Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting and acknowledging audio transmissions containing data. In one embodiment, a method is presented that includes receiving multiple audio signals that are detected by multiple receivers from within a service area. A first audio transmission may be detected in a first subset of the audio signal that are received by a first subset of the receivers. The first subset of the receivers may be positioned to receive audio transmissions from computing devices located within a first portion of the service area. At least one transmitter may be identified that is positioned to transmit audio transmissions to computing devices located within at least a subset of the first portion of the service area. A second audio transmission may be transmitted using the at least one first transmitter.

Abstract: Methods and systems for improved data transmission using audio transmissions are provided. In one embodiment, a method is provided that includes receiving an audio transmission at. Audio symbols may be identified within the audio transmission, and a magnitude and phase for each of the symbols may be identified. Based on the magnitudes and phases, corresponding data values may be identified for each of the audio symbols and may be combined to form a data payload of the audio transmission.

Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling the receipt and transmission of audio transmissions are provided. In one embodiment, a method is provided that includes selecting a first audio channel and transmitting a first audio transmission using the first audio channel. A second audio transmission may then be received that contains an acknowledgment of the first audio transmission. In certain instances, the second audio transmission may be received on the first audio channel. If a second audio transmission is received on the first audio channel, it may be determined that the first audio transmission was successfully received by another computing device.

Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling the receipt and transmission of audio transmissions are provided. In one embodiment, a method is provided that includes selecting a first audio channel and transmitting a first audio transmission using the first audio channel. A second audio transmission may then be received that contains an acknowledgment of the first audio transmission. In certain instances, the second audio transmission may be received on a second audio channel. If no acknowledgment is received for the predetermined period of time, the first audio transmission may be transmitted again using a third audio channel.

Abstract: The present disclosure relate to equalization of audio transmissions that are used to transmit content, such as advertisements, promotions, redemptions, and/or other types of content (e.g., images, multimedia, audio, web-based, applications, and/or the like) between a first computing device. In some instances, the transmission may occur when the first computing device is located within proximity to a physical location, such as an entity or drive through location.

Abstract: Methods and systems for improved detection of audio transmissions are provided. In one embodiment, a method is provided that includes receiving an audio signal containing an audio transmission. The audio transmission may contain a predetermined portion that was initially generated based on an expected sequence of complex-valued signals. A real portion of the expected sequence of complex-valued signals may be compared to the received audio signal to identify a first portion of the received audio signal. A complex portion of the expected sequence may be compared to portions of the received audio signal near the first portion of the received audio signal to identify a second portion of the received audio signal. An arrival time of the audio transmission may be determined based on the second portion of the received audio signal.

Abstract: Methods and systems for improved transmission and receipt of audio transmissions containing data encoded according to different protocols are presented. In one embodiment, a method is provided that includes receiving a digital data bistream containing data for transmission using an audio transmission. The digital data bitstream may be divided into a plurality of symbols (e.g., according to a type of encoding protocol to be used). An analog audio signal may be generated that encodes the plurality of symbols according to an encoding protocol (e.g., a PSK protocol and/or a DPSK protocol). The analog audio signal may be added to the audio transmission and the audio transmission may be transmitted using an audio transmitter.

Abstract: A networkable device is coupled to a wireless IP gateway or paired to a personal area network (PAN) via the use of a sonic tone, which may be a human audible tone, which encodes a symbol sequence representing a binary message useful for implementing connection to a wireless IP gateway or pairing with a PAN. In one embodiment the sonic tone conveys a media access controller (MAC) address, to facilitate connection and/or pairing. Alternatively, or in addition, the sonic tone may encode a Service Set Identifier (SSID) and password for connection to a wireless network (Wi-Fi), or a BLUETOOTH (IEEE 802.15.1) identifier and/or PIN for connection to a BLUETOOTH (IEEE 802.15.1) PAN. In particular implementation of this embodiment the tone is produced by the IP gateway and used to initiate Wi-Fi connection, and/or the tone is produced by the master device of a PAN to initiate BLUETOOTH (IEEE 802.15.1) connection.

Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting and acknowledging audio transmissions containing data. In one embodiment, a method is presented that includes receiving multiple audio signals that are detected by multiple receivers from within a service area. A first audio transmission may be detected in a first subset of the audio signal that are received by a first subset of the receivers. The first subset of the receivers may be positioned to receive audio transmissions from computing devices located within a first portion of the service area. At least one transmitter may be identified that is positioned to transmit audio transmissions to computing devices located within at least a subset of the first portion of the service area. A second audio transmission may be transmitted using the at least one first transmitter.

Abstract: Methods and systems for detecting and combining audio transmissions containing data are provided. In one embodiment, a method is provided that includes receiving multiple audio signals from multiple receivers. An audio transmission may be detected in a first subset of the audio signals and the audio transmission may contain data. A second subset of the audio signals may be identified with the strongest magnitude of the audio transmission. Portions of the second subset of the audio signals may then be combined to generate a combined audio transmission signal and the combined audio transmission signal may be decoded for further processing.

Abstract: A method of encoding, and decoding, a human-inaudible acoustic signal 240 embedded within audio content, suitable for use within the processor of an encoding and broadcasting system or a decoding and receiving system 200, 202. A binary message is encoded into a sequence 1000, 2000 of symbols selected from a group of four or eight symbols, each symbol encoding two or three binary bits with an associated frequency. The human-inaudible acoustic signal may have a variable length, with the length of the signal encoded in a header 1002-1008, 2002-2009. The encoding uses both forward error correction and cyclic redundancy coding to increase the robustness of the transmission. Furthermore, the binary bits encoded by the symbols are selected such that a Hamming distance of a single bit transformation exists between symbols associated with adjacent frequencies, so that a frequency error creates only a single bit error.

Abstract: A mobile device that generates and transmits a human-inaudible acoustic signal, which encodes a symbol sequence representing a binary message, for delivery as audio content, is disclosed. The mobile device encodes the binary message into a sequence of symbols that are each associated with frequency characteristics and generates and transmits the human-inaudible acoustic signal, based on the frequency characteristics of the symbols. A further mobile device that receives and decodes a human-inaudible acoustic signal, which encodes a symbol sequence representing a binary message, embedded within audio content, is disclosed. The mobile device repeatedly performs a frequency domain transformation of samples of the signal to generate a symbol sequence, and performs error correction decoding upon the symbol sequence to determine the validity of the symbol sequence.

Abstract: A sonic signal encodes a symbol sequence representing a binary message, for delivery as audio content. The binary message into a sequence of symbols that are each associated with frequency characteristics transmitted over a time period. Two carriers are transmitted at two selected frequencies during each time period, delivering the binary data at a high rate. The symbol sequence is preceded by a prefix which takes the form of a sweeping frequency tone which sweeps over the frequency ranges of the carriers. Further, the amplitudes of the carriers are adjusted so that higher frequency transmissions are transmitted at higher sound pressure levels. Methods for synchronizing to the symbol sequence and decoding the symbol sequence are also described.

Abstract: Methods and systems for improved detection of audio transmissions are provided. In one embodiment, a method is provided that includes receiving an audio signal containing an audio transmission. The audio transmission may contain a predetermined portion that was initially generated based on an expected sequence of complex-valued signals. A real portion of the expected sequence of complex-valued signals may be compared to the received audio signal to identify a first portion of the received audio signal. A complex portion of the expected sequence may be compared to portions of the received audio signal near the first portion of the received audio signal to identify a second portion of the received audio signal. An arrival time of the audio transmission may be determined based on the second portion of the received audio signal.

Abstract: A content management method uses a portable multifunction device 202 to detect human-inaudible acoustic signals 210, when that signal is heard from the surrounding environment by a device microphone 113 or is output by the device's audio circuitry 100. The device 202 extracts a code from the inaudible signal and supplies the code via wired or wireless communication 232, along with additional optional data regarding the device and/or its user, to a content management system 200. Upon receipt of the code, indicating the received inaudible signal 210 from the portable multifunction device 202, the content management system 200 may provide particular content or a pointer to that content to the portable multifunction device 202, the content being selected based on the particular inaudible signal received. Additional threshold triggers 502 may be delivered to require additional actions to unlock the content.

Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling the receipt and transmission of audio transmissions are provided. In one embodiment, a method is provided that includes selecting a first audio channel from among multiple audio transmissions and transmitting a first audio transmission using the first audio channel. A second audio transmission may then be received that contains an acknowledgment of the first audio channel. In certain instances, the second audio transmission may be received on a second audio channel. If no acknowledgment is received for the predetermined period of time, the first audio transmission may be selected using a second audio channel.

Abstract: Controlled access to a physical area or secured service is managed using sonic tones. A secret key is stored in a user device and in a security system, and then when access is desired, the secret key or a derivative thereof is encoded into a sonic tone which is transmitted. The sonic tone is received and decoded to obtain the encoded binary message, which is then compared to an expected binary message, and if there is a match, access is granted by the security system. In illustrated particular embodiments the secret key is used to generate a one-time password based upon the secret key and a randomizing factor, such as the current time.

Abstract: A disclosed device is configured to generate and transmit a sonic signal that encodes a symbol sequence, representing a data message, for delivery as audio content. The device includes an audio transmitter and a processor circuit. The processor circuit is configured to encode the data message as a sequence of symbols, with each symbol encoding a data value that is associated with respective phase characteristics of a transmitted audio carrier. The processor is further configured to generate audio samples of a digitized version of the sequence of symbols using the phase characteristics of the audio carrier associated with the symbols, and to control the audio transmitter to generate and transmit the sonic signal, based on the audio samples. A further disclosed device is configured to receive the sonic signal and to decode a symbol sequence by identifying symbols corresponding to determined phases of the sonic signal.

Abstract: A content management method uses a portable multifunction device 202 to detect human-inaudible acoustic signals 210, when that signal is heard from the surrounding environment by a device microphone 113 or is output by the device's audio circuitry 100. The device 202 extracts a code from the inaudible signal and supplies the code via wired or wireless communication 232, along with additional optional data regarding the device and/or its user, to a content management system 200. Upon receipt of the code, indicating the received inaudible signal 210 from the portable multifunction device 202, the content management system 200 may provide particular content or a pointer to that content to the portable multifunction device 202, the content being selected based on the particular inaudible signal received. Additional threshold triggers 502 may be delivered to require additional actions to unlock the content.