Dynamic connection path detection and selection for wireless controllers and accessories

• US 10,362,536 B2
• Filed: 07/11/2018
• Issued: 07/23/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Mathews, Dennis, Dooley, Craig, Sandesara, Anjali S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rachedine, Mohammed
• Application Number:
  US16/033,073
• Publication Number:
  US 20190014539A1
• Time in Patent Office: 377 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0216 using a pre-established activity schedule, e.g. traffic indication frame
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Controllers can communicate with accessories using various paths, such as a wireless communication path. A controller can maintain reachability information for each accessory indicating the path(s) via which the accessory is currently reachable. Maintaining the reachability information can include scanning to detect broadcasts from the accessories and updating the reachability information based on the results of scanning. Scanning parameters such as scan interval and scan duration can be selected dynamically based on the current operating context of the controller (e.g., where the controller is located, what processes are active on the controller, what other devices have been detected within communication range of the controller).

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

identifying, by a controller device, a missing accessory associated with a location;

receiving, by the controller device, information that identifies a first plurality of accessories detected on a previous scan associated with the location;

comparing, by the controller device, the information that identifies the first plurality of accessories to cluster information that identifies a second plurality of accessories;

determining, by the controller device, a probability of the controller device being within communication range of the missing accessory based at least in part on the comparison; and

in accordance with a determination that the probability is above a threshold, modifying, by the controller device, a communication connection with the missing accessory.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein modifying the communication connection with the missing accessory comprises selecting a communication connection path between the controller device and the missing accessory.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising ranking a plurality of different communication connection paths between the controller device and the missing accessory.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising attempting to connect to the missing accessory using a highest priority communication connection path of the plurality of different communication connection paths.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising attempting to connect to the missing accessory using a second highest priority communication connection path of the plurality of different communication connection paths in accordance with a determination that the attempt to connect to the missing accessory using the highest priority communication connection path was unsuccessful.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating the cluster information based at least in part on connection weights for each accessory detected during a scan for accessories associated with the location.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the second plurality of accessories are determined to be related to one another based at least in part on the connection weights.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying, by the controller device, location data for the controller device;

determining, by the controller device, whether the location data corresponds to an account of the controller device; and

determining, by the controller device, the probability in accordance with a determination that the location data corresponds to the account of the controller device.

9. A controller device, comprising:

a memory configured to store computer-executable instructions; and

one or more processors in communication with the memory and configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to at least;

identify a missing accessory associated with a location;

receive information that identifies a first plurality of accessories detected on a previous scan associated with the location;

compare the information that identifies the first plurality of accessories to cluster information that identifies a second plurality of accessories;

determine a probability of the controller device being within communication range of the missing accessory based at least in part on the comparison; and

in accordance with a determination that the probability is above a threshold, modify a communication connection with the missing accessory.

10. The controller device of claim 9, wherein the missing accessory is identified as the missing accessory based at least in part on the missing accessory being detected in at least one previous scan but not being connected to the controller device.

11. The controller device of claim 9, wherein the previous scan is a most recent scan for accessories associated with the location.

12. The controller device of claim 9, wherein modifying the communication connection with the missing accessory comprises selecting a communication connection path between the controller device and the missing accessory.

13. The controller device of claim 9, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to at least:

rank a plurality of different communication connection paths between the controller device and the missing accessory;

attempt to connect to the missing accessory using a highest priority communication connection path of the plurality of different communication connection paths; and

attempt to connect to the missing accessory using a second highest priority communication connection path of the plurality of different communication connection paths in accordance with a determination that the attempt to connect to the missing accessory using the highest priority communication connection path was unsuccessful.

14. The controller device of claim 9, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to at least generate the cluster information based at least in part on connection weights for each accessory detected during a scan for accessories associated with the location.

15. The controller device of claim 14, wherein the second plurality of accessories are determined to be related to one another based at least in part on the connection weights.

16. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a controller device, configure the controller device to perform operations comprising:

identifying a missing accessory associated with a location;

receiving information that identifies a first plurality of accessories detected on a previous scan associated with the location;

comparing the information that identifies the first plurality of accessories to cluster information that identifies a second plurality of accessories;

determining a probability of the controller device being within communication range of the missing accessory based at least in part on the comparison; and

in accordance with a determination that the probability is above a threshold, modifying a communication connection with the missing accessory.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein modifying the communication connection with the missing accessory comprises selecting a communication connection path between the controller device and the missing accessory.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the operations further comprise:

ranking a plurality of different communication connection paths between the controller device and the missing accessory;

attempting to connect to the missing accessory using a highest priority communication connection path of the plurality of different communication connection paths; and

attempting to connect to the missing accessory using a second highest priority communication connection path of the plurality of different communication connection paths in accordance with a determination that the attempt to connect to the missing accessory using the highest priority communication connection path was unsuccessful.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the operations further comprise generating the cluster information based at least in part on connection weights for each accessory detected during a scan for accessories associated with the location.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the second plurality of accessories are determined to be related to one another based at least in part on the connection weights.