INTERMEDIATE COMPUTING DEVICE THAT USES NEAR-FIELD ACOUSTIC SIGNALS TO CONFIGURE AN END-USER DEVICE

• US 20150117159A1
• Filed: 10/29/2013
• Published: 04/30/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rakuten Group, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Rakuten Kobo Inc. (Rakuten Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Wu, James, Hayashi, Yasuyuki
• Granted Patent: US 9,626,863 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 367/197
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/02 using infrasonic, sonic or ultrasonic waves

Abstract

An intermediate device is operated to play back an acoustic configuration file for an end-user device. The acoustic configuration file can embed configuration parameters that are detectable by the end-user device. In particular, the end-user device can use the configuration parameters in conjunction with performing select operations, such as operations to configure the end-user device for communication with the network service.

Claims

1. A method for operating an intermediate computing device to configure an end-user device, the method being implemented by one or more processors of the intermediate computing device and comprising:

determining information associated with an account or with the end-user device;

determining a set of configuration parameters based on the determined information;

generating at least a portion of an acoustic configuration file that embeds the configuration parameters; and

playing back the acoustic configuration file to generate an acoustic signal that conveys the configuration parameters to the end-user device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein playing back the acoustic configuration file includes generating the acoustic signal to include acoustic characteristics that require a microphone of the end-user device to be within sufficient proximity of a speaker of the intermediate computing device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the acoustic characteristics require the microphone of the end-user device to be within ten feet of the speaker of the intermediate computing device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining information associated with the account or with the end-user device includes:

communicating an identifier to a network service; and

retrieving, from the network service, one or more information items associated with the account.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining information associated with the account or with the end-user device includes prompting a user to enter at least some of the information through an interface of the intermediate computing device.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising programmatically detecting network parameters for enabling the end-user device to communicate with a network service, and wherein generating at least the portion of the acoustic configuration file includes embedding the network parameters into the acoustic configuration file.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the network parameters include (i) an identifier of a local network, and (ii) information needed to access and use the local network.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein generating at least a portion of the acoustic configuration file includes:

receiving a first acoustic configuration file from a network service, the first acoustic configuration file including a first set of configuration parameters;

determining, on the intermediate computing device, a second set of configuration parameters; and

generating a second acoustic configuration file that includes the first acoustic configuration file, the second acoustic configuration file including the first of configuration parameters and the second set of configuration parameters.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein generating the second acoustic configuration file includes generating acoustic data that corresponds to the second set of configuration parameters, and then combining acoustic data of the first acoustic configuration file with the acoustic data of the second acoustic configuration file.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein determining the second set of configuration parameters includes programmatically determining a local network parameter for use in accessing the network service.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the local network parameter includes an identifier of a local network that the intermediate device is connected to, and a network key for accessing the local network.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein determining the second set of configuration parameters includes receiving user input identifying a setting.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein generating the second acoustic configuration file includes appending acoustic data that embeds the second set of configuration parameters to the first acoustic configuration file.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein generating at least the portion of an acoustic configuration file includes incorporating audio content into the acoustic configuration file, the audio content corresponding to at least one of music or voice message, and wherein playing back the acoustic configuration file includes playing back the audio content while acoustically transmitting the configuration parameters to the end-user device.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein generating at least the portion of the acoustic configuration file includes encoding the configuration parameters using a spread spectrum technique and/or an electrical water marking technique.

16. A method for operating an intermediate computing device to configure an end-user device, the method being implemented by one or more processors of the intermediate computing device and comprising:

receiving a first acoustic configuration file from a network service, the first acoustic configuration file including a first set of configuration parameters;

determining a second set of configuration parameters; and

generating a second acoustic configuration file that includes the first acoustic configuration file, the second acoustic configuration file including the first set of configuration parameters and the second set of configuration parameters.

17. The method of claim 16, generating the second acoustic configuration file includes generating acoustic data that corresponds to the second set of configuration parameters, and then combining acoustic data of the first acoustic configuration file with the acoustic data that corresponds to the second set of configuration parameters.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein determining the second set of configuration parameters includes determining a local network parameter for use in accessing the network service.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein determining the second set of configuration parameters includes receiving user input identifying a setting.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the local network parameter includes an identifier of a local network that the intermediate device is connected to, and a network key for accessing the local network.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein generating the second acoustic configuration file includes appending acoustic data that embeds the second set of configuration parameters to the first acoustic configuration file.

22. A computing device comprising:

a memory resource that store a set of instructions;

one or more processors that execute the set of instructions to;

determine information associated with an account or with the end-user device;

determine a set of configuration parameters based on the determined information;

generate at least a portion of an acoustic configuration file that embeds the configuration parameters; and

playback back the acoustic configuration file to generate an acoustic signal that conveys the configuration parameters to the end-user device.