Bluetooth Virtual Serial Port Manager for Instant Pairing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional Bluetooth communication methods require a time-consuming scan-associate process to establish connections and do not allow user configuration of available devices, nor do they prevent the system from being discoverable to other devices, which is undesirable in public spaces.
Innovation Solution
A system that uses a Bluetooth manager with a graphical user interface, an Outgoing Port Driver, and virtual serial ports to enable Bluetooth communications without the need for a scan-associate process, allowing user configuration and hiding the device from discovery by others.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a scan-associate process is performed to establish Bluetooth communication, then device presence can be detected and communication can be initiated, but the process is time-consuming (up to a couple of minutes)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs the scan-associate process in advance during system initialization or configuration, creating a pre-established list of available Bluetooth devices. This preliminary action stores device presence information before actual communication is needed, eliminating the need to perform scanning at the moment of communication request and thus reducing connection establishment time to nearly instantaneous.
2Productivity
If the system performs automatic scan-associate process periodically to determine available devices, then a list of communicable devices is created, but the list cannot be configured by the user
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic system where the list of available Bluetooth devices can be configured and modified by the user. The system allows adding specific device identifiers (such as device addresses or names) to a whitelist of permitted communication targets. This dynamic configuration capability enables users to adapt the system to their specific needs while maintaining efficient communication with pre-approved devices.
3Ease of operation
If the system allows Bluetooth discovery to be visible to public, then other Bluetooth devices can find and connect to it, but this is undesirable in public spaces for privacy reasons
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements selective discoverability where the system can be configured to be discoverable only to specific pre-approved Bluetooth devices rather than all devices in range. By using the pre-established device list, the system creates localized visibility - each approved device can find and connect to the system, but other devices cannot. This provides targeted connectivity while maintaining privacy in public spaces.
Data Source
AI summary
A system that provides for Bluetooth communications from a first Bluetooth enabled device to a second Bluetooth enabled device is provided. The system comprising a Bluetooth manager that provides a graphical user interface, an Outgoing Port Driver that shares configurational information with and is started by the Bluetooth manager, a first serial port that receives data from an application operating on the first device, the first serial port acting as a virtual serial port where the first serial port is not connected to communications hardware, a second serial port that is connected to communications hardware, the second serial port acting as an outgoing port, and a Bluetooth stack that receives data to be communicated from the second serial port, wherein the Outgoing Port Driver directs the data from the first serial port to the second serial port via the Outgoing Port Driver.