METHOD OF PAIRING DEVICES

• US 20090034591A1
• Filed: 07/30/2007
• Published: 02/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Julian, David Jonathan, Jia, Zhanfeng
• Granted Patent: US 8,059,573 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 375/220
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/50 Secure pairing of devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/21 for social networking applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals

Abstract

Some aspects include a method of associating electronic devices for communicating data. The method includes receiving a message on a first device indicating that a second device is discoverable and pairable. The method further includes determining whether the first device is pairable, transmitting a pairing response to the second device based on the determination that the first device is pairable, and pairing the first device to the second device in response to the received message and the determination that the first device is pairable. For example, some aspects include devices such as headsets, watches, and medical devices configured to use such methods for communicating data.

Claims

1. A method of associating electronic devices for communicating data, comprising:

receiving, at a first device, a broadcast message indicating that a second device is discoverable and pairable, said first device being discoverable;

determining whether the first device is pairable;

transmitting a pairing response message to the second device based on the determination that the first device is pairable; and

pairing the first device to the second device in response to the received message and the determination that the first device is pairable.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising monitoring for the broadcast message if the first device is discoverable.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the pairing response message comprises a broadcast message.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the pairing response message comprises a unicast message.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising activating the first device as being pairable.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the activation is for a specified duration.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the specified duration comprises a period of time of about one to thirty seconds.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the specified duration comprises a period of time of about ten seconds.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein activating the first device as being pairable comprises receiving a user input.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the received message comprises a state datum that indicates that the second device is discoverable and pairable.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the state datum comprises one of a first value indicative of the first device being discoverable and a second value indicative of the first device being discoverable and pairable.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein pairing comprises automatically pairing in response to receiving the received broadcast message.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein pairing comprises:

determining a distance between the first and second devices based on at least one signal transmitted by the second device, wherein the first and second devices are paired if the distance is within a defined distance.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the defined distance is about 1 meter.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the transmitted and received messages comprises at least one pulse.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the at least one pulse has a fractional bandwidth of at least about 20%, has a bandwidth of at least about 500 MHz, or has a fractional bandwidth of at least about 20% and has a bandwidth of at least about 500 MHz.

17. An electronic device for wireless communications, comprising:

a receiver configured to receive a broadcast message indicating that a second device is discoverable and pairable, wherein the electronic device is discoverable;

an integrated circuit configured to determine whether the electronic device is pairable; and

a transmitter configured to transmit a pairing response message to the second device based on the determination that the electronic device is pairable,

wherein the integrated circuit is further configured to pair the electronic device to the second device in response to the received message and the determination that the electronic device is pairable.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the receiver is configured to monitor for the broadcast message if the electronic device is discoverable.

19. The device of claim 17, wherein the pairing response message comprises a broadcast message.

20. The device of claim 17, wherein the pairing response message comprises a unicast message.

21. The device of claim 17, wherein the integrated circuit is further configured to activate the electronic device as being pairable.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein the activation is for a specified duration.

23. The device of claim 22, wherein the specified duration comprises a period of time of about one to thirty seconds.

24. The device of claim 22, wherein the specified duration comprises a period of time of about ten seconds.

25. The device of claim 21, further comprising an input device configured to receive a user input, and wherein the integrated circuit is configured to activate the electronic device as being pairable in response to an input received by the input device.

26. The device of claim 17, wherein the received message comprises a state datum that indicates that the second device is discoverable and pairable.

27. The device of claim 26, wherein the state datum comprises one of a first value indicative of the electronic device being discoverable and a second value indicative of the electronic device being discoverable and pairable.

28. The device of claim 17, wherein the integrated circuit is configured to automatically pair in response to receiving the received broadcast message.

29. The device of claim 17, wherein the integrated circuit is configured to determine a distance between the electronic device and the second devices based on at least one signal transmitted by the second device and received by the receiver, wherein the integrated circuit is configured to pair the electronic device and the second devices if the distance is within a defined distance.

30. The device of claim 29, wherein the defined distance is about 1 meter.

31. The device of claim 17, wherein at least one of the transmitted and received messages comprises at least one pulse.

32. The device of claim 32, wherein the at least one pulse has a fractional bandwidth of at least about 20%, has a bandwidth of at least about 500 MHz, or has a fractional bandwidth of at least about 20% and has a bandwidth of at least about 500 MHz.

33. An electronic device for wireless communications, comprising:

means for receiving a broadcast message at the electronic device indicating that a second device is discoverable and pairable, wherein the electronic device is discoverable;

means for determining whether the electronic device is pairable;

means for transmitting a pairing response message to the second device based on the determination that the electronic device is pairable; and

means for pairing the electronic device to the second device in response to the received message and the determination that the electronic device is pairable.

34. The device of claim 33, wherein the receiving means is configured to monitor for the broadcast message if the electronic device is discoverable.

35. The device of claim 33, wherein the pairing response message comprises a broadcast message.

36. The device of claim 33, wherein the pairing response message comprises a unicast message.

37. The device of claim 33, further comprising means for activating the electronic device as being pairable.

38. The device of claim 37, wherein the activation is for a specified duration.

39. The device of claim 38, wherein the specified duration comprises a period of time of about one to thirty seconds.

40. The device of claim 38, wherein the specified duration comprises a period of time of about ten seconds.

41. The device of claim 37, further comprising means for receiving a user input, and wherein the activating means is configured to activate the electronic device as being pairable in response to an input received by the input means.

42. The device of claim 33, wherein the received message comprises a state datum that indicates that the second device is discoverable and pairable.

43. The device of claim 42, wherein the state datum comprises one of a first value indicative of the electronic device being discoverable and a second value indicative of the electronic device being discoverable and pairable.

44. The device of claim 33, wherein the pairing means is configured to automatically pair in response to receiving the received broadcast message.

45. The device of claim 33, further comprising means for determining a distance between the electronic device and the second devices based on at least one signal transmitted by the second device and received by the receiver, wherein the pairing means is configured to pair the electronic device and the second devices if the distance is within a defined distance.

47. The device of claim 33, wherein at least one of the transmitted and received messages comprises at least one pulse.

48. The device of claim 47, wherein the at least one pulse has a fractional bandwidth of at least about 20%, has a bandwidth of at least about 500 MHz, or has a fractional bandwidth of at least about 20% and has a bandwidth of at least about 500 MHz.

46. The device of claim 46, wherein the defined distance is about 1 meter.

49. A computer-program product for wireless communications, comprising:

computer-readable medium comprising codes executable by at least one computer to;

receive a broadcast message at a first device indicating that a second device is discoverable and pairable, wherein the first device is discoverable;

determine whether the first device is pairable;

transmit a pairing response message to the second device based on the determination that the first device is pairable; and

pair the first device to the second device in response to the received message and the determination that the first device is pairable.

50. A headset for wireless communications, comprising:

a microphone adapted to provide sensed data;

a receiver configured to receive a broadcast message indicating that a second device is discoverable and pairable, wherein the headset is discoverable;

an integrated configured to determine whether the headset is pairable; and

a transmitter configured to transmit a pairing response message to the second device based on the determination that the headset is pairable,

wherein the integrated circuit is further configured to pair the headset to the second device in response to the received message and the determination that headset is pairable and

wherein the transmitter is further configured to transmit a signal based on the sensed data.

51. A sensed device for wireless communications, comprising:

a sensor adapted to provide sensed data;

a receiver configured to receive a broadcast message indicating that a second device is discoverable and pairable, wherein the sensed device is discoverable;

an integrated circuit configured to determine whether the sensed device is pairable; and

a transmitter configured to transmit a pairing response message to the second device based on the determination that the sensed device is pairable,

wherein the integrated circuit is further configured to pair the sensed device to the second device in response to the received message and the determination that the sensed device is pairable and

wherein the transmitter is further configured to transmit a signal based on the sensed data.

52. A watch for wireless communications, comprising:

a receiver configured to receive a broadcast message indicating that a second device is discoverable and pairable, wherein the watch is discoverable;

an integrated circuit configured to determine whether the watch is pairable;

a transmitter configured to transmit a pairing response message to the second device based on the determination that the watch is pairable,

wherein the integrated circuit is further configured to pair the watch to the second device in response to the received message and the determination that the watch is pairable; and

a display adapted to provide a visual output based on data received via the receiver.