SIM Card WLAN RFID Mobile Phone Infrastructure

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing RFID systems for mobile phones require a costly infrastructure of active RFID readers at fixed locations for applications like non-contact payment and wireless security, making it impractical for scenarios with many contact points, such as large collections of art pieces, where passive RFID tags would be more cost-effective.

Innovation Solution

Integration of a SIM card with integrated WLAN and active RFID reader circuitry in mobile phones, allowing tag information to be transmitted via a local WLAN network instead of the mobile network, enabling quicker responses and local control, and facilitating billing for services.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If active RFID readers are deployed at all contact points for mobile phone RFID services, then communication reliability is improved, but infrastructure cost increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication reliabilityVSAvoidinfrastructure cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the traditional RFID architecture by making the mobile phone the passive tag and the fixed infrastructure the active reader. This allows the expensive active RFID reader to be stationary at limited locations rather than deployed at every contact point, significantly reducing infrastructure cost while maintaining communication reliability through the mobile phone's WLAN capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces WLAN as an intermediary communication channel between the mobile phone (acting as tag) and the RFID reader infrastructure. This mediator enables the mobile phone to communicate supplementary information about visited locations to the operator's server, resolving the contradiction by providing reliable communication without requiring active RFID readers at every contact point.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of manufacture

If passive RFID tags are used at contact points to reduce cost, then infrastructure cost is reduced, but communication speed and response time worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinfrastructure costVSAvoidcommunication speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses WLAN as an intermediary to transmit supplementary information from the mobile phone to the operator's server. This intermediary channel provides high-speed communication capability, allowing the system to use cost-effective passive RFID tags while maintaining fast communication through the mobile phone's WLAN connection rather than through the RFID tag itself.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the communication function into two parts: the passive RFID tag handles only the basic identification function at low cost, while the mobile phone's WLAN handles the high-speed transmission of supplementary information. This segmentation allows each component to optimize for its specific function, resolving the contradiction between cost and speed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Adaptability or versatility

If mobile phones act as active RFID readers with integrated WLAN, then service flexibility and adaptability are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice flexibilityVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the mobile phone multi-functional by enabling it to act as both a conventional mobile device and a passive RFID tag simultaneously. The mobile phone's SIM card includes integrated WLAN and RFID reader circuitry, allowing it to perform multiple functions (mobile communication, WLAN connectivity, RFID tagging) without requiring separate dedicated devices, thus improving adaptability while managing complexity through consolidation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 solution provides a cost-effective and efficient method for accessing supplementary information using mobile phones with passive RFID tags, reducing infrastructure costs and enabling new services by leveraging existing telecom infrastructure.

Implementation Method 1

Radio frequency identification (RFID) is a technology for storing and retrieving data from identification tags. RFID tags can be interrogated and read on a short distance from a RFID reader.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRadio frequency identification: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

By introducing use of WLAN as means for accessing supplementary information regarding an object marked with a tag, the user of the system will experience a more cost effective and faster service.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectWLAN wireless communication: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP1908250B1Mobile phone with RFID reader and WLAN transmitter integrated on SIM card

Publication Date: 2010.08.25 TELENOR AS

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AI summary

A method and system for acquiring information related to a transponder (RFID tag 40) read by a mobile telephone 60 comprising a RFID reader 80, and an identification and authentication module (SIM card 90) . When the RFID reader has read the data from the RFID tag 40, the identifier and the content data is processed and transmitted to a local network for further processing and delivery of supplementary information linked to the RFID tag 40. The SIM card comprises a Wlan transmitter, and transmitting of the identifier is via the WLAN.