Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for providing spatially-defined and/or distance-defined light-based communications within a vehicle/roadway environment. In some embodiments, the techniques can be used to vary the data content of a given transmitted light-based communications signal based on factors such as position, distance, and/or proximity of the transmitting source and the receiver. In some embodiments, the techniques can be used to vary the processing or other handling of a received light-based communications signal based on one or more of such factors. In some instances, the disclosed techniques can be utilized to tailor light-based vehicle-to-X (V2X) communications for dissemination between and among vehicles and infrastructure in a vehicle/roadway environment. To that end, a node may host a transmitter (e.g., laser, LED, or other solid-state light source) configured to emit such light-based communication signals and/or a receiver (e.g.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for light-based communication using a passive light-reflective device having specially coded reflective or printed optics. The optics can be mounted to an object and configured to reflect light such that a receiver is able to receive the reflected light. The optics are further configured to alternatively display a number of different patterns that change as the receiver moves with respect to the optics, thus causing the receiver to receive an apparent stream of modulated light, which represents coded information that can be decoded into meaningful information. The optics can be mounted to a traffic control or other roadside device. As a vehicle approaches and passes the traffic control device, light reflects off of the optics in a series of patterns. This reflected light can be received by the vehicle and processed to relay the information to the operator or on-board vehicle system.

Abstract: There is herein described a light output control method for a controlling a lighting device by a motion of an object near an environment, the lighting device comprising a video sensor and a light-emitting unit, the light output control method comprising steps of emitting an infrared light onto at least a part of the object and at least a part of the environment, collecting the infrared light reflected by at least the part of the object and at least the part the environment as a two-dimensional depth data sequence of the video sensor, computing the motion of the object by utilizing the two-dimensional depth data sequence, and controlling the light-emitting unit to change an attribute of the output light if the motion of the object complies with a predetermined condition.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for light-based communication using a passive light-reflective device having specially coded reflective or printed optics. The optics can be mounted to an object and configured to reflect light such that a receiver is able to receive the reflected light. The optics are further configured to alternatively display a number of different patterns that change as the receiver moves with respect to the optics, thus causing the receiver to receive an apparent stream of modulated light, which represents coded information that can be decoded into meaningful information. The optics can be mounted to a traffic control or other roadside device. As a vehicle approaches and passes the traffic control device, light reflects off of the optics in a series of patterns. This reflected light can be received by the vehicle and processed to relay the information to the operator or on-board vehicle system.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for providing a decentralized intelligent nodal lighting system. The intelligent nodal lighting system may be controlled using a wireless protocol, such as Wi-Fi, and each lighting node in the system may have its own independent Wi-Fi address and may receive, store, and interpret commands from a wirelessly connected controller. Each intelligent light node may contain a CPU and memory for storing and interpreting commands from the controller to achieve a desired light color, intensity, or quality. In some embodiments, individual lighting nodes may be dynamically added or removed from the lighting system without interrupting the system's operation.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for providing spatially-defined and/or distance-defined light-based communications within a vehicle/roadway environment. In some embodiments, the techniques can be used to vary the data content of a given transmitted light-based communications signal based on factors such as position, distance, and/or proximity of the transmitting source and the receiver. In some embodiments, the techniques can be used to vary the processing or other handling of a received light-based communications signal based on one or more of such factors. In some instances, the disclosed techniques can be utilized to tailor light-based vehicle-to-X (V2X) communications for dissemination between and among vehicles and infrastructure in a vehicle/roadway environment. To that end, a node may host a transmitter (e.g., laser, LED, or other solid-state light source) configured to emit such light-based communication signals and/or a receiver (e.g.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed that can be implemented as a light-based communications network exhibiting gossip network topology. In some embodiments, the network may include a plurality of mobile and/or fixed communicating nodes (peers) configured for light-based communications with one another. To that end, a node may host a transmitter (e.g., laser, LED, or other solid-state light source) configured to emit light-based communication signals and/or a receiver (e.g., a photosensor or other light-based data input device) configured to sense such signals. In some cases, the network may be used to propagate or otherwise disseminate strategic, tactical, and/or other vehicle-to-X (V2X) communications between vehicles and infrastructure in a vehicle/roadway environment. In some instances, the gossip topology may provide for relay and aggregation of information from node to node, improving reliability and availability of information propagated within the network. In some embodiments, the network may be autonomous (e.g.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for providing a decentralized intelligent nodal lighting system. The intelligent nodal lighting system may be controlled using a wireless protocol, such as Wi-Fi, and each lighting node in the system may have its own independent Wi-Fi address and may receive, store, and interpret commands from a wirelessly connected controller. Each intelligent light node may contain a CPU and memory for storing and interpreting commands from the controller to achieve a desired light color, intensity, or quality. In some embodiments, individual lighting nodes may be dynamically added or removed from the lighting system without interrupting the system's operation.

Abstract: There is herein described a light output control method for a controlling a lighting device by a motion of an object near an environment, the lighting device comprising a video sensor and a light-emitting unit, the light output control method comprising steps of emitting an infrared light onto at least a part of the object and at least a part of the environment, collecting the infrared light reflected by at least the part of the object and at least the part the environment as a two-dimensional depth data sequence of the video sensor, computing the motion of the object by utilizing the two-dimensional depth data sequence, and controlling the light-emitting unit to change an attribute of the output light if the motion of the object complies with a predetermined condition.

Abstract: In one embodiment an apparatus includes a housing; a user authenticator, supported by the housing, that authenticates an identity of a user; at least one memory, supported by the housing, that stores transaction information for at least first and second media; and at least one output, supported by the housing, that releases at least a portion of the transaction information to a point-of-sale (POS) terminal after the user authenticator has authenticated the identity of the user. In another embodiment, a method involves steps of: storing transaction information for at least first and second media in a memory of a device; receiving as input a user's selection of one of the at least first and second media; displaying a visual indication to the user regarding which of the at least first and second media has been selected; and transferring at least a portion of the transaction information from the device to a point-of-sale (POS) terminal.

Abstract: In one embodiment an apparatus includes a housing; a user authenticator, supported by the housing, that authenticates an identity of a user; at least one memory, supported by the housing, that stores transaction information for at least first and second media; and at least one output, supported by the housing, that releases at least a portion of the transaction information to a point-of-sale (POS) terminal after the user authenticator has authenticated the identity of the user. In another embodiment, a method involves steps of: storing transaction information for at least first and second media in a memory of a device; receiving as input a user's selection of one of the at least first and second media; displaying a visual indication to the user regarding which of the at least first and second media has been selected; and transferring at least a portion of the transaction information from the device to a point-of-sale (POS) terminal.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus comprises a user authenticator and a transponder. The transponder is permitted to emit a wireless signal representing information stored in the apparatus in response to a wireless interrogation signal after the user authenticator has authenticated the identity of the user. In another embodiment, an apparatus comprises, a memory, a user input, and a transponder. The memory stores at least first and second distinct codes. The user input permits a user to select any one of the at least first and second codes for transmission in response to a wireless interrogation signal. The transponder emits a wireless signal representing the selected one of the at least first and second codes in response to an interrogation signal. In yet another embodiment, a token that may be used to engage in a transaction at a point of sale comprises a substrate, a rewritable memory, and a reconfigurable display.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus comprises a user authenticator and a transponder. The transponder is permitted to emit a wireless signal representing information stored in the apparatus in response to a wireless interrogation signal after the user authenticator has authenticated the identity of the user. In another embodiment, an apparatus comprises, a memory, a user input, and a transponder. The memory stores at least first and second distinct codes. The user input permits a user to select any one of the at least first and second codes for transmission in response to a wireless interrogation signal. The transponder emits a wireless signal representing the selected one of the at least first and second codes in response to an interrogation signal. In yet another embodiment, a token that may be used to engage in a transaction at a point of sale comprises a substrate, a rewritable memory, and a reconfigurable display.