US Patent 9306626 NFC device context determination through proximity gestural movement detection

An apparatus and system are provided for interpreting the gestural path of a first NFC device within NFC range of a second NFC device, or the gestural path of the second NFC device within range of the first NFC device, to determine context for a pre-determined function. The second NFC device includes a plurality of inductive coupling elements, each element configured to output a signal when within range of the first NFC device. A controller module receives the signal from each element when the first NFC device is within range and determines a path of the first NFC device across the second NFC device based on a time difference of receipt at the controller of the signals. The plurality of inductive coupling elements may be active or passive, and interact with the first NFC device in a peer-to-peer mode or read/write mode, depending on the configuration of each device.