Keypad-Less Device Pairing Using Action Sequence Verification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional device pairing methods, such as PIN and push button approaches, are inadequate for keypad-less devices and prone to incorrect pairings due to the complexity of modern network environments.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a pairing message that includes device-specific actions, which are displayed and performed by the user to ensure correct pairing, using motion sensors, audio processing, and visual cues to verify the sequence of actions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the push button approach is used for device pairing, then the pairing process is simple and fast, but the risk of incorrect pairing with unintended devices increases in cluttered network environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the user is presented with a list of discovered devices and must explicitly select the intended target device. The system provides visual and audio feedback during the pairing process, including confirmation prompts and status indicators, ensuring the user verifies they are pairing with the correct device before completion.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary selection interface between the push button press and the actual pairing completion. This intermediary step presents device information (names, IDs, characteristics) to the user, allowing them to verify and select the intended device before the pairing is finalized, thus preventing accidental pairings.
2Reliability
If the PIN approach is used for device pairing, then pairing security is improved, but the method becomes incompatible with keypad-less devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal pairing method that works across diverse device types including keypad-less devices. It supports multiple input modalities (touchscreen selection, button presses, voice commands, motion gestures) and adapts to different device capabilities, making the pairing process compatible with smartphones, tablets, wearables, remote controls, and other modern devices without physical keypads.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical keypad input system with alternative interfaces suitable for keypad-less devices. These include touchscreen selection, wireless communication for automatic code transmission, voice recognition commands, and motion sensor-based gestures, eliminating the dependency on physical keypads while maintaining security.
3Ease of operation
If conventional pairing methods are used in cluttered network environments, then the pairing process remains simple, but the likelihood of pairing with wrong devices increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary device discovery and information gathering before the actual pairing action. The system scans the network, collects device characteristics (names, IDs, capabilities, signals), and presents this information to the user in advance, allowing informed selection and preventing misidentification in environments with multiple devices.
Data Source
AI summary
Described herein are various embodiments for customized device pairing based on device features. An embodiment operates by receiving, from a first device, a pairing message indicating one or more buttons of the first device available for pairing the first device with a second device, wherein the first device does not include an alphanumeric keypad. A sequence of actions to be performed on the first device is generated. The sequence of actions is provided for display. An indicia indicating a set of one or more actions that were performed on the first device is received. It is determined that the set of one or more actions of the indicia corresponds to the sequence of actions provided for display, and the first device is paired with a second device.