System and method for pairing hand-held devices utilizing a front-facing camera

• US 8,405,729 B2
• Filed: 05/11/2011
• Issued: 03/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Mobile Communications Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Mobile Communications AB (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Jain, Ankur
• Primary Examiner(s): GILES, NICHOLAS G
• Application Number:
  US13/105,088
• Publication Number:
  US 20120287290A1
• Time in Patent Office: 685 Days
• Field of Search: 348/207.99, 348/207.1, 348/211.99, 348/211.1, 348/222.1, 348/211.2, 348/333.01, 348/333.02, 348/333.05, 348/333.11
• US Class Current: 348/207.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1095 the scanner comprising adaptations for scanning a record carrier that is displayed on a display-screen or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/18 using different networks or channels, e.g. using out of band channels cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key distribution involving distinctive intermediate devices or communication paths H04L9/0827; cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for authentication using a plurality of channels H04L9/3215
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/52 including functional features of a camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/64 file transfer between terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00217 only involving computer data transmission protocols, e.g. SMTP, WAP or HTTP communication protocol aspects and techniques in packet data networks H04L69/00; network-specific arrangements or communication protocols supporting networked applications H04L67/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00307 with a mobile telephone apparatus constructional features of portable telephone sets H04M1/0202; mobile radio systems H04W84/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4222 Remote control device emulator integrated into a non-television apparatus, e.g. a PDA, media center or smart toy remote control device for a television receiver integrated into a mobile phone H04M1/72415
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4367 Establishing a secure communication between the client and a peripheral device or smart card
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 Digital still camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/50 Secure pairing of devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/65 Environment-dependent, e.g. using captured environmental data

Abstract

A hand-held wireless communications device includes a camera integrated within a housing of the wireless communications device, a front-facing lens assembly to focus light onto the camera, a display, and a controller connected to the camera and the display. The controller controls the camera to capture an image of another device that is in front of its display. The device can then analyze the image to extract information specific to the other device, and utilize that information to identify and authenticate the other device. Once identified and authenticated, the devices are able to share data and information with each other.

Claims

1. A method of pairing a first camera-equipped wireless communications device with a second camera-equipped wireless communications device, each device facing the other and having a front-facing camera lens, the method comprising:

capturing, at the first wireless communications device, an image of a graphical indicator displayed on a display of the second wireless communications device, wherein capturing the image of the graphical indicator comprises;

controlling a camera at the first wireless communications device to capture an image of a display screen of the second wireless communications device at predetermined time intervals;

determining whether the graphical indicator is included in the captured image; and

increasing the time interval length if the captured image does not contain the graphical indicator;

analyzing the graphical indicator in the captured image; and

pairing the first and second wireless communications devices for communications based on the analysis.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein if the graphical indicator is in the captured image, the method further comprises:

comparing information associated with the graphical indicator in the captured image to corresponding information stored in a memory; and

identifying and authenticating the second wireless communications device based on the results of the comparison.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the graphical indicator in the captured image comprises a graphical icon associated with the second wireless communications device.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the information associated with the graphical indicator comprises data encoded into the graphical indicator.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining a predefined type of interaction to occur between the first and second wireless communications devices based on the analysis.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the predefined type of interaction comprises sharing data between the first and second wireless communications devices.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the predefined type of interaction comprises transferring one or more components of a game application from one of the first and second wireless communications devices to the other of the first and second communications devices.

8. The method of claim 5 wherein the predefined type of interaction comprises communicating commands from one of the first and second wireless communications devices to control one or more functions at the other of the first and second communications devices.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising generating, at the first wireless communications device, a local graphical indicator to appear on a display of the first wireless communications device.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising generating the local graphical indicator based on data that can be used to identify and authenticate the first wireless communications device to the second wireless communications device.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein pairing the first and second wireless communications devices based on the analysis comprises pairing the first and second wireless communications devices based on the content of an application executing on one or both of the first and second wireless communications devices.

12. A hand-held wireless communications device comprising:

a camera integrated within a housing of the hand-held wireless communications device;

a front-facing lens assembly to focus light onto the camera;

a display; and

a controller connected to the camera and the display and configured to;

control the camera to capture an image of a graphical indicator displayed on a display of a remote wireless communications device at predetermined time intervals;

determine whether the graphical indicator displayed on the display of the remote wireless communications device is included in the captured image;

increase the time interval length if the captured image does not contain the graphical indicator;

analyze the captured image of the graphical indicator displayed by the remote wireless communications device; and

pair the hand-held wireless communications device and the remote wireless communications device for communications based on the analysis.

13. The device of claim 12 wherein if the graphical indicator is included in the captured image, the controller is further configured to:

compare information associated with the graphical indicator in the captured image to corresponding information stored in a memory; and

identify and authenticate the remote device based on the results of the comparison.

14. The device of claim 13 wherein the graphical indicator in the captured image comprises an avatar associated with a game application being executed by the remote wireless communications device.

15. The device of claim 13 wherein the information associated with the graphical indicator comprises encoded data.

16. The device of claim 12 wherein the controller is further configured to determine a predefined type of interaction to occur between the hand-held wireless communications device and the remote wireless communications device based on the analysis.

17. The device of claim 16 wherein the predefined type of interaction comprises sharing data between the wireless communications devices.

18. The device of claim 16 wherein the predefined type of interaction comprises transferring one or more components of a game application from one of the wireless communications devices to the other of the wireless communications devices.

19. The device of claim 16 wherein the predefined type of interaction comprises communicating commands from one of the wireless communications devices to control one or more functions at the other of the wireless communications devices.

20. The device of claim 12 wherein the controller is further configured to generate a local graphical indicator to appear on a display of the hand-held wireless communications device.

21. The device of claim 20 wherein the controller is further configured to generate the local graphical indicator based on data that can be used to identify and authenticate the hand-held wireless communications device to the remote wireless communications device.

22. The device of claim 12 wherein the controller is further configured to pair the wireless communications devices based on the content of an application executing on one or both of the wireless communications devices.