Methods and devices for automatic multiple pairing of Bluetooth devices

• US 8,295,766 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2007
• Issued: 10/23/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola Mobility LLC (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Zimbric, Frederick J., Walsh, Michael G., Adams, Mark Graham Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ghebretinsae, Temesgh
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tsvey, Gennadiy
• Application Number:
  US11/848,883
• Publication Number:
  US 20090061769A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,880 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.2, 455/569.1, 455/557
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• 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: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

The described methods and devices provide a more user-friendly solution to the problem of pairing and connecting multiple devices to a Bluetooth accessory. The paired device list of the Bluetooth accessory is check to determine the most recently paired devices having particular Bluetooth profiles, for example, a hands free profile (HFP) or an advanced audio distribution profile (A2DP). The accessory attempts connection with the devices, if found. Otherwise the accessory continues connection attempts with devices on the paired device list, according to the connection recency, until the accessory has two connections with different profiles. If no connections are made, or the paired device list is empty, the device enters discoverable mode. In this manner a more user-friendly solution to the problem of pairing a Bluetooth accessory to multiple Bluetooth devices is provided.

Claims

1. A method in an accessory Bluetooth-enabled device having a memory configured to store a paired device list of listed Bluetooth-enabled devices, the method comprising:

powering up the accessory Bluetooth device;

determining whether there is more than one listed Bluetooth enabled device having a first profile in the paired device list;

determining a last-connected listed Bluetooth-enabled device of the first profile type if there is more than one listed Bluetooth-enabled device having the first profile in the paired device list;

searching to find the last-connected listed Bluetooth-enabled device having the first profile;

attempting to establish a connection between the accessory Bluetooth-enabled device and the last-connected listed Bluetooth-enabled device of the first profile type if the last-connected listed Bluetooth-enabled device of the first profile type is found;

determining whether there is more than one listed Bluetooth enabled devices having a second profile in the paired device list;

determining a last-connected listed Bluetooth-enabled device of the second profile type if there is more than one listed Bluetooth-enabled device having the second profile in the paired device;

searching to find the last-connected listed Bluetooth-enabled device having the second profile;

attempting to establish a connection between the accessory Bluetooth-enabled device and the last-connected listed Bluetooth-enabled device of the second profile type if the last-connected listed Bluetooth-enabled device of the second profile type is found;

searching for next-to-the-last connected listed Bluetooth-enabled device of at least one of the first profile type and the second profile type in the paired device list based on a recency of connection if the last-connected listed Bluetooth-enabled device of that profile type is not found; and

placing the accessory Bluetooth device in discoverable mode if no connection is made with listed Bluetooth-enabled devices in the paired device list;

wherein the accessory-enabled device is automatically paired to a multiple number of Bluetooth-enabled devices having at least the first profile type and the second profile type after powering up.

2. A method in a Bluetooth-enabled device having a memory configured to store a paired device list configured to include a plurality of paired devices, the method comprising:

powering up the Bluetooth device;

determining whether there is more than one listed Bluetooth enabled devices having a hands free profile (HFP) in the paired device list;

determining a last-connected HFP device if there are more than one HFP devices in the paired device list;

searching to find the last-connected HFP device;

attempting to establish a connection between the Bluetooth device and the last-connected HFP device if the last-connected HFP device is found;

determining whether there is more than one listed Bluetooth enabled device having a stand-alone advanced audio distribution profile (A2DP) in the paired device list;

determining a last-connected stand-alone A2DP device in the paired device;

searching to find the last-connected stand-alone A2DP device;

attempting to establish an A2DP connection between the Bluetooth device and the connected HFP device if the connected HFP device supports A2DP;

searching for next-to-the-last connected HFP and A2DP devices in the paired device list based on a recency of connection with other HFP and A2DP devices in the paired device list if the last-connected HFP device and the last-connected A2DP device are not found; and

placing the Bluetooth device in discoverable mode if no connection is made with any other HFP or A2DP devices in the paired device list;

wherein the Bluetooth device is automatically paired to and establishes a connection with the HFP device if found and the A2DP device if found, after powering up.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

establishing a connection between the Bluetooth device and the last-connected HFP device.

4. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

establishing a connection between the Bluetooth device and at least one of the last-connected HFP device and another HFP device that is in the paired device list.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

attempting to establish an A2DP connection between the Bluetooth device and the connected HFP device if the connected HFP device supports A2DP as a second profile and if there is no connection made to a stand-alone A2DP device.

6. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

attempting to establish a connection between the Bluetooth device and the last-connected stand-alone A2DP device if the last-connected stand-alone A2DP device is found.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

establishing a connection between the Bluetooth device and the last-connected stand-alone A2DP device.

8. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

attempting to establish an HFP connection between the Bluetooth device and the next-to-the-last connected HFP device if the last-connected HFP device is not found.

9. A Bluetooth-enabled device, comprising:

a power source;

a controller coupled to the power source;

an interface for the power source, configured to activate the power source and coupled to the controller;

a Bluetooth transceiver coupled to the controller;

a memory configured to store a paired device list configured to include a plurality of paired devices;

a plurality of modules stored in memory in communication with the controller;

an HFP determining module configured to determine whether there is more than one listed Bluetooth enabled device having a hands free profile (HFP) in the paired device list and further configured, upon activation of the power source, to determine a last-connected HFP device if there are more than one HFP devices in the paired device list;

an HFP transmitting module configured to generate a command so that the Bluetooth transceiver transmits a signal configured to search to find the last-connected HFP device;

an HFP signaling module configured to attempt to establish a connection between the Bluetooth device and the last-connected HFP device if the last-connected HFP device is found;

an A2DP determining module configured to determine whether there is more than one listed Bluetooth enabled device having a stand-alone advanced audio distribution profile (A2DP) in the paired device list and further configured to determine a last-connected stand-alone A2DP device in the paired device;

an A2DP transmitting module configured to generate a command so that the Bluetooth transceiver transmits a signal configured to search to find the last-connected A2DP device; and

an A2DP signaling module configured to attempt to establish a connection between the Bluetooth device and the last-connected stand-alone A2DP device if the last-connected stand-alone A2DP device is found,

wherein the HFP signaling module and the A2DP transmitting module are configured to search for next-to-the-last connected HFP and A2DP devices in the paired device list based on a recency of connection with other HFP and A2DP devices in the paired device list if the last-connected HFP device and the last-connected A2DP device are not found and place the Bluetooth device in discoverable mode if no connection is made with any other HFP or A2DP devices in the paired device list.

10. The device of claim 9 further comprising:

an HFP connection module configured to establish a connection between the Bluetooth device and at least one of the last-connected HFP device and another HFP device that is in the paired device list.

11. The device of claim 9 wherein A2DP signaling module configured to attempt to establish an A2DP connection between the Bluetooth device and the connected HFP device if the connected HFP device supports A2DP as a second profile and if there is no connection made to a stand-alone A2DP device.

12. The device of claim 9 further comprising:

an A2DP connection module configured to establish a connection between the Bluetooth device and the last-connected stand-alone A2DP device.

13. The device of claim 9 wherein the device is one of a Bluetooth-enabled headset, a Bluetooth-enabled car kit, a Bluetooth-enabled adapter configured for portable devices, home entertainment devices, or personal computers, and a Bluetooth-enabled computer speaker system.