Apple patents audio pairing that blocks fake sound signals
Apple describes a method where a device's speaker emits a specific sound to pair with another device. The system checks the sound for hidden codes and changes parts of the audio if it detects an attempt to fake the pairing signal.
In the filing’s own words
Aspects of the subject technology relate to electronic devices having speakers and that are capable of pairing with other electronic devices. An electronic device may pair with another electronic device using an audio pairing signal from a speaker of the electronic device. The electronic device may also detect and alter or destroy attempts to emit spoofed audio pairing signals using the speaker of the electronic device.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. A method, comprising: receiving, from first circuitry of an electronic device at second circuitry of the electronic device, an audio signal for output by a speaker that is securely isolated from the first circuitry; detecting, by the second circuitry, an indicator of encoded content in the audio signal; responsive to the detecting, modifying at least a portion of the audio signal to generate a modified portion of the audio signal; and providing, by the second circuitry, the audio signal including the modified portion to the speaker for output.
Facts
- Company
- Apple (Apple Inc.)
- Official title
- SECURE AUDIO PAIRING FOR ELECTRONIC DEVICES
- Publication number
- US20260260660A1
- Application number
- 19464526
- Filed
- Jan 29, 2026
- Published
- Sep 3, 2026
- Inventors
- 8
- Claims
- 22
Classified under
G10L 19/018 Physics & computingG10L 19/167 Physics & computingH04W 12/50 Electricity & electronicsMore from Apple in Security & privacy
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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.