Arrangement for managing wireless communication between devices

Abstract

An arrangement for managing bi-directional wireless communication between a controller and a plurality of controllable-devices wherein each controllable-device is able to provide operable function specific instructions to the controller as to how it would like to be operated by the controller and wherein a proximity mechanism means provides bidirectional communications over a distance of a few centimetres between the controller and the or each controllable-device.

1 . A method for facilitating a proximity mechanism between a controller device and a controllable device to be controlled by the controller device, where both the controller device and the controllable device have a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) communication mechanism, comprising the steps of:
 adjusting a BLE communication mechanism such that a power level, a directional transmission and a detection pattern are such that communication using the BLE communication mechanism is effective only when the controller device and the controllable device are within NFC proximity range of each other.   
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the controllable device is configured to emit a signal, using a selected power, a selected directional transmission and a selected detection pattern, containing a predetermined UUID and a security key randomly generated for each signal emission. 
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein the controller device having the ability to detect the signal containing the pre-determined UUID and the security key; and wherein the controller device is adapted to automatically and securely connect to the controllable device to be controlled without the need for user input. 
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein once a connection is established between the controller device and the controllable device, a NDEF encoded PROXIMITY REQUEST message is sent by the controller device to the controllable device; and after the controllable device has received and processed the NDEF encoded PROXIMITY REQUEST message, the controllable device responds to the controller device with a NDEF encoded PROXIMITY RESPONSE message. 
     
     
         5 . An arrangement for facilitating a proximity mechanism between a controller device and a controllable device to be controlled by the controller device, where both the controller device and the controllable device to be controlled have a Bluetooth Low Energy circuit and communication mechanism, each device comprising:
 a unidirectional antenna, in use, connected to a low energy output of the Bluetooth Low Energy circuit.   
     
     
         6 . A device for facilitating a proximity mechanism between a first device and a second device to be controlled by the first device, where at least the first device has a Bluetooth Low Energy circuit and communication mechanism, the first device comprising:
 a unidirectional antenna, in use, connected to a low energy output of the Bluetooth Low Energy circuit.