System and method for pairing a plurality of wireless devices

Abstract

Various embodiments of an invention for pairing a plurality of wireless devices using wireless communications is disclosed. A method for pairing a plurality of devices comprises attenuating a pairing signal emitted from a wireless device within a pairing enclosure during a pairing procedure. A power level of the pairing signal that is emitted through the pairing enclosure is received at a pairing signal receiver. The pairing procedure is permitted to continue when the power level of the pairing signal is less than a predetermined power level.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for securely pairing a wireless device, comprising:
 attenuating a pairing signal emitted from the wireless device within a pairing enclosure during a pairing procedure;   detecting a power level of the pairing signal that is emitted through the pairing enclosure and received at a pairing signal receiver; and   permitting the pairing procedure to continue when the power level of the pairing signal is less than a predetermined power level; or   terminating the pairing procedure when the power level of the pairing signal is greater than the predetermined power level.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pairing signal is attenuated using at least one shielding layer of the pairing enclosure, wherein the shielding layer is comprised of a radio frequency shielding material or a magnetic field shielding material. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising transmitting a test pairing signal from a test signal transmitter through the pairing enclosure to enable the pairing signal receiver to determine an amount of attenuation of the test pairing signal. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the test signal transmitter is located at one of internal to the pairing enclosure or external to the pairing enclosure and the pairing signal receiver is located at one of external to the pairing enclosure or internal to the pairing enclosure. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the test pairing signal is transmitted as at least one of: a single frequency, a plurality of frequencies, or a modulated signal to determine an amount of attenuation provided by the pairing enclosure. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pairing enclosure includes a pairing transceiver configured to transmit pairing information to the wireless device during the paring procedure, wherein the pairing information is selected from the group consisting of a public encryption key, a private encryption key, a transmission frequency, a data channel, a pairing identification number, a pseudorandom noise (PN) code, a modulation scheme, a frequency hopping schedule, a software update, and a firmware update. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pairing signal is a radio frequency signal or a near field magnetic induction signal. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pairing enclosure is an enclosure selected from the group consisting of a vehicle holding room, a walkable enclosure, a box, a dome, a sphere, a tent, a teepee, a poncho, and an overcoat. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pairing enclosure is a portable environment configured to enable a person to walk into. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pairing enclosure is an enclosure with a lid that has a sufficient size to contain a plurality of the wireless devices. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pairing enclosure is wearable by a person. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising transmitting a noise signal to mask the pairing signal transmitted in the pairing enclosure, wherein the noise source is transmitted when the pairing signal is measured by the pairing signal receiver to be greater than a predetermined power level. 
     
     
         13 . A method for pairing a wireless device, comprising:
 placing the wireless device in a pairing enclosure, wherein the pairing enclosure includes a shielding layer to substantially attenuate a pairing signal emitted within the pairing enclosure during a pairing procedure;   receiving the pairing signal transmitted through the pairing enclosure at a pairing signal receiver configured to detect a power level of the pairing signal; and   permitting the pairing procedure to continue based on the power level of the pairing signal that is detected by the pairing signal receiver; or terminating the pairing procedure based on the power level of the pairing signal that is detected by the pairing signal receiver,   wherein the pairing procedure includes pairing the wireless device in the pairing enclosure to a secondary device inside the pairing enclosure.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising transmitting a test pairing signal from a test signal transmitter through the pairing enclosure to the pairing signal receiver to test an amount of attenuation of the test pairing signal. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising transmitting pairing information to the wireless device in the pairing enclosure when the power level of the pairing signal at the pairing signal receiver is less than a predetermined power level. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the pairing information is selected from the group consisting of a public encryption key, a private encryption key, a transmission frequency, a data channel, a pairing identification number, a pseudorandom noise (PN) code, a modulation scheme, a frequency hopping schedule, a software update, and a firmware update. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising displaying a visual indication to enable a user to determine that the pairing procedure is permitted or terminated based on the power level of the pairing signal that is detected by the pairing signal receiver. 
     
     
         18 . A system for securely pairing a plurality of wireless devices, the system comprising:
 a pairing enclosure having a shielding layer to substantially attenuate a pairing signal emitted within the pairing enclosure during a pairing procedure;   a pairing signal receiver configured to detect a power level of the pairing signal emitted within the pairing enclosure during the pairing procedure; and   a test signal transmitter configured to transmit a test pairing signal through the pairing enclosure to the pairing signal receiver;   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the test signal transmitter is located external to the pairing enclosure and the pairing signal receiver is located external to the pairing enclosure, respectively, to enable the pairing signal receiver to detect a power level of the test pairing signal transmitted by the test signal transmitter after the test pairing signal travels through the pairing enclosure 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the test signal transmitter is electrically connected to the pairing signal receiver and an indicator indicates one of a successful test or an unsuccessful test based on the power level of the test pairing signal.