IP Library Granted Patent US 12,658,167
Granted Patent B2
US 12,658,167 · App. 17/319,690 · Granted Jun 16, 2026

Enhanced system, method, and devices for processing inaudible tones associated with audio files

Inventors: Nathaniel T. Bradley (Tucson, AZ); Joshua S. Paugh (Tucson, AZ); Sonia Choi (New York, NY)
Assignee: Datavault AI Inc.
G10H1/0008G10H1/40G10H2210/066G10H2220/005G10H2220/121G10H2240/091G10H2240/325
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,658,167
App. No.
17/319,690
Granted
Jun 16, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

One embodiment provides a system, method, and device for processing inaudible tones. Content is received from one or more sources. One or more inaudible tones included in the content are detected. Information is associated with the one or more inaudible tones from the content are extracted. Usage information associated with the content is determined in response to the information. The usage information includes at least licensing information and content information. The usage information is communicated to one or more parties associated with the content.

Claims (41)

1 . A method for processing inaudible tones, comprising:

receiving content from one or more sources;

detecting one or more inaudible tones included in the content;

extracting information associated with the one or more inaudible tones from the content;

determining usage information associated with the content in response to the information, the usage information includes at least 1) licensing information, and 2) content information, the usage information also includes a geographic location where the content is played and a time of day the content is played; and

communicating the usage information including at least the licensing information, and the content information to one or more of copyright owners, licensing entities, or parties with an ownership or controlling interest in the content in response to detecting the one or more inaudible tones in the content.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more sources are broadcasting the content including at least audio content.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more inaudible tones are detected by one or more microphones.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the licensing information includes at least song-plays, the geographic location where the one or more inaudible tones are detected, and parties associated with the one or more sources.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the information includes at least the one or more performers, and music associated with the content.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the information includes title, length, and writer.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the usage information is sent to a copyright owner of the content or parties with an ownership or controlling interest in the content.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the inaudible tones and the licensing information are utilized to ensure that playback and licensing rights of the audio file by the one or more sources are authorized.

9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

detecting one or more inaudible tones in the audio file;

extracting the information associated with the one or more inaudible tones of the audio file;

determining whether conditions associated with the information are met;

performing one or more actions associated with the conditions of the information being met.

10 . An inaudible tones device, comprising:

a microphone receiving content from one or more sources;

logic in communication with the microphone controlling the inaudible tones device, the logic detects one or more inaudible tones included in the content, extracts information associated with the one or more inaudible tones from the content, determines usage information associated with the content in response to the information, the usage information includes at least licensing information and content information, the usage information also includes a geographic location wherein the content is played and a time of day the content is played; and

a transceiver in communication with the logic that communicates the usage information including at least 1) the licensing information and 2) content information to one or more of copyright owners, licensing entities, and parties with an ownership or controlling interest in the content in response to the logic detecting the one or more inaudible tones included in the content.

11 . The inaudible tones device of claim 10 , wherein the one or more sources are broadcasting the content including at least audio content, and wherein the one or more inaudible tones are detected by one or more microphones.

12 . The inaudible tones device of claim 10 , wherein the licensing information includes at least song-plays, geographic location the one or more inaudible tones are detected, and parties associated with the one or more sources.

13 . The inaudible tones device of claim 10 , wherein the usage information is sent to a copyright owner of the content or parties with an ownership or controlling interest in the content.

14 . The inaudible tones device of claim 10 , further comprising:

a power source in communication with the microphone, the logic, and the transceiver.

15 . The inaudible tones device of claim 10 , wherein the inaudible tones device is a sticker configured to adhere to a person or device.

16 . An inaudible tones device, comprising:

a processor executing a set of instructions;

a memory storing the set of instructions, wherein the set of instructions are executed to:

receive content from one or more sources;

detect one or more inaudible tones included in the content;

extract information associated with the one or more inaudible tones from the content;

determine usage information associated with the content in response to the information, the usage information includes at least 1) licensing information and 2) content information, the usage information also includes a geographic location where the content is played and a time of day the content is played; and

communicate the usage information including at least the licensing information and the content information to one or more of copyright owners, licensing entities, or parties with an ownership or controlling interest in the content in response to extracting the information associated with the one or more inaudible tones from the content.

17 . The inaudible tones device of claim 16 , wherein the one or more sources are broadcasting the content including at least audio content.

18 . The inaudible tones device of claim 16 , wherein the set of instructions are further executed to:

detect one or more inaudible tones in the audio file, extract the information associated with the one or more inaudible tones of the audio file, determine whether conditions associated with the information are met, and perform one or more actions associated with the conditions associated with the information being met.

19 . The inaudible tones devices of claim 16 , wherein the inaudible tones and the licensing information are utilized to ensure that playback and licensing rights of the audio file by the one or more sources are authorized.

20 . The inaudible tones devices of claim 16 , wherein the content information includes title, length, and writer.

Assignments (4)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 13, 2025
From: WISA TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: DATAVAULT AI INC.
Reel/Frame 070514/0711 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 7, 2025
From: DATA VAULT HOLDINGS, INC.
To: WISA TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 069837/0372 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 10, 2022
From: ADIO, LLC
To: DATA VAULT HOLDINGS, INC.
Reel/Frame 059226/0034 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 27, 2021
From: BRADLEY, NATHANIEL T.; PAUGH, JOSHUA S.; CHOI, SONIA
To: ADIO, LLC
Reel/Frame 056376/0883 →