Direction-Based Wireless Pairing for Accurate Terminal Selection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for wireless communication between electronic devices fail to utilize direction information to appropriately specify a terminal device for connection, leading to inefficient and inconvenient connections due to unstable wireless communication and potential errors.

Innovation Solution

An electronic device equipped with a direction information acquisition unit to determine the position of a terminal device relative to a reference point and perform wireless connection only when the terminal device is within a predetermined direction range, using beacon signals and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) direction detection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If wireless communication is performed without direction information, then the wireless connection can be established with any terminal device, but the connection may be made to the wrong device leading to communication errors

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewireless connection accuracyVSAvoidconnection setting complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces direction information as an intermediary parameter to mediate between the terminal device and electronic device. This direction information, obtained from beacon signals, serves as a mediator to accurately identify the intended connection target without requiring complex user input or device configuration changes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual device selection (mechanical interaction) with automatic direction-based identification. Instead of requiring users to manually select devices or configure complex connection settings, the system automatically determines the correct terminal device based on direction information from beacon signals.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If direction information is used to specify terminal device, then the correct device can be identified accurately, but the connection setting process becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveterminal device identification accuracyVSAvoidwireless connection setup ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables the system to automatically perform device identification and connection setup based on direction information from beacon signals. The terminal device and electronic device self-identify each other through the direction information mechanism, eliminating the need for manual user intervention in the connection setup process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If wireless connection is attempted from any direction, then connection flexibility is maintained, but connection stability deteriorates due to inappropriate positions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewireless communication stabilityVSAvoidconnection position flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by determining connection suitability based on the specific directional relationship between devices. Instead of treating all connection positions equally, the system evaluates direction information locally to determine whether the terminal device is in an appropriate position for stable communication with the electronic device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS12532250B2Proximate positioning for wireless connection of an electronic device

Publication Date: 2026.01.20 SEIKO EPSON CORP

AI summary

An electronic device wirelessly communicates with a terminal device by a wireless communicator, and includes a direction information acquisition unit and a processor. The direction information acquisition unit acquires, based on a beacon signal received by the wireless communicator from the terminal device, direction information related to a direction of the terminal device with respect to a reference position of the electronic device. The processor performs wireless connection of wirelessly connecting to the terminal device when the processor determines that, based on the direction information, the terminal device is positioned in a predetermined direction range.