Physical contact detection for device pairing

Abstract

Devices, methods, and systems for physical contact detection for device pairing are described herein. One device includes a mechanism configured to detect physical contact between the device and a wireless device, a memory, and a processor configured to execute executable instructions stored in the memory to perform a pairing of the wireless device and the device only upon the mechanism detecting the physical contact between the device and the wireless device.

1 . A device, comprising:
 a mechanism configured to detect physical contact between the device and a wireless device, wherein the physical contact includes a tap of the device with the wireless device;   a memory; and   a processor configured to execute executable instructions stored in the memory to perform a pairing of the wireless device and the device only upon the mechanism detecting the physical contact between the device and the wireless device.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device includes an interface configured to communicate with the wireless device during the pairing of the wireless device and the device. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the interface is a wireless link that uses a wireless communication protocol to communicate with the wireless device during the pairing of the wireless device and the device. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the mechanism is an accelerometer. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the mechanism is a shock detector. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the mechanism is configured to detect movement of the device after the wireless device and the device have been paired. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to execute the instructions to perform the pairing of the wireless device and the device by establishing a link between the wireless device and the device over which the wireless device and device communicate. 
     
     
         8 . A method of operating a device, comprising:
 determining, by a device, whether a user of the device is in physical control of both the device and a wireless device during a pairing of the wireless device and the device based only upon whether physical contact is detected between the device and the wireless device, wherein the physical contact includes a tap of the device with the wireless device;   performing, by the device, the pairing of the wireless device and the device only upon determining the user of the device is in physical control of both the device and the wireless device; and   preventing, by the device, the pairing of the wireless device and the device upon determining the user of the device is not in physical control of both the device and the wireless device.   
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the method includes determining whether the user of the device is in physical control of both the device and the wireless device based on whether the physical contact between the device and the wireless device is detected simultaneously by the device and the wireless device. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the method includes determining whether the user of the device is in physical control of both the device and the wireless device using an accelerometer of the device. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the method includes determining whether the user of the device is in physical control of both the device and the wireless device using a shock detector of the device. 
     
     
         14 . A system, comprising:
 a wireless device; and   a device configured to:
 communicate with the wireless device during a pairing of the wireless device and the device; 
 detect physical contact between the device and the wireless device, wherein the physical contact includes a tap of the device with the wireless device; and 
 perform the pairing of the wireless device and the device only upon detecting the physical contact between the device and the wireless device. 
   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the device is an energy management device; and   the wireless device is a mobile phone.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the device is an energy management device; and   the wireless device is a sensor.   
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the wireless device is configured to detect the physical contact between the device and the wireless device; and   the device is configured to perform the pairing of the wireless device and the device only upon the device and the wireless device simultaneously detecting the physical contact between the device and the wireless device.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the device is configured to detect the physical contact between the device and the wireless device while the device is stationary. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the device is configured to detect the physical contact between the device and the wireless device while both the device and the wireless device are in motion.