Establishing communication links automatically with local devices

• US 20150050885A1
• Filed: 08/19/2013
• Published: 02/19/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Arm IP Limited (SoftBank Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Arm IP Limited (SoftBank Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Vincent, Hugo John Martin, Flautner, Krisztian, Phillips, Amyas Edward Wykes
• Granted Patent: US 9,088,895 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/141 Setup of application sessions admission control or resource allocation in data switching networks H04L47/70
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/04 Key management, e.g. using generic bootstrapping architecture [GBA]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• 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 36/36 by user or terminal equipment
• 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 52/0261 managing power supply demand, e.g. depending on battery level
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

An envoy device for performing transactions with a further device in proximity to the envoy device, the envoy device comprising: a first communication device configured to communicate with the further device that is located within a predetermined distance of the envoy device using a local short range communication link; at least one further communication device configured to communicate with the further device using at least one longer range communication link. The envoy device is configured to respond to detecting the further device within the predetermined distance of the envoy device to: establish communication with the further device using the local short range communication link; receive information from the further device regarding any further communication links that the further device has access to; transmit to the further device information regarding the at least one longer range communication link; and to commence a transaction with the further device using the local short range communication link.

Claims

1. An envoy device for performing transactions with a further device in proximity to said envoy device, said envoy device comprising:

a data store;

a processor;

a first communication device configured to communicate with said further device that is located close enough to said envoy device to establish a local short range communication link; and

at least one further communication device configured to communicate with said further device using at least one longer range communication link;

said envoy device being configured to respond to detecting said further device close enough to said envoy to establish said short range communication link to;

establish communication with said further device using said local short range communication link;

receive information from said further device regarding any further communication links that said further device has access to;

to commence a transaction with said further device using said local short range communication link.

2. An envoy device according to claim 1, said envoy device being further configured to transmit to said further device information regarding said at least one longer range communication link.

3. An envoy device according to claim 1, said envoy device being further configured to respond to losing connection to said further device via said short range communication link prior to said transaction having completed to determine from said received information if a connection to said further device can be made using one of said at least one further communication links and if so to establish a communication and complete said transaction;

and

if not to signal to said user that said transaction has not completed.

4. An envoy device according to claim 1, said envoy device comprising a monitor configured to determine current operating conditions of said envoy device and to determine a priority for use of each of said short range and said at least one longer range communication links in dependence upon said current operation conditions, said envoy device being configured to select one of said communication links to use to complete said transaction, in dependence upon said priority.

5. An envoy device according to claim 1, wherein said information received from said further device comprises at least one access key for connecting to said further device via said any further communication links.

6. An envoy device according to claim 2, wherein said information transmitted to said further device comprises at least one access key for connecting to said envoy device via said at least one longer range communication link.

7. An envoy device according to claim 1, wherein said information received from said further device includes an indication of at least one capability of said further device that said further device can provide to other devices, said envoy device being configured in response to receipt of said indication to select one of said at least one capability as required.

8. An envoy device according to claim 7, wherein one of said at least one capability comprises a connection to the Internet.

9. An envoy device according to claim 1, wherein said local short range communication link comprises a near field communication link.

10. An envoy device according to claim 9, wherein said at least one longer range communication link comprises at least one of Bluetooth, Zigbee, WiFi or cellular.

11. An envoy device according to claim 3, wherein said envoy device is configured to indicate to said user to place said envoy device in proximity to said further device as said indication that said transaction has not completed.

12. An envoy device according to claim 1, wherein said envoy device is a wrist worn device.

13. A method of performing transactions between an envoy device and a further device, said envoy device and said further device being located in proximity to each other, said method comprising the envoy device performing the steps of:

detecting said further device close enough to said envoy device to establish a short range communication link; and

establishing communication with said further device using said local short range communication link;

receiving information from said further device regarding any further communication links that said further device has access to;

commencing a transaction with said further device using said local short range communication link.

14. A method according to claim 13, and further comprising:

transmitting to said further device information regarding at least one longer range communication link that said envoy device has access to; and

15. A method according to claim 13, further comprising a step of:

determining current operating conditions of said envoy device and prioritising use of each of said short range and said at least one longer range communication links in dependence upon said current operation conditions;

selecting a communication link to use to complete said transaction in dependence upon a priority of said communication links determined by said determining step.

16. A method according to claim 13, comprising further steps of:

losing connection to said further device via said short range communication link prior to said transaction having completed;

determining from said received information if a connection to said further device can be made using one of said at least one further communication links and if so;

establishing a communication and completing said transaction; and

if not

signalling to said user that said transaction has not completed.

17. A method according to claim 13, wherein said information received from said further device comprises at least one access key for connecting to said further device via said any further communication links.

18. A method according to claim 14, wherein said information transmitted to said further device comprises at least one access key for connecting to said envoy device via said at least one longer range communication link.

19. A method according to claim 13, wherein said information received from said further device includes an indication of at least one capability of said further device that said further device can provide to other devices, said method comprising a further step of in response to receipt of said indication, selecting one of said at least one capability as required.

20. A method according to claim 19, wherein one of said at least one capability comprises a connection to the Internet.

21. An envoy device for performing transactions with a further device in proximity to said envoy device, said envoy device comprising:

a data store;

a processor;

a first communication device configured to communicate with said further device that is located close enough to said envoy to establish a local short range communication link;

at least one further communication device configured to communicate with said further device using at least one longer range communication link; and

a monitor configured to determine current operating conditions of said envoy device and to determine a priority of use of each of said short range and said at least one longer range communication links in dependence upon said current operating conditions;

said envoy device being configured to respond to detecting said further device close enough to said envoy to establish said short range communication link;

establish communication with said further device using said local short range communication link;

receive information from said further device regarding any further communication links that said further device has access to; and

to select one of said communication links to use to start a transaction, in dependence upon said priority determined by said monitor.

22. An envoy device according to claim 21, wherein said envoy device is configured to transmit to said further device information regarding said at least one longer range link.

23. An envoy device according to claim 21, wherein said monitor is configured to prioritise said communication links in dependence upon current energy requirements of said communication links.

24. An envoy device according to claim 23, wherein said monitor is configured to prioritise said communication links in dependence upon current battery capacity.

25. An envoy device according to claim 23, wherein said monitor is configured to prioritise said communication links in dependence upon current availability of said communication links.

26. An envoy means for performing transactions with a further means in proximity to said envoy means, said envoy means comprising:

a data storing means for storing data;

a data processing means for processing data;

a first communicating means for communicating with said further means that is located close enough to said envoy means to establish a local short range communication link; and

at least one further communicating means for communicating with said further means using at least one longer range communication link;

said envoy means responding to detecting said further means within said predetermined distance of said envoy means to;

establish communication with said further means using said local short range communication link;

receive information from said further means regarding any further communication links that said further means has access to; and

to commence a transaction with said further means using said local short range communication link.