Pairing a computing device to a user

A memory holding instructions executable by a processor to:

• receive an input from an unpaired input device within an observed scene;
• calculate a position of the unpaired input device upon receiving the input, the position including a distance and an angle from a computing device;
• detect one or more users within the observed scene via a capture device of the computing device;
• create a candidate list of the one or more detected users determined to be within a vicinity of the unpaired input device, the candidate list including a distance between each user and the unpaired input device;
• assign one detected user on the candidate list to the unpaired input device to initiate pairing, the one user being a nearest user to the unpaired input device, and once assigned, the unpaired input device being a paired input device.

A method for automatically pairing an input device to a user, the method executed by a computing device communicatively coupled to the input device, the method comprising:

• receiving an input from an unpaired input device within an observed scene;
• calculating a position of the unpaired input device upon receiving the input, the position including a distance and an angle relative to the computing device;
• detecting one or more users within the observed scene via a capture device of the computing device;
• identifying each detected user within the observed scene by identifying a physical attribute of each detected user and matching the physical attribute of each detected user to a profile associated with each detected user;
• creating a candidate list of the one or more identified users determined to be within a vicinity of the unpaired input device, the candidate list including a right hand distance, a left hand distance, and a geometric center distance between each user and the unpaired input device;
• assigning one detected user on the candidate list to the unpaired input device to initiate pairing, the one user being a nearest user to the unpaired input device, the right hand distance, the left hand distance, or the geometric center distance for the nearest user having a strongest correlation to the unpaired input device, and once assigned, the unpaired input device being a paired input device;
• tracking the nearest user and the paired input device by correlating a motion of the nearest user's right hand or left hand to a motion of the paired input device, the motion of the nearest user's right hand or left hand including the nearest user providing input to the computing device via interaction with the paired input device;
• terminating an association of the nearest user to the paired input device if input from the paired input device is not received for a threshold period of time, and if the association is terminated, returning the paired input device to an unpaired state;
• and
• transferring the paired input device to a second user if a position of the second user has the strongest correlation to the position of the paired input device, the second user being another detected user on the candidate list.