I 1111111111111111 11111 lllll lllll lllll lllll lllll lllll lllll 111111111111111111
`US008514662B2
`
`c12) United States Patent
`Paulson
`
`(IO) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 8,514,662 B2
`Aug. 20, 2013
`
`(54) SONIC RECEIVER AND METHOD FOR
`RECEIVING DATA THAT USES
`MODULATION FREQUNCIES THAT REDUCE
`THE PROBABILITY OF CONFLICT WITH
`AMBIENT NOISE IN THE ENVIRONMENT
`
`(75)
`
`Inventor: Brett Paulson, Palo Alto, CA (US)
`
`(73) Assignee: Verifone Systems, Inc., San Jose, CA
`(US)
`
`( *) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term ofthis
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 5 days.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 12/870,767
`
`(22)
`
`Filed:
`
`Aug. 27, 2010
`
`(65)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`
`US 2012/0051187 Al
`
`Mar. 1, 2012
`
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`
`(51)
`
`(52)
`
`Int. Cl.
`H04B 1106
`H04B 11100
`U.S. Cl.
`CPC . H04B 1106 (2013.01); H04B 11/00 (2013.01)
`USPC .......................................................... 367/135
`(58) Field of Classification Search
`USPC .......................................................... 367/135
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`5,359,367 A * 10/1994 Stockill .
`725/137
`6,038,436 A *
`3/2000 Priest ......................... 455/343.3
`2002/0101917 Al*
`8/2002 Bibi
`375/224
`2003/0031318 Al*
`2/2003 Troyansky et al.
`380/202
`2004/0031856 Al*
`2/2004 Atsmon et al.
`235/492
`2005/0223030 Al* 10/2005 Morris et al.
`707/104.1
`2008/0306736 Al* 12/2008 Sanyal et al.
`704/233
`2009/0041260 Al*
`2/2009 Jorgensen et al.
`381/71.6
`
`3/2009
`3/2009
`6/2009
`6/2009
`7/2009
`1/2013
`
`Kubler et al.
`Bradford et al.
`Li
`U rbanij a et al.
`Knudsen et al.
`Takara et al.
`
`370/352
`704/271
`375/324
`.............. 455/420
`381/315
`381/77
`
`2009/0059903 Al*
`2009/0076825 Al *
`2009/0154603 Al *
`2009/0156193 Al*
`2009/0169038 Al *
`2013/0010979 Al *
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`2552038 Al * 1/2013
`EP
`* cited by examiner
`
`Isam Alsomiri
`Primary Examiner -
`James Hulka
`Assistant Examiner -
`(7 4) Attorney, Agent, or Firm - Leland Wiesner; Wiesner &
`Associates
`
`ABSTRACT
`(57)
`A method, apparatus and computer program product is pro(cid:173)
`vided for wirelessly transmitting and receiving data through
`sonic communication. A method and system is provided for
`devices to exchange data over the air using a sonic carrier
`signal. The transmit device has at least one sonic transducer
`that transmits a sonic carrier signal through the air in accor(cid:173)
`dance with aspects of the present invention. A digital repre(cid:173)
`sentation of the data is modulated consistent with a modula(cid:173)
`tion protocol using one or more sonic
`transmission
`frequencies in accordance with present invention. The sonic
`transducer transmits the one or more sonic carrier signals
`carrying the modulated data over the air. Each sonic carrier
`signal has sufficient gain to carry the signal to a receiver
`device where the data from the one or more sonic carrier
`signals is demodulated. Aspects of the present invention
`receive modulated data through the air using at least one sonic
`transducer of a receive device. Prior to demodulation, the
`receive device may be configured to perform the demodula(cid:173)
`tion of the data at one or more sonic transmission frequencies.
`Sonic carrier signals at these sonic transmission frequencies
`are demodulated in accordance with a sonic modulation pro(cid:173)
`tocol providing a binary representation of the data. Ambient
`noise captured by the receiver device is processed along with
`the data transmitted over the sonic carrier signals.
`
`9 Claims, 7 Drawing Sheets
`
`Pre!J<lre Receiver To Perform Demodulation Of
`DataUslngSonlcCamerFrequenc1esAssociated
`With Geographic Location Data
`
`Prepare Receiver To Perform Demodulation Of
`Data Using Sonic Cam er Frequencies Specified In
`The Predetermined Sequence Of Sonic Carrier
`Freqll8nrnes
`
`'"
`
`Prepare Receiver To Perform Demodulation Of
`Data Using Sonic Carrier Frequencies That Reduce
`TheChanoeOIConfhctWilhEx1sllngFrequenc,es
`In V1~0fThe Ambient Sound
`
`Demxlulate The Data Received From The
`Transmit Device Over The Somo Carner Selected
`From The Al Least One Suneble Sonic Frequency
`lnAccordanceWithASornoModulat1onProtoool
`
`Convert Binary Sequence From Demodulation Into
`Appropriate Symbols Uselul To An Appllcatlon
`Requesting Processing O!The Data
`
`Page 1 of 18
`
`GOOGLE EXHIBIT 1005
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 20, 2013
`
`Sheet 1 of 7
`
`US 8,514,662 B2
`
`i
`
`<D
`-,----
`-,----
`
`0
`0
`
`0
`N
`
`rJ)
`
`U C c Q o~
`rJJ El
`U)
`
`co
`0
`
`-o~
`u Q) Q)
`· - -
`rJ)
`..Q ""O
`C
`0
`Ill Ill
`rJ) C QJ
`WI
`
`N
`0
`
`' '
`i--► ((t·->
`
`\
`
`0
`
`co
`
`Q) 0
`UN
`·o T"""
`------------< ~
`2 ""O
`ro ·c
`0 (I)
`
`C
`Q
`ro (/)
`u u Q)
`·cc-~
`:J 2:
`0
`rJJ E w
`E rJJ
`0
`0
`
`s:r
`0
`
`<D
`N
`
`rJ)
`""O Q)
`u Q) ~
`·c :o w
`0
`Ill C
`rJ) ifj -~
`(I)
`
`<D
`0
`
`Page 2 of 18
`
`

`

`N = N
`
`0--,
`O'I
`"'""' ~
`tit
`00
`d r.,;_
`
`0 ....
`N
`.....
`rJJ =(cid:173)
`
`('D
`('D
`
`-....J
`
`0 ....
`N
`~o
`N
`~
`~
`
`~
`
`~ = ~
`
`~
`~
`~
`•
`00
`~
`
`----------------------
`
`I I
`
`228
`
`202
`
`Applications
`
`Sonic
`Discrete
`
`I I
`
`, I
`
`226
`
`Shims
`
`Application
`
`Sonic
`
`' I
`
`----------------------•--------------------------------------,
`
`"----104
`
`!
`
`___ ..!
`
`--------------
`226 __/~ 212
`J
`
`c~~::':'~~~
`
`Sonic
`
`I lJ
`
`i
`,
`
`FIG.2
`
`224
`
`222
`
`Server
`
`Advertising
`
`Sonic
`
`220
`
`204
`
`i ____ ~:1-~-------------------!~! _________ __J _______________ J
`i
`----~ i
`i
`i
`:
`:
`i
`!
`
`218
`
`-:-;--.,,,....---
`
`14--.-1
`
`Platform
`Authoring
`
`Media
`Sonic
`
`---------------------------------------------------------------
`
`i _______ __! --
`
`210
`
`Server
`
`Transaction
`
`,,-,.,
`
`,;,
`
`"
`
`I
`
`:
`
`-------------------------------------------!
`
`i
`r---------------
`
`208
`
`Server
`
`Administrative
`
`268
`
`r---276 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------,
`
`-----------------------------------------------------------------------------,
`
`Page 3 of 18
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 20, 2013
`
`Sheet 3 of 7
`
`US 8,514,662 B2
`
`302 -,
`
`Perform Sonic Transmission Strategy For Transmitting Sonic Carrier Signals
`Through The Air To Avoid Existing Noise In A Geographic Location
`
`304 -, Receive Data Suitable For Digital Signal Processing On A Transmit Device Having
`A Sound Transducer That Transmits Sonic Carrier Signals Through Air To A
`Receive Device Over Sonic Transmission Frequencies
`
`•
`
`306 -
`
`'
`
`Modulate
`The Data Locally On The
`Transmit Device Using The Sonic
`Carrier Signals ?
`
`Yes
`
`No
`
`308 -,, Request Modulation Of The Data On A Server Using The Sonic Carrier Signals At
`One Or More Sonic Transmission Frequencies
`
`Receive Data From The Server Modulated Over The Sonic Carrier Signals In
`Accordance With A Sonic Modulation Protocol
`
`'
`
`310 -,
`
`312 ~,
`
`Modulate The Data On The Transmit Device In Accordance With A Sonic
`Modulation Protocol Using The Sonic Carrier Signals Al The Sonic Transmission
`Frequencies
`
`~
`
`~
`
`Transmit The Modulated Data From The Transmit Device Over The Sonic Carrier
`Signals To The Receive Device In The Presence Of Noise In The Geographic
`Location
`
`'
`
`314
`
`,,,,
`
`FIG. 3
`
`Page 4 of 18
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 20, 2013
`
`Sheet 4 of 7
`
`US 8,514,662 B2
`
`JI- 302
`
`402 ~ Initialize A Set Of Sonic Transmission Frequencies For Transmitting A Sonic Carrier
`'
`Signal Through The Air At The Highest Sonic Frequency Available In A
`Communication System
`
`404
`
`Create A Noise Characteristic Over A Predetermined Time Period That Reflects A
`Range Of Sonic Frequencies And Their Gain In A Geographic Location
`
`406 -
`
`..
`
`410 -
`
`\
`\
`
`408 -,
`
`Suspend Transmission Of The Sonic Carrier
`Signal For A Time Interval While The Noise
`Characteristic In The Geographic Location
`Changes
`
`No
`
`412 _'.... Reduce Sonic Frequency For The Set Of Sonic Transmission Frequencies To Be
`Transmitted By A Predetermined Frequency Interval That Increases Usability Of
`Communication System
`
`414 -.,
`
`Associate A Set Of Sonic Transmission Frequencies For Transmitting A Sonic
`Carrier Signal Through The Air With A Geographic Location
`
`FIG. 4
`
`Page 5 of 18
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`US. Patent
`
`Aug. 20, 2013
`Aug. 20, 2013
`
`Sheet 5 of7
`Sheet 5 of 7
`
`US 8,514,662 B2
`US 8,514,662 B2
`
`500 a“
`
`
`
`-18 db
`
`-24 db
`
`-30 db
`
`-36 db
`
`-42 db
`
`-48 db
`
`-54 db
`
`-60 db
`
`-66 db
`
`-72 db
`
`-78 db
`
`-84 db
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`a.
`
`
`
`. I :
`.... 1··
`
`W1;
`‘
`'f‘rm‘r‘
`'\
`
`I
`I
`
`:
`
`
`3% MW“ 7‘
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`- - - -
`
`:
`
`
`
`
`
`
`15000II
`
`N
`I
`0
`0
`0
`ID
`,-
`
`N
`I
`0
`0
`0
`0
`N
`
`20000Hz
`
`N
`I
`0
`0
`0
`N
`N
`
`22000HZ
`
` \
`\ \
`
`N
`I
`0
`0
`0
`,-
`
`1000HZ
`
`N
`I
`0
`0
`0
`11')
`
`5000Hz
`
`N
`I
`0
`0
`0
`0
`,-
`
`10000HZ
`
`FIG. 5
`FIG. 5
`
`Page 6 0f 18
`
`Page 6 of 18
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 20, 2013
`
`Sheet 6 of 7
`
`US 8,514,662 B2
`
`602
`
`606
`
`Receive Data Modulated Over A Sonic Carrier
`From A Transmit Device Along With Ambient Noise
`In The Geographic Location
`
`Prepare Reoeiver To Perform Demodulation Of
`Data Using Sonic Carrier Frequencies Associated
`With Geographic Location Data
`
`There A Sonic
`Carrier Associated With The
`
`Yes
`
`No
`
`610
`
`Prepare Reoeiver To Perform Demodulation Of
`Data Using Sonic Carrier Frequencies Specified In
`The Predetermined Sequence Of Sonic Carrier
`Frequencies
`
`No
`
`614
`
`Prepare Reoeiver To Perform Demodulation Of
`Data Using Sonic Carrier Frequencies That Reduce
`The Chance Of Conflict With Existing Frequencies
`In View Of The Ambient Sound
`
`616
`
`Demodulate The Data Received From The
`Transmit Device Over The Sonic Carrier Selected
`From The Al Least One Suitable Sonic Frequency
`In Accordance With A Sonic Modulation Protocol
`
`618
`
`Convert Binary Sequence From Demodulation Into
`Appropriate Symbols Useful To An Application
`Requesting Processing Of The Data
`
`FIG. 6
`
`Page 7 of 18
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 20, 2013
`
`Sheet 7 of 7
`
`US 8,514,662 B2
`
`•·
`Microphone I/
`
`-708
`
`700-.
`·~
`
`706 -,\,
`
`Speaker
`
`702 ~ .
`··,
`MEMORY
`Sonic Communication
`Modulation Component
`Sonic Communication
`Demodulation Component
`Sonic Transmission Strategy
`Component
`
`Run-time Environment
`
`/ / - 726
`
`/ - 724
`
`/
`
`r- 722
`
`/
`
`/
`
`~720
`
`/
`
`/
`
`704 _//
`
`I
`
`I
`
`Sound
`Components
`
`Processor
`Complex
`
`'""
`
`'""
`
`1·• ... '------ 710
`
`718
`
`//
`
`I
`
`I
`
`Broadband
`Interface
`
`DataNoice
`Interface
`
`I
`
`System
`Storage
`
`'··,._ 712
`
`', \_ 714
`
`',
`'._ 716
`
`FIG. 7
`
`Page 8 of 18
`
`

`

`US 8,514,662 B2
`
`1
`SONIC RECEIVER AND METHOD FOR
`RECEIVING DATA THAT USES
`MODULATION FREQUNCIES THAT REDUCE
`THE PROBABILITY OF CONFLICT WITH
`AMBIENT NOISE IN THE ENVIRONMENT
`
`5
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`2
`device. The bar codes can generally be displayed on a mobile
`device and then read by another device or computer having a
`camera or bar code scanner. However, processing bar codes in
`this manner can be difficult as each display device may need
`to be configured with different display parameters, aspect
`ratios, display resolutions and other factors to ensure the bar
`codes can be read reliably.
`Another approach places RFID tags on a mobile device to
`facilitate quick identification of the phone and promote
`mobile communication. Indeed, RFID works quickly to iden(cid:173)
`tify the mobile device but requires each vendor to purchase a
`potentially expensive specialized reader device. Given the
`added expense of the reader and the complexity of accepting
`payments in this manner, RFID tags and readers have not been
`widely adopted.
`
`SUMMARY
`
`10
`
`Aspects of the present invention relate to mobile commu(cid:173)
`nication and electronic commerce using a mobile communi(cid:173)
`cation device.
`Widespread availability and popularity of mobile devices
`have made them indispensible in both business and everyday
`use. These mobile devices include portable computing
`devices such as laptops, netbooks and tablets that provide 15
`mobile computing power as well as access to the information
`on the Internet, text messaging, email and other functions.
`Other mobile devices such as wireless phone devices not only
`provide the aforementioned portable computing functions but
`further include wireless voice capabilities along with appli- 20
`cations using features such as built-in cameras, global posi(cid:173)
`tioning satellite (GPS) services and others.
`The functionality of these mobile devices has converged on
`a similar set of features in a variety of different form factors.
`For example, wireless phone devices classified as smart- 25
`phones tend to have powerful processors and multitasking
`operating systems previously available only on portable or
`desktop computing devices. These smartphone devices gen(cid:173)
`erally fit in a pocket or purse and have a virtual touchscreen
`keyboard or miniature "thumb" keyboard for easy entry of 30
`data. In comparison, portable computers not only offer gen(cid:173)
`eral purpose computing power but also operate more like a
`phone device delivering phone calls and voice capabilities
`with protocols/services such as voice-over-IP (VOIP) and
`Skype (Skype is a registered trademark in the United States 35
`and other countries of Skype Technologies S.A.).
`Despite these advances, mobile devices still have difficulty
`communicating directly with each other or, for that matter,
`desktop computers or workstations. When people wish to
`exchange information, they still generally send an email or 40
`text message with their mobile device to the mobile device of
`the person they are trying to reach. Likewise, mobile devices
`attempting communication with a desktop computer have
`little choice but to send the user of the desktop computer a
`brief email or text message as well. Unfortunately, manually 45
`entering information needed for emails or text messages is
`time consuming, prone to error and often dissuades people
`from interacting altogether.
`Indeed, attempts
`to establish direct communication
`between mobile devices has been met with failure for a vari- 50
`ety of reason. In many cases, too few devices have the spe(cid:173)
`cialized hardware required for communication. For example,
`infrared transceivers are not found on all mobile devices or
`computers and therefore lack the scale required to permit
`reliable communication. Moreover, infrared communication
`is not only slow but requires a line-of-sight between the
`transceivers of the devices to operate.
`Bluetooth communication is another interesting wireless
`protocol shared by many mobile devices but it takes too long
`to sync or "pair" before any communication can take place. 60
`The time delay for pairing not only frustrates users but also
`makes the data transmitted more susceptible to interception.
`Accordingly, Bluetooth communication may be seen as a
`security risk and not suited for transmitting sensitive infor(cid:173)
`mation.
`Yet another approach for mobile communication involves
`displaying and reading bar codes from the display ofa mo bile
`
`Aspects of the present invention provide a method and
`system for devices to exchange data over the air using a sonic
`carrier signal. The data to be exchanged may be received on a
`transmit device and converted, as needed, to a digital repre(cid:173)
`sentation suitable for digital signal processing. For example,
`binary data on the transmit device may be processed imme(cid:173)
`diately while text or other symbolic data may need to be
`converted into a digital representation for further processing.
`The transmit device has at least one sonic transducer that
`transmits a sonic carrier signal through the air in accordance
`with aspects of the present invention. The digital representa(cid:173)
`tion of the data is modulated consistent with a modulation
`protocol using one or more sonic transmission frequencies in
`accordance with present invention. The sonic transducer
`transmits the one or more sonic carrier signals carrying the
`modulated data over the air. Each sonic carrier signal has
`sufficient gain to carry the signal to a receiver device where
`the data from the one or more sonic carrier signals is demodu(cid:173)
`lated.
`Yet another aspect of the present invention concerns a
`method and system of wirelessly receiving data modulated
`over one or more sonic carrier signals. Aspects of the present
`invention receive modulated data through the air using at least
`one sonic transducer of the receive device. The sonic trans(cid:173)
`ducer may also receive ambient noise within the geographic
`location of the receive device in addition to the one or more
`sonic carrier signals. Prior to demodulation, aspects of the
`present invention may configure the receive device to perform
`the demodulation of the data at one or more sonic transmis(cid:173)
`sion frequencies. Sonic carrier signals at these sonic trans(cid:173)
`mission frequencies are demodulated in accordance with a
`sonic modulation protocol providing a binary representation
`of the data. Ambient noise captured by the receiver device is
`processed along with the data transmitted over the sonic
`carrier signals. In certain cases, the ambient noise may be
`used to enhance the transmitted data with increased functions
`such as authentication and security, or it may be eliminated
`55 using various filters.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a communication
`network in accordance with aspects of the present invention;
`FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of the systems and
`methods for implementing aspects of sonic communication
`services in accordance with the present invention;
`FIG. 3 is a flowchart representation of the operations for
`65 wirelessly transmitting data modulated over a sonic carrier
`signals in accordance with implementations of the present
`invention;
`
`Page 9 of 18
`
`

`

`US 8,514,662 B2
`
`3
`FIG. 4 is a flowchart representation of the operations for
`implementing sonic transmission strategies that reduce the
`probability of interference from noise in accordance with
`aspects of the present invention;
`FIG. 5 is a one exemplary graph illustrating a sonic fre(cid:173)
`quency response as received by a receive device in accor(cid:173)
`dance with one implementation of the present invention;
`FIG. 6 is yet another flowchart representing the operations
`for wirelessly receiving the sonic carrier signals and data on a
`receiver device in accordance with one implementation; and
`FIG. 7 is a schematic block diagram of a device capable of
`sonically transmitting and receiving data in accordance with
`implementations of the present invention.
`Like reference numbers and designations in the various
`drawings indicate like elements.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`
`Aspects of the present invention provide one or more of the
`following advantages. Use of sonic communication of the
`present invention scales quickly as it is compatible across a
`wide range of computers and mobile devices. Sound compo(cid:173)
`nents and other supporting hardware necessary to perform
`sonic communication in accordance with the present inven(cid:173)
`tion are generally available and already installed on most of
`these devices. For example, many computers and mobile
`devices may already include CODECS, filters, digital signal
`processors (DSP), memory and other components necessary
`for processing sound. These sound components may be built
`directly into the computer or mobile device or may be added
`afterwards using an after market sound card or an externally
`connected peripheral sound device.
`Method and systems designed in accordance with the
`present invention take advantage of these sound components
`to modulate data on a sonic carrier signal. The sonic carrier 35
`signal can be processed by mobile devices and computers
`from different manufacturers provided the sound components
`on each device operate at a sufficient sample rate and fre(cid:173)
`quency response. This makes it possible for various devices to
`communicate together over a wide range of carrier frequen- 40
`cies while rumiing on dissimilar hardware platforms and oth(cid:173)
`erwise incompatible operating systems. For example, a wire(cid:173)
`less device running the Android operating system can readily
`communicate sonically with a computer device running
`Microsoft Windows, the Apple OS X operating system or an 45
`Apple iPhone or iPad (Windows is a registered trademark of
`Microsoft Corporation of Redmond, Wash., Android is a reg(cid:173)
`istered trademark of Google, Inc. of Mountain View Calif.,
`iPhone and iPad are registered trademarks of Apple, Inc. of
`Cupertino, Calif.).
`Sonic communication implemented in accordance with the
`present invention has considerable economic advantages. As
`previously described, a majority of the hardware required for
`sonic communication is already installed on the computers
`and mobile devices of interest. Software designed in accor- 55
`dance with the present invention can be installed on most
`devices without requiring additional hardware or even a hard(cid:173)
`ware upgrade. In some cases, there may be a nominal cost
`associated with attaching a microphone or speaker to the
`sound components already installed on the device. Even if the 60
`sound components are not already installed on these devices,
`there are many after market manufacturers of sound compo(cid:173)
`nents and sound cards that can be combined with or added to
`existing hardware at a relatively low-cost. In some cases, it
`may even be cost-effective to create custom or semi-custom
`sound card designs using codecs and processors available
`from companies such as Texas Instruments.
`
`4
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a communication
`network 100 in accordance with aspects of the present inven(cid:173)
`tion. In one implementation, sonic communication services
`104, sonic stations 108 and sonic enabled businesses 106 are
`5 operatively coupled together over a data network 102. Data
`network 102 can be the Internet or any other network.
`Sonic enabled businesses 106 include any business imple(cid:173)
`menting the sonic communication methods and systems
`designed in accordance with the present invention. These
`10 sonic enabled businesses may implement sonic communica(cid:173)
`tion services 104 to enable communication between comput(cid:173)
`ers and mobile devices in the course of selling their products
`or services. For example, sonic enabled businesses 106 may
`include social networking sites that implement aspects of the
`15 present invention and allow mobile devices to directly trans(cid:173)
`mit their contact details to each other. Sonic enabled busi(cid:173)
`nesses 106 might also include retail businesses using sonic
`communication methods and systems of the present invention
`to accept payments, process gift cards, coupons, loyalty
`20 awards and other programs.
`Sonic stations 108 represent one or more fixed points for
`distributing or receiving sonic communication in accordance
`with the present invention. Illustrative examples of sonic
`stations 108 may include point-of-sale (POS) registers for the
`25 sale of goods or services, kiosks distributing information at
`malls, museums or other public areas as well as any terminal
`used to facilitate any transaction of value with a mobile device
`or computer. The term value is meant to broadly include
`points in loyalty programs, prepaid telecommunications min-
`30 utes, prepaid gift cards, airline mileage, digital music down(cid:173)
`loads, streaming music, streaming video, streaming multime(cid:173)
`dia as well as any other service or product of some worth to
`one or more parties.
`Sonic communication services 104 facilitate processing
`certain portions of the sonic communications for sonic enable
`businesses 106 and any of the various devices coupled to
`wireless network 118. Implementations of sonic communi(cid:173)
`cation services 104 may include a combination of computers,
`servers, communications equipment and software designed,
`configured and created in accordance with the present inven(cid:173)
`tion. For instance, there may be software applications
`installed on servers encoding/decoding data modulated over
`sonic carrier signals in accordance with the present invention.
`It is also contemplated that communication equipment may
`be specially configured and/or embedded with firmware to
`support using sonic communication of the present invention
`and prioritize high value transactions such as involving elec(cid:173)
`tronic commerce. For example, the firmware may enable
`high-availability (HA) protocols for ensuring an orderly
`50 completion or roll-back of transactions when an unexpected
`communication failure occurs anywhere along the communi(cid:173)
`cation path downstream from the sonic communication ser(cid:173)
`vices 104, between the devices coupled to the wireless net-
`work 118 or within systems supporting sonic communication
`services 104. Additional measures may also be taken to pri(cid:173)
`oritize electronic commerce transactions above non-commer-
`cial transactions within sonic communication services 104 to
`ensure a more rapid processing of the data and resultant
`transactions among sonic stations 108 and devices coupled to
`wireless network 118.
`In one aspect, sonic communication services 104 may
`include a set of preliminary or front-end services for manag(cid:173)
`ing the initial creation of data to be sent between devices.
`These front-end services may include authoring media such
`65 as audio files embedded with data modulated over one or
`more sonic carrier signals. Sonic communication services
`104 can be used to author media with modulated data when it
`
`Page 10 of 18
`
`

`

`US 8,514,662 B2
`
`5
`is not desirable to perform the modulation directly on a device
`or devices using sonic communication. For example, it might
`be advantageous to use sonic communication services 104 to
`install an audio file with modulated data on a device during
`manufacture. The data may be used to identify the device 5
`when the audio file is played back and demodulated by
`another device in accordance with the present invention.
`Depending on the device, sonic communication services 104
`may store the audio file in non-volatile random access
`memory (NVRAM) during manufacture such as flash 10
`memory, read-only memory (ROM), progranmiable ROM
`(PROM), or erasable PROM.
`Further aspects of sonic communication services 104 may
`include back-end services that help facilitate more complex
`transactions between two or more devices using sonic com- 15
`munication of the present invention. Devices registered with
`sonic communication services 104 receive identifiers soni(cid:173)
`cally transmitted to each other during a transaction. Sonically
`enabled devices receive the identifiers then forward to sonic
`communication services 104 over data network 102 where the 20
`identifiers are further processed and associated with their
`respective registered devices. For example, these sonically
`enabled devices may include any combination of sonic sta(cid:173)
`tions 108 and the various devices coupled to wireless network
`118 illustrated in FIG. 1. Once devices are positively identi- 25
`fled, various types of transactions can be performed securely
`and robustly in a variety of circumstances.
`Some sonic enabled businesses 106 may choose to utilize
`sonic communication services 104 over data network 102
`based upon a software as a service (SaaS) model. The SaaS 30
`model can be used to deliver sonic communication services
`104 in accordance with aspects of the present invention on a
`subscription basis. Typically, pricing depends on the time
`period and volume of use with respect to sonic communica(cid:173)
`tion services 104. Delivering sonic communication services 35
`104 over a network in this marmer can also be referred to as a
`"cloud computing" solution as the local devices take advan(cid:173)
`tage of software services and processing power located
`remotely on computers across a network.
`Instead of the SaaS or cloud computing model, alternate
`implementations may instead install sonic communication
`services 104 on a dedicated computer or appliance located on
`the business premises. The locally installed appliance solu(cid:173)
`tion gives businesses more direct access and control over the
`computers and software running sonic communication ser- 45
`vices 104. Advantageously, the appliance solution enables
`businesses to better control the reliability and availability of
`sonic communication services 104 with redundant systems,
`virtualization and increased monitoring. Moreover, the
`locally installed appliance with sonic communication ser- 50
`vices 104 might save money for a business provided the
`annual license fee and appliance costs are less than equivalent
`subscription fees.
`Yet another implementation delivers sonic communication
`services 104 partially using a cloud computing model and 55
`partially as an appliance. Frequently used functions requiring
`higher performance from sonic communication services 104
`may be preloaded on the locally installed appliance. Less
`frequently used functions not available locally are accessed
`from sonic communication services 104 in the cloud. The 60
`sonic communication services 104 delivered partially as an
`appliance and partially in the cloud has the optimal combi(cid:173)
`nation of benefits from both modalities of delivery.
`A wireless provider may provide a data/voice bridge 120
`connecting various devices over wireless network 118 to data 65
`network 102. In general, wireless network 118 provides voice
`communication capability between some or all of the devices
`
`6
`registered on the wireless network 118. Data services like
`Internet or intranet access and SMS text messaging may pass
`through a data charmel portion of the data/voice bridge 120.
`Data/voice bridge 120 can also serve to connect wireless
`network 118 to other data and wireless networks (not shown).
`In this example, devices on wireless network 118 may
`include wireless smartphones 110, conventional mobile
`phones 112 (also referred to as mobile feature phones), lap(cid:173)
`tops 114 and smartbooks 116. In addition to transmitting
`voice, some of the more sophisticated mobile devices such as
`smart phones 110 have powerful processors, larger data stor-
`age capacity and the ability to display high resolution images
`and text in various fonts and point sizes on larger screens.
`Mobile devices provisioned on wireless network 118 gener(cid:173)
`ally have a phone number and the ability to place a voice call
`to other mobile devices. Wireless phone providers for wire-
`less network 118 may implement any one or more different
`wireless protocols including Global System for Mobile
`(GSM), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) and vari(cid:173)
`ants compatible with one or more features of these technolo(cid:173)
`gies.
`Mobile devices on wireless network 118 such as smart-
`phones 110 may use a data protocol such as TCP/IP to access
`data network 102 through data/voice bridge 120. These
`mobile devices have built-in modems to access wireless net(cid:173)
`work 118 and sufficient computing power to process the
`associated data protocol for accessing data network 102. Cer(cid:173)
`tain other devices such as laptops 114 and smartbooks 116
`have also been equipped with modems to both wireless net(cid:173)
`work 118 and data network 102.
`Alternatively, aspects of the present invention also works
`with mobile devices such as laptop 126 connected directly to
`data network 102. Laptop 126 bypasses wireless network 118
`and accesses data network 102 directly using either a wired
`connection such as Ethernet over a physical medium such as
`CATS/6 or a wireless medium such as Wi-Fi, Wi-MAX or
`others. It is also contemplated that any or all of the devices on
`wireless network 118 may also communicate directly with
`data network 102 if they are further equipped with Wi-Fi,
`40 Wi-MAX or other wireless data communication and proto(cid:173)
`cols.
`Sound components and capabilities are essential to making
`sonic communication of the present invention operate. For(cid:173)
`tunately, laptops 114/126, smartphones 110, conventional
`mobile phones 112, and smartbooks 116 generally have
`sound components that digitally process sound at high(cid:173)
`sample rates and a wide frequency response. Indeed, even a
`wireless headset 124 can use aspects of sonic communication
`in accordance with the present invention provided the codec
`in the headset has a sufficiently high sample rate and repro(cid:173)
`duces sound over a wide enough frequency response.
`In general, sonic stations 108 have built-in sound compo(cid:173)
`nents that enable these devices to perform sonic communica(cid:173)
`tio