Apparatus and method for initiating a transaction having acoustic data receiver that filters human voice

• US 6,125,172 A
• Filed: 04/18/1997
• Issued: 09/26/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Wright, Gregory Alan, Sizer, Theodore II, August, Katherine G.
• Primary Examiner(s): WOO, STELLA L
• Application Number:
  US08/844,047
• Time in Patent Office: 1,257 Days
• Field of Search: 348/13, 348/12, 348/473, 348/484, 348/460, 379/93.12, 379/90.01, 379/93.37, 379/102.01, 379/102.02, 379/102.03, 379/102.07, 381/161, 381/98, 455/420, 455/45
• US Class Current: 379/110.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/31 using in-band signals, e.g. subsonic or cue signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27 Devices whereby a plurality of signals may be stored simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/68 Circuit arrangements for preventing eavesdropping
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/725 Cordless telephones user interfaces specially adapted therefor H04M1/724

Abstract

In accordance with the present invention, an apparatus initiates a transaction and includes an acoustic data receiver, and microphone for receiving an audio signal having encoded data that is non-discernable by a listener and is transmitted as part of the audio signal. The microphone converts the sound waves into an electrical signal. A processor receives the electrical signal and retrieves transaction data that is part of the encoded data. A filter is associated with the microphone and removes a substantial portion of a human voice signal that may have been received within the microphone. Once the transaction data is retrieved, a telephone call can be originated and at least a portion of the transaction data can be transferred to a desired destination for initiating a transaction.

Claims

1. An acoustic data receiver comprising a microphone for receiving an audio signal having encoded data that is non-discernable by a listener and is transmitted as part of the audio signal,

a filter, associated with the microphone, for removing a substantial portion of a human voice signal that may have been received within the microphone, and

a signal receiver for receiving the filtered signal and performing work on the signal for further processing or data communication.

2. The acoustic data receiver according to claim 1 wherein said filter comprises an electrical filter located after the microphone for filtering out signal frequencies corresponding substantially to those of the human voice.

3. The acoustic data receiver according to claim 1 wherein said filter is a high pass filter that passes frequencies above about 6000 to 7000 Hertz, and said encoded data is part of a signal having a frequency above about 6000 to 7000 Hertz.

4. The acoustic data receiver according to claim 1 wherein said filter is a mechanical filter formed from an extensible tube having a diaphragm at one end, the microphone at the other end, and a stub in the middle.

5. The acoustic data receiver according to claim 4 wherein said mechanical filter is contained in a sound enclosure.

6. An apparatus for initiating a transaction comprising

a capture device, including a microphone for receiving an audio signal having encoded transaction data that is non-discernable by a listener and is transmitted as part of the audio signal and for converting the audio signal into an electrical signal, a filter, associated with the microphone, for removing a substantial portion of a human voice signal that may have been received within the microphone, and a processor for receiving the filtered signal, and

means associated with the capture device for originating a telephone call and transferring at least a portion of the transaction data to a desired destination for initiating a transaction.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said filter comprises an electrical filter located after the microphone for filtering out signal frequencies corresponding substantially to those of the human voice.

8. An apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said filter is a high pass filter that passes frequencies above about 6000 to 7000 Hertz, and said encoded data is part of a signal having a frequency above about 6000 to 7000 Hertz.

9. An apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said filter is a mechanical filter formed from an extensible tube having a diaphragm at one end, the microphone at the other, and a stub in the middle.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said mechanical filter is contained in a sound enclosure.

11. An apparatus according to claim 9 including a storage for storing the transaction data.

12. An apparatus according to claim 9 including a display for displaying at least a portion of the transaction data to a user.

13. An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said transaction data includes dialing information for originating a telephone call.

14. An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said transaction data includes descriptive information about an advertisement or solicitation that is associated with the audio signal.

15. An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said capture device comprises a portable phone, and said means for originating a telephone call comprises a personal base station in which said processor and said telephone call originating means are contained, and said capture device includes means for transferring data from said wireless capture device to said personal base station.

16. An apparatus for initiating a transaction, comprising

a wireless capture device arranged for the wireless capture of data directly from an audio signal, said data including encoded transaction data that is non-discemable by a listener and used for initiating a transaction, a microphone for receiving an audio signal and converting the audio signal into an electrical signal, and a filter associated with the microphone for removing a substantial portion of a human voice signal that may have been received within the microphone,

a processor for receiving the filtered signal and retrieving the transaction data from the electrical signal, and

means associated with the capture device for originating a telephone call and transferring at least a portion of the transaction data to a desired destination for initiating a transaction.

17. An apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said filter comprises an electrical filter located after the microphone for filtering out the frequencies corresponding substantially to those of the human voice.

18. An apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said filter is a high pass filter that passes frequencies above about 6000 to 7000 Hertz, and said encoded data is part of a signal having a frequency above about 6000 to 7000 Hertz.

19. An apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said filter is a mechanical filter formed from an extensible tube having a diaphragm at one end, the microphone at the other, and a stub in the middle.

20. An apparatus according to claim 19 wherein said mechanical filter is contained in a sound enclosure.

21. An apparatus according to claim 16 including a storage for storing for the transaction data.

22. An apparatus according to claim 16 including a display for displaying at least a portion of the transaction data to a user.

23. An apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said transaction data includes dialing information for originating a telephone call.

24. An apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said transaction data includes descriptive information about an advertisement or solicitation that is associated with the audio signal.

25. An apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said capture device comprises a portable phone, and said means for originating a telephone call comprises a personal base station in which said processor and said telephone call originating means are contained, said capture device including means for transferring data from the wireless capture device to said personal base station.

26. A method for receiving acoustic data comprising the steps of

receiving an audio signal within a microphone, wherein the audio signal has encoded data that is non-discernable by a listener and is transmitted as part of the audio signal,

removing a substantial portion of a human voice signal that may have been received within the microphone by filtering the frequencies substantially associated with the human voice,

converting the audio signal into an electrical signal, and

receiving the electrical signal and performing work on the signal for further processing or data communication.

27. The method according to claim 26 including the step of receiving the acoustic data signal within a mechanical filter that is formed from an extensible tube having a diaphragm at one end, the microphone at the other end, and a stub in the middle.

28. The method according to claim 27 including the step of changing the length of the tube in order to change the frequencies that are passed into the microphone.

29. The method according to claim 26 including the step of receiving the converted electrical signal from the microphone into an electrical filter.

30. A method for initiating a transaction comprising the steps of

receiving an audio signal within a microphone of a capture device, wherein the audio signal has encoded transaction data that is non-discernable to a listener and is transmitted as part of the audio signal,

removing a substantial portion of a human voice signal that may have been received within the microphone by filtering the frequencies substantially associated with the human voice,

converting the audio signal into an electrical signal,

processing the electrical signal to retrieve transaction data that is part of the audio signal, and

originating a telephone call and transferring at least a portion of the transaction data to a desired destination for initiating a transaction.

31. The method according to claim 30 including the step of receiving the acoustic data signal within a mechanical filter that is formed from an extensible tube having a diaphragm at one end, the microphone at the other end, and a stub in the middle.

32. The method according to claim 31 including the step of changing the length of the tube in order to change the frequencies that are passed into the microphone.

33. The method according to claim 30 including the step of displaying at least a portion of the transaction data to a user.

34. The method according to claim 30 including the step of dialing a telephone number from dialing information that was obtained from transaction data.

35. The method according to claim 30 wherein the transaction data includes descriptive information about an advertisement or solicitation that is associated with the audio signal.

36. The method according to claim 30 wherein the capture device comprises a portable phone, and the telephone call is originated within a personal base station which interprets scanned marks, and including the step of transferring the data from the wireless capture device to the personal base station.

37. The method according to claim 30 including the step of receiving the converted electrical signal from the microphone into an electrical filter.