Abstract: Systems an methods are provided that disclose providing a positioning service for devices based on light received from one or more light sources. This light based positioning service uses light information transmitted by each light source to determine the position of the device. The positioning information can include three dimension position information in a building that can then be used to deliver services and information to a mobile device. The content delivered to a mobile device can include multimedia, text, audio, and/or pictorial information. The positioning information along with other location or positioning information can be used in providing augmented reality or location aware services. The light sources can be independent beacons that broadcast information in visible light at a rate that is undetectable by the human eye. Content can be retrieved from a server over a communications connection.

Abstract: Systems an methods are provided that disclose providing a positioning service for devices based on light received from one or more light sources. This light based positioning service uses light information transmitted by each light source to determine the position of the device. The positioning information can include three dimension position information in a building that can then be used to deliver services and information to a mobile device. The content delivered to a mobile device can include multimedia, text, audio, and/or pictorial information. The positioning information along with other location or positioning information can be used in providing augmented reality or location aware services. The light sources can be independent beacons that broadcast information in visible light at a rate that is undetectable by the human eye. Content can be retrieved from a server over a communications connection.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present disclosure relates to a method of detecting information transmitted by a light source in a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor by detecting a frequency of light pulses produced by the light source. In some embodiments, the method includes capturing on the CMOS image sensor with a rolling shutter an image in which different portions of the CMOS image sensor are exposed at different points in time; detecting visible distortions that include alternating stripes in the image; measuring a width of the alternating stripes present in the image; and selecting a symbol based on the width of the alternating stripes present in the image to recover information encoded in the frequency of light pulses produced by the light source captured in the image.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present disclosure relates to a method for determining a position of a device using a light based positioning system. In some embodiments, the method includes providing a map of positions of a plurality of light sources in a location; receiving an identification code from one or more of the plurality of light sources, wherein the identification code identifies the light source; matching the identification code to a light source on the map; and determining the position of the device by setting the position of the device to the position of the light source on the map. In some embodiments, the method includes receiving identification codes from a plurality of light sources; matching the identification codes to a plurality of light sources on the map; and determining the position of the device based on the location of the plurality of light sources on the map.

Abstract: Systems an methods are provided that disclose providing a positioning service for devices based on light received from one or more light sources. This light based positioning service uses light information transmitted by each light source to determine the position of the device. The positioning information can include three dimension position information in a building that can then be used to deliver services and information to a mobile device. The content delivered to a mobile device can include multimedia, text, audio, and/or pictorial information. The positioning information along with other location or positioning information can be used in providing augmented reality or location aware services. The light sources can be independent beacons that broadcast information in visible light at a rate that is undetectable by the human eye. Content can be retrieved from a server over a communications connection.

Abstract: Systems an methods are provided that disclose providing a positioning service for devices based on light received from one or more light sources. This light based positioning service uses light information transmitted by each light source to determine the position of the device. The positioning information can include three dimension position information in a building that can then be used to deliver services and information to a mobile device. The content delivered to a mobile device can include multimedia, text, audio, and/or pictorial information. The positioning information along with other location or positioning information can be used in providing augmented reality or location aware services. The light sources can be independent beacons that broadcast information in visible light at a rate that is undetectable by the human eye. Content can be retrieved from a server over a communications connection.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present disclosure relates to a self identifying light source including an emitter that produces visible light; and an autonomous modulator in electrical communication with the emitter that automatically and continually modulates the visible light produced by the emitter, wherein the modulated visible light represents an identification code of the light source. In some embodiments, the emitter is a light emitting diode (LED) and further comprising an LED driver that provides a specified voltage and current to each LED in the light source.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present disclosure relates to methods and apparatuses for performing a location-based search from a mobile device in a given location including an imaging sensor configured to capture a signal broadcast from a light source and a processor in communication with the imaging sensor configured to receive the signal from the imaging sensor, demodulate the signal to determine an identifier associated with the light source, receive a search query from a mobile device user requesting information relevant to the location of the mobile device, transmit the identifier and the search query to a search service, and in response to the transmission comprising the identifier and the search query, receive the information relevant to the location of the mobile device.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present disclosure relates to a method for removing noise from a digital video sequence containing a modulated light signal emitted from a beacon light source. In some embodiments, the method includes electronically receiving, by an image sensor of a device, a digital video sequence of a scene, calculating noise from the digital video sequence, wherein the noise comprises information within the digital video sequence corresponding to the un-modulated illumination of the scene, reducing the noise from the digital video sequence to obtain an isolated digital video sequence of the modulated illumination of the scene, and demodulating the emitted light signal from the isolated digital video sequence.

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.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present disclosure relates to a method for a method for hiding a camera preview feed of a mobile device application. The method may proceed by the mobile device application enabling an imaging sensor of the mobile device, where the software of the mobile device requires the mobile device application to display the camera preview feed when the imaging sensor is enabled. The method may continue by creating a camera preview surface for displaying the camera preview feed. The method may further continue by modifying the camera preview surface to be hidden from the mobile device user. The method may end by setting the camera preview feed to be displayed on the camera preview surface. In another aspect, the present disclosure further relates to modifying the camera preview surface by resizing the camera preview surface to be one pixel large.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present disclosure relates to a method for isolating a broadcast digital pulse recognition tone of a beacon light source in a digital video sequence. In some embodiments, the method includes receiving a digital video sequence of a scene, the digital video sequence including a sequence of frames and the scene including both modulated illumination broadcast by a beacon light source and un-modulated illumination, calculating a background value of the digital video sequence, the background value including a portion of the digital video sequence corresponding to the un-modulated illumination of the scene, subtracting the background value of the digital video sequence to obtain an isolated digital video sequence of the modulated illumination of the scene, calculating a frequency content of a frame of the isolated digital video sequence, and determining a particular tone broadcast by the beacon light source based on the frequency content.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present disclosure related to a method for configuring one or more imaging sensors of an imaging device to capture digital images for digital pulse recognition demodulation. In some embodiments, the method includes initializing one or more imaging sensors of the imaging device, determining a subset of the one or more imaging sensors to configure, setting a configuration for each of the one or more imaging sensors of the subset by defining a region of interest as a metering area for each of the one or more imaging sensors of the subset and automatically adjusting a setting for each of the one or more imaging sensors of the subset, and adjusting input parameters of a demodulation function based on a device profile of the imaging device. In some embodiments, the adjusted setting is locked to prevent further adjustment of the adjusted setting.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present disclosure relates to a method for broadcasting a modulated digital pulse recognition signal from a light source. In some embodiments, the method includes selecting one or more digital pulse recognition tones to broadcast, determining a desired brightness level for the light source, generating a digital pulse recognition signal having a duty cycle based on the desired brightness level and a frequency based on the one or more digital pulse recognition tones, and driving the output of the light source with the digital pulse recognition signal. In some embodiments, selecting one or more digital pulse recognition tones to broadcast includes generating a single periodic tone for differentiating the light source from a nearby light source. In some embodiments, selecting one or more digital pulse recognition tones to broadcast includes generating a sequence of periodic tones.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present disclosure relates to a method for demodulating a modulated light signal in a light based positioning system. In some embodiments, the method includes receiving a modulated light signal at a device, the modulated light signal transmitting an arbitrary identifier of a light source, recording the modulated light signal using a rolling shutter image sensor to create a raw image having alternating spaced apart stripes, subtracting background information from the raw image to create an isolated image, taking a Fourier transform of an image representative of the isolated image to calculate a Fourier transformed signal, and determining the arbitrary identifier of the light source based on the Fourier transformed signal.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present disclosure relates to a dimmable beacon light source for a light based positioning system. In some embodiments, the light source includes a dimmer control switch configured to generate a dimmer signal having a desired light output level, a dimmable driver for controlling the light output of the light source, and a modulator for receiving the dimmer signal from the dimmer control switch, generating a digital pulse recognition signal by controlling the frequency of the dimmer signal to a desired frequency value, and transmitting the digital pulse recognition signal to the dimmable driver to drive the light output of the light source. In some embodiments, the digital pulse recognition signal is a pulse width modulated signal. In some embodiments, the digital pulse recognition signal has a duty cycle based on the dimmer signal.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present disclosure relates to a method for recognizing a broadcast digital pulse recognition tone in a beacon-based light positioning system. In some embodiments, the method includes capturing a digital image using an imaging sensor of an imaging device, identifying one or more regions of the digital image illuminated by one of one or more beacon light sources, determining a frequency content of each of the one or more regions, and determining a particular tone broadcast by the beacon light source illuminating a particular region using the frequency content of the particular region. In some embodiments, the imaging sensor has a frame rate and includes a rolling shutter, the rolling shutter having a sampling rate greater than the frame rate of the imaging sensor.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present disclosure related to a method for modifying a beacon light source for use in a light-based positioning system. In some embodiments, the method includes selecting a modulation scheme for the light source, determining a duty cycle for the light source based on the modulation scheme, the duty cycle having a proportion of time the light source is in an on state and a corresponding proportion of time the light source is in an off state, the proportion of time the light source is in an off state resulting in reduced luminosity of the light source, and supplying additional power to the light source to compensate for the reduced luminosity of the light source by the duty cycle.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present disclosure relates to a dimmable beacon light source for a light based positioning system. In some embodiments, the light source includes a dimmer control switch configured to generate a dimmer signal having a desired light output level, a dimmable driver for controlling the light output of the light source, and a modulator for receiving the dimmer signal from the dimmer control switch, generating a digital pulse recognition signal by controlling the frequency of the dimmer signal to a desired frequency value, and transmitting the digital pulse recognition signal to the dimmable driver to drive the light output of the light source. In some embodiments, the digital pulse recognition signal is a pulse width modulated signal. In some embodiments, the digital pulse recognition signal has a duty cycle based on the dimmer signal.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present disclosure relates to a method for demodulating a modulated light signal in a light based positioning system. In some embodiments, the method includes receiving a modulated light signal at a device, the modulated light signal transmitting an arbitrary identifier of a light source, recording the modulated light signal using a rolling shutter image sensor to create a raw image having alternating spaced apart stripes, subtracting background information from the raw image to create an isolated image, taking a Fourier transform of an image representative of the isolated image to calculate a Fourier transformed signal, and determining the arbitrary identifier of the light source based on the Fourier transformed signal.