Computer communications using acoustic signals

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(12) United States Patent

Atsmon et al.

(io) Patent No.: (45) Date of Patent:

US 7,480,692 B2 Jan. 20, 2009

(54) COMPUTER COMMUNICATIONS USING ACOUSTIC SIGNALS

(75) Inventors: Alon Atsmon, Yehud (IL); AmitAntebi, Ramat-Gan (IL); Nathan Altman, Tel-Aviv (IL); Zvi Lev, Tel-Aviv (IL); Moshe Cohen, Tel-Aviv (IL)

(73) Assignee: BeepCard Inc., Santa Monica, CA (US)

( * ) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this patent is extended or adjusted under 35 U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.

(21) Appl.No.: 11/339,275

(22) Filed: Jan. 25, 2006

(65) Prior Publication Data

US 2006/0136544 Al Jun. 22, 2006

Related U.S. Application Data

(60) Division of application No. 09/806,618, filed as applicationNo. PCT/IL99/00521 on Oct. 1, 1999, now Pat. No. 7,383,297, and a continuation-in-part of application No. PCT/IL99/00506, filed on Sep. 16, 1999, and a continuation-in-part of application No. PCT/IL99/ 00470, filed on Aug. 27, 1999.

(60) Provisional application No. 60/153,858, filed on Sep. 14, 1999, provisional application No. 60/145,342, filed on Jul. 23, 1999, provisional application No. 60/143,220, filed on Jul. 9, 1999, provisional application No. 60/122,687, filed on Mar. 3,1999, provisional application No. 60/115,231, filed on Jan. 8, 1999.

(30) Foreign Application Priority Data

Oct. 2, 1998 (IL) 126444

Nov. 16, 1998 (IL) 127072

Dec. 14, 1998 (IL) 127569

(51) Int. CI.

G06F15/16 (2006.01)

(52) U.S. CI 709/200; 709/202; 709/203;

709/217; 704/200.1

(58) Field of Classification Search 709/200 204,

709/217-219; 704/200-201, 200.1, 270 See application file for complete search history.

(56) References Cited
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS

2,990,646 A 7/1961 Berger

(Continued)
FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
DE 19645071 5/1998

(Continued)

OTHER PUBLICATIONS

Encotone, Ltd.—Corporate Background; 2 pages; Feb. 2, 1999; Retrieved from the Internet at <.encotone.com/html/comp_def. html>.

(Continued)

Primary Examiner—Bharat N Barot

(57) ABSTRACT

A method of communicating with an electronic device. The method includes providing an electronic device having an audible sound receiving and generating sub-system including a microphone, transmitting from a source at least one acoustic signal encoded with information, receiving said at least one acoustic signal by said microphone and determining a spatial position, distance or movement of the microphone relative to the source, responsive to the received at least one signal.

41 Claims, 4 Drawing Sheets

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