Passive nfc accessory capable of communicating with a smartphone

Field of invention

0001The present invention relates to the field of emergency calling allowing a smartphone owner to discreetly activate an automated procedure for reporting a threatening or risky situation, for example in the event of an attack or accident.

0002The aim is to allow a user to trigger this procedure very intuitively, without attracting the attention of a potential attacker, and regardless of the state of the phone (on standby, running another application, etc.), by a manipulation that does not require viewing the screen, and does not cause any unexpected visual or acoustic signal. It is also required that this procedure is not triggered in an untimely manner, without the user's intention to report it.

0003For this purpose, it is known to equip a smartphone with an emergency call button, and more particularly, with a technology for transmitting emergency information to a predefined terminal and/or to a security agency server when a smartphone user touches and presses an emergency button provided on a rear surface of a smartphone in the event of an emergency, and by simultaneously recording the sound environment of the telephone from which the report was triggered, in particular the voice of an attacker or the sound context coming from the scene of an accident.

State of the art

0004The patent application is known in the state of the art<patcit id="pcit0001" dnum="WO2001022702A"><text>WO2001022702</text></patcit> which describes an enhanced personal security alarm solution integrated into a cordless telephone. The user can activate the alarm function by simultaneously pressing two buttons on the keypad for a predetermined duration. In another embodiment, additional hardware is implemented in the cordless telephone such that the alarm can be triggered by removing a pin that can be attached to a lanyard. The cordless phone will emit a loud alarm sound when the alarm is activated. The cordless phone stores one or more alarm sounds in its non-volatile memory. When the alarm is activated, the phone's digital processor retrieves the sounds and plays them through an audio transducer in the cordless phone. The audio transducer emitting the alarm may be the phone's ringer. In alarm condition, the ringer plays the alarm sound at the maximum volume level, regardless of the level at which the user has set the ringer volume for regular incoming phone call alerts.

0005The user can activate the alarm regardless of the current state of the phone. If the phone is on and in standby mode, the phone will immediately play the alarm sound once the user activates the alarm. If the current state of the phone is OFF, it will automatically power on and immediately play the alarm sound. If the phone is powered on and its current state is in a phone call, the phone will disconnect the current call and immediately play the alarm sound.

0006When the user activates the alarm, the phone simultaneously attempts to connect to a predetermined emergency telephone number and play the alarm sound. The phone automatically resets to the idle state before attempting to call the emergency number. If the phone is in the OFF state when the user activates the alarm, the phone powers on and acquires the current wireless communication system. The system may be based on AMPS, CDMA cellular, CDMA PCS, or any commonly available wireless telephone system that the telephone is configured to support. The acquisition of the system is in accordance with the applicable specification for the communications system that supports the particular wireless telephone. The type of wireless telephone service and the applicable specifications associated with acquiring the service within the system are not limiting factors of the present invention.

0007If the phone is powered on and in the current "active call" state, the phone will disconnect the current call and momentarily return to the idle state.

0008The cordless phone may already be turned on and in standby mode, in which case the phone is immediately ready to make an automated connection attempt to a predetermined emergency number.

0009Once the phone is in standby mode, it attempts to connect to a predetermined emergency number. Once the phone completes the connection to the emergency number, it notifies the user that the connection is complete. This notification can be done by flashing an indicator on the phone or by changing the alarm sound currently playing. Once the user receives the call connection notification, they can silence the alarm knowing that an emergency call operator will already be connected. The user can then speak on the phone as they would any other phone call and end the phone call in the same way as a regular call. If necessary, the user can unmute the alarm without disconnecting the emergency call.

0010The patent<patcit id="pcit0002" dnum="EP2899893B1"><text>EP2899893B1</text></patcit> proposes another solution in which, when an emergency situation occurs, a smartphone user touches and presses a single emergency button provided on a back surface of a smartphone instead of pressing a plurality of buttons, to transmit emergency information to a predefined guardian terminal and an agency server, and simultaneously record the voice of a criminal coming from the scene of an accident, thus promoting the touching and pressing of the emergency button while preventing the user from panicking in the event of an emergency. To this end, this patent relates to a smartphone with an emergency call button according to the present invention comprises an emergency button which is engraved on a rear surface of the smartphone so as not to protrude from the rear surface and which has a touch detection unit provided on the rear surface of the smartphone for detecting a touch signal according to a user's manipulation, and a depression detection unit provided on a lower portion of the touch detection unit for detecting a depression signal according to user manipulation; and an emergency call transmission unit which, when the touch signal and the press signal are received from the emergency button, transmits preset emergency rescue request information to a guardian terminal and an agency server and records a voice from the scene of an accident in real time and time and transmits the live recording information to a mobile communication company server.

0011We also know the Korean patent<patcit id="pcit0003" dnum="KR100827709"><text>KR 10-0827709</text></patcit> relating to a rescue request device with an emergency rescue key for a requester's emergency situation; a communication enterprise server configured to receive the emergency situation from the rescue requesting device and establish a call between the rescue requesting device and a rescuer device, wherein when the emergency situation is transferred from the rescuer device to a security server, the communication enterprise server switches the call to a call between the rescue requesting device and the security server, and transmits a telephone number of the rescue requester and short message information to the rescuer device; a rescue device configured to inform the emergency situation based on the telephone number of the rescue requester device and the short message information; and a security server configured to connect the emergency requesting device and a secondary emergency contact point (e.g., a police station or fire station) in a one-way receiving state via the communications company server.

0012The patent application<patcit id="pcit0004" dnum="US20120282886A"><text>US2012/0282886</text></patcit> relates to systems and methods that enable a person to activate a distress signal via a portable device, such as a mobile phone, without having to physically look at the portable device.

0013The patent application<patcit id="pcit0005" dnum="US20190007544A"><text>US20190007544</text></patcit>describes another example of an emergency signaling device and method that utilizes a detachable base unit that is designed to be removably connected to a standard smartphone or mobile phone. The alarm system devices and methods described herein may be used with any smartphone or other mobile phone device. The base unit is essentially a separate case that is sized to partially (or fully) contain the known sizes and shapes of smartphones, and can be made model-specific. The unit includes a rechargeable battery section, the battery section serving to power the base unit and selectively charge the battery of the connected smartphone. In case of emergency, the user can press a panic button, the button allowing the smartphone to dial a predefined emergency number while simultaneously taking a photo, processing location data and producing a high-pitched audible alarm signal. When the recipient phone/emergency contact receives the call, the location information and the photo are transmitted simultaneously. The battery section is robust enough to power the smartphone and the emergency audio function, while still having enough power reserve to eventually charge the smartphone.

0014The patent<patcit id="pcit0006" dnum="US9338624B2"><text>US9338624B2</text></patcit> describes a cellular telephone comprising a processor generating and sending an alarm message to at least one predefined recipient, in response to an action of automatically generating an alert message by a mobile telephone to one or more predetermined recipients, the process being activated by a single action of the user, and a computer program for detecting in the background a change of state of at least one human-machine interface of the telephone corresponding to the single activation action, the change of state being specific to a panic situation associated with pre-recorded parameters, and in the event of detection of the change of state, sending a processor interrupt message and calling a routine that triggers an application to send a message containing pre-recorded and saved parameters.

Disadvantages of the prior art and description of the solution provided

0015Prior art solutions are not entirely satisfactory because they require adaptation to the associated telephone, and therefore compatibility with a wide variety of models. However, depending on the brand and model, smartphones differ from each other in terms of connectivity (particularly the electrical outlet and digital interfaces) and their operating software. Some brands use proprietary operating software that severely limits any possibility of modifying or adding an application from an external source, making it impossible to apply solutions requiring software modification of the human-machine interfaces of the corresponding smartphone.

0016For this reason, prior art technologies are not able to offer a universal solution that can be adapted to any telephone of any brand and model.

0017In order to overcome these drawbacks, the present invention relates, in its most general sense, to a housing comprising a fixing surface configured to be fixed directly and/or indirectly to a smartphone equipped with an NFC module. The housing further comprises a first NFC antenna, a first passive NFC integrated circuit, and a touch interface. The first integrated circuit is configured to cooperate with the first antenna. The interface is configured to deactivate the first integrated circuit in the idle state and to activate the first integrated circuit and the first antenna in response to a first actuation of the interface by a user. The first antenna, in the activated state, is configured to be detectable by the NFC module of the telephone. The first antenna, in the deactivated state, is configured not to be detectable by the NFC module of the telephone.

0018Optionally, the mounting surface is configured to be attached to an external surface of a removable or permanent case of the phone and/or to an external surface of the phone. In addition or alternatively, the mounting surface is self-adhesive, possibly protected by a peel-off film.

0019As a supplement or alternative, the box does not have a power supply battery.

0020Additionally or alternatively, the first integrated circuit is configured to switch between a first active mode and a second active mode in response to another actuation of the interface, different from the first actuation. Optionally, the active mode in effect for the first integrated circuit is detectable by the NFC module of the phone via the first antenna when the first antenna and the first integrated circuit are active together.

0021Optionally, the first active mode is a modifiable mode in which a parameter of the first integrated circuit is modifiable according to data received via the first antenna and the second active mode is a frozen mode in which the parameter is frozen.

0022Additionally or alternatively, the interface is configured to remain at rest until a user actuation force exceeds a predefined force threshold.

0023Additionally or alternatively, the first antenna, in the activated state in response to the first user actuation, is detectable by the NFC module of the telephone as being in cooperation with the first integrated circuit.

0024Optionally, the enclosure includes a second configured passive NFC integrated circuit. Optionally, the interface is configured to deactivate the second integrated circuit when idle and to activate the second integrated circuit in response to a second actuation of the interface by the user. The second actuation would be different from the first actuation.

0025Optionally, the second integrated circuit is configured to cooperate with the first antenna, and the interface is configured to activate the first antenna in response to the second actuation. Optionally, the first antenna, in the activated state in response to the second actuation, is detectable by the NFC module of the phone as being in cooperation with the second integrated circuit, and in the activated state in response to the first actuation, is detectable by the NFC module of the phone as being in cooperation with the first integrated circuit.

0026As an alternative to the previous one, the second integrated circuit is configured to cooperate with a second NFC antenna of the housing. Optionally, the interface is configured to activate the second antenna in response to the second actuation. Optionally, the second antenna, in the activated state in response to the second actuation, is detectable by the NFC module of the telephone as being in cooperation with the second integrated circuit.

0027Optionally, the interface includes a first touch switch. The first switch may be in a resting state when the interface is in a resting state. The interface may be operable according to the first actuation via a user actuation of the first switch.

0028Optionally, the interface also includes a second touch switch. The second switch may be idle when the interface is idle. The interface may be configured to be operable according to the second actuation via a user actuation of the second switch.

0029The invention also relates to a telephone terminal comprising such a housing and a smartphone equipped with an NFC module. The telephone is configured to communicate with a remote server via a telephone network. The telephone can be configured, in response to the detection of the first NFC antenna following the first actuation of the touch interface of the housing by a user, to open a communication with the server and to send the server a digital message. The message may include an identifier.

0030Optionally, the phone is configured to read its own geolocation, a charge status of its own battery, and/or a network signal quality and to incorporate the geolocation, charge status, and/or signal quality into the message.

0031Optionally, the phone is configured to operate in a first mode of operation in response to the first actuation by the user, and to operate in a second mode of operation in response to another actuation of the touch interface of the housing by the user. The second actuation would be different from the first actuation.

0032The invention also relates to a method for reporting an emergency to a remote server using a smartphone. Such a method may comprise a step of providing such a telephone terminal, a step of actuating the touch interface of the terminal housing according to a first actuation in response to an observed or perceived emergency, a step of signaling the emergency between an NFC antenna of the housing and an NFC module of the telephone, and a step of communicating a digital emergency message by the telephone via a telephone network to the server in response to the first actuation. The message may include an identifier.

0033Optionally, the method comprises a step of actuating the interface according to a second actuation, in order to configure the box and/or the telephone, and a step of switching the terminal between an emergency signaling operating mode and a terminal configuration operating mode, in response to the second actuation gesture. The second actuation would be different from the first actuation. Switching to the terminal configuration mode can make a parameter of the box and/or the telephone modifiable via communication between the telephone and the box. Switching to the emergency reporting mode can freeze the parameter.

0034Optionally, the method comprises, in response to an actuation of the interface, a step of turning on a flashlight of the telephone, a step of recording sound by a microphone of the telephone, a step of recording images and/or video by a camera of the telephone, a step of making a telephone call by the telephone, and/or a step of triggering an audio and/or visual alarm by the telephone.

Presentation of drawings

0035The present invention will be better understood upon reading the following description, concerning a non-limiting example of embodiment illustrated by the appended drawings where:<ul id="ul0001" list-style="none" compact="compact"><li>[<figref idref="f0001">FIGURE 1</figref>] there<figref idref="f0001">Figure 1</figref> represents a partial schematic view of a telephone terminal comprising a smartphone and a housing, as seen from the “front” of the smartphone.</li><li>[<figref idref="f0002">FIGURE 2</figref>] there<figref idref="f0002">Figure 2</figref> represents a diagram of an NFC module of the housing.</li></ul>

Detailed description of the embodiments

0036We see, in<figref idref="f0001">Figure 1</figref>, a telephone terminal 100 according to one embodiment. The terminal comprises a housing 10 and a smartphone 20 configured to cooperate with the housing. The terminal 100 is shown with a front view of the telephone 20. By the “front” of a telephone is meant an external surface of the telephone 20 opposite a main screen of said telephone.

0037By "smartphone" (or "<i>smartphone</i> " in English) means a portable device incorporating the functionalities of a mobile phone as well as the functionalities of a personal computer, all powered by a battery. By way of non-limiting example, we know for example smartphones offered by Apple (eg those marketed under the brand "iPhone"), Samsung (eg those marketed under the brand "Galaxy"), Huawei (eg those marketed under the brand "Honor"), etc. For more than ten years, it has been common to equip such phones with an NFC module. NFC (meaning "NFC" in English)<i>near-field communication</i> ", or "near field communication" in French) is a wireless communication technology offering a range of around ten centimeters. Thus, the phone 20 visible in<figref idref="f0001">Figure 1</figref> is equipped with an NFC module.

0038The phone 20 visible in<figref idref="f0001">Figure 1</figref> may also include a microphone 21 for recording audio outside of telephone calls, one or more cameras for capturing images, or even one or more cameras 22 for recording videos or even capturing images like a camera, a light 23 used to illuminate scenes when capturing images and/or videos and/or to act as a flashlight, a loudspeaker for emitting sounds audible over tens of meters, or even combinations of these.

0039The phone 20 visible in<figref idref="f0001">Figure 1</figref> is configured so that its NFC module is permanently active. The housing 10, for its part, comprises a passive NFC module and a touch interface 11. At rest, the interface 11 of the housing 10 makes the NFC module of the housing undetectable by the active NFC module of the telephone 20. When a user activates the interface 11, the NFC module of the housing 10 becomes detectable by the NFC module of the telephone 20.

0040The NFC module of the housing 10 comprises a first NFC antenna and a first passive NFC integrated circuit. The first passive NFC integrated circuit is configured to cooperate with the first NFC antenna. The interface 11 of the housing 10, at rest, is configured to deactivate the first integrated circuit. The interface 11 of the housing 10, in response to actuation by the user, is configured to activate the first integrated circuit and the first antenna. The first antenna, in the activated state, is configured to be detectable by the NFC module of the telephone 20, thus making the NFC module of the housing 10 detectable by the NFC module of the telephone. On the other hand, the first antenna is configured not to be detectable by the NFC module of the telephone 20 when it is in the deactivated state.

0041The telephone 20 is configured to communicate with a remote server via a telephone network, and also to respond to an actuation of the interface 11 of the box 10 by the user in the following manner: the telephone 20 opens a communication with the server via the network, and sends a digital message to said server. The message sent to the server may include an identifier.

0042Optionally, the telephone 20 is configured to read its own geolocation, a battery charge status, and/or a network signal quality, and also to incorporate said geolocation, said charge status, and/or said signal quality into said message.

0043The user of the terminal 100 can control the telephone 20, and even the interactions of the telephone with the network, by interacting with the box 10. For example, the message sent to the server can be used to establish a telephone call, to send a message (e.g. SMS, MMS, RCS etc.) to a user of another telephone, to communicate on the internet, etc. The recipient of the call or message intended for the user of the other telephone, or of the internet communication may be pre-established or pre-registered at the terminal 100, for example,

0044For example, a user may use the terminal 100 to report an emergency to the server, and possibly to any other relevant recipient, by actuating the interface 11 of the housing 10 in response to the emergency. The passive NFC module of the housing 10 is activated via the actuation of the interface 11 and becomes detectable by the active NFC module of the telephone 20. The active NFC module of the phone 20 powers the passive NFC module of the housing 10, allowing the NFC module of the housing to signal the emergency to the phone via NFC communication with the NFC module of the phone. In response to this signaling of the emergency by the housing 10, the phone 20 communicates a corresponding message to the server via the telephone network. The message may include an identifier. The identifier can correspond to the user, the terminal, the telephone, the box, and/or the recipient, for example.

0045The terminal 100 may be configured to operate in a plurality of operating modes and to switch between these operating modes in response to an operating mode switching actuation, which is different from the first actuation.

0046This switching of the operating modes of the terminal 100 can be carried out at the level of the housing 10 by switching the first integrated circuit of the NFC module between a first active mode and a second active mode in response to the operating mode switching actuation.

0047The active mode in effect for the first integrated circuit of the NFC module of the housing 10 may be detectable by the NFC module of the telephone 20 via the first antenna of the NFC module of the housing when the first antenna and the first integrated circuit are active together.

0048For example, the terminal 100 can switch between an emergency reporting operating mode (detailed above) and a configuration operating mode in response to the operating mode switching actuation. When switching to the configuration operating mode, a parameter of the box 10 and/or the telephone 20 becomes modifiable. This parameter may be modified in response to information communicated via NFC to the phone 20 by the box and/or to the box 10 by the phone. This parameter becomes fixed when switching to the emergency reporting operating mode.

0049This functionality of the terminal 100 can be implemented at the level of the housing 10 by defining the first active mode of the first integrated circuit of the NFC module of the housing as being a modifiable mode in which a parameter of the first integrated circuit is modifiable according to data received via the first antenna, and by defining the second active mode of the first integrated circuit of the NFC module of the housing as being a fixed mode in which said parameter is fixed. The ability to switch the integrated circuit between a modifiable mode and a frozen mode is completely independent of any purpose of any operating mode of the terminal 100 other than the terminal configuration mode. But by way of example, the first integrated circuit may be in frozen mode when the terminal 100 is in emergency signaling mode, and the first integrated circuit may be in modifiable mode when the terminal is in configuration mode. Switching the integrated circuit from editable mode to frozen mode can be permanent.

0050In addition or as an alternative, switching between the operating modes of the terminal 100 and/or between the active modes of the integrated circuit may be initiated at the telephone 20 instead of the interface 11.

0051Optionally, the user can cause, by activating the interface 11 of the box 10, the switching on of the light 23 of the telephone 20, the recording of sound by the microphone 21 of the telephone, the capture of images by the camera and/or the camera 22 of the telephone, the recording of films by the camera of the telephone, the making of a telephone call by the telephone, and/or the triggering of an alarm by the telephone. The alarm may include an audio component, emitted through the phone's speaker, and/or a visual component, emitted through the phone's screen, light, and/or other luminous component or accessory.

0052The housing 10 is adapted to be fixed in place relative to the telephone 20. While the<figref idref="f0001">Figure 1</figref> represents the direct attachment of the housing 10 to an external surface of the telephone 20, it is also envisaged to attach the housing indirectly to the telephone. For example, the housing 10 may be indirectly attached to the telephone 20 by being attached directly to a removable or permanent shell of the telephone. As a non-limiting example, the housing 10 may be attached to an external surface of the shell. By "external surface" of a shell is meant a surface of the shell that remains exposed when the shell is in place on the telephone 20. For example, the housing 10 may be attached to the back of the shell. By "back" of the shell is meant the external surface of the shell corresponding to the front of the telephone 20. In order to be fixed in place relative to the telephone 20, it comprises an attachment surface. For example, the housing 10 may be an integral part of the shell of the telephone, in which case the housing attachment surface is that arranged towards the external surface of the telephone 20.

0053The attachment surface may be adhesive. Before the housing 10 is secured in place relative to the telephone 20, the attachment surface may be protected by a peelable film. To secure the housing 10 in place via the attachment surface, it would then be appropriate to remove the peelable film to expose the adhesive of the attachment surface and then bring the attachment surface of the housing into contact with the surface on which the housing is to be positioned.

0054The housing 10 may have a thickness, measured perpendicular to the surface on which the fixing surface of the housing is fixed, of a few millimeters.

0055There<figref idref="f0002">Figure 2</figref> represents an electronic diagram of the housing, and more particularly of its passive NFC module 12.

0056The NFC module 12 of the housing may be devoid of power supply. Due to its passive nature, the absence of a power supply battery does not prevent the operation of the NFC module 12 of the housing, because the NFC module of the housing is powered inductively via NFC cooperation with the NFC module of the phone (which is an active module). Indeed, this interaction allows the box to communicate with the phone without this box needing to be connected by electric wire or electric cable to the phone and above all, this NFC module of the box does not require any charging for the purposes of this communication because it is passive. Thus, the box can be made as a small accessory on the phone or on its shell which can be activated at any time and detected by the phone thanks to this interaction.

0057However, this does not exclude the possible presence of a battery in the housing. As a non-limiting example, such a battery could be considered for purposes other than powering the NFC module of the housing.

0058The first NFC 13 integrated circuit is a connected label comprising an EEPROM memory, a microcontroller, and a power detection and radiofrequency field detection circuit. This is, for example, an integrated circuit marketed by the company NXP Semiconductors^™ under the reference NT3H2111, presenting 8 input/output pins.

0059The first NFC 13 integrated circuit is a passive NFC component based on the ISO/IEC 14443-3 Type A standard. It is powered by an NFC field emitted by the phone on which (or on the case of which) the box is attached to receive the power supply and to be detectable when activated.

0060As defined in ISO/IEC 14443-3 Type A for both directions of data communication, there is a start bit (start of communication) at the beginning of each frame. Each byte is transmitted with an odd parity bit at the end.

0061For a multibyte parameter, the low-order byte is always transmitted first. For example, when reading from memory using the READ command, byte 0 of the addressed block is transmitted first, followed by bytes 1 through 3 of that block. The same sequence continues for the next block and all subsequent blocks.

0062The first NFC integrated circuit 13 can be connected to a connector 14 for connection to the first NFC antenna. For example, the first antenna connection pin LA of the first NFC integrated circuit 13 is connected to the first input of the NFC antenna 14A via the connector 14, and the second antenna connection pin LB is connected to the second input of the NFC antenna 14B via the connector.

0063The first NFC antenna connected to the antenna connector 14 is for example the antenna referenced under the reference FXR 1515 NFC from the TAOLAS brand^™ with dimensions of 15x15mm and a resonant frequency of 13.56 MHz on which a two-phase cable is soldered to connect the antenna to a PCB ("<i>Printed Circuit Board »</i> in English, or “printed circuit board” in French) supporting the NFC module of the box.

0064The first NFC integrated circuit 13 is first connected to the interface 11 of the box. For example, the first antenna connection pin LA of the first NFC integrated circuit 13 is connected to a first connection NO_1A of the interface 11, and a second connection COM_1A of the interface, capable of being temporarily connected to this first connection NO_1A when the interface is actuated, is connected to the corresponding antenna input 14 of the antenna connection pin LA of the first NFC integrated circuit 13.

0065When the interface 11 is not actuated, the interface is at rest and the connection between at least one of the pins of the antenna connections of the first NFC integrated circuit 13 and the input of the first NFC antenna is not made.

0066On the other hand, the actuation of the interface 11 establishes a complete passive NFC electronic circuit comprising an NFC antenna and a passive NFC integrated circuit 13 cooperating with each other, which makes it possible to deactivate or activate an NFC antenna and make it detectable or not by an NFC reader, such as the phone's NFC module (which is an active NFC module) on the front (or other external surface) of which (or on the back or other external surface of the case of which) the case is placed.

0067The NFC module 12 of the box and the NFC module of the phone then establish a communication protocol between them. This protocol controls the performance of one or more actions by the phone, depending on the configuration of the phone and/or the configuration of the terminal.

0068For example, the phone may communicate with a remote server via a telephone network received by the phone and send a message including an identifier to the server. This remote server may be a telephone server or an internet server, but not be limited to this.

0069The purpose of the message may be to request the establishment of a communication (e.g. a call and/or an SMS, MMS, RCS or other telephone message) between the sender and the recipient(s) (e.g. in the case of a telephone server), or even to communicate information to the attention of the recipient(s) (e.g. in the case where the server is the recipient, or in the case where the server relays the message to the recipient, as is often found with internet servers). Optionally, the server can suggest a recipient based on the message content - for example, it can suggest using a local emergency number based on geolocation in the case of an emergency report.

0070For example, the message may include an identifier. The identifier may correspond to one or more recipients (e.g., human and/or computer) of the message, and/or to the sender of the message (e.g., an identifier associated with the terminal, its box and/or its telephone, and/or its actual or presumed user). In the context of communication by telephone call or telephone message, the identifier may include as many pre-recorded numbers as predetermined recipients.

0071The message includes at least one digital component corresponding to the purpose of the message.

0072For example, a message sent to report an emergency (sometimes otherwise said to report an alert) may contain information such as the recorded first and last name and/or the location provided by the telephone's geolocation module, and where applicable establishes a transmission of the sound signals captured by the telephone's microphone and/or images and/or videos captured by the telephone's camera and/or photo camera. This protocol can also control the transmission of technical information such as the phone's charging status and/or local network quality over the open session. This protocol is activated by an application associated with the box provider's service, regardless of the phone's state, including when it is in "sleep" mode or when it is running another application.

0073As seen in<figref idref="f0002">Figure 2</figref>, the NFC module 12 of the housing may comprise, in addition to the first passive NFC integrated circuit 13, a second passive NFC integrated circuit 15. The second integrated circuit 15 may be identical to the first NFC integrated circuit 13.

0074This second passive NFC integrated circuit 15 can be configured to cooperate with the first NFC antenna. In this case, the interface 12 is configured to deactivate the second integrated circuit 15 at rest and to activate the second integrated circuit and the first antenna in response to a second actuation of the interface by the user, which is different from the first actuation. Furthermore, in this case, the first antenna, in the activated state in response to the first actuation of the user, is detectable by the NFC module of the telephone as being in cooperation with said first integrated circuit 13. Likewise, in this case, the first antenna, in the activated state in response to the second actuation, is detectable by the NFC module of said telephone as being in cooperation with the second integrated circuit 15.

0075In addition or as an alternative, a second NFC antenna may be provided in the NFC module 12 of the housing, configured to cooperate with the second integrated circuit of the NFC module of the housing. In this case, the interface 11 is configured to deactivate the second integrated circuit 15 and the second antenna at rest and to activate the second integrated circuit 15 and the second antenna in response to the second actuation of the interface by the user. Furthermore, in this case, the first antenna, in the activated state in response to the first actuation, is detectable by the NFC module of the telephone as being in cooperation with the first integrated circuit 13. Similarly, in this case, the second antenna, in the activated state in response to the second actuation, is detectable by the NFC module of the telephone as being in cooperation with the second integrated circuit 15.

0076When the housing comprises two NFC integrated circuits 13, 15 configured to cooperate with the same NFC antenna, the interface 11 can be configured so that the antenna is therefore shared in turn by the NFC integrated circuits 13, 15 depending on the actuation of the interface by the user.

0077For example, the interface 11 of the housing may include a first tactile switch 16 which is easily perceptible by the user, in a tactile manner even if the telephone is in a clothing pocket or in a handbag or other luggage and which he can operate intuitively as long as he retains manual access to his telephone. When the interface 11 is at rest, its first switch 16 is also at rest. The first actuation could be an actuation of the first switch 16. Conventionally, a switch is a device capable of switching between several states. By "actuation" of a touch switch is meant a manipulation of the switch serving to switch the switch between several of its states. For example, the user can press the switch to perform the manipulation necessary to obtain this switching; releasing the switch then allows a return to its rest state.

0078For example, the first switch 16 may be a switch that is open at rest, for example the switch marketed by the company Panasonic^™ under the reference EVQ3P202K having as its internal circuit a unipolar unidirectional normally open (SPST-NO) logic. The actuation of a switch may comprise one or a series of toggles between its (or at least one of its) closed state(s) and its (or at least one of its) open state(s). In this case, it is possible to differentiate between two different actuations by a difference in duration and/or quantity of toggles for example.

0079As seen in<figref idref="f0002">Figure 2</figref>, the interface may comprise at least one second touch switch 17. When the interface 11 is at rest, its second switch may also be at rest. The second touch switch 17 may be identical to the first touch switch 16. When the interface 11 comprises several switches (or more generally components capable of being manipulated by the user), it is possible to differentiate between two different actuations of the interface by a difference in the switch (or switches) or component(s) manipulated during the different actuations. For example, the user may perform the first actuation by operating the first switch 16, and may perform the second actuation by operating the second switch 17.

0080The terminal may include an actuation prevention means configured to limit inadvertent actuations of the interface by the user.

0081For example, the phone may be configured to detect such inadvertence and not respond as it would in response to the first actuation, or the second actuation if applicable. For example, the phone may be configured to compare an actuation duration to a maximum actuation limit, and determine that an actuation exceeding that limit is inadvertent. Thus, passive actuations, such as the user sitting on the terminal, and/or the user being squeezed into public transportation, would be determined to be inadvertent.

0082Additionally or alternatively, in the case where the interface comprises one or more touch switches, each touch switch 16, 17 may comprise an actuation force threshold below which the switch remains at rest. Thus, the weight of a pet and/or the terminal itself may remain insufficient to actuate the interface. For example, such a threshold might be at least 5 newtons per switch, or at least 6 newtons per switch, or at least 7 newtons per switch.

0083It is contemplated that a user will be provided with a terminal - that is, a phone, possibly with its case pre-installed thereon, with the case already attached to the phone or its case, and with the case and/or the phone configured to cooperate and communicate with each other. In this case, it is contemplated that a user will set the necessary parameters for the phone to respond to the case according to the user's preferences. For example, it may be asked to identify itself, the recipient(s), the content of messages sent to it, the actions performed by the phone, etc.

0084With regard to parameters concerning actions performed by the phone, it is envisaged that at least one such parameter(s) will be stored in the phone and/or in a passive NFC integrated circuit of the box.

0085It is also envisaged to provide the<i>hardware</i> of the terminal as detailed above but without prior configuration of the terminal. In this case, it is envisaged to configure the<i>hardware</i> of the terminal by downloading software to the terminal's phone. The software may then prompt the user to set at least one of the parameters detailed above.

0086It is also envisaged to provide the case separately from the phone and the shell if any with which the case will be combined to form the<i>hardware</i> of the terminal. In this case, it is envisaged to fix the case by its fixing surface to an external surface of the telephone or its shell, thus obtaining the<i>hardware</i> of the terminal, and then configure the terminal and, where applicable, the user's preferences as detailed above. If the mounting surface is protected by a protective film, this can be removed before fixing by adhering the mounting surface to the phone or its shell.