Device pairing via intermediary device

• US 8,676,119 B2
• Filed: 11/17/2010
• Issued: 03/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, L.L.C. (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, L.L.C. (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Levien, Royce A., Lord, Robert W., Malamud, Mark A., Rinaldo, Jr., John D., Cohen, Alexander J., Jung, Edward K. Y.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TUAN HOANG
• Application Number:
  US12/927,609
• Publication Number:
  US 20120096188A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,217 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.1, 455/41.2, 455/41.3, 455/410, 455/411, 455/420
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/08 User group management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/186 Processing of subscriber group data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A first device may include and/or involve at least one contact sensor, and logic to facilitate pairing between a second device and a third device as a result of contact between the contact sensor and at least one of the second and third devices.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

detecting touching of one or more portions of at least one first device with one or more portions of at least one second device; and

communicating pairing information from the at least one first device to the at least one second device at least partly in response to detecting touching of one or more portions of the at least one first device with one or more portions of the at least one second device to facilitate pairing of the at least one second device with at least one third device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the detecting touching of one or more portions of at least one first device with one or more portions of at least one second device comprises:

detecting multiple instances of contact of one or more portions of at least one first device with one or more portions of at least one second device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the detecting touching of one or more portions of at least one first device with one or more portions of at least one second device comprises:

detecting intensity of contact of one or more portions of at least one first device with one or more portions of at least one second device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the detecting touching of one or more portions of at least one first device with one or more portions of at least one second device comprises:

detecting manner of contact of one or more portions of at least one first device with one or more portions of at least one second device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the communicating pairing information from the at least one first device to the at least one second device at least partly in response to detecting touching of one or more portions of the at least one first device with one or more portions of the at least one second device to facilitate pairing of the at least one second device with at least one third device comprises:

communicating pairing information from the at least one first device to the at least one second device at least partly in response to detecting touching of one or more portions of the at least one first device with one or more portions of the at least one second device to facilitate substantially unrestricted pairing of the at least one second device with at least one third device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the communicating pairing information from the at least one first device to the at least one second device at least partly in response to detecting touching of one or more portions of the at least one first device with one or more portions of the at least one second device to facilitate pairing of the at least one second device with at least one third device comprises:

communicating pairing information from the at least one first device to the at least one second device via one or more points of contact at least partly in response to detecting touching of one or more portions of the at least one first device with one or more portions of the at least one second device to facilitate pairing of the at least one second device with at least one third device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the communicating pairing information from the at least one first device to the at least one second device at least partly in response to detecting touching of one or more portions of the at least one first device with one or more portions of the at least one second device to facilitate pairing of the at least one second device with at least one third device comprises:

wirelessly communicating pairing information from the at least one first device to the at least one second device at least partly in response to detecting touching of one or more portions of the at least one first device with one or more portions of the at least one second device to facilitate pairing of the at least one second device with at least one third device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the communicating pairing information from the at least one first device to the at least one second device at least partly in response to detecting touching of one or more portions of the at least one first device with one or more portions of the at least one second device to facilitate pairing of the at least one second device with at least one third device comprises:

communicating pairing information from the at least one first device to the at least one second device via one or more networks at least partly in response to detecting touching of one or more portions of the at least one first device with one or more portions of the at least one second device to facilitate pairing of the at least one second device with at least one third device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the communicating pairing information from the at least one first device to the at least one second device at least partly in response to detecting touching of one or more portions of the at least one first device with one or more portions of the at least one second device to facilitate pairing of the at least one second device with at least one third device comprises:

communicating pairing information from the at least one first device to the at least one second device during contact of one or more portions of the at least one first device with one or more portions of the at least one second device to facilitate pairing of the at least one second device with at least one third device.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

outputting at least some feedback information.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving one or more user inputs.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving authentication information.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the detecting touching of one or more portions of at least one first device with one or more portions of at least one second device comprises:

detecting one or more intervals between contact of one or more portions of at least one first device with one or more portions of at least one second device.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting proximity between the at least one second device and the at least one first device.

15. A system comprising:

circuitry for detecting touching of one or more portions of at least one first device with one or more portions of at least one second device; and

circuitry for communicating pairing information from the at least one first device to the at least one second device at least partly in response to detected touching of one or more portions of the at least one first device with one or more portions of the at least one second device to facilitate pairing of the at least one second device with at least one third device.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the circuitry for detecting touching of one or more portions of at least one first device with one or more portions of at least one second device comprises:

circuitry for detecting multiple instances of contact of one or more portions of at least one first device with one or more portions of at least one second device.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the circuitry for detecting touching of one or more portions of at least one first device with one or more portions of at least one second device comprises:

circuitry for detecting intensity of contact of one or more portions of at least one first device with one or more portions of at least one second device.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the circuitry for detecting touching of one or more portions of at least one first device with one or more portions of at least one second device comprises:

circuitry for detecting manner of contact of one or more portions of at least one first device with one or more portions of at least one second device.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the circuitry for communicating pairing information from the at least one first device to the at least one second device at least partly in response to detected touching of one or more portions of the at least one first device with one or more portions of the at least one second device to facilitate pairing of the at least one second device with at least one third device comprises:

circuitry for communicating pairing information from the at least one first device to the at least one second device at least partly in response to detected touching of one or more portions of the at least one first device with one or more portions of the at least one second device to facilitate substantially unrestricted pairing of the at least one second device with at least one third device.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the circuitry for communicating pairing information from the at least one first device to the at least one second device at least partly in response to detected touching of one or more portions of the at least one first device with one or more portions of the at least one second device to facilitate pairing of the at least one second device with at least one third device comprises:

circuitry for communicating pairing information from the at least one first device to the at least one second device via one or more points of contact at least partly in response to detected touching of one or more portions of the at least one first device with one or more portions of the at least one second device to facilitate pairing of the at least one second device with at least one third device.

21. The system of claim 15, wherein the circuitry for communicating pairing information from the at least one first device to the at least one second device at least partly in response to detected touching of one or more portions of the at least one first device with one or more portions of the at least one second device to facilitate pairing of the at least one second device with at least one third device comprises:

circuitry for wirelessly communicating pairing information from the at least one first device to the at least one second device at least partly in response to detected touching of one or more portions of the at least one first device with one or more portions of the at least one second device to facilitate pairing of the at least one second device with at least one third device.

22. The system of claim 15, wherein the circuitry for communicating pairing information from the at least one first device to the at least one second device at least partly in response to detected touching of one or more portions of the at least one first device with one or more portions of the at least one second device to facilitate pairing of the at least one second device with at least one third device comprises:

circuitry for communicating pairing information from the at least one first device to the at least one second device via one or more networks at least partly in response to detected touching of one or more portions of the at least one first device with one or more portions of the at least one second device to facilitate pairing of the at least one second device with at least one third device.

23. The system of claim 15, wherein the circuitry for communicating pairing information from the at least one first device to the at least one second device at least partly in response to detected touching of one or more portions of the at least one first device with one or more portions of the at least one second device to facilitate pairing of the at least one second device with at least one third device comprises:

circuitry for communicating pairing information from the at least one first device to the at least one second device during contact of one or more portions of the at least one first device with one or more portions of the at least one second device to facilitate pairing of the at least one second device with at least one third device.

24. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

circuitry for outputting at least some feedback information.

25. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

circuitry for receiving at least some user input.

26. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

circuitry for receiving authentication information.

27. The system of claim 15, wherein the circuitry for detecting touching of one or more portions of at least one first device with one or more portions of at least one second device comprises:

circuitry for detecting one or more intervals between contact of one or more portions of at least one first device with one or more portions of at least one second device.

28. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

circuitry for detecting proximity between the at least one second device and the at least one first device.

29. The system of claim 15, wherein the circuitry for detecting touching of one or more portions of at least one first device with one or more portions of at least one second device comprises:

circuitry for detecting relative motion of contact of one or more portions of at least one first device with one or more portions of at least one second device.

30. The system of claim 15, wherein the circuitry for detecting touching of one or more portions of at least one first device with one or more portions of at least one second device comprises:

circuitry for detecting duration of contact of one or more portions of at least one first device with one or more portions of at least one second device.

31. The system of claim 15, wherein at least one of the circuitry for detecting and the circuitry for communicating are at least partly included within the at least one first device, the at least one second device, the at least one third device, and/or at least one other device.

32. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

circuitry for storing pairing information.

33. The system of claim 15, wherein the circuitry for detecting touching of one or more portions of at least one first device with one or more portions of at least one second device comprises:

circuitry for detecting touching of one or more portions of at least one first device with one or more portions of at least one second device, wherein at least one of the at least one first device and the at least one second device are one or more of the following;

camera, wireless telephone, medallion, wearable item, headphones, telephone, telephone base station, personal digital assistant, laptop computer, palmtop computer, desktop computer, and/or server.

34. The system of claim 15, wherein the circuitry for communicating pairing information from the at least one first device to the at least one second device at least partly in response to detected touching of one or more portions of the at least one first device with one or more portions of the at least one second device to facilitate pairing of the at least one second device with at least one third device comprises:

circuitry for communicating pairing information from the at least one first device to the at least one second device at least partly in response to detected touching of one or more portions of the at least one first device with one or more portions of the at least one second device to facilitate pairing of the at least one second device with at least one third device at least partly using at least one fourth device.

35. The system of claim 15, wherein the circuitry for communicating pairing information from the at least one first device to the at least one second device at least partly in response to detected touching of one or more portions of the at least one first device with one or more portions of the at least one second device to facilitate pairing of the at least one second device with at least one third device comprises:

circuitry for communicating pairing information from the at least one first device to the at least one second device at least partly in response to detected intensity of touching of at least one specified force of one or more portions of the at least one first device with one or more portions of the at least one second device to facilitate pairing of the at least one second device with at least one third device.

36. The system of claim 15, wherein the circuitry for communicating pairing information from the at least one first device to the at least one second device at least partly in response to detected touching of one or more portions of the at least one first device with one or more portions of the at least one second device to facilitate pairing of the at least one second device with at least one third device comprises:

circuitry for communicating pairing information from the at least one first device to the at least one second device at least partly in response to detected touching of one or more portions of the at least one first device with one or more portions of the at least one second device to facilitate pairing of the at least one second device with at least one third device at least partly using one or more of the following types of input;

password input and/or biometric input.

37. The system of claim 15, wherein the circuitry for communicating pairing information from the at least one first device to the at least one second device at least partly in response to detected touching of one or more portions of the at least one first device with one or more portions of the at least one second device to facilitate pairing of the at least one second device with at least one third device comprises:

circuitry for communicating pairing information from the at least one first device to the at least one second device after contact has ended at least partly in response to detected touching of one or more portions of the at least one first device with one or more portions of the at least one second device to facilitate pairing of the at least one second device with at least one third device.

38. The system of claim 15, wherein the circuitry for communicating pairing information from the at least one first device to the at least one second device at least partly in response to detected touching of one or more portions of the at least one first device with one or more portions of the at least one second device to facilitate pairing of the at least one second device with at least one third device comprises:

circuitry for communicating at least one of the following types of pairing information from the at least one first device to the at least one second device at least partly in response to detected touching of one or more portions of the at least one first device with one or more portions of the at least one second device to facilitate pairing of the at least one second device with at least one third device;

device authentication information, user authentication information, device authorization information, and/or user authorization information.

39. The system of claim 15, wherein the circuitry for communicating pairing information from the at least one first device to the at least one second device at least partly in response to detected touching of one or more portions of the at least one first device with one or more portions of the at least one second device to facilitate pairing of the at least one second device with at least one third device comprises:

circuitry for communicating pairing information from the at least one first device to the at least one second device at least partly in response to detected touching of one or more portions of the at least one first device with one or more portions of the at least one second device to facilitate pairing of the at least one second device with at least one of the following types of third devices;

camera, wireless telephone, medallion, wearable item, headphones, telephone, telephone base station, personal digital assistant, laptop computer, palmtop computer, desktop computer, and/or server.

40. The system of claim 15, wherein the circuitry for communicating pairing information from the at least one first device to the at least one second device at least partly in response to detected touching of one or more portions of the at least one first device with one or more portions of the at least one second device to facilitate pairing of the at least one second device with at least one third device comprises:

circuitry for communicating pairing information from the at least one first device to the at least one second device at least partly in response to detected touching of one or more portions of the at least one first device with one or more portions of the at least one second device to facilitate one or more of the following types of operations between the at least one second device and at least one third device;

communicating device authentication information, communicating user authentication information, communicating device authorization information, communicating user authorization information, placing call, transferring file, sending message, performing backup, communicating information, identifying device, identifying device characteristic, identifying device feature, identifying device function, identifying person, accessing information, configuring device, accomplishing commercial transaction, accomplishing task, and/or accomplishing function.

41. A device comprising:

circuitry for detecting touching of one or more portions of the device with one or more portions of at least one second device; and

circuitry for communicating pairing information to the at least one second device at least partly in response to detected touching of one or more portions of the device with one or more portions of the at least one second device to facilitate pairing of the at least one second device with at least one third device.

42. The device of claim 41, wherein the circuitry for detecting touching of one or more portions of the device with one or more portions of at least one second device comprises:

circuitry for detecting multiple instances of contact of one or more portions of the device with one or more portions of at least one second device.

43. The device of claim 41, wherein the circuitry for detecting touching of one or more portions of the device with one or more portions of at least one second device comprises:

circuitry for detecting at least one intensity of contact of one or more portions of the device with one or more portions of at least one second device.

44. The device of claim 41, wherein the circuitry for detecting touching of one or more portions of the device with one or more portions of at least one second device comprises:

circuitry for detecting at least one manner of contact of one or more portions of the device with one or more portions of at least one second device.

45. The device of claim 41, wherein the circuitry for detecting touching of one or more portions of the device with one or more portions of at least one second device comprises:

circuitry for detecting touching of one or more contact areas of the device with one or more portions of at least one second device.

46. The device of claim 41, wherein the circuitry for communicating pairing information to the at least one second device at least partly in response to detected touching of one or more portions of the device with one or more portions of the at least one second device to facilitate pairing of the at least one second device with at least one third device comprises:

circuitry for communicating pairing information to the at least one second device at least partly in response to detected touching of one or more portions of the device with one or more portions of the at least one second device to facilitate substantially unrestricted pairing of the at least one second device with at least one third device.

47. The device of claim 41, wherein the circuitry for communicating pairing information to the at least one second device at least partly in response to detected touching of one or more portions of the device with one or more portions of the at least one second device to facilitate pairing of the at least one second device with at least one third device comprises:

circuitry for communicating pairing information to the at least one second device via one or more points of contact at least partly in response to detected touching of one or more portions of the device with one or more portions of the at least one second device to facilitate pairing of the at least one second device with at least one third device.

48. The device of claim 41, wherein the circuitry for communicating pairing information to the at least one second device at least partly in response to detected touching of one or more portions of the device with one or more portions of the at least one second device to facilitate pairing of the at least one second device with at least one third device comprises:

circuitry for wirelessly communicating pairing information to the at least one second device at least partly in response to detected touching of one or more portions of the device with one or more portions of the at least one second device to facilitate pairing of the at least one second device with at least one third device.

49. The device of claim 41, wherein the circuitry for communicating pairing information to the at least one second device at least partly in response to detected touching of one or more portions of the device with one or more portions of the at least one second device to facilitate pairing of the at least one second device with at least one third device comprises:

circuitry for communicating pairing information to the at least one second device via one or more networks at least partly in response to detected touching of one or more portions of the device with one or more portions of the at least one second device to facilitate pairing of the at least one second device with at least one third device.

50. The device of claim 41, wherein the circuitry for communicating pairing information to the at least one second device at least partly in response to detected touching of one or more portions of the device with one or more portions of the at least one second device to facilitate pairing of the at least one second device with at least one third device comprises:

circuitry for communicating pairing information to the at least one second device during contact of one or more portions of the device with one or more portions of the at least one second device to facilitate pairing of the at least one second device with at least one third device.

51. The device of claim 41, further comprising:

circuitry for receiving at least some pairing information from the at least one second device.

52. The device of claim 41, further comprising:

circuitry for outputting at least some feedback information.

53. The device of claim 41, further comprising:

circuitry for receiving at least some user input.

54. The device of claim 41, further comprising:

circuitry for receiving authentication information.

55. The device of claim 41, wherein the circuitry for detecting touching of one or more portions of the device with one or more portions of at least one second device comprises:

circuitry for detecting one or more intervals between contact of one or more portions of the device with one or more portions of at least one second device.

56. The device of claim 41, further comprising:

circuitry for detecting proximity with the at least one second device.

57. A system comprising:

means for detecting touching of one or more portions of at least one first device with one or more portions of at least one second device; and

means for communicating pairing information from the at least one first device to the at least one second device at least partly in response to detected touching of one or more portions of the at least one first device with one or more portions of the at least one second device to facilitate pairing of the at least one second device with at least one third device.

58. A system comprising:

one or more non-transitory media bearing one or more instructions for facilitating operations including at least;

detecting touching of one or more portions of at least one first device with one or more portions of at least one second device; and

communicating pairing information from the at least one first device to the at least one second device at least partly in response to touching of one or more portions of the at least one first device with one or more portions of the at least one second device to facilitate pairing of the at least one second device with at least one third device.