Wireless device connection establishment and confirmation with enhanced virtual assistant functions
Methods and systems are described for connecting devices in a manner that is quick and user-friendly. Enhanced audible communications are leveraged to bypass a need to reference a visual-based user interface. The enhanced audible communications are provided for smartphones having a virtual assistant layer. Connection scenarios including failure to connect, multiple users with multiple devices in a small or enclosed space, unexpected or undesired connections with nearby devices, weak signal, low data transmission, movement away from a range of the wireless connection, and the like are resolved. Parental controls are provided. Artificial intelligence systems, including neural networks, are trained for the connecting process. Models are developed for improving the connecting process. Related apparatuses, devices, techniques, and articles are also described.
1 . A method for connecting a first device to a second device, the method comprising:
receiving, at the first device, a discovery phase signal from the second device;
transmitting, from the first device, a connecting phase signal to the second device;
receiving, at the first device, a response to the connecting phase signal from the second device;
transmitting, from the first device, a connected phase signal including transmission data to the second device;
receiving, at the first device, a response to the connected phase signal including receiving data from the second device; and
transmitting from the first device an audible announcement to the second device, the audible announcement including an identification of the first device.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first device includes a virtual assistant layer, and wherein the second device is at least one of a Bluetooth-connectable device, a Wi-Fi-connectable device, a Wi-Fi server, or an Internet of Things device.
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the first device including the virtual assistant layer is a smartphone, and the Bluetooth-connectable device is a Bluetooth-connectable headset.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein, for the receiving of the discovery phase signal, the first device has a scanner role, and the second device has an advertiser role,
wherein, for the transmitting of the connecting phase signal and the receiving of the response to the connecting phase signal, the first device has an initiator role, and the second device has an advertiser role, and
wherein, for the transmitting of the connected phase signal and the receiving of the response to the connected phase signal, the first device has a primary role, and the second device has a secondary role.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein, for the transmitting of the connected phase signal and the receiving of the response to the connected phase signal, the first device has a generic access profile (GAP) central role and/or a generic attribute profile (GATT) client role, and the second device has a GAP peripheral role and/or a GATT server role.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein, after the transmitting, from the first device, the connecting phase signal to the second device, the second device generates for output an audible tone.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the second device is a Bluetooth-connectable device, and the method comprising:
after the receiving, at the first device, the response to the connected phase signal including the receiving data from the second device, transmitting from the first device a Bluetooth stack notification to a remote address.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first device includes a virtual assistant layer, the method comprising:
after the receiving, at the first device, the response to the connected phase signal including the receiving data from the second device, transmitting, from the first device, a text-to-speech conversion command to a text-to-speech converter.
9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the transmitting, from the first device, the text-to-speech conversion command to the text-to-speech converter occurs automatically and without the virtual assistant layer receiving a verbal request.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first device includes a virtual assistant layer, the method comprising:
after the receiving, at the first device, the response to the connected phase signal including the receiving data from the second device, transmitting from the first device a virtual assistant audible announcement to the second device.
11 . A system for connecting a first device to a second device, the system comprising:
circuitry configured to:
receive, at the first device, a discovery phase signal from the second device;
transmit, from the first device, a connecting phase signal to the second device;
receive, at the first device, a response to the connecting phase signal from the second device;
transmit, from the first device, a connected phase signal including transmission data to the second device;
receive, at the first device, a response to the connected phase signal including receiving data from the second device; and
transmit from the first device an audible announcement to the second device, the audible announcement including an identification of the first device.
12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the first device includes a virtual assistant layer, and wherein the second device is at least one of a Bluetooth-connectable device, a Wi-Fi-connectable device, a Wi-Fi server, or an Internet of Things device.
13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the first device including the virtual assistant layer is a smartphone, and the Bluetooth-connectable device is a Bluetooth-connectable headset.
14 . The system of claim 11 , wherein, for the receiving of the discovery phase signal, the first device has a scanner role, and the second device has an advertiser role,
wherein, for the transmitting of the connecting phase signal and the receiving of the response to the connecting phase signal, the first device has an initiator role, and the second device has an advertiser role, and
wherein, for the transmitting of the connected phase signal and the receiving of the response to the connected phase signal, the first device has a primary role, and the second device has a secondary role.
15 . The system of claim 11 , wherein, for the transmitting of the connected phase signal and the receiving of the response to the connected phase signal, the first device has a generic access profile (GAP) central role and/or a generic attribute profile (GATT) client role, and the second device has a GAP peripheral role and/or a GATT server role.
16 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the circuitry is configured to:
after the transmitting, from the first device, the connecting phase signal to the second device, generate for output, at the second device, an audible tone.
17 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the second device is a Bluetooth-connectable device, and wherein the circuitry is configured to:
after the receiving, at the first device, the response to the connected phase signal including the receiving data from the second device, transmit from the first device a Bluetooth stack notification to a remote address.
18 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the first device includes a virtual assistant layer, and wherein the circuitry is configured to:
after the receiving, at the first device, the response to the connected phase signal including the receiving data from the second device, transmit, from the first device, a text-to-speech conversion command to a text-to-speech converter.
19 . The system of claim 18 , wherein the transmitting, from the first device, the text-to-speech conversion command to the text-to-speech converter occurs automatically and without the virtual assistant layer receiving a verbal request.
20 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the first device includes a virtual assistant layer, and wherein the circuitry is configured to:
after the receiving, at the first device, the response to the connected phase signal including the receiving data from the second device, transmit from the first device a virtual assistant audible announcement to the second device.
21 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first device performs text-to-speech on a device-name string identifying the first device and transmits resulting audio to the second device for playback upon connection.
22 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the first device automatically transmits the resulting audio to the second device for playback upon connection without the virtual-assistant layer receiving a verbal request.