METHOD FOR PAIRING DEVICES, ELECTRONIC SYSTEM, AND COMPUTER READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM

The embodiments of the disclosure provide a method for pairing devices, an electronic system, and a computer readable storage medium. The method includes: in response to determining a pairing function of a host is triggered, scanning, by the host, for at least one broadcast signal transmitted by at least one electronic device; in response to determining that a first broadcast signal from a first electronic device is scanned, establishing, by the host, a first connection with the first electronic device; providing, by the host, a first operation hint; receiving, by the host, a first operation information from the first electronic device through the first connection; and in response to determining that the first operation information corresponds to the first operation hint, pairing, by the host, with the first electronic device.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present disclosure generally relates to managing devices, in particular, to a method for pairing devices, an electronic system, and a computer readable storage medium.

2. Description of Related Art

Nowadays, it common for a user to be immersed in a virtual reality (VR) world by wearing a head mounted display (HMD). When using the VR services provided by the HMD, the user can interact with the VR world via, for example, hand gestures and/or some accessory devices (e.g., handheld controllers or some trackers attachable to other to-be-tracked objects).

Before the user uses the accessory devices to interact with the VR world, the accessory devices need to be paired with the HMD. However, the conventional way for the user to pair the accessory devices with the HMD is inconvenient.

For example, when the user wants to pair a handheld controller with the HMD, the user needs to simultaneously press some particular physical buttons on the handheld controller to trigger the pairing mechanism between the handheld controller and the HMD. In this case, the user may need to switch the HMD to a see-through mode to visually check whether the buttons on the handheld controller are correctly pressed, which disrupts the immersive VR experience of the user.

In addition, since there are multiple physical buttons on the to-be-paired handheld controller need to be simultaneously pressed, the user may need to use both hands to press these buttons, such that the user may have to put down the other handheld device (e.g., the other handheld controller) for facilitating the pressing of buttons on the to-be-paired handheld controller.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the disclosure is directed to a method for pairing devices, an electronic system, and a computer readable storage medium, which may be used to solve the above technical problems.

The embodiments of the disclosure provide a method for pairing devices. The method includes: in response to determining a pairing function of a host is triggered, scanning, by the host, for at least one broadcast signal transmitted by at least one electronic device; in response to determining that a first broadcast signal from a first electronic device is scanned, establishing, by the host, a first connection with the first electronic device; providing, by the host, a first operation hint; receiving, by the host, a first operation information from the first electronic device through the first connection; and in response to determining that the first operation information corresponds to the first operation hint, pairing, by the host, with the first electronic device.

The embodiments of the disclosure provide an electronic system including a host. The host is configured to perform: in response to determining a pairing function of a host is triggered, scanning for at least one broadcast signal transmitted by at least one electronic device; in response to determining that a first broadcast signal from a first electronic device is scanned, establishing a first connection with the first electronic device; providing a first operation hint; receiving a first operation information from the first electronic device through the first connection; and in response to determining that the first operation information corresponds to the first operation hint, pairing with the first electronic device.

The embodiments of the disclosure provide a computer readable storage medium, the computer readable storage medium recording an executable computer program, the executable computer program being loaded by a host to perform steps of: in response to determining a pairing function of a host is triggered, scanning for at least one broadcast signal transmitted by at least one electronic device; in response to determining that a first broadcast signal from a first electronic device is scanned, establishing a first connection with the first electronic device; providing a first operation hint; receiving a first operation information from the first electronic device through the first connection; and in response to determining that the first operation information corresponds to the first operation hint, pairing with the first electronic device.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

SeeFIG.1, which shows a schematic diagram of an electronic system according to an embodiment of the disclosure. InFIG.1, the electronic system100includes a host11and electronic devices121-12K. In various embodiments, the host11can be any smart device and/or computer device that can be paired with the electronic devices121-12K via communication protocols (e.g., wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) and/or Bluetooth, etc.). In one embodiment, the host11can be an HMD that is capable of providing reality services such as VR services, augmented reality (AR) services and the like.

In the embodiments of the disclosure, the host11includes a storage circuit and a processor. The storage circuit is one or a combination of a stationary or mobile random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), flash memory, hard disk, or any other similar device, and which records a plurality of modules that can be executed by the processor.

The processor may be coupled with the storage circuit, and the processor may be, for example, a general purpose processor, a special purpose processor, a conventional processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in association with a DSP core, a controller, a microcontroller, Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGAs) circuits, any other type of integrated circuit (IC), a state machine, and the like.

In the embodiments of the disclosure, each electronic device121-12K can be any wearable device and/or handheld device that can be paired with the host11, such as a smart ring, a smart bracelet, a smart watch, a handheld controller, or the like. In some embodiments, the electronic devices121-12K can be trackers for being attached to some to-be-tracked objects, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. For facilitating the following discussions, the host11would be assumed to be the HMD for providing VR services, but the disclosure is not limited thereto.

In the embodiments of the disclosure, the electronic devices121-12K can be configured to broadcast the corresponding broadcast signals S1-SK for pairing, wherein each broadcast signal S1-SK carries the identification information of the corresponding electronic device121-12K.

In one embodiment, when the user wants to pair one of the electronic devices121-12K (referred to as a first electronic device) with some devices (e.g., the host11), the user may trigger the first electronic device to broadcast the corresponding broadcast signal (referred to as a first broadcast signal) that carries the identification information of the first electronic device. For example, if the user wants to pair the electronic device121with the host11, the user may trigger the electronic device121to broadcast the corresponding broadcast signal S1, which carries the identification information of the electronic device121. For another example, if the user wants to pair the electronic device12K with the host11, the user may trigger the electronic device12K to broadcast the corresponding broadcast signal SK, which carries the identification information of the electronic device12K, but the disclosure is not limited thereto.

In one embodiment, if the used pairing protocol of the first electronic device is Wi-Fi, the first broadcast may carry the Wi-Fi Internet protocol (IP) address of the first electronic device. In another embodiment, if the used pairing protocol of the first electronic device is Bluetooth, the first broadcast may carry the Bluetooth medium access control (MAC) address of the first electronic device, but the disclosure is not limited thereto.

In one embodiment, the first electronic device can be configured to broadcast the first broadcast after the booting procedure thereof is finished. In other embodiments, the first electronic device can be configured with a particular button for the user to trigger the first electronic device to broadcast the first broadcast signal. For example, the user may press the particular button for several times with a predetermined time length to trigger the first electronic device to broadcast the first broadcast signal. For another example, the user may press and hold the particular button for the predetermined time length to trigger the first electronic device to broadcast the first broadcast signal, but the disclosure is not limited thereto.

In the embodiments of the disclosure, the processor of the host11may access the modules stored in the storage circuit of the host11to implement the method for pairing devices provided in the disclosure, which would be further discussed in the following.

SeeFIG.2, which shows a flow chart of the method for pairing devices according to an embodiment of the disclosure. The method of this embodiment may be executed by the host11inFIG.1, and the details of each step inFIG.2will be described below with the components shown inFIG.1.

In the embodiments of the disclosure, the host11can determine whether a pairing function of the host11is triggered. In one embodiment, the pairing function of the host11can be automatically triggered after the booting procedure thereof is finished. In other embodiments, the host11can be configured with a pairing button for the user to trigger the pairing function of the host11. For example, the user may press the pairing button for several times with a predetermined time length to trigger the pairing function of the host11. For another example, the user may press and hold the pairing button for the predetermined time length to trigger the pairing function of the host11, but the disclosure is not limited thereto.

In step S210, in response to determining the pairing function of the host11is triggered, the host11scans for at least one broadcast signal transmitted by at least one electronic device. In the embodiments of the disclosure, assuming that all of the electronic devices121-12K are broadcasting the corresponding broadcast signals S1-SK, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. In this case, the host11may determine that the broadcast signals S1-SK are scanned by the host11.

In the embodiments of the disclosure, the host11can perform similar operations to each of the electronic devices121-12K in response to determining that the corresponding broadcast signals S1-SK are scanned by the host11. Therefore, the first electronic device (i.e., one of the electronic devices121-12K) would be used as an example for explaining the concept of the disclosure, but the disclosure is not limited thereto.

In step S220, in response to determining that the first broadcast signal from the first electronic device is scanned, the host11establishes a first connection with the first electronic device. In one embodiment, the first connection between the first electronic device and the host11can be understood as a dedicated channel for the first electronic device and the host11to perform data exchange with each other, and the protocols for establishing the first connection may be wireless communication protocols such Wi-fi, Bluetooth, and/or the like.

In one embodiment, the first electronic device can be disposed with one or more motion detection elements (e.g., inertial measurement units (IMU)) for detecting the motion data (e.g., 6 degree of freedom (6DOF) data) of the first electronic device. In this case, the host11may receive the detected motion data from the first electronic device through the first connection after the first connection between the first electronic device and the host11is established, but the disclosure is not limited thereto.

In the embodiments of the disclosure, since the broadcast signals S1-SK are all assumed to be scanned by the host11, the host11may establish a connection with each of the electronic devices121-12K.

In step S230, the host11provides a first operation hint. In the embodiments of the disclosure, the first operation hint can be a visual and/or audio hint provided by the HMD to the user for instructing the user to do some specific movements and/or operations.

In one embodiment, if the host11wants to pair with a specific electronic device corresponding to a first object part, the host11may use the first operation hint to instruct the user to do some specific movements and/or operations with the specific electronic device and/or the first object part. Noted that the host11does not know which one of the electronic devices121-12K is the specific electronic device at this time, and hence the host11may perform the following procedure to determine which one of the electronic devices121-12K is the specific electronic device corresponding to the first object part.

In various embodiments, the host11may use the first operation hint to instruct the user to: (1) move the specific electronic device according to a specific moving pattern (e.g., waiving the specific electronic device); (2) press one specific button on the specific electronic device; and/or (3) perform a specific operation to a camera of the specific electronic device (e.g., covering the camera of the specific electronic device), but the disclosure is not limited thereto.

For example, assuming that the first object part is the right hand of the user of the host11, and the to-be-paired specific electronic device is a handheld controller in the right hand of the user, the first operation hint can be used to instruct the user to waive the right hand thereof, to press one specific button on the handheld controller in the right hand, and/or to cover the camera of the handheld controller in the right hand, but the disclosure is not limited thereto.

In this case, the specific electronic device (which is assumed to be one of the electronic devices121-12K) would provide corresponding operation information to the host11via the connection between the specific electronic device and the host11. For example, if the first operation hint instructs the user to move the specific electronic device according to the specific moving pattern, the specific electronic device (and others of the electronic devices121-12K) may provide the motion data as the operation information to the host11. If the first operation hint instructs the user to press one specific button on the specific electronic device, the specific electronic device (and others of the electronic devices121-12K) may provide the button event as the operation information to the host11. If the first operation hint instructs the user to perform the specific operation to the camera of the specific electronic device, the specific electronic device (and others of the electronic devices121-12K) may provide the images captured by the camera thereof to the host11.

Since the host11has established the connection with each of the electronic devices121-12K, the host11can receive the operation information of each of the electronic devices121-12K via the corresponding connection.

Therefore, in step S240, the host11receives a first operation information from the first electronic device through the first connection.

In one embodiment, if the host11determines that the operation information of a certain electronic device of the electronic devices121-12K corresponds to the first operation hint, the host11can know that this certain electronic device is the specific electronic device and accordingly pair with this certain electronic device.

Therefore, after receiving the first operation information from the first electronic device, the host11determines whether the first operation information corresponds to the first operation hint.

In the embodiment where the first operation information is the motion data detected by the first electronic device, the host11may determine whether the moving pattern formed by the motion data of the first electronic device matches and/or corresponds to the specific moving pattern instructed by the first operation hint. If yes, it represents that the first electronic device is the specific electronic device relates or corresponds to the first object part. On the other hand, if the moving pattern formed by the motion data of the first electronic device does not match and/or correspond to the specific moving pattern instructed by the first operation hint, it represents that the first electronic device is not the specific electronic device relates or corresponds to the first object part.

In the embodiment where the first operation information is the button event detected by the first electronic device, the host11may determine whether the button event indicates that a second specific button on the first electronic device is triggered, wherein the second specific button on the first electronic device corresponds to the first specific button on the specific electronic that the user pressed according to the first operation hint. If yes, it represents that the first electronic device is the specific electronic device relates or corresponds to the first object part. On the other hand, if the button event indicates that the second specific button on the first electronic device is not triggered as instructed by the first operation hint, it represents that the first electronic device is not the specific electronic device relates or corresponds to the first object part.

In the embodiment where the first operation information is the images captured by a first camera of the first electronic device, the host11can perform an image recognition on the images provided by the first electronic device and determine whether a result of the image recognition indicates that an operation performed to the first camera corresponds to the specific operation as instructed by the first operation hint. If yes, it represents that the first electronic device is the specific electronic device relates or corresponds to the first object part. On the other hand, if the result of the image recognition indicates that the operation performed to the first camera does not correspond to the specific operation as instructed by the first operation hint, it represents that the first electronic device is not the specific electronic device relates or corresponds to the first object part.

Accordingly, in step S250, in response to determining that the first operation information corresponds to the first operation hint, the host11pairs with the first electronic device. In addition, the host11can further determine whether the first operation hint relates to the first object part. For example, the host11can determine whether the first operation hint involves instructing the first object part to do some operations and/or movements. If yes, the host11can determine that the first operation hint relates to the first object part, and vice versa.

In one embodiment, in response to determining that the first operation hint relates to the first object part corresponding to the specific electronic device, the host11assigns the first electronic device to be corresponding to the first object part or the specific electronic device.

For example, if the first operation hint instructs the user to waive the handheld controller (i.e., the specific electronic device) in the right hand (i.e., the first object part) thereof, and the first electronic device is determined to be the specific electronic device, the host11can assign the first electronic device to be corresponding to the right hand of the user and/or the handheld controller in the right hand of the user, but the disclosure is not limited thereto.

In one embodiment, the visual content (e.g., the VR content) provided to the user of the host11may include a VR avatar, wherein the VR avatar has a body part (e.g., right hand) corresponding to the first object part, and the this body part can be controlled by the user399via the first electronic device. In this case, after the host11assigning the first electronic device to be corresponding to the first object part, the user399can control the body part of the VR avatar via moving the first electronic device, but the disclosure is not limited thereto.

Accordingly, the embodiments of the disclosure provide a novel and convenient way to pair the host11with the first electronic device based on the correspondence between the first operation hint and the first operation information of the first electronic device. In this case, the immersive VR experience of the user can be maintained during paring the HMD with the accessory devices (e.g., handheld controllers), which improves the user experience.

For better understanding the concept of the disclosure,FIG.3would be used as an example. SeeFIG.3, which shows an application scenario according to an embodiment of the disclosure. InFIG.3, the host11is an HMD worn by the user399. The electronic devices121,122are handheld controllers respectively held by the right hand and the left hand of the user399. The electronic devices123,124are smart ankle trackers respectively worn on the right leg and the left leg of the user399.

In the embodiment, assuming that the host11has establish a connection with each of the electronic devices121-124based on the teachings in the above. That is, the host11can receive the operation information of each of the electronic devices121-124via the corresponding connection.

In the embodiment, when the system/application/service/game on the host11wants to guide the user399to pair the host11with the specific electronic device in the right hand of the user399, the host11may show the first operation hint to instruct the user399to, for example, cover the camera of the specific electronic device in the right hand of the user399. Accordingly, the user399would cover the camera of the electronic device121in the right hand thereof. In this case, the host11would determine that only the operation information (e.g., the images) received from the electronic device121matches and/or corresponds to the first operation hint (i.e., the result of the image recognition indicates that the camera of the electronic device121is covered). Therefore, the host11can pair with the electronic device121and assign the electronic device121to be corresponding to the right hand of the user399. In this case, the user may interact with the service provided by the host11via moving the electronic device121, such as controlling the VR avatar shown in the VR content provided by the host11, but the disclosure is not limited thereto.

In the embodiment, when the host11wants to pair with the specific electronic device in the left hand of the user399, the host11may show the first operation hint to instruct the user399to, for example, press the first specific button on the specific electronic device in the left hand of the user399. Accordingly, the user399would press the second specific button (which corresponds to the first specific button) on the electronic device122in the left hand thereof. In this case, the host11would determine that only the button event received from the electronic device122indicates that the second specific button on the electronic device122is triggered as instructed by the first operation hint. Therefore, the host11can pair with the electronic device122and assign the electronic device122to be corresponding to the left hand of the user399.

In the embodiment, when the host11wants to pair with the specific electronic device worn by the right leg of the user399, the host11may show the first operation hint to instruct the user399to, for example, kicking the right leg. In this case, the host11would determine that only the operation information (e.g., the motion data) received from the electronic device123matches and/or corresponds to the moving pattern of kicking. In this case, the host11can pair with the electronic device123and assign the electronic device123to be corresponding to the right leg of the user399.

In the embodiment, when the host11wants to pair with the specific electronic device worn by the left leg of the user399, the host11may show the first operation hint to instruct the user399to, for example, circling the left leg. In this case, the host11would determine that only the operation information (e.g., the motion data) received from the electronic device124matches and/or corresponds to the moving pattern of circling. In this case, the host11can pair with the electronic device124and assign the electronic device124to be corresponding to the left leg of the user399.

The disclosure further provides a computer readable storage medium for executing the method for pairing devices. The computer readable storage medium is composed of a plurality of program instructions (for example, a setting program instruction and a deployment program instruction) embodied therein. These program instructions can be loaded into the host11and executed by the same to execute the method for pairing devices and the functions of the host11described above.

In summary, the embodiments of the disclosure provide a novel and convenient way to pair the host with the electronic device based on the correspondence between the operation hint and the operation information of the electronic device. In this case, the immersive VR experience of the user can be maintained during paring the HMD with the accessory devices (e.g., handheld controllers), which improves the user experience.