US-12621886-B2 - Methods and systems for enhanced device pairing

Abstract

A computer-implemented method including receiving, at a first device from a second device, a wireless beacon transmission; obtaining, by the first device from the wireless beacon transmission, an identifier for the second device; initiating, by the first device, a connection to the second device via a local area network using connection parameters determined based on the identifier; and establishing a pairing relationship between the first device and the second device based on the connection.

Inventors

• James David Thomas
• Gulamhusein Moledina

Assignees

• SHOPIFY INC.

Dates

Publication Date

20260505

Application Date

20230728

Claims (20)

1. 1 . A computer-implemented method comprising: receiving, at a first device from a second device, a wireless beacon transmission; obtaining, by the first device from the wireless beacon transmission, an identifier for the second device; initiating, by the first device, a connection to the second device via a local area network using connection parameters determined based on the identifier, the initiating: using the identifier in a local area network discovery query to obtain the connection parameters for the second device; and initiating a connection to the second device using the connection parameters; and establishing a pairing relationship between the first device and the second device based on the connection.
2. 2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising: determining, based on a signal strength of the beacon, a proximity of the first device to the second device, wherein the receiving, obtaining, initiating, and establishing is conditioned on the proximity being within a determined threshold.
3. 3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a plurality of second devices are part of the local area network, the method further comprising: determining, based on a signal strength of the beacon, the second device from the plurality of second devices that is closest to the first device; and performing the extracting, using and connecting with the determined second device.
4. 4 . The method of claim 3 , further comprising: receiving, at the first device from a third device, a wireless beacon transmission, the third device being one of the plurality of second devices; obtaining, by the first device from the wireless beacon transmission, a third device identifier; determining, at the first device, that the third device has a proximity closer than the second device; initiating, by the first device, a connection to the third device via a local area network using connection parameters determined based on the third device identifier; and establishing a pairing relationship between the first device and the third device based on the connection.
5. 5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising: detecting a loss of the connection with the second device; using stored connection parameters to reestablish the connection between the first device and second device.
6. 6 . The method of claim 5 , further comprising: determining that the reestablishment of the connection between the first device and the second device was unsuccessful; detecting the beacon; using an identifier in the beacon to obtain new connection parameters; and using the new connection parameters to reestablish the connection between the first device and second device.
7. 7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising: determining that the connecting was unsuccessful; and utilising a secondary connection process to pair the first device and the second device.
8. 8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the secondary connection process is at least one of a Local Area Network Discovery process; and a display of a connection code on the second device for input into the first device.
9. 9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the connecting further comprises: receiving, via a user interface of the first device, a code displayed on the second device.
10. 10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the connection parameters are a string that is larger than a payload capacity for the wireless beacon transmission.
11. 11 . A first device comprising: a processor; and a communications subsystem, wherein the first device is configured to: receive, at the first device from a second device, a wireless beacon transmission; obtain from the wireless beacon transmission, an identifier for the second device; initiate a connection to the second device via a local area network using connection parameters determined based on the identifier, by: using the identifier in a local area network discovery query to obtain the connection parameters for the second device; and initiating a connection to the second device using the connection parameters; and establish a pairing relationship between the first device and the second device based on the connection.
12. 12 . The first device of claim 11 , wherein the first device is further configured to: determine, based on a signal strength of the beacon, a proximity of the first device to the second device, wherein the first device is conditioned to receive, obtain, initiate, and establish based on the proximity being within a determined threshold.
13. 13 . The first device of claim 11 , wherein a plurality of second devices are part of the local area network, the first device further configured to: determine, based on a signal strength of the beacon, the second device from the plurality of second devices that is closest to the first device; and perform the extracting, using and connecting with the determined second device.
14. 14 . The first device of claim 13 , wherein the first device is further configured to: receive, from a third device, a wireless beacon transmission, the third device being one of the plurality of second devices; obtain, from the wireless beacon transmission, a third device identifier; determine, at the first device, that the third device has a proximity closer than the second device; initiate a connection to the third device via a local area network using connection parameters determined based on the third device identifier; and establish a pairing relationship between the first device and the third device based on the connection.
15. 15 . The first device of claim 11 , wherein the first device is further configured to: detect a loss of the connection with the second device; and use stored connection parameters to reestablish the connection between the first device and second device.
16. 16 . The first device of claim 15 , wherein the first device is further configured to: determine that the reestablishment of the connection between the first device and the second device was unsuccessful; detect the beacon; use an identifier in the beacon to obtain new connection parameters; and use the new connection parameters to reestablish the connection between the first device and second device.
17. 17 . The first device of claim 11 , wherein the first device is further configured to: determine that the connecting was unsuccessful; and utilise a secondary connection process to pair the first device and the second device.
18. 18 . The first device of claim 17 , wherein the secondary connection process is at least one of a Local Area Network Discovery process; and a display of a connection code on the second device for input into the first device.
19. 19 . The first device of claim 11 , wherein the connection parameters are a string that is larger than a payload capacity for the wireless beacon transmission.
20. 20 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium for storing instruction code, which, when executed by a processor of a first device cause the first device to: receive, at the first device from a second device, a wireless beacon transmission; obtain from the wireless beacon transmission, an identifier for the second device; initiate a connection to the second device via a local area network using connection parameters determined based on the identifier by: using the identifier in a local area network discovery query to obtain the connection parameters for the second device; and initiating a connection to the second device using the connection parameters; and establish a pairing relationship between the first device and the second device based on the connection.

Description

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE The present disclosure is related to device pairing and in particular relates to device pairing on a Local Area Network. BACKGROUND Devices within a Local Area Network (LAN), such as those on a single Internet Protocol subnet, may occasionally need to be paired with other devices on that subnet. For example, in a retail setting, a portable point of sale terminal may need to be paired with a device that displays shopping cart and checkout information to the customer. SUMMARY When multiple point of sale terminals exist in the store, and multiple screen devices also exist at various locations in the store, discovering and pairing of the devices becomes more difficult. Specifically, LAN discovery protocols allow devices to find each other on the LAN. However, in an environment where there are multiple point of sale devices and multiple displaying devices, there may be a specific need to make 1-to-1 pairings between a point of sale device and a display device to support the point of sale device displaying to the correct display device and/or receive user input from the display device. In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, beacon signals from one device may be received by a second device and information from within that beacon signal may be used to initiate a connection between the first device and the second device. Therefore, in one aspect, a computer-implemented method may be provided. The method may include receiving, at a first device from a second device, a wireless beacon transmission and obtaining, by the first device from the wireless beacon transmission, an identifier for the second device. The method may further include initiating, by the first device, a connection to the second device via a local area network using connection parameters determined based on the identifier and establishing a pairing relationship between the first device and the second device based on the connection. In some embodiments, the initiating the connection to the second device via the local area network using connection parameters determined based on the identifier may comprise using the identifier in a local area network discovery query to obtain connection parameters for the second device, and initiating a connection to the second device using the connection parameters. In some embodiments, the method may further comprise determining, based on a signal strength of the beacon, a proximity of the first device to the second device, wherein the receiving, obtaining, initiating, and establishing is conditioned on the proximity being within a determined threshold. In some embodiments, a plurality of second devices are part of the local area network, and the method may further comprise determining, based on a signal strength of the beacon, the second device from the plurality of second devices that is closest to the first device; and performing the extracting, using and connecting with the determined second device. In some embodiments, the method may further comprise receiving, at the first device from a third device, a wireless beacon transmission, the third device being one of the plurality of second devices; obtaining, by the first device from the wireless beacon transmission, a third device identifier; determining, at the first device, that the third device has a proximity closer than the second device; initiating, by the first device, a connection to the third device via a local area network using connection parameters determined based on the third device identifier; and establishing a pairing relationship between the first device and the third device based on the connection. In some embodiments, the method may further comprise detecting a loss of the connection with the second device and using stored connection parameters to reestablish the connection between the first device and second device. In some embodiments, the method may further comprise determining that the reestablishment of the connection between the first device and the second device was unsuccessful; detecting the beacon; using an identifier in the beacon to obtain new connection parameters; and using the new connection parameters to reestablish the connection between the first device and second device. In some embodiments, the method may further comprise determining that the connecting was unsuccessful; and utilising a secondary connection process to pair the first device and the second device. In some embodiments, the secondary connection process may be at least one of a Local Area Network Discovery process; and a display of a connection code on the second device for input into the first device. In some embodiments, the connecting may further comprise receiving, via a user interface of the first device, a code displayed on the second device. In another aspect a first device having a processor and a communications subsystem may be provided. The first device may be configured to receive, from a second device, a wireles