Method and system for pairing of wireless devices using physical presence

• US 20080227393A1
• Filed: 03/14/2007
• Published: 09/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Sanford, Emery A., Hankey, Evans, Tang, John
• Granted Patent: US 8,472,874 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.3
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/50 Secure pairing of devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals

Abstract

Techniques that facilitate pairing of wireless devices with other wireless devices are disclosed. Once paired, the wireless devices can exchange data in a wireless manner. According to one embodiment, a pairing process can be secured through use of physical proximity, or even physical connection, of wireless devices to be paired. According to another embodiment, user actions to provoke or perform pairing can be reduced or eliminated. According to still another embodiment, a wireless device being paired can be configured using configuration information provided from another wireless device being paired.

Claims

1. A method for pairing first and second electronic devices for wireless communication, the method comprising:

detecting, at the first electronic device, that the second electronic device is in close proximity;

initiating pairing of the first and second electronic devices after it is detected that the second electronic device is in close proximity to the first electronic device;

completing pairing of the first and second electronic devices; and

configuring the second electronic device based on configuration information stored by the first electronic device.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the detecting determines whether the first electronic device and the second electronic device are directly connected via a connector.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the detecting determines whether the first electronic device and the second electronic device are within about one (1) meter of each other.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the detecting determines whether an intermediate device is connected by connector or wire to the first electronic device, and whether the second electronic device is directly connected to the intermediate device, thereby connecting the second electronic device to the first electronic device.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the detecting determines whether a docking device is connected by connector or wire to the first electronic device, and whether the second electronic device is directly connected to the docking device, thereby connecting the second electronic device to the first electronic device.

6. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the detecting determines whether the first electronic device and the second electronic device are connected via a docking device.

7. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the initiating pairing is automatically performed by the first electronic device after it is detected that the second electronic device is in close proximity to the first electronic device.

8. A method as recited in claim 7, wherein the second electronic device is a wireless headset.

9. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the first electronic device is a personal computer, and the second electronic device is a portable electronic device.

10. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the first electronic device and/or the second electronic device is a portable media player.

11. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the first electronic device and/or the second electronic device is a portable communication device.

12. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the first electronic device and/or the second electronic device is a portable electronic device having media playback capabilities and wireless voice communications capabilities.

13. A method for pairing first and second electronic devices for wireless communication, the method comprising:

detecting a wired connection between the first and second electronic devices;

initiating pairing of the first and second electronic devices after the wired connected has been detected; and

completing pairing of the first and second electronic devices.

14. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein the pairing is initiated without user action to request pairing.

15. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein the completing pairing comprises exchanging one or more cryptographic keys over a wireless connection between the first and second electronic devices.

16. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein the wired connection is a direct connection.

17. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein the wired connection is a direct connection via electrical connector.

18. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein the wired connection is an indirect connection.

19. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein the method further comprises:

configuration of the second electronic device based on configuration information stored by the first electronic device.

20. A method as recited in claim 19, wherein the configuring of the second electronic device comprises:

retrieving, from the first electronic device, configuration information associated with the second electronic device;

transferring the retrieved configuration information to the second electronic device; and

causing configuration the second electronic device in accordance with the retrieved configuration information.

21. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein the configuration information associated with the second electronic device includes at least one of a preference setting, a volume level or a device/user name.

22. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein the method further comprises:

thereafter transferring data between the first and second electronic devices.

23. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein the second electronic device is a wireless headset.

24. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein the first electronic device and/or the second electronic device is a portable media player.

25. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein the first electronic device and/or the second electronic device is a portable communication device.

26. A method as recited in claim 25, wherein the portable communication device is a mobile phone.

27. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein the first electronic device is a personal computer or a portable electronic device, and the second electronic device is a portable electronic device having media playback capabilities and wireless voice communications capabilities.

28. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein the first electronic device is a personal computer or a portable electronic device having media playback capabilities and/or wireless voice communications capabilities, and the second electronic device is an accessory device for use with the first electronic device.

29. A method for pairing first and second electronic devices for wireless communication, the method comprising:

detecting a user action with respect to at least one of the first electronic device and the second electronic device;

initiating pairing of the first and second electronic devices in response to the detection of the user action; and

completing pairing of the first and second electronic devices.

30. A method as recited in claim 29, wherein a user performs the user action, and the user action does not require any data entry by the user to initiate pairing.

31. A method as recited in claim 29, wherein the user action comprises bringing the second electronic device in close proximity to the first electronic device.

32. A method as recited in claim 29, wherein the user action comprises bringing the first electronic device in close proximity to the second electronic device.

33. A method as recited in claim 29, wherein the user action comprises making direct physical contact between the first electronic device and the second electronic device.

34. A method as recited in claim 29, wherein the completing pairing comprises exchanging one or more cryptographic keys over a wireless connection between the first and second electronic devices.

35. A method as recited in claim 29, wherein the method further comprises:

configuring the second electronic device based on configuration information stored by the first electronic device.

36. A method as recited in claim 29, wherein the first electronic device is a personal computer or a portable electronic device having media playback capabilities and/or wireless voice communications capabilities, and the second electronic device is an accessory device for use with the first electronic device.

37. A computer readable medium including computer program code for pairing first and second electronic devices for wireless communication, the computer readable medium comprising:

computer program code for detecting, at the first electronic device, that the second electronic device is in close proximity; and

computer program code for pairing of the first and second electronic devices after or while it is detected that the second electronic device is in close proximity to the first electronic device.

38. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 37, wherein the computer program code for pairing comprises:

computer program code for configuring the second electronic device based on configuration information stored by the first electronic device.

39. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 37, wherein the computer program code for pairing comprises:

computer program code for operating the first electronic device in a pairing mode;

computer program code for setting the second electronic device in a discovery mode; and

computer program code for exchanging cryptographic keys between the first electronic device and the second electronic device.

40. A host electronic device, comprising:

proximity means for detecting a wireless device being in close proximity to the host electronic device;

a wireless transceiver for transferring data between the host electronic device and the wireless device over a wireless data link; and

a pairing manager operatively connected to the proximity means and the wireless transceiver, the pairing manager manages pairing of the host electronic device and the wireless device, wherein the pairing manager requires that the wireless device to be in close proximity to the host electronic device in order to pair the host electronic device and the wireless device.

41. A host electronic device as recited in claim 40, wherein the pairing manager automatically initiates pairing when the wireless device is in close proximity to the host electronic device.

42. A host electronic device as recited in claim 40, wherein the host electronic device is a personal computer or a portable electronic device having media playback capabilities and/or wireless voice communications capabilities, and the wireless device is an accessory device for use with the host electronic device.

43. A method as recited in claim 42, wherein the accessory device is a wireless headset.