Mobile devices with zombie mode

Abstract

This provides mobile devices that allow the use of NFC authentication functions (such as Apple Pay and Suica) even when the battery is completely dead. [Solution] The mobile device generates electricity when shaken (S101). The generated electricity is stored in a capacitor inside the mobile device (S102). When the mobile device is held over the NFC reader / writer of the ticket gate, the NFC antenna inside the mobile device reacts to the external magnetic field (S103). The ultra-low power consumption MCU inside the mobile device starts up and operates using the power from the capacitor, and the NFC controller is started up using the power from the capacitor (S104). After the NFC controller is started up, the secure element inside the mobile device communicates with the NFC reader / writer using the power supplied by the external magnetic field and the NFC function (S105). The secure element performs the authentication process (S106).

Claims

1. A battery that can be recharged by external power supply, A short-range wireless communication unit that generates electricity from a magnetic field from an external NFC reader / writer and performs short-range wireless communication with the NFC reader / writer, A secure element that holds security information and performs authentication processing using power supplied from the NFC reader / writer and the function of short-range wireless communication, A power generation unit that generates electricity from vibrations caused by the user's movements, The system comprises the aforementioned battery and a sub-energy storage unit capable of storing electricity supplied from the aforementioned power generation unit, By operating the aforementioned short-range wireless communication unit and the secure element, payment or ticket gate passage processing can be performed simply by holding the device over the NFC reader / writer. When the battery charge level falls below a first threshold, it enters power-saving mode, and when it falls below a second threshold that is lower than the first threshold, it enters reserve power mode. In the aforementioned power-saving mode, payment or gate passage processing can be performed simply by holding the device over the NFC reader / writer using the power of the battery. In the aforementioned backup power mode, payment or ticket gate passage processing can be performed simply by holding the device over the NFC reader / writer using the power from the sub-power storage unit. A mobile device configured such that, even after the power of the sub-power storage unit becomes so depleted that it can no longer maintain the reserve power mode, the power generation unit generates power and the sub-power storage unit stores power, thereby activating the short-range wireless communication unit with the stored power and enabling payment or ticket gate passage processing to be performed simply by holding the device over the NFC reader / writer.

2. A battery that can be recharged by external power supply, A short-range wireless communication unit that generates electricity from a magnetic field from an external NFC reader / writer and performs short-range wireless communication with the NFC reader / writer, A secure element that holds security information and performs authentication processing using power supplied from the NFC reader / writer and the function of short-range wireless communication, A power generation unit that generates electricity from vibrations caused by the user's movements, A backup power capacitor capable of storing power supplied from the aforementioned battery, It comprises a sub-energy storage unit capable of storing electricity supplied from the power generation unit, By operating the aforementioned short-range wireless communication unit and the secure element, payment or ticket gate passage processing can be performed simply by holding the device over the NFC reader / writer. When the battery charge level falls below a first threshold, it enters power-saving mode, and when it falls below a second threshold that is lower than the first threshold, it enters reserve power mode. In the aforementioned power-saving mode, payment or gate passage processing can be performed simply by holding the device over the NFC reader / writer using the power of the battery. In the aforementioned backup power mode, payment or gate passage processing can be performed simply by holding the device over the NFC reader / writer using the power from the backup power capacitor. A mobile device configured such that, even after the backup power capacitor has completely discharged, the power generation unit generates power and the sub-power storage unit stores power, thereby activating the short-range wireless communication unit with the stored power and enabling payment or ticket gate passage processing simply by holding the device over the NFC reader / writer.

3. A battery that can be recharged by external power supply, A short-range wireless communication unit that generates electricity from a magnetic field from an external NFC reader / writer and performs short-range wireless communication with the NFC reader / writer, A secure element that holds security information and performs authentication processing using power supplied from the NFC reader / writer and the function of short-range wireless communication, A power generation unit that generates electricity from vibrations caused by the user's movements, It comprises a sub-energy storage unit that stores electricity from the power generation unit, By operating the aforementioned short-range wireless communication unit and the secure element, payment or ticket gate passage processing can be performed simply by holding the device over the NFC reader / writer. When the battery charge level falls below a first threshold, it enters power-saving mode, and when it falls below a second threshold that is lower than the first threshold, it enters ultra-low power mode. In the aforementioned power-saving mode, payment or gate passage processing can be performed simply by holding the device over the NFC reader / writer using the power of the battery. In the aforementioned ultra-low power mode, payment or gate passage processing can be performed simply by holding the device over the NFC reader / writer using the remaining residual power of the battery. A mobile device configured such that, even after the battery's power is completely depleted, including any remaining residual power, the power generation unit generates power and the sub-power storage unit stores power, thereby activating the short-range wireless communication unit with the stored power and enabling payment or ticket gate passage processing simply by holding the device over the NFC reader / writer.

4. A battery that can be recharged by external power supply, A main system that operates using power from the aforementioned battery, A power generation unit that generates electricity from vibrations caused by the user's movements, A sub-energy storage unit that stores electricity from the aforementioned power generation unit, A short-range wireless communication unit that generates electricity from a magnetic field from an external NFC reader / writer and performs short-range wireless communication with the NFC reader / writer, The unit comprises a processing unit for performing predetermined processing using the power supplied from the short-range wireless communication unit and the functions of short-range wireless communication, A mobile device configured to activate the short-range wireless communication unit using power generated by the power generation unit and stored in the sub-power storage unit when the remaining charge of the battery falls below a predetermined threshold or when the power supply from the battery is interrupted.

5. The processing unit includes a secure element that holds security information and performs authentication processing. The mobile device according to claim 4, wherein, after the short-range wireless communication unit is activated by power from the sub-power storage unit, the processing unit is configured to perform at least one authentication process among payment authentication, passenger eligibility verification authentication, and area access eligibility verification authentication using the power supplied from the short-range wireless communication unit and the functions of short-range wireless communication.

6. If the battery charge level falls below a first threshold, it enters power-saving mode; if the battery charge level falls below a second threshold lower than the first threshold, it enters reserve power mode; and if the battery power is depleted to the point where it can no longer maintain reserve power mode, it enters zombie mode. The mobile device according to claim 4, wherein in the zombie mode, the short-range wireless communication unit is activated by power from the sub-power storage unit.

7. The mobile device according to claim 4, wherein the short-range wireless communication unit is configured to operate using power generated by the magnetic field from the NFC reader / writer after being activated by power from the sub-power storage unit.

8. The system further includes an emergency subsystem that operates using power from the aforementioned sub-energy storage unit, The mobile device according to claim 4, wherein the emergency subsystem has an ultra-low power consumption controller that controls the activation of the short-range wireless communication unit using the power of the sub-power storage unit when the remaining charge of the battery falls below the threshold or when the power supply from the battery is interrupted.

9. The main system and the emergency subsystem share the short-range wireless communication unit and the processing unit as common elements. The mobile device according to claim 8, wherein the short-range wireless communication unit and the processing unit are configured to operate or start up using power from the battery in normal mode, and to start up using power from the sub-power storage unit under the control of the emergency subsystem when the remaining charge of the battery falls below the threshold or when the power supply from the battery is interrupted.

10. The mobile device according to claim 4, configured such that, immediately before the time when the short-range wireless communication unit should be activated, the power generation unit generates electricity due to vibrations caused by the user's movement, and the generated electricity is stored in the sub-power storage unit, thereby securing the power necessary to activate the short-range wireless communication unit.

11. The mobile device according to claim 4, further comprising an active rectifier circuit using an active element that performs rectification even when the voltage of the power generated by the power generation unit is less than a threshold voltage for rectification, and configured such that the power rectified by the active rectifier circuit is stored in the sub-power storage unit.

12. The mobile device according to claim 4, wherein the sub-energy storage unit includes a capacitor having a capacity capable of supplying the inrush power necessary to cold-start the short-range wireless communication unit.

13. The sub-energy storage unit is configured to store not only the electricity generated by the power generation unit, but also the induced electromotive force generated by the short-range wireless communication unit from the magnetic field before it is started up. The mobile device according to claim 4, wherein, when the remaining charge of the battery falls below a predetermined threshold, or when the power supply from the battery is interrupted, the mobile device is configured to activate the short-range wireless communication unit using the power generated by the power generation unit and stored in the sub-power storage unit immediately before the mobile device approaches the NFC reader / writer, and the induced electromotive force generated in the short-range wireless communication unit and stored in the sub-power storage unit when the mobile device approaches the NFC reader / writer.

14. A short-range wireless communication unit that generates electricity from a magnetic field from an external NFC reader / writer and performs short-range wireless communication with the NFC reader / writer, A processing unit for performing predetermined processing using the power supplied from the short-range wireless communication unit and the functions of short-range wireless communication, A control method for a mobile device having a power generation unit built into the mobile device that converts vibrations associated with the user's movement into electricity, Immediately before the time when the short-range wireless communication unit should be activated, the power generation unit performs a power generation step in which it converts the vibration into electricity, A method for controlling a mobile device, comprising: a startup step of activating the short-range wireless communication unit using the power generated from the power generation unit in the power generation step.

15. A short-range wireless communication unit that generates electricity from a magnetic field from an external NFC reader / writer and performs short-range wireless communication with the NFC reader / writer, A processing unit for performing predetermined processing using the power supplied from the short-range wireless communication unit and the functions of short-range wireless communication, A power generation unit built into the mobile device that converts vibrations caused by the user's movements into electricity, A control method for a mobile device having a sub-energy storage unit that stores electricity from the power generation unit, The power generation unit performs a power generation step in which it converts the vibration into electricity, A power storage step in which the electricity generated in the power generation step is stored in the sub-power storage unit, A method for controlling a mobile device, comprising a startup step of activating the short-range wireless communication unit using power from the sub-power storage unit.

16. A battery that can be recharged by external power supply, A power generation unit built into the mobile device that converts vibrations caused by the user's movements into electricity, A control method for a mobile device having a short-range wireless communication unit that generates electricity from a magnetic field from an external NFC reader / writer and performs short-range wireless communication with the NFC reader / writer, A method for controlling a mobile device, including a startup step of activating the short-range wireless communication unit using power from the power generation unit when the remaining charge of the battery falls below a threshold or when the power supply from the battery is interrupted.

17. A battery that can be recharged by external power supply, A power generation unit built into the mobile device that converts vibrations caused by the user's movements into electricity, A short-range wireless communication unit that generates electricity from a magnetic field from an external NFC reader / writer and performs short-range wireless communication with the NFC reader / writer, A control method for a mobile device having a processing unit for performing predetermined processing using power supplied from the short-range wireless communication unit and the functions of short-range wireless communication, A startup step in which, when the remaining charge of the battery falls below a threshold, or when the power supply from the battery is interrupted, the short-range wireless communication unit is activated using power from the power generation unit, A method for controlling a mobile device, comprising a processing step in which, after the short-range wireless communication unit is started up, the processing unit performs a predetermined processing using the power supplied from the short-range wireless communication unit and the functions of short-range wireless communication.

18. A battery that can be recharged by external power supply, A power generation unit built into the mobile device that converts vibrations caused by the user's movements into electricity, A short-range wireless communication unit that generates electricity from a magnetic field from an external NFC reader / writer and performs short-range wireless communication with the NFC reader / writer, A processing unit that performs authentication processing using the power supplied from the aforementioned short-range wireless communication unit and the functions of short-range wireless communication, A method for controlling a mobile device having, A startup step in which, when the remaining charge of the battery falls below a threshold, or when the power supply from the battery is interrupted, the short-range wireless communication unit is activated using power from the power generation unit, A method for controlling a mobile device, comprising: an authentication processing step in which, after the short-range wireless communication unit is started up, the processing unit performs the authentication processing using the power supplied from the short-range wireless communication unit and the functions of short-range wireless communication.

19. A battery that can be recharged by external power supply, A power generation unit built into the mobile device that converts vibrations caused by the user's movements into electricity, A control method for a mobile device having a sub-energy storage unit that stores electricity from the power generation unit, When the battery charge level falls below a first threshold, the system switches from normal mode to power-saving mode. If the charge state of the aforementioned battery falls below a second threshold, which is lower than the first threshold, the system switches to reserve power mode. If the battery power becomes so depleted that it can no longer maintain the reserve power mode, it will switch to zombie mode. A method for controlling a mobile device, wherein in the zombie mode, the mobile device is operated by power from the sub-power storage unit.

20. A battery that can be recharged by external power supply, The aforementioned mobile device includes a power generation unit that converts vibrations generated by the user's movements into electricity, A control method for a mobile device having a sub-energy storage unit that stores electricity from the power generation unit, When the battery charge level falls below a first threshold, the system switches from normal mode to power-saving mode. If the charge state of the aforementioned battery falls below a second threshold, which is lower than the first threshold, the system switches to reserve power mode. A method for controlling a mobile device, wherein in the reserve power mode, the mobile device is operated using power from the sub-power storage unit.

21. A battery that can be recharged by external power supply, A main system that operates using power from the aforementioned battery, A power generation unit that converts vibrations caused by the user's movements into electricity, A sub-energy storage unit that stores electricity from the aforementioned power generation unit, A short-range wireless communication unit that generates electricity from a magnetic field from an external NFC reader / writer and performs short-range wireless communication with the NFC reader / writer, A processing unit for performing predetermined processing using the power supplied from the short-range wireless communication unit and the functions of short-range wireless communication, A control method for a mobile device having an emergency subsystem configured to activate the short-range wireless communication unit using power from the sub-power storage unit, A method for controlling a mobile device, which includes a startup step in which the emergency subsystem activates the short-range wireless communication unit using power from the sub-power storage unit when the remaining charge of the battery falls below a threshold or when the power supply from the battery is interrupted.

22. A program for causing a mobile device, which is a computer, to execute the method for controlling a mobile device described in any one of claims 14 to 21.

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