Abstract:
A remote access device is configured to communicate with each Bluetooth device within a locale. When communication is desired between two Bluetooth devices within this locale, the remote access device allows the user to send commands and other information from the remote access device to each Bluetooth device to effect the initialization of the communication channel between the two devices. Using the remote access device, the user can make selections on each Bluetooth device, enter PINs as required, respond to confirmation requests, and the like. Because each Bluetooth device may be distant from the remote access device and distant from each other, the use of the remote access device allows a user to enable communications between the Bluetooth devices without traveling back and forth between physically separated Bluetooth devices.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    This invention relates to the field of network communications, and in particular to a wireless device that facilitates Bluetooth connectivity between other devices.  
           [0003]    2. Description of Related Art  
           [0004]    Bluetooth is a wireless network standard that provides for the establishment of wireless networks in an ad hoc manner. Each Bluetooth-enabled device is configured to broadcast a short-range signal; when a new device is within range of the device, an initiation protocol commences to establish a communication channel between the devices. A class 1 Bluetooth device has a nominal range of 100 meters; a class 2 device, 10 meters; and a class 3 device, less than  10  meters. Most Bluetooth devices are expected to be class 2 devices with range of 10 meters.  
           [0005]    Bluetooth supports both secure and non-secure communications between devices. Each Bluetooth device is identifiable by a unique 48-bit address, and includes a 128-bit private authentication key, an 8-128 bit private encryption key, and a 128-bit random number generator. The initiation protocol uses the device&#39;s unique address, a randomly generated number, and a secret PIN (Personal Identification Number) to facilitate a secure key-exchange over an as-yet-unsecured channel. The initiation process typically calls for the PIN to be manually entered into the Bluetooth device.  
           [0006]    The Bluetooth initiation protocol is apparently based on a paradigm of two Bluetooth users coming within range of each other, or, a single user having direct access to both Bluetooth devices at the same time, such as a user of a Bluetooth-enabled PDA (Personal Data Assistant) arriving at a Bluetooth-enabled ATM (Automated Teller Machine). For example, the user arrives at the ATM and the Bluetooth initiation process commences based on the aforementioned detection of emanations from one or both of the Bluetooth-enabled devices. The user is prompted to enter the PIN on the PDA, for example, then prompted for a confirmation via a keypad on the ATM. Obviously, a user would not want to commence the transaction with the ATM unless the user were at the locale of the ATM.  
           [0007]    Difficulties, or at least inconveniences, present themselves when Bluetooth devices are physically distant from each other, and a sole user desires to establish communications between these devices. Even though the devices may be within a common  10  meter range of each other, communications will not be established unless and until the user interacts with each device to effect the selection of each other, to enter one or more PINs as required, and so on. If the devices are not co-located, the user must travel back and forth between each device as the initiation protocol is effected. In like manner, difficulties or inconveniences present themselves after devices are “paired” for communication via the exchange of PINs. When an actual communication between the devices is desired, such as the transfer of a file from one device to another, the user may be required to configure or re-configure each device as a master or slave for this communication, and in some cases, must configure each device to effect a particular communication scheme or protocol.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    It is an object of this invention to ease the task of initiating communications between two Bluetooth devices. It is a further object of this invention to provide a remote access device that facilitates communication between and among Bluetooth devices.  
           [0009]    These objects and others are achieved by a remote access device that is configured to communicate with each Bluetooth device within a locale. When communication is desired between two Bluetooth devices within this locale, the remote access device allows the user to send commands and other information from the remote access device to each Bluetooth device to effect the initialization of the communication channel between the two devices. Using the remote access device, the user can make selections on each Bluetooth device, enter PINs as required, respond to confirmation requests, and the like. Because each Bluetooth device may be distant from the remote access device and distant from each other, the use of the remote access device allows a user to enable communications between the Bluetooth devices without traveling back and forth between physically separated Bluetooth devices.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]    The invention is explained in further detail, and by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 1 illustrates an example block diagram of a Bluetooth network in accordance with this invention.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 2 illustrates an example block diagram of a remote access device in accordance with this invention.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 3 illustrates an example block diagram of a Bluetooth device in accordance with this invention. 
     
    
       [0014]    Throughout the drawings, the same reference numerals indicate similar or corresponding features or functions.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0015]    [0015]FIG. 1 illustrates an example block diagram of a Bluetooth network  100  in accordance with this invention. Illustrated in FIG. 1 are three Bluetooth devices  110 ,  120 ,  130 , and a remote access device  150 . As in a conventional Bluetooth network, the devices  110 ,  120 ,  130  are configured to communicate with each other, but only after an initialization protocol is effected to enable the communication. This initialization protocol may be as simple as selecting each other device from a list of devices displayed on each device, identifying which device is master and which is slave, and so on. Because communication security is becoming more prevalent, the more common initialization protocol will also include security parameters, such as the user&#39;s PIN. For ease of reference, the information communicated during the initialization process is hereinafter termed “initialization information”, the receipt of which effects an enabling of communications between the devices.  
         [0016]    Generally, the initialization information is communicated each time a communication channel is to be established between two “paired” Bluetooth devices, although the principles of this invention may also be extended to facilitate pairings between Bluetooth devices, as discussed further below.  
         [0017]    In accordance with this invention, the remote access device  150  is first configured to be able to communicate with each Bluetooth device  110 - 130 . This may be effected in the conventional manner, by progressing from one Bluetooth device  110 - 130  to the next with the remote access device, and establishing a pairing between each Bluetooth device  110 - 130  and the remote access device  150 , by entering a common PIN in each.  
         [0018]    If a particular Bluetooth device lacks an input means for entering a PIN, the device is configured to have an internal PIN that is provided to the user. To establish a pairing between the remote access device  150  and this particular device the user merely enters the internal PIN into the remote device  150  while the remote device  150  is in the vicinity of this particular device.  
         [0019]    If a particular Bluetooth device includes the ability to accept input information from a remote controller, such as an infrared controller, and if the remote device  150  also includes the means, such as an infrared transmitter, to provide this remote input information, the remote access device  150  can be establish the pairing with this particular Bluetooth device remotely.  
         [0020]    After the remote access device  150  is paired to each of the Bluetooth devices  110 ,  120 ,  130 , the remote access device  150  facilitates the initialization protocol for specific communications by allowing a user the opportunity to respond to requests for initialization information from each of the Bluetooth devices  110 ,  120 ,  130  via the remote access device  150 . In the simple initialization protocol, for example, a Bluetooth device  110  may communicate a list of authorized/paired devices  120 ,  130  to the remote access device  150  for the user to select the appropriate device with which to effect the initialization process. Alternatively, as detailed further below, the remote access device  150  may be configured to display a list of authorized/paired devices from its internal memory, to allow a user to effect the initialization protocol between select devices by selecting devices from the list.  
         [0021]    By allowing the user to initiate actions or respond to queries via the remote access device  150 , the user can effect the initialization of communications between two Bluetooth devices without having to travel from one device to the other as the initialization protocol sequence progresses. A typical initialization process for establishing secure communications follows.  
         [0022]    A user accesses the remote access device  150  and requests a list of available Bluetooth devices. These devices are generally the devices that have been previously paired with the device  150  and are currently in range of the device  150 . From this list, the user selects a master device, such as device  110 , and a slave device, such as device  130 , and then initiates a “connect” sequence. If the devices  110  and  120  have previously been accessed by the device  150 , the device  150  merely communicates the previously defined initialization information to each of the devices  110  and  130 , or, the device  150  serves as a relay for the transfer of information between each device  110  and  130 . Alternatively, the devices  110  and  130  may be configured to transfer information between each other upon receipt of the initialization information from the device  150 . These and other protocols for effecting the initialization protocol between two devices  110 ,  130  via a remote device  150  that provides user commands to each of the devices  110 ,  130  will be evident to one of ordinary skill in the art in view of this disclosure.  
         [0023]    In a preferred embodiment of this invention, the remote access device  150  is configured as a remote control device as well. The PCT International Publication WO 01/20572, “REMOTE CONTROL OF AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE THROUGH DOWNLOADING OF CONTROL INFORMATION IN A MOBILE STATION”, filed 10 Sep. 1999 for John R. Bell, and incorporated by reference herein, discloses a portable device that is configured to download control information for an other device, and thereafter uses this information to control the other device. Of particular note, this referenced publication discloses the remote control of Bluetooth devices via a programmable portable device. In the context of this invention, the control information may be preprogrammed into the remote device  150 , or the control information may be communicated to the remote device  150  from the particular device  110 ,  120 ,  130 , or from a remote source, such as an Internet site. In this manner, the remote access device  150  provides the functionality of a remote control device as well as a device that facilitates the enabling of communication between Bluetooth devices.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 2 illustrates an example block diagram of a remote access device  150  in accordance with this invention. The device  150  includes a keypad  210 , or other input device, for accepting user directives, typically in response to messages that are displayed on a display  220 , or other rendering device. For example, the input device  210  and/or rendering device  220  may be audio devices, video devices, or any other devices that effect input and output transactions with a user. The device  150  also includes a communicator  240  for communicating with Bluetooth devices, and a controller  250  that controls the operation of each of the devices  210 ,  220 , and  240 . A preferred embodiment of the remote access device  150  also includes a memory for storing initialization information and other material that facilitates the enabling of communications between external devices, such as devices  110 ,  120 ,  130  of FIG. 1.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 3 illustrates an example block diagram of a Bluetooth device  110  in accordance with this invention. The device  110  includes a functional element  310  that provides the primary functionality of the device  110 , such as a television function, a PDA function, and so on. The device  110  also includes a communicator  340 , a controller  350 , and a memory  360  that facilitate the enabling of communication with other Bluetooth devices. In a conventional Bluetooth device, the interaction with the user to effect communication with other Bluetooth devices is effected locally. In accordance with this invention, the Bluetooth device  110  is configured to also effect the interaction with the user via the communicator  340 . Messages are transmitted from the device  110 , and responses or commands from the remote access device  150  of FIGS. 1 and 2 are received via the communicator  340  in the device  110  and the communicator  240  in the device  150 . As noted above, in a preferred embodiment, the functional element  310  is also remotely controllable by the remote access device  150 , via the communicators  240 ,  340 .  
         [0026]    The foregoing merely illustrates the principles of the invention. It will thus be appreciated that those skilled in the art will be able to devise various arrangements which, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the invention and are thus within its spirit and scope. For example, although the invention is presented above with a remote access device  150  that is separate and distinct from Bluetooth devices  110 ,  120 ,  130 , the functionality of the remote access device  150  could be built into select Bluetooth devices, such as PDAs, palmtop and laptop computers, and so on. In like manner, the functionality of the remote access device  150  could also be incorporated into traditional stationary devices, such as televisions, personal computers, and so on, to allow a user to effect communication between devices from the Bluetooth device that is most convenient to the user at the time. These and other system configuration and optimization features will be evident to one of ordinary skill in the art in view of this disclosure, and are included within the scope of the following claims.