Future iPhones can have technology operating like "black box"

PanARMENIAN.Net - Future iPhones equipped with near-field communication technology could store vital information that would allow for hardware failure to be quickly diagnosed by Apple, even after the handset is nonfunctional.

The concept, much like a durable "black box" found in an airplane that stores crucial data in the event of a crash, was revealed this week in a new patent application published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark office. It is entitled "RFID Circuitry and Methods of Using the Same to Provide Information of Events Pertaining to an Electronic Device," AppleInsider reported.

The proposed invention notes that radio-frequency identification (RFID) circuitry can be used in a variety of different methods, and gives examples of it being utilized with highway tolls, inventory management, badge entry, public transportation, and wireless transactions.

In those examples, RFID circuitry in a device, like an iPhone, provides information to an RFID reader. But that information is usually "fixed," sharing information that does not usually change, such as a credit card number or unique identifier.

Apple's proposed invention would use RFID circuitry to selectively provide different, dynamic information as needed. In this way, the data being shared by an RFID chip in an iPhone could be modified to communicate variable information.

By using passive RFID circuitry, an iPhone could wirelessly provide NFC data even when it is powered off, disabled, or operating in a low-power state.

Apple's system would include a variety of potential event scenarios stored on the device. This way, the system could more quickly select an appropriate message to broadcast over RFID before a device becomes nonfunctional.

The application, disclosed this week, was first filed in March of 2010. It is credited to Tyler Mincey and Andrew Hodge.

Apple's interest in RFID technology has been well-documented, though most evidence of NFC chips potentially appearing in an iPhone have been related to more conventional uses of the technology, like e-wallet transactions or tag readers. But the company's latest proposed invention represents a more unique application of RFID technology in mobile devices.