Pairing groups of accessories

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12550214-B2
Application number	US-202318323334-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 24, 2023
Priority date	Jun 4, 2021
Publication date	Feb 10, 2026
Grant date	Feb 10, 2026

Abstract

Embodiments that relate to pairing and finding a group of accessory devices are described. In an embodiment, a pairing status is received from a first accessory device, a request is sent to the first accessory device for information on a number of accessory devices in a device group and a number of accessory devices that are proximate to the first accessory device in the device group, information on a second accessory device in the device group is received, a continue pairing message is sent to the second accessory device if the second accessory device is proximate, and a device group profile is created with information on the number of parts and received information on the second accessory device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method for pairing with a device group, the method comprising:
receiving, from a first accessory device in a device group, a pairing status; selectively pairing with the first accessory device based on the pairing status; sending, to the first accessory device, a request for information on accessory devices in the device group, the information including information on at least one accessory device that is proximate to the first accessory device in the device group; receiving information on a second accessory device in the device group, the information including a media access control address and verifiable information on one or more device capabilities for the second accessory device; selectively pairing with the second accessory device with the media access control address based on verification of the one or more device capabilities; and creating a device group profile with information on the accessory devices in the device group.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
sending a request, to the first accessory device, for status information, the status information including the pairing status and an indication that the first accessory is part of the device group.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
sending a request, to the first accessory device, for status information, the status information including verifiable information for the first accessory device; sending a verification request with the received information on the first accessory device; and selectively performing a pairing with the second accessory device, if the device is unpaired, wherein a pairing comprises having access to at least one key associated with the second accessory device for a user account.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first accessory device is a wireless beacon peripheral device.

5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
sending a verification request with the received information on the second accessory device; and selectively sending, to the second accessory device, a continue pairing message based on verification results received in response to the verification request.

6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
sending, to the first accessory device, a request for information on a number of accessory devices in the device group and a number of accessory devices that are proximate to the first accessory device in the device group.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving, from the first accessory device, a media access control address and verifiable information on a third accessory device, the verifiable information including one or more device capabilities; and selectively pairing with the third accessory device with the media access control address based on verification of the one or more device capabilities.

8 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising:
sending, to a host device, a media access control address for the third accessory device.

9 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising:
verifying device capabilities of the third accessory device.

10 . A non-transitory machine-readable medium storing instructions to cause one or more processors of an electronic device to perform operations comprising:
receiving, from a first accessory device in a device group, a pairing status; selectively pairing with the first accessory device based on the pairing status; sending, to the first accessory device, a request for information on accessory devices in the device group, the information including information on at least one accessory device that is proximate to the first accessory device in the device group; receiving information on a second accessory device in the device group, the information including a media access control address and verifiable information on one or more device capabilities for the second accessory device; selectively pairing with the second accessory device with the media access control address based on verification of the one or more device capabilities; and creating a device group profile with information on the accessory devices in the device group.

11 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 10 , the operations further comprising:
sending a request, to the first accessory device, for status information, the status information including the pairing status and an indication that the first accessory is part of the device group.

12 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 10 , the operations further comprising:
sending a request, to the first accessory device, for status information, the status information including verifiable information for the first accessory device; sending a verification request with the received information on the first accessory device; and selectively performing a pairing with the second accessory device, if the device is unpaired, wherein a pairing comprises having access to at least one key associated with the second accessory device for a user account.

13 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the first accessory device is a wireless beacon peripheral device.

14 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 10 , the operations further comprising:
sending a verification request with the received information on the second accessory device; and selectively sending, to the second accessory device, a continue pairing message based on verification results received in response to the verification request.

15 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 10 , the operations further comprising:
sending, to the first accessory device, a request for information on a number of accessory devices in the device group and a number of accessory devices that are proximate to the first accessory device in the device group.

16 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 10 , the operations further comprising:
receiving, from the first accessory device, a media access control address and verifiable information on a third accessory device, the verifiable information including one or more device capabilities; and selectively pairing with the third accessory device with the media access control address based on verification of the one or more device capabilities.

17 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 16 , the operations further comprising:
sending, to a host device, a media access control address for the third accessory device.

18 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 16 , the operations further comprising verifying device capabilities of the third accessory device.

19 . A data processing system comprising:
a memory to store instructions for execution; one or more processors to execute the instructions stored in memory, wherein the instructions, when executed cause the one or more processors to: receive, from a first accessory device in a device group, a pairing status; selectively pairing with the first accessory device based on the pairing status; send, to the first accessory device, a request for information on accessory devices in the device group, the information including information on at least one accessory device that is proximate to the first accessory device in the device group; receive information on a second accessory device in the device group, the information including a media access control address and verifiable information on one or more device capabilities for the second accessory device; selectively pair with the

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Movva Siva Ganesh
• Ertan Tunc
• Cotte Ariane
• Nguyen Kerry
• Desai Anita
• Laver Steven Douglas
• Ledvina Brent
• Victa Kenneth U
• Chiu Ping-Ko
• Kałużny Michał Adam
• Kedilaya Soujanya A
• Werner Benjamin A

Classifications

• H04W76/15 Primary

  Setup of multiple wireless link connections · CPC title

• H04W12/50

  Secure pairing of devices · CPC title

• H04W8/005

  Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals · CPC title

• H04W4/80

  Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication · CPC title

• H04L63/065 Primary

  for group communications (cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key management involving conference or group key H04L9/0833) · CPC title