Method, device, and system for fast wireless accessory devices pairing

• US 9,480,096 B1
• Filed: 08/25/2015
• Issued: 10/25/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Motorola Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Motorola Solutions, Inc.
• Inventors: Lee, Kok Bee, Chee, Kong Chin, Ng, Sze Keat, Ramanathan, Rm Muthaiah, Syed Idrus, Syed Isa, Tang, Ting Fook
• Primary Examiner(s): Rachedine, Mohammed
• Application Number:
  US14/834,540
• Time in Patent Office: 427 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/18 using different networks or channels, e.g. using out of band channels cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key distribution involving distinctive intermediate devices or communication paths H04L9/0827; cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for authentication using a plurality of channels H04L9/3215
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/065 Continuous authentication
• 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 76/11 Allocation or use of connection identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/45 for Push-to-Talk [PTT] or Push-to-Talk over cellular [PoC] services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/22 Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

An improved fast wireless accessory device pairing process at a radio communication device includes initiating, via a first short-range transceiver, a pairing procedure with a wearable computing device and establishing a link with the wearable computing device. Subsequently, receiving Bluetooth device connection information for each of a plurality of wireless accessory devices associated with a wearer of the wearable computing device. The Bluetooth device connection information includes at least a hardware device identifier of the associated wireless accessory and capability information of the associated wireless accessory. Responsive to receiving the Bluetooth device connection information, and for each of the plurality wireless accessory devices, using the hardware device identifier and capability information to pair with and communicate with the wireless accessory device.

Claims

1. A method for fast wireless accessory device pairing, the method comprising, at a mobile radio communication device having a first long-range transceiver capable of operating in accordance with one of a land mobile radio (LMR) and broadband protocol:

initiating, at the mobile radio communication device via a first near field communication (NFC) short-range transceiver, a pairing procedure with a wearable computing device and establishing, via the first short-range transceiver, a link with the wearable computing device;

receiving, at the mobile radio communication device via the NFC link with the wearable computing device, Bluetooth device connection information for each of a plurality of wireless accessory devices associated with a wearer of the wearable computing device, the Bluetooth device connection information including at least a Bluetooth hardware device identifier of the associated wireless accessory and Bluetooth capability information of the associated wireless accessory; and

responsive to receiving the Bluetooth device connection information, and for each of the plurality wireless accessory devices, using, by the mobile radio communication device, the Bluetooth hardware device identifier and Bluetooth capability information to pair with and communicate with, via a second Bluetooth short-range transceiver different from the NFC short-range transceiver, the wireless accessory device wherein the mobile radio communication device pairs with and communicates with, via the second Bluetooth short-range transceiver, each of the wireless accessory devices using the Bluetooth device connection information and without (i) executing a discovery process that scans for available wireless accessory devices via the second Bluetooth short-range transceiver and (ii) prompting a wearer of the wearable computing device to connect to each wireless accessory device via the second Bluetooth short-range transceiver.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile radio communication device pairs with and communicates with, via the second Bluetooth short-range transceiver, each of the wireless accessory devices without executing a discovery process that scans for available wireless accessory devices via the second Bluetooth short-range transceiver.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile radio communication device pairs with and communicates with, via the second Bluetooth short-range transceiver, each of the wireless accessory devices without prompting a wearer of the wearable computing device to connect to each wireless accessory device via the second Bluetooth short-range transceiver.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the hardware device identifier is a Bluetooth media access control (MAC) address of the associated wireless accessory.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the capability information of the associated wireless accessory is a Bluetooth profile identifier.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the Bluetooth profile identifier is one of a advanced audio distribution profile (A2DP), a file transfer profile (FTP), a hands-free profile (HFP), a health device profile (HDP), a headset profile (HSP), a human interface device profile (HID), a message access profile (MAP), a phone book access profile (PBAP), a personal area networking profile (PAN), a synchronization profile (SYNC), and a video distribution profile (VDP).

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the wearable computing device is one of a wearable ring and a wearable bracelet.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of wireless accessory devices comprise two or more selected from a wireless earpiece device, a wireless environmental sensor, a wireless biometric strap, a wireless remote speaker microphone (RSM), a video camera, and a picture camera.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising, at the mobile radio communication device, and while using the hardware device identifier and capability information to pair with and communicate with, via the second Bluetooth short-range transceiver, a particular one of the plurality of wireless accessory devices, prompting a wearer of the wearable computing device for an alphanumeric security code, detecting an input security code, using the input security code to pair with and communicate with the particular wireless accessory device, and storing the security code along with an association with the received Bluetooth hardware device identifier and Bluetooth capability information for the particular wireless accessory device for future re-connection with the particular wireless accessory device.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the pairing procedure with the wearable computing device is initiated by the mobile radio communication device in response to a detected activation of an input at the mobile radio communication device requesting retrieval of Bluetooth device connection information for each of the plurality of wireless accessory devices from the wearable computing device.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the pairing procedure with the wearable computing device includes the mobile radio communication device prompting a wearer of the wearable computing device for an alphanumeric security code, detecting, by the mobile radio communication device, an input security code, and using the input security code in a first pairing with the wearable computing device.

12. A mobile radio communication device for fast wireless accessory device pairing, the device comprising:

a near field communication (NFC) short-range transceivers;

a Bluetooth short-range transceiver different from the NFC short-range transceiver;

a long-range transceiver capable of operating in accordance with one of a land mobile radio (LMR) and broadband protocol;

one of a speaker and display;

a data store; and

one or more processors configured to;

initiate, via the NFC short-range transceivers, a pairing procedure with a wearable computing device and establishing, via the NFC short-range transceiver, a link with the wearable computing device;

receive, via the link with the wearable computing device, Bluetooth device connection information for each of a plurality of wireless accessory devices associated with a wearer of the wearable computing device, the Bluetooth device connection information including at least a Bluetooth hardware device identifier of the associated wireless accessory and Bluetooth capability information of the associated wireless accessory; and

responsive to receiving the Bluetooth device connection information, and for each of the plurality wireless accessory devices, use the Bluetooth hardware device identifier and Bluetooth capability information to pair with and communicate with, via the Bluetooth short-range transceivers, the wireless accessory device, wherein the mobile radio communication device pairs with and communicates with, via the second Bluetooth short-range transceiver, each of the wireless accessory devices using the Bluetooth device connection information and without (i) executing a discovery process that scans for available wireless accessory devices via the second Bluetooth short-range transceiver and (ii) prompting a wearer of the wearable computing device to connect to each wireless accessory device via the second Bluetooth short-range transceiver.

13. The mobile radio communication device of claim 12, wherein the mobile radio communication device pairs with and communicates with, via the Bluetooth short-range transceiver, each of the wireless accessory devices without executing a discovery process that scans for available wireless accessory devices via the Bluetooth short-range transceiver.

14. The mobile radio communication device of claim 12, wherein the mobile radio communication device pairs with and communicates with, via the Bluetooth short-range transceiver, each of the wireless accessory devices without prompting a wearer of the wearable computing device to connect to each wireless accessory device via the Bluetooth short-range transceiver.

15. A communication system comprising:

a mobile radio communication device comprising;

a near field communication (NFC) short-range transceiver;

a Bluetooth short-range transceiver different from the NFC short-range transceiver;

a long-range transceiver capable of operating in accordance with one of a land mobile radio (LMR) and broadband protocol;

one of a speaker and display;

a data store; and

one or more processors configured to;

initiate, via the NFC short-range transceivers, a pairing procedure with a wearable computing device and establishing, via the first NFC short-range transceiver, a link with the wearable computing device;

receive, via the link with the wearable computing device, Bluetooth device connection information for each of a plurality of wireless accessory devices associated with a wearer of the wearable computing device, the Bluetooth device connection information including at least a Bluetooth hardware device identifier of the associated wireless accessory and Bluetooth capability information of the associated wireless accessory; and

responsive to receiving the Bluetooth device connection information, and for each of the plurality wireless accessory devices, use the Bluetooth hardware device identifier and Bluetooth capability information to pair with and communicate with, via the Bluetooth short-range transceivers, the wireless accessory device; and

wherein the mobile radio communication device pairs with and communicates with, via the second Bluetooth short-range transceiver, each of the wireless accessory devices using the Bluetooth device connection information and without (i) executing a discovery process that scans for available wireless accessory devices via the second Bluetooth short-range transceiver and (ii) prompting a wearer of the wearable computing device to connect to each wireless accessory device via the second Bluetooth short-range transceiver; and

a wearable computing device comprising;

a near field communication (NFC) short-range transceivers;

a data store; and

one or more processors configured to;

for each of the plurality of wireless accessory devices associated with the wearable computing device, receive the Bluetooth device connection information including at least the Bluetooth hardware device identifier of the associated wireless accessory and Bluetooth capability information of the associated wireless accessory and store the Bluetooth device connection information in the data store;

pair with and establish the link with, via the NFC short-range transceivers, the mobile radio communication device; and

transmit the Bluetooth device connection information to the mobile radio communication device via the link.