COMPUTER COMMUNICATIONS USING ACOUSTIC SIGNALS

• US 20110182445A1
• Filed: 04/11/2011
• Published: 07/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonixio, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Beepcard, Inc.
• Inventors: ATSMON, Alon, Cohen, Moshe, Antebi, Amit, Lev, Zvi, Altman, Nathan
• Granted Patent: US 8,935,367 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/123
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1012 involving biosensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat, limb activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/206 Game information storage, e.g. cartridges, CD ROM's, DVD's, smart cards
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/402 Communication between platforms, i.e. physical link to protocol
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6063 for sound processing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8029 Fighting without shooting
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 2200/00 Computerized interactive toys, e.g. dolls
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 3/28 Arrangements of sound-producing means in dolls; Means in dolls for producing sounds
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 30/04 using wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/00 Other toys
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 11/16 using difference in transit time between electrical and acoustic signals
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/74 Systems using reradiation of acoustic waves, e.g. IFF, i.e. identification of friend or foe
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/22 Position of source determined by co-ordinating a plurality of position lines defined by path-difference measurements G01S5/28 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/003 Transmission of data between radar, sonar or lidar systems and remote stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/35 communicating wirelessly
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0728 the arrangement being an optical or sound-based communication interface
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/045 using payment protocols involving tickets
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/12 specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/32 using wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/327 Short range or proximity payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/326 : Game play aspects of gaming systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 11/00 : Transmission systems employing sonic, ultrasonic or infrasonic waves

Abstract

A method of communicating with an electronic device. The method includes providing an electronic device having an audible sound receiving and generating sub-system including a microphone, transmitting from a source at least one acoustic signal encoded with information, receiving said at least one acoustic signal by said microphone and determining a spatial position, distance or movement of the microphone relative to the source, responsive to the received at least one signal.

Claims

1. A method of configuring an electronic device, comprising:

providing an electronic device having an audible sound receiving and generating sub-system that can function in at least one of a microphone mode and a speaker mode;

connecting at least one peripheral to the electronic device, the at least one peripheral selected from a microphone and a speaker;

determining by said electronic device which type of the at least one peripheral is connected thereto; and

performing at least one of;

switching to microphone mode if said determining determines that said electronic device is connected to a microphone; and

switching to speaker mode if said determining determines that said electronic device is connected to a speaker signal.

2. A method according to claim 1 further comprising, after said determining:

receiving at least one acoustic signal;

determining whether the received signal is a speaker signal or a microphone signal;

switching to a microphone mode if it is determined that the at least one received signal is a microphone signal; and

switching to a speaker mode if it is determined that the at least one received signal is a speaker signal.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein said subsystem includes one of:

a speaker connected to one of a microphone port and a line in port of a sound card; and

a microphone connected to one of a speaker port and a line in port of a sound card; and

wherein said method further comprises, after said connecting, periodically checking for one or an incoming signal from outside said subsystem and a signal from said port.

4. A method according to claim 1 further comprising, after said determining:

generating a particular signal to indicate that mode switching is desired and automatically switching between said microphone mode and said speaker mode on receipt of said particular signal.

5. A method according to claim 1 further comprising, after said providing, connecting said sound receiving and generating subsystem in parallel to a microphone channel and a speaker channel.

6. A method according to claim 2, wherein said electronic device includes a microphone configured to be used as both a microphone and a speaker, said method further comprising at least one of:

driving said microphone using a speaker channel;

automatically switching said microphone between modes based on the detection of the at least one received signal; and

periodically switching said microphone between modes.

7. A method according to claim 2 further comprising, after said determining, splitting the frequencies of the at least one acoustic signal into low frequency signals and high frequency signals.

8. A method according to claim 7 further comprising switching to said speaker mode for said low frequency signals and switching to said microphone mode for said high frequency signals.

9. A method according to claim 2 further comprising, after said receiving, filtering specific frequencies for input and output.

10. An electronic device comprising:

an audible sound receiving and generating subsystem that can function in at least one of a microphone mode and a speaker mode; and

an adapting unit configured to determine whether said subsystem is in a microphone mode or a speaker mode, said adapting unit configured to perform at least one of;

switching to said microphone mode if said adapting unit determines that said subsystem is in said microphone mode; and

switching to said speaker mode if said adapting unit determines that said subsystem is in said speaker mode.

11. An electronic device according to claim 10, further comprising:

a coupler configured to receive at least one acoustic signal, said coupler configured to determine whether the received signal is a speaker signal or a microphone signal;

said adapting unit switching to said microphone mode if said coupler determines that a received signal is a microphone signal; and

said adapting unit switching to said speaker mode if said coupler determines that a received signal is a speaker signal.

12. An electronic device according to claim 10, wherein said sound receiving and generating subsystem includes a sound card.

13. An electronic device according to claim 12, wherein said sound receiving and generating subsystem includes a standard sound card.

14. An electronic device according to claim 10, wherein said sound receiving and generating subsystem includes at least one of a microphone and a speaker.

15. An electronic device according to claim 14, wherein said sound receiving and generating subsystem includes at least one of a standard microphone and a standard speaker.

16. An electronic device according to claim 10, wherein said subsystem includes a speaker and wherein said speaker is connected to one of a microphone port and a line in port of a sound card.

17. An electronic device according to claim 16, said electronic device further comprising a socket, wherein said speaker is connected to said socket.

18. An electronic device according to claim 10, wherein said subsystem includes a microphone and wherein said microphone is connected to one of a speaker port and a line in port of a sound card.

19. An electronic device according to claim 18, said electronic device further comprising a socket, wherein said microphone is connected to said socket.

20. An electronic device according to claim 16, wherein said adapting unit is configured to periodically check for one or an incoming signal from outside said subsystem and a signal from said line in port.

21. An electronic device according to claim 18, wherein said adapting unit is configured to periodically check for one or an incoming signal from outside said subsystem and a signal from said line in port.

22. An electronic device according to claim 10, wherein said electronic device is configured to generate a particular signal to indicate that mode switching is desired and wherein said adapting unit is configured to automatically switch between a microphone mode and a speaker mode on receipt of said particular signal.

23. An electronic device according to claim 10, wherein said sound receiving and generating subsystem is connected in parallel to a microphone channel and a speaker channel.

24. An electronic device according to claim 10, further comprising a microphone configured to be used as both a microphone and a speaker.

25. An electronic device according to claim 24, wherein said coupler is provided for at least one of:

driving said microphone using a speaker channel;

automatically switching said microphone between modes based on the detection of an incoming signal; and

periodically switching said microphone between modes.

26. An electronic device according to claim 11, wherein said coupler is configured to split the frequencies of the at least one acoustic signal into low frequency signals and high frequency signals.

27. An electronic device according to claim 26, wherein said adapting unit is configured to switch to said speaker mode for said low frequency signals and to switch to said microphone mode for said high frequency signals.

28. An electronic device according to claim 10, wherein said electronic device comprises a computer.

29. An electronic device according to claim 28, wherein said computer is a standard computer.

30. An electronic device according to claim 11, wherein said at least one acoustic signal is transmitted by one of a computer and a computer peripheral.

31. An electronic device according to claim 28, wherein said computer comprises one of a personal digital assistant (PDA) and a portable computer.

32. An electronic device according to claim 11, wherein said coupler comprises a smart card.

33. An electronic device according to claim 32, wherein said smart card is a standard smart card.

34. An electronic device according to claim 10, further comprising at least one filtration circuit configured for filtering specific frequencies for input and output.