Methods and apparatus for communicating information using visible light signals and/or radio signals

A user equipment (UE) device, comprising:

• means for converting visible light signals into electrical signals;
• means for processing an output of said means for converting visible light signals into electrical signals to detect receipt of an information signal from a light transmitter;
• and
• means for changing from a first mode of device operation to a second mode of device operation in response to detecting receipt of the information signal from the light transmitter, said second mode of device operation being a higher power consumption mode of operation than said first mode of device operation, said means for changing from a first mode of device operation to said second mode of device operation include means for changing a reverse bias voltage, applied to said means for converting visible light signals into electrical signals, from a first non-zero reverse bias voltage to a second non-zero reverse bias voltage which is higher than said first non-zero reverse bias.

A computer program product for use in a user equipment (UE) device, the computer program product comprising:

• a non-transitory computer readable medium comprising:
• code for causing at least one computer to process an output of a photodiode to detect receipt of an information signal from a light transmitter;
• and
• code for causing said at least one computer to change from a first mode of device operation to a second mode of device operation in response to detecting receipt of the information signal from the light transmitter, said second mode of device operation being a higher power consumption mode of operation than said first mode of device operation, said changing from the first mode of device operation to said second mode of device operation including changing a reverse bias voltage applied to said photodiode from a first non-zero reverse bias voltage to a second non-zero reverse bias voltage which is higher than said first non-zero reverse bias.

A user equipment (UE) device comprising:

• at least one processor configured to:
• process an output of a photodiode to detect receipt of an information signal from a light transmitter;
• and
• change from a first mode of device operation to a second mode of device operation in response to detecting receipt of the information signal from the light transmitter, said second mode of device operation being a higher power consumption mode of operation than said first mode of device operation, said processor being configured to change a reverse bias voltage applied to said photodiode from a first non-zero reverse bias voltage to a second non-zero reverse bias voltage which is higher than said first non-zero reverse bias, as part of being configured to change from the first mode of device operation to said second mode of device operation;
• and
• memory coupled to said at least one processor.