Method for communication link connection using visible light communication

• US 20080131140A1
• Filed: 11/29/2007
• Published: 06/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Lee, Kyung-Woo, Shin, Hong-Seok, Jung, Dae-Kwang, Park, Sung-Bum, Shin, Dong-Jae, Hyun, Yoo-Jeong
• Application Number:
  US11/998,286
• Publication Number:
  US 20080131140A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 398/172
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/1143 Bidirectional transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/116 Visible light communication

Abstract

A method for communication link connection in a data transmission between devices using visible light communication (VLC) that can provide a visible indication prior to establishing a communication link between the devices. The method includes activating a VLC mode by a first VLC apparatus in order to transmit the data; scanning other apparatuses to establish a communication link with a second VLC apparatus; requesting a communication link to the second VLC apparatus in order to transmit the data; and receiving a response, indicating whether data can be received from the second VLC apparatus, and establishing communication link connection. A user can easily recognize the visual indication before the establishment of the communication link, providing an opportunity for the user to arrange the apparatus for optimal communication distance/angle from another device, and for a status of the communication.

Claims

1. A method for communication link connection in data transmission using visible light communication (VLC), the method comprising the steps of:

(1) activating a visible light communication mode by a first VLC apparatus in order to transmit the data;

(2) outputting one or more visible light signals with a continuous or a discontinuous time delay prior to establishment of the communication link;

(3) requesting a communication link with a second VLC apparatus; and

(4) receiving a response from the second VLC apparatus, indicating whether the data can be received from the second VLC apparatus, and establishing a communication link connection.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein, in step (2), includes scanning by the first VLC apparatus for the second visible light communication apparatus by outputting said one or more visible light signals without data to establish a communication link.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising providing a visual indication apart from said one or more visible light signals which identifies that the first VLC apparatus is in process of establishing the communication link.

4. The method according to claim 2, further comprising providing an audible indication apart from said one or more visible light signals which identifies that the first VLC apparatus is in process of establishing the communication link.

5. The method according to claim 2, further comprising providing a vibratory indication apart from said one or more visible light signals which identifies that the first VLC apparatus is in process of establishing the communication link.

6. The method according to claim 2, further comprising said one or more visible light signals including an indication on a display screen which identifies that the first VLC apparatus is in process of establishing the communication link.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein in step (4) establishing the communication link connection is performed automatically when the response indicates that data can be received.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein step (2) includes a sub-step of confirming and arranging a position and a range of visible light, so as to establish communication links.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

(5) transmitting a data transmission start command message, reporting data transmission initiation from the first visible light communication apparatus to the second visible light communication apparatus in order to transmit the data;

(6) transmitting the data to the second visible light communication apparatus; and

(7) transmitting a data transmission end command message reporting data transmission termination after the data transmission completion.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9, further comprising a step of disconnecting the links with the second visible light communication apparatus and releasing the visible light communication mode, after the data transmission end command message is transmitted.

11. The method according to claim 9, further comprising providing a visual indication apart from said one or more visible light signals which identifies that the first VLC apparatus has established the communication link.

12. The method according to claim 9, further comprising providing an audible indication apart from said one or more visible light signals which identifies that the first VLC apparatus has established the communication link.

13. The method according to claim 2, further comprising said one or more visible light signals including an indication on the display screen which identifies that the first VLC apparatus has established the communication link.

14. The method according to claim 11, further comprising providing an visual indication apart from said one or more visible light signals which identifies that data is being transmitted/received over the established communication link.

15. The method according to claim 13, further comprising said one or more visible light signals includes an indication the display screen which identifies that data is being transmitted/received over the established communication link.

16. The method according to claim 1, wherein in step (4) establishing the communication link connection is performed automatically when the response indicates that data can be received.

17. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the second visible light communication apparatus receives the data transmission start command message, and continually maintaining a connection state according to the data transmission start command message.

18. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the second visible light communication apparatus receives the data transmission end command message, and disconnects the links according to the data transmission end command message.

19. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the visible light signals have wavelengths selected from a group of wavelengths consisting of 350 nm to 700 nm.

20. A method for communication link connection in data transmission using visible light communication, the method comprising the steps of:

(1) activating a visible light communication mode by a first visible light communication apparatus in order to transmit the data;

(2) outputting visible light signals with continuous or discontinuous time delay with a second visible light communication apparatus prior to establishment of the communication link;

(3) requesting a communication link to the second visible light communication apparatus in order to transmit the data;

(4) outputting predetermined visible light signals with continuous or discontinuous time delay by the second visible light communication apparatus receiving the visible light signals; and

(5) receiving a response, indicating if data can be received, from the second visible light communication apparatus, and establishing the communication link connection.

21. The method as claimed in claim 20, wherein, in step (2), the first visible light communication apparatus scans the second visible light communication apparatus by outputting visible light signal without data to establish a communication link.

22. The method as claimed in claim 20, wherein step (4) comprises a sub-step of confirming and arranging a position and a range of visible light to establish communication links.

23. The method as claimed in claim 20, wherein the visible light signals have wavelengths selected from a group of wavelength consisting of 350 nm to 700 nm.