Pairing devices in conference using ultrasonic beacon and subsequent control thereof

A first device, comprising:

• a loudspeaker for outputting audio in a near-end environment;
• one or more interfaces for communicatively connecting the first device with a far-end in a far-end connection and with a second device in a near-end connection;
• and
• a processing unit communicatively connected to the loudspeaker and the one or more interfaces, the processing unit configured to:
• connect with the far-end in the far-end connection;
• output connection information in an imperceptible acoustic beacon in the near-end environment with the loudspeaker;
• receive a response at the first device from the second device via the near-end connection to connect with the second device in the near-end connection, the response being based on the second device using the output connection information and requesting connection of the second device with the first device;
• obtain, via the near-end connection, a control from the second device;
• and
• operate a function of the first device in response to the control.

A method implemented at a first device for conferencing the first device and a second device in a near-end environment with a far-end, comprising:

• detecting, with the first device in the near-end environment, an imperceptible acoustic beacon output by the second device in the near-end environment connected to the far-end with a far-end connection;
• decoding, with the first device, connection information from the detected acoustic beacon;
• connecting the first device with the second device via a network connection by sending a response from the first device to the second device via the near-end connection, the response using the decoded connection information and requesting connection of the first device with the second device;
• and
• transmitting a control to the second device for operating a function of the second device.

A first device, comprising:

• a microphone for capturing audio in a near-end environment;
• one or more interfaces for communicatively connecting the first device with a second device in the near-end environment via a network connection;
• and
• a processing unit communicatively connected to the microphone and the one or more interfaces, the processing unit configured to:
• detect, with the microphone, an imperceptible acoustic beacon output by the second device in the near-end environment,
• decode connection information from the detected acoustic beacon,
• send a response from the first device to the second device via the near-end connection to connect with the second device via the network connection, the response being based on the decoded connection information and requesting connection of the first device with the second device, and
• transmit a control to the second device for operating a function of the second device.

A method implemented at a first device for conferencing the first device and a second device in a near-end environment with a far-end, comprising:

• connecting the first device in the near-end environment to the far-end with a far-end connection;
• outputting connection information in an imperceptible acoustic beacon in the near-end environment with the first device;
• connecting the first device via a near-end connection with the second device in the near-end environment based on the second device using the output connection information;
• obtaining, at the first device via the near-end connection, a control from the second device;
• operating a function of the first device in response to the control;
• obtaining, at the first device via the near-end connection, second audio captured with the second device;
• and
• sending the second audio to the far-end when the second audio has a greater level than first audio captured with the first device.

A first device, comprising:

• a loudspeaker for outputting audio in a near-end environment;
• a microphone for capturing first audio in the near-end environment;
• one or more interfaces for communicatively connecting the first device with a far-end in a far-end connection and with a second device in a near-end connection;
• and
• a processing unit communicatively connected to the loudspeaker and the one or more interfaces, the processing unit configured to:
• connect with the far-end in the far-end connection;
• output connection information in an imperceptible acoustic beacon in the near-end environment with the loudspeaker;
• connect with the second device in the near-end connection based on the second device using the output connection information;
• obtain, via the near-end connection, a control from the second device;
• operate a function of the first device in response to the control;
• obtain, via the near-end connection, second audio captured with the second device;
• and
• send the second audio to the far-end when the second audio has a greater level than the first audio captured with the first device.