Pairing Or Associating Electronic Devices

Abstract

A system that includes an implanted medical device such as an auditory prosthesis having a capacity to conduct communications on two channels to establish an association for communication with another electronic device. One of the channels is preferably a short range or near field channel, and the other channel is a broadcast channel. A method of asynchronous communication using both channels for establishing the association is also described.

1 - 30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . A method comprising:
 initiating establishment of a communications link between a medical device and a remote electronic device by transmitting one or more signals from the medical device to the remote electronic device over a first communications channel between the medical device and the remote electronic device; and   establishing the communications link between the medical device and the remote electronic device by communicating over the first communications channel and a second communications channel between the medical device and the remote electronic device.   
     
     
         32 . A method as claimed in  claim 31 , wherein:
 at least one of communicating over the first communications channel and communicating over the second communications channel comprises exchanging between the medical device and the remote electronic device at least one identifier for the communications link.   
     
     
         33 . A method as claimed in  claim 32 , wherein:
 a signal communicated over the second communications channel has a longer range than a signal communicated over the first communications channel.   
     
     
         34 . A method as claimed in  claim 32 , wherein establishing the communications link comprises:
 transmitting a pair request signal from the remote electronic device to the medical device over the second communications channel upon the medical device initiating the establishment of the communication link;   receiving the pair request signal by the medical device;   transmitting an accept signal by the medical device over the second communications in response to receiving the pair request signal;   receiving the accept signal by the remote electronic device;   transmitting a confirmation signal by the medical device;   receiving the confirmation signal by the remote electronic device;   determining whether the remote electronic device received the confirmation signal; and   ending the establishment of the communications link in response to determining that the remote electronic device failed to receive the confirmation signal.   
     
     
         35 . A method as claimed in  claim 32 , wherein
 the second communications channel is a 2.4 GHz radio frequency link.   
     
     
         36 . A method as claimed in  claim 32 , wherein
 the first communications channel is established using a component that has a transmission range limit that requires the medical device to be in the immediate vicinity of the remote electronic device.   
     
     
         37 . A method as claimed in  claim 32 , wherein
 the action of communicating over the first communications channel is executed when the medical device and the remote electronic device are within 3 meters from each other.   
     
     
         38 . A method as claimed in  claim 33  wherein
 the first communications channel has a frequency within a range of about 9 kHz to about 30 MHz; and 
 the second communications channel has a frequency within a range of about 30 MHz to about 11 GHz. 
 
     
     
         39 . An electronic device, comprising:
 a first communications system configured to at least transmit signals over a first communications channel;   a second communications system configured to transmit and receive signals on a second communications channel; and   a data processing system configured to control the first communications system and the second communications system by implementing data processing functions;   wherein the electronic device is a component of a prosthetic medical device,   wherein the data processing functions comprise:
 data processing functionality configured for establishing a communications link with a remote electronic device by transmitting an initiation signal to the remote electronic device via the first communications system; 
 data processing functionality configured for transmitting a confirmation signal to the remote electronic device via the first communications system; 
 data processing functionality configured for establishing a communications link with the remote electronic device by communicating with the remote electronic device via the second communications system; 
 data processing functionality configured for exchanging a unique identifier for the communications link with the remote electronic device via at least one of the first communication system or the second communication system; 
 data processing functionality to determine that communication over both the first communications system and the second communications system has been completed; 
 data processing functionality to establish the communications link if communications via the first communications system and the second communication system have been completed; and 
 data processing functionality to end attempts to establish the communications link if communications via the first communications system and second communications system have not been completed. 
   
     
     
         40 . An electronic device as claimed in  claim 39 , wherein the second communications system has a longer range than the first communications system. 
     
     
         41 . An electronic device as claimed in  claim 39 , wherein the data processing functions result in:
 the communications link only being established if communications over both the first and second communications channels are successful, and   pairing the prosthetic medical device with the remote electronic device can be carried out by bringing them into sufficiently close proximity that a signal transmitted on the first communications channel by the implanted medical device can be received by remote electronic device without further user initiation of the system necessary.   
     
     
         42 . An electronic device as claimed in  claim 39 , wherein the data processing functions further comprise:
 data processing functionality configured to receive a pair request signal from the remote electronic device via the second communications channel; and   data processing functionality configured to transmit an acceptance signal to the remote electronic device via the second communications channel, wherein the unique identifier is included in the acceptance signal.   
     
     
         43 . An electronic device as claimed in  claim 39 , wherein the data processing functions further comprise:
 data processing functionality configured for receiving a lock signal from the remote electronic device via the second communications system, wherein the lock signal comprises a link identifier;   data processing functionality for determining that the link identifier matches the unique identifier for the communications link; and   data processing functionality for establishing the communications link by transmitting an acknowledgement signal via the second communications system in response upon   determining that the link identifier matches the unique identifier for the communications link.   
     
     
         44 . An electronic device as claimed in  claim 39 , wherein the prosthetic medical device is a hearing prosthesis. 
     
     
         45 . A remote electronic device comprising:
 a first communications system configured to at least receive signals over a first communications channel;   a second communications system configured to transmit and receive signals on a second communications channel;   a user input device; and   a data processing system configured to control the first communications system and the second communications system by implementing data processing functions, wherein the data processing functions comprise:   data processing for receiving an initiation signal from a medical device for establishment of a communication link via the first communication channel; and   data processing functionality for establishing the communications link by communicating with the medical device via the first communication channel and the second communication channel.   
     
     
         46 . An electronic device as claimed in  claim 45 , wherein the electronic device is configured to receive a user input via the user input interface, wherein the electronic device is configured so that the user input initiates transmissions via the second communication channel. 
     
     
         47 . A remote electronic device as claimed in  claim 45 , further comprising a non-transitory data storage, wherein the data processing functions further comprise:
 data processing functionality for transmitting a pair request signal via the second communications channel in response to receiving the initiation signal;   data processing functionality for receiving an acceptance signal via the second communications channel, wherein a unique identifier is embedded in the acceptance signal;   data processing functionality to store the unique identifier in the non-transitory data storage;   data processing functionality to receive a confirmation signal after receiving the acceptance signal;   data processing functionality to determine whether the confirmation signal was received; and   data processing functionality to transmit a lock signal to the medical device via the second communications system in response to determining that the confirmation signal was received, wherein the unique identifier is embedded in the lock signal.   
     
     
         48 . A remote electronic device as claimed in  claim 45 , wherein the remote electronic device is a controller configured to interface with the auditory prosthesis. 
     
     
         49 . A remote electronic device as claimed in  claim 45 , wherein the second communication system is a Gigahertz frequency based communication system. 
     
     
         50 . A remote electronic device as claimed in  claim 45 , wherein the first communication system is of a different type than the second communication system.