Method and apparatus for pairing a mobile device to an output device

• US 9,369,829 B2
• Filed: 09/15/2014
• Issued: 06/14/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonifi Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonifi Solutions, Inc.
• Inventors: Zerr, Derin M., Prince, John S. III, Fenno, James L., Baker, John B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Whipple, Brian P
• Application Number:
  US14/486,888
• Publication Number:
  US 20150004915A1
• Time in Patent Office: 638 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/21 Programming remote control devices via third means
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/303 Terminal profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data

Abstract

Methods and systems for associating or pairing a mobile device with a local output device via a central or mobile connect server system are provided. Pairing is performed by initiating a pairing request from an output device that is passed to the mobile connect server for processing. The mobile connect server responds to the request with a pairing code that is displayed by the output device. A user of the mobile device then enters the displayed pairing code in the mobile device. The mobile device transmits the entered pairing code to the mobile connect server and, in response to a match, the mobile device is paired to the output device. Pairing can enable various functions, including an ability to apply stored user preference data to control programming or other information displayed by the output device in response to commands entered in the mobile device.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving at a first server a first request for a pairing code, wherein the first request for a pairing code is associated with a first transaction identifier and at least one of a first output device identifier, a first property identifier, a first room identifier, and a first user device identifier;

generating the first pairing code using the first server, wherein the first server is interconnected to a plurality of output devices, and wherein the first server generates a first pairing code in response to the first request for a pairing code;

providing the first pairing code from the first server to a first output device included in the plurality of output devices, wherein the first server and the first output device are connected by a first communication channel;

communicating using the first output device the first pairing code to a first user device;

after communicating the first pairing code to the first user device, communicating the first pairing code from the first user device to the first server, and receiving the first pairing code at the first server, wherein the first server and the first user device are connected by a second communication channel, wherein the first communication channel does not include the first user device, and wherein the second communication channel does not include the first output device;

in response to receiving by the first server the first pairing code communicated from the first user device, associating the first user device with at least one of the first output device and a second output device, and

disassociating the first user device and the first output device in response to receiving at the first server a second request for a pairing code, wherein the second request for a pairing code is associated with a second transaction identifier and at least one of the first output device identifier, the first property identifier, and the first room identifier.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein communicating using the first output device the first pairing code to a first user device includes:

displaying the first pairing code to a first user using the first output device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein communicating using the first output device the first pairing code to a first user device further includes:

the first user entering the first pairing code in the first user device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first pairing code is transmitted from the first user device to the first server over a network that includes a wireless carrier network.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first request for a pairing code is associated with at least a first user device identifier, wherein the first user device is registered with the first server.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first pairing code expires after a first predetermined time has elapsed since the first request for a pairing code was received at the first server.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

after associating the first user device with a first output device, receiving a request for first content from the first user device at the first server; and

displaying the first content using the first output device.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

retrieving a stored location of the at least one of the first output device and the second output device;

applying the stored location as a location of the first user device.

9. A method, comprising:

generating a first pairing code using a first server, wherein the first server is interconnected to a plurality of output devices;

providing the first pairing code from the first server to a first output device included in the plurality of output devices, wherein the first server and the first output device are connected by a first communication channel;

communicating using the first output device the first pairing code to a first user device;

after communicating the first pairing code to the first user device, communicating the first pairing code from the first user device to the first server, and receiving the first pairing code at the first server, wherein the first server and the first user device are connected by a second communication channel, wherein the first communication channel does not include the first user device, and wherein the second communication channel does not include the first output device;

in response to receiving by the first server the first pairing code communicated from the first user device, associating the first user device with the first output device;

providing user preference data to at least one of the first server and a second server;

applying the user preference data by the at least one of the first server and the second server;

registering the first user device with the first server;

receiving by the server an instruction contained in the user preference data to make first content available;

after associating the first user device with the first output device, receiving a request for the first content from the first user device at the first server; and

displaying the first content using the first output device.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein communicating using the first output device the first pairing code to a first user device includes:

displaying the first pairing code to a first user using the first output device.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein communicating using the first output device the first pairing code to a first user device further includes:

the first user entering the first pairing code in the first user device.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the first pairing code is transmitted from the first user device to the first server over a network that includes a wireless carrier network.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving at the first server a first request for a pairing code, wherein the first request for a pairing code is associated with a first transaction identifier and at least one of a first output device identifier, a first property identifier, a first room identifier, and a first user device identifier, and wherein the first server generates the first pairing code in response to the first request for a pairing code.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the first request for a pairing code is associated with at least a first user device identifier, wherein the first user device is registered with the first server.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the first pairing code expires after a first predetermined time has elapsed since the first request for a pairing code was received at the first server.

16. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

after associating the first user device with a first output device, receiving a request for second content from the first user device at the first server; and

displaying the second content using the first output device.

17. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

retrieving a stored location of the at least one of the first output device and the second output device;

applying the stored location as a location of the first user device.

18. A method for ordering content, comprising:

receiving at a mobile connect server a request to pair a first output device with a first mobile device;

providing by the mobile connect server a first pairing code to the first output device using a first communication channel;

presenting by the first output device the first pairing code to a user of the first mobile device;

entering by the user the first pairing code in the first mobile device,

sending the first pairing code from the first mobile device to the mobile connect server using a second communication channel, wherein the first communication channel does not include the first mobile device, and wherein the second communication channel does not include the first output device;

in response to receiving the first pairing code sent from the first mobile device at the mobile connect server, the mobile connect server issuing a first pairing key to the first mobile device, and associating the first output device and the first mobile device,

displaying an option on the first output device to pair to a mobile device;

receiving user input at the first output device selecting the option to pair with a mobile device;

sending the request to pair with a mobile device from the first output device to the mobile connect server;

providing user preference data;

storing the user preference data;

applying the user preference data to control aspects of the operation of the output device;

providing an interactive menu from the mobile connect server to the first mobile device, wherein the interactive menu includes a first menu item;

receiving by the first mobile device a selection by the user of the first menu item; and

in response to the selection of the first menu item by the user, the mobile connect server causing content related to the first menu item to be displayed on the first output device.