Pairing of wireless devices using a wired medium
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorJeremy Wyld
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Techniques that facilitate pairing of wireless devices with other wireless devices are disclosed. According to one aspect, a pair of wireless devices can be paired for wireless data exchange using an available wired link. Advantageously, the wired link can be used to transport a pin code from one of the wireless devices to the other. Consequently, pairing of the wireless devices can be completed without necessitating user entry of a pin code so long as the wired link is available.
Claims24
A non-transitory computer readable medium including at least non-transitory computer program code for pairing a host device with a wireless device, said non-transitory computer readable medium comprising:
- at the host device;
- non-transitory computer program code for detecting a wired data link between the host device and the wireless device;
- non-transitory computer program code for establishing a wireless data link between the host device and the wireless device;
- non-transitory computer program code for retrieving a pin code internal to the host device;
- non-transitory computer program code for sending the pin code to the wireless device over the wired data link;
- non-transitory computer program code for receiving authentication data from the wireless device;
- non-transitory computer program code for presenting the pin code, after said receiving, on an output device of the host device;
- non-transitory computer program code for authenticating the wireless device based on the received authentication data;
- and
- non-transitory computer program code for completing pairing of the host device with the wireless device when the wireless device has been authenticated.
A method for pairing a wireless device with a host device, the method comprising:
- at the wireless device;
- receiving a pairing request from the host device over a wireless network;
- after detecting a wired connection between the wireless device and the host device,
- waiting at least a pre-determined time period or until receiving a pin code from the host device over the wired connection;
- when not receiving the pin code during the pre-determined time period,
- presenting a pin code prompt screen to a user of the wireless device, and
- receiving a pin code through a user input device of the wireless device;
- after receiving the pin code,
- generating authentication data based on the received pin code;
- sending the authentication data from the wireless device to the host device;
- and
- subsequently completing pairing of the wireless device with the host device when the wireless device has been authenticated.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.