SONDI: audio-based device discovery and pairing for smart environments

Abstract

In this paper we propose a system called SONDI that uses high frequency audio signals (called audio signatures) to pair mobile devices with fixed devices in smart environments. The system allows users to discover interaction possibilities in the environment they might have otherwise missed, through unobtrusive and non-audible signals sent from fixed devices. Benefits of SONDI include fast discovery times (<1.8 seconds), effortless interaction from the user, and high availability as SONDI does not require any additional hardware on the users' mobile devices.