System and method for communicating audio data signals via an audio communications medium

Abstract

A system for communicating audio data signals comprises a source computer that performs an action, generates an event message corresponding to the action, converts the event message into an audio data signal, and communicates the audio data signal through its speaker. A source telephone receives a voice signal from a participant and the audio data signal through its microphone and communicates the audio data signal and voice as coherent sound via an audio communications medium. A recipient telephone receives the audio data signal from the coherent sound communicated via the audio communications medium and communicates the audio data signal via its speaker. A recipient computer receives the audio data signal through its microphone, extracts the event message from the audio data signal, and performs an action based on the event message from the audio data signal. The audio communications medium can comprise a telephone communications system or air.

1 - 56 . (canceled)  
     
     
         57 . A method performed by a source computing system for communicating audio data signals, comprising: 
 determining that an event occurring at the source computing system is to be communicated;    generating an audio data signal indicative of the event;    causing a voice signal to be combined with the generated audio data signal to produce a coherent sound; and    communicating the produced coherent sound via an audio communications medium.    
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 57  wherein the event occurs when an electronic slide that is displayed at the source computing system changes.  
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 57  wherein the audio communications medium comprises a telephone communications system.  
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 57  wherein the audio communications medium comprises air.  
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 57  wherein the audio communications medium comprises a communications network.  
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 57  wherein the generated audio data signal comprises data generated by the source computing system.  
     
     
         63 . A method performed by a recipient computing system for receiving instructions communicated in an audio signal, comprising: 
 receiving a coherent sound that is communicated via an audio communications medium;    decoding the received coherent sound to produce an audio data signal;    extracting data from the decoded audio data signal;    interpreting the extracted data to determine an instruction to perform an action; and    causing an application program to perform the action.    
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 63  wherein the action is to change an electronic slide that is displayed at the recipient computing device.  
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 63  wherein the audio communications medium comprises a telephone communications system.  
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 63  wherein the audio communications medium comprises air.  
     
     
         67 . The method of  claim 63  wherein the audio communications medium comprises a communications network.  
     
     
         68 . The system of  claim 63  wherein the audio communications medium comprises a broadcast network.  
     
     
         69 . The system of  claim 63  wherein the extracting is performed by a decoder that is logically coupled to the recipient computing device.  
     
     
         70 . A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing a method for communicating audio signals, the method comprising: 
 receiving a voice signal;    receiving an audio data signal;    combining the received voice signal and the audio data signal to produce a coherent sound; and    upon producing the coherent sound, communicating the coherent sound via a communications medium.    
     
     
         71 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 70  wherein the audio data signal comprises an indication of a command to be performed by a recipient computing device to which the coherent sound is communicated.  
     
     
         72 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 70  wherein the communications medium comprises a telephone system.  
     
     
         73 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 70  wherein the communications medium comprises a communications network.  
     
     
         74 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 70  wherein the audio data signal is an audible sound.  
     
     
         75 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 74  wherein the audible sound is white noise.  
     
     
         76 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 70  further comprising: 
 receiving a coherent sound; and    upon receiving the coherent sound, 
 separating from the received coherent sound a voice signal and an audio data signal; and  
 communicating the separated audio data signal to a computing device.