Automated pairing of wireless accessories with host devices

• US 7,813,715 B2
• Filed: 08/30/2006
• Issued: 10/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: McKillop, Chris, Wiebe, Chris
• Primary Examiner(s): MIZRAHI, DIANE D
• Application Number:
  US11/513,616
• Publication Number:
  US 20080057890A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,504 Days
• Field of Search: 455/410, 455/411, 455/414.2, 455/415, 455/421, 455/556.2, 455/557, 455/41.2, 455/41.3, 370/310, 370/338, 701/33, 701/115, 710/106, 711/162, 709/248, 725/62, 725/139, 725/810, 340/825.22, 340/825.72, 340/825.69
• US Class Current: 455/410
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/445 by mutual authentication, e.g. between devices or programs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2129 Authenticate client device independently of the user
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/50 Secure pairing of devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

Techniques that facilitate pairing of wireless accessory devices with wireless host devices are disclosed. Advantageously, the improved techniques permit pairing of wireless devices without requiring user entry of pin codes. In one embodiment, a wireless accessory device, such as a headset or earphone, can be paired with a wireless host device, such as a mobile phone or media player.

Claims

1. A method for securely pairing a wireless electronic accessory device with a wireless portable electronic device, said method comprising:

(a) receiving at the wireless portable electronic device a pairing request from the wireless electronic accessory device, the manufacturer of the wireless portable electronic device being different than the manufacturer of the wireless electronic accessory device;

(b) selecting a set of potential pin codes for the wireless electronic accessory device by the wireless portable electronic device from an electronic data storage device within the wireless portable electronic device;

(c) sending from the wireless portable electronic device a first pairing request to the wireless electronic accessory device using a first potential pin code in the selected set of potential pin codes;

(d) sending from the wireless portable electronic device a second pairing request to the wireless electronic accessory device using a second potential pin code in the selected set of potential pin codes when the first potential pin code does not match an actual pin code required by the wireless electronic accessory device; and

(e) receiving a response at the wireless portable electronic device from the wireless electronic accessory device confirming successful pairing when the first or second potential pin code matches the actual pin code required by the wireless electronic accessory device.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

(f) prompting a user of the wireless portable electronic device to enter an alternative pin code when the first and second potential pin codes do not match the actual pin code required by the wireless electronic accessory device.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

selecting the set of potential pin codes based on a device type or a manufacturer of the wireless electronic accessory device.

4. The method as recited in claim 3 wherein the set of potential pin codes are selected from a plurality of pin codes that have been pre-stored in the electronic data storage device within the wireless portable electronic device.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

storing a plurality of potential pin codes organized based on a manufacturer or a device type in a database in the electronic data storage device within the wireless portable electronic device.

6. The method as recited in claim 5, further comprising:

selecting the set of potential pin codes by accessing the database within the wireless portable electronic device based on a device type or a manufacturer of the wireless electronic accessory device.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

storing a reference to the actual pin code in the electronic data storage device within the wireless portable electronic device when the first of second potential pin code matches the actual pin code required by the wireless electronic accessory device.

8. The method of pairing recited in claim 1, wherein the wireless portable electronic device does not have a physical alphanumeric keyboard input.

9. A method for securely pairing a wireless electronic accessory device with a wireless portable electronic device, said method comprising:

(a) receiving at the wireless portable electronic device a pairing request from the wireless electronic accessory device;

(b) selecting a set of potential pin codes for the wireless electronic accessory device from an electronic data storage device external to the wireless electronic accessory device;

(c) sending from the wireless portable electronic device a pairing request to the wireless electronic accessory device using one of the potential pin codes in the set of potential pin codes;

(d) repeating said sending (c) using another one of the potential pin codes in the set of potential pin codes when the one of the potential pin codes being used does not match the actual pin code required by the wireless electronic accessory device; and

(e) receiving a response at the wireless portable electronic device from the wireless electronic accessory device confirming successful pairing when one of the potential pin codes matches the actual pin code required by the wireless electronic accessory device.

10. The method as recited in claim 9,

wherein the set of potential pin codes are selected based on a device type or a manufacturer of the wireless electronic accessory device.

11. The method as recited in claim 9,

wherein the electronic data storage device stores a plurality of potential pin codes organized based on a manufacturer or a device type.

12. The method as recited in claim 11,

wherein the electronic data storage device storing the plurality of pin codes is a database.

13. The method as recited in claim 12,

wherein selecting the set of pin codes includes accessing the database based on a device type or a manufacturer of the wireless electronic accessory device.

14. The method as recited in claim 9, further comprising:

(f) prompting a user of the wireless portable electronic device to enter an alternative pin code when none of the potential pin codes match the actual pin code required by the wireless electronic accessory device.

15. The method as recited in claim 14, further comprising:

(g) storing the entered alternative pin code at the wireless portable electronic device or the wireless electronic accessory device.

16. The method as recited in claim 9,

wherein the manufacturer of the wireless portable electronic device differs from the manufacturer of the wireless electronic accessory device.

17. The method as recited in claim 9, further comprising:

(f) storing a reference to the actual pin code in the electronic data storage device when the one of the potential pin codes matches the actual pin code required by the wireless electronic accessory device.

18. The method as recited in claim 9,

wherein the wireless portable electronic device is at least one of a mobile communication device and a portable media player.

19. The method of pairing recited in claim 9, wherein the wireless portable electronic device does not have a physical alphanumeric keyboard input.

20. The method as recited in claim 9,

wherein repeating said sending (c) using another one of the potential pin codes in the set of potential pin codes is limited to a maximum number of attempts.

21. The method as recited in claim 20,

wherein the maximum number of attempts is based on a manufacturer or a device type.

22. A portable electronic device, comprising:

a memory for storing data and a pin code database for storing a plurality of potential pin codes for wireless companion devices of a plurality of different manufacturers; and

a controller for operating said portable electronic device, the operating including pairing securely a wireless companion device with the portable electronic device by,

receiving a pairing request from the wireless electronic companion device having a different manufacturer than the portable electronic device,

selecting a potential pin code for the wireless companion device by the portable electronic device from the pin code database;

sending from the portable electronic device, a pairing request to the wireless companion device using the selected potential pin code; and

receiving a response at the portable electronic device from the wireless companion device confirming successful pairing when the selected potential pin code matches the actual pin code required by the wireless companion device.

23. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 22,

wherein the operating further includes the controller repeating the sending using another potential pin code when the potential pin code being used does not match the actual pin code required by the wireless companion device.

24. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 22 further comprising:

a graphical user interface, the graphical user interface including a menu item that on selection initiates a pairing operation.

25. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 22,

wherein the pin code database stores a plurality of pin codes organized based on a manufacturer or a device type.

26. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 22, the portable electronic device being at least one of a mobile communication device and a portable media player.

27. The portable electronic device of claim 22, wherein the portable electronic device does not have a physical alphanumeric keyboard input.

28. The portable electronic device of claim 22,

wherein the operating further includes the controller updating the pin code database in the portable electronic device by retrieving additional potential pin codes from a remote server.