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 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: 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 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: 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 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: 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: The present disclosure provides new and innovative audio transmitter/receiver arrays for receiving and transmitting audio transmissions containing data. The transmitter/receiver arrays may include a plurality of transmitters, such as a speaker, for transmitting audio transmissions and a plurality of receivers, such as a microphone, for receiving audio transmissions. The transmitters and receivers may be mounted on a support body and may be arranged to respectively transmit and receive audio transmission from up to a 360-degree service area surrounding the transmitter/receiver array.