Method, apparatus, and use of presence detection to control a function of a device requiring a pairing security level

A system for controlling a device, comprising:

• a first non-transitory computer readable medium, comprising instructions for causing a first Bluetooth device to pair with a second Bluetooth device when executed by a processor;
• and
• a second non-transitory computer readable medium, comprising instructions for causing the second Bluetooth device to pair with the first Bluetooth device when executed by a processor, the second Bluetooth device performing a function when paired with the first Bluetooth device, wherein the function is selected from a group comprising authenticating a user on a computer or operating a switch;
• such that if the second Bluetooth device asserts a first pairing security level requiring only a Bluetooth address, and if the first Bluetooth device pairs with the second Bluetooth device, then the second Bluetooth device is caused to perform the function;
• and
• such that if the second Bluetooth device asserts a second pairing security level requiring encryption, and if the first Bluetooth device pairs with the second Bluetooth device using encryption, then the second Bluetooth device is caused to perform the function;
• and wherein if the second Bluetooth device asserts a third pairing security level requiring encryption, and if the first Bluetooth device pairs with the second Bluetooth device using encryption, then the second Bluetooth device is caused to perform the function and then to maintain the pairing security level at the third pairing security level, and if during a time when the pairing security level is maintained at the third pairing security level, a presence is detected of a third Bluetooth device requesting pairing with the second Bluetooth device at the second or third pairing security level, the pairing security level of the first and second paired Bluetooth devices is lowered to the first pairing security level for a temporary allotted period of time without entering a mode that does not perform the function.

A system for controlling a device, comprising:

• a first Bluetooth device comprising a controlled device, the controlled device including at least a non-transitory computer-readable medium, the non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions for causing the controlled device to broadcast a signal indicating at least a device address of the controlled device and a pairing security level required of a pairing relationship with the controlled device;
• such that, if the controlled device establishes a pairing relationship with a controller of a second Bluetooth device, the pairing relationship is associated with a pairing security level, and wherein the pairing security level is an encrypted connection which changes to an unencrypted connection based on a device address after a period of time, and
• wherein if the controlled device establishes the pairing relationship with the controller, a function is performed, the function selected from a group comprising authenticating a user on a computer or operating a switch;
• and
• such that if during a time when the pairing security level is maintained with an encrypted connection, a presence is detected of a third Bluetooth device requesting pairing with the controlled device at a second or third pairing security level, the pairing security level of the paired controller and controlled device is lowered to the unencrypted connection for a temporary allotted period of time without entering a mode that does not perform the function.

A system for controlling a device, comprising:

• a first Bluetooth device comprising a controller, the controller including at least a first non-transitory computer-readable medium, the first non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions for causing the controller to perform the following steps:
• broadcasting a plurality of sequential signals, the sequential signals indicating at least a device address of the controller;
• receiving a broadcasted signal from a second Bluetooth device comprising a controlled device, the broadcasted signal from the controlled device indicating at least a device address of the controlled device and a pairing security level required of the pairing relationship with the controlled device;
• determining if the controller and controlled device have established a prior pairing relationship;
• if the controller and controlled device have established a prior pairing relationship, then re-establishing a pairing relationship, whereby the controlled device is caused to enter a first operating mode performing a function, wherein the function is selected from a group comprising authenticating a user on a computer or operating a switch;
• and
• if the controller and controlled device have not established a pairing relationship previously, then
• a function, wherein the function is selected from a group comprising authenticating a user on a computer or operating a switch;
• relationship between the controller
• and the controlled device, the pairing relationship associated with a pairing security level, whereby the controlled device is caused to enter the first operating mode, such that upon the absence of a received broadcasted signal from the controller, the controlled device enters a second operating mode in which the function is not performed;
• such that, if the controller and the controlled device establish a pairing relationship, the pairing relationship is associated with the pairing security level, and wherein the pairing security level is an encrypted connection which changes to an unencrypted connection based on a device address after a period of time;
• such that if during a time when the pairing security level is maintained with an encrypted connection, a presence is detected of a third Bluetooth device requesting pairing with the controlled device at a second or third pairing security level, the pairing security level of the paired controller and controlled device is lowered to the unencrypted connection for a temporary allotted period of time without entering the second operating mode.

A method of controlling a device, comprising:

• establishing a pairing relationship between a first Bluetooth device comprising a controller and a second Bluetooth device comprising a controlled device;
• wherein the pairing relationship is associated with a pairing security level, and wherein the pairing security level is an encrypted connection which changes to an unencrypted connection based on a device address after a period of time, causing the controlled device to enter a first operating mode performing a function, wherein the function is selected from a group comprising authenticating a user on a computer or operating a switch;
• and
• wherein if the controller and the controlled device become separated by greater than a first proximity wherein the pairing relationship is destroyed, causing the controlled device to enter a second operating mode not performing the function;
• and
• such that if during a time when the pairing security level is maintained with an encrypted connection, a presence is detected of a third Bluetooth device requesting pairing with the controlled device at a second or third pairing security level, the pairing security level of the paired controller and controlled device is lowered to the unencrypted connection for a temporary allotted period of time without entering the second operating mode.