Sonic Communication Using Tone Sequences for Low Power Wireless

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication technologies, such as Bluetooth, are inefficient in terms of hardware requirements and power consumption, limiting their applications due to excess battery power usage and costly protocols, especially for devices needing low data rates.

Innovation Solution

The use of sonic communication methods involving a sequence of sonic tones with predefined timing and frequency bands, where a microphone receives and filters these tones, synchronizes them, and integrates them to transmit digital information, utilizing silent intervals and probability sets to remove noise and ensure reliable communication.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If Bluetooth electronics are used for wireless communication, then devices can communicate wirelessly, but battery power is consumed excessively and hardware costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebattery power consumptionVSAvoidcommunication reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces electronic wireless communication systems (Bluetooth, Wi-Fi) with an acoustic communication system that uses sound waves transmitted through air. The transmitting device converts digital data into audible sound waves using a speaker, and the receiving device captures these sound waves using a microphone, converting them back to digital data. This substitution eliminates the need for complex wireless communication hardware and significantly reduces power consumption while maintaining communication functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Productivity

If complex wireless communication protocols are implemented, then data transmission capability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata transmission capabilityVSAvoidhardware complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the communication process into simple, distinct stages: data encoding into sound wave patterns, physical transmission through air, and decoding at the receiving end. Each stage uses simple, dedicated components (speaker for transmission, microphone for reception) rather than complex integrated wireless communication modules. This segmentation reduces device complexity while maintaining data transmission capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Use of energy by moving object

If acoustic signals are used for communication, then power consumption is reduced, but noise interference increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidnoise interference

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent acknowledges that acoustic communication is susceptible to noise interference but converts this challenge into an advantage by using noise-resistant encoding schemes. The system encodes data in patterns that can distinguish between intentional signals and random noise, and uses error detection and correction mechanisms that leverage the statistical properties of noise to identify and correct errors. This approach maintains low power consumption while mitigating the harmful effects of noise.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

4Device complexity

If simple transmission methods are used, then hardware requirements are reduced, but communication reliability in noisy environments decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehardware requirementsVSAvoidcommunication reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the receiving device sends acknowledgment signals back to the transmitting device to confirm successful data reception. If noise interference causes transmission errors, the feedback system detects these errors and requests retransmission of the affected data packets. This feedback loop maintains high communication reliability using simple hardware by adding intelligent error handling at the protocol level.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

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 approach enables efficient wireless communication with reduced power consumption and hardware needs, allowing for reliable transmission of commands and data over distances, even in noisy environments, with a high success rate and low false trigger frequency.

Implementation Method 1

The receiver of the sonic signal at an electronic device uses a microphone

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMicrophone conversion:

Implementation Method 2

transmitting a cadence of sonic signals corresponding to the sequence of sonic tones from a speaker

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSpeaker conversion:

Data Source

PatentUS8204238B2Systems and methods of sonic communication

Publication Date: 2012.06.19 SENSORY INC

AI summary

In one embodiment the present invention includes a method of wireless communication. The method comprises receiving a sonic signal and determining a sequence of sonic tones from a received sonic signal. The receiving includes receiving the sonic signal at an electronic device using a microphone. The sonic signal includes a sequence of sonic tones. The receiving results in the received sonic signal. The sequence of sonic tones contains predefined timing. The timing includes the duration of each sonic tone and a set of intervals between successive sonic tones.