Artificial light source based messaging platform

• US 9,843,384 B2
• Filed: 11/28/2016
• Issued: 12/12/2017
• 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, Jr., Kenneth Dale, Elwell, Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, THUY V
• Application Number:
  US15/362,183
• Publication Number:
  US 20170078018A1
• Time in Patent Office: 379 Days
• Field of Search: 315149, 315150, 315308
• 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 system comprising:

a light sensor device; and

a device communicably coupled to the light sensor device via a wireless communication link and comprising;

an artificial light source; and

a processor that is configured to;

receive first data associated with the device;

modulate the artificial light source based on the first data associated with the device, wherein responsive to the modulation, the artificial light source generates and emits a modulated light that is detectable by the light sensor device and that is representative of the first data associated with the device;

in response to emitting the modulated light, receive second data from the light sensor device over the wireless communication link; and

effect a change in a non-modulation related setting of the device based on the second data from the light sensor device.

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

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first data associated with the device is setting data.

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

5. The system of claim 1, wherein effecting the change in the non-modulation related setting of the device comprises changing the non-modulation related setting associated with the device from a present setting to a new setting.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein effecting the change in the non-modulation related setting of the device comprises changing the non-modulation related setting associated with the device from a default setting to a new setting.

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

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

9. An apparatus comprising:

an artificial light source;

a communication circuit; and

a processor that is coupled to the artificial light source and the communication circuit, wherein the processor is configured to;

receive first data associated with the apparatus;

modulate the artificial light source based on the first data, wherein responsive to the modulation, the artificial light source generates and emits a modulated light that is detectable by a light sensor device, and wherein the modulated light is representative of the first data associated with the apparatus;

in response to emitting the modulated light, receive, using the communication circuit, second data over the communication circuit; and

effect a change in a non-modulation related setting of the apparatus based on the second data over the wireless communication circuit.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the modulated light from the artificial light source is modulated at a rate that is imperceptible to a human eye.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first data associated with the apparatus is setting data.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first data associated with the apparatus is a digital address of the apparatus.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein effecting the change in the non-modulation related setting of the apparatus comprises changing the non-modulation related setting associated with the apparatus from a present setting to a new setting.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein effecting the change in the non-modulation related setting of the apparatus comprises changing the non-modulation related setting associated with the apparatus from a default setting to a new setting.

15. A method comprising:

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

retrieving, by the sensor device from a server, additional data associated with the device;

presenting, by the sensor device, the data associated with the device; and

transmitting, by the sensor device, the additional data and a user input to the device, wherein the user input is received via a graphical user interface of the sensor device, and wherein the device is configured to change a setting of the device based on the user input and the additional data.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the data associated with the device is a digital address of the device.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the data associated with the device is data associated with the setting.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the additional data is retrieved using a user identifier.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the device is a light fixture and the setting is a brightness of light emitted by the light fixture.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the device is an electronic lock and the setting is a user identifier.