System and method for communicating between near field communication devices within a target region using near field communication

Abstract

Systems and methods for communication between near field communication devices within a target communication region using near field magnetic induction is disclosed. One method comprises generating a near field detectable signal at an active node having a power level sufficient to enable communication with a plurality of near field communication nodes located within the target communication region. Information is modulated onto the near field detectable signal using at least one of the near field communication nodes. The modulated information is detected at the active node. The information is then relayed on the near field detectable signal from the active node to at least one of the plurality of near field communication nodes within the target communication region.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for communication between near field communication devices within a target communication region using near field magnetic induction, comprising:
 an active node with a near field magnetic induction transducer configured to generate a near field detectable signal within a target communication region; and   a plurality of near field communication nodes located within the target communication region that are configured to sense the near field detectable signal and modulate information onto the near field detectable signal, wherein the active node is configured to detect the information modulated onto the near field detectable signal and relay the information to at least one of the plurality of near field communication nodes using the near field detectable signal to enable the plurality of near field communication nodes to send information to selected near field communication nodes within the target region through the active node.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the active node has a power level at least 10 times greater than a power level consumed by a near field communication node located within the target communication region. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the active node is configured to generate the near field detectable signal at a power level greater than 1 kilowatt. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the active node is configured to generate the near field detectable signal at a power level greater than 100 kilowatts. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the near field magnetic induction transducer is configured to generate the near field detectable signal at a frequency having a wavelength that is at least 2 pi times greater than a distance between the active node and the plurality of near field communication nodes. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the target communication region has a perimeter with a distance from the active node that is less than 2 pi times the wavelength of the near field detectable signal. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of communication nodes are configured to modulate the information onto the near field detectable signal using load modulation. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the active node is configured to relay the information onto the near field detectable signal by varying a characteristic of the near field detectable signal, with the characteristic selected from the group consisting of a frequency, a phase, an amplitude, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of communication nodes are identifiable with a predetermined address to enable the active node to communicate with one or more of the plurality of near field communication nodes. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the active node is further configured to encrypt the relayed information such that it can only be decrypted by one or more selected near field communication nodes. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of communication nodes are configured to encrypt the information such that it can only be decrypted by one or more of the active node and selected near field communication nodes. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the active node is further configured to communicate with additional active nodes to enable data from a first active node to be passed through a second active node to a third active node that is outside of the first active node's range. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of near field communication nodes has a plurality of mutually orthogonal antennas, wherein at least one of the mutually orthogonal antennas are operable to extract information from the near field detectable signal and modulate information onto the near field detectable signal. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the active node has a plurality of mutually orthogonal antennas, wherein at least one of the mutually orthogonal antennas are operable to extract information from the near field detectable signal and modulate information onto the near field detectable signal. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of near field communication nodes comprise a personal area network. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of near field communication nodes comprise a mesh network. 
     
     
         17 . A method for communication between near field communication devices within a target communication region using near field magnetic induction, comprising:
 generating a near field detectable signal at an active node having a power level sufficient to enable communication with a plurality of near field communication nodes located within the target communication region;   modulating information onto the near field detectable signal using at least one of the plurality of near field communication nodes;   detecting the modulated information at the active node; and   relaying the information on the near field detectable signal from the active node to at least one of the plurality of near field communication nodes within the target communication region.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising generating the near field detectable signal at the active node having a power level of greater than 1 kilowatt. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising generating the near field detectable signal at the active node having a power level of greater than 100 kilowatts. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising generating the near field detectable signal at a frequency having a wavelength that is at least 2 pi times greater than a distance between the active node and the plurality of near field communication nodes.