Method to use acoustic signals for computer communications

• US 7,383,297 B1
• Filed: 10/01/1999
• Issued: 06/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dialware Communication, LLC
• Original Assignee: Beepcard Limited (Beepcard, Inc.)
• Inventors: Altman, Nathan, Lev, Zvi, Cohen, Moshe, Atsmon, Alon, Antebi, Amit
• Primary Examiner(s): Barot, Bharat
• Application Number:
  US09/806,618
• Time in Patent Office: 3,168 Days
• Field of Search: 709200-204, 709217-219, 704/200, 379/219
• US Class Current: 709/200
• 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, comprising: providing a computer having an audible sound receiving and generating sub-system including a microphone; transmitting from a source at least one ultrasonic acoustic signal, encoded with information to the computer; and receiving said at least one signal by said microphone, to be detected by said computer. Preferably, the ultrasonic frequency used is below 50 kHz.

Claims

1. A method of communicating between an electronic device and a computer, the method comprising:

providing said computer with an audible sound receiving and generating sub-system including a microphone and a loudspeaker;

transmitting from the electronic device at least one first acoustic signal, encoded with information, to said computer;

receiving said at least one first acoustic signal by said microphone, to be detected by said computer;

processing said at least one first acoustic signal, by the computer, to extract said encoded information; and

transmitting to said electronic device from the computer, using said loudspeaker, at least a second acoustic signal, encoded with information, in response to said detected at least one first acoustic signal.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said at least one first acoustic signal and at least a second acoustic signal comprises an ultrasonic signal.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein said ultrasonic signal has a main frequency below 50 kHz.

4. A method according to claim 2, wherein said ultrasonic signal has a main frequency below 35 kHz.

5. A method according to claim 2, wherein said ultrasonic signal has a main frequency below 25 kHz.

6. A method according to claim 2, wherein said ultrasonic signal has a main frequency of about 21 kHz.

7. A method according to claim 2, wherein said ultrasonic signal has a main frequency of about 20 kHz.

8. A method according to claim 2, wherein said ultrasonic signal has a main frequency of about 19 kHz.

9. A method according to claim 2, wherein said ultrasonic signal has a main frequency of below 18 kHz.

10. A method according to claim 2, wherein said at least one ultrasonic signal comprises a stand alone signal not overlaid on a human tangible signal.

11. A method according to claim 2, wherein the at least one first acoustic signal, is digitally encoded with information.

12. A method according to claim 1, wherein said computer comprises a PDA, personal digital assistant.

13. A method according to claim 1, wherein said computer comprises a portable computer.

14. A method according to claim 1, wherein said computer comprises a desk-top computer.

15. A method according to claim 1, wherein said processing comprises determining a distance between said microphone and said electronic device.

16. A method according to claim 1, wherein said processing comprises determining movement of said microphone relative to said electronic device.

17. A method according to claim 14, wherein said movement comprises angular movement.

18. A method according to claim 14, wherein said movement comprises translation.

19. A method according to claim 1, wherein said processing comprises determining a spatial position of said microphone relative to said electronic device.

20. A method according to claim 17, wherein said spatial position is a one-dimensional spatial position.

21. A method according to claim 17, wherein said spatial position is a two-dimensional spatial position.

22. A method according to claim 17, wherein said spatial position is a three-dimensional spatial position.

23. A method according to claim 1, comprising controlling at least one action of a toy, responsive to said received at least one audible sound.

24. A method according to claim 1, wherein said electronic device comprises a toy.

25. A method according to claim 22, wherein said information comprises stored player input.

26. A method according to claim 1, wherein said electronic device comprises a smart card.

27. A method according to claim 1, wherein said electronic device comprises a wireless communication device.

28. A method according to claim 1, wherein said electronic device comprises a computer.

29. A method according to claim 1, wherein said electronic device comprises a computer peripheral.

30. A method according to claim 1, wherein said encoded information comprises personal information.

31. A method according to claim 1, comprising logging into said computer responsive to said at least one first acoustic signal.

32. A method according to claim 1, wherein said acoustic signal comprises human audible sound.

33. A method according to claim 30, wherein said human audible sound has a main frequency over 10 kHz.

34. A method according to claim 1, wherein said first acoustic signal has a main frequency which is infra-sonic.

35. A method according to claim 1, wherein said audible sound sub-system comprises a sound card.

36. A method according to claim 33, wherein said sound card comprises a SoundBlaster compatible sound card.

37. A method according to claim 1, wherein said sound sub-system is designed for audible sound communication with a human operator.

38. A method according to claim 1, wherein said electronic device comprises a telephone.

39. A method according to claim 1, wherein said information comprises e-commerce information.

40. A method according to claim 2, comprising responding by the computer to the at least one first acoustic signal, as if the computer received an input from a pointing device or a touch screen.

41. A method according to claim 1, wherein processing the at least one first acoustic signal comprises performing one or more of:

demodulating the encoded information into bits; and

error checking using an error detection code.

42. A method according to claim 1, wherein the first and second acoustic signals are encoded according to a digital binary code.

43. A method according to claim 1, wherein the first and second acoustic signals are encoded using one or more of AM, PSK, QPSK, pulse length encoding, frequency modulation, Pulse Width Modulation and On-Off Keying.

44. A method according to claim 1, wherein the first and second acoustic signals include an error detection code.

45. A method according to claim 1, wherein transmitting the at least one first acoustic signal comprises transmitting at least one first acoustic signal encoded with information on a carrier thereof.

47. A method according to claim 39, wherein said indication comprises a sound file.

48. A method according to claim 39, wherein said indication comprises a data file.

49. A method according to claim 39, wherein said acoustic signal comprises an ultrasonic signal.

50. A method according to claim 39, wherein said source comprises a telephone.

51. A method according to claim 39, wherein said information comprises e-commerce information.

46. A method of communicating with a computer, the method comprising:

providing a computer having a sound receiving and generating sub-system including a microphone;

transmitting from a source at least one acoustic signal, encoded with information, to said computer;

receiving said at least one acoustic signal by said microphone of the computer; and

forwarding an indication of said encoded information to a remote computer, over an Internet,

wherein, said at least one acoustic signal comprises a stand alone signal not overlaid on a human tangible signal.

52. A method according to claim 46, comprising processing by the computer the received at least one acoustic signal, before forwarding the indication, the processing including one or more of:

demodulating the encoded information into bits; and

error checking using an error detection code.