Artificial Light Source Based Messaging Platform

• US 20150076989A1
• Filed: 09/15/2014
• Published: 03/19/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Signify Holding B.V. (Signify N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Walma, Kenneth Dale, Elwell, Brian
• Granted Patent: US 9,510,427 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/149
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/11 Arrangements specific to free-space transmission, i.e. transmission through air or vacuum
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/116 Visible light communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/40 Transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/502 LED transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/10 Controlling the intensity of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/105 in response to determined parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

A processor receives data associated with a device. On the basis of the data associated with the device, the processor modulates a light from the artificial light source at a rate imperceptible to a human eye while detectable by a light sensor device. The modulated light is representative of the data associated with the device. The modulated light is detected, demodulated, and decoded by the light sensor device to retrieve the data associated with the device. Further, the data associated with the device is presented by the light sensor device to a user. In addition, the light sensor device is configured to receive input data from the user and communicate the input data to the processor via a wireless link. The processor is configured to receive the input data from the light sensor device and effect a change in a characteristic of the device based on the received input data.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by a processor, data associated with a device;

based on the data, modulating, by the processor, an artificial light source associated with the device, wherein the artificial light source is coupled to the processor;

responsive to the modulation, generating a modulated light via the artificial light source, wherein the modulated light is detectable by a light sensor device and representative of the data associated with the device;

in response to the modulated light, receiving, by the processor, data from the light sensor device over a wireless communication link; and

based on the data from the light sensor device, effecting, by the processor, a change in a characteristic of the device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the light from the artificial light source is modulated at a rate that is imperceptible to a human eye.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the data associated with the device is settings data.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the data associated with the device is a digital address of the device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein effecting a change in a characteristic of the device comprises changing a setting associated with the device from a present setting to a new setting.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein realizing a change in a characteristic of the device comprises changing a setting associated with the device from a default setting to a new setting.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the modulated light from the artificial light source is demodulated and decoded by the light sensor device to retrieve the data associated with the device.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the light sensor device is configured to present at least a portion of the data associated with the device based on a user profile associated with the light sensor device.

9. The method of claim 7,

wherein the light sensor device is configured to transmit, to a server, the data associated with the device and a user profile associated with the light sensor device;

and

wherein the light sensor device is configured to receive, from the server, additional data associated with the device based on the data associated with the device and the user profile.

10. A method comprising:

detecting, by a sensor device, a modulated light from an artificial light source, wherein the modulated light is representative of data associated with a device coupled to the artificial light source;

demodulating, by the sensor device, the modulated light;

decoding, by the sensor device, the demodulated light to retrieve data associated with the device; and

presenting, by the sensor device, the data associated with the device.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

communicating, by the sensor device to a server, the data associated with the device and a user profile associated with the sensor device; and

receiving, by the sensor device, additional data associated with the device based on the data associated with the device and the user profile.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the data associated with the device is a digital address of the device.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the data associated with the device is settings data.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

receiving, by the sensor device, user input data associated with effecting a change in at least one characteristic of the device; and

transmitting, by the sensor device over a wireless communication link, the user input data to a receiver unit coupled the artificial light source.

15. A transceiver unit, comprising:

an artificial light source configured to emit light;

a communication circuit configured to receive data associated with a device;

a memory configured to store data associated with the device; and

a processor coupled to the memory and the artificial light source,

wherein the processor is configured to control the artificial light source based on the data associated with the device to generate a modulated light, and

wherein the modulated light is representative of the data associated with the device.

16. The transceiver unit of claim 15, wherein the communication circuit is configured to receive data from a light sensor device.

17. The transceiver unit of claim 16, wherein the data from the light sensor device is a parameter corresponding to a characteristic of the device.

18. The transceiver unit of claim 15, wherein the data associated with the device is settings data.

19. The transceiver unit of claim 15, wherein the data associated with the device is a digital address of the device.

20. The transceiver unit of claim 15, wherein the modulated light is detectable by the light sensor device while being imperceptible to a human eye.