IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,639,416
Granted Patent B2
US 12,639,416 · App. 18/793,038 · Granted May 26, 2026

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 (Santa Clara, CA)
Assignee: Apple Inc.
G06F21/44G06F21/604H04L9/32H04L9/3247H04L63/0876H04L65/61H04W4/00H04W12/02H04W12/03H04W12/065H04W12/068H04W12/069H04W12/082H04W12/084H04W12/50H04W76/14H04L63/083H04L63/10H04L63/105H04W4/06H04W4/80H04W12/55H04W12/71H04W84/12
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,639,416
App. No.
18/793,038
Granted
May 26, 2026
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 (57)

1 . A method for authorizing access to content, the method comprising, at a first computing device:

displaying a user interface associated with a second computing device;

receiving, by way of the user interface, a first request to access the content on the second computing device;

identifying at least one computing device;

providing, to the at least one computing device, a second request to access the content, wherein the second request causes the at least one computing device to display a prompt for authorizing access to the content; and

in response to receiving, from the at least one computing device, an authorization to access the content:

accessing the content at the second computing device.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the second request causes the second computing device to display, by way of a second user interface on a display device with which the second computing device is communicatively coupled, an indication that the first computing device is awaiting the authorization to access the content.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving credentials for accessing the content; and

providing the credentials to the second computing device to enable the second computing device to access the content.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the credentials are received in conjunction with the at least one computing device authorizing the access to the content.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the first computing device comprises a portable electronic device; and

the second computing device comprises a media playback device.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying the at least one computing device comprises:

identifying one or more computing devices with which the first computing device, second computing device, or some combination thereof, has previously paired.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying the at least one computing device comprises:

identifying one or more computing devices that share a common cloud services account with the first computing device, the second computing device, or some combination thereof.

8 . A non-transitory computer readable storage medium configured to store instructions that, when executed by at least one processor included in a first computing device, cause the first computing device to authorize access to content, by carrying out steps that include:

displaying a user interface associated with a second computing device;

receiving, by way of the user interface, a first request to access the content on the second computing device;

identifying at least one computing device;

providing, to the at least one computing device, a second request to access the content, wherein the second request causes the at least one computing device to display a prompt for authorizing access to the content; and

in response to receiving, from the at least one computing device, an authorization to access the content:

accessing the content at the second computing device.

9 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the second request causes the second computing device to display, by way of a second user interface on a display device with which the second computing device is communicatively coupled, an indication that the first computing device is awaiting the authorization to access the content.

10 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the steps further include:

receiving credentials for accessing the content; and

providing the credentials to the second computing device to enable the second computing device to access the content.

11 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein the credentials are received in conjunction with the at least one computing device authorizing the access to the content.

12 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein:

the first computing device comprises a portable electronic device; and

the second computing device comprises a media playback device.

13 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein identifying the at least one computing device comprises:

identifying one or more computing devices with which the first computing device, second computing device, or some combination thereof, has previously paired.

14 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein identifying the at least one computing device comprises:

identifying one or more computing devices that share a common cloud services account with the first computing device, the second computing device, or some combination thereof.

15 . A first computing device configured to authorize access to content, the first computing device comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the first computing device to carry out steps that include:

displaying a user interface associated with a second computing device;

receiving, by way of the user interface, a first request to access the content on the second computing device;

identifying at least one computing device;

providing, to the at least one computing device, a second request to access the content, wherein the second request causes the at least one computing device to display a prompt for authorizing access to the content; and

in response to receiving, from the at least one computing device, an authorization to access the content:

accessing the content at the second computing device.

16 . The first computing device of claim 15 , wherein the second request causes the second computing device to display, by way of a second user interface on a display device with which the second computing device is communicatively coupled, an indication that the first computing device is awaiting the authorization to access the content.

17 . The first computing device of claim 15 , wherein the steps further include:

receiving credentials for accessing the content; and

providing the credentials to the second computing device to enable the second computing device to access the content.

18 . The first computing device of claim 17 , wherein the credentials are received in conjunction with the at least one computing device authorizing the access to the content.

19 . The first computing device of claim 15 , wherein:

the first computing device comprises a portable electronic device; and

the second computing device comprises a media playback device.

20 . The first computing device of claim 15 , wherein identifying the at least one computing device comprises:

identifying one or more computing devices with which the first computing device, second computing device, or some combination thereof, has previously paired.

Continuity (7)
Continuation 18320171 · May 18, 2023
Continuation 17103883 · Nov 24, 2020
Division 15805034 · Nov 6, 2017
Provisional Application 62514871 · Jun 4, 2017
Provisional Application 62449582 · Jan 23, 2017
Provisional Application 62446521 · Jan 15, 2017
Related Publication 20240394358A1 · Nov 28, 2024
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