Unique identification of devices using color detection
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- displaying on a first device an optical indicator;
receiving on the first device data from a device in response to the optical indicator, the data being representative of a detected signal on the device based at least in part on the optical indicator; and
determining on the first device that the device is a target device for communication based at least in part on the received data from the device and the displayed optical indicator.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for uniquely identifying wireless devices in close physical proximity are described. When two wireless devices are brought into close proximity, one of the devices displays an optical indicator, such as a light pattern. This device then sends messages to other devices which are within wireless range to cause them to use any light sensor to detect a signal. In an embodiment, the light sensor is a camera and the detected signal is an image captured by the camera. Each device then sends data identifying what was detected back to the device displaying the pattern. By analyzing this data, the first device can determine which other device detected the indicator that it displayed and therefore determine that this device is within close physical proximity. In an example, the first device is an interactive surface arranged to identify the wireless addresses of devices which are placed on the surface.
82 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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displaying on a first device an optical indicator; receiving on the first device data from a device in response to the optical indicator, the data being representative of a detected signal on the device based at least in part on the optical indicator; and determining on the first device that the device is a target device for communication based at least in part on the received data from the device and the displayed optical indicator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A device comprising:
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memory; one or more processors communicatively coupled to the memory; a light source, communicatively coupled to the one or more processors, to display an optical indicator; a wireless transmitter and receiver module, communicatively coupled to the one or more processors, to transmit data to and/or receive data from a second device in response to the optical indicator, the second device having a wireless identifier, a wireless transmitter and receiver module, and a light detector for detecting the optical indicator; and an identification module, stored in the memory and executable on the one or more processors, to determine the wireless identifier of the second device based at least in part on determining if the received data corresponds to the displayed optical indicator. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. One or more tangible computer-readable storage media storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a first device, perform acts comprising:
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receiving a trigger message from a second device once the first device is in range of the second device; detecting an optical indicator displayed on the second device by capturing an image of an unfocussed light pattern responsive to said trigger message; and sending data representative of the received optical indicator to the second device wherein said second device determines whether the first device is a target device for communication based on receiving said data. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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Specification