System and Method for Wireless Pairing via Wired Connection

• US 20120047289A1
• Filed: 08/18/2010
• Published: 02/23/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Snap-On Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Snap-On Incorporated
• Inventors: Krzystofczyk, Carl J., Zarchy, Richard R., Lattanzi, Ronald A., Logsdon, Matthew G.
• Granted Patent: US 8,656,062 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/10
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/007 using microprocessors or computers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4411 Configuring for operating with peripheral devices; Loading of device drivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup

Abstract

Methods, devices, and computer-readable media related to establishing wireless connections using a wired connection are disclosed. A remote device is communicatively coupled via a wired connection. The remote device receives, via the wired connection, an initialization request to initialize a wireless connection to the remote device. A search of remote device data stored in the remote device is performed. The remote device data can store authentication data related to one or more wireless connections. At the remote device, an initialization response to the initialization request is determined based on the search. The remote device sends the initialization response via the wired connection. The initialization response can indicate whether the initialization response is accepted or rejected. If the initialization response is accepted, the wireless connection to the remote device can be subsequently established and the wired connection can be subsequently closed.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

communicatively coupling a remote device via a wired connection;

receiving, at the remote device via the wired connection, an initialization request to initialize a wireless connection;

performing a search of remote device data stored in the remote device;

determining, at the remote device, an initialization response to the initialization request based on the search; and

sending, from the remote device, the initialization response via the wired connection.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein performing the search of the remote device data comprises searching the remote device data for an empty remote-device-data entry of the remote device data.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein determining the initialization response comprises:

in response to finding the empty remote-device-data entry;

storing authentication data in the empty remote-device-data entry, and

generating an initialization-acceptance response.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein sending the initialization response comprises sending the initialization-acceptance response, and further comprising:

after sending the initialization-acceptance response, establishing the wireless connection.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the authentication data comprises authentication data determined based on data received in the initialization request.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein determining the initialization response comprises in response to not finding the empty remote-device-data entry, generating an initialization-rejection response;

and

wherein sending the initialization response comprises sending the initialization-rejection response.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a second initialization request to initialize the wireless connection; and

determining a second initialization response to the initialization request.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the initialization response to the initialization request based on the search comprises:

generating an indication that the initialization request was received;

sending the indication;

receiving an indication-response to the indication; and

generating the initialization response based on the indication-response.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein generating the initialization response based on the indication-response comprises:

selecting a full remote-device-data entry corresponding to the initialized wireless connection for replacement based on the indication-response;

replacing the authentication data in the selected full remote-device-data entry with authentication data received in the second initialization request; and

generating an initialization-acceptance response.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein generating the initialization response based on the indication-response comprises:

determining that the indication-response indicates the second initialization request is rejected; and

responsively generating an initialization-rejection response.

11. A device, comprising:

a wired-connection interface;

memory;

a processor; and

instructions, stored in the memory, that responsive to execution by the processor, cause the device to perform functions comprising;

communicatively coupling to a wired connection via the wired-connection interface,

receiving, via the wired connection, an initialization request to initialize a wireless connection,

performing a search of remote device data stored in the memory,

determining an initialization response to the initialization request based on the search, and

sending the initialization response via the wired connection.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein performing the search of the remote device data comprises searching the remote device data for an empty remote-device-data entry of the remote device data.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein determining the initialization response comprises:

in response to finding the empty remote-device-data entry in the remote device data;

storing authentication data related to the initialization request in the empty remote-device-data entry, and

generating an initialization-acceptance response.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the authentication data comprises authentication data determined based on data received in the initialization request.

15. The device of claim 12, wherein determining the initialization response comprises in response to not finding the empty remote-device-data entry, generating an initialization-rejection response;

and

wherein sending the initialization response comprises sending the initialization-rejection response.

16. The device of claim 11, the functions further comprising:

receiving a second initialization request to initialize the wireless connection; and

determining a second initialization response to the initialization request.

17. The device of claim 11, determining the initialization response to the initialization request based on the search comprises:

generating an indication that the initialization request was received;

sending the indication;

receiving an indication-response to the indication; and

generating the initialization response based on the indication-response.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein generating the second initialization response comprises:

selecting a full remote-device-data entry corresponding to the initialized wireless connection for replacement based on the indication-response;

replacing authentication data in the selected full remote-device-data entry with authentication data received in the second initialization request; and

generating an initialization-acceptance response.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein generating the second initialization response comprises:

determining that the indication-response indicates the second initialization request is rejected; and

responsively generating an initialization-rejection response.

20. A computer-readable storage medium having instruction stored thereon that, responsive to execution by a processor of a device, cause the device to perform functions comprising:

communicatively coupling via a wired connection;

receiving, via the wired connection, an initialization request to initialize a wireless connection;

performing a search of stored remote device data;

determining an initialization response to the initialization request based on the search; and

sending the initialization response via the wired connection.