Inflight entertainment system that selects among passenger electronic devices for connection based on power measurements

An Bluetooth device pairing system comprising:

• a display device;
• a Bluetooth transceiver;
• at least one processor connected to the Bluetooth transceiver and the display device, and configured to perform operations comprising:
• displaying a first message on the display device instructing a user to move an electronic device (ED) to a first location;
• generating a list of Bluetooth identifiers of EDs that are discovered through the Bluetooth transceiver;
• for a plurality of the Bluetooth identifiers in the list,
• generating a first received signal strength indication from measurement of at least one radio signal received from the ED having the Bluetooth identifier, and
• updating a candidate EDs data structure to comprise a paired association between the Bluetooth identifier and the first received signal strength indication measured for the at least one radio signal received from the ED having the Bluetooth identifier;
• following the updating of the candidate EDs data structure, displaying a second message on the display device instructing the user to move the ED to a second location that is spaced apart from the first location;
• for a plurality of the Bluetooth identifiers in the list that are still discoverable through the Bluetooth transceiver,
• generating a second received signal strength indication from measurement of at least one radio signal received from the ED having the Bluetooth identifier, and
• updating the candidate EDs data structure to further associate the Bluetooth identifier to the second received signal strength indication measured for the at least one radio signal received from the Bluetooth device having the Bluetooth identifier;
• selecting one of the Bluetooth identifiers that satisfies a defined rule for an amount of change determined between the first and second received signal strength indications that are associated via the candidate EDs data structure with the one of the Bluetooth identifiers in the list;
• and
• responsive to the selection, establishing a connection through the Bluetooth transceiver with a Bluetooth transceiver of the ED having the selected one of the Bluetooth identifiers.

An electronic device comprising:

• a Bluetooth transceiver;
• at least one processor connected to the Bluetooth transceiver and configured to perform operations comprising:
• responsive to detecting occurrence of a first operational event,
• generating a list of Bluetooth identifiers of other electronic devices (EDs) that are discovered through the Bluetooth transceiver,
• for a plurality of the Bluetooth identifiers in the list,
• generating a first received signal strength indication from measurement of at least one radio signal received from the ED having the Bluetooth identifier, and
• updating a candidate EDs data structure to comprise a paired association between the Bluetooth identifier and the first received signal strength indication measured for the at least one radio signal received from the ED having the Bluetooth identifier;
• following the updating of the candidate EDs data structure and responsive to detecting occurrence of a second operational event;
• for a plurality of the Bluetooth identifiers in the list that is still discoverable through the Bluetooth transceiver,
• generating a second received signal strength indication from measurement of at least one radio signal received from the ED having the Bluetooth identifier, and
• updating the candidate EDs data structure to further associate the Bluetooth identifier to the second received signal strength indication measured for the at least one radio signal received from the Bluetooth device having the Bluetooth identifier;
• selecting one of the Bluetooth identifiers that satisfies a defined rule for an amount of change determined between the first and second received signal strength indications that are associated via the candidate EDs data structure with the one of the Bluetooth identifiers in the list;
• and
• responsive to the selection, initiating further operations for establishing a connection through the Bluetooth transceiver with a Bluetooth transceiver of the ED having the selected one of the Bluetooth identifiers.