WIRELESS SYNCHRONIZATION MECHANISM

• US 20120128172A1
• Filed: 04/23/2010
• Published: 05/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Skullcandy, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Skullcandy, Inc.
• Inventors: Alden, Richard P.
• Granted Patent: US 8,457,557 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/77
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0492 by using a location-limited connection, e.g. near-field communication or limited proximity of entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6066 including a wireless connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/50 Secure pairing of devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/64 using geofenced areas
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/00 Synchronisation arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/20 Master-slave selection or change arrangements

Abstract

A media delivery device that can automatically initiate and establish a secure wireless communication channel with an audio output device comprises a proximity module that recognizes a mutual engagement zone proximate to the media delivery device. The proximity module can detect when the audio output device is within the mutual engagement zone. Moreover, the media delivery device further comprises a communication module wherein upon the proximity module detecting the audio output device within the mutual engagement zone, the communication module automatically initiates and establishes a wireless communication channel with the audio output device. The media delivery device can then wirelessly communicate with the audio output device outside of the mutual engagement zone using the wireless communication channel.

Claims

1. A media delivery device configured to wirelessly communicate with one or more audio output devices within a wireless communication range, the media delivery device configured to automatically establish a secure, wireless communication channel with the one or more audio output devices within the wireless communication range based on proximity detection, comprising:

a proximity module configured to recognize a mutual engagement zone that is proximate to the media delivery device and within the wireless communication range of one or more audio output devices;

wherein the proximity module is configured to detect when the one or more audio output devices are within the mutual engagement zone; and

a communication module configured to automatically initiate and establish the wireless communication channel with the one or more audio output devices when the one or more audio output devices are within the mutual engagement zone;

wherein the media delivery device is configured to communicate with the one or more audio output devices outside of the mutual engagement zone using the established wireless communication channel.

2. The media delivery device as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

one or more depressible buttons corresponding to one or more other buttons on the one or more audio output devices;

wherein the communications module is configured to automatically initiate and establish the wireless communication channel when;

the proximity module detects the one or more audio output devices within the mutual engagement zone;

a user depresses the one or more depressible buttons on the media delivery device; and

the user depresses the one or more other buttons on the one or more audio output devices.

3. The media delivery device as recited in claim 1, wherein the proximity module comprises an emitter element configured to emit a proximity signal.

4. The media delivery device as recited in claim 3, wherein the emitter element is a magnetic element that produces a magnetic field causing a signaling switch in the audio output device to open or close.

5. The media delivery device as recited in claim 1, wherein the proximity module comprises a detector element configured to detect a magnetic field emitted from the one or more audio output devices.

6. The media delivery device as recited in claim 5, wherein the detector element is an electrical circuit designed to produce a change in output voltage upon interacting with a magnetic field emitted from the one or more audio output devices.

7. The media delivery device as recited in claim 5, wherein the detector element is a signaling switch configured to open or close upon interacting with a magnetic field emitted from the one or more audio output devices.

8. The media delivery device as recited in claim 1, further comprising an alert module that indicates a wireless communication channel has been established by producing a sensory alert.

9. An audio output device configured to wirelessly communicate with a media delivery device within a wireless communication range of the audio output device, the audio output device configured to automatically establish a secure, wireless communication channel with the media delivery device within the wireless communication range based on proximity detection, comprising:

a proximity module configured to recognize a mutual engagement zone that is proximate to the audio output device and within the wireless communication range of the audio output device;

wherein the proximity module is configured to detect when the media delivery device is within the mutual engagement zone; and

a communication module configured to automatically initiate and establish the wireless communication channel with the media delivery device when the media delivery device is within the mutual engagement zone;

wherein the audio output device is configured to communicate with the media delivery device outside of the mutual engagement zone using the established wireless communication channel.

10. The audio output device as recited in claim 9, further comprising:

one or more depressible buttons corresponding to one or more other buttons on the media delivery device;

wherein the communications module is configured to automatically initiate and establish the wireless communication channel upon detecting that;

the media delivery device is within the mutual engagement zone; and

one or more depressible buttons on the audio output device and on the media delivery device have been depressed at the same time.

11. The audio output device as recited in claim 9, wherein the proximity module comprises an emitter element configured to emit a proximity signal.

12. The audio output device as recited in claim 11, wherein the emitter element comprises a magnetic element that produces a magnetic field that causes a signaling switch in the media delivery device to open or close.

13. The audio output device as recited in claim 9, wherein the proximity module comprises a detector element configured to detect a magnetic field emitted from the media delivery device.

14. The audio output device as recited in claim 13, wherein the detector element comprises an electrical circuit designed to produce a change in output voltage upon interacting with a magnetic field emitted from the media delivery device.

15. The audio output device as recited in claim 13, wherein the detector element comprises a signaling switch configured to open or close upon interacting with a magnetic field emitted from the media delivery device.

16. The audio output device as recited in claim 9, further comprising an alert module that indicates a wireless communication channel has been established by producing a sensory alert.

17. A computerized device configured to wirelessly communicate with a second computerized device within a wireless communication range, the computerized device configured to automatically establish a secure, wireless communication channel with the second computerized device based on proximity detection, comprising:

a proximity module configured to recognize a mutual engagement zone that is proximate to the computerized device and within the wireless communication range;

wherein the proximity module is configured to detect when the second computerized device is within the mutual engagement zone; and

a communication module configured to automatically initiate and establish the wireless communication channel with the second computerized device when the second computerized device is within the mutual engagement zone;

wherein the computerized device is configured to communicate with the second computerized device outside of the mutual engagement zone using the established wireless communication channel.

18. In a media delivery device configured to wirelessly communicate with an audio output device within a wireless communication range, a computerized method of efficiently establishing a wireless communication channel between the media delivery device and the audio output device using minimal human interaction, comprising:

detecting that an audio output device is within a mutual engagement zone of the media delivery device;

sending synchronization information to the audio output device;

receiving a synchronization response from the audio output device that enables the media delivery device and the audio output device to establish a secure wireless communication channel that has a wireless communication range that is larger than the mutual engagement zone; and

communicating with the audio output device through the established wireless communication channel outside of the mutual engagement zone and within the wireless communication range.

19. The method recited in claim 18, further comprising:

the media delivery device prompting a user for a confirmation action before sending synchronization information;

wherein the confirmation action comprises identifying that the audio output device has been held within the mutual engagement zone for a specified time interval.

20. The method recited in claim 19, wherein the confirmation action further comprises identifying that one or more buttons on the media delivery device and the audio output device have been depressed while the audio output device is positioned within the mutual engagement zone.

21. In an audio output device configured to wirelessly communicate with media delivery device within a wireless communication range, a computerized method of efficiently establishing a wireless communication channel between the audio output device and the media delivery device using minimal human interaction, comprising:

detecting that a media delivery device is within a mutual engagement zone of the audio output device;

sending synchronization information to the media delivery device;

receiving a synchronization response from the media delivery device that enables the audio output device and the media delivery device to establish a secure wireless communication channel that has a wireless communication range that is larger than the mutual engagement zone; and

communicating with the media delivery device through the established wireless communication channel outside of the mutual engagement zone and within the wireless communication range.

22. The method recited in claim 21, further comprising:

the audio output device prompting a user for a confirmation action before sending synchronization information;

wherein the confirmation action comprises identifying that the media delivery device has been held within the mutual engagement zone for a specified time interval.

23. The method recited in claim 22, wherein the confirmation action further comprises identifying that one or more buttons on the audio output device and the media delivery device have been depressed while the media delivery device is positioned within the mutual engagement zone.