Systems and methods using acoustic communication

Abstract

Controlling one or more service providing devices, including a mobile device operative to control a service providing device within a first range, where the mobile device is operative to interrogate the one or more service providing devices within a second range being smaller than the first range, where, responsive to the interrogation by the mobile device, the service providing device identifies itself to the mobile device, and where the mobile device is operative to present to a user a list including one or more of the service providing devices within the second range.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer program product embodied on a non-transitory computer readable medium, said non-transitory computer readable medium provided in a mobile device,
 wherein said mobile device is operative to communicate with an intermediating switch within a first range,   wherein said intermediating switch is operative to control at least one service providing device within a second range;   wherein said second range is smaller than said first range, and   wherein said computer program product comprises:
 a module for interrogating said at least one intermediating switch, by said mobile device; 
 a module for receiving from said intermediating switch, by said mobile device, responsive to said interrogation by said mobile device, identification data of said service providing device; 
 a module for presenting to a user of said mobile device a list comprising at least one of said service providing devices within said second range; and 
 wherein acoustic communication is used for said interrogation, wherein said acoustic communication is used by at least one of said service providing device and said mobile device. 
   
     
     
         2 . The computer program product of  claim 1 , additionally comprising:
 using a first wireless communication technology, by at least one mobile device and said at least one service providing device, for communicating within said first range; and   using a second wireless communication technology for communicating within said second range,   wherein said second wireless communication technology is different from said first wireless communication technology.   
     
     
         3 . The computer program product of  claim 1 , additionally comprising:
 providing a plurality of service providing devices each associated with a respective location;   presenting to a user at least one of said locations;   receiving from a user a selection of a location; and   presenting to said user a list of service providing devices associated with said location.   
     
     
         4 . An intermediating switch comprising:
 a first communication module communicatively coupled with a mobile device within a first range,   a second communication module operative to control at least one service providing device within a second range, wherein said second range is smaller than said first range;   wherein said first communication module is operative to receive an interrogation from said mobile device and to respond to said interrogation by identifying said at least one service providing device to said mobile device using acoustic communication for said interrogation, wherein said acoustic communication is used by at least one of said service providing device and said mobile device.   
     
     
         5 . The intermediating switch of  claim 4 , additionally comprising:
 using a first wireless communication technology for communicating within said first range; and   using a second wireless communication technology for communicating within said second range,   wherein said second wireless communication technology is different from said first wireless communication technology.   
     
     
         6 . The intermediating switch of  claim 4 , wherein using acoustic communication uses at least one of:
 a speaker embedded in said intermediating switch; and   a microphone embedded in said intermediating switch.   
     
     
         7 . The intermediating switch of  claim 4 , wherein said control of at least one of said service providing devices by said intermediating switch is conditioned by said service providing device being interrogated by said same mobile device. 
     
     
         8 . The intermediating switch of  claim 4 , additionally comprising:
 said intermediating switch communicating with a third communication device using at least one of RF communication technology, wireless communication technology, power-line communication technology, and infra-red communication technology.