Abstract: The invention disclosed provides an improved Bluetooth™ system with increased security and privacy for “device association” (“pairing”) of two Bluetooth™ devices where one device has no display. Heretofore, only Secure Simple Pairing (SSP) Association Model “Just Works” is used if one device is display-less. Unfortunately, Just Works is vulnerable to exploits known as “Man-In-The-Middle” (MITM) attacks. By contrast, my invention implements uses Numeric Comparison (heretofore, unusable when one of the pairing devices are display-less). Numeric Comparison is more secure than Just Works, because both agree to a randomly-generated 6-digit number. My innovation allows display-less Bluetooth™ devices (headsets or ear buds) to pair with display-bearing devices, because the matching 6-digit number on the displaying device is “spoken” or sounded (voice recordings, beeps, tones) into a displayless device user's ear.

Abstract: A simplified apparatus and method for securely pairing Bluetooth™ and similar radio audio devices by transmitting a PIN value encoded as a tone from ear bud or speaker of one device and the microphone of the other. This apparatus and method do not require an implementation of the “Simple Secure Pairing” feature on both devices nor do they require the display and operator acceptance of verification values, tones, or computed numeric values.