Device pairing via intermediary device

• US 20060281409A1
• Filed: 06/14/2005
• Published: 12/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, L.L.C. (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, L.L.C. (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Cohen, Alexander J., Lord, Robert W., Jung, Edward K.Y., Levien, Royce A., Malamud, Mark A., Rinaldo, John D. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 7,865,140 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.200
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/08 User group management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/186 Processing of subscriber group data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A first device may include and/or involve at least one contact sensor, and logic to facilitate pairing between a second device and a third device as a result of contact between the contact sensor and at least one of the second and third devices.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

applying a first device to facilitate pairing between a second device and a third device by touching the first device to the second device, and then touching the first device to the third device, with a result that the second device and third devices are thus enabled to pair with one another.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a manner of contact between the first device and the second device and/or the third device.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the detecting a manner of contact between the first device and the second device and/or the third device further comprises:

detecting relative motion between the first device and the second device and/or the third device at a point or points of contact.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the detecting a manner of contact between the first device and the second device and/or the third device further comprises:

detecting a duration of contact between the first device and the second device and/or the third device, and determining from the duration of contact an indication of how and/or whether pairing of the second device and the third device should be accomplished.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the detecting a manner of contact between the first device and the second device and/or the third device further comprises:

detecting multiple instances of contact between the first device and the second device and/or the third device, and interpreting the multiple instances of contact as an indication of how and/or whether pairing of the second device and the third device should be accomplished.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the detecting a manner of contact between the first device and the second device and/or the third device further comprises:

detecting an intensity of contact between the first device and the second device and/or the third device, and interpreting the intensity of contact as an indication of how and/or whether pairing of the second device and the third device should be accomplished.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the detecting an intensity of contact between the first device and the second device and/or the third device, and interpreting the intensity of contact as an indication of how and/or whether pairing of the second device and the third device should be accomplished further comprises:

detecting at least one of an average contact force, a peak contact force, or force gradient.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the detecting a manner of contact between the first device and the second device and/or the third device further comprises:

detecting a point or points of contact between the first device and the second device and/or the third device, and interpreting the point or points of contact as an indication of how and/or whether pairing of the second device and the third device should be accomplished.

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34. A system comprising:

a first device, a second device, and a third device; and

logic to facilitate pairing between the second device and the third device as a result of contact between the first device and at least one of the second and third devices.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the logic to facilitate pairing between the second device and the third device as a result of contact between the first device and at least one of the second and third devices further comprises:

logic to receive pairing information from the second device as a result of contact with the second device, and to communicate the pairing information to the third device as a result of contact with the third device.

36. The system of claim 34, wherein the logic to facilitate pairing between the second device and the third device as a result of contact between the first device and at least one of the second and third devices further comprises:

logic to communicate pairing information to the second device as a result of contact with the second device, and to communicate the pairing information to the third device as a result of contact with the third device.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein the logic to communicate pairing information to the second device as a result of contact with the second device, and to communicate the pairing information to the third device as a result of contact with the third device further comprises:

logic to communicate the pairing information via one or more points of contact.

45. The system of claim 34, wherein the logic to facilitate pairing between the second device and the third device as a result of contact between the first device and at least one of the second and third devices further comprises:

logic to pick up pairing information from the second device as a result of contact with the second device, and to carry the pairing information and to communicate the pairing information to the third device as a result of contact with the third device.

46. The system of claim 34, wherein the logic to facilitate pairing between the second device and the third device as a result of contact between the first device and at least one of the second and third devices further comprises:

logic to wirelessly communicate information received from either or both of the second device and third device to a fourth device in order to facilitate pairing of the second device and the third device.

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71. A first device comprising:

at least one contact sensor; and

logic to facilitate pairing between a second device and a third device as a result of contact between the contact sensor and at least one of the second and third devices.

72. The first device of claim 71, wherein the logic to facilitate pairing between a second device and a third device as a result of contact between the contact sensor and at least one of the second and third devices further comprises:

logic to receive pairing information from the second device as a result of contact with the second device, and to communicate the pairing information to the third device as a result of contact with the third device.

73. The first device of claim 71, wherein the logic to facilitate pairing between a second device and a third device as a result of contact between the contact sensor and at least one of the second and third devices further comprises:

logic to communicate pairing information to the second device as a result of contact with the second device, and to communicate the pairing information to the third device as a result of contact with the third device.

74. The first device of claim 73, wherein the logic to communicate pairing information to the second device as a result of contact with the second device, and to communicate the pairing information to the third device as a result of contact with the third device further comprises:

logic to communicate the pairing information via one or more points of contact.

85. The first device of claim 71, wherein the logic to facilitate pairing between a second device and a third device as a result of contact between the contact sensor and at least one of the second and third devices further comprises:

logic to pick up pairing information from the second device as a result of contact with the second device, and to carry the pairing information and to communicate the pairing information to the third device as a result of contact with the third device.

88. The first device of claim 71, wherein the logic to facilitate pairing between a second device and a third device as a result of contact between the contact sensor and at least one of the second and third devices further comprises:

logic to detect a time interval between contact of the first device with the second device, and contact of the first device with the third device.

89. The first device of claim 88, wherein the logic to detect a time interval between contact of the first device with the second device, and contact of the first device with the third device further comprises:

logic to communicate pairing information to the third device sufficient to cause pairing with the second device to proceed only when the time interval does not exceed a threshold.

91. The first device of claim 71, further comprising:

logic to retain information about the pairing of the second device and the third device, after pairing of the second device and the third device is complete.

92. The first device of claim 91, wherein the logic to retain information about the pairing of the second device and the third device, after pairing of the second device and the third device is complete further comprises:

logic to apply the retained information to resume pairing of the second device and the third device, after pairing of the second device and the third device is interrupted

93. The first device of claim 92, wherein the logic to apply the retained information to resume pairing of the second device and the third device, after pairing of the second device and the third device is interrupted further comprises:

logic to apply the retained information to resume pairing of the second device and the third device once the second device and the third device are once again in proximity.

94. The first device of claim 92, wherein the logic to apply the retained information to resume pairing of the second device and the third device, after pairing of the second device and the third device is interrupted further comprises:

logic to apply the retained information to resume pairing of the second device and the third device when

the first device is once again in contact with the second device and/or the third device.

95. The first device of claim 71, further comprising:

logic to discontinue pairing of the second device and the third device.

96. The first device of claim 95, wherein the logic to discontinue pairing of the second device and the third device further comprises:

logic to discontinue pairing when the second device and/or third device are no longer proximate with the first device.

97. The first device of claim 95, wherein the logic to discontinue pairing of the second device and the third device further comprises:

logic to discontinue pairing if an amount of authorized user time lapses.

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