Method and system for magnetic field based information transfer

Number: 10265610
Published: 2019-04-23
Filed: 2015-05-29
Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
Inventors: Jarchafjian; Harout et al.
CPC: H04W4/80; A63F3/00694
Verdict: Set aside magnetic field based information transfer, generic wireless comm
Source: Google Patents · FreePatentsOnline

Abstract

Disclosed herein are various systems and methods for transmitting information using modulated magnetic fields. A system comprises a transmitter having a first magnetic field source for transmitting a first modulated magnetic field to a receiver for decoding and a field controller coupled to the first magnetic field source for controlling the first modulated magnetic field. The system can further include a receiver having a first magnetometer configured to detect the first modulated magnetic field produced by the first magnetic field source and a decoder coupled to the first magnetometer for interpreting the first modulated magnetic field.

Background

TECHNICAL FIELD(1) The present disclosure relates generally to information transmission and more specifically to transmitting information by modulating magnetic fields.BACKGROUND(2) The proliferation of mobile electronic devices has driven an interest in short range communication. Having the ability to efficiently and effectively transfer electronic information over short distances without invoking power consumption and/or bandwidth limits of long range cellular communication provides more effective, efficient, and convenient interaction of electronic devices. Traditional mechanisms for short range communication include near field communication (NFC) and Bluetooth® low energy (BLE). NFC employs point to point radio frequency (RF) communication over extremely short distances (e.g., less than 20 cm). However, NFC is subject to potential security restrictions and interference because it operates in a globally available and unlicensed industrial, scientific and medical (ISM) radio frequency band of 13.56 MHz. BLE also employs an ISM radio frequency for transmitting information through radio waves, and thus has similar restrictions as NFC, but BLE has a much longer range than NFC (e.g., about 100 m).SUMMARY(3) According to a first embodiment, a system for transmitting information using modulated magnetic fields is disclosed. The system comprises a transmitter having a magnetic field source for transmitting a modulated magnetic field and a field controller coupled to the magnetic f

Claims

1. A method for transmitting information with a magnetic field source comprising: receiving information to be transmitted; encoding the information comprising a graphical element; selectively modulating a magnetic field based on the encoded information; and touching a magnetic field transmitter to a magnetic field receiver, wherein the magnetic field is selectively modulated responsive to touching the magnetic field transmitter to the magnetic field receiver; transmitting the information to the magnetic field receiver, including the graphical element, via the modulated magnetic field; and displaying the graphical element on a display in communication with the magnetic field receiver. 7. A method comprising: receiving a modulated magnetic field from a first magnetic field source having a known strength, wherein the first magnetic field source is rotatable such that rotation of the first magnetic field source generates the modulated magnetic field; determining one or more characteristics of the modulated magnetic field; determining a location of the first magnetic field source based on the determined characteristics of the magnetic field; identifying the first magnetic field source based on the modulated magnetic field; changing an output of a display device based on the location and identity of the magnetic field source, wherein the change of the output is proportional to a rotation amount of the first magnetic field source. 10. A method for controlling a simulated radio comprising: displaying a radio dial face in a first configuration on a computing device configured to detect modulated magnetic fields; modulating a magnetic field responsive to a user input, wherein the user input comprises rotating a radio dial; detecting the modulated magnetic field with the computing device; and modifying the radio dial face to a second configuration in response to detecting the modulated magnetic field with the computing device, wherein the modification comprises a linear movement along an axis, wherein the linear movement is proportional to the rotation of the radio dial by the user.