System and process for discovery of network-connected devices at remote sites using audio-based discovery techniques

• US 20050018687A1
• Filed: 06/15/2004
• Published: 01/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Cutler, Ross
• Granted Patent: US 7,525,928 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/395.200
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/46 Cluster building
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4541 Directories for service discovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1094 Inter-user-equipment sessions transfer or sharing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/403 Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences data switching systems for conference H04L12/18; arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities H04M3/56; television conferencing systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/08 specially adapted for optional reception of entertainment or informative matter
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/203 composed of PSTN and data network, e.g. the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/567 Multimedia conference systems

Abstract

A system and process for discovery between endpoint components and computing devices residing at remote locations from each other, in cases where the devices are connected to a common computer network, is presented. The present invention allows a device in one location to discover the network address of another device at a different location, which then allows the first device to negotiate with the discovered device to facilitate the transfer of data and other communications over the common network. However, this discovery is accomplished without the use of the common network. Rather the discovery process uses audible or inaudible audio signals transferred between the devices at two different locations using a communication medium, such as a telephone system.

Claims

1. A system for a discovering electronic device to discover the network address of a discoverable electronic device which is connected to the same computer network as the discovering device and which is located at a site remote from the discovering device, comprising:

a general purpose computing device residing in the discovering electronic device;

a computer program comprising program modules executable by the general purpose computing device, wherein the computing device is directed by the program modules of the computer program to,

receive a signature signal transmitted by the discoverable electronic device, wherein the signal comprises data representing a signature of the discoverable device indicative of its presence at the remote location and its being accessible via said network,

transmit a request signal for receipt by the discoverable electronic device whose signature was received which requests the address assigned to that discoverable device on the network to be transmitted to the discovering device, and

receive a reply signal transmitted by the discoverable electronic device whose signature was received which comprises data representing the requested network address, wherein

the signature, request and reply signals are audio signals that are sent between the discovering and discoverable devices over a communications medium not comprising said network.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the communications medium is a telephone communications system, and wherein there is a communications device connected to the telephone communication system at the location where the discovering device resides and where the discoverable device resides.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the discovering device and the communications device residing at the same location each comprise a microphone and loudspeaker for receiving and transmitting audio signals through the air, and wherein the signature and reply signals transmitted by the discoverable device are first received by said communication device and then transmitted via its loudspeaker through the air to the microphone of the discovering device, and wherein the request signal transmitted by the discovering device is transmitted via the discovering device'"'"'s loudspeaker through the air to the microphone of said communication device where it is received and then transmitted to the discoverable device over the telephone communication system.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the discovering device and the communications device residing at the same location comprise direct audio connection interfaces for receiving and transmitting audio signals, and wherein the signature and reply signals transmitted by the discoverable device are first received by said communication device and then transmitted via its direct audio connection interface to the direct audio connection interface of the discovering device, and wherein the request signal transmitted by the discovering device is transmitted via the discovering device'"'"'s direct audio connection interface to the direct audio connection interface of said communication device where it is received and then transmitted to the discoverable device over the telephone communication system.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the discoverable device and the communications device residing at the same location each comprise a loudspeaker and microphone for transmitting and receiving audio signals through the air, and wherein the signature and reply signals transmitted by the discoverable device are transmitted via the discoverable device'"'"'s loudspeaker through the air to the microphone of said communication device where it is received and then transmitted to the discovering device over the telephone communication system, and wherein the request signal transmitted by the discovering device is first received by said communication device and then transmitted via its loudspeaker through the air to the microphone of the discoverable device.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein the discoverable device and the communications device residing at the same location comprise direct audio connection interfaces for respectively transmitting and receiving audio signals, and wherein the signature and reply signals transmitted by the discoverable device are transmitted via the discoverable device'"'"'s direct audio connection interface to the direct audio connection interface of said communication device where it is received and then transmitted to the discovering device over the telephone communication system, and wherein the request signal transmitted by the discovering device is first received by said communication device and then transmitted via its direct audio connection interface to the direct audio connection interface of the discoverable device.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the signature signal transmitted by the discoverable electronic device further comprises an indicator indicating the type of electronic device it is, and wherein the program module for transmitting a request signal is executed only for a discoverable device of the type that it is desired for the discovering device to establish communications with, wherein the device type is ascertained from the indicator included in the signature signal transmitted by the discoverable electronic device.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the signature signal is a low amplitude audio signal inaudible to humans which has the signature of the discoverable electronic device responsible for transmitting it embedded therein in the form an audio watermark, and wherein the program module for receiving a signature signal comprises a sub-module for obtaining the discoverable device'"'"'s signature from the audio watermark.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the program module for transmitting a request signal comprises a sub-module for generating the request signal in the form of a low amplitude audio signal inaudible to humans which has the address request embedded therein as an audio watermark, such that the discoverable device receiving the request signal obtains the address request from the audio watermark.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the reply signal is a low amplitude audio signal inaudible to humans which has the data representing the requested network address embedded therein in the form an audio watermark, and wherein the program module for receiving a reply signal comprises a sub-module for obtaining the discoverable device'"'"'s network address from the audio watermark.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the signature signal is an audio signal audible to humans which has the signature of the discoverable electronic device responsible for transmitting it encoded therein, and wherein the program module for receiving a signature signal comprises a sub-module for decoding the discoverable device'"'"'s signature from the signature signal.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the program module for transmitting a request signal comprises a sub-module for generating the request signal in the form of an audio signal audible to humans which has the address request encoded therein, such that the discoverable device receiving the request signal obtains the address request by decoding the request signal.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the reply signal is an audio signal audible to humans which has the data representing the requested network address encoded therein, and wherein the program module for receiving a reply signal comprises a sub-module for decoding the discoverable device'"'"'s network address from the reply signal.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the signature signal is transmitted by a discoverable electronic device on a periodic basis.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the signature signal transmitted by a discoverable electronic device is encrypted, and wherein the program module for receiving the signature signal transmitted by a discoverable electronic device comprises a sub-module for decrypting the signal.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the reply signal transmitted by a discoverable electronic device is encrypted, and wherein the program module for receiving the reply signal transmitted by a discoverable electronic device comprises a sub-module for decrypting the signal.

17. A computer-implemented process for a discovering electronic device to discover the network address of a discoverable electronic device which is connected to the same computer network as the discovering device and which is located at a site remote from the discovering device, to facilitate the transfer of data and other communications over the common network, said process comprising using a computer to perform the following process actions:

the discovering device receiving a signal transmitted by a discoverable electronic device, wherein the signal comprises data representing the address assigned to the discoverable device on the common network, and wherein the signal is an audio signal that is sent between the discovering and discoverable devices over a communications medium not comprising said common network; and

the discovering device using the received network address to establish communications via the common network with the discoverable device that transmitted the address.

18. The process of claim 17, wherein the communications medium is a telephone communications system, and wherein there is a communications device connected to the telephone communication system at the location where the discovering device resides and where the discoverable device resides.

19. The process of claim 18, wherein the discovering device and the communications device residing at the same location comprise a microphone and loudspeaker, respectively, for respectively receiving and transmitting audio signals through the air, and wherein the audio signal transmitted by the discoverable device is first received by said communication device and then transmitted via its speaker through the air to the microphone of the discovering device.

20. The process of claim 18, wherein the discovering device and the communications device residing at the same location comprise direct audio connection interfaces for respectively receiving and transmitting audio signals, and wherein the audio signal transmitted by the discoverable device is first received by said communication device and then transmitted via its direct audio connection interface to the direct audio connection interface of the discovering device.

21. The process of claim 18, wherein the discoverable device and the communications device residing at the same location comprise a loudspeaker and microphone, respectively, for respectively transmitting and receiving audio signals through the air, and wherein the audio signal transmitted by the discoverable device is transmitted through the air via its loudspeaker to the microphone of said communication device.

22. The process of claim 18, wherein the discoverable device and the communications device residing at the same location comprise direct audio connection interfaces for respectively transmitting and receiving audio signals, and wherein the audio signal transmitted by the discoverable device is transmitted via its direct audio connection interface to the direct audio connection interface of said communication device.

23. The process of claim 17, wherein the signal transmitted by the discoverable electronic device is a low amplitude audio signal inaudible to humans which has the data representing the address assigned to the discoverable device embedded therein in the form an audio watermark, and wherein the process action of receiving the signal transmitted by a discoverable device comprises an action of obtaining the discoverable device'"'"'s address from the audio watermark.

24. The process of claim 17, wherein the signal transmitted by the discoverable electronic device is an audio signal audible to humans which has the data representing the address assigned to the discoverable device encoded therein, and wherein the process action of receiving the signal transmitted by a discoverable device comprises an action of decoding the discoverable device'"'"'s address from the encoded signal.

25. The process of claim 17, wherein the signal transmitted by the discoverable electronic device further comprises a signature expressly indicating the type of electronic device it is, and inherently indicating its presence at the remote location and its being accessible via said common network.

26. The process of claim 25, wherein the process action of the discovering device using the received network address to establish communications via the common network with the discoverable device that transmitted the address is performed only for a discoverable device of the type that it is desired for the discovering device to establish communications with, wherein the device type is ascertained from the signature included in the signal transmitted by the discoverable electronic device.

27. The process of claim 17, wherein the signal transmitted by a discoverable electronic device is encrypted, and wherein the process action of the discovering device receiving a signal transmitted by a discoverable electronic device comprises an action of decrypting the signal.

28. A system for a discovering electronic device to discover the network address of one or more discoverable electronic devices which are connected to the same network as the discovering device and which are located at a site remote from the discovering device, comprising:

a general purpose computing device residing in the discovering electronic device;

a computer program comprising program modules executable by the general purpose computing device, wherein the computing device is directed by the program modules of the computer program to,

transmit a request signal which requests the network address assigned to a discoverable device be transmitted to the discovering device, and

receive a reply signal transmitted by a discoverable electronic device which comprises data representing the requested network address, wherein

the request and reply signals are audio signals that are sent between the discovering and discoverable devices over a communications medium not comprising said network.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the communications medium is a telephone communications system, and wherein there is a communications device connected to the telephone communication system at the location where the discovering device resides and where the discoverable devices reside.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the discovering device and the communications device residing at the same location each comprise a microphone and loudspeaker for receiving and transmitting audio signals through the air, and wherein the reply signal transmitted by a discoverable device is first received by said communication device and then transmitted via its loudspeaker through the air to the microphone of the discovering device, and wherein the request signal transmitted by the discovering device is transmitted via the discovering device'"'"'s loudspeaker through the air to the microphone of said communication device where it is received and then transmitted to the discoverable devices over the telephone communication system.

31. The system of claim 29, wherein the discovering device and the communications device residing at the same location comprise direct audio connection interfaces for receiving and transmitting audio signals, and wherein the reply signal transmitted by the discoverable device is first received by said communication device and then transmitted via its direct audio connection interface to the direct audio connection interface of the discovering device, and wherein the request signal transmitted by the discovering device is transmitted via the discovering device'"'"'s direct audio connection interface to the direct audio connection interface of said communication device where it is received and then transmitted to the discoverable devices over the telephone communication system.

32. The system of claim 29, wherein the discoverable devices and the communications device residing at the same location each comprise a loudspeaker and microphone for transmitting and receiving audio signals through the air, and wherein the reply signals transmitted by a discoverable device is transmitted via the discoverable device'"'"'s loudspeaker through the air to the microphone of said communication device where it is received and then transmitted to the discovering device over the telephone communication system, and wherein the request signal transmitted by the discovering device is first received by said communication device and then transmitted via its loudspeaker through the air to the microphones of the discoverable devices.

33. The system of claim 29, wherein the discoverable devices and the communications device residing at the same location comprise direct audio connection interfaces for respectively transmitting and receiving audio signals, and wherein the reply signal transmitted by a discoverable device is transmitted via the discoverable device'"'"'s direct audio connection interface to the direct audio connection interface of said communication device where it is received and then transmitted to the discovering device over the telephone communication system, and wherein the request signal transmitted by the discovering device is first received by said communication device and then transmitted via its direct audio connection interface to the direct audio connection interfaces of the discoverable devices.

34. The system of claim 28, wherein the program module for transmitting a request signal comprises a sub-module for generating the request signal in the form of a low amplitude audio signal inaudible to humans which has the address request embedded therein as an audio watermark, such that a discoverable device receiving the request signal obtains the address request from the audio watermark.

35. The system of claim 28, wherein the reply signal is a low amplitude audio signal inaudible to humans which has the data representing the requested network address embedded therein in the form an audio watermark, and wherein the program module for receiving a reply signal comprises a sub-module for obtaining a discoverable device'"'"'s network address from the audio watermark.

36. The system of claim 28, wherein the program module for transmitting a request signal comprises a sub-module for generating the request signal in the form of an audio signal audible to humans which has the address request encoded therein, such that a discoverable device receiving the request signal obtains the address request by decoding the request signal.

37. The system of claim 28, wherein the reply signal is an audio signal audible to humans which has the data representing the requested network address encoded therein, and wherein the program module for receiving a reply signal comprises a sub-module for decoding a discoverable device'"'"'s network address from the reply signal.

38. The system of claim 28, wherein the program module for transmitting a request signal, comprises a sub-module for specifying the type of discoverable electronic device it is desired to obtain the network address for, such that only the discoverable electronic devices of the specified type which are presence in the remote location and accessible via said network transmit a reply signal.

39. The system of claim 28, wherein the reply signal transmitted by a discoverable electronic device further comprises a signature expressly indicating the type of electronic device it is, and inherently indicating its presence in the remote location and its being accessible via said common network, thereby allowing the discovering device to determine if it wants to establish communications with the discoverable device over the network.

40. The system of claim 28, wherein the request signal is transmitted on a periodic basis.

41. The system of claim 28, wherein the reply signal transmitted by a discoverable electronic device is encrypted, and wherein the program module for receiving the reply signal transmitted by a discoverable electronic device comprises a sub-module for decrypting the signal.

42. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for facilitating the discovery of the network address of a discoverable electronic device by a discovering electronic device, wherein each device is connected to a common network and the discoverable device is located at a site remote from the discovering device, said computer-executable instructions comprising:

embedding data representing the address assigned to the discoverable device on the common network in an audio signal; and

transmitting the audio signal from the discoverable device to the discovering device over a communications medium not comprising said common network.

43. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for discovering of the network address of a discoverable electronic device by a discovering electronic device, wherein each device is connected to a common network and the discoverable device is located at a site remote from the discovering device, said computer-executable instructions comprising:

receiving an audio signal comprising data representing the address assigned to the discoverable device on the common network embedded therein from the discoverable device over a communications medium not comprising said network; and

extracting the discoverable device'"'"'s address from the received audio signal.