Information-Processing System Using Free-Space Optical Communication and Free-Space Optical Communication System
First Claim
1. An information-processing system using free-space optical communication, including an information-collecting apparatus and one or more communication nodes, where the information-collecting apparatus collects predetermined items of information from each of the remote communication node or nodes through free-space optical communication, which is characterized in that:
- each of the communication node or nodes includes;
a signal generator for producing a pilot signal having a predetermined frequency onto which an identification signal containing the aforementioned items of information, whose frequency is higher than that of the pilot signal, is superimposed; and
a light transmitter for emitting light containing the signal produced by the signal generator as information, and the information-collecting apparatus includes;
an image capturer having an imaging device with a two-dimensional array of a large number of micro photo-receiving elements;
a position recognizer for detecting the pilot signal from an optical signal coming from each communication node within a two-dimensional image captured by the image capturer and for recognizing a position of each communication node within the image; and
an identification information acquirer for selectively reading detection signals produced by micro photo-receiving elements located at or close to each communication node recognized by the position recognizer in the image capturer, where a speed of reading the detection signals is higher than that of capturing the two-dimensional image, and for acquiring the aforementioned items of information of each communication node located within the captured image on a basis of the signals read out.
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Abstract
In a system for data communication between an information terminal to be operated by a user and remote communication nodes, the present invention intends to suppress the power consumption of the information terminal. For that purpose, communication nodes 2, 3 and 4 each emit diffuse light carrying a pilot signal blinking at a low frequency to notify the presence of the communication node and an ID signal belonging to a higher frequency range, the ID signal containing inherent address etc. for identifying each communication node. A mobile phone 1 as the information terminal captures an image and processes the image data to detect the pilot signal of each communication node. Then, determining the position of each node and setting a limited range for reading the pixels around that position, the mobile phone 1 reads the detection signals of the pixels within the limited range at high speed and obtains identification information. This information is used to identify each node and eliminate influences of any other light source that apparently resembles the pilot signal.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. An information-processing system using free-space optical communication, including an information-collecting apparatus and one or more communication nodes, where the information-collecting apparatus collects predetermined items of information from each of the remote communication node or nodes through free-space optical communication, which is characterized in that:
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each of the communication node or nodes includes;
a signal generator for producing a pilot signal having a predetermined frequency onto which an identification signal containing the aforementioned items of information, whose frequency is higher than that of the pilot signal, is superimposed; and
a light transmitter for emitting light containing the signal produced by the signal generator as information, and the information-collecting apparatus includes;
an image capturer having an imaging device with a two-dimensional array of a large number of micro photo-receiving elements;
a position recognizer for detecting the pilot signal from an optical signal coming from each communication node within a two-dimensional image captured by the image capturer and for recognizing a position of each communication node within the image; and
an identification information acquirer for selectively reading detection signals produced by micro photo-receiving elements located at or close to each communication node recognized by the position recognizer in the image capturer, where a speed of reading the detection signals is higher than that of capturing the two-dimensional image, and for acquiring the aforementioned items of information of each communication node located within the captured image on a basis of the signals read out. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification