AUTOMATED DEVICE IDENTIFICATION

摘要

Various techniques are provided to facilitate the identification of devices, such as smart light bulbs, ceiling fans, security systems, garage doors, and other devices whose functions may be automated or controlled remotely. Identification is done through visible light using existing light sources on target devices and existing image sensors on control devices. In one example, a user may point the camera sensor on their mobile phone at a smart light bulb. This light bulb is turning on and off faster than the human eye can detect, and it is sending a coded message that can be received and decoded by the camera sensor on the mobile phone. The light bulb is identified by the mobile phone, and the user may choose to turn the light on or off through the mobile phone's connection through a data network to the smart light bulb. The user simply points their mobile phone at a device they would like to control, the control options for that device are displayed, and the user may control the device through the data network. Advantageously, existing control devices such as mobile phones, tablets, and laptop computers already have the necessary hardware to implement these unique identification and control functions.

主权项

1. A method of performing device identification, the method comprising:
a first target device modulating the brightness and/or wavelength of a built-in light source with a coded message to identify itself; a first control device detecting the modulated light from the target device through an image sensor or light sensor on the first control device; the first control device correlating the modulated light sequence of the first target device to decode the coded message identifying the first target device; the first control device associating the first target device with a list of known target devices on a first data network by using the decoded message from the first target device; the first control device displaying data about the first target device to a user.