Apparatus and method for verifying audio output at a client device

• US 20040199420A1
• Filed: 04/03/2003
• Published: 10/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LinkedIn Corporation (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Bhakta, Dharmesh, Obas, Juan F.
• Granted Patent: US 7,831,469 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.4
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements

Abstract

An apparatus and method for verifying the audio output at a client device are provided. With the apparatus and method, when a user requests access to resources, a profile for the user is retrieved and used to determine whether the user is to be presented with audio advertisements. If so, a test audio advertisement is sent to the client device. An agent application on the client device outputs the audio advertisement, via a speaker, to the user and records the audio that is being output by the speaker using a microphone or other recording device. The recording of the audio output is then sent back to the server that sent the original test audio advertisement for comparison. The server then compares the recording of the audio output to the original test audio advertisement. If the recording matches the original test audio advertisement, access to the resources is granted.

Claims

1. A method of verifying audio output at a client device, comprising:

receiving a request for access to a system resource;

sending audio data to the client device;

receiving recorded data from the client device, wherein the recorded data is data recorded from sound output at the client device;

comparing the recorded data to the audio data;

determining if the recorded data matches the audio data; and

permitting access to the system resource if the recorded data matches the audio data.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the audio data is an audio advertisement.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein comparing the recorded data to the audio data includes performing pattern matching on the recorded data and the audio data.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining if the client device has an audio adapter prior to sending audio data to the client device.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein determining if the client device has an audio adapter includes performing a transport protocol based check of a configuration of the client device.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

analyzing a value of at least one characteristic of the recorded data;

comparing the value of the at least one characteristic of the recorded data to a desired value of the at least one characteristic for the audio data; and

generating at least one adjustment parameter for adjusting the value of the at least one characteristic to achieve the desired value of the at least one characteristic.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

adjusting at least one parameter of the audio data based on the at least one adjustment parameter.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the at least one characteristic is at least one of volume, tone, and bass.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

denying access to the system resource if the recorded data does not match the audio data; and

transmitting a message indicating a reason for denial of access to the system resource.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

outputting one or more audio advertisements following permitting the access to the system resource.

11. A computer program product in a computer readable medium for verifying audio output at a client device, comprising:

first instructions for receiving a request for access to a system resource;

second instructions for sending audio data to the client device;

third instructions for receiving recorded data from the client device, wherein the recorded data is data recorded from sound output at the client device;

fourth instructions for comparing the recorded data to the audio data;

fifth instructions for determining if the recorded data matches the audio data; and

sixth instructions for permitting access to the system resource if the recorded data matches the audio data.

12. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the audio data is an audio advertisement.

13. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the fourth instructions for comparing the recorded data to the audio data include instructions for performing pattern matching on the recorded data and the audio data.

14. The computer program product of claim 11, further comprising:

seventh instructions for determining if the client device has an audio adapter prior to sending audio data to the client device.

15. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the seventh instructions for determining if the client device has an audio adapter include instructions for performing a transport protocol based check of a configuration of the client device.

16. The computer program product of claim 11, further comprising:

seventh instructions for analyzing a value of at least one characteristic of the recorded data;

eighth instructions for comparing the value of the at least one characteristic of the recorded data to a desired value of the at least one characteristic for the audio data; and

ninth instructions for generating at least one adjustment parameter for adjusting the value of the at least one characteristic to achieve the desired value of the at least one characteristic.

17. The computer program product of claim 16, further comprising:

tenth instructions for adjusting at least one parameter of the audio data based on the at least one adjustment parameter.

18. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the at least one characteristic is at least one of volume, tone, and bass.

19. The computer program product of claim 11, further comprising:

seventh instructions for denying access to the system resource if the recorded data does not match the audio data; and

eighth instructions for transmitting a message indicating a reason for denial of access to the system resource.

20. The computer program product of claim 11, further comprising:

seventh instructions for outputting one or more audio advertisements following permitting the access to the system resource.

21. An apparatus for verifying audio output at a client device, comprising:

means for receiving a request for access to a system resource;

means for sending audio data to the client device;

means for receiving recorded data from the client device, wherein the recorded data is data recorded from sound output at the client device;

means for comparing the recorded data to the audio data;

means for determining if the recorded data matches the audio data; and

means for permitting access to the system resource if the recorded data matches the audio data.