Abstract: A narrow band received signal strength indicator circuit and a method for operating the same are provided. The circuit, for example, may include, but is not limited to, at least one wideband analog amplifier configured to amplify a received input signal, an analog-to-digital converter configured to convert the received input signal from an analog signal to a digital signal, at least one digital filter configured to filter unwanted signal components from the digital signal, and a controller communicatively coupled to the at least one digital filter, the controller configured to determine a received signal strength based upon the filtered digital signal.

Abstract: A narrow band received signal strength indicator circuit and a method for operating the same are provided. The circuit, for example, may include, but is not limited to, at least one wideband analog amplifier configured to amplify a received input signal, an analog-to-digital converter configured to convert the received input signal from an analog signal to a digital signal, at least one digital filter configured to filter unwanted signal components from the digital signal, and a controller communicatively coupled to the at least one digital filter, the controller configured to determine a received signal strength based upon the filtered digital signal.

Abstract: Data carriers for inventorying by means of a communication station, whereby the communication station and each data carrier are brought into communicative connection, and each data carrier brought into communicative connection with the communication station is configured to generate a response signal that renders possible an inventorying of the data carrier and is capable of delivering a generated response signal with the use of a transmission start moment that can be selected from a plurality of transmission start moments, each data carrier tests whether another data carrier is already giving its response signal. Each data carrier is configured to discontinue the generation or delivery of its response signal if another data carrier is already providing its response signal.

Abstract: A communication station is suitable for contactless communication with transponders and with further communication stations and has a first protocol-executing circuit and a second protocol-executing circuit, the first protocol-executing circuit being designed to effect communication between the communication station and transponders under a station/transponder protocol and the second protocol-executing circuit being designed to effect communication between the communication station and further communication stations under a station/station protocol.

Abstract: Embodiments of a method for clock synchronization in a radio frequency identification (RFID) equipped device, an RFID equipped device, and a hand-held communications device are described. In one embodiment, a method for clock synchronization in an RFID equipped device involves measuring a difference between a field clock frequency generated from an external clock and an internal clock frequency generated from an internal clock and generating outgoing bits in the RFID equipped device in response to the measured difference. Generating the outgoing bits involves adjusting the bit length of at least one of the outgoing bits in response to the measured difference. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A communication station is suitable for contactless communication with transponders and with further communication stations and has a first protocol-executing circuit and a second protocol-executing circuit, the first protocol-executing circuit being designed to effect communication between the communication station and transponders under a station/transponder protocol and the second protocol-executing circuit being designed to effect communication between the communication station and further communication stations under a station/station protocol.

Abstract: A communication partner appliance is implemented within a near field communication system. The communication partner appliance includes a receiver, a detector, and a processor. The receiver receives a NFC command signal from another communication partner appliance. The detector detects whether a carrier signal from the other communication partner appliance is present at the receiver at a time other than during a transmission of the NFC command signal from the other communication partner appliance to the receiver. The processor controls a power supply element based on a determination by the detector whether the carrier signal from the other communication partner appliance is present at the receiver. The power supply element is configured to establish a connection to either a first power supply or a second power supply. The first power supply is dependent on the carrier signal, and the second power supply is independent of the carrier signal.

Abstract: A method of wireless communication, with a circuit that includes a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader, can be carried out using a circuit that is configured and arranged to communicate with RFID cards that use load modulation of an RF carrier provided by the RFID reader. A presence of the radio frequency (RF) carrier is detected on an antenna. A local clock signal is generated. A difference between the local clock signal and the RF carrier is detected. In response to the detected difference, the frequency of the local clock signal is modified to reduce the detected difference. Load modulation of the RF carrier is mimicked by modulating the local clock signal to encode data; and driving the antenna with the modulated local clock signal.

Abstract: A communication station (1) is suitable for contactless communication with transponders and with further communication stations and has a first protocol-executing circuit (12) and a second protocol-executing circuit (13), the first protocol-executing circuit (12) being designed to effect communication between the communication station (1) and transponders under a station/transponder protocol and the second protocol-executing circuit (13) being designed to effect communication between the communication station (1) and further communication stations under a station/station protocol.

Abstract: A communication partner appliance is implemented within a near field communication system. The communication partner appliance includes a receiver, a detector, and a processor. The receiver receives a NFC command signal from another communication partner appliance. The detector detects whether a carrier signal from the other communication partner appliance is present at the receiver at a time other than during a transmission of the NFC command signal from the other communication partner appliance to the receiver. The processor controls a power supply element based on a determination by the detector whether the carrier signal from the other communication partner appliance is present at the receiver. The power supply element is configured to establish a connection to either a first power supply or a second power supply. The first power supply is dependent on the carrier signal, and the second power supply is independent of the carrier signal.

Abstract: A communication partner appliance is implemented within a near field communication system. The communication partner appliance includes a receiver, a detector, and a processor. The receiver receives a NFC command signal from another communication partner appliance. The detector detects whether a carrier signal from the other communication partner appliance is present at the receiver at a time other than during a transmission of the NFC command signal from the other communication partner appliance to the receiver. The processor controls a power supply element based on a determination by the detector whether the carrier signal from the other communication partner appliance is present at the receiver. The power supply element is configured to establish a connection to either a first power supply or a second power supply. The first power supply is dependent on the carrier signal, and the second power supply is independent of the carrier signal.

Abstract: Data carriers for inventorying by means of a communication station, whereby the communication station and each data carrier are brought into communicative connection, and each data carrier brought into communicative connection with the communication station is configured to generate a response signal that renders possible an inventorying of the data carrier and is capable of delivering a generated response signal with the use of a transmission start moment that can be selected from a plurality of transmission start moments, each data carrier tests whether another data carrier is already giving its response signal. Each data carrier is configured to discontinue the generation or delivery of its response signal if another data carrier is already providing its response signal.

Abstract: A communication partner appliance is implemented within a near field communication system. The communication partner appliance includes a receiver, a detector, and a processor. The receiver receives a NFC command signal from another communication partner appliance. The detector detects whether a carrier signal from the other communication partner appliance is present at the receiver at a time other than during a transmission of the NFC command signal from the other communication partner appliance to the receiver. The processor controls a power supply element based on a determination by the detector whether the carrier signal from the other communication partner appliance is present at the receiver. The power supply element is configured to establish a connection to either a first power supply or a second power supply. The first power supply is dependent on the carrier signal, and the second power supply is independent of the carrier signal.

Abstract: Data carriers for inventorying by means of a communication station, whereby the communication station and each data carrier are brought into communicative connection, and each data carrier brought into communicative connection with the communication station is configured to generate a response signal that renders possible an inventorying of the data carrier and is capable of delivering a generated response signal with the use of a transmission start moment that can be selected from a plurality of transmission start moments, each data carrier tests whether another data carrier is already giving its response signal. Each data carrier is configured to discontinue the generation or delivery of its response signal if another data carrier is already providing its response signal.

Abstract: A communication partner appliance is implemented within a near field communication system. The communication partner appliance includes a receiver, a detector, and a processor. The receiver receives a NFC command signal from another communication partner appliance. The detector detects whether a carrier signal from the other communication partner appliance is present at the receiver at a time other than during a transmission of the NFC command signal from the other communication partner appliance to the receiver. The processor controls a power supply element based on a determination by the detector whether the carrier signal from the other communication partner appliance is present at the receiver. The power supply element is configured to establish a connection to either a first power supply or a second power supply. The first power supply is dependent on the carrier signal, and the second power supply is independent of the carrier signal.

Abstract: Embodiments of a method for clock synchronization in a radio frequency identification (RFID) equipped device, an RFID equipped device, and a hand-held communications device are described. In one embodiment, a method for clock synchronization in an RFID equipped device involves measuring a difference between a field clock frequency generated from an external clock and an internal clock frequency generated from an internal clock and generating outgoing bits in the RFID equipped device in response to the measured difference. Generating the outgoing bits involves adjusting the bit length of at least one of the outgoing bits in response to the measured difference. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A method of wireless communication, with a circuit that includes a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader, can be carried out using a circuit that is configured and arranged to communicate with RFID cards that use load modulation of an RF carrier provided by the RFID reader. A presence of the radio frequency (RF) carrier is detected on an antenna. A local clock signal is generated. A difference between the local clock signal and the RF carrier is detected. In response to the detected difference, the frequency of the local clock signal is modified to reduce the detected difference. Load modulation of the RF carrier is mimicked by modulating the local clock signal to encode data; and driving the antenna with the modulated local clock signal.

Abstract: In a method of inventorying data carriers by means of a communication station, whereby the communication station and each data carrier are brought into communicative connection, and each data carrier brought into communicative connection with the communication station is capable of generating a response signal that renders possible an inventorying of the data carrier and is capable of delivering a generated response signal with the use of a transmission start moment that can be selected from a plurality of transmission start moments, each data carrier tests whether another data carrier is already giving its response signal. Each data carrier subsequently discontinues the generation or delivery of its response signal if another data carrier is already providing its response signal.

Abstract: Data carriers for inventorying by means of a communication station, whereby the communication station and each data carrier are brought into communicative connection, and each data carrier brought into communicative connection with the communication station is configured to generate a response signal that renders possible an inventorying of the data carrier and is capable of delivering a generated response signal with the use of a transmission start moment that can be selected from a plurality of transmission start moments, each data carrier tests whether another data carrier is already giving its response signal. Each data carrier is configured to discontinue the generation or delivery of its response signal if another data carrier is already providing its response signal.

Abstract: A communication partner appliance is implemented within a near field communication system. The communication partner appliance includes a receiver, a detector, and a processor. The receiver receives a NFC command signal from another communication partner appliance. The detector detects whether a carrier signal from the other communication partner appliance is present at the receiver at a time other than during a transmission of the NFC command signal from the other communication partner appliance to the receiver. The processor controls a power supply element based on a determination by the detector whether the carrier signal from the other communication partner appliance is present at the receiver. The power supply element is configured to establish a connection to either a first power supply or a second power supply. The first power supply is dependent on the carrier signal, and the second power supply is independent of the carrier signal.