Self-indentifying one-way authentication method using optical signals

• US 9,973,273 B2
• Filed: 04/22/2016
• Issued: 05/15/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ABL IP Holding LLC (Acuity Brands, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ABL IP Holding LLC (Acuity Brands, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ganick, Aaron, Ryan, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Allen
• Application Number:
  US15/136,275
• Publication Number:
  US 20160241338A1
• Time in Patent Office: 753 Days
• Field of Search: 348 61
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/206 specially adapted for indoor navigation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/116 Visible light communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/77 Graphical identity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/30 Services specially adapted for particular environments, situations or purposes
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/33 for indoor environments, e.g. buildings

Abstract

In one aspect, the present disclosure relates to a self-identifying optical transmitter for broadcasting a one-way authentication code using light-based communication. The transmitter may include a memory for storing an identifier of the transmitter, a processor for generating a data signal including an identifier of the transmitter, a modulator for receiving the data signal and generating an electrical signal, the modular generating the electrical signal by modulating the data signal. The transmitter may also include a light source for receiving the electrical signal, converting the electrical signal into an optical signal, and continuously broadcasting the optical signal as an optical data transmission stream. The optical data transmission stream may be used to verify that a receiving mobile device is near the transmitter. The transmitter may also include an optical surface for dispersing the optical data transmission stream as the optical data transmission stream is emitted from the transmitter.

Claims

1. A mobile device, comprising:

an image sensor;

a wireless interface configured to communicate through a network over a wireless medium;

a processor coupled to the image sensor and the wireless interface;

a memory; and

software in the memory to be run by the processor, wherein running of the software by the processor configures the mobile device to implement functions, including functions to;

operate the image sensor to capture one or more images including a modulated visible light signal transmitted from a visible light source located within a space, wherein the captured one or more images include a pattern of stripes;

determine from the captured one or more images a width of one or more stripes of the pattern of stripes;

determine, based at least in part on the determined widths of stripes in the obtained pattern of stripes, information corresponding to a geographical location of the visible light source;

store the determined information; and

process the determined information to verify that a user of the mobile device came into proximity of the visible light source.

2. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the function to determine information corresponding to the geographical location of the visible light source comprises a function to obtain, based at least in part on the pattern of stripes, an identifier of the visible light source.

3. The mobile device of claim 2, wherein the function to demodulate the modulated visible light signal comprises a function to calculate a frequency content of the image based on a detected stripe width of respective stripes in the pattern of stripes.

4. The mobile device of claim 2, wherein the image sensor is a rolling shutter camera.

5. The mobile device of claim 2, wherein the process function comprises a function to transmit, via the wireless interface, the identifier of the visible light source to a server for user location verification.

6. The mobile device of claim 5, wherein the function to transmit the identifier of the visible light source includes a function to transmit an identification of the user of the mobile device in conjunction with the identifier of the visible light source.

7. The mobile device of claim 2, wherein the process function further comprises a function to obtain, via the wireless interface, an indication of the geographical location of the mobile device based on the identifier of the visible light source.

8. The mobile device of claim 2, wherein the process function comprises a function to retrieve, based at least in part on the identifier of the visible light source and from the memory, an indication of a geographical location of the mobile device.

9. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the implemented functions further include a function to store, in the memory, the determined information in conjunction with an indication of a geographical location of the user.

10. A method, comprising steps of:

capturing, via an image sensor of a mobile device, one or more images including a modulated visible light signal transmitted from a visible light source located within a space, wherein the captured one or more images include a pattern of stripes;

obtaining the pattern of stripes from the captured one or more images;

determining, based at least in part on the obtained pattern of stripes, information corresponding to a geographical location of the visible light source;

storing the determined information; and

processing the determined information to verify that a user of the mobile device came into proximity of the visible light source.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of determining information corresponding to the geographical location of the visible light source comprises a step of obtaining, based at least in part on the obtained pattern of stripes, an identifier of the visible light source.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the processing step comprises a step of transmitting, via a wireless interface of the mobile device, the obtained identifier of the visible light source to a server for user location verification.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of transmitting the identifier of the visible light source includes a step of transmitting an identification of the user of the mobile device in conjunction with the identifier of the visible light source.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the processing step further comprises a step of receiving, via a wireless interface, an indication of a geographical location of the mobile device based on the identifier of the visible light source.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the processing step comprises a step of retrieving, based at least in part on the obtained identifier of the visible light source and from a memory, an indication of a geographical location of the mobile device.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising a step of storing, in a memory, the determined information in conjunction with an indication of a geographical location of the user.

17. The method of claim 10, further comprising a step of transmitting, via a wireless interface, the determined information.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of transmitting the determined information includes a step of transmitting an identification of the user of the mobile device in conjunction with the determined information.

19. A non-transitory tangible computer readable medium embodying instructions, wherein execution of the instructions by a processor of a mobile device configures the mobile device to implement functions, including functions to:

operate an image sensor to capture one or more images including a modulated visible light signal transmitted from a visible light source located within a space, wherein the captured one or more images include a pattern of stripes;

obtain the pattern of stripes from the captured one or more images;

determine, based at least in part on the obtained pattern of stripes, information corresponding to a geographical location of the visible light source;

store the determined information; and

process the determined information to verify that a user of the mobile device came into proximity of the visible light source.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein the implemented functions further include a function to transmit, via a wireless interface of the mobile device, the determined information in conjunction with an identification of the user of the mobile device to a server for user location verification.