Abstract:
The present invention relates to networking a Bluetooth system. The present invention includes receiving a Bluetooth signal from at least one Bluetooth device, searching for the at least one Bluetooth device, transmitting a pairable mode message to the at least one Bluetooth device for changing a current mode of the at least one Bluetooth device to a pairable mode, and requesting pairing with the at least one Bluetooth device.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §119(a), this application claims the benefit of earlier filing date and right of priority to Korean Application No. 10-2006-0074707, filed on Aug. 8, 2006, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to networking a Bluetooth system. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Bluetooth® is a protocol for wirelessly connecting mobile devices within a short range at a low cost. Bluetooth allows connection between diverse digital devices without a physical cable and facilitates the transmission/reception of speech and data through a 2.45 MHz Industrial Scientific Medical (ISM) band radio frequency, which does not require a radio license. For example, Bluetooth wireless communication technology may be realized by a mobile phone or laptop computer communicating wirelessly with another electronic device. Almost all digital devices, such as Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), desktop computers, facsimile (FAX) machines, keyboards, joysticks and the like, may be part of a Bluetooth system. 
         [0004]    To set up a Bluetooth communication network between at least two devices in a Bluetooth system, an authentication process called pairing is performed. Pairing allows a host of a network to detect and access a target Bluetooth device. 
         [0005]      FIG. 1  is a flowchart describing a networking method of a conventional Bluetooth system. Referring to  FIG. 1 , a networking method between a host  1 , e.g., a computer or a mobile phone, and a Bluetooth device  5 , e.g., a wired/wireless headset is illustrated. When the Bluetooth device  5  is turned on (P 10 ), the Bluetooth device  5  creates and transmits a Bluetooth signal informing the activation of a Bluetooth function (P 12 ). 
         [0006]    Thereafter, a user sets a mode of the Bluetooth device  5  to a pairable mode in order to connect with the host  1  (P 14 ). By doing so, the Bluetooth device  5  allows itself to be searched, detected and accessed by the host  1 . The host  1  will then search for pairing targets (P 16 ). When the host  1  detects the Bluetooth device  5 , the host  1  will request the Bluetooth device  5  to perform pairing (P 18 ). During pairing, the host  1  requests the user to input a passkey (P 20 ). 
         [0007]    The host  1  also requests the Bluetooth device  5  to be connected with to input a passkey (P 22 ). In response, the Bluetooth device  5  transmits the passkey to the host  1  (P 24 ). Herein, the host  1  may provide the Bluetooth device  5  with a window for inputting the passkey so that the user can input the passkey in the Bluetooth device  5 . 
         [0008]    The host  1  completes the pairing when the passkey inputted from the Bluetooth device  5  is the same as the passkey inputted by the user (P 26 ). Accordingly, the host  1  has connected and built a network with the Bluetooth device  5  (P 28 ). Thus, the host  1  may transmit and receive data to and from the Bluetooth device  5  and take advantage of the functions of the Bluetooth device  5 . 
         [0009]    Notably, the conventional networking process of the Bluetooth system is problematic because the process is performed manually. Specifically, the user is involved when setting the Bluetooth device  5  to the pairable mode and inputting the passkey to the host  1 . Therefore, what is needed is a method of networking a Bluetooth system, such that the user is not inconvenienced during the networking process. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    The present invention relates exemplary Bluetooth systems and methods thereof capable of automatically networking between Bluetooth devices, thereby improving utility and convenience. 
         [0011]    Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings. 
         [0012]    To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described, the present invention is embodied in a method for networking a Bluetooth system, the method comprising receiving a Bluetooth signal from at least one Bluetooth device, searching for the at least one Bluetooth device, transmitting a pairable mode message to the at least one Bluetooth device for changing a current mode of the at least one Bluetooth device to a pairable mode, and requesting pairing with the at least one Bluetooth device. 
         [0013]    In one aspect of the invention, the method further comprises determining a distance to the at least one Bluetooth device, and transmitting the pairable mode message to the at least one Bluetooth device if the distance to the at least one Bluetooth device is within a predetermined range. 
         [0014]    In another aspect of the invention, the method further comprises detecting a power level of the received Bluetooth signal, and determining the distance to the at least one Bluetooth device according to the detected power level of the received Bluetooth signal. 
         [0015]    In a further aspect of the invention, the pairable mode message is transmitted to the closest Bluetooth device. In another aspect of the invention, the method further comprises searching for a Bluetooth device in the pairable mode, and performing pairing with the Bluetooth device in the pairable mode. Additionally, a passkey may be provided to the Bluetooth device in the pairable mode. 
         [0016]    In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a method for networking a Bluetooth system comprises transmitting a Bluetooth signal from a Bluetooth device to a host, receiving a pairable mode message from the host for changing a current mode of the Bluetooth device to a pairable mode, and receiving a request for pairing from the host. 
         [0017]    Preferably, the host determines a distance to the Bluetooth device and transmits the pairable mode message if the distance to the Bluetooth device is within a predetermined range. Preferably, the host detects a power level of the Bluetooth signal and determines the distance to the Bluetooth device according to the detected power level of the Bluetooth signal. 
         [0018]    In one aspect of the invention, the Bluetooth device is a Bluetooth device closest to the host. In another aspect of the invention, the method further comprises changing the current mode of the Bluetooth device to the pairable mode, and performing pairing with the host. Additionally, a passkey may be received from the host. 
         [0019]    In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, A Bluetooth system comprises a host and a Bluetooth device. Preferably the host comprises a host wireless interface for communicating radio signals, and a host controller for receiving a Bluetooth signal from the Bluetooth device through the host wireless interface, transmitting a pairable mode message to the Bluetooth device for changing a current mode of the Bluetooth device to a pairable mode, and requesting pairing with the Bluetooth device. Preferably, the Bluetooth device comprises a Bluetooth device wireless interface for communicating radio signals and receiving the pairable mode message from the host, and a Bluetooth device controller for transmitting the Bluetooth signal to the host through the Bluetooth wireless interface, changing the current mode of the Bluetooth device to the pairable mode upon receiving the pairable mode message through the Bluetooth device wireless interface, and performing pairing with the host. 
         [0020]    Preferably, the host further comprises a range measurer for determining a distance to the Bluetooth device, wherein the host controller transmits the pairable mode message to the Bluetooth device if the distance to the Bluetooth device is within a predetermined range. Preferably, the host further comprises a power level measurer for detecting a power level of the received Bluetooth signal, wherein the distance to the Bluetooth device is determined according to the detected power level of the received Bluetooth signal. 
         [0021]    In one aspect of the invention, the host controller transmits the pairable mode message to the closest Bluetooth device. In another aspect of the invention, the host controller searches for a Bluetooth device in the pairable mode through the host wireless interface and performs pairing with the Bluetooth device in the pairable mode. In a further aspect of the invention, the host controller provides a passkey to the Bluetooth device in the pairable mode, wherein the host comprises a passkey storage for storing the passkey. 
         [0022]    It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present invention are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0023]    The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention. Features, elements, and aspects of the invention that are referenced by the same numerals in different figures represent the same, equivalent, or similar features, elements, or aspects in accordance with one or more embodiments. 
           [0024]      FIG. 1  is a flowchart illustrating a conventional method for networking a Bluetooth system. 
           [0025]      FIG. 2  illustrates a control structure of a Bluetooth system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0026]      FIG. 3  is a flowchart illustrating a method for networking a Bluetooth system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0027]    The present invention relates to networking a Bluetooth system. One or more implementations will be described in a more detailed manner with reference to the drawings. 
         [0028]      FIG. 2  is a block view illustrating a control structure of a Bluetooth system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. Referring to  FIG. 2 , the Bluetooth system comprises a host  10  supporting a Bluetooth function and a Bluetooth device  50  connected to the host  10 . Preferably, the host  10  and the Bluetooth device  50  automatically perform pairing to build the Bluetooth system. The host  10  may be a computer or mobile phone supporting a Bluetooth function and the Bluetooth device  50  may be a wired/wireless headset that does not support a user input interface. 
         [0029]    The host  10  comprises a host wireless interface  14 , a range measurer  18 , a passkey storage  16 , and a host controller  12 . The host wireless interface  14  transmits/receives radio signals to/from the Bluetooth device  50 . The range measurer  18  senses Bluetooth signals transmitted from the Bluetooth device  50  through the host wireless interface  14 . The passkey storage  16  stores a passkey for pairing. Preferably, the host controller  12  senses a distance to the Bluetooth device  50  through the range measurer  18 , transmits a pairable mode message to a Bluetooth device  50  within a predetermined range, and performs pairing with the Bluetooth device  50  by providing the passkey stored in the passkey storage  16 . 
         [0030]    The host wireless interface  14  receives a radio signal transmitted from the Bluetooth device  50  and transmits the radio signal to the host controller  12 . The host wireless interface  14  also transforms data provided by the host controller  12  into radio signals and transmits the radio signals to the Bluetooth device  50 . 
         [0031]    Preferably, the range measurer  18  comprises a power level measurer  20  for measuring the power level of a received signal, and determines a distance to the Bluetooth device  50  by measuring the power level of a received Bluetooth signal transmitted from the Bluetooth device  50 . Preferably, the range measurer  18  obtains a range value according to the intensity of the Bluetooth signal and transmits the range value to the host controller  12 . 
         [0032]    The passkey storage  16  stores a passkey used to perform pairing with the Bluetooth device  50 . The passkey is required to perform authentication when the host  10  is connected to the Bluetooth device  50 . Here, it is possible for a user to directly input the passkey into the host  10  and the Bluetooth device  50 . However, when the Bluetooth device  50  is not provided with a user input interface, the pairing is performed when the host  10  provides the passkey stored in the passkey storage  16  to the Bluetooth device  50 . 
         [0033]    In an automatic pairing mode, the host controller  12  automatically receives the Bluetooth signal transmitted from the Bluetooth device  50  through the host wireless interface  14 . When the Bluetooth device  50  is detected, the host controller  12  transmits a pairable mode message for changing the mode of the Bluetooth device  50  to the pairable mode. In one aspect of the invention, the host  10  may attempt to pair with a plurality of Bluetooth devices  50  within a Bluetooth service coverage area by transmitting the pairable mode message to all Bluetooth devices  50  within the Bluetooth service coverage area. 
         [0034]    The host controller  12  acquires range values of the Bluetooth devices  50  by processing the Bluetooth signal received through the host wireless interface  14  in the range measurer  18 , and optionally transmits the pairable mode message according to the distance to the Bluetooth device  50 . For example, the host controller  12  may transmit the pairable mode message to the Bluetooth device  50  upon the Bluetooth device  50  being placed close to the host  10 . In this case, the user can build a network between the host  10  and a desired Bluetooth device  50  by placing the two devices close to each other. 
         [0035]    Also, the host controller  12  may transmit the pairable mode message to Bluetooth devices  50  within a predetermined range according to the distance of each Bluetooth device  50  sensed in the range measurer  18 . Herein, the predetermined range may be determined when the Bluetooth system is designed or determined directly by the user when the user wishes to connect Bluetooth devices  50  within the predetermined range to the host  10 . 
         [0036]    After transmitting the pairable mode message, the host controller  12  requests a connection to the Bluetooth device  50  and successfully pairs with the host  10  to thereby build a Bluetooth network. 
         [0037]    Preferably, the Bluetooth device  50  comprises a Bluetooth device wireless interface  54  for transmitting and/or receiving radio signals to and/or from the host  10 . The Bluetooth device  50  also comprises a Bluetooth device controller  52  for changing a mode of the Bluetooth device  50  to the pairable mode upon receiving the pairable mode message through the Bluetooth device wireless interface  54 . Furthermore, the Bluetooth device controller  52  is able to receive a passkey upon pairing requested by the host  10 , perform pairing, and allow access by the host  10 . 
         [0038]    The Bluetooth device controller  52  transmits a Bluetooth signal to inform the activation of a Bluetooth function when it is turned on, and checks whether a pairable mode message is received through the Bluetooth device wireless interface  54 . When the pairable mode message is received, the Bluetooth device controller  52  transitions to a pairable mode allowing the host  10  to detect and recognize the Bluetooth device  50 . The Bluetooth device controller  52  then performs pairing when requested by the host  10 . In one aspect of the invention, mode changing of the Bluetooth device controller  52  is realized via software by the following mode changing program, for example: 
         [0039]    &lt;Example of pairable mode changing program&gt; 
         [0040]    while(Host-waiting) 
         [0041]    {
       /*Host receives connection message. */   If(automatic connection message of Host)   {   Mode of Bluetooth device is changed into pairable mode   break;   }   }       
 
         [0049]    Networking processes of a Bluetooth system in accordance with the present invention will be described in detail with reference to  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 3  is a flowchart describing a networking method of a Bluetooth system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0050]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , when the Bluetooth device  50  is turned on (S 10 ), the Bluetooth device  50  transmits a Bluetooth signal informing the activation of a Bluetooth function (S 12 ). The host  10  then receives the Bluetooth signal transmitted from the Bluetooth device  50  (Sl 4 ) and senses a distance to the Bluetooth device  50  based on the power level of the received Bluetooth signal (S 16 ). 
         [0051]    The host  10  transmits a pairable mode message to the Bluetooth device  50  closest to the host  10  after sensing the distances of all Bluetooth devices  50  within the service coverage area (S 18 ). Herein, the host  10  may sequentially transmit the pairable mode message to a plurality of Bluetooth devices  50  close to the host  10 , or transmit the pairable mode message to all Bluetooth devices  50  existing within a predetermined range. 
         [0052]    In response, the Bluetooth device  50  receives the pairable mode message and transitions to the pairable mode thereby allowing the host  10  to detect and recognize the Bluetooth device  50  (S 20 ). After transmitting the pairable mode message, the host  10  requests the Bluetooth device  50  to perform pairing (S 22 ). Preferably, if the Bluetooth device  50  does not support a user input interface, the host  10  provides a passkey stored in the passkey storage  16  to the Bluetooth device  50  (S 24 ). 
         [0053]    When pairing between the host  10  and the Bluetooth device  50  is completed using the passkey (S 26 ), the host  10  requests a connection and builds a network with the Bluetooth device  50  (S 28 ). Accordingly, the host  10  and the Bluetooth device  50  are able to communicate with each other. 
         [0054]    As described above, the host  10  senses a range of each Bluetooth device  50  based on the signal level of the Bluetooth device  50 , transmits a pairable mode message to the Bluetooth devices  50  close to the host  10  to change the mode of the Bluetooth devices  50  to the pairable mode, and subsequently performs pairing. When the Bluetooth device  50  does not support a user input interface, the host provides a passkey for pairing. Therefore, it is possible to automatically form a network between the host  10  and the Bluetooth device  50  without user selection and input. 
         [0055]    The foregoing embodiments and advantages are merely exemplary and are not to be construed as limiting the present teaching can be readily applied to other types of apparatuses. The description of the present invention is intended to be illustrative, and not to limit the scope of the claims. Many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. In the claims, means-plus-function clauses are intended to cover the structure described herein as performing the recited function and not only structural equivalent but also equivalent structures.