Toolkit Application for Secure Bluetooth Pairing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing short range wireless device pairing methods lack efficient and secure mechanisms for users to activate and manage Bluetooth functionality, leading to potential security concerns and unnecessary power consumption.

Innovation Solution

A method for pairing a short range wireless device with a communication device that requires conscious user activation through a Toolkit application, offering controlled access and pairing options, including Discoverable and Add Device menus, to ensure secure and efficient Bluetooth functionality management.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If Bluetooth functionality is automatically activated or easily accessible, then ease of operation is improved, but security and power consumption are worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoidsecurity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The Bluetooth functionality is segmented into distinct operational modes (discoverable mode and pairing mode) that are accessed through specific menu pathways. The Toolkit application provides separate entry points: one for making the device discoverable and another for adding paired devices. This segmentation ensures that Bluetooth activation is intentional and controlled, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and security by requiring users to consciously select specific functions rather than having Bluetooth automatically activated.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If Bluetooth functionality is automatically activated or easily accessible, then ease of operation is improved, but power consumption is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by providing structured menu options that guide users through intentional Bluetooth activation steps. The Toolkit application presents clear choices (discoverable vs. pairing modes) before activation occurs, ensuring that Bluetooth functionality is only activated when the user has deliberately selected and confirmed the action. This preliminary guidance structure maintains ease of operation while preventing unnecessary power consumption from accidental or automatic activation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple access points for Bluetooth setup are provided, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveadaptabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The Toolkit application serves as a universal access point that consolidates multiple Bluetooth setup functions (discoverable mode and pairing mode) into a single application interface. Rather than scattering Bluetooth setup options across multiple applications or settings menus, the Toolkit provides a centralized, multi-functional interface that handles all Bluetooth pairing and discovery operations. This universal approach improves adaptability while reducing device complexity by eliminating redundant access points.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP2408180B1Remote device pairing setup
Publication Date: 2019.04.24 BLACKBERRY LTD
  • EP2408180B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2408180B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2408180B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A communication device (100) having a display (222) and instructions for displaying a short range wireless function. The instructions can cause the display of a Toolkit homepage in response to a Toolkit application being selected in a homepage of the communication device (1702). In response to the short range wireless function being selected in the Toolkit homepage, status of the short range wireless function on the communication device can be displayed (1706). In response to the short range wireless function being turned on, a short range wireless function menu can be displayed (1708). In response to a pairing option being selected from the displayed short range wireless function menu, menu options for pairing a short range wireless device with the communication device can be displayed (1710, 1716, 1728).