# US 8,151,113 B2 · Methods and devices responsive to ambient audio > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,151,113 B2 - Document ID: US8151113B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/554,722 - Filed: 2009-09-04 - Published: 2010-02-25 - Granted: 2012-04-03 - Earliest claimed: 1999-05-19 - Assignees: Digimarc Corporation - Inventors: Geoffrey B. Rhoads - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8151113B2 ## CPC - B42D 25/29: Securities; Bank notes - G06F 16/40: of multimedia data, e.g. slideshows comprising image and additional audio data (retrieval of still image data G06F16/50; retrieval of audio data G06F16/60; retrieval of video data G06F16/70) - G06F 16/634: {Query by example, e.g. query by humming} - G06F 16/68: Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually - G06F 16/683: using metadata automatically derived from the content - G06K 7/1417: {2D bar codes} - G06K 7/1447: {extracting optical codes from image or text carrying said optical code} - G06K 19/06037: {multi-dimensional coding} - G06K 19/06046: {Constructional details} - G06K 19/14: the marking being sensed by radiation - G06Q 20/341: {Active cards, i.e. cards including their own processing means, e.g. including an IC or chip} - G06Q 20/40145: {Biometric identity checks} - G06Q 30/02: Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising - G06T 1/0021: {Image watermarking} - G07D 7/0034: {using watermarks} - G07D 7/004: using digital security elements, e.g. information coded on a magnetic thread or strip - G07F 7/086: {by passive credit-cards adapted therefor, e.g. constructive particularities to avoid counterfeiting, e.g. by inclusion of a physical or chemical security-layer (for security documents G07D7/00; for the reading of record-carriers in general G06K7/00; for the design of coded credit-cards G06K19/10)} - G07F 7/1008: {Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system} - G07F 17/16: for devices exhibiting advertisements, announcements, pictures or the like - G07F 17/26: for printing, stamping, franking, typing or teleprinting apparatus (ticket printing or the like apparatus G07F17/42) - G10L 15/26: Speech to text systems (G10L15/08 takes precedence) - G11B 20/00086: {Circuits for prevention of unauthorised reproduction or copying, e.g. piracy (indicating unauthorised use of record carriers in general G11B23/28; scrambling for television signal recording H04N5/913; network architectures or network protocols for network security H04L63/00; cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for secret or secure communication H04L9/00)} - G11B 20/00144: {involving a user identifier, e.g. a unique customer ID} - G11B 20/00195: {using a device identifier associated with the player or recorder, e.g. serial numbers of playback apparatuses or MAC addresses} - G11B 20/00891: {embedded in audio data} - H04H 20/31: using in-band signals, e.g. subsonic or cue signal - H04H 20/93: which locates resources of other pieces of information, e.g. URL [Uniform Resource Locator] - H04H 60/63: for services of sales {(data processing systems or methods specially adapted for electronic commerce G06Q30/00)} - H04H 60/74: using programme related information, e.g. title, composer or interpreter - H04N 1/00005: {relating to image data} - H04N 1/00037: {Detecting, i.e. determining the occurrence of a predetermined state (H04N1/00031 takes precedence)} - H04N 1/00079: {remotely} - H04N 1/00973: {from a remote device, e.g. receiving via the internet instructions input to a computer terminal} - H04N 1/32144: {embedded in the image data, i.e. enclosed or integrated in the image, e.g. watermark, super-imposed logo or stamp} - H04N 1/3216: {using Fourier transforms} - H04N 1/32203: {Spatial or amplitude domain methods (H04N1/32309 takes precedence)} - H04N 1/32219: {involving changing the position of selected pixels, e.g. word shifting, or involving modulating the size of image components, e.g. of characters (H04N1/32224 takes precedence)} - H04N 1/32229: {with selective or adaptive application of the additional information, e.g. in selected regions of the image (H04N1/32213 takes precedence)} - H04N 1/32261: {in binary data (H04N1/32256 takes precedence)} - H04N 1/32304: {Embedding different sets of additional information} - H04N 1/32352: {Controlling detectability or arrangements to facilitate detection or retrieval of the embedded information, e.g. using markers (for decoding, detection or retrieval operations H04N1/32149 and subgroups take precedence)} - H04N 7/17318: {Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests} - H04N 21/23892: {involving embedding information at multiplex stream level, e.g. embedding a watermark at packet level} - H04N 21/42203: {sound input device, e.g. microphone} - H04N 21/4394: {involving operations for analysing the audio stream, e.g. detecting features or characteristics in audio streams (arrangements characterised by components specially adapted for monitoring, identification or recognition of audio in broadcast systems H04H60/58)} - H04N 21/47202: {for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand} - H04N 21/4722: for requesting additional data associated with the content - H04N 21/8113: {comprising music, e.g. song in MP3 format} - H04N 21/8358: involving watermark {(protecting executable software by watermarking G06F21/16; image watermarking in general G06T1/0021; watermarks inserted in still images for transmission purposes H04N1/32144; inserting watermarks during video coding H04N19/467)} - B29C 45/1418: {the inserts being deformed or preformed, e.g. by the injection pressure} - G06K 2019/06253: {for a specific application} - G11B 20/00007: {Time or data compression or expansion (audio compression based on psychoacoustics G10L19/00; data processing for reproducing audio data at different playback speeds G10L21/04; video compression H04N19/00; data compression per se H03M7/30)} - H04H 20/84: combined with power distribution network - H04H 2201/50: characterised by the use of watermarks - H04N 1/32122: {in a separate device, e.g. in a memory or on a display separate from image data} - H04N 2201/3205: of identification information, e.g. name or ID code (H04N2201/3209 takes precedence) - H04N 2201/3207: of an address - H04N 2201/3225: of data relating to an image, a page or a document - H04N 2201/3226: of identification information or the like, e.g. ID code, index, title, part of an image, reduced-size image - H04N 2201/3233: of authentication information, e.g. digital signature, watermark - H04N 2201/3239: using a plurality of different authentication information - H04N 2201/327: which are undetectable to the naked eye, e.g. embedded codes - H04N 2201/3271: Printing or stamping - H04N 2201/3274: Storage or retrieval of prestored additional information - H04N 2201/328: Processing of the additional information - B42D: BOOKS; BOOK COVERS; LOOSE LEAVES; PRINTED MATTER CHARACTERISED BY IDENTIFICATION OR SECURITY FEATURES; PRINTED MATTER OF SPECIAL FORMAT OR STYLE NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; DEVICES FOR USE THEREWITH AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; MOVABLE-STRIP WRITING OR READING APPARATUS - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - G06K: GRAPHICAL DATA READING (image or video recognition or understanding G06V); PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS - 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 - G06T: IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL - G07D: HANDLING OF COINS OR VALUABLE PAPERS, e.g. TESTING, SORTING BY DENOMINATIONS, COUNTING, DISPENSING, CHANGING OR DEPOSITING - G07F: COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS (coin sorting G07D3/00; coin testing G07D5/00; {handling coins or paper currencies apart from payment activated apparatus G07D; payment architectures, schemes or protocols G06Q20/00}) - G10L: SPEECH ANALYSIS TECHNIQUES OR SPEECH SYNTHESIS; SPEECH RECOGNITION; SPEECH OR VOICE PROCESSING TECHNIQUES; SPEECH OR AUDIO CODING OR DECODING - G11B: INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER (recording measured values in a way that does not require playback through a transducer G01D9/00; recording or playback apparatus using mechanically marked tape, e.g. punched paper tape, or using unit records, e.g. punched or magnetically marked cards G06K; transferring data from one type of record carrier to another G06K1/18; circuits for coupling output of reproducer to radio receiver H04B1/20; gramophone pick-ups or like acoustic electromechanical transducers or circuits therefor H04R) - H04H: BROADCAST COMMUNICATION (multiplex communication H04J; pictorial communication aspects of broadcast systems H04N) - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) ## Abstract A portable device uses a microphone to listen to ambient audio, derives data from captured audio signals, and uses the derived data to request delivery of the audio or related information to the user's home or other location. The device is desirably pocket-sized, or suitable for carrying on a key-ring. The device may also detect a watermark signal that is present in the user's environment (e.g., played through a public address speaker system) to aid the user in recalling the context from which the audio was requested. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: receiving, through a user interface of a device, a user input signaling interest in ambient audio; capturing the ambient audio with a microphone; converting the captured ambient audio into digital form; providing the digital form of the ambient audio to a processor; receiving data corresponding to the ambient audio back from the processor; storing the received data in a memory of the device for later transmission in a store-and-forward mode; at a later time, recalling the received data from the memory of the device, and also recalling identification information from a memory, wherein the identification information comprises information identifying a model of the device; transmitting both the recalled received data and the recalled identification information to a remote computer; receiving information relating to the ambient audio in response to the transmission of both the recalled received data and the recalled identification information; and controlling an operational aspect of the device in accordance with the received information. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the received information relating to the ambient audio comprises plural internet links for presentation to the user, through which the user can link to additional information related to the audio. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the received information relating to the ambient audio comprises XML tags. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein receiving information relating to the ambient audio comprises receiving a URL, and wherein the method further comprises receiving a digital song file at the user device from a remote computer indicated by the URL. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein the digital song file is in MP3 format. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting, to the remote computer, location information relating to a location of the device when the ambient audio was captured. ### Claim 7 A device comprising: a transducer configured to receive ambient audio and to output electrical signals corresponding thereto; a processor configured to decode a watermark from the electrical signals corresponding to the ambient audio, wherein the watermark comprises an identifier; a memory configured to store identification information; and an interface configured to transmit both the identifier and at least some of the identification information to a relay station. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The device of claim 7, wherein the interface is a wireless interface. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The device of claim 7, further comprising an alphanumeric display. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The device of claim 9, wherein the interface is further configured to receive data related to the ambient audio from the relay station, wherein the alphanumeric display is configured to present at least part of the received data. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The device of claim 10, wherein the received data comprises data representing a song title. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The device of claim 7, further comprising a keypad. ### Claim 13 (depends on 7) The device of claim 7, wherein the identification information comprises information identifying a user of the device. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The device of claim 13, wherein the identification information comprises at least one of name, address information, age, gender, or unique identifier, for the user of the device. ### Claim 15 (depends on 7) The device of claim 7, wherein the identification information comprises information identifying the device. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The device of claim 15, wherein the identification information comprises information identifying a model of the device. ### Claim 17 A method comprising: receiving identification data originally transmitted from a portable device, wherein the identification data corresponds to a watermark encoded in audible or visual information sensed by a sensor at the portable device; by reference to the identification data, making an identification of the sensed information; and transmitting, to a destination device distinct from the portable device, information corresponding to the identified information. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the portable device is associated with a user, and the destination device is also associated with the same user. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the received data corresponds to ambient audio sensed at the portable device. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising receiving instructions, wherein the instructions identify the destination device. ### Claim 21 A method comprising: sampling content from the user's environment, using an audio sensor or a video sensor in a microprocessor-equipped first device; decoding a watermark from the sampled content, wherein the watermark comprises identification data; and wirelessly transmitting the identification data, together with context information, from the first device, wherein the context information relates to a second microprocessor-equipped device. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, further comprising receiving information relating to the sampled content in response to the wireless transmission, and controlling an operational aspect of the first device in accordance with the received information. ### Claim 23 A method comprising: sampling human perceptible content, using one or more sensors for producing data corresponding to human perceptible stimulus; decoding a first watermark from the sampled content, wherein the first watermark comprises identification data; decoding a second watermark from the sampled content, wherein the second watermark comprises context information, wherein the context information is different than the identification information and is different than the sampled content; and wirelessly transmitting at least the identification information and the context information from the device. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23 wherein the context information comprises information related to a physical environment of the portable device. ### Claim 25 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, further comprising receiving information in response to the transmitting. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The method of claim 25, further comprising controlling an operational aspect of the portable device in accordance with the received information. ### Claim 27 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23 wherein the one or more sensors comprise an audio sensor. ### Claim 28 A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, if executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to perform operations comprising: receiving identification data originally transmitted from a portable device, wherein the identification data corresponds to a watermark encoded in audible or visual information sensed by a sensor at the portable device; by reference to the identification data, making an identification of the sensed information; and transmitting, to a destination device distinct from the portable device, information corresponding to the identified information. ### Claim 29 A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, if executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to perform operations comprising: receiving data corresponding to sampled human perceptible content; decoding a first watermark from the data, wherein the first watermark comprises identification data; decoding a second watermark from the data, wherein the second watermark comprises context information, wherein the context information is different than the identification information and is different than the data; and transmitting at least the identification information and the context information to a remote device.