Techniques for verifying user intent and securely configuring computing devices

US11050737B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Apple Inc. · US

Inventors

• Jay Sterling Coggin · Brooklyn, US
• Daniel C. Klingler · Mountain View, US
• Kyle C. Brogle · San Francisco, US
• Johannes P. Schmidt · Aachen, DE
• Eric A. Allamanche · Nuremberg, DE
• Thomas Alsina · Mountain View, US
• Bob Bradley · San Jose, US
• Alex T. Nelson · Portland, US
• Rudolph van der Merwe · Portland, US
• Joseph M. Triscari · West Linn, US
• Keun Sup Lee · Sunnyvale, US
• Pedro Mari · Santa Cruz, US
• Aaron M. Elder · Los Gatos, US
• Richard M. Powell · Mountain View, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 23, 2019
• Grant date: Jun 29, 2021
• Expiry date: Dec 31, 2039

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H04W4/70
• WIPO field: Digital communication
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

The embodiments set forth a technique for enabling a computing device to securely configure a peripheral computing device. According to some embodiments, the method can include the steps of (1) approving a request received from the peripheral computing device to engage in a setup procedure for the peripheral computing device, (2) receiving, from the peripheral computing device: (i) an audio signal that encodes a password and timing information, and (ii) a light signal. Additionally, the method can involve, in response to identifying that the timing information correlates with the light signal: (3) extracting the password from the audio signal, and (4) establishing a communication link with the peripheral computing device based on the password. In turn, the method can involve (5) providing configuration information to the peripheral computing device over the communication link.