Method and a system for establishing a communication channel between a predetermined number of selected devices and a device and a server arranged for use in the system

• US 8,498,392 B2
• Filed: 01/17/2011
• Issued: 07/30/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shenzhen TCL Creative Cloud Technology Co., Ltd. (TCL Technology Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Inventors: Wishart, Andrew Jonathan Miles
• Primary Examiner(s): TIEU, BINH KIEN
• Application Number:
  US13/520,937
• Publication Number:
  US 20130101104A1
• Time in Patent Office: 925 Days
• Field of Search: 379/93.02, 379/93.03, 379/114.14, 379/130, 379/142.05, 379/142.06, 379/142.17, 379/143, 379/145, 379/154, 379/155, 379/183, 379/184, 379/187, 379/188, 379/199, 379/207.11, 379/207.13, 379/211.01, 709/202, 709/203, 709/219, 709/227, 709/228, 709/229
• US Class Current: 379/142.05
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/561 Adding application-functional data or data for application control, e.g. adding metadata
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/564 Enhancement of application control based on intercepted application data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/28 Timers or timing mechanisms used in protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/665 by checking the validity of a code

Abstract

A method for establishing a communication channel (17) between a predetermined number of selected devices (3;5). Each of the devices has its own identity. The establishing of the communication channel is done by a pairing via a server (1). Said devices have a pairing operational mode and a communication operational mode. The method comprises the steps of: —setting each of the devices in the pairing operational mode, —agreeing on the choice of a pairing signal (19a;19b), —selecting the agreed upon pairing signal (19a) on each of the devices, which devices transmit their identity and the agreed upon pairing signal (19a) to the server (1), —if the server (1) in a predetermined time interval determines that more than the predetermined number of selected devices have transmitted the agreed upon pairing signal (19a; 19b) than repeating the above second and third steps, wherein a next pairing signal is agreed upon, until the server (1) determines that only the predetermined number of selected devices have transmitted an identical sequence of pairing signals (19a;19b), —establishing the communication channel (17) between the devices by the server (1), and —setting each of the devices in the communication operational mode. The achieved communication channel is very secure. A system comprises a server (1) and a predetermined number of selected devices (3;5), wherein during use a communication channel (17) between the first device (3) and the second device (5) is established via the server (1) according to the method of the invention.

Claims

1. A method for establishing a communication channel (17) between a predetermined number of selected devices (3;

5) each having its own identity, by pairing via a server (1), said devices each having a pairing operational mode and a communication operational mode, wherein the method comprises the steps of;

setting each of the devices in the pairing operational mode,

agreeing on the choice of a pairing signal (19a;

19b),

selecting the agreed upon pairing signal (19a) on each of the devices, which devices transmit their identity and the agreed upon pairing signal (19a) to the server (1),

repeating the above second and third steps, if the server (1) in a predetermined time interval in a predetermined time interval determines that more than the predetermined number of selected devices have transmitted the agreed upon pairing signal (19a;

19b), wherein a next pairing signal is agreed upon, until the server (1) determines that only the predetermined number of selected devices have transmitted an identical sequence of pairing signals (19a;

19b),

establishing the communication channel (17) between the devices by the server (1), and

setting each of the devices in the communication operational mode.

2. The method for establishing the communication channel (17) between the predetermined number of selected devices (3;

5) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the predetermined number of selected devices is two.

3. The method for establishing the communication channel (17) between the predetermined number of selected devices (3;

5) as claimed in claim 1, wherein agreeing on the choice of the pairing signal (19a;

19b) is done via a direct communication channel (15).

4. The method for establishing the communication channel (17) between the predetermined number of selected devices (3;

5) as claimed in claim 3, wherein, the direct communication channel (15) comprises a telephone or an e-mail communication channel.

6. The method for establishing the communication channel (17) between the predetermined number of selected devices (3;

5) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pairing signal (19a;

19b) represents an image.

7. A system comprising a server (1) and a predetermined number of selected devices (3;

5), wherein during use a communication channel (17) between the selected devices (3;

5) is established via the server (1) by the method as claimed in claim 1.

8. A device (3;

5) arranged for use, as one of the selected devices (3;

5), in the system according to claim 7.

9. A server (a) arranged for use in the system according to claim 7.

5. The method for establishing the communication channel (17) between the predetermined number of selected devices (3;

5) as claimed in claim wherein in the third step, the pairing signal (19a;

19b)) selected on the devices (3;

5) is offered by the server (1).