Apple Inc.

Artiom Shamis

Kapil Chhabra

Sriram Hariharan

Michael Jason Giles

Daniel R Borges

Matthew L Semersky

Christopher R Whitney

Andre M Boule

Brian D Pietsch

Tanya G Kancheva

Friedrich W Drees

Veerendra Boodannavar

Ganesha Adkasthala Ganapathi Bata

Vijay Venkataraman

Paul V Flynn

Welly Kasten

Chaitanya Mannemala

Ajoy K Singh

Venkateswara Rao Manepalli

Thanigaivelu Elangovan

Tito Thomas

Ganesha Adkasthala Ganapathi Batta

Vinesh Pallen

Ofer Levy

Maziar Brumand

The embodiments set forth herein disclose techniques for enabling a user device to seamlessly establish a secure, high-bandwidth wireless connection with a vehicle accessory system to enable the user device to wirelessly stream user interface (UI) information to the vehicle accessory system. To implement this technique, a lower-bandwidth wireless technology (e.g., Bluetooth) is used as an initial means for establishing a Wi-Fi pairing between the user device and the vehicle accessory system. Wi-Fi parameters associated with a Wi-Fi network provided by the vehicle accessory system can be communicated to the user device using the lower-bandwidth wireless technology. A secure Wi-Fi connection can then be established between the user device and the vehicle accessory system using the provided Wi-Fi parameters. The embodiments also disclose a technique for enabling the user device to automatically reconnect with the vehicle accessory system in a seamless manner (e.g., when returning to a vehicle).

In-vehicle wireless communication

Embodiments for performing a fast return to Wi-Fi following completion of a cellular voice call are provided. These embodiments include detecting that a device has switched from communicating over a Wi-Fi interface to communicating over a cellular interface; determining the earliest time that the device can switch back to Wi-Fi; and instituting the switch. In some embodiments, the process of performing a fast return to Wi-Fi is carried out by devices having small form factors, such as smartwatches and other wearables, which may be susceptible to coexistence and peak power problems. The fast return to Wi-Fi embodiments disclosed herein allow a device to perform a voice call over a cellular interface when Wi-Fi calling is not available, and switch over to a Wi-Fi interface immediately upon completion of the voice call in order to conserve battery life, achieve higher data speeds, and avoid high costs associated with cellular data transmissions.

Fast return to Wi-Fi

An apparatus and methods are provided for automatically detecting and connecting to a Wi-Fi network. In these methods, a wireless device listens for beacons that are sent using a low-power wireless protocol. Once the wireless device detects a first beacon at a first location, the wireless device extracts a first beacon region identifier from the beacon and correlates the first beacon region identifier with a first Wi-Fi network that is located at the first location. Next, the wireless device retrieves a first set of credentials for connecting to the first Wi-Fi network. Once the first set of credentials is retrieved, the wireless device uses the first set of credentials to connect to the first Wi-Fi network.

Method and apparatus for automatically detecting and connecting to Wi-Fi networks

A device implementing a system for coexistence of collocated radios may include a first radio circuit configured to receive, from a collocated second radio circuit, a start indication for cellular activity associated with a radio resource control connection. The first radio circuit may be configured to, responsive to receiving the start indication, stop a wireless transmission capability. The first radio circuit may be configured to receive, from the collocated cellular circuit, an end indication for the cellular activity prior to the radio resource control connection being released. The first radio circuit may be configured to resume the wireless transmission capability in accordance with a reduced power level response to receiving the end indication.

Coexistence of collocated radios

After detecting an access-intent operation, an electronic device establishes a connection with a second electronic device using a communication protocol. The electronic devices exchange identifiers, and the second electronic device provides information specifying a preferred channel to use with a second communication protocol. Based at least in part on the preferred channel of the second electronic device and on communication contexts of the electronic devices, the electronic device selects a channel and transmits to the second electronic device information specifying the selected channel. The electronic device remotely accesses credential information based on the exchanged identifiers, and using the credential information, the electronic devices establish a secure connection via the selected channel using the second communication protocol. The electronic device determines a distance to the second electronic device using wireless ranging via the secure connection. When the electronic devices are proximate to each other, the electronic device can be unlocked.

Wireless login with secure proximity detection

An electronic device connects to a network associated with a service provider via a router at a home location. During a time interval, the electronic device provides information specifying a network address of the router to an authentication computer when the electronic device is connected to a network. The authentication computer uses the received information to determine a connection pattern of the electronic device. Moreover, the authentication computer identifies that the electronic device is at the home location based on the connection pattern. Then, the authentication computer provides, to an accounting computer associated with the service provider, a request to allow the electronic device to access a wireless network associated with the service provider at a remote location (which is other than the home location). Furthermore, the authentication computer communicates network information to the electronic device, which allows the electronic device to access the wireless network without providing authentication information.

Customer identification for seamless wireless-network access

A system and method synchronizes network data for a device registered to a user. The network data includes a list of a plurality of known wireless networks and authentication data associated with each of the known wireless networks. The method includes establishing a connection to a server of a synchronization network. The method includes transmitting identification data to the server. The identification data indicates the network data corresponding to the user to which the device is registered. The method includes receiving the list of known wireless networks from the server via the synchronization network. The method includes receiving a secure file including the authentication data from the server via the synchronization network.

System and method for cloud synchronizing known networks

A method automatically connects a device to a WiFi network. The method includes determining WiFi networks that are available for a connection thereto. The method includes categorizing each of the WiFi networks as a private WiFi network or a public WiFi network in which the private WiFi network utilizes a first association process while the public WiFi network utilizes a second association process. The method includes executing a first automatic connection process using the first association process until a successful connection is established to one of the private WiFi networks based upon a first prioritized list. The method includes executing a second automatic connection process until a successful connection is established to one of the public WiFi networks based upon a second prioritized list when the first automatic connection process to the private wireless networks is unsuccessful.

Device and method for associating with WiFi networks

An apparatus and methods are provided for automatically detecting and connecting to a WI-FI&#x2122; network. In these methods, a wireless device listens for beacons that are sent using a low-power wireless protocol. Once the wireless device detects a first beacon at a first location, the wireless device extracts a first beacon region identifier from the beacon and correlates the first beacon region identifier with a first WI-FI&#x2122; network that is located at the first location. Next, the wireless device retrieves a first set of credentials for connecting to the first WI-FI&#x2122; network. Once the first set of credentials is retrieved, the wireless device uses the first set of credentials to connect to the first WI-FI&#x2122; network.

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San Jose, CA, United States of America

Artiom Shamis