System and method for securely pairing a wireless device using wireless communication

Abstract

Various embodiments of an invention for pairing a plurality of wireless devices using wireless communications are disclosed. A method for pairing a wireless device comprises placing the wireless device in a pairing enclosure. The pairing enclosure includes a shielding layer to substantially attenuate a pairing signal emitted within the pairing enclosure. A pairing signal transmitted through the pairing enclosure is received at a pairing signal receiver configured to detect a power level of the pairing signal. An indication is made regarding whether the pairing procedure can begin, proceed, or be terminated based on the power level of the pairing signal detected by the paring signal receiver.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for securely pairing a wireless device using wireless communication, comprising:
 a pairing enclosure having at least one 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 transmitted through the pairing enclosure; and   an indicator operable to receive a signal from the pairing signal receiver to indicate when a power level of the pairing signal measured by the pairing signal receiver is within a predetermined power level range.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a test signal transmitter configured to transmit a test pairing signal through the pairing enclosure to be received by the paring signal receiver to determine an amount of attenuation of the test pairing signal. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the test signal transmitter is integrated within the wireless device. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the test signal transmitter is configured to transmit pairing information to the wireless device. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the test signal transmitter is located at one of internal to the pairing enclosure and external to the pairing enclosure and the pairing signal receiver is located at one of external to the pairing enclosure and internal to the pairing enclosure, respectively, to enable the pairing signal receiver to measure an attenuation of the test pairing signal transmitted by the test signal transmitter after the signal travels through the pairing enclosure. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , further comprising a test signal receiver located on a same side of the pairing enclosure with the test signal transmitter. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the test pairing signal is emitted as at least one of a single frequency, a plurality of frequencies, and a modulated signal to determine an amount of attenuation provided by the pairing enclosure. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the test signal transmitter is electrically connected to the pairing signal receiver and the indicator indicates one of a successful test and an unsuccessful test based on the predetermined power level. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a pairing transceiver located within the pairing enclosure, the pairing transceiver configured to communicate with the wireless device during the paring procedure. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the pairing transceiver is configured to transmit pairing information to the wireless device during the pairing procedure. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , 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. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the pairing signal is emitted by the wireless device. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the pairing signal is a radio frequency signal. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the pairing signal is a near field magnetic induction signal. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the indicator is a control signal configured to indicate to the system when the pairing procedure can be initiated, proceed, or be terminated based on the power level of the pairing signal. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one shielding layer is comprised of a radio frequency shielding material. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one shielding layer is comprised of a magnetic field shielding material. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one shielding layer is comprised of at least one of a foil shielding material and a mesh shielding material. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one shielding layer is formed from at least one material selected from the group consisting of gold, silver, aluminum, copper, nickel, Mu metal, ferrite tile, a radiation absorbing material, conductive carbon, doped semiconductor, metallized plastic, and metallized paper products. 
     
     
         20 . The system 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.