Device pairing in a network

• US 9,361,541 B2
• Filed: 12/11/2013
• Issued: 06/07/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kashyap, Praveen, Gurbag, Can, Zheng, Esther, Meachum, Jason, Bringle, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Vu
• Assistant Examiner(s): WOLDEMARIAM, AKLILU K
• Application Number:
  US14/102,612
• Publication Number:
  US 20150161477A1
• Time in Patent Office: 909 Days
• Field of Search: 382116-118, 382/181, 382/284, 348181-182, 348/135, 348/158, 348/208, 348/222, 348286-292
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 18/00 Pattern recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/16 Human faces, e.g. facial parts, sketches or expressions
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/172 Classification, e.g. identification
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/56 Arrangements characterised by components specially adapted for monitoring, identification or recognition covered by groups H04H60/29-H04H60/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25816 involving client authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2668 Creating a channel for a dedicated end-user group, e.g. insertion of targeted commercials based on end-user profiles information retrieval from the Internet by querying with filtering and personalisation G06F16/9535; arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast H04H20/10; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; adaptation of message content in packet-switching networks H04L51/063
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4108 characterised by an identification number or address, e.g. local network address protecting specific internal or external computer components using identification number G06F21/73; network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming H04L61/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4122 additional display device, e.g. video projector digital output for controlling a plurality of local displays G06F3/1423
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4126 The peripheral being portable, e.g. PDAs or mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44008 involving operations for analysing video streams, e.g. detecting features or characteristics in the video stream arrangements characterised by components specially adapted for monitoring, identification or recognition of video in broadcast systems H04H60/59
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/441 Acquiring end-user identification , e.g. using personal code sent by the remote control or by inserting a card
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44218 Detecting physical presence or behaviour of the user, e.g. using sensors to detect if the user is leaving the room or changes his face expression during a TV program methods or arrangements for recognising human body or animal bodies or body parts G06V40/10; methods or arrangements for acquiring or recognising human faces, facial parts, facial sketches, facial expressions G06V40/16; methods or arrangements for recognising movements or behaviour G06V40/20; arrangements for identifying users in broadcast systems H04H60/45
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/11 Allocation or use of connection identifiers

Abstract

A method for device pairing including displaying at least one image having a first characteristic using a first application by a first electronic device. It is determined if the image is recognizable. If the image is determined to be recognizable, pairing the first electronic device with a second electronic device.

Claims

1. A method for device pairing, comprising:

determining, by one or more processors using optical recognition, whether an image is recognizable based on the image having a first characteristic, the image corresponding to a first application executing on and displayed by a first electronic device, wherein a characteristic comprises a graphic object having at least one of a shape, a color and a pattern;

in response to a determination that the image is recognizable based on the first characteristic by a second electronic device, pairing the first electronic device with the second electronic device;

in response to a determination that the image is not recognizable by the second electronic device, changing the first characteristic to at least one second characteristic, recognizing the at least one second characteristic that is different from the first characteristic by the second electronic device, and pairing the first electronic device with the second electronic device based on the second characteristic.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to a determination that the image is not recognizable or distinguishable from images with a first characteristic that are present within a particular area;

transmitting, to the first electronic device, a request to change the first characteristic to the at least one second characteristic;

wherein the at least one second characteristic is different for the first electronic device and any other electronic devices that are present within the particular area.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first characteristic comprises a graphic object having a first shape and a first color, and the second characteristic comprise a graphic object having at least one of a second shape and a second color.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the first characteristic or the at least one second characteristic are assigned for future device connections, and the second characteristic is randomly selected, and each of the first characteristic and the second characteristic further comprises one of a static pattern and a dynamic pattern.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

identifying, the first electronic device based on different second characteristics; and

transmitting a request to the first electronic device to change to a specific second characteristic that is unique.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

performing facial recognition to recognize different users of the first electronic device and one or more other electronic devices; and

assigning distinct identifications based on the facial recognition.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

recognizing a face in front of the first electronic device; and

associating the face with the first electronic device.

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

recognizing a face, next to the first electronic device; and

associating a face or the first electronic device based on determining whether the first electronic device is a personal electronic device or a communal electronic device.

9. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

recognizing a first face and a second face;

associating the first user face with the first electronic device and the second user face with the third electronic device;

determining relative positions of the first electronic device with respect to a third electronic device; and

following movement of each of the first electronic device and the third electronic device.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the first device is a mobile electronic device, and the second electronic device comprises a television device connected with an imaging device.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the first electronic device, the one or more other electronic devices and the second electronic device are each connected to a network.

12. An electronic apparatus comprising:

an imaging device to capture an image; and

one or more processors configured to use optical recognition to determine whether the image is recognizable based on the image having a first characteristic by an electronic device, the image corresponding to a first application executing on and displayed by a mobile electronic device, wherein a characteristic comprises a graphic object having at least one of a shape, a color and a pattern, the one or more processors configured to cause an electronic device to pair with the mobile electronic device in response to a determination that the image is recognizable based on the first characteristic by the electronic device, the one or more processors further configured to change the first characteristic to at least one second characteristic in response to a determination that the image is not recognizable by the electronic device, to recognize the at least one second characteristic that is different from the first characteristic, and to pair the electronic device with the mobile electronic device based on the second characteristic.

13. The electronic apparatus of claim 12, wherein in response to the determination that the image is unrecognizable or a determination that the image is not distinguishable from images with the first characteristic for any other electronic devices that are present within a particular area:

the electronic device is configured to send a request to change the first characteristic to the mobile electronic device to the at least one second characteristic, and the electronic device is configured to pair with the mobile device based on the one or more processors configured to use optical recognition for the at least one second characteristic.

14. The electronic apparatus of claim 13, wherein the electronic device is configured to transmit the request to change the first characteristic to the second characteristic for any other electronic devices that are present in a particular area, and the second characteristic is different for each of the other electronic devices and from the second characteristic of the mobile electronic device.

15. The electronic apparatus of claim 14, wherein the first characteristic comprises a graphic object having a first shape and a first color and the second characteristic comprises a graphic object having at least one of a second shape and a second color.

16. The electronic apparatus of claim 15, wherein the second characteristic of the mobile electronic device is assigned for future device connections to the electronic device, the mobile electronic device is identified based on the at least one second characteristic, the electronic device is configured to transmit a request to the mobile device and to the other electronic devices that are present within the particular area to change to a specific second characteristic that is unique, and each of the first characteristic and the second characteristic further comprises one of a static pattern and a dynamic pattern.

17. The electronic apparatus of claim 16, wherein the one or more processors are configured to perform facial recognition using the imaging device for recognizing facial features, and to assign distinct identifications based on the facial recognition.

18. The electronic apparatus of claim 16, wherein the one or more processors are configured to perform facial recognition using the imaging device and to associate the mobile electronic device based on the facial recognition.

19. The electronic apparatus of claim 16, wherein the one or more processors are configured to recognize a face in front of the mobile electronic device using the imaging device, to determine a distance from the mobile electronic device to the electronic device based on a size of the at least one image and a focal length of the imaging device, to determine whether the mobile electronic device comprises a personal electronic device or a communal electronic device, and to associate the face or the mobile electronic device based on the determination.

20. The electronic apparatus of claim 16, wherein the one or more processors are configured to recognize a first face in front of the mobile electronic device and a second face in front of another mobile electronic device, to associate the first face with the mobile electronic device and the second face with the another mobile electronic device, to determine relative positions of the mobile electronic device with respect to the another mobile electronic device, and to follow movement of each of the mobile electronic device and the another mobile electronic device.

21. The electronic apparatus of claim 12, wherein the electronic device is a television device.

22. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions which when executed on a computer perform a method comprising:

determining, by one or more processors using optical recognition, whether an image is recognizable based on the image having a first characteristic, the image corresponding to a first application executing on and displayed by a first electronic device wherein a characteristic comprises a graphic object having at least one of a shape, a color and a pattern;

in response to a determination that the image is recognizable by a second electronic device, paring the first electronic device with the second electronic device based on the first characteristic;

in response to a determination that the image is not recognizable by the second electronic device, changing the first characteristic to at least one second characteristic, recognizing the at least one second characteristic that is different from the first characteristic by the second electronic device, and pairing the first electronic device with the second electronic device based on the second characteristic.

23. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 22, wherein the program when executed by the computer performs the method further comprising:

in response to a determination that the image is not recognizable or distinguishable from images with the first characteristic for any other electronic devices that are present within a particular area;

transmitting, by the second electronic device, a request to change the first characteristic to the at least one second characteristic by the first electronic device and any other electronic devices that are present within the particular area;

wherein the at least one second characteristic is different for the first electronic device and each of the other electronic devices that are present within the particular area, and the first characteristic comprises a graphic object having a first shape and a first color, and the second characteristic comprises a graphic object having at least one of a second shape and a second color.

24. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 23, wherein the first characteristic or the at least one second characteristic of the first electronic device and the other electronic devices that are present within the particular area are assigned for future connections to the second electronic device, and each of the first characteristic and the second characteristic further comprises one of a static pattern and a dynamic pattern.

25. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 24, wherein the program when executed by the computer performs the method further comprising:

identifying, by the second electronic device, each electronic device based on the different at least one second characteristics; and

requesting, by the second electronic device, the first electronic device and the other electronic devices that are present in the particular area to change to a specific second characteristic that is different for each electronic device.

26. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 25, wherein the program when executed by the computer performs the method further comprising:

recognizing, by the second electronic device, a face in front of the first electronic device; and

associating, by the second electronic device, the face with the first electronic device.

27. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 25, wherein the program when executed by the computer performs the method further comprising:

recognizing, by the second electronic device, the face in front of the first electronic device;

determining, by the second electronic device, a distance from the first electronic device to the second electronic device based on a size of the image and a focal length of an imaging device of the second electronic device;

in response to a determination that the first electronic device comprises a personal electronic device, associating the first electronic device with the second electronic device; and

in response to a determination that the first electronic device comprises a communal electronic device, associating, by the second electronic device, the face with the first electronic device.

28. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 25, wherein the program when executed by the computer performs the method further comprising:

recognizing, by the second electronic device, a first face and a second face;

associating, by the second electronic device, the first face with the first electronic device and the second face with a third electronic device;

determining, by the second electronic device, relative positions of the first electronic device with respect to the third electronic device; and

following, by the second electronic device, movement of each of the first electronic device and the third electronic device.

29. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 22, wherein the first electronic device is a mobile electronic device, and the second electronic device comprises a television device connected with an imaging device.

30. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 22, wherein the first electronic device, the other electronic devices that are present within the particular area and the second electronic device are each connected to a network.