Disrupting bone conduction signals

• US 9,997,060 B2
• Filed: 05/23/2016
• Issued: 06/12/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Baldwin, Christopher, Amento, Brian S.
• Primary Examiner(s): McNally, Kerri
• Application Number:
  US15/161,499
• Publication Number:
  US 20160267778A1
• Time in Patent Office: 750 Days
• Field of Search: 340 1324
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/00 Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link

Abstract

Concepts and technologies are disclosed herein for disrupting bone conduction signals. According to one aspect, a device can receive a signal via a communication path that is external to a body of a user associated with the device. The device can generate a disruption signal to disrupt the signal. The device can send the disruption signal through the body of the user to disrupt the signal.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a processor; and

a memory that stores instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising

receiving a disruption signal for disrupting a signal, and

sending the disruption signal to a body of a user associated with the device to disrupt the signal, wherein the disruption signal sent to the body of the user then propagates through the body of the user to disrupt the signal.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the disruption signal sent to the body of the user propagates through the body of the user to a surface over which the signal is propagating, wherein the user is in contact with the surface.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein a signal source generates both the signal and the disruption signal and transmits the signal to the surface and the disruption signal to the device.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein a signal source generates both the signal and the disruption signal and transmits both the signal and the disruption signal.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise:

notifying the user that the disruption signal has been received; and

prompting the user to provide instructions regarding whether or not to use the disruption signal to disrupt the signal.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving, from the user, input instructing the device to use the disruption signal to disrupt the signal; and

storing the input from the user as a preference for disrupting the signal.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the signal comprises an audible advertisement.

8. A computer-readable storage medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a processor of a device, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

receiving a disruption signal for disrupting a signal; and

sending the disruption signal through a body of a user associated with the device to disrupt the signal as the signal propagates over a surface external to the body of the user associated with the device.

9. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein a signal source generates both the signal and the disruption signal and transmits the signal to the surface and the disruption signal to the device.

10. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise:

notifying the user that the disruption signal has been received; and

prompting the user to provide instructions regarding whether or not to use the disruption signal to disrupt the signal.

11. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving, from the user, input instructing the device to use the disruption signal to disrupt the signal; and

storing the input from the user as a preference for disrupting the signal.

12. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the signal comprises an audible advertisement.

13. A method comprising:

receiving, at a device associated with a user, a disruption signal for disrupting a signal, wherein the device is external to a body of the user; and

sending, by the device, the disruption signal through the body of the user to disrupt the signal, wherein sending the disruption signal through the body of the user to disrupt the signal comprises sending, by the device, the disruption signal through the body of the user to a surface external to the body of the user over which the signal is propagating.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein a signal source generates both the signal and the disruption signal and transmits the signal to the surface and the disruption signal to the device.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein a signal source generates both the signal and the disruption signal and transmits both the signal and the disruption signal.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

notifying, by the device, the user that the disruption signal has been received; and

prompting, by the device, the user to provide instructions regarding whether or not to use the disruption signal to disrupt the signal.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

receiving, by the device, from the user, input instructing the device to use the disruption signal to disrupt the signal; and

storing, by the device, the input from the user as a preference for disrupting the signal.