Method to use acoustic signals for computer communications

Abstract

A method of communicating with an electronic device, comprising: providing a computer having an audible sound receiving and generating sub-system including a microphone; transmitting from a source at least one ultrasonic acoustic signal, encoded with information to the computer; and receiving said at least one signal by said microphone, to be detected by said computer. Preferably, the ultrasonic frequency used is below 50 kHz.

1 .- 144 . (canceled) 
   
   
       145 . A network comprising:
 a first electronic device;   a second electronic device; and   a third electronic device;   wherein a message encoding data is transmitted from said first electronic device to said third electronic device via said second electronic device by transmission of acoustic waves between said electronic devices.   
   
   
       146 . The network of  claim 145 , wherein said electronic devices are computers. 
   
   
       147 . The network of  claim 146 , wherein at least one of said computers comprises microphones for receiving said acoustic waves. 
   
   
       148 . The network of  claim 146 , wherein at least one of said computers comprises speakers for generating said acoustic waves. 
   
   
       149 . The network of  claim 148 , wherein at least one of said speakers is a built in speaker. 
   
   
       150 . The network of  claim 148 , wherein at least one of said speakers is a modem speaker. 
   
   
       151 . The network of  claim 148 , wherein at least one of said speakers is a receiving speaker which also receives said acoustic waves. 
   
   
       152 . The network of  claim 151 , wherein said receiving speaker comprises an adapting unit, which executes at least one of the following functions:
 buffering;   switching between microphone and speaker functions; and/or   amplitude protection.   
   
   
       153 . The network of  claim 146 , wherein at least one of said computers generates said acoustic waves through at least one non acoustic component incorporated in at least one of said computers. 
   
   
       154 . The network of  claim 153 , wherein said non acoustic component is one of the following:
 hard disk drive; and/or   diskette drive.   
   
   
       155 . The network of  claim 146 , wherein at least one of said computers comprises circuitry that selects at least one property of said acoustic waves. 
   
   
       156 . The network of  claim 155 , wherein said at least one property is selected according to a network layout. 
   
   
       157 . The network of  claim 155 , wherein said at least on property of said acoustic waves comprises frequency. 
   
   
       158 . The network of  claim 146 , wherein said acoustic waves have a frequency and amplitude such that said acoustic waves do not pass through walls. 
   
   
       159 . The network of  claim 146 , wherein a frequency of said acoustic waves is selected so that said acoustic waves are inaudible to a human ear. 
   
   
       160 . The network of  claim 159 , wherein said frequency is selected so that said acoustic waves are inaudible to said human ear of a particular age group. 
   
   
       161 . The network of  claim 147 , wherein at least one of said microphones also generates radio frequency electromagnetic waves, detected by a detecting component incorporated in at least one of said computers. 
   
   
       162 . The network of  claim 146 , wherein said acoustic waves are transmitted using non airborne transmission of sounds. 
   
   
       163 . The network of  claim 162 , wherein said acoustic waves are transmitted as sound waves over at least on electrical cable connected to said computers. 
   
   
       164 . The network of  claim 145  wherein said third electronic device comprises a component for communicating with said second electronic device, said first electronic device communicates with said third electronic device thorough acoustic waves, and uses said device of said third electronic device to communicate with said second electronic device. 
   
   
       165 . The network of  claim 164 , wherein said first electronic device is a computer, said second electronic device is a computing unit of a peripheral, and said third unit is a computer. 
   
   
       166 . The network of  claim 165 , wherein said peripheral is one of a modem, a printer, and/or a storage device. 
   
   
       167 . A computer networking method comprising:
 providing first, second and third computers; and   transmitting a message encoding data from said first computer to said third computer via said second computer by acoustic transmission between said computers.   
   
   
       168 . A method according to  claim 167 , wherein said acoustic transmissions utilize sound cards designed specifically for processing audible sounds. 
   
   
       169 . A method according to  claim 167 , wherein said acoustic transmissions are ultrasonic having a frequency of less than 50 kHz. 
   
   
       170 . A method of transmitting data over a computer network, comprising:
 providing a sound file at a first location;   transmitting said sound file to a second location via said computer network; and   transmitting said sound file as acoustic sounds to a processor at a third location.   
   
   
       171 . A method according to  claim 170 , wherein said network comprises an Internet. 
   
   
       172 . A method of transmitting data over a computer network, comprising:
 encoding data as acoustic sounds at a first location;   transmitting said sound file to a second location as acoustic sounds; and   transmitting said acoustic sounds as a sound file to a third location, via said network.   
   
   
       173 . A method according to  claim 172 , wherein said network comprises an Internet.