IP Library Granted Patent US 10,853,471
Granted Patent B2
US 10,853,471 · App. 15/805,034 · Granted Dec 1, 2020

Managing permissions for different wireless devices to control a common host device

Inventors: Bob Bradley (San Jose, CA); William M. Bumgarner (San Jose, CA); Vijay Sundaram (San Ramon, CA); Marc J. Krochmal (Cupertino, CA)
Assignee: Apple Inc.
G06F21/44G06F21/604H04L9/32H04L9/3247H04L63/0876H04L65/4069H04W4/00H04W12/001H04W12/003H04W12/02H04W12/0605H04W12/0608H04W12/0609H04W12/0802H04W12/0804H04W76/14H04L63/083H04L63/10H04L63/105H04W4/06H04W4/80H04W12/00305H04W12/00512H04W84/12
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,853,471
App. No.
15/805,034
Granted
Dec 1, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

Disclosed herein is a technique for managing permissions associated with the control of a host device that are provided to a group of wireless devices. The host device is configured to pair with a first wireless device. In response to pairing with the first wireless device, the host device grants a first level of permissions for controlling the host device to the first wireless device. Subsequently, the host device can receive a second request from a second wireless device to pair with the host device. In response to pairing with the second wireless device, the host device can grant a second level of permissions for controlling the host device to second wireless device, where the second level of permissions is distinct from the first level of permissions.

Claims (83)

1. A method for managing permissions associated with controlling a host device, the method comprising, at the host device:

establishing a first wireless connection with a first wireless device, wherein the first wireless device possesses a first level of permissions for controlling the host device;

receiving a request from a second wireless device to wirelessly pair with the host device;

establishing a second wireless connection with the second wireless device; and

granting, to the second wireless device, a second level of permissions for controlling the host device, wherein:

the second level of permissions is distinct from the first level of permissions, and

the first wireless device retains possession of the first level of permissions after the second level of permissions is granted to the second wireless device.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first level of permissions represents administrative permissions and enables the first wireless device to modify the second level of permissions granted to the second wireless device.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first level of permissions enables:

unlocking the host device, and

conducting electronic payments in association with the host device.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second level of permissions enables at least:

wireless streaming of content to the host device, and

remote navigation of a user interface (UI) provided by the host device.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

managing a look up table comprising at least a first entry and a second entry, wherein:

the first entry includes a first wireless device identifier associated with the first wireless device and a first corresponding description of the first level of permissions, and

the second entry includes a second wireless device identifier associated with the second wireless device and a second corresponding description of the second level of permissions.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first level of permissions is associated with a primary user account that is logged into the host device but is distinct from another user account associated with the second wireless device, and the first level of permissions corresponds to:

(i) cryptographic operations associated with the primary user account,

(ii) passwords associated with the primary user account, and

(iii) payment credentials associated with the primary user account.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the first wireless connection and the second wireless connection is established using a tap to set up feature.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving a second request from the second wireless device to conduct an electronic payment using a set of payment credentials associated with the first wireless device;

determining that the first wireless device has granted the second wireless device a permission associated with conducting electronic payments using the set of payment credentials; and

permitting the second wireless device to conduct the electronic payment using the set of payment credentials.

9. At least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium configured to store instructions that, when executed by at least one processor included in a host device, cause the host device to manage permissions associated with controlling the host device, by carrying out steps that include:

establishing a first wireless connection with a first wireless device, wherein the first wireless device possesses a first level of permissions for controlling the host device;

receiving a request from a second wireless device to wirelessly pair with the host device;

establishing a second wireless connection with the second wireless device; and

granting, to the second wireless device, a second level of permissions for controlling the host device, wherein:

the second level of permissions is distinct from the first level of permissions, and

the first wireless device retains possession of the first level of permissions after the second level of permissions is granted to the second wireless device.

10. The at least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 9 , wherein the first level of permissions represents administrative permissions and enables the first wireless device to modify the second level of permissions granted to the second wireless device.

11. The at least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 9 , wherein the first level of permissions enables:

unlocking the host device, and

conducting electronic payments in association with the host device.

12. The at least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 9 , wherein the second level of permissions enables at least:

wireless streaming of content to the host device, and

remote navigation of a user interface (UI) provided by the host device.

13. The at least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 9 , wherein the steps further include:

managing a look up table comprising at least a first entry and a second entry, wherein:

the first entry includes a first wireless device identifier associated with the first wireless device and a first corresponding description of the first level of permissions, and

the second entry includes a second wireless device identifier associated with the second wireless device and a second corresponding description of the second level of permissions.

14. The at least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 9 , wherein the first level of permissions is associated with a primary user account that is logged into the host device but is distinct from another user account associated with the second wireless device, and the first level of permissions corresponds to:

(i) cryptographic operations associated with the primary user account,

(ii) passwords associated with the primary user account, and

(iii) payment credentials associated with the primary user account.

15. The at least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 9 , wherein each of the first wireless connection and the second wireless connection is established using a tap to set up feature.

16. The at least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 9 , wherein the steps further include:

receiving a second request from the second wireless device to conduct an electronic payment using a set of payment credentials associated with the first wireless device;

determining that the first wireless device has granted the second wireless device a permission associated with conducting electronic payments using the set of payment credentials; and

permitting the second wireless device to conduct the electronic payment using the set of payment credentials.

17. A host device configured to manage permissions associated with controlling the host device, the host device comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the host device to perform steps that include:

establishing a first wireless connection with a first wireless device, wherein the first wireless device possesses a first level of permissions for controlling the host device;

receiving a request from a second wireless device to wirelessly pair with the host device;

establishing a second wireless connection with the second wireless device; and

granting, to the second wireless device, a second level of permissions for controlling the host device, wherein:

the second level of permissions is distinct from the first level of permissions, and

the first wireless device retains possession of the first level of permissions after the second level of permissions is granted to the second wireless device.

18. The host device of claim 17 , wherein the first level of permissions represents administrative permissions and enables the first wireless device to modify the second level of permissions granted to the second wireless device.

19. The host device of claim 17 , wherein the first level of permissions enables:

unlocking the host device, and

conducting electronic payments in association with the host device.

20. The host device of claim 17 , wherein the second level of permissions enables at least:

wireless streaming of content to the host device, and

remote navigation of a user interface (UI) provided by the host device.

21. The host device of claim 17 , wherein the at least one processor further causes the host device to perform steps that include:

managing a look up table comprising at least a first entry and a second entry, wherein:

the first entry includes a first wireless device identifier associated with the first wireless device and a first corresponding description of the first level of permissions, and

the second entry includes a second wireless device identifier associated with the second wireless device and a second corresponding description of the second level of permissions.

22. The host device of claim 17 , wherein the first level of permissions is associated with a primary user account that is logged into the host device but is distinct from another user account associated with the second wireless device, and the first level of permissions corresponds to:

(i) cryptographic operations associated with the primary user account,

(ii) passwords associated with the primary user account, and

(iii) payment credentials associated with the primary user account.

23. The host device of claim 17 , wherein each of the first wireless connection and the second wireless connection is established using a tap to set up feature.

24. The host device of claim 17 , wherein the at least one processor further causes the host device to perform steps that include:

receiving a second request from the second wireless device to conduct an electronic payment using a set of payment credentials associated with the first wireless device;

determining that the first wireless device has granted the second wireless device a permission associated with conducting electronic payments using the set of payment credentials; and

permitting the second wireless device to conduct the electronic payment using the set of payment credentials.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 2, 2018
From: BRADLEY, BOB; BUMGARNER, WILLIAM M.; SUNDARAM, VIJAY; KROCHMAL, MARC J.
To: APPLE INC.
Reel/Frame 044519/0058 →
Continuity (4)
Provisional Application 62446521 · Jan 15, 2017
Provisional Application 62449582 · Jan 23, 2017
Provisional Application 62514871 · Jun 4, 2017
Related Publication 20180206122A1 · Jul 19, 2018