Tandem, visible light and RF communication system
First Claim
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1. A multi-mode communication system comprising:
- a plurality of devices that includes at least one building control unit;
a radio frequency communication system that provides wireless communication between members of the plurality of devices; and
a visible light communication system that provides different communication than provided by the radio frequency communication system between at least some of plurality of devices,wherein the radio frequency communication system and the visible light communication system operate in tandem to implement selected functionality, andwherein the visible light communication system provides a radiant energy signal to synchronize the members of the plurality of devices for communicating via the radio frequency communication system.
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Abstract
A system having first and second different communication systems can include a plurality of illumination devices having modulatable optical output signals. A plurality of building control units are in wireless communication with one another. Representative units could include ambient condition detectors, intrusion detectors, output devices, or actuators. At least some of the units include optical sensors responsive to the modulatable optical output signals, wherein, in response to received, modulated optical output signals, a respective control unit carries out a predetermined function.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A multi-mode communication system comprising:
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a plurality of devices that includes at least one building control unit; a radio frequency communication system that provides wireless communication between members of the plurality of devices; and a visible light communication system that provides different communication than provided by the radio frequency communication system between at least some of plurality of devices, wherein the radio frequency communication system and the visible light communication system operate in tandem to implement selected functionality, and wherein the visible light communication system provides a radiant energy signal to synchronize the members of the plurality of devices for communicating via the radio frequency communication system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A system comprising:
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a plurality of illumination devices having modulated visible output signals; and a plurality of building control units that are in wireless communication with one another, wherein at least some of the plurality of building control units include optical sensors responsive to the modulated visible output signals, wherein, responsive to receiving the modulated visible output signals, respective ones of the plurality of building control unit carry out a predetermined function, and wherein some of the plurality of illumination devices emit a change of state message when illumination is being terminated. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. A system having first and second different wireless communication systems comprising:
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a plurality of illumination devices having modulated optical output signals, and a plurality of building control units in wireless communication with one another via non-optical signals, wherein some of the plurality of building control units are selected from a class that includes at least ambient condition detectors, intrusion detectors, output devices, or actuators, wherein the some of the plurality of building control units include optical sensors responsive to the modulated optical output signals, and wherein, responsive to receiving the modulated optical output signals, the some of the plurality of building control units carry out a predetermined function and communicate non-optically in connection therewith. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification