# US 8,544,054 B2 · System and method for remote device pairing > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,544,054 B2 - Document ID: US8544054B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/112,731 - Filed: 2011-05-20 - Published: 2012-11-22 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2011-05-20 - Assignees: EchoStar Technologies L.L.C. - Applicants: William R. Reams; Christopher W. Bruhn - Inventors: William R. Reams; Christopher W. Bruhn - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8544054B2 ## CPC - H04N 21/42221: {Transmission circuitry, e.g. infrared [IR] or radio frequency [RF]} - H04H 20/28: Arrangements for simultaneous broadcast of plural pieces of information - H04H 20/76: Wired systems - H04N 7/10: Adaptations for transmission by electrical cable (H04N7/12 takes precedence) - H04N 7/173: with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal - H04N 7/17309: {Transmission or handling of upstream communications} - H04N 7/17318: {Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests} - H04N 21/4122: {additional display device, e.g. video projector (digital output for controlling a plurality of local displays G06F3/1423)} - H04N 21/426: Internal components of the client {; Characteristics thereof} (H04N5/44 takes precedence) - H04N 21/43615: {Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals (home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805)} - H04N 21/4367: Establishing a secure communication between the client and a peripheral device or smart card - H04N 21/4622: {Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet (web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859)} - H04N 21/47: End-user applications - H04N 21/478: Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application - H04N 21/4782: Web browsing {, e.g. WebTV} - H04N 21/482: End-user interface for programme selection - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION - H04H: BROADCAST COMMUNICATION (multiplex communication H04J; pictorial communication aspects of broadcast systems H04N) ## Abstract A system and method for optimizing pairing between a remote device and a plurality of devices including establishing a list of pairing-capable devices, the list comprising a portion of the plurality of devices, measuring a plurality of link qualities between the remote device and the pairing-capable devices, comparing, with a processor, the plurality of link qualities with one another and determining a highest link quality, selecting, by a computing device, an available pairing-capable device having the highest link quality, pairing with the selected device, and controlling a presentation device, the controlling including checking if the selected device is the associated device and where the selected device is not the associated device, relaying commands via the network to the associated device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for modifying pairing between a remote device and a plurality of member devices in a network, the method comprising: pairing the remote device with a first member device, the first member device being one of the plurality of member devices in the network; establishing a list of pairing-capable member devices; measuring a plurality of link qualities between the remote device and a plurality of pairing-capable member devices; comparing, by a computing device, the link qualities of the remote device and the plurality of pairing-capable member devices to determine a higher link quality within the plurality of pairing-capable member devices; selecting, by the computing device, an available pairing-capable member device having the higher link quality within the plurality of pairing-capable member devices; pairing with the selected member device; and controlling a presentation device associated with the first member device by transmitting commands from the remote control to the selected member device, the controlling including: determining if the selected member device is the first member device; and if the selected member device is not the first member device, relaying the commands via the network from the selected member device to the first member device to control the presentation device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein selecting an available pairing-capable member device includes determining availability by offering to pair with a pairing-capable device with the highest link quality. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, further comprising receiving an acceptance of the offer. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, further comprising receiving a declining offer. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, further comprising determining availability by offering to pair with a pairing-capable member device with the next highest link quality. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising automatically initializing the plurality of member devices by communicating with the plurality of member devices and providing instructions to enter configuration mode. ### Claim 7 A system for modifying pairing between a remote device and a plurality of member devices in a network, the system comprising: a computer readable storage medium with instructions stored thereon and a processor for configured to execute the instructions, the instructions including operations for pairing with a first member device, the first member device being one of the plurality of member devices in the network; selecting a member device having a higher link quality with the remote device; pairing with the selected member device; and controller configured to receive commands transmitted to the selected member device from the remote device to control a presentation device associated with the first member device; determine if the selected member device is the first member device; and if the selected member device is not the first member device, relay the commands via the network from the selected member device to the first member device. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7, wherein the computer readable storage medium and processor are resident on the remote device. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7, wherein the computer readable storage medium and processor are resident on one or more of the plurality of member devices. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7, wherein the computer readable storage medium and processor are resident on a combination of the remote device and one or more of the plurality of member devices.