System and method for pairing wireless headsets and headphones

1 . A method for establishing secure wireless communication between a host and a headset device, the headset device including a speaker, the method comprising:

generating a random number by the headset device;

announcing the generated random number via the speaker;

inputting the announced number to the host via a user interface; and

establishing a wireless communication link between the host and the headset device utilizing the random number as a link key.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the wireless communication is Bluetooth wireless communication.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising exchanging a public/private key pair between the headset and the host; and utilizing the public/private key pair to encrypt the information transmitted over the wireless communication link.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the random number is one or more of the group a hash of the link-key, and a cryptographically authenticated key.

5 . A wireless headset comprising:

a CPU;

means for generating a random number;

a speaker; and

a voice synthesis circuit for announcing the generated random number via the speaker, wherein the announced number is input to a host device as a PIN to establish a secure wireless communication link between the host device and the headset.

6 . The wireless headset of claim 5 , wherein the wireless communication is Bluetooth wireless communication.

7 . The wireless headset of claim 5 , further comprising means for exchanging a key between the headset and the host to encrypt the information transmitted over the wireless communication link.

8 . The wireless headset of claim 7 , wherein the key is one or more of the group a public/private key pair, a hash of a link-key, and a cryptographically authenticated key.

9 . A method for establishing secure wireless communication between a host and a headset device, the headset device including plurality of operational buttons, the method comprising:

selecting an alphanumeric character, using a first one of the plurality of operational buttons of the headset device;

confirming the selected alphanumeric character for input to the headset device, using a second one of the plurality of operational buttons of the headset device;

repeating the selecting and the confirming steps until a PIN with a desired length is input to the headset device;

inputting the input PIN with the desired length to the host via a user interface; and

establishing a wireless communication link between the host and the headset device utilizing the input PIN.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the wireless communication is Bluetooth wireless communication.

11 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising announcing the PIN after it is input to the headset device, via a speaker of the headset device.

12 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising exchanging a key between the headset and the host; and utilizing the public/private key pair to encrypt the information transmitted over the wireless communication link.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the key is one or more of the group a public/private key pair, a hash of a link-key, and a cryptographically authenticated key.

14 . A wireless headset comprising:

a first operational button for selecting alphanumeric characters; and

a second operational button for confirming the selected alphanumeric characters for input to the headset, wherein the alphanumeric characters input to the headset produce a PIN for establishing a wireless communication link between the host and the headset device.

15 . The wireless headset of claim 14 , wherein the wireless communication is Bluetooth wireless communication.

16 . The wireless headset of claim 14 , wherein the first operational button is a scroll wheel.

17 . The wireless headset of claim 14 , wherein the second operational button is a scroll wheel.

18 . The wireless headset of claim 14 , further comprising means for exchanging a public/private key pair between the headset and the host to encrypt the information transmitted over the wireless communication link.

19 . The wireless headset of claim 14 , further comprising speech synthesis circuit for announcing the PIN after it is input to the headset, via a speaker of the headset.

20 . A method for establishing secure wireless communication between a host and a headset device, the headset device including a speaker and a microphone, the method comprising:

outputting a randomly generated PIN from the host to the user;

speaking a PIN into the microphone;

recognizing the spoken PIN by the headset device; and

establishing a wireless communication link between the host and the headset device utilizing the PIN.

21 . The method of claim 20 , further comprising the step of announcing the recognized PIN, via the speaker.

22 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the wireless communication is Bluetooth wireless communication.

23 . The method of claim 20 , further comprising exchanging a key between the headset and the host; and utilizing the public/private key pair to encrypt the information transmitted over the wireless communication link.

24 . The method of claim 23 , wherein the key is one or more of the group a public/private key pair, a hash of a link-key, and a cryptographically authenticated key.

25 . A wireless headset comprising:

a microphone for accepting a spoken PIN as an input;

speech recognition means for recognizing the spoken PIN;

a speaker; and

speech synthesis means for announcing the recognized PIN via the speaker, wherein the announced PIN is output from a host device and used to establish a wireless communication link between the host device and the headset.

26 . The wireless headset of claim 25 , wherein the wireless communication is Bluetooth wireless communication.

27 . The wireless headset of claim 25 , further comprising means for exchanging a public/private key pair between the headset and the host to encrypt the information transmitted over the wireless communication link.