Method and apparatus for pairing a mobile device to an output device

• US 10,244,375 B2
• Filed: 11/14/2017
• Issued: 03/26/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonifi Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonifi Solutions, Inc.
• Inventors: Zerr, Derin M., Prince, III, John S., Fenno, James L., Baker, John B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tuan H
• Application Number:
  US15/812,652
• Publication Number:
  US 20180070200A1
• Time in Patent Office: 497 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/21 Programming remote control devices via third means
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/303 Terminal profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data

Abstract

Methods and systems for associating or pairing a mobile device with a local output device via a central or mobile connect server system are provided. Pairing is performed by initiating a pairing request from an output device that is passed to the mobile connect server for processing. The mobile connect server responds to the request with a pairing code that is displayed by the output device. A user of the mobile device then enters the displayed pairing code in the mobile device. The mobile device transmits the entered pairing code to the mobile connect server and, in response to a match, the mobile device is paired to the output device. Pairing can enable various functions, including an ability to apply stored user preference data to control programming or other information displayed by the output device in response to commands entered in the mobile device.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving first user preference data at a first server, wherein the first user preference data is associated with a first user;

storing the received first user preference data in a memory connected to the first server;

after storing the received first user preference data in the memory, connecting a first user device to the first server;

correlating the first user device to the stored first user preference data;

providing the stored first user preference data from the memory to at least one of the first server and a second server;

applying the first user preference data by the at least one of the first server and the second server, wherein applying the first user preference data includes modifying an operation of a first output device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein modifying an operation of the first output device includes presenting a first modified channel lineup by the first output device, and wherein the first modified channel lineup is different than a default channel lineup.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

after storing the received first user preference data in the memory, receiving a request to pair the first user device to the first output device;

in response to receiving the request to pair the first user device to the first output device, communicating a first pairing code to the first user device.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein communicating the first pairing code to the first user device includes displaying the first pairing code to the first user using the first output device.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein communicating using the first output device the first pairing code to the first user device further includes the first user entering the first pairing code in the first user device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the first pairing code is transmitted from the first user device to the first server over a network that includes a wireless carrier network.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the first pairing code is transmitted from the first user device to the first server, and wherein, in response to receiving the first pairing code, the first server enables the first user device to control aspects of the operation of the first output device.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the first request for the pairing code is associated with at least a first user device identifier, wherein the first user device is registered with the first server.

9. The method of claim 3, wherein the first pairing code is transmitted from the first user device to the first server over a network that includes a wireless carrier network.

10. The method of claim 3, wherein the first pairing code is transmitted from the first user device to the first server, and wherein, in response to receiving the first pairing code, the first server enables the first user device to control aspects of the operation of the first output device.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

after associating the first user device with the first output device, receiving a request for first content from the first user device at the first server; and

displaying the first content using the first output device.

12. The method of claim 3, wherein the request to pair is associated with a first transaction identifier and at least one of a first output device identifier, a first property identifier, a first room identifier, and a first user device identifier, and wherein the first server generates the first pairing code in response to the request to pair.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

disassociating the first user device and the first output device in response to receiving at the first server another request to pair that is associated with a second transaction identifier and at least one of the first output device identifier, the first property identifier, and the first room identifier.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the first pairing code expires after a first predetermined time has elapsed since the first request to pair was received at the first server.

15. A system, comprising:

a plurality of output devices;

a first mobile device;

a mobile connect server, including;

a non-transitory memory;

application programming, wherein the application programming is stored in the non-transitory memory;

a processor, wherein the processor is operable to execute the application programming;

a communication interface, wherein the mobile connect server is interconnected to the plurality of output devices by at least a first network,

wherein the application programming is operable to provide a first pairing code to a first output device included in the plurality of output devices using the at least a first network, wherein after providing the first pairing code to the first output device the application programming is operable to generate a first command in response to receiving the first pairing code from the first mobile device over at least a second network;

a local client server, wherein the at least a first network interconnects the mobile connect server to the local client server;

a first local client network, wherein the local client server is interconnected to at least some output devices included in the plurality of output devices by the first local client network;

user preference data associated with the first mobile device, wherein the user preference data controls aspects of the operation of at least one output device included in the plurality of output devices.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the first command is received by the local client server, and wherein in response to receiving the first command the local client server delivers content to the first output device.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the first local client network is a part of the at least a first network, wherein the local client server includes a content store, and wherein the content is delivered from the local client server to the first output device over the first local client network.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the first mobile device is associated with a first user, the first mobile device including:

a communication interface;

a display;

a user input, wherein the first mobile device is interconnected to the mobile connect server by the at least a second network, wherein the first mobile device is operable to receive the first pairing code through the user input, wherein the first mobile device is operable to transmit the first pairing code to the mobile connect server using the at least a second network, wherein the first mobile device is operable to receive and display a content menu, wherein in response to an input at the user input selecting an item included in the content menu the first mobile device is operable to send a content selection message to the mobile connect server using the at least a second network.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the first mobile device is associated with a first user, the first mobile device including:

a communication interface;

a user input, wherein the first mobile device is interconnected to the mobile connect server by the at least a second network, wherein the first mobile device is operable to receive the first pairing code through the user input, and wherein the first mobile device is operable to transmit the first pairing code to the mobile connect server using the at least a second network.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the user preference data causes the output device to display a channel lineup that is different than a channel lineup that is displayed in the absence of the user preference data.