System and method for linking and sharing resources amongst devices

• US 8,850,045 B2
• Filed: 06/29/2011
• Issued: 09/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Berg, Samantha, Lenox, Kim, Brown, Robert, Kruglikov, Vitaly, Chatterjee, Manjirnath, George, Moses
• Primary Examiner(s): Chan, Wing F
• Assistant Examiner(s): MUNDUR, PADMAVATHI V
• Application Number:
  US13/171,878
• Publication Number:
  US 20120042087A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,189 Days
• Field of Search: 709/225, 709229-232
• US Class Current: 709/229
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/18 using different networks or channels, e.g. using out of band channels cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key distribution involving distinctive intermediate devices or communication paths H04L9/0827; cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for authentication using a plurality of channels H04L9/3215
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72427 for supporting games or graphical animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/50 Secure pairing of devices

Abstract

A device is enabled to establish a secure and persistent pairing with one another across a communication medium, using credential information that is exchanged out-of-band.

Claims

1. A method for pairing a first computing device having a first inductive coil, with a second computing device having a second inductive coil, the method comprising:

(a) establishing a communication link with the second computing device corresponding to a wireless communication medium;

(b) receiving credential information for the second computing device over the wireless communication medium;

(c) in response to receiving the credential information, generating a link key using the credential information for pairing with the second computing device over an inductive communication medium;

(d) storing the link key for use in inductively pairing the first computing device with the second computing device over multiple communication sessions, wherein each of the multiple communication sessions corresponds to an individual inductive pairing and unpairing of the first computing device and the second computing device;

(e) in response to an inductive pairing of the first computing device and the second computing device, automatically sending data to the second computing device, the data corresponding to one of (i) a web uniform resource locator (URL) corresponding to a webpage displayed on a display of the first computing device, or (ii) application data corresponding to an application running on the first computing device and the second computing device, wherein automatically sending the data to the second computing device causes a graphic interface, corresponding to the URL of the webpage or the application data, to be rendered on the display of the second computing device;

wherein the inductive pairing of the first computing device and the second computing device includes aligning the first and second inductive coils, and wherein the alignment of the first and second inductive coils is indicated via a visual indicator on the display of at least one of the first computing device or the second computing device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein steps (a) through (c) are performed in a first communication session over the wireless communication medium.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first computing device utilizes the stored link key to connect with the second computing device over a plurality of communication medium.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein inductive pairing of the first computing device and the second computing device using the link key is performed automatically in response to detecting that the second computing device is within an inductive range of the first computing device.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to inductively pairing the first computing device and the second computing device, automatically establishing a local radio-frequency link between the first computing device and the second computing device, wherein automatically sending the data to the second computing device is performed over a local radio-frequency communication medium corresponding to the local radio-frequency link.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the visual indicator corresponds to a halo rendered on the display of the second computing device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second computing devices correspond to a mobile computing device and a tablet device.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to sending the application data, analyzing and synchronizing a set of records corresponding to the application running on each of the first computing device and the second computing device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein sending the data includes sending media data that is received and outputted on the second computing device.

10. The method of claim 5, wherein an application event causes a user notification to be displayed on at least one of the first computing device or the second computing device, and wherein sending the application data renders a graphic corresponding to the application event on the other of the first or second computing device.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the application data is for a telephony application, and wherein the application event corresponds to a received phone call, and wherein sending the application data includes enabling the second computing device to receive the phone call.

12. A method for pairing a first computing device having a first inductive coil, with a second computing device having a second inductive coil, the method comprising:

(a) inductively communicating with a second computing device to receive credential information;

(b) determining, based on the credential information, a pairing configuration for the first computing device and the second computing device; and

(c) in response to determining the pairing configuration, pairing the first computing device and the second computing device according to the pairing configuration by establishing a local wireless communication link;

(d) storing the pairing configuration for use in inductively pairing the first computing device with the second computing device over multiple communication sessions, wherein each of the multiple communication sessions corresponds to an individual inductive pairing and unpairing of the first computing device and the second computing device;

(e) in response to a subsequent inductive pairing of the first computing device and the second computing device, automatically sending data to the second computing device, the data corresponding to one of (i) a web uniform resource locator (URL) corresponding to a webpage displayed on a display of the first computing device, or (ii) application data corresponding to an application running on the first computing device and the second computing device, wherein automatically sending the data to the second computing device causes a graphic interface, corresponding to the URL of the webpage or the application data, to be rendered on the display of the second computing device;

wherein the first computing device includes a first profile and the second computing device includes a second profile; and

wherein inductively pairing with the second computing device includes aligning the first and second inductive coils, and wherein the alignment of the first and second inductive coils is indicated on a display of one or more of the first computing device and the second computing device.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein (b) includes determining whether the first computing device and the second computing device have previously paired.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein (c) includes generating a user prompt for user-input to pair the first computing device and the second computing device.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein (b) includes determining whether the first profile and the second profile are associated.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein (c) includes limiting resources to be shared between the first computing device and the second computing device in response to determining that the first profile and the second profile are not associated.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein (b) includes determining a type of the second computing device.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein (c) includes limiting resources to be shared between the first computing device and the second computing device in response to determining that the second computing device is of a particular type.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein (c) is performed automatically in response to (a) being performed.

20. A first computing device comprising:

a first inductive signal interface;

a local communication port;

a memory resource; and

one or more processors coupled to operate the first inductive signal interface and the local communication port,

the one or more processors to;

establish a communication link with a second computing device corresponding to a wireless communication medium;

receive credential information for the second computing device over the wireless communication medium;

in response to receiving the credential information, generate a link key for pairing with the second computing device over an inductive communication medium, wherein the second computing device includes a second inductive interface; and

in response to an inductive pairing of the first computing device and the second computing device, automatically sending data to the second computing device, the data corresponding to one of (i) a web uniform resource locator (URL) of a webpage displayed on a display of the first computing device, or (ii) application data corresponding to an application running on the first computing device, wherein automatically sending the data causes a graphic interface, corresponding to the URL of the webpage or the application data, to be rendered on a display of the second computing device;

wherein the link key is stored in the memory resource for use in inductively pairing the first computing device with the second computing device, and

wherein the inductive pairing of the first computing device and the second computing device includes an alignment of the first and second inductive interfaces, and wherein the alignment of the first and second inductive interfaces is indicated via a visual indicator on a display of at least one of the first computing device or the second computing device.

21. The first computing device of claim 20, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to generate a link key for a third computing device using credential information that is exchanged with the third computing device over the local communication port.

22. The first computing device of claim 21, wherein the link key for the third computing device is generated in response to a user input.

23. The first computing device of claim 20, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to automatically pair with the second computing device using the link key in response to detecting that the second computing device is within an inductive range of the first computing device.