NFC Interference Mitigation via Audio Stream Replacement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Near field communication (NFC) interference with audio streams in mobile user equipment, particularly FM audio, leads to degradation and potential loss of audio content, with existing methods either attempting to recover corrupted streams or muting the audio, which are often ineffective or noticeable to the user.

Innovation Solution

Replacing the corrupted audio stream with a pre-recorded sound representative of the interfering NFC transaction, providing the user with supplementary information and mitigating interference, especially when the NFC signal's harmonics interfere with the audio stream's frequency range.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If near field communication function operates at high power level, then communication effectiveness is improved, but interference with audio stream increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenear field communication power levelVSAvoidinterference with audio stream

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the harmful interference effect with a beneficial information provision effect. Instead of merely muting the audio stream when NFC interferes, the system plays a pre-recorded sound that provides useful information about the NFC transaction type (e.g., payment, ticketing, access control). This converts the harmful silence into a beneficial information delivery mechanism, maintaining communication effectiveness while improving user experience.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If audio stream is muted to avoid interference, then user disturbance is reduced, but user experience deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser disturbance from interferenceVSAvoiduser experience

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transforms the harmful silence caused by muting into a beneficial information provision opportunity. By playing pre-recorded sounds that describe the NFC transaction type, the system converts the negative user experience of muted audio into a positive experience where users gain useful information about what transaction is occurring.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The pre-recorded sound acts as an intermediary between the NFC transaction and the user. Instead of directly muting the audio stream, the system introduces an intermediate information carrier that conveys transaction details, thereby mediating between the interference problem and user experience.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If filtering steps are applied to recover audio stream, then audio quality is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaudio stream qualityVSAvoidfiltering system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the problematic portion of the audio stream that is affected by NFC interference and replaces it with pre-recorded information sounds. This extraction approach avoids the need for complex filtering and recovery algorithms, simplifying the system while maintaining audio quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of investing in complex, expensive audio recovery systems, the patent uses a simple replacement strategy with pre-recorded sounds. This disposable approach of replacing corrupted audio segments with information-providing sounds is simpler and more cost-effective than implementing sophisticated filtering and recovery mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach enhances user experience by providing useful information about the NFC transaction, reducing disturbance, and ensuring the audio stream is not completely muted, thus offering a more effective solution than prior art methods by converting a drawback into an advantage.

Implementation Method 1

Near field communication (NFC) is a short range radio technology based on the inductive coupling of two loop antennas resonating at 13.56 MHz

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectInductive coupling: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

Near field communication (NFC) is a short range radio technology based on the inductive coupling of two loop antennas resonating at 13.56 MHz

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectResonance: Resonance

Implementation Method 3

harmonic of near field communication resonance frequency can overlap with frequency range of FM audio stream

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHarmonic generation:

Data Source

PatentUS9609547B2Wireless communication system and method for replacing at least part of an interference signal to mitigate interference

Publication Date: 2017.03.28 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)

AI summary

Embodiments of the invention concern a method for mitigating interference between near field communication and an audio stream in a mobile user equipment, wherein the method includes a step of replacing at least part of the interfered audio stream by a sound representative of an interfering near field communication transaction.