An Apple patent (number 8181233) for the pairing of wireless devices using a wired medium has appeared at the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office. It relates to wireless devices and, more particularly, to pairing wireless devices for authorized data exchange.

Techniques that facilitate pairing of wireless devices with other wireless devices are disclosed. According to one aspect, a pair of wireless devices can be paired for wireless data exchange using an available wired link. Advantageously, the wired link can be used to transport a pin code from one of the wireless devices to the other. Consequently, pairing of the wireless devices can be completed without necessitating user entry of a pin code so long as the wired link is available.

Here's Apple's summary of the invention: "The invention pertains to improved techniques that facilitate pairing of wireless devices with other wireless devices. According to one aspect of the invention, a pair of wireless devices can be paired for wireless data exchange using an available wired link. Advantageously, the wired link can be used to transport a pin code from one of the wireless devices to the other. Consequently, pairing of the wireless devices can be completed without necessitating user entry of a pin code so long as the wired link is available.

The invention can be implemented in numerous ways, including as a method, system, device, apparatus, or computer readable medium. Several embodiments of the invention are discussed below.

As a method for pairing a host device with a wireless device, one embodiment of the invention includes at least the acts of: detecting a wired data link between the host device and the wireless device; establishing a wireless data link between the host device and the wireless device; retrieving a pin code internal to the host device; sending the pin code to the wireless device over the wired data link; receiving authentication data from the wireless device; authenticating the wireless device based on the received authentication data; and completing pairing of the host device with the wireless device when the wireless device has been authenticated.

"As a host computing device with support for a wired data link and a wireless data link, one embodiment of the invention includes at least: a connection manager configured to detect a wired data link between the host computing device and a wireless device; a wireless transceiver for transferring data between the host computing device and the wireless device over a wireless data link, and a pairing manager operatively connected to the peripheral bus driver and the wireless transceiver.

"The pairing manager manages pairing of the host computing device and the wireless device. The pairing manager can operate to: (i) retrieve a pin code internal to the host computing device, (ii) send the pin code to the wireless device over the wired data link, (iii) receive authentication data from the wireless device, and (iv) authenticate the wireless device based on the received authentication data.

"As a method for pairing a wireless device with a host device, one embodiment of the invention includes at least the acts of: detecting a wired data link between the host device and the wireless device; detecting a wireless data link between the host device and the wireless device; receiving a pin code over the wired data link from the host device; generating authentication data at the wireless device based on the pin code; sending the authentication data from the wireless device to the host device; and subsequently completing pairing of the wireless device with the host device when authentication is successful.

"As a computer readable medium including at least computer program code for pairing a first wireless device with a second wireless device, one embodiment of the invention includes at least: computer program code for detecting a wired data link between the first wireless device and the second wireless device; computer program code for detecting a wireless data link between the first wireless device and the second wireless device; computer program code for receiving, at the second wireless device, a code over the wired data link from the first wireless device; and performing pairing operations to pair the first wireless device and the second wireless device based on the code received over the wired data link.

"As an electronic device having wireless capabilities, another embodiment of the invention includes at least operating the electronic device such that pairing of the electronic device to another electronic device having wireless capabilities includes electrically sending a code over a physical connection between the electronic device and another electronic device."

Jeremy Wyld is the inventor.