A content management method uses a portable multifunction device 202 to detect human-inaudible acoustic signals 210, when that signal is heard from the surrounding environment by a device microphone 113 or is output by the device's audio circuitry 100. The device 202 extracts a code from the inaudible signal and supplies the code via wired or wireless communication 232, along with additional optional data regarding the device and/or its user, to a content management system 200. Upon receipt of the code, indicating the received inaudible signal 210 from the portable multifunction device 202, the content management system 200 may provide particular content or a pointer to that content to the portable multifunction device 202, the content being selected based on the particular inaudible signal received. Additional threshold triggers 502 may be delivered to require additional actions to unlock the content.

Controlled access to a physical area or secured service is managed using sonic tones. A secret key is stored in a user device and in a security system, and then when access is desired, the secret key or a derivative thereof is encoded into a sonic tone which is transmitted. The sonic tone is received and decoded to obtain the encoded binary message, which is then compared to an expected binary message, and if there is a match, access is granted by the security system. In illustrated particular embodiments the secret key is used to generate a one-time password based upon the secret key and a randomizing factor, such as the current time.

A method of processing a telephone signal comprising voice signals and data signals, the method comprising detecting the presence of an artefact in the telephone signal indicative of the presence of a data signal fragment associated with an earlier attenuation of a data signal and processing the telephone signal by further attenuating the telephone signal in the region of the artefact in order to remove the data signal fragment from the telephone signal.

A method of processing a telephone signal comprising voice signals and data signals, the method comprising detecting the presence of an artefact in the telephone signal indicative of the presence of a data signal fragment associated with an earlier attenuation of a data signal and processing the telephone signal by further attenuating the telephone signal in the region of the artefact in order to remove the data signal fragment from the telephone signal.

A landline-connected telephone has a landline connection to a publicly-switched telephone network, a processor executing coded instructions from a non-transitory data storage medium, and an input interface receiving data from a remote communication device. Through execution of the coded instructions, the landline-connected telephone receives a telephone number sequence by the near-field wireless circuitry, and generates required tones according to the telephone number sequence, dialing the telephone number over the landline connection.

A landline-connected telephone has a landline connection to a publicly-switched telephone network, a processor executing coded instructions from a non-transitory data storage medium, and an input interface receiving data from a remote communication device. Through execution of the coded instructions, the landline-connected telephone receives a telephone number sequence by the near-field wireless circuitry, and generates required tones according to the telephone number sequence, dialing the telephone number over the landline connection.

A method of processing a telephone signal comprising voice signals and data signals, the method comprising detecting the presence of an artefact in the telephone signal indicative of the presence of a data signal fragment associated with an earlier attenuation of a data signal and processing the telephone signal by further attenuating the telephone signal in the region of the artefact in order to remove the data signal fragment from the telephone signal.

A method of processing a telephone signal comprising voice signals and data signals, the method comprising detecting the presence of an artefact in the telephone signal indicative of the presence of a data signal fragment associated with an earlier attenuation of a data signal and processing the telephone signal by further attenuating the telephone signal in the region of the artefact in order to remove the data signal fragment from the telephone signal.

Recognizing and utilizing dial patterns of a mobile electronic device includes detecting an input sequence, recording the input sequence when the input sequence is detected, and determining whether the input sequence is a reoccurring pattern. If the input sequence is a reoccurring pattern, the input sequence is stored in a repository as a dial pattern that is assigned to a call number. When a call number is detected in a dialer, the dial pattern is then presented to the dialer, and the dial pattern is dialed upon establishing a connection with the call number.

A communication session is established between a device of a first user and a device of a second user. An input is received during the communication session from the device of the first user. The input indicates a request to update an original property of the communication session associated with a path of media communication between the device of the first user and the device of the second user. An external bypass step handler associated with the input is identified. The external bypass step handler is communicated with to update the original property of the communication session to obtain a modified property. The communication session is continued with the modified property.