Apple Inc.

Amazon Technologies, Inc.

Zaka Ur Rehman Ashraf

Jared S Grubb

Edward James Gayles

Srinivas Rama

Rajasimman Madhivanan

Samuel Scott Gigliotti

Keith Walter Rauenbuehler

Abraham Martin Passaglia

Robert M Stewart

Nadir Kiyanclar

Ruoruo Zhang

Hung Q Le

Wayne A Lee

Praveen Chegondi

Anush G Nadathur

John Lawrence Miller

Brett Nathan Lynnes

Gabriel Sanchez

David J Chandler

Patrick L Coffman

Daniel R Borges

Kyle C Brogle

Christopher B Zimmermann

Sivaramachandran Ganesan

Anshul Jain

Benjamin S Turner

Keith R Bisset

Devin E Gund

Peter N Heerboth

Anumita Biswas

Hannah Rebecca Lewbel

Mahesh Ramaray Shanbhag

Dennis James Taylor

Joshua K Tang

Martin D Hock

Andrew Byrne

Minsub Lee

Pranika Seth

Brett N Lynnes

John L Miller

Yik Ping Li

Techniques are disclosed for managing the connection assignments of a plurality of accessory devices to one or more hub devices. In one example, a user device acting as a leader device receives an assignment request from an accessory device. The user device may obtain information corresponding to hub attributes from the one or more hub devices. The user device may also obtain accessory traits from the accessory device. The user device can compare the accessory traits with the hub attributes to determine a connection score for each hub device. The user device can then assign the accessory device to the hub device with the highest connection score.

Techniques for load balancing with a hub device and multiple endpoints

Describe herein are techniques for providing cloud-based discovery. For example, a device may be configured to provide device registration and de-registration notifications to a cloud-based discovery service. The cloud-based discovery service may be configured to respond to discovery request by identifying registered devices that meet the criteria of the discovery request. The cloud-based discovery service may also be configured to provide endpoint information associated with registered devices in response to the discovery request, such that a device is able to utilize the endpoint information to connect with one or more of the registered devices.

Cloud-based device discovery

A wireless access device can be configured to determine a list of accessory groups corresponding to accessories connected to a network managed by the wireless access device. The wireless access device may also be configured to identify at least one firmware update that corresponds to at least one accessory group of the list of accessory groups and request all firmware updates that correspond to the at least one accessory group. The wireless access device can also be configured to receive one or more firmware updates that corresponds to at least one of the accessories of the at least one accessory group for which a respective firmware update is available and transmit at least one firmware update of the received one or more firmware updates to at least one corresponding accessory of the at least one accessory group.

Network access tokens for accessories

Techniques are disclosed for coordinating interactions between a user device and a plurality of accessory devices. In one example, a user device receives information identifying one or more accessory devices in communication with the user device. The user device may implement accessory interaction instances for each of the identified accessories. A first accessory interaction instance can be associated with a first accessory among the identified accessories and receive a first audio input from the first accessory corresponding to a user request. The first accessory interaction instance can process a portion of the received audio input and receive a first response from a server computer. The user device may then transmit the first response to the first accessory device.

Techniques for communication between hub device and multiple endpoints

Techniques are disclosed for connecting third-party accessories to a cellular-capable device to participate in a telephone call. In one example, a user can voice a request to make a call to an accessory device. The accessory device can transmit the request to a controller device. Upon processing the request, the controller device can identify an appropriate cellular-capable device and instruct the cellular-capable device to place the requested call. The controller device can also instruct the cellular-capable device to establish an audio connection with the accessory device to relay the call audio. In another example, the controller device can listen for a word spoken at the accessory device indicating the end of the call. Upon receiving the end of call word, the controller device can instruct the cellular-capable device to terminate the call. While in the listening state, the controller device may continue processing user requests received at other accessory devices.

Techniques for establishing communications with third-party accessories

Techniques are provided for updating firmware of an accessory device. An accessory development kit of the accessory device can communicate with an accessory update daemon using a home management daemon of a controller device. Based at least in part on a firmware update policy of the accessory device, the accessory update daemon will check for firmware updates. When firmware updates are available, the accessory update daemon can instruct the home management daemon to stage the update. The home management daemon will notify the accessory development kit to be in a stage mode. The accessory update daemon will download the firmware update and send the firmware update to the accessory development kit of the accessory device using an interface for the secure channel provided by the home management daemon. The accessory device can be a third party accessory device that does not have its own firmware updating application.

Techniques for firmware updates with accessories

Embodiments of the present disclosure present devices, methods, and computer readable medium for enabling controller device to control proprietary digital media players, network accessories, and virtual assistants, providing an overall improved user experience. The techniques disclosed herein reduce clutter because a single controller can control various different devices and accessories. The techniques discloses also can include identifying a change in the configuration information for the computing device. The technique for accessory control can include transmitting updated configuration information for the controller, the configuration information associating a function for the computing device with a user interface element value for the controller.

Techniques for authorizing controller devices

A controller device within a home network (or any suitable network) can be configured to manage network access tokens for various accessory devices within the home network. These network access tokens can be used by the accessory devices to access the home network without needing the network owner's network password. The network access tokens can be revocable and/or for a limited time. The controller device can generate the network access tokens, and can provide them to the accessory devices (or other user devices) as well as to an access device on the home network. Once the access device is provisioned with the accessory device's network access token, the router can control whether the accessory device is to be granted access to the home network and for how long.

Techniques are provided for updating firmware of an accessory device. An accessory development kit of the accessory device can communicate with an accessory update daemon using a home management daemon of a controller device. Based on a firmware update policy of the accessory device, the accessory update daemon will check for firmware updates. When firmware updates are available, the accessory update daemon can instruct the home management daemon to stage the update. The home management daemon will notify the accessory development kit to be in a stage mode. The accessory update daemon will download the firmware update and send the firmware update to the accessory development kit of the accessory device using an interface for the secure channel provided by the home management daemon. The accessory device can be a third party accessory device that does not have its own firmware updating application.

Growing community of inventors

Pleasanton, CA, United States of America

Zaka Ur Rehman Ashraf