SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR WIRELESS DEVICE PAIRING

• US 20140235166A1
• Filed: 02/17/2013
• Published: 08/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fitbit, Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Fitbit, Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: MOLETTIERE, Peter Andrew, PARK, James, BILODEAUX-DEWEY, Aislinn Abigail, FRIEDMAN, Eric Nathan, COLE, Robert Curtis, PANTHER, Heiko Gernot Albert, AXLEY, Andrew Cole, BRUMBACK, Christine Boomer
• Granted Patent: US 9,026,053 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0242 adapted to measure environmental factors, e.g. temperature, pollution
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0204 Acoustic sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0223 Magnetic field sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0004 characterised by the type of physiological signal transmitted
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0008 Temperature signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02055 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02416 using photoplethysmograph signals, e.g. generated by infrared radiation A61B5/14552 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1112 Global tracking of patients, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/112 Gait analysis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4806 Sleep evaluation A61B5/4821 takes precedence; devices for inducing sleep A61M21/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/486 Bio-feedback A61B5/375 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4866 Evaluating metabolism A61B5/083 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7405 using sound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7435 Displaying user selection data, e.g. icons in a graphical user interface
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7455 characterised by tactile indication, e.g. vibration or electrical stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7475 User input or interface means, e.g. keyboard, pointing device, joystick
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 1/08 using electric transmission ; transformation of alarm signals to electrical signals from a different medium, e.g. transmission of an electric alarm signal upon detection of an audible alarm signal
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 : relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/40 : for the management of medical equipment or devices, e.g. scheduling maintenance or upgrades
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 : for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/26 : at least one of which is mobile
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 : for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0861 : using biometrical features, e.g. fingerprint, retina-scan cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using biological data H04L9/3231
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 : specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 : Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/33 : using wearable devices, e.g. using a smartwatch or smart-glasses
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/50 : Secure pairing of devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/63 : Location-dependent; Proximity-dependent
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/64 : using geofenced areas
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/68 : Gesture-dependent or behaviour-dependent
• 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 76/14 : Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 : Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 : WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention include a system and method for wirelessly identifying and validating an electronic device in order to initiate a communication process with another device or a service. In an embodiment, the system includes a portable biometric monitoring device that is identified by a client device or a server for the purpose of initiating a pairing process. In an embodiment, pairing implies pairing the portable device to an online user account with minimal user interaction. After pairing, the portable device and appropriate client devices and servers communicate with little or no user interaction, for example to upload sensor data collected by the portable device.

Claims

1. A wireless communication method comprising:

a first portable biometric device and a second device communicating wirelessly to initiate a pairing process between the first portable biometric device and the second device, wherein the first portable biometric device comprises a user interface, at least one sensor, and wireless communication circuitry in a unit suitable to be worn by a moving human device user;

the first portable biometric device subsequently generating a cue to the first portable biometric device user via the user interface requesting the first portable biometric device user to validate the pairing between the first portable biometric device and the second device;

the first portable biometric device receiving input from the user indicating the user'"'"'s agreement to validate the pairing request, wherein input comprises tapping the first portable biometric device anywhere on its exterior;

the first portable biometric device detecting the tapping using a motion sensor;

the first portable biometric device responding to the user input by signaling the second device to complete the pairing process; and

the second device and the first portable biometric device communicating to complete the pairing process, wherein the first portable biometric device and a second device are remote from each other throughout the pairing process, after which the first portable biometric device and the second device are able to recognize each other; and

the first portable biometric device and the second device automatically communicating to wirelessly exchange data subsequent to pairing when the first portable biometric device and the second device are within wireless communication range;

wherein data comprises sensor data collected and stored by the first portable biometric device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein pairing further comprises pairing the first portable biometric device to a user account.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein pairing further comprises pairing the first portable biometric device to a user account, and wherein the user account is resident, at least in part, on the second device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein completing the pairing process further comprises downloading user data to the first portable biometric device that is usable by the first portable biometric device to calculate biometric values based on physical activity of the user.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the cue comprises the first portable biometric device prompting the user through the user interface to respond to the cue.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the user interface comprises one or more of a screen, a touch screen, a vibramotor, a keyboard, light emitting diodes (LEDs), and buttons.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the cue comprises one or more of the first portable biometric device vibrating, and illuminating the LEDs.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the motion sensor is at least one of an accelerometer, a gyroscope sensor, a microphone, an altimeter, and a magnetometer.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the second device is in proximity to the first portable biometric device and multiple other first portable biometric devices, and wherein each of the first portable biometric device and multiple other first portable biometric devices communicate wirelessly to initiate a pairing process with the second device.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the second device requests the user, through a user interface, to move a selected first portable biometric device closer to the second device and move the other first portable biometric devices away, so that the selected first portable biometric device can proceed with pairing.

5. (canceled)

12-27. -27. (canceled)