Controlling visibility of a wireless device

• US 20070053313A1
• Filed: 09/06/2005
• Published: 03/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Adams, Neil, Little, Herbert, Brown, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 7,796,979 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/315
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/66 with means for preventing unauthorised or fraudulent calling verifying user identity or authority in secret or secure digital communications H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A first wireless device controls its visibility by disabling its discoverable mode or modes upon ascertaining that a second wireless device does not require the first device to be in a discoverable mode in order to establish connections therebetween.

Claims

1. A method for controlling visibility of a first wireless device, the method comprising:

ascertaining that a second wireless device does not require said first device to be in a discoverable mode in order to establish connections therebetween; and

disabling said discoverable mode in said first device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said first device has or is currently establishing an initial connection with said second device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

re-enabling said discoverable mode in said first device after a secret shared by said first device and said second device is cleared from said first device.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said secret is used as a basis for a trusted relationship between said first device and said second device.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an indication that said second device does not require said first device to be in a discoverable mode in order to establish connections therebetween.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

if said discoverable mode is disabled and input intended to result in said first device being in said discoverable mode is detected, indicating to a user of said first device that said first device is not actually in said discoverable mode.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

if said discoverable mode is enabled and input intended to result in said first device being in said discoverable mode is detected, indicating to a user of said first device that said first device is actually in said discoverable mode.

8. A first device comprising:

a wireless communication interface able to cause said first device to be in a discoverable mode;

a processor coupled to said wireless communication interface; and

a memory coupled to said processor, said memory able to store code which, when executed by said processor, disables said discoverable mode upon ascertaining that a second device does not require said first device to be in said discoverable mode in order to establish connections therebetween.

9. The first device of claim 8, further comprising:

a user input component coupled to said processor,

wherein said processor is able to interpret input from said user input component as intended to result in said first device being in said discoverable mode,

wherein said memory is able to store enablement information according to which said processor is to determine whether or not to cause said first device actually to be in a discoverable mode upon detection of said input, and

wherein said code, when executed by said processor, disables said discoverable mode by setting said enablement information.

10. The first device of claim 9, wherein said user input component is an electro-mechanical device.

11. The first device of claim 8, further comprising:

a user output component coupled to said processor by which said processor is able to indicate to a user of said first device whether or not said first device is actually in discoverable mode.

12. The first device of claim 8, wherein said memory is able to store a secret shared by said first device and said second device, and wherein said code, when executed by said processor, re-enables said discoverable mode after said secret is cleared from said memory.

13. The first device of claim 12, wherein said secret is used as a basis for a trusted relationship between said first device and said second device.

14. The first device of claim 8, wherein said first device is a smart card reader.

15. The first device of claim 8, wherein said wireless communication interface is compatible with Bluetooth®

communication protocols.

16. The first device of claim 8, wherein said wireless communication interface is compatible with ultra wideband (UWB) communication protocols.

17. The first device of claim 8, wherein said wireless communication interface is compatible with ZigBee™

communication protocols.

18. The first device of claim 8, wherein said wireless communication interface is compatible with radio frequency identification (RFID) communication protocols.

19. The first device of claim 8, wherein said wireless communication interface is compatible with one or more IEEE 802.11 communication protocols.

20. A communications system comprising:

a first device comprising;

a wireless communication interface compatible with at least one wireless communication protocol;

a processor coupled to said wireless communication interface; and

a memory coupled to said processor; and

a second device comprising;

a wireless communication interface compatible with at least said wireless communication protocol, said wireless communication interface able to cause said second device to be in a discoverable mode;

a processor coupled to said wireless communication interface; and

a memory coupled to said processor, said memory able to store code which, when executed by said processor, disables said discoverable mode upon ascertaining that said first device does not require said second device to be in said discoverable mode in order to establish connections therebetween.

21. The communications system of claim 20, wherein said second device is a smart card reader.

22. The communications system of claim 20, wherein said wireless communication protocol is a Bluetooth®

communication protocol.

23. The communications system of claim 20, wherein said wireless communication protocol is an ultra wideband (UWB) communication protocol.

24. The communications system of claim 20, wherein said wireless communication protocol is a ZigBee™

communication protocol.

25. The communications system of claim 20, wherein said wireless communication protocol is a radio frequency identification (RFID) communication protocol.

26. The communications system of claim 20, wherein said wireless communication protocol is an IEEE 802.11 communication protocol.