Mobile Audio Data Exchange With Low-Latency Acoustic Encoding

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for mobile device communication, such as using networks or short-range radio signals, suffer from latency, interference, and high power consumption, while optical methods require significant processing resources.

Innovation Solution

Mobile devices use audio to transmit information by modifying digital representations of audio clips to embed indicators, which are recorded by other devices, with a remote server facilitating decoding to reduce processing and power consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If network or short-range radio signals are used for mobile device communication, then information exchange is enabled, but latency and interference increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinformation exchange speedVSAvoidcommunication reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces electronic communication systems (networks and radio signals) with an acoustic communication system. The transmitting device plays modified audio clips through a speaker, and the receiving device records these audio clips through a microphone to extract embedded information. This substitution of the communication medium from electromagnetic signals to acoustic waves resolves the technical contradiction by enabling direct device-to-device communication without network infrastructure, thereby reducing latency and interference while maintaining reliable information exchange.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Speed

If optical methods are used for information transmission, then data transfer speed increases, but processing resources and power consumption increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata transfer speedVSAvoidprocessing power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent substitutes optical communication methods with acoustic communication methods. Instead of using light-based transmission that requires complex processing, the system uses audio playback through speakers and recording through microphones. The information is embedded in audio clips using modifications that are computationally less intensive to generate and process. This substitution reduces both processing power consumption and energy usage while maintaining fast data transfer speeds through direct acoustic transmission.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Adaptability or versatility

If direct device-to-device communication is implemented, then network dependency is reduced, but interference and signal reliability worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication independenceVSAvoidsignal reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces audio clips as an intermediary carrier for information transmission. Instead of direct electronic signal transmission between devices, the system embeds information within audio clips that are played through a speaker and recorded by a microphone. This intermediary approach allows the transmitting device to communicate with the receiving device without direct electronic connection, reducing network dependency while the audio medium provides shielding from electromagnetic interference, thereby improving signal reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This method reduces latency and interference, conserves processing resources and power, and allows for faster information exchange with reduced retransmissions.

Implementation Method 1

use at least one speaker associated with the system to play audio, based on the modified digital representation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectroacoustic conversion:

Implementation Method 2

for recording by the one or more other devices

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAcoustic-to-electrical conversion:

Data Source

PatentUS20260057894A1Information exchange on mobile devices using audio

Publication Date: 2026.02.26 CAPITAL ONE SERVICES LLC

AI summary

In some implementations, a user device may receive input that triggers transmission of information via sound. The user device may select an audio clip based on a setting associated with the device, and may modify a digital representation of the selected audio clip using an encoding algorithm and based on data associated with a user of the device. The user device may transmit, to a remote server, an indication of the selected audio clip, an indication of the encoding algorithm, and the data associated with the user. The user device may use a speaker to play audio, based on the modified digital representation, for recording by other devices. Accordingly, the user device may receive, from the remote server and based on the speaker playing the audio, a confirmation that users associated with the other devices have performed an action based on the data associated with the user of the device.