Sonic fast-sync system and method for bluetooth

• US 8,711,656 B1
• Filed: 11/09/2010
• Issued: 04/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Verifone, Inc. (Verifone Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verifone Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Paulson, Brett
• Primary Examiner(s): Alsomiri, Isam
• Assistant Examiner(s): HULKA, JAMES R
• Application Number:
  US12/942,996
• Time in Patent Office: 1,267 Days
• Field of Search: 367/135
• US Class Current: 367/135
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 11/00 Transmission systems employing sonic, ultrasonic or infrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2603 Arrangements for wireless physical layer control H04B7/2612 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/10 Frequency-modulated carrier systems, i.e. using frequency-shift keying H04L27/32 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/0866 using a dedicated channel for access
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A method, apparatus and computer program product for fast-synching a wireless Bluetooth connection using a first device'"'"'s wireless identifier is provided. One implementation of the present invention modulates the wireless identifier as a sonic Bluetooth code over a sonic carrier signal. To send the wireless identifier, one implementation accesses a storage area associated with the first wireless device holding the sonic carrier signal. Aspects of the invention then transmit the sonic Bluetooth code as modulated over the sonic carrier signal. A sonic transducer, such as a microphone on the second wireless device, receives the sonic carrier signal and wireless identifier for demodulation. In response, the second wireless device requests to establish a physical channel with the first wireless device using the wireless identifier received over the sonic carrier signal.

Claims

1. A processor implemented method of providing a wireless identifier that identifies a first wireless device, comprising:

associating a wireless identifier with a first wireless devices that identifies the first wireless device and facilitates establishing communication with a second wireless device in accordance with a challenge-response protocol;

modulating at least the wireless identifier associated with the first wireless device as a sonic code over a sonic carrier signal to be transmitted as sound; and

storing a representation of the sonic carrier signal in a storage area associated with the first wireless device configured to transmit the sonic carrier signal carrying the sonic code when the sonic carrier signal is processed as part of the challenge-response protocol.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the wireless identifier is a media access control (MAC) address associated with the first wireless device.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the first wireless device is selected from a set of wireless devices including:

a computer, a wireless phone device, a television, a display device, a picture frame, an electronic billboard and a medical device.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the first wireless device is selected from a set of wireless devices including:

a monaural headset, a stereo headset, a mobile speakerphone that may be used in a car and a non-mobile speakerphone integrated into a car.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein modulating the data over the sonic carrier signal further comprises:

encoding the data over one or more frequencies of the sonic carrier signal in accordance with a frequency-shift keying (FSK) protocol.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising creating a wireless profile on a server configured to access one or more custom features associated with the first wireless device selected from a set of custom features including:

ringtones, screen savers, credits associated with loyalty programs and coupons.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising creating a wireless profile on a server that includes an authentication key associated with the first wireless device and is used to authenticate the first wireless device and a second wireless device in accordance with the challenge-response protocol.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein storing the representation of the sonic carrier signal, further comprises:

identifying a storage area associated with the first wireless device capable of storing the sonic carrier signal; and

writing the sonic carrier signal having the sonic code into the storage area for subsequent access during transmission of the sonic code.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the sonic code may be encoded to also include additional data selected from a set including:

an authentication key and a link key.

10. A computer program product for providing a wireless identifier that identifies a first wireless device, tangibly stored on a computer readable medium, comprising instructions operable to cause a programmable processor to:

associate a wireless identifier with a first wireless devices that identifies the first wireless device and facilitates establishing communication with a second wireless device in accordance with a challenge-response protocol;

modulate at least the wireless identifier associated with the first wireless device as a sonic code over a sonic carrier signal to be transmitted as sound; and

store a representation of the sonic carrier signal in a storage area associated with the first wireless device configured to transmit the sonic carrier signal carrying the sonic code when the sonic carrier signal is processed as part of the challenge-response protocol.