Abstract: Methods and apparatus for controlling access to secure areas are described. Time varying values are generated from access device identifiers, e.g., door identifiers. The time varying value, e.g., a hashed door identifier value, is transmitted as a VLC signal by a luminaire near the door to which the hashed identifier corresponds. A mobile detects the transmitted hashed door identifier value and sends an access request via a wireless signal, e.g., a radio signal. The access request includes a value generated from the received hashed door identifier and a mobile device identifier. A control device determines, from information in the access request and stored information indicating which mobile devices have authority to access which doors, if access should be granted to the door corresponding to the hashed access device identifier from which the received information was generated. The received information may be hash of the mobile identifier and hashed door identifier.

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: 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: Methods and apparatus for controlling access to secure areas are described. Time varying values are generated from access device identifiers, e.g., door identifiers. The time varying value, e.g., a hashed door identifier value, is transmitted as a VLC signal by a luminaire near the door to which the hashed identifier corresponds. A mobile detects the transmitted hashed door identifier value and sends an access request via a wireless signal, e.g., a radio signal. The access request includes a value generated from the received hashed door identifier and a mobile device identifier. A control device determines, from information in the access request and stored information indicating which mobile devices have authority to access which doors, if access should be granted to the door corresponding to the hashed access device identifier from which the received information was generated. The received information may be hash of the mobile identifier and hashed door identifier.

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.