Controlling method for coexistence of radio frequency identification and display

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9521472-B2
Application number	US-201313925853-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 25, 2013
Priority date	Aug 29, 2012
Publication date	Dec 13, 2016
Grant date	Dec 13, 2016

Abstract

A controlling method, adapted for an electronic device for coexistence of radio frequency identification (RFID) and display functions, is provided. The controlling method includes powering on a display of the electronic device and controlling the display to show a frame. Next, a RFID module of the electronic device is powered on to perform a wireless communication function of the RFID module. The controlling method of the invention efficiently controls the execution of the display and wireless communication functions, so as to prevent mutual interference.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A controlling method for coexistence of radio frequency identification (RFID) and display functions, applicable to an electronic device, the controlling method comprising:
determining whether the electronic device executes a first integration mode or a second integration mode;
powering on a display of the electronic device;
controlling the display to show a frame;
powering on a RFID module of the electronic device; and
executing a wireless communication function of the RFID module, wherein the first integration mode is an integration of a display mode and an error detection mode,
wherein if the electronic device executes the first integration mode, the step of executing the wireless communication function of the RFID module comprises:
reading a product history recorded in a RFID label of the electronic device, and the powering on of the display is ceased after the product history has been read, and
wherein the display of the electronic device is an electrophoretic display (EPD), and the electronic device is an electronic shelf label (ESL).

2. The controlling method according to claim 1 , wherein after the step of executing the wireless communication function of the RFID module, the controlling method further comprises:
ceasing powering on the RFID module.

3. The controlling method according to claim 2 , wherein after the step of ceasing powering on the RFID module, the controlling method further comprises:
controlling the display of the electronic device to enter a power-saving mode.

4. The controlling method according to claim 1 , wherein if the electronic device executes the first integration mode, the step of executing the wireless communication function of the RFID module further comprises:
controlling the electronic device to connect a back-end application database to identify and compare the product history recorded in the RFID label.

5. The controlling method according to claim 4 , wherein the product history comprises one of a production serial number, a product specification, a manufacture date, a point-of-sale record, and a maintenance record of the electronic device or a combination of the foregoing.

6. The controlling method according to claim 5 , further comprising: determining whether the electronic device is maintained, and if the electronic device is maintained, updating the maintenance record stored in the product history.

7. The controlling method according to claim 1 , wherein if the electronic device executes the second integration mode, the step of executing the wireless communication function of the RFID module comprises:
receiving data that is to be stored via the RFID module; and
storing the data that is to be stored in the RFID label of the electronic device.

8. The controlling method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving a password inputted by a user via the electronic device; and
determining whether the password matches a preset password, and if the password matches the preset password, controlling the electronic device to execute the first integration mode or the second integration mode.

9. The controlling method according to claim 1 , wherein hardware circuits of the RFID module of the electronic device are disposed in a back plate of the display or printed on a flexible printed circuit of the display.

Assignees

• E Ink Holdings Inc

Inventors

• Lee Cheng-Hao

Classifications

• G09G2330/021

  Power management, e.g. power saving · CPC title

• G06F3/147

  using display panels · CPC title

• G06K19/0727 Primary

  the arrangement being a circuit facilitating integration of the record carrier with a hand-held device such as a smart phone of PDA · CPC title

• G09G2330/02

  Details of power systems and of start or stop of display operation · CPC title

• G09G2380/04

  Electronic labels · CPC title