Wireless Proximity Pairing via Gesture and Signal Metrics

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless device pairing methods are cumbersome for users due to complex user interfaces and difficulties in establishing connections, especially when multiple devices are in proximity, leading to a degraded user experience.

Innovation Solution

An electronic device with an antenna and interface circuit that receives advertising packets, compares performance metrics, and provides pairing-intent information to users, allowing for simplified pairing by matching gestures or sequences of characters, enabling automatic connection establishment when pairing-intent information matches.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional wireless pairing methods are used, then connection establishment is possible, but the user interface becomes complex and difficult to use

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection establishmentVSAvoiduser interface complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables devices to automatically perform pairing operations by detecting proximity through advertising packets and performance metrics, eliminating the need for complex manual user interface interactions. The device self-determines pairing intent based on signal strength and proximity detection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses performance metrics from advertising packets as feedback to determine pairing intent. The receiving device analyzes signal strength and proximity information to automatically initiate pairing when conditions are favorable, creating a closed-loop system that adapts to environmental conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If manual pairing procedures are implemented, then connection security is maintained, but the pairing process becomes time-consuming and frustrating

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection securityVSAvoidpairing time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary proximity detection and performance metric analysis before initiating pairing. By pre-evaluating signal strength and determining pairing intent in advance, the system prepares the pairing process ahead of time, reducing actual pairing time while maintaining security through pre-validated connection parameters.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If proximity-based automatic pairing is implemented, then user experience is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepairing simplicityVSAvoidpairing system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces manual mechanical pairing operations (button presses, menu navigation) with wireless signal-based proximity detection. By substituting physical user actions with automated radio frequency-based detection of advertising packets and performance metrics, the system simplifies user interaction while managing complexity through wireless communication protocols.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP3002962B1Wireless proximity pairing of user-interface devices
Publication Date: 2018.05.23 APPLE INC
  • EP3002962B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3002962B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3002962B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

In order to establish a connection between electronic devices, after receiving an advertising packet from another electronic device, an electronic device compares a performance metric associated with the communication with the other electronic device with a threshold value. Based on the comparison, the electronic device provides pairing-intent information specifying a pairing intent for the electronic device and the other electronic device for presentation by the other electronic device. Moreover, after receiving additional pairing-intent information specifying the pairing intent from the other electronic device, the electronic device establishes the connection with the other electronic device when the additional pairing-intent information matches the pairing-intent information. For example, the pairing intent may include a gesture and/or a sequence of one or more characters, and the additional pairing-intent information may include: the sequence of one or more characters; accelerometer data corresponding to the gesture; and/or user-interface data corresponding to the gesture.