IP Library Granted Patent US 10,946,269
Granted Patent B2
US 10,946,269 · App. 16/424,180 · Granted Mar 16, 2021

Method and system for inter-headset communications via data over in-game audio

Inventor: Richard Kulavik (San Jose, CA)
Assignee: Voyetra Turtle Beach, Inc.
A63F13/20A63F13/02A63F13/235A63F13/25A63F13/87A63F13/98A63F13/54H04R5/033
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,946,269
App. No.
16/424,180
Granted
Mar 16, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

A gaming headset receives a chat audio channel that conveys chat audio. The gaming headset includes an voiceband modem that modulates data for communication over the chat audio channel, and transmits the modulated data on the chat audio channel that conveys the chat audio. The modulated data may be communicated, via the chat audio channel, to one or more devices associated with one or more other gamers that are engaged in the play of the particular game. The modulated data includes one or more dual tone multi-frequency tones. The gaming headset may also receive data, via the chat audio channel, from one or more devices associated with one or more other gamers that are engaged in the play of the particular game.

Claims (24)

1. A method comprising:

in a gaming headset that receives a chat audio channel that conveys chat audio signals, wherein said gaming headset comprises a voiceband modem:

modulating non-chat data onto a first voiceband signal for communication over said chat audio channel; and

transmitting said first voiceband signal modulated by the data on said chat audio channel that conveys said chat audio signals.

2. The method according to claim 1 , comprising communicating said first voiceband signal modulated by said data, via said chat audio channel, to one or more devices associated with one or more other gamers that are engaged in said play of said game.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said data comprises parameter settings, scrambling keys, and/or messages comprising text, image, and/or video content.

4. The method according to claim 1 , comprising receiving said first voiceband signal carrying said data from a second screen communication device that is communicatively coupled to said gaming headset, wherein said second screen communication device is utilized by a gamer that is engaged in said game.

5. The method according to claim 4 , comprising communicating said data that is received from said second screen communication device to another second screen communication device via said chat audio channel, wherein said another second screen communication device is utilized by another gamer that is engaged in said game.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said voiceband signal modulated by said data comprises one or more dual tone multi-frequency tones.

7. The method according to claim 1 , comprising acquiring said data from a storage device within said gaming headset.

8. A system comprising:

a gaming headset that receives a chat audio channel that conveys chat audio signals, wherein said gaming headset comprises a voiceband modem operable to:

modulate non-chat data onto a first voiceband signal for communication over said chat audio channel; and

transmit said first voiceband signal modulated by the data on said chat audio channel that conveys said chat audio signals.

9. The system according to claim 8 , wherein said gaming headset is operable to communicate said voiceband signal modulated by said data, via said chat audio channel, to one or more devices associated with one or more other gamers that are engaged in said play of said game.

10. The system according to claim 8 , wherein said data comprises parameter settings, scrambling keys, and/or messages comprising text, image, and/or video content.

11. The system according to claim 8 , wherein said gaming headset is operable to receive said first voiceband signal carrying said data from a second screen communication device that is communicatively coupled to said gaming headset, wherein said second screen communication device is utilized by a gamer that is engaged in said game.

12. The system according to claim 11 , wherein said gaming headset is operable to communicate said data that is received from said second screen communication device to another second screen communication device via said chat audio channel, wherein said another second screen communication device is utilized by another gamer that is engaged in said game.

13. The system according to claim 8 , comprising acquiring said data from a storage device within said gaming headset, wherein said first voiceband signal modulated by said data comprises one or more dual tone multi-frequency tones.

14. The system according to claim 8 , wherein said data is acquired from a storage device within said gaming headset.

15. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon, a computer program having at least one code section that is executable by circuitry of a gaming headset for causing the gaming headset to perform steps comprising:

modulating non-chat data onto a first voiceband signal for communication over a chat audio channel, wherein:

said gaming headset receives a chat audio channel that conveys chat audio signals; and

said gaming headset comprises a voiceband modem; transmitting, by said voiceband modem, said first voiceband signal modulated by said data on said chat audio channel that conveys said chat audio signals.

Assignments (5)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 1, 2026
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: TURTLE BEACH CORPORATION; VOYETRA TURTLE BEACH, INC.; PERFORMANCE DESIGNED PRODUCTS LLC
Reel/Frame 075315/0067 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 30, 2026
From: VOYETRA TURTLE BEACH INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 075311/0625 →
ASSIGNMENT OF SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 4, 2025
From: TURTLE BEACH CORPORATION; VOYETRA TURTLE BEACH, INC.; PERFORMANCE DESIGNED PRODUCTS LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 072338/0059 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 1, 2025
From: BLUE TORCH FINANCE LLC, AS THE COLLATERAL AGENT
To: TURTLE BEACH CORPORATION; VOYETRA TURTLE BEACH, INC.; PERFORMANCE DESIGNED PRODUCTS LLC
Reel/Frame 072337/0391 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 14, 2024
From: VOYETRA TURTLE BEACH, INC.; TURTLE BEACH CORPORATION; PERFORMANCE DESIGNED PRODUCTS LLC
To: BLUE TORCH FINANCE LLC, AS THE COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 066797/0517 →
Continuity (5)
Continuation 15950857 · Apr 11, 2018
Continuation 15614729 · Jun 6, 2017
Continuation 14445559 · Jul 29, 2014
Provisional Application 61899917 · Nov 5, 2013
Related Publication 20190275418A1 · Sep 12, 2019