Abstract: A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for communication are provided. The apparatus obtains a message for communication using visible light communication (VLC) through a light emitting diode (LED) luminary device and formats the message using a synchronization signal followed by one or more data signals. The synchronization signal and/or the one or more data signals are modulated using a Frequency Shift Keying (FSK) modulation scheme. The apparatus further receives a dimming level value associated with a brightness of light to be emitted from the LED luminary device, generates a waveform with frequencies based on the formatted message and a duty cycle for the LED luminary device based on the dimming level value, and sends the generated waveform to the LED luminary device for communication using VLC.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus related to peer to peer communication networks are described. Embodiments directed to methods and apparatus for establishing traffic data transmission rates and/or transmission power levels between wireless terminals is described. Embodiments direct to methods and apparatus of making decisions whether or not to transmit as a function of the received power of the received response signals are also described. Transmission of pilot signals after granting of a transmission request and a decision to transmit traffic data has been made occurs in some embodiments. Rate information to be used in determining a traffic rate may be received in response to the pilot signal from a peer to peer (P2P) device.

Abstract: Techniques for enabling relay assisted peer discovery in a wireless communication network are disclosed. A relay may receive, from at least one user equipment (UE), at least one hashed expression to transmit. Further, a relay may compute a time dependent hash of the at least one hashed expression to transmit. The relay may broadcast, and the second UEs may receive, the time dependent hash of the at least one hashed expression. The UE may be, for example, an eNodeB. The hashed expression may be a time varied hashed expression.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are described for commissioning light fixtures. One method may include receiving, at a mobile device, an encoded light signal from a light fixture in a plurality of light fixtures. The encoded light signal may be decoded to obtain an identifier associated with the light fixture, and a correspondence between the identifier and a plurality of locations of the plurality of light fixtures may be determined.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are described for deriving an identifier encoded in a visible light communication (VLC) signal. One method includes capturing a first part of the VLC signal; extracting, from the first part of the VLC signal, a first pattern of bits representing at least a portion of the identifier encoded in the VLC signal; comparing the first pattern of bits to different portions of a plurality of identifiers; and identifying, based at least in part on the comparing, a subset of the plurality of identifiers as candidate matches to the identifier encoded in the VLC signal.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for supporting multi-hop peer discovery in peer-to-peer wireless networks are disclosed. One method supports multi-hop peer discovery using a first peer having a first unique identification code. The method includes decoding a second peer discovery signal to obtain a second unique identification code and a second local identification code of a second peer received during a peer-to-peer discovery channel, determining whether to select the second peer based on a predetermined criterion; and transmitting a first peer discovery signal having the first unique identification code, the second local identification code and a hop count when the predetermined criterion is satisfied.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are described for transmitting an identifier using visible light communication (VLC) and for generating a plurality of identifiers for transmission using VLC. Input identifying an illumination factor associated with a light source is received. A first set of modulation parameters is modified for transmitting the identifier using VLC. The first set of modulation parameters is modified based on the illumination factor. A signal, in which the identifier is encoded, is applied to the light source. The signal is applied according to the first set of modulation parameters. Another method includes identifying a number of light transmitting devices, generating a plurality of identifiers based on the identified number of light transmitting devices, storing the generated identifiers, determining a plurality of cyclic shifts for each identifier in the plurality of identifiers, and removing identifiers from the plurality of identifiers that match the identified cyclic shifts.

Abstract: Method, mobile device, computer program product, and apparatus for performing Positioning System Enhancement is described. A visible light communication (VLC) signal is received at a mobile device in an environment and the mobile device measures an external field in response to receiving the VLC signal. The mobile device decodes an identifier from the VLC signal and determines a relative position to the VLC signal source. The mobile device sends information to a server. The information sent to the server includes the identifier, position, and external field measurement. The server calculates position within the heatmap according to the identifier and relative position received from the mobile device. The server updates the heatmap according to the position of the mobile device and respective external measurements at the position.

Abstract: A hybrid communications system implements different communication technologies to communicate data and information for particular communications directions in different portions of the system. Power line communications (PLC) signaling is used to deliver data and information from a gateway device to a light access point. Visible light communications (VLC) signaling is used to communicate data and information from the light access point to a user equipment (UE) device. Wireless radio signaling, wireless infrared (IR) signaling, or a combination of wireless IR signaling and PLC signaling is used to communicate data/information from the UE device to the gateway device. To efficiently control the VLC communications channel between the light access point and UE device, the UE device measures the VLC channel, e.g., calculating SNRs on a per VLC tone basis, and communicating VLC channel quality feedback information to the gateway device, which is forwarded to the light access point.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are described for determining an orientation of a mobile device. One method includes capturing, at the mobile device, an image of at least one illuminated object defining an illuminated reference axis; determining a first angle between the illuminated reference axis and a device reference axis of the mobile device; determining a second angle between the illuminated reference axis and a common reference axis; estimating a third angle between the device reference axis and the common reference axis; and determining an orientation of the mobile device based at least in part on the first angle, the second angle, and the third angle.

Abstract: Methods, systems and devices are provided for receiving input in a wearable electronic device from positioning an object near the wearable electronic device. Embodiments include an image sensor receiving an image. An input position of the object near the wearable electronic device may be determined with respect to a frame of reference. The determined input position may be one of a plurality of positions defined by a frame of reference and may be associated with an input value. A visual indication regarding the input value may be provided on a display of the wearable electronic device. At least one of an anatomical feature on the wearer and a received reference input on the anatomical surface may be used to determine the frame of reference.

Abstract: A method, an apparatus, and a computer-readable medium for configuring an image sensor for processing a visible light communication (VLC) signal are provided. The apparatus instructs the image sensor to operate at a first exposure setting, the first exposure setting lower than a second exposure setting for capturing a photographic image, captures, via the image sensor, at least one VLC signal frame at the first exposure setting, detects at least one communication symbol included in the at least one captured VLC signal frame, and decodes a message associated with the at least one VLC signal frame captured by the image sensor by decoding a number of detected communication symbols.

Abstract: A hybrid communications system implements different communication technologies to communicate data and information for particular communications directions in different portions of the system. Power line communications (PLC) signaling is used to deliver data and information from a gateway device to a light access point. Visible light communications (VLC) signaling is used to communicate data and information from the light access point to a user equipment (UE) device. Wireless radio signaling, wireless infrared (IR) signaling, or a combination of wireless IR signaling and PLC signaling is used to communicate data/information from the UE device to the gateway device. To efficiently control the VLC communications channel between the light access point and UE device, the UE device measures the VLC channel, e.g., calculating SNRs on a per VLC tone basis, and communicating VLC channel quality feedback information to the gateway device, which is forwarded to the light access point.

Abstract: Various exemplary methods and apparatus are directed to using Visible Light Communication (VLC) in a downlink, e.g., a supplemental downlink, in combination with a wireless radio downlink/uplink pair. A gateway is coupled, via a wireline link, to a VLC access point. In some embodiments, the gateway includes a wireless radio base station. A user equipment device detects a visible light signal from the VLC access point, and transmits a radio signal to a communications device, e.g., a gateway including a base station or a macro base station, indicating that the UE device is in a VLC coverage area. The gateway configures the VLC access point to serve as a supplemental wireless cell which supports downlink communications. The gateway sends traffic signals to the VLC access point, via the wireline, which are converted by the VLC access point into VLC signals which are transmitted. The UE device receives VLC downlink traffic signals and transmits a corresponding acknowledgment signal via an uplink radio channel.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are described for wireless communication. In one method, a visible light communication (VLC) signal may be transmitted from a first device to a second device. The VLC signal may include an identifier of the first device. In response to the broadcast VLC signal, information for initiating a connection with a third device may be received. In another method, a VLC signal may be received from a first device at a second device. The VLC signal may include an identifier of the first device. In response to receiving the VLC signal, information for initiating a connection between the first device and a third device may be transmitted.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems, and devices are described for using a mobile device equipped with an image sensor to retrieve information associated with a light fixture. A method of using a mobile device equipped with an image sensor to retrieve information associated with a light fixture may include capturing, at the image sensor, an image of an illuminated indicia. The illuminated indicia may be co-located with the light fixture. At least one characteristic of the illuminated indicia may be determined from the image of the illuminated indicia. Information associated with the at least one characteristic of the illuminated indicia may be retrieved.

Abstract: Techniques for securing a coverage of a wireless system provided by a stationary or mobile node are disclosed. The node may be provided with at least one encryption key. The key may comprise an encryption function table having therein varying functions, such as time-varying physical layer functions, such as transmit power or beam shape/direction of the node. In accordance with the key, coverage associated with transmissions from the node may be varied.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus related to the detection of low-rate visible light communication (VLC) signals and the recovery of information communicated by the VLC signals are described. Various methods and apparatus are well suited for embodiments in which a device, e.g., a smartphone, including a camera which uses a rolling shutter. The rolling shutter facilitates the collection of different time snapshots of a received low rate time varying VLC signal with different pixel rows in the image sensor of a frame corresponding to different time snapshots. In some embodiments, demodulation is used to recover and identify a single tone being communicated in a frame from among a plurality of possible alternative tones that may be communicated, each different tone corresponding to a different set of information bits.

Abstract: Various embodiments relate to using available spectrum for peer to peer communications and for selecting which of several possibly available channels should be used. Various methods and apparatus are well suited to peer to peer networks in which channel usage decisions are made in a decentralized manner. A wireless terminal generates a list of potential available channels to be used for peer to peer communications, e.g., based on FCC information and/or local sensing. Channels are filled in accordance with a predetermined channel ordering. A wireless terminal migrates between the channels in accordance with changes in the number of peer devices using a channel. The network, in a distributed manner, changes the number of channels in use at a location in response to changes in numbers of active peer devices at a location.

Abstract: Techniques for performing transmit power control based on receiver gain setting in a wireless communication network are described. In an aspect, a terminal A may estimate pathloss to another terminal B, e.g., based on a peer discovery signal received from terminal B. Terminal A may then determine a transmit power level for a peer-to-peer (PTP) signal (e.g., a paging signal) based on the estimated pathloss, a receiver gain setting at terminal B, and a target received power level for the PTP signal. Terminal A may send the PTP signal at the determined transmit power level to terminal B. In another aspect, terminal B may use different receiver gain settings in different time intervals to receive PTP signals from other terminals. Terminal A may then select a suitable time interval to send the PTP signal based on the pathloss and the different receiver gain settings used by terminal B.