Abstract:
A uniform protocol can facilitate secure, authenticated communication between a controller device and an accessory device that is controlled by the controller. An accessory and a controller can establish a pairing, the existence of which can be verified at a later time and used to create a secure communication session. The accessory can provide an accessory definition record that defines the accessory as a collection of services, each service having one or more characteristics. Within a secure communication session, the controller can interrogate the characteristics to determine accessory state and/or modify the characteristics to instruct the accessory to change its state.
Abstract:
A secure wireless communication link (pairing) between two devices can be established using cleartext wireless transmissions between devices not joined to a network ("probes"). One device can broadcast a first probe indicating that it is seeking to establish a pairing. The other device can respond with a second probe, and the two devices can establish a shared secret, e.g., by exchanging further information using additional probes. Thereafter, either device can send a message to the other by encrypting the message using a cryptographic key derived from the shared secret; encrypted messages can also be sent within probes. The receiving device can extract an encrypted message from a probe and decrypt it using the cryptographic key. The encrypted message can include credentials usable by the receiving device to join a wireless network.
Abstract:
Methods and apparatus for providing primary transport service discovery information over one or more alternate transports that are not normally associated with the primary transport services. In one embodiment, the primary transport comprises a first wireless interface (e.g., Bluetooth), and the alternate transport comprises a second wireless interface (e.g., WiFi or WiMAX). Service profile information relating to the primary transport is broadcast to other users over the alternate transport in a more efficient and streamlined manner than that available on the primary transport. The other users store this service profile information so that it can be subsequently accessed for service profile discovery of the transmitting device by those other devices, thereby obviating subsequent transfer of the data over any transport (primary or alternate).
Abstract:
A method for controlling access to a wireless network, the method comprising, by a computing device: providing, to a nearby computing device, an encrypted request to access the wireless network; and in response to the nearby computing device: (1) determining, based on a satisfaction of a signal strength threshold associated with the encrypted request, that the nearby computing device and the computing device are proximate to one another, and (2) identifying, among a plurality of encryption keys received by the computing device, an encryption key for decrypting the encrypted request: receiving, from the nearby computing device, a password for the wireless network, and utilizing the password to access the wireless network.
Abstract:
A method for invoking a digital assistant, performed by a portable electronic device that includes a portable-device display and is in communication with a vehicle display of a vehicle, comprising: at the portable electronic device: displaying a first user interface on the portable-device display; causing the vehicle display of the vehicle to display a second user interface, the second user interface including an affordance, wherein the second user interface is visually distinct from the first user interface; while the second user interface is displayed on the vehicle display of the vehicle, detecting an input activating the affordance in the second user interface, and in response to detecting the input activating the affordance displayed within the second user interface on the vehicle display of the vehicle, causing the portable electronic device to invoke a digital assistant; in response to invoking the digital assistant, prompting a user for an audible request; in response to receiving the audible request at the portable electronic device, causing display, within the second user interface, of a digital assistant dialogue box; and subsequently causing display, within the second user interface, of a user interface object associated with a search result; and maintaining the first user interface on the portable-device display.