Methods for improving wireless connections for previously paired devices

Abstract

Methods and systems for easily establishing or switching between wireless connections by sending a Bluetooth Low-Energy (BLE) command from a first BLE enabled device to a second BLE enabled device, where the BLE command causes the second BLE enabled device to attempt to establish a Bluetooth Classic connection with one or more source devices from a list of source devices that have previously been paired with the second BLE device. The first BLE device is configured to obtain or receive the list from the second BLE device, and in response to one or more triggers, send the BLE command. The list of previously paired source devices may be presented to a user via a display screen with touch-screen functionality, and in some examples, may utilize one or more algorithms to intelligently order the available source devices based on a variety of factors.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of managing connections for a device, the method comprising:
 receiving user input at a first Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) enabled device that causes a BLE command to be sent to a second BLE enabled device, wherein the first BLE enabled device is configured to matingly engage with and/or charge the second BLE enabled device; and   in response to the second BLE enabled device receiving the BLE command while connected to a first source device via a Bluetooth Classic connection, the second BLE enabled device attempts to establish a Bluetooth Classic connection with a second source device via a Bluetooth Classic connection.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the user input comprises at least one of a button, a switch, or a touch-capacitive sensor arranged on the first BLE enabled device. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first BLE enabled device is a case. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second BLE enabled device is a wearable audio device. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first BLE enabled device does not have any other connection to the second BLE enabled device when the BLE command is sent. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first input includes a tap or a tap and hold gesture on a touch capacitive sensor arranged on the first BLE enabled device. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second BLE enabled device is configured to generate an audible tone upon successful connection to the second source device. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the audible tone includes audio playback announcing a name of the second source device. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the audible tone includes an audio playback associated with a media playback of the second source device. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving an additional user input at the first BLE enabled device that causes an additional BLE command to be sent to the second BLE enabled device, and
 in response to the second BLE enabled device receiving the additional BLE command while connected to the second source device via the Bluetooth Classic connection, the second BLE enabled device attempts to establish a Bluetooth Classic connection with a third source device via a Bluetooth Classic connection.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving an additional user input at the first BLE enabled device that causes the first BLE enabled device or the second BLE enabled device to cycle through available source devices while still connected to the first source device or the second source device. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein in response to pausing for a predetermined period of time on an available source device of the available source devices during the cycling of available source devices, the method further includes causing the second BLE enabled device to establish an additional Bluetooth Classic connection with the available source device. 
     
     
         13 . A Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) enabled device comprising:
 a BLE radio; and   a processor and memory configured to execute and store, respectively, a set of computer-readable instructions that when executed by the processor are configured to:   receive a BLE command from another BLE enabled device, wherein the other BLE enabled device is configured to matingly engage with and/or charge the BLE enabled device; and   in response to receiving the BLE command while connected to a first source device via a Bluetooth Classic connection, attempting to establish a Bluetooth Classic connection with a second source device via a Bluetooth Classic connection.   
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the BLE enabled device does not have any other connection to the other BLE enabled device when receiving the BLE command. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the other BLE enabled device is configured to generate an audible tone upon successful connection to the second source device. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the audible tone includes audio playback announcing a name of the second source device. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the audible tone includes an audio playback associated with a media playback of the second source device. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 receive an additional BLE command, and   in response to receiving the additional BLE command while connected to the second source device via the Bluetooth Classic connection, attempt to establish a Bluetooth Classic connection with a third source device via a Bluetooth Classic connection.   
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 receive an additional user input that causes the BLE enabled device to cycle through available source devices while still connected to the first source device or the second source device.   
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein in response to a pause on an available source device of the available source devices during the cycling of available source devices, the processor is further configured to:
 cause the BLE enabled device to establish an additional Bluetooth Classic connection with the available source device.