Automated pairing of wireless accessories with host devices

• US 20080057890A1
• Filed: 08/30/2006
• Published: 03/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Computer Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: McKillop, Chris, Wiebe, Chris
• Granted Patent: US 7,813,715 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/185.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/445 by mutual authentication, e.g. between devices or programs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2129 Authenticate client device independently of the user
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/50 Secure pairing of devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

Techniques that facilitate pairing of wireless accessory devices with wireless host devices are disclosed. Advantageously, the improved techniques permit pairing of wireless devices without requiring user entry of pin codes. In one embodiment, a wireless accessory device, such as a headset or earphone, can be paired with a wireless host device, such as a mobile phone or media player.

Claims

1. A method for pairing a wireless electronic accessory device with a wireless host device, said method comprising:

(a) receiving a request to initiate pairing of the wireless host device with the wireless electronic accessory device, where the manufacturer of the wireless host device is different than the manufacturer of the wireless electronic accessory device;

(b) obtaining a potential pin code for the wireless accessory device from an electronic data storage device within the wireless host device;

(c) attempting to pair the wireless host device with the wireless electronic accessory device using the potential pin code; and

(d) completing the pairing of the wireless host device with the wireless electronic accessory device when the potential pin code matches the pin code required by the wireless electronic accessory device.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said method further comprises:

(e) subsequently prompting a user of the wireless host device to enter a pin code when the potential pin code does not match the pin code required by the wireless electronic accessory device.

3. A method as recited in claim 1,

wherein the wireless electronic accessory device has a device type and a manufacturer, and

wherein the potential pin codes are obtained based on the device type and/or manufacturer of the wireless electronic accessory device.

4. A method as recited in claim 3, wherein the electronic data storage device stores a plurality of pin codes organized based on manufacturer and/or device type.

5. A method as recited in claim 4, wherein the electronic data storage device stores the plurality of pin codes in a database.

6. A method as recited in claim 5, wherein the potential pin code is retrieved from the database based on the device type and/or manufacturer of the wireless electronic accessory device.

7. A method as recited in claim 3, wherein the electronic data storage device stores a plurality of pin codes that have been pre-stored therein.

8. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said completing (d) comprises:

storing the potential pin code or a reference thereto when the potential pin code matches the pin code required by the wireless electronic accessory device.

9. A method for pairing a wireless electronic accessory device with a wireless host device, said method comprising:

(a) receiving a request to initiate pairing of the wireless host device with the wireless electronic accessory device;

(b) obtaining a set of potential pin codes for the wireless accessory device from an electronic data storage device;

(c) attempting to pair the wireless host device with the wireless electronic accessory device using one of the potential pin codes;

(d) repeating said attempting (c) using another one of the potential pin codes when the one of the potential pin codes being used does not match the pin code required by the wireless electronic accessory device; and

(e) completing the pairing of the wireless host device with the wireless electronic accessory device when the one of the potential pin codes being used matches the pin code required by the wireless electronic accessory device.

10. A method as recited in claim 9,

wherein the wireless electronic accessory device has a device type and a manufacturer, and

wherein the set of potential pin codes being obtained are selected based on the device type and/or manufacturer of the wireless electronic accessory device.

11. A method as recited in claim 9, wherein the electronic data storage device stores a plurality of pin codes organized based on manufacturer and/or device type.

12. A method as recited in claim 11, wherein the electronic data storage device stores the plurality of pin codes in a database.

13. A method as recited in claim 12, wherein the set of potential pin codes being obtained are retrieved from the database based on the device type and/or manufacturer of the wireless electronic accessory device.

14. A method as recited in claim 9, wherein said method further comprises:

(f) subsequently prompting a user of the wireless host device to enter a pin code when none of the potential pin codes match the pin code required by the wireless electronic accessory device.

15. A method as recited in claim 14, wherein said method further comprises:

(g) storing the entered pin code at the wireless host device or the wireless electronic accessory device.

16. A method as recited in claim 9, where the manufacturer of the wireless host device is different than the manufacturer of the wireless electronic accessory device.

17. A method as recited in claim 9, wherein the electronic data storage device stores a plurality of pin codes that have been pre-stored therein.

18. A method as recited in claim 9, wherein said method further comprises:

(f) storing the potential pin code or a reference thereto when the potential pin code being used matches the pin code required by the wireless electronic accessory device.

19. A method as recited in claim 9, wherein the wireless host device is at least one of a mobile communication device and a portable media player.

20. A computer readable medium including computer program code for pairing a wireless electronic accessory device with a wireless host device, said computer readable medium comprising:

computer program code for receiving a request to initiate pairing of the wireless host device with the wireless electronic accessory device;

computer program code for obtaining a set of potential pin codes for the wireless accessory device from an electronic data storage device;

computer program code for attempting to pair the wireless host device with the wireless electronic accessory device using one of the potential pin codes and repeating the attempting using another one of the potential pin codes when the one of the potential pin codes being used does not match the pin code expected by the wireless electronic accessory device; and

computer program code for completing the pairing of the wireless host device with the wireless electronic accessory device when the one of the potential pin codes being used matches the pin code expected by the wireless electronic accessory device.

21. A portable electronic device, comprising:

a memory for storing data and executable computing code;

a controller for operating said portable electronic device including executing the executable computing code; and

a pin code database storing a plurality of potential pin codes for wireless companion devices of a plurality of different manufacturers.

22. A portable electronic device as recited in claim 21, wherein said executable computing code includes at least:

computer program code for receiving a request to initiate pairing of the portable electronic device with the wireless electronic accessory device, where the manufacturer of the portable electronic device is different than the manufacturer of the wireless electronic accessory device;

computer program code for obtaining a potential pin code for the wireless accessory device from said pin code database;

computer program code for attempting to pair the portable electronic device with the wireless electronic accessory device using the potential pin code; and

computer program code for completing the pairing of the portable electronic device with the wireless electronic accessory device when the potential pin code matches the pin code required by the wireless electronic accessory device.

23. A portable electronic device as recited in claim 21, wherein said executable computing code includes at least:

computer program code for receiving a request to initiate pairing of the portable electronic device with the wireless electronic accessory device;

computer program code for obtaining a set of potential pin codes for the wireless accessory device from said pin code database;

computer program code for attempting to pair the portable electronic device with the wireless electronic accessory device using one of the potential pin codes;

computer program code for repeating said attempting (c) using another one of the potential pin codes when the one of the potential pin codes being used does not match the pin code expected by the wireless electronic accessory device; and

computer program code for completing the pairing of the portable electronic device with the wireless electronic accessory device when the one of the potential pin codes being used matches the pin code expected by the wireless electronic accessory device.

24. A portable electronic device as recited in claim 21, wherein said portable electronic device further comprises:

a graphical user interface, the graphical user interface including a menu item that on selection initiates a pairing operation.

25. A portable electronic device as recited in claim 21, wherein said pin code database stores a plurality of pin codes organized based on manufacturer and/or device type.

26. A portable electronic device as recited in claim 21, wherein the portable electronic device is at least one of a mobile communication device and a portable media player.