Artificial light source based messaging platform

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9510427-B2
Application number	US-201414486859-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 15, 2014
Priority date	Sep 13, 2013
Publication date	Nov 29, 2016
Grant date	Nov 29, 2016

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.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
receiving, by a processor of a device, data associated with the 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, user input data from the light sensor device over a wireless communication link; and
based on the user input data from the light sensor device, effecting, by the processor, a change in a non-modulation related setting 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 non-modulation related setting of the device comprises changing from a present setting to a new setting.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein effecting a change in a non-modulation related setting of the device comprises changing 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 to a user 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;
presenting, by the sensor device, the data associated with the device;
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.

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

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

13. 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.

14. 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 data associated with the device;
modulate the artificial light source based on the received data, 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 data associated with the device;
in response to emitting the modulated light, receive data from the light sensor device over the wireless communication link; and
effect a change in a characteristic of the device based on the data from the light sensor device; and

a server that is communicatively coupled to the light sensor device and configured to:
receive, from the light sensor device, the data associated with the device and a user profile associated with the light sensor device; and
transmit, to the light sensor device, additional data associated with the device based on the data associated with the device and the user profile.

15. The system of claim 14 :
wherein the light from the artificial light source is modulated at a rate that is imperceptible to a human eye,
wherein the data associated with the device is settings data, and
wherein the data associated with the device is a digital address of the device.

16. The system of claim 14 , 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.

17. The system of claim 14 , wherein effecting a change in a characteristic of the device comprises changing a setting associated with the device from a default setting to a new setting.

18. The system of claim 14 , wherein the light sensor device is configured to demodulate and decode the modulated light from the artificial light source to retrieve the data associated with the device.

Assignees

• Walma Kenneth Dale
• Elwell Brian
• Cooper Technologies Co

Inventors

• Walma Kenneth Dale
• Elwell Brian

Classifications

• H05B47/105

  in response to determined parameters · CPC title

• H05B47/19

  via wireless transmission · CPC title

• H05B47/11

  by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light · CPC title

• H05B45/10

  Controlling the intensity of the light · CPC title

• H04B10/502

  LED transmitters · CPC title