Patent Application
20120129453
Over the years, technology has been developed for transmitting data over the air using an audio signal from a speaker, which may be referred to as acoustic communication. For example, in some type of systems, data is transferred over an audio signal of a television broadcast or a DVD movie to a user's mobile or handheld device for determining what program the user is viewing or for displaying additional information about the program. In another type of acoustic communication system, the presence of a user in a store is detected by continuously broadcasting an acoustic signal over a speaker in the store, which is then detected by an application running on the user's smart phone and reported.
While these systems are useful for their intended purpose, the above systems transmit data with an audio signal from a source, such as a television or a speaker, that is basically stationary during the transmission, and the data and audio are picked up by the microphone of a smart phone. Acoustic communication can become increasingly difficult, however, when attempting to transfer data from a source that is in motion, such as in a system where data exchange is transmitted acoustically through the air from a mobile device that is being held by the user, for example. In such a system, the user may rotate, shake, waive or generally move the device around such that device's speaker transmitting the audio and data is no longer aimed in the general direction of the microphone of the receiving device, hampering reception of the signal. The problem that can arise with acoustic data transfer in such an environment is the distance between the transducers of the transmit and receive device can become too large or the path between the two can become obscured, such that the acoustic signal cannot be received reliably.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide an improved acoustic data transfer method and system.
The exemplary embodiments provide an acoustic dock that guides placement and orientation of a mobile device for enhanced acoustic data transfer. Aspects of exemplary environment include an acoustic dock comprising a bottom surface; a plurality of sides attached to the bottom surface for receiving a mobile device having a transducer; and one or more transducers placed in proximity to at least one of the plurality of sides, where the acoustic dock is configured to assist orientation of the mobile device in the acoustic dock so that the mobile device transducer is adjacent to and in proximity to the one or more transducers of the acoustic dock to facilitate acoustic data communication.
FIGS. 5A-5BC are block diagrams illustrating alternative embodiments for the shape and configuration of the acoustic dock.
The exemplary embodiment relates to a method and system for providing an acoustic dock that guides placement and orientation of a mobile device for enhanced acoustic data transfer. The following description is presented to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention and is provided in the context of a patent application and its requirements. Various modifications to the exemplary embodiments and the generic principles and features described herein will be readily apparent. The exemplary embodiments are mainly described in terms of particular methods and systems provided in particular implementations. However, the methods and systems will operate effectively in other implementations. Phrases such as “exemplary embodiment”, “one embodiment” and “another embodiment” may refer to the same or different embodiments. The embodiments will be described with respect to systems and/or devices having certain components. However, the systems and/or devices may include more or less components than those shown, and variations in the arrangement and type of the components may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. The exemplary embodiments will also be described in the context of particular methods having certain steps. However, the method and system operate effectively for other methods having different and/or additional steps and steps in different orders that are not inconsistent with the exemplary embodiments. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features described herein.
The exemplary embodiments provide a mechanical acoustic docking device that is designed to guide placement and orientation of a mobile device for enhanced acoustic transfer of data between a transducer of a mobile device and a transducer of a receive device.
In one embodiment, the sides 12 may extend a vertical distance past the bottom surface 18 to form elevated interior perimeter walls 20 around the bottom surface 14, and external walls 22. The perimeter walls 20 may have several functions. For example, the perimeter walls 20 may act as a guide to the end-user for placement of the mobile device in the acoustic dock 10, and aid in retaining the mobile device once placed in the acoustic dock 10. In addition, the raised perimeter walls 20 may contain an acoustic carrier signal transmitted between the mobile device and the acoustic dock to enhance audio capture.
The size and shape of the acoustic dock 10 may vary, but the acoustic dock 10 overall provides guidance to the user on how to position their mobile device in the acoustic dock 10 to promote reliable acoustic data transfer. For example,
In this specific embodiment, the short sides 12b and 12d may be approximately 9 cm in length, while the long sides 12a and 12c may be approximately 14 cm in length. The entire height of the dock may be approximately 1 cm. In one embodiment, the interior perimeter walls 20 may have an elevation of 5 mm from the bottom surface 18. In addition, in one specific embodiment, the standoffs 16 may be elevated approximately 2 mm from the bottom surface 18. According to the embodiment, the acoustic dock 10 further includes one or more transducers 14, such as transducer 14, placed in proximity to at least one of the sides 12 of the acoustic dock 10. An end user may not realize where the acoustic signal originates on their particular mobile device, and the acoustic dock 10 is designed to assist orientation of the mobile device so that mobile device transducer, e.g., speaker and/or microphone, is placed adjacent and in proximity to the transducers 14, e.g., microphone(s) 14 and/or speaker, of the acoustic dock 10 to facilitate acoustic data communication. When the mobile device is placed on the acoustic dock 10 and transmits an acoustic signal, for example, the acoustic dock transducer 14 (e.g., microphone(s)) captures the audio signal regardless of the orientation of the mobile device, thereby increasing effectiveness of acoustic data transfer.
Only one transducer 14 on the acoustic dock 10 is required for the data transfer to occur, however, the reliability of that transfer can be increased with additional transducers 14 since the user does not need to worry about top to bottom orientation of the mobile device in the acoustic dock 10. Multiple transducers 14 provide additional robustness to orientation mismatch. For instance, if the acoustic dock 10 has a microphone 14 at both ends, a mobile device with a speaker at one end only can be accommodated without needing to guide the user on how to position the mobile device.
According to one embodiment, the top of the transducer 14 may be made coplanar with the bottom surface 18. However, in an alternative embodiment, the transducer 14 need not be coplanar with the bottom surface 18.
According to a further aspect of the exemplary embodiment, the acoustic dock 10 is provided with one or more elevated standoffs 16 located on the bottom surface 18 that protrude upwards from the bottom surface 18 to provide an acoustical optimal gap between the mobile device and the bottom surface 18 of acoustic dock 10. The elevated standoffs 16 are generally located along a lengthwise center line of the acoustic dock 10 as shown. The elevated standoffs 16 may be designed to optimize the frequencies used for acoustic data transfer. The elevated standoffs 16 ensure that mobile devices having transducers flush to the surface of the mobile device are elevated to allow the acoustic signal to pass to the transducer 14 of the acoustic dock 10.
In one embodiment, the acoustic dock 10 may be made out of a non-porous, hard material with a high reflection coefficient. Example types of materials could include plastic, glass, wood, or metal. The material may be chosen to ensure the acoustic signal being communicated is not absorbed or attenuated.
In an alternative embodiment, the shape dimensions of the acoustic dock 10 may vary without departing from the scope and spirit of the exemplary embodiment. For example, the overall height of the dock and the depth of the interior perimeter walls 20 may be much greater than described above, such that the acoustic dock 10 forms an open box around an inserted mobile device, for instance.
In each embodiment shown, the acoustic dock is able to receive a mobile device without the need for an electrical connection between any electrical contacts on the acoustic dock and any electrical contacts on the mobile device, as is typical with conventional docs for mobile devices such as for the iPhone, for example.
Although the exemplary embodiment is being described in terms of the mobile device transmitting an acoustic signal to a microphone of the acoustic dock 10, nothing prevents reverse acoustic data can communication where the acoustic dock 10 includes a speaker that transmits an acoustic signal that is received by a microphone of the mobile device.
In further embodiments, the acoustic dock may be configured lay flat on a counter. In another embodiment, the acoustic dock may be provided with a swivel base that enables the acoustic dock to be rotated. In another embodiment, the back of the acoustic dock may be provided with a fixed or a rotatable arm that when engaged, enables the acoustic dock to sit on a countertop in an angled position.
A method and system for a method and system for providing a dock that enables efficient acoustic data transfer has been disclosed. The present invention has been described in accordance with the embodiments shown, and there could be variations to the embodiments, and any variations would be within the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, many modifications may be made by one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
