Automated Keyboard Pairing via Physical Contacts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing information handling systems face difficulties in practical and efficient pairing of wireless keyboards, especially in environments where display presentation is impractical, such as during manufacturing or in enterprise settings with numerous similar systems, due to the need for manual interaction and identification of correct peripherals.
Innovation Solution
An automated pairing system that uses physical contacts to align and communicate between the information handling system and keyboard, enabling wireless pairing and charging without user interaction, utilizing embedded controllers and sensors to manage the pairing process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual pairing process with display presentation is used, then user can identify and pair correct peripheral, but process becomes impractical and time-consuming in large-scale environments
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-establishing pairing information storage capabilities and automated identification mechanisms before the actual pairing is needed. The information handling system stores pairing information in advance and automatically retrieves it when the peripheral couples, eliminating the need for manual display presentation and user interaction during the pairing process.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service by allowing the information handling system to automatically identify and pair with the correct peripheral using stored pairing information, without requiring user intervention. The system serves itself by autonomously completing the pairing process through automated advertisement and discovery processes.
2Ease of operation
If display presentation is used for pairing code, then user can input security code, but display must be active and accessible which is not possible in closed or low power modes
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the pairing information presentation from the display interface and transfers it to the peripheral device itself. Instead of showing the pairing code on the information handling system's display, the system sends the pairing information to the peripheral, which then presents it for user input. This allows pairing to occur regardless of the display's state.
Solution Approach 2:
The peripheral device acts as an intermediary in the pairing process. Rather than the information handling system's display directly presenting the pairing code to the user, the peripheral serves as a mediator that receives the pairing information, presents it to the user, and captures the user's response, enabling pairing in all operational modes.
3Productivity
If automated pairing without user interaction is implemented, then pairing efficiency increases, but security key exchange must be handled differently
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces the mechanical interaction of manual display reading and keyboard typing with an automated electronic system. The pairing information is electronically transmitted to the peripheral, which automatically presents it and captures the user response through its own interface, eliminating the need for manual user interaction while maintaining security through the preserved key exchange process.
Data Source
AI summary
An information handling system and keyboard automatically coordinate wireless pairing when the keyboard couples to the information handling system to interface contacts exposed at the information handling system housing and the keyboard. The information handling system retrieves an identifier of the keyboard through a contact, determines if the keyboard is already paired, and if not initiates wireless pairing with a command through the contact. A pairing key is provided from the keyboard to the information handling system through the contact and applied by the information handling system to complete pairing. A confirm code is communicated through the contact to the keyboard for communication back to the information handling system by wireless signals. The contacts provide a charging path to charge the keyboard when coupled to the information handling system.