Method and system for pairing of wireless devices using physical presence

• US 8,472,874 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2007
• Issued: 06/25/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Tang, John, Hankey, Evans, Sanford, Emery A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dao, Minh D
• Application Number:
  US11/686,253
• Publication Number:
  US 20080227393A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,295 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.2, 455/575.2, 455/558, 455/557, 455/445, 455/456, 455/3.06, 340/5.53, 340/5.52, 370/313, 370/310, 379/212.01
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• 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 that the first electronic device and the second electronic device are connected;

initiating pairing of the first and second electronic devices after it is detected that the first electronic device and the second electronic device are connected, 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;

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 for subsequent operations of the second electronic device.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the configuration information includes a volume setting.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the configuration information includes a preference setting.

4. 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.

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

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

7. 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.

8. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the configuring of the second electronic device comprises configuring the second electronic device to control or restrict data that can be transferred by the second electronic to the first electronic device.

9. A method as recited in claim 8, wherein the controlling or restricting of data that can be transferred by the second electronic device comprises limiting or controlling one or more of the following:

type of data, quantity or amount of data, and duration of transfer of data.

10. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the method comprises:

configuring the first electronic device subsequent to the completion of the pairing.

11. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

subsequent to the completion of the pairing, configuring at least one of the first and electronic devices to control or restrict data transfer between them.

12. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

causing transfer of a user profile to at least one of the first and second electronic devices to control the nature of extent of data transfer between the first and second electronic devices.

13. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the configuring of the second electronic device comprises configuring the second electronic device for at least transfer or exchange of media data or items between them.

14. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the configuring of the second electronic device occurs after being paired to the first electronic device.

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

detecting whether the first electronic device and the second electronic device are connected via a docking device;

initiating pairing of the first and second electronic devices after it is detected that the first electronic device and the second electronic device are connected;

completing pairing of the first and second electronic devices; and

subsequent to the completion of the pairing, configuring the second electronic device based on configuration information stored by the first electronic device for subsequent operations of the second electronic device.

16. A method as recited in claim 15, 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.

17. A method as recited in claim 16, wherein the second electronic device is a wireless headset.

18. A method as recited in claim 15, wherein the pairing is initiated without user action to request pairing.

19. 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 connection has been detected, wherein the initiating pairing is performed after it is detected that the second electronic device is in close proximity to the first electronic device, wherein the pairing is initiated without user action to request pairing;

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.

20. A method as recited in claim 19, wherein the completing pairing comprises exchanging one or more cryptographic keys over a wireless connection between the first and second electronic devices.

21. A method as recited in claim 19, wherein the wired connection is a direct connection.

22. A method as recited in claim 19, wherein the wired connection is a direct connection via electrical connector.

23. A method as recited in claim 19, wherein the wired connection is an indirect connection.

24. 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 of the second electronic device in accordance with the retrieved configuration information.

25. A method as recited in claim 19, 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.

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

thereafter transferring data between the first and second electronic devices.

27. A method as recited in claim 19, wherein the second electronic device is a wireless headset.

28. A method as recited in claim 19, wherein the first electronic device and/or the second electronic device is a portable media player.

29. A method as recited in claim 19, wherein the first electronic device and/or the second electronic device is a portable communication device.

30. A method as recited in claim 29, wherein the portable communication device is a mobile phone.

31. A method as recited in claim 19, 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.

32. A method as recited in claim 19, 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.

33. A method as recited in claim 19, wherein the configuring the second electronic device occurs after being paired to the first electronic device.

34. 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, wherein the user action comprises making direct physical contact between 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, wherein a user performs the user action, and the user action does not require any data entry by the user to initiate pairing, wherein the initiating pairing is performed 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 after being paired to the first electronic device based on configuration information stored by the first electronic device.

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

36. A method as recited in claim 34, 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 that the second electronic device is in close proximity of the first electronic device;

computer program code for detecting that the first electronic device and the second electronic device are connected;

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, wherein the 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 and that the first electronic device and the second electronic device are connected; and

computer program code for configuring the second electronic device after being paired to the first configuration device based on configuration information available 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 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.

39. A host electronic device, comprising:

a docking device for connecting a wireless device and the host electronic device, wherein the docking device is operable to detect that the wireless device and the host electronic device are connected;

a pairing manager operatively connected to the docking device, the pairing manager manages pairing of the host electronic device and the wireless device and the pairing manager automatically initiates pairing when the wireless device is connected to the host electronic device,

wherein the pairing manager requires that the wireless device to be connected to the host electronic device in order to pair the host electronic device and the wireless device, and

wherein, following the pairing, the pairing manager configures the wireless device that is paired to the host electronic device based on configuration information available to the host electronic device.

40. A host electronic device as recited in claim 39, 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.

41. A method as recited in claim 40, wherein the accessory device is a wireless headset.

42. In a first electronic device, a method comprising:

detecting that a second electronic device is in proximity for wireless communication with the first electronic device;

initiating communication in a restricted or limited manner with the second electronic device to effectively link the second electronic device to the first electronic device for data transfer between them, after the second device is detected in the proximity for wireless communication with the first electronic device, wherein the initiating communication is performed after detecting that the first electronic device and the second electronic device are connected; and

subsequent to completion of the effective linking of the second electronic device to the first electronic device, configuring at least one of the first and second linked electronic devices.

43. A method as recited in claim 42, wherein the linking of the second electronic device to the first electronic device does not formally pair the first and second devices together.

44. A method as recited in claim 42, wherein the linking of the second electronic device to the first electronic device pairs the first and second devices together.