Abstract: An apparatus includes a processor and a recording medium having a program, the program causing the processor to execute operations. The operations include a normal mode and a visible light communication mode, wherein the normal mode and the visible light communication mode are switchable. In the normal mode, first image data is obtained by image capture with a first exposure time by sequentially starting exposure for a plurality of exposure lines in an image sensor each at a different time and each of the plurality of exposure lines partially overlaps in exposure time an adjacent exposure line. The visible light communication mode includes (i) setting a second exposure time of the image sensor, (ii) obtaining a bright line image including the plurality of bright lines, and (iii) obtaining information by demodulating data specified by a pattern of the plurality of bright lines included in the obtained bright line image.

Abstract: A video display method is provided that displays, on a per frame basis, an image included in a video signal. The method includes generating a first visible light communication image by encoding a visible light communication signal, the first visible light communication image being an image having a stripe pattern for visible light communication, and displaying, in a predetermined frame, the image included in the video signal. The method also includes switching a pitch of the first visible light communication image to a different pitch, and generating a second visible light communication image. The method further includes displaying the second visible light communication image that has a stripe pattern configured with a different minimum pitch, which is different in resolution from the stripe pattern of the first visible light communication image.

Abstract: A communication method is used in a terminal having a front camera as a first image capturing unit and a back camera as a second image capturing unit. The communication method includes: switching between the front camera and the back camera according to an orientation of the terminal; and performing visible light communication by using the front camera or the back camera which is selected.

Abstract: An information communication method includes: determining whether conflict over use of a light receiving unit will occur between a first program for performing visible light communication and a second program for performing processing different from the visible light communication; notifying a user that the conflict will occur if it is determined that the conflict will occur; permitting one of the first program and the second program to use the light receiving unit in response to an operation by the user; and causing, by the first program, a computer to execute visible light communication according to light detected by the light receiving unit if the first program is permitted to use the light receiving unit.

Abstract: A visible light communication method includes: obtaining a first ID identifying an area in which a receiver is present; obtaining a second ID by the receiver through visible light communication; and obtaining information corresponding to a third ID which is a combination of the first ID and the second ID. For example, in the obtaining of a first ID, the first ID may be obtained by referring to a table showing correspondence between the first ID and location information obtained by the receiver and indicating a location of the receiver.

Abstract: An information communication method is provided for transmitting a signal using a change in luminance. The information communication method includes determining a pattern of the change in luminance by modulating a signal to be transmitted, and transmitting the signal by a display, which comprises a light emitter that changes luminance according to the determined pattern. In the determining a pattern, the pattern of the change in luminance is determined by adjusting a first time from one change in luminance to a next change in luminance according to the signal, the one change in luminance and the next change in luminance being a same one of a rise and a fall in luminance.

Abstract: A communication method for obtaining information from a subject includes obtaining image information of the subject in an image information-taking mode, obtaining visible light data of the subject in a visible light communication mode, and setting a shutter speed and an international organization for standardization (ISO) speed rating or a gain value for the visible light communication mode. The visible light communication mode is a different mode from the image information-taking mode. Also, in the setting, the shutter speed for the visible light communication mode is set to be faster than a shutter speed for the image information-taking mode, and the ISO speed rating or the gain value for the visible light communication mode is set to be greater than an ISO speed rating or a gain value for the image information-taking mode.

Abstract: A visible light communication signal display method of displaying (i) an image represented by video signals and (ii) an image obtained by encoding visible light communication signals includes: encoding at least part of the visible light communication signals to generate an encoded image; generating a plurality of sub-images which correspond to respective partial images obtained by dividing the encoded image and each of which (i) includes a corresponding one of the partial images and (ii) except for the corresponding partial image, is an image having a substantially uniform luminance value lower than or equal to a predetermined luminance value; and displaying, in a video display period, the image represented by the video signals, and displaying the sub-images in time series in a communication period different from the video display period.

Abstract: A signal transmitting apparatus is provided that includes a light emitter and a circuit that controls the light emitter change in luminance in frequency to transmit a signal to a receiving apparatus. The receiving apparatus includes a processor and a recording medium having a program, the program causing the processor to execute operations. The operations include obtaining first image data with a first exposure time; setting a second exposure time of the image sensor so that, in an image obtained by capturing a subject by the image sensor, a plurality of bright lines corresponding to the plurality of exposure lines included in the image sensor appear according to a change in luminance of the subject; obtaining a bright line image including the plurality of bright lines; and obtaining information by demodulating data specified by a pattern of the plurality of bright lines.

Abstract: An information communication method that enables communication between various devices includes: determining a pattern of the change in luminance by modulating the signal to be transmitted; and transmitting the signal by a light emitter changing in luminance according to the determined pattern, wherein the pattern of the change in luminance is a pattern in which one of two different luminance values occurs in each arbitrary position in a predetermined duration, and in the determining, the pattern of the change in luminance is determined so that a luminance change position in the duration is different for each of different signals to be transmitted, the luminance change position being a position at which the luminance rises or a position at which the luminance falls.

Abstract: A video display method in which a visible light communication signal can be appropriately transmitted includes: Step SL 11 of generating a first visible light communication image that is an image having a stripe pattern for visible light communication, by encoding the visible light communication signal; Step SL12 of displaying, in a predetermined frame, an image included in the video signal; and Step SL13 of displaying, in the predetermined frame, the first visible light communication image sequentially thereafter an identification image that is an image having luminance uniformly lower than average luminance of the image that is displayed.

Abstract: An information communication method for use in a portable terminal, e.g., a wristwatch, to obtain information includes a light receiving step of, by at least one of plural solar cells incorporated in the portable terminal and having respective directivities, receiving visible light that is emitted in a direction corresponding to the directivity of the relevant solar cell, and an information acquisition step of obtaining information by demodulating a signal that is specified by the received visible light.

Abstract: A communication method in the present disclosure is a communication method for obtaining information from a subject, including: taking a picture of the subject in a picture-taking mode, thereby obtaining image data; performing, after the taking, visible light communication in a visible light communication mode which is a different mode from the picture-taking mode, thereby obtaining visible light data of the subject; and embedding the visible light data obtained, into the image data, and thus saving the visible light data obtained.

Abstract: An information communication device includes an exposure time setter that sets an exposure time of an image sensor so that a bright line corresponding to an exposure line included in the image sensor appears according to a change in luminance of the light emitter. A first information obtainer obtains first information by demodulating data specified by a pattern of the bright line included in the obtained bright line image and a second information obtainer obtains second information by capturing a plurality of light emitting elements, each of which emits light with one of two different luminance values, and demodulating data specified by a light and dark sequence of luminance along a direction substantially parallel to the exposure line.

Abstract: An information communication method is provided for obtaining information from a subject. The information communication method includes transmitting position information indicating a position of an image sensor used to capture the subject, and receiving an ID list that is associated with the position indicated by the position information. The information communication method also includes setting an exposure time of the image sensor so that in a bright line corresponding to an exposure line included in the image sensor appears according to a change in luminance of the subject. The information communication method further includes obtaining a bright line image including the bright line, obtaining information by demodulating data specified by a cycle length or frequency of a stripe pattern of the bright line included in the obtained bright line image, and searching the ID list for identification information that includes the obtained information.

Abstract: An information communication method for obtaining information from a subject includes transmitting position information indicating a position of an image sensor used to capture the subject, and receiving an ID list that is associated with the position indicated by the position information. The method also includes setting an exposure time of the image sensor so that a bright line corresponding to an exposure line included in the image sensor appears according to a change in luminance of the subject. The method further includes obtaining a bright line image including the bright line by capturing the subject that changes in luminance by the image sensor with the set exposure time, obtaining the information by demodulating data specified by a pattern of the bright line included in the obtained bright line image, and searching the ID list for identification information.

Abstract: An information communication method includes: setting an exposure time of an image sensor so that, in an image obtained by capturing a subject by the image sensor, a bright line corresponding to an exposure line included in the image sensor appears according to a change in luminance of the subject; capturing the subject that changes in luminance by the image sensor with the set exposure time, to obtain the image including the bright line; and obtaining information by demodulating data specified by a pattern of the bright line included in the obtained image.

Abstract: An information communication method includes: setting an exposure time of an image sensor so that, in an image obtained by capturing a subject by the image sensor, a bright line corresponding to an exposure line included in the image sensor appears according to a change in luminance of the subject; capturing the subject that changes in luminance by the image sensor with the set exposure time, to obtain the image including the bright line; and obtaining information by demodulating data specified by a pattern of the bright line included in the obtained image.

Abstract: An information communication method is provided that includes setting an exposure time of an image sensor so that, in an image obtained by capturing a subject by the image sensor, a plurality of bright lines corresponding to a plurality of exposure lines included in the image sensor appear according to a change in luminance of the subject. The method also includes obtaining a bright line image including the plurality of bright lines, by capturing the subject changing in luminance by the image sensor with the set exposure time, and obtaining information by demodulating data specified by a pattern of the plurality of bright lines included in the obtained bright line image.

Abstract: An information communication method is provided for obtaining information from a subject using a terminal device. The method includes obtaining and holding identification information of devices, and service information associated with the identification information, from a server. The method also includes setting an exposure time of an image sensor so that a bright line corresponding to each of the plurality of exposure lines included in the image sensor appears according to a change in luminance of the subject, and obtaining a bright line image including a plurality of bright lines. The method further includes obtaining identification information of the subject, by demodulating data specified by a pattern of the plurality of bright lines included in the obtained bright line image, selecting service information associated with the identification information, and presenting the service information to a user of the terminal device.