Low cost proximity pairing mechanism in wireless personal area networks

A wireless networking method, comprising the steps of:

• periodically transmitting synchronization beacons from a master device;
• placing the master device and a peripheral device within twenty feet of each other;
• receiving at the peripheral device at least one of the synchronization beacons from the master device;
• transmitting a radio frequency request for proximity pairing from the peripheral device to the master device;
• reducing a level of transmission power in the master device for proximity pairing;
• transmitting a radio frequency request for confirmation of the radio frequency request for proximity pairing, the request for confirmation being transmitted from the master device to the peripheral device;
• transmitting node identification information and security information from the master device to the peripheral device;
• and
• after the proximity pairing is complete, increasing the level of transmission power in the master device for future communication with the peripheral device.