Fast service discovery and pairing using ultrasonic communication

• US 9,912,415 B2
• Filed: 11/12/2013
• Issued: 03/06/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Tsfaty, Yossi, Altman, Nathan, Bornstein, Gilad
• Primary Examiner(s): Lai, Andrew
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEE, ANDREW CHUNG CHEUNG
• Application Number:
  US14/078,338
• Publication Number:
  US 20150131539A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,575 Days
• Field of Search: 370336, 370338, 370254, 370252, 370465
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/18 using ultrasonic, sonic, or infrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 11/00 Transmission systems employing sonic, ultrasonic or infrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals

Abstract

Methods, systems, and devices are described for service discovery and connection establishment of a point-to-point (e.g., device-to-device) wireless communication. Wireless devices may initiate point-to-point communication utilizing ultrasonic signals. A user may initiate a scan for one device to detect, select, and establish a connection with another device, where the scan utilizes an ultrasonic signal. Once connected, the device may create a profile with one anther and/or wirelessly communicate with one another to, for example, exchange data.

Claims

1. A method of communicating in a wireless communication network, the method comprising:

transmitting, by a device that supports signal exchange via both modulated, ultrasonic acoustic signals and radio-enabled electromagnetic signals, a first modulated, ultrasonic acoustic signal including identification information about the device;

receiving, by the device, one or more second modulated, ultrasonic acoustic signals from one or more other devices in response to the first modulated, ultrasonic acoustic signal, each of the one or more second modulated, ultrasonic acoustic signals including identification information about a respective one of the one or more other devices;

selecting, by the device, one of the one or more other devices based at least in part on the one or more second modulated, ultrasonic acoustic signals; and

performing a registration process with the selected one of the one or more other devices utilizing electromagnetic signals of a radio-enabled peer-to-peer protocol for establishing a connection with the selected one of the one or more other devices, the registration process based at least in part on the identification information about the selected one of the one or more other devices.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a position of one of the one or more other devices based at least in part on the one or more second modulated, ultrasonic acoustic signals.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein selecting one of the one or more other devices is based at least in part on the determined position.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein performing the registration process with the selected one of the one or more other devices is based at least in part on a third modulated, ultrasonic acoustic signal.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

exchanging a personal identification number (PIN) code via the third modulated, ultrasonic acoustic signal.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

directing a transmitter at one or more devices.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting comprises transmitting the first modulated, ultrasonic acoustic signal via a wideband speaker that supports transmitting sonic acoustic signals and ultrasonic acoustic signals.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving comprises receiving the one or more second modulated, ultrasonic acoustic signals via a wideband microphone that supports receiving sonic acoustic signals and ultrasonic acoustic signals.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting comprises transmitting the first modulated, ultrasonic acoustic signal via a dedicated ultrasonic transducer.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving comprises receiving the one or more second modulated, ultrasonic acoustic signals via a dedicated ultrasonic transducer.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein performing the registration process with the selected one of the one or more other devices utilizing electromagnetic signals of the radio-enabled peer-to-peer protocol comprises:

exchanging the identification information about the device, the identification information about the selected one of the one or more other devices, or additional identification information transmitted by the device via a third modulated, ultrasonic signal, for authenticating or associating the device with the selected one of the one or more other devices.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

performing a handshake operation of the radio-enabled peer-to-peer protocol to establish credentials for the connection with the selected one of the one or more other devices, the handshake operation based at least in part on the identification information about the device, the identification information about the selected one of the one or more other devices, or additional identification information transmitted by the device via a third modulated, ultrasonic signal.

13. A device for communicating in a wireless communication network, the device comprising:

means for transmitting a first modulated, ultrasonic acoustic signal including identification information about the device;

means for receiving one or more second modulated, ultrasonic acoustic signals from one or more other devices in response to the first modulated, ultrasonic acoustic signal, each of the one or more second modulated, ultrasonic acoustic signals including identification information about a respective one of the one or more other devices;

means for selecting one of the one or more other devices based at least in part on the one or more second modulated, ultrasonic acoustic signals; and

means for performing a registration process with the selected one of the one or more other devices utilizing electromagnetic signals of a radio-enabled peer-to-peer protocol for establishing a connection with the selected one of the one or more other devices, the registration process based at least in part on the identification information about the selected one of the one or more other devices.

14. The device of claim 13, further comprising:

means for determining a position of one of the one or more other devices based at least in part on the one or more second modulated, ultrasonic acoustic signals.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the means for selecting one of the one or more other devices is operable based at least in part on the determined position.

16. The device of claim 13, wherein the means for performing the registration process with the selected one of the one or more other devices is operable based at least in part on a third modulated, ultrasonic acoustic signal.

17. The device of claim 16, further comprising:

means for exchanging a personal identification number (PIN) code via the third modulated, ultrasonic acoustic signal.

18. The device of claim 13, further comprising:

means for directing the means for transmitting at one or more devices.

19. The device of claim 13, wherein the means for transmitting comprises a wideband speaker that supports transmitting sonic acoustic signals and ultrasonic acoustic signals.

20. The device of claim 13, wherein the means for receiving comprises a wideband microphone that supports receiving sonic acoustic signals and ultrasonic acoustic signals.

21. The device of claim 13, wherein one or both of the means for transmitting or the means for receiving comprises a dedicated ultrasonic transducer.

22. An apparatus that supports signal exchange via both modulated, ultrasonic acoustic signals and radio-enabled electromagnetic signals for communicating in a wireless communication network, the apparatus comprising:

a processor;

memory in electronic communication with the processor; and

instructions stored in the memory, the instructions being executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to;

transmit a first modulated, ultrasonic acoustic signal including identification information about the apparatus;

receive one or more second modulated, ultrasonic acoustic signals from one or more other devices in response to the first modulated, ultrasonic acoustic signal, each of the one or more second modulated, ultrasonic acoustic signals including identification information about a respective one of the one or more other devices;

select one of the one or more other devices based at least in part on the one or more second modulated, ultrasonic acoustic signals; and

perform a registration process with the selected one of the one or more other devices utilizing electromagnetic signals of a radio-enabled peer-to-peer protocol for establishing a connection with the selected one of the one or more other devices, the registration process based at least in part on the identification information about the selected one of the one or more other devices.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to:

determine a position of one of the one or more other devices based at least in part on the one or more second modulated, ultrasonic acoustic signals.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to:

select one of the one or more other devices based at least in part on the determined position.

25. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to:

perform the registration process with the selected one of the one or more other devices based at least in part on a third modulated, ultrasonic acoustic signal.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to:

exchange a personal identification number (PIN) code via the third modulated, ultrasonic acoustic signal.

27. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to:

direct a transmitter at one or more devices.

28. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to:

transmit the first modulated, ultrasonic acoustic signal via a wideband speaker that supports transmitting sonic acoustic signals and ultrasonic acoustic signals.

29. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to:

receive the one or more second modulated, ultrasonic acoustic signals via a wideband microphone that supports receiving sonic acoustic signals and ultrasonic acoustic signals.

30. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to:

transmit the first modulated, ultrasonic acoustic signal via a dedicated ultrasonic transducer.

31. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the instructions to perform the registration process with the selected one of the one or more other devices utilizing electromagnetic signals of the radio-enabled peer-to-peer protocol are executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to:

exchange the identification information about the apparatus, the identification information about the selected one of the one or more other devices, or additional identification information transmitted by the device via a third modulated, ultrasonic signal, for authenticating or associating the apparatus with the selected one of the one or more other devices.

32. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to:

perform a handshake operation of the radio-enabled peer-to-peer protocol to establish credentials for the connection with the selected one of the one or more other devices, the handshake operation based at least in part on the identification information about the apparatus, the identification information about the selected one of the one or more other devices, or additional identification information transmitted by the apparatus via a third modulated, ultrasonic signal.

33. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing code comprising instructions executable by a processor to cause a device that supports signal exchange via both modulated, ultrasonic acoustic signals and radio-enabled electromagnetic signals to:

transmit a first modulated, ultrasonic acoustic signal including identification information about the device;

receive one or more second modulated, ultrasonic acoustic signals from one or more other devices in response to the first modulated, ultrasonic acoustic signal, each of the one or more second modulated, ultrasonic acoustic signals including identification information about a respective one of the one or more other devices; and

select one of the one or more other devices based at least in part on the one or more second modulated, ultrasonic acoustic signals; and

perform a registration process with the selected one of the one or more other devices utilizing electromagnetic signals of a radio-enabled peer-to-peer protocol for establishing a connection with the selected one of the one or more other devices, the registration process based at least in part on the identification information about the selected one of the one or more other devices.

34. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 33, wherein the instructions are executable by a processor to cause the device to:

determine a position of one of the one or more other devices based at least in part on the one or more second modulated, ultrasonic acoustic signals.

35. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 34, wherein the instructions are executable by a processor to cause the device to:

select one of the one or more other devices based at least in part on the determined position.

36. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 33, wherein the instructions are executable by a processor to cause the device to:

perform the registration process with the selected one of the one or more other devices based at least in part on a third modulated, ultrasonic acoustic signal.

37. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 36, wherein the instructions are executable by a processor to cause the device to:

exchange a personal identification number (PIN) code via the third modulated, ultrasonic acoustic signal.

38. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 33, wherein the instructions are executable by a processor to cause the device to:

direct a transmitter at one or more devices.

39. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 33, wherein the instructions are executable by a processor to cause the device to:

transmit the first modulated, ultrasonic acoustic signal via a wideband speaker that supports transmitting sonic acoustic signals and ultrasonic acoustic signals.

40. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 33, wherein the instructions are executable by a processor to cause the device to:

receive the one or more second modulated, ultrasonic acoustic signals via a wideband microphone that supports receiving sonic acoustic signals and ultrasonic acoustic signals.