# US 2021/0241778 A1 · Data communication using audio patterns systems and methods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0241778 A1 - Document ID: US20210241778A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/950,633 - Filed: 2020-11-17 - Published: 2021-08-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-07-25 - Assignees: Paypal, Inc. - Applicants: Paypal, Inc. - Inventors: Ng Woo Hong; Yiqun Hu; Ider Cheng - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210241778A1 ## CPC - G10L 19/018: Audio watermarking, i.e. embedding inaudible data in the audio signal - G06Q 30/0224: {based on user history} - G06Q 30/0255: {based on user history} - G06Q 30/0269: {based on user profile or attribute} - G10L: SPEECH ANALYSIS TECHNIQUES OR SPEECH SYNTHESIS; SPEECH RECOGNITION; SPEECH OR VOICE PROCESSING TECHNIQUES; SPEECH OR AUDIO CODING OR DECODING - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract Systems and methods for data communication using audio patterns are described. The methods include encoding a message into an audio pattern, mixing the audio pattern with an audio content to obtain a mixed audio content, wherein the audio pattern is inaudible in the mixed audio content, and transmitting the mixed audio content. ## Claims ### Claim 1 (canceled) ### Claim 2 A method for use by an encoding device for data communication using audio patterns, the method comprising: receiving, from a user device, a user response indicating receipt, by the user device, mixed media content being output by a media device, the user response indicating an initial message being encoded in an audio pattern of the mixed media content, wherein at least one of amplitude or decibel range of the audio pattern is inaudible to a user of the user device; determining, based on analysis of the user response and of the mixed media content, that the user is part of a target demographic for an additional mixed media content; and determining, based on the analysis, a change to additional mixed media content to be provided to the user by the media device or another media device, the additional mixed media content including an additional message being encoded in an additional audio pattern of the additional mixed media content, wherein the at least one of amplitude or decibel range of the additional audio pattern is inaudible to the user of the user device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, further comprising: adjusting, based on the user response, a frequency with which the additional mixed media content is selected for future transmissions by the media device or another media device to the user device. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the user response comprises a user identifier that comprises an audio identifier and a device identifier, wherein the audio identifier is associated with the initial message of the mixed media content, wherein the device identifier is associated with the user device. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the initial message comprises a first advertisement for a first product, and wherein the additional mixed media content comprises an additional audio pattern with an encoded additional message for a second product selected based on a profile of the user modified based on the analysis. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, further comprising: modifying a profile of the user based on the analysis, wherein the user response further indicates the media device, wherein the determination of the change to the additional mixed media content is further determined based on the modified profile. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the mixed media content comprises a video portion and an audio portion, wherein the video portion comprises a video for an advertisement, wherein the audio portion comprises an audio for the advertisement, wherein the audio portion further comprises data encoded in a format that is inaudible to a user, of the user device, based on at least of the amplitude or the decibel range. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, further comprising: tracking the user at a store location based on the user response and an additional user response received after the additional audio pattern of the additional mixed media content is provided to the user device, wherein the store location comprises the media device. ### Claim 9 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, further comprising: determining that an additional user device is associated with the user based on receiving an additional user response from the additional user device after the additional audio pattern of the additional mixed media content is transmitted. ### Claim 10 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, further comprising: selecting, from a plurality of stored messages, the initial message for encoding into the audio pattern; and selecting, from the plurality of the stored messages, the additional message for encoding into the additional audio pattern. ### Claim 11 A device, comprising: a non-transitory memory storing instructions; and a processor configured to execute the instructions to cause the device to: receive, from a user device, a user indication indicating that the user device received mixed media content from a media device, the user indication further indicating an initial message encoded in an audio pattern of the mixed media content, wherein at least one of amplitude or decibel range of the audio pattern is inaudible to a user of the user device; access a user profile for the user based on user identity as indicated by the user indication; analyze the user profile and the mixed media content to determine that the user is part of a target demographic for an additional mixed media content; and modify, based on the analysis of the user profile and the mixed media content, the additional mixed media content to be provided to the user by the media device or another media device, the modified additional mixed media content including an additional message being encoded in an additional audio pattern of the modified additional mixed media content, wherein the at least one of amplitude or decibel range of the additional audio pattern is inaudible to the user of the user device. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The device of claim 11, wherein executing the instructions further causes the device to, adjust, based on the analysis of the user profile and the mixed media content, a frequency with which the modified additional mixed media content is selected for future transmissions by the media device or another media device to the user device. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The device of claim 11, wherein the initial message comprises a first advertisement for a first product, and wherein the additional mixed media content comprises an additional audio pattern with an encoded additional message for a second product selected based on the user profile and the user indication. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The device of claim 11, wherein executing the instructions further causes the device to, track the user at a store location based on the user indication and an additional user response received after the additional audio pattern of the additional mixed media content is provided to the user device, wherein the store location comprises the media device. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The device of claim 11, wherein executing the instructions further causes the device to, determine that an additional user device is associated with the user based on receiving an additional user response from the additional user device after the additional audio pattern of the additional mixed media content is transmitted. ### Claim 16 A non-transitory machine-readable medium having instructions stored thereon, the instructions executable to cause performance of operations comprising: receiving, from a user device, a user response indicating receipt, by the user device, mixed media content being output by a media device, the user response indicating an initial message being encoded in an audio pattern of the mixed media content, wherein at least one of amplitude or decibel range of the audio pattern is inaudible to a user of the user device; determining, based on analysis of the user response and of the mixed media content, that the user is part of a target demographic for an additional media content; provide, to the media device or an additional media device and based on the analysis, the additional media content including an additional message being encoded in an additional audio pattern of the additional media content, wherein at least one of amplitude or decibel range of the additional audio pattern is inaudible to the user of the user device; and tracking the user based on the user response and an additional user response received after the additional audio pattern of the additional media content is provided to the user device. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the operations further comprise: determining that an additional user device is associated with the user based on receiving the additional user response from the additional user device. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the tracking comprises tracking the user at a store location based on the user response and the additional user response, wherein the store location comprises the media device and the additional media device. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the mixed media content comprises a video portion and an audio portion, wherein the video portion comprises a video for an advertisement, wherein the audio portion comprises an audio for the advertisement, wherein the audio portion further comprises data encoded in a format that is inaudible to a user, of the user device, based on at least of the amplitude or the decibel range. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the initial message comprises a first advertisement for a first product, and wherein the additional media content comprises an additional audio pattern with an encoded additional message for a second product selected based on the analysis. ### Claim 21 (depends on 16) The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the operations further comprise: modifying a profile of the user based on the analysis of the user response and of the mixed media content, wherein the user response further indicates the media device.