# US 9,054,803 B1 · Content delivery based on a light positioning system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,054,803 B1 - Document ID: US9054803B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 14/464,324 - Filed: 2014-08-20 - Granted: 2015-06-09 - Earliest claimed: 2011-12-06 - Assignees: Bytelight, Inc. - Applicants: Aaron Ganick; Daniel Ryan - Inventors: Aaron Ganick; Daniel Ryan - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9054803B1 ## CPC - G01S 5/16: using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves - G01S 5/0264: {at least one of the systems being a non-radio wave positioning system} - H04B 10/116: Visible light communication - H04B 10/60: Receivers - H04L 25/4902: {Pulse width modulation; Pulse position modulation} - H04N 7/183: {for receiving images from a single remote source} - H04N 23/661: Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet - H04N 25/531: by controlling rolling shutters in CMOS SSIS - H04N 25/76: Addressed sensors, e.g. MOS or CMOS sensors - H04W 4/023: {using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds} - G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES - H04B: TRANSMISSION - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract Systems an methods are provided that disclose providing a positioning service for devices based on light received from one or more light sources. This light based positioning service uses light information transmitted by each light source to determine the position of the device. The positioning information can include three dimension position information in a building that can then be used to deliver services and information to a mobile device. The content delivered to a mobile device can include multimedia, text, audio, and/or pictorial information. The positioning information along with other location or positioning information can be used in providing augmented reality or location aware services. The light sources can be independent beacons that broadcast information in visible light at a rate that is undetectable by the human eye. Content can be retrieved from a server over a communications connection. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of recovering information encoded in modulated light emitted by a light source, the method comprising: acquiring an image at least partially illuminated by light emitted by the light source, the light source emitting a light output modulated in accordance with a time-varying signal so as to vary over time, different portions of the image being acquired at different times over a time interval, whereby the acquired image comprises a pattern of distortions resulting from interaction between the time-varying light output and the time interval of acquisition; and decoding the pattern of distortions to recover the information encoded in the modulated light. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the light source is driven by a pulse-width modulated signal. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the light source is one of a plurality of asynchronous light sources each emitting modulated light. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the image is acquired with an image sensor. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein the image sensor comprises a CCD image sensor. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein the image sensor comprises a CMOS image sensor. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein the image sensor comprises a rolling shutter for exposing different portions of the image sensor at different times. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the pattern of distortions comprises alternating dark and light stripes. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein decoding the pattern of distortions comprises measuring stripe width within the acquired image. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein widths of stripes in the image are inversely related to a frequency of the modulated light output. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the light source comprises a light-emitting diode (LED). ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the LED emits substantially white light. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the light output is modulated at a frequency between approximately 60 Hz and approximately 5000 Hz. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the information recovered from the modulated light output comprises identification information for the light source. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, further comprising acquiring location information based on the identification information for the light source. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein (i) the image is acquired by a mobile device, and (ii) the location information is acquired by querying a database (a) stored on the mobile device and (b) relating location information to light source identification information. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein (i) the image is acquired by a mobile device, and (ii) the location information is acquired by querying a database (a) stored on a server remote from the mobile device and (b) relating location information to light source identification information. ### Claim 18 A device for recovering information encoded in modulated light emitted by a light source, the light source emitting a light output modulated in accordance with a time-varying signal so as to vary over time, the device comprising: an image sensor configured to acquire an image at least partially illuminated by light emitted by the light source, different portions of the image being acquired at different times over a time interval, whereby the acquired image comprises a pattern of distortions resulting from interaction between the time-varying light output and the time interval of acquisition; and a processor for decoding the pattern of distortions to recover the information encoded in the modulated light. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The device of claim 18, wherein the image sensor comprises a CCD image sensor. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The device of claim 18, wherein the image sensor comprises a CMOS image sensor. ### Claim 21 (depends on 18) The device of claim 18, wherein the image sensor comprises a rolling shutter for exposing different portions of the image sensor at different times. ### Claim 22 (depends on 18) The device of claim 18, wherein the pattern of distortions comprises alternating dark and light stripes. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The device of claim 22, wherein the processor is configured to decode the pattern of distortions by measuring stripe width within the acquired image. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) The device of claim 22, wherein widths of stripes in the image are inversely related to a frequency of the modulated light output. ### Claim 25 (depends on 18) The device of claim 18, further comprising a database relating decoded information to location information for the light source. ### Claim 26 (depends on 18) The device of claim 18, wherein the image sensor and processor are disposed within a mobile device, wherein the mobile device comprises a communications module for communicating decoded information to a remote server.