Smart pairing using bluetooth technology

• US 9,191,988 B2
• Filed: 05/26/2012
• Issued: 11/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Newham, Adam E.
• Primary Examiner(s): WEST, LEWIS G
• Application Number:
  US13/481,829
• Publication Number:
  US 20130316649A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,270 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.2, 455/41.3
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0281 Proxies
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/50 Secure pairing of devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user

Abstract

Various embodiments provide systems and methods among wireless nodes in a wireless communication network that enable pairing a third-party device to all wireless devices of a composite electronic device in a single user step. A first wireless node may negotiate a first wireless pairing with third-party device for a second wireless node, and pairing information may be relayed to the second wireless node to enable the second wireless node to communicate with the third-party device as if the second wireless node had itself directly negotiated the wireless pairing.

Claims

1. A method for pairing one or more wireless nodes with a source device in a wireless communication network, comprising:

negotiating, between a first wireless node and the source device, a completed wireless pairing sequence with the source device on behalf of a second wireless node; and

relaying pairing information relating to the completed wireless pairing sequence from the first wireless node to the second wireless node, wherein the relayed pairing information enables the second wireless node to communicate with the source device as if the second wireless node had directly negotiated the completed wireless pairing sequence with the source device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

establishing a wireless communications link between the second wireless node and the source device using the relayed pairing information.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein negotiating a completed wireless pairing sequence with the source device on behalf of a second wireless node comprises:

the first wireless node identifying itself to the source device as being the second wireless node; and

the first wireless node negotiating the completed wireless pairing sequence with the source device as if the first wireless node were the second wireless node.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein negotiating a completed wireless pairing sequence with the source device on behalf of a second wireless node comprises:

the first wireless node transmitting to the source device a data structure identifying a plurality of wireless nodes including the second wireless node;

the first wireless node receiving pairing information for each of the plurality of wireless nodes identified in the data structure; and

the first wireless node transmitting to each of the plurality of wireless nodes identified in the data structure its respective pairing information.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising the first wireless node and the source device cooperating in negotiating pairing information for each of the plurality of wireless nodes identified in the data structure.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein negotiating a completed wireless pairing sequence with the source device on behalf of a second wireless node comprises negotiating a completed Bluetooth®

wireless pairing sequence.

7. A method for pairing one or more wireless nodes with a source device in a wireless communication network, comprising:

negotiating, between a first wireless node and the source device, a completed wireless pairing with the source device on behalf of a second wireless node; and

relaying pairing information relating to the completed wireless pairing from the first wireless node to the second wireless node, wherein the relayed pairing information enables the second wireless node to communicate with the source device as if the second wireless node had directly negotiated the completed wireless pairing with the source device;

wherein the first wireless node is a Bluetooth®

-enabled wrist display and the source device is a Bluetooth®

-enabled mobile phone;

wherein the second wireless node is a Bluetooth®

-enabled wireless earpiece.

8. A computing device, comprising:

a processor configured with processor-executable instructions to;

negotiate, by the computing device, a completed wireless pairing sequence with a source device on behalf of a wireless node; and

relay, by the computing device, after negotiating the wireless pairing sequence to completion with the source device on behalf of the wireless node, pairing information relating to the completed wireless pairing sequence to the wireless node, the relayed pairing information including information enabling the wireless node to communicate with the source device as if the wireless node had directly negotiated the completed wireless pairing sequence with the source device.

9. The computing device of claim 8, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions such that negotiating a completed wireless pairing sequence with a source device on behalf of a wireless node comprises:

identifying the computing device to the source device as being the wireless node; and

negotiating the completed wireless pairing sequence with the source device as if the computing device were the wireless node.

10. The computing device of claim 8, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions such that negotiating a completed wireless pairing sequence with a source device on behalf of a wireless node comprises:

transmitting to the source device a data structure identifying a plurality of wireless nodes including the wireless node;

receiving pairing information for each of the plurality of wireless nodes identified in the data structure; and

transmitting to each of the plurality of wireless nodes identified in the data structure its respective pairing information.

11. The computing device of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured with processor-executable instructions to:

cooperate with the source device to negotiate pairing information for each of the plurality of wireless nodes identified in the data structure.

12. The computing device of claim 8, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions such that negotiating a completed wireless pairing sequence with a source device on behalf of a wireless node comprises negotiating a completed Bluetooth®

wireless pairing sequence.

13. A non-transitory processor-readable storage medium having stored thereon processor-executable software instructions configured to cause a processor of a first wireless node to perform operations for pairing one or more wireless nodes with a source device in a wireless communication network, the operations comprising:

negotiating, between the first wireless node and the source device, a completed wireless pairing sequence with the source device on behalf of a second wireless node; and

relaying pairing information relating to the completed wireless pairing sequence from the first wireless node to the second wireless node, the relayed pairing information including information enabling the second wireless node to communicate with the source device as if the second wireless node had directly negotiated the completed wireless pairing sequence with the source device.

14. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the stored processor-executable software instructions are configured to cause a processor of a first wireless node to perform operations such that negotiating a completed wireless pairing sequence with the source device on behalf of a second wireless node comprises:

identifying the first wireless node to the source device as the second wireless node; and

negotiating the completed wireless pairing sequence with the source device as if the first wireless node were the second wireless node.

15. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the stored processor-executable software instructions are configured to cause a processor of a first wireless node to perform operations such that negotiating a completed wireless pairing sequence with the source device on behalf of a second wireless node comprises:

transmitting to the source device a data structure identifying a plurality of wireless nodes including the second wireless node;

receiving pairing information for the plurality of wireless nodes identified in the data structure; and

transmitting to each of the plurality of wireless nodes identified in the data structure its respective pairing information.

16. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the stored processor-executable software instructions are configured to cause a processor of a first wireless node to perform operations comprising cooperatively negotiating pairing information for each of the plurality of wireless nodes identified in the data structure.

17. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the stored processor-executable software instructions are configured to cause a processor of a first wireless node to perform operations such that negotiating a completed wireless pairing sequence with the source device on behalf of a second wireless node comprises negotiating a completed Bluetooth®

wireless pairing sequence.

18. A non-transitory processor-readable storage medium having stored thereon processor-executable software instructions configured to cause a processor of a first wireless node to perform operations for pairing one or more wireless nodes with a source device in a wireless communication network, the operations comprising:

negotiating, between the first wireless node and the source device, a completed wireless pairing with the source device on behalf of a second wireless node; and

relaying pairing information relating to the completed wireless pairing from the first wireless node to the second wireless node, the relayed pairing information including information enabling the second wireless node to communicate with the source device as if the second wireless node had directly negotiated the completed wireless pairing with the source device;

wherein the stored processor-executable software instructions are configured to be executed by a processor of a Bluetooth®

-enabled wrist display, and wherein the source device is a Bluetooth®

-enabled mobile phone;

wherein the second wireless node is a Bluetooth®

-enabled wireless earpiece.

19. A method for pairing a first wireless node to a second wireless node, comprising:

negotiating a first wireless pairing between the first wireless node and a third wireless node;

negotiating a second wireless pairing between the second wireless node and the third wireless node;

displaying information identifying the first and second wireless nodes on a graphical user interface (GUI) of the third wireless node;

receiving user input selecting the first and second wireless nodes on the GUI of the third wireless node; and

in response to the user input, negotiating a third completed wireless pairing sequence between the first and second wireless nodes.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein negotiating a third completed wireless pairing sequence between the first and second wireless nodes comprises relaying pairing information relating to the third completed wireless pairing sequence from the first wireless node to the second wireless node, the relayed pairing information enabling the second wireless node to communicate with the first wireless node as if the second wireless node had directly negotiated the third completed wireless pairing sequence with the first wireless node.

21. A communication system, comprising:

a first wireless node;

a second wireless node;

a third wireless node;

means for negotiating a first wireless pairing between the first wireless node and the third wireless node;

means for negotiating a second wireless pairing between the second wireless node and the third wireless node;

means for displaying information identifying the first and second wireless nodes on a graphical user interface (GUI) of the third wireless node;

means for receiving user input selecting the first and second wireless nodes on the GUI of the third wireless node; and

means for negotiating a third completed wireless pairing sequence between the first and second wireless nodes in response to the user input.

22. The communication system of claim 21, wherein means for negotiating a third completed wireless pairing sequence between the first and second wireless nodes comprises means for relaying pairing information relating to the third completed wireless pairing sequence from the first wireless node to the second wireless node that enables the second wireless node to communicate with the first wireless node as if the second wireless node had directly negotiated the third completed wireless pairing sequence with the first wireless node.

23. A communication system, comprising:

a first wireless node comprising a first processor;

a second wireless node comprising a second processor; and

a third wireless node, comprising;

a graphical user interface (GUI); and

a third processor coupled the GUI,

wherein the first and third processors are configured with processor-executable instructions to negotiate a first wireless pairing between the first wireless node and the third wireless node,

wherein the second and third processors are configured with processor-executable instructions to negotiate a second wireless pairing between the second wireless node and the third wireless node,

wherein the third processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to;

display information identifying the first and second wireless nodes on the graphical user interface (GUI) of the third wireless node; and

receive user input selecting the first and second wireless nodes on the GUI of the third wireless node; and

wherein the first and second processors are configured with processor-executable instructions to, in response to the user input, negotiate a third completed wireless pairing sequence between the first and second wireless nodes by relaying pairing information relating to the third completed wireless pairing sequence from the first wireless node to the second wireless node that enables the second wireless node to communicate with the first wireless node as if the second wireless node had directly negotiated the third completed wireless pairing sequence with the first wireless node.

24. A method for pairing one or more wireless nodes with a mobile phone in a wireless communication network, comprising:

by a wrist display, negotiating to completion a wireless pairing with the mobile phone on behalf of a wireless node; and

by the wrist display, after negotiating to completion the wireless pairing with the mobile phone on behalf of the wireless node, relaying pairing information relating to the negotiated wireless pairing to the wireless node, wherein the relayed pairing information enables the wireless node to communicate with the mobile phone as if the wireless node had directly negotiated the wireless pairing with the mobile phone.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the wireless node, on whose behalf the wrist display negotiated to completion the wireless pairing with the mobile phone, is a wireless earpiece.

26. A wrist display comprising:

a processor configured with processor-executable instructions to;

negotiate, by the wrist display, to completion a wireless pairing with a mobile phone on behalf of a wireless node; and

relay, by the wrist display, after negotiating to completion the wireless pairing with the mobile phone on behalf of the wireless node, pairing information relating to the negotiated wireless pairing to the wireless node, wherein the relayed pairing information enables the wireless node to communicate with the mobile phone as if the wireless node had directly negotiated the wireless pairing with the mobile phone.

27. The wrist display of claim 26, wherein the wireless node, on whose behalf the wrist display negotiated to completion the wireless pairing with the mobile phone, is a wireless earpiece.