antenna is the NFC antenna that received the access data. The communication device of claim 1 , wherein the NFC antenna array comprises a rectangular array of NFC antennas. The communication device of claim 1 , wherein the access data comprises credentials. 7 . The communication device of claim 1 , wherein the NFC antenna array comprises a rectangular array of NFC antennas, and the NFC antennas are made of a transparent conductive material.

8. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the user device is a phone and the communication device is a laptop computer. 9 . The communication device of claim 1 , wherein sequentially polling comprises polling each NFC antenna in the NFC array in a row-by-row or column-by-column manner.

10. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise: The access data is sent by the communication device to an external server for processing.

11. A method of using a communication device, the communication device comprising: a housing having an active surface; and a processor associated with the housing; an NFC antenna array coupled to the processor and beneath the active surface of the housing, the NFC antenna array comprising a plurality of NFC antennas, the method comprising: sequentially polling the NFC antennas in the NFC antenna array until an NFC antenna in the NFC antenna array detects the user device; as well as Access data is received by the communication device from the user device via the NFC.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein polling the NFC antennas in the NFC antenna array comprises: detecting the user device by a first NFC antenna in the NFC antenna array; and polling NFC antennas surrounding the first NFC antenna; and The user device is detected by an optimal NFC antenna in the NFC antenna array, wherein the optimal NFC antenna is the NFC antenna that received the access data.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein polling antennas in the antenna array until the user device including the access data is detected comprises: receiving a signal from a second antenna in the antenna array; and Antennas surrounding the second antenna are polled until an optimal antenna for detecting the location of the user device is located, wherein the optimal antenna is the antenna array. The method of claim 11 , wherein the NFC antenna array is a rectangular array of NFC antennas.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the operations further comprise: The access means is sent by the communication means to an external server for processing.

16. A system comprising: User device; as well as A communication device, the communication device comprising: a housing comprising an active surface, a processor associated with the housing, an NFC antenna array coupled to the processor and beneath the active surface of the housing, each NFC antenna in the NFC antenna array being configured to detect the user device when the user device is in proximity to the NFC antenna, the user device including a user device NFC antenna and access data, and a non-transitory computer-readable medium coupled to the processor, the non-transitory computer-readable medium including code executable by the processor to cause the processor to perform operations comprising: The NFC antennas in the NFC antenna array are sequentially polled until an NFC antenna in the NFC antenna array detects the user device and the NFC antenna in the NFC antenna array receives the access data.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the active surface is a tabletop or screen on a tablet computer, a computer monitor, or a laptop computer.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the active surface comprises a display surface of a display screen, and the NFC antenna array is below the display screen surface.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the communication device is a laptop computer.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the user device is a card.

Images