WO2010063303A1

WO2010063303A1 - Apparatus and methods

Info

Publication number: WO2010063303A1
Application number: PCT/EP2008/010275
Authority: WO
Inventors: Olli Antero Rantapuska; Antti Virolainen
Original assignee: Nokia Corporation
Priority date: 2008-12-04
Filing date: 2008-12-04
Publication date: 2010-06-10

Abstract

Apparatus comprising a light sensor configured to sense a received light signal, the light signal having data encoded therein, a solar cell configured to convert energy of the received light signal into electrical energy; and a processor. The processor is powered by the electrical energy converted by the solar cell, and is configured to: decode the data from the light signal received by the light sensor; and switch a device associated with the apparatus from a first state to a second state in accordance with the decoded data from the light signal.

Description

Apparatus and methods

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to the field of electronic apparatus that have different modes of operation, in particular, apparatus wherein, the mode of operation can be controlled in accordance with data decoded from a light signal received at the apparatus, and associated methods, and computer programs.

Certain disclosed aspects/embodiments relate to portable electronic devices, in particular, so-called hand-portable electronic devices which may be hand-held in use (although they may be placed in a cradle in use). Such hand-portable electronic devices include so-called Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs).

The portable electronic devices/apparatus according to one or more disclosed aspects/embodiments may provide one or more audio/text/video communication functions (e.g. tele-communication, video-communication, and/or text transmission (Short Message Service (SMS)/ Multimedia Message Service (MMS)/emailing) functions), interactive/non-interactive viewing functions (e.g. web-browsing, navigation, TV/program viewing functions), music recording/playing functions (e.g. MP3 or other format and/or (FM/AM) radio broadcast recording/playing), downloading/sending of data functions, image capture function (e.g. using a (e.g. in-built) digital camera), and gaming functions.

Background

A standard called "UPnP low power" is known that specifies low power standby modes for devices. Such devices use a small amount of mains power so that they are in a configuration that can be woken up by out of band signals like Wake-on-LAN or Bluetooth. Mains power may also be known as household power, household electricity, domestic power, for example.

It is known for digital data to be transmitted over many bearers such as cable, infrared, radio frequency, sound waves and so on. In people's homes, there can be a wireless home network (WLAN) that enables home devices to communicate with each other.

1 BESTATIGUNGSKOPIE Wireless networks are designed for high speed data transfer, but they not be particularly good at other things like pinpointing device locations or saving power.

In homes, people require plug-in solutions that easily fit into their current environment. It may not be feasible or convenient to renovate a whole apartment to add home networking features.

Using wireless networking at home can make it difficult to detect the nearest device, since the network itself is not directional and it is meant to cover the whole apartment or house. There is a need for indoor positioning methods that would allow devices to detect which room they are in.

Another problem is that devices may not be always turned on and listening for network traffic. Because of energy saving efforts, home devices are designed to go to low or zero power standby modes when not in use. Waking up those devices can be inefficient and require enough energy to identify some sort of trigger to bring the device up. In order to be able to identify the trigger, a device typically consumes standby power to monitor network traffic.

Indoor positioning methods are currently mainly based on WLAN positioning, that is, by calculating and mapping the relative signal strengths of several WLAN base stations. Various beacons such as Bluetooth or infrared can also be used. Beacons can be installed in many locations, and the space can then be pre-mapped similarly as in the WLAN approach.

The listing or discussion of a prior-published document or any background in this specification should not necessarily be taken as an acknowledgement that the document or background is part of the state of the art or is common general knowledge. One or more aspects/embodiments of the present disclosure may or may not address one or more of the background issues.

Summary

In a first aspect, there is provided apparatus comprising: a light sensor configured to sense a received light signal, the light signal having data encoded therein; a solar cell configured to convert energy of the received light signal into electrical energy; and a processor; wherein the processor is powered by the electrical energy converted by the solar cell, and is configured to: decode the data from the light signal received by the light sensor; and switch a device associated with the apparatus from a first state to a second state in accordance with the decoded data from the light signal.

In this way, energy derived from the light signal can be used to switch a device from a first state to a second state, thereby not using electricity from another source to change the state of the device. Energy saving/efficiency can be particularly important in battery powered devices, can save costs associated with energy usage, and can be environmentally friendly too.

The first state can be a very low power state and the second state can be a standby state. The very low power state may not use any mains power. The processor may be powered by the converted electrical energy in the first state, and by mains power in the second state.

In embodiments where energy derived from light energy is used to switch a device from a very low power state in which no mains power is used, this can enable a device to be completely switched of, that is not consuming any mains power, until the device is exposed to light at which point it is automatically switched to a standby state. When the device is in the standby state, a user may be able to switch the device to a fully on state, for example using a remote control. The standby state may be considered to be a low power state that consumes only enough power to be able to receive and identify a signal indicative of a request for the device to be switched to an active/ fully on state.

A user may be able to switch the device from a standby state to an on/active state using a remote control, and the standby state may consume just enough power to be able to recognise a user activating the remote control.

The processor may be configured to switch the device from the first state to a second state when the decoded data from the light signal satisfies one or more criteria. The one or more criteria may comprise pattern matching criteria. Determining if the decoded data satisfies one or more criteria can include using a look-up-table to determine if operation of the device is permitted when the decoded data is detected, and/or which modes/states of operation are permitted when the decoded data is detected.

The light sensor and the solar cell may be the same component.

The light signal may be received from a light bulb or another indoor light source. The light signal may be received from the sun.

The apparatus may be configured to switch a device from a zero power state in which no energy is consumed from a mains supply, to a standby state in which energy is consumed from the mains supply, using energy derived from light energy received by the apparatus if data encoded in the light signal satisfies one or more criteria.

According to a further aspect, there is provided a light source configured to generate light signals, wherein information is encoded in the light signals by modulating the light source.

According to a further aspect, there is provided an accessory that can be coupled to a light source, wherein the accessory comprises a processor configured to: in use, provide signals for the light source to cause a light signal that is generated by the light source to be modulated with information.

Such a light source can provide information to one or more devices that are configured to receive the light signals, and in some examples the information can be used for determining a position of the device. Using light sources as transmitters for information can be convenient for indoors use, as most rooms in a building are already fitted with light sources that may be adapted according to some embodiments of the invention. In addition, energy is likely to be used to provide light in a room anyway, and therefore also using the light to transmit data can be an efficient use of power as other transmitters, such as known wireless transmitters may not be required.

The light source may be a light bulb, and the light source may be switched on and off to encode the information in the light signals.

The information encoded in the light signal may be by switching frequency modulation. The information may be hard-coded in the light source. The information may be configurable by a user. The information may represent a room name.

In embodiments where the information is hard coded in the light source, construction costs of the light source may be kept low, and a user may be able to purchase light sources, for example light bulbs, that have been hard coded for use in certain situations/locations, such as in specific rooms. In other examples, a light source may be hard coded with information representative of a work location or a home location.

In other embodiments, a more versatile light source may be available that a user can configure for different types of use, for example use in different rooms in a building. This can mean that a user can use any light source, configured in an appropriate way, at any location.

The light signals may comprise patterns representative of the information. The pattern may be hard-coded in the light source. The pattern may be configurable by a user. The pattern may represent a room name.

The light source may be configured to modulate the information in the light signals, and the modulation may not be visible to the human eye.

According to a further aspect, there is provided a system comprising a light source and an electronic device, wherein: the light source is configured to generate light signals, wherein information is encoded in the light signals by modulating the light source; and the electronic device comprises: a receiver configured to receive the light signals from the light source; and a processor configured to change an operating state of the electronic device responsive to the information encoded in the light signals.

The system may comprise an accessory instead of a light source, wherein the accessory can be coupled to a light source, and the accessory comprises a processor configured to: in use, provide signals for the light source to cause a light signal that is generated by the light bulb to be modulated with information. According to a further aspect, there is provided a method of changing the operational state of a device comprising: receiving a modulated light signal; extracting power from the modulated light signal; and using the extracted power from the light signal to change the operational state of the device from a low power state to a standby power state, wherein the low power state uses no mains power and the standby power state does use mains power.

According to a further aspect, there is provided a device that is configured to operate in a plurality of states of operation, wherein the state of operation is selected in accordance with information encoded in a received light signal.

The device may be a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a television, an electrical plug, a computer or any other electrical appliance, including home appliances.

The device may extract power from the received light signal, and may be configured to use the extracted power to change the state of operation of the device.

It will be appreciated that in some embodiments, the feature of converting light energy to electrical energy for subsequent processing, including switching an operating mode of a device, may be optional.

The information encoded in the received light signal may represent a location of the device.

According to a further aspect, there is provided a module for a device, the module comprising any apparatus described herein.

According to a further aspect, there is provided a computer program, which may be recorded on a carrier, the computer program comprising computer code configured to perform any method described herein, and/or to configure an apparatus or device to operate in accordance with any embodiment described herein.

There may be provided a computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon a data structure comprising the computer program of an earlier aspect. There may be provided an electronic distribution of a computer program disclosed herein.

According to a further aspect, there is provided a method of assembling an apparatus, the apparatus comprising: a light sensor configured to sense a received light signal, the light signal having data encoded therein; a solar cell configured to convert energy of the received light signal into electrical energy; and a processor; wherein the processor is powered by the electrical energy converted by the solar cell, and is configured to: decode the data from the light signal received by the light sensor; and switch a device associated with the apparatus from a first state to a second state in accordance with the decoded data from the light signal.

According to a further aspect, there is provided a method of assembling a device, the device being configured to operate in a plurality of states of operation, wherein the state of operation is selected in accordance with information encoded in a received light signal.

According to a further aspect, there is provided apparatus comprising: a means for light sensing configured to sense a received light signal, the light signal having data encoded therein; a means for converting light energy of the received light signal into electrical energy; and a means for processing; wherein the means for processing is powered by the electrical energy converted by the means for converting light energy, and is configured to: decode the data from the light signal received by the light sensor; and switch a device associated with the apparatus from a first state to a second state in accordance with the decoded data from the light signal.

According to a further aspect, there is provided a system comprising a means for generating light and an electronic device, wherein: the means for generating light is configured to generate light signals, wherein information is encoded in the light signals by modulating the means for generating light; and the electronic device comprises: a means for receiving configured to receive the light signals from the light source; and a means for processing configured to change an operating state of the electronic device responsive to the information encoded in the light signals.

The present disclosure includes one or more corresponding aspects, embodiments or features in isolation or in various combinations whether or not specifically stated (including claimed) in that combination or in isolation. Corresponding means for performing one or more of the discussed functions are also within the present disclosure.

The above summary is intended to be merely exemplary and non-limiting.

Brief Description of the Figures

A description is now given, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 illustrates apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 illustrates a television set according to an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 3 illustrates a system according to an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 4 illustrates schematically example use of the system of Figure 3;

Figure 5 illustrates a device according to an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 6 illustrates a light bulb according to an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 7 illustrates an accessory device for a light bulb according to an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 8 illustrates an accessory for a mains power plug according to an embodiment of the invention; and

Figure 9 illustrates schematically a method according to an embodiment of the invention.

Description of Specific Aspects/Embodiments One or more embodiments described herein provide an apparatus that, when exposed to a light signal, can automatically switch an associated device from a first state to a second state of operation. The first state may be a zero power mode in which no mains power is consumed, and the second state of operation may be a standby mode, in which a small amount of mains power is consumed such that the device can be fully switched on, for example by a remote control.

In some embodiments, the power that is required to switch the device from the first state of operation to the second state of operation can be derived from the light signal. That is, a solar cell can be used to convert the received light signal into electrical energy, such that the converted electrical energy is used to change the state of the device. In this way, the amount of mains power that is used to keep the device in a standby state can be reduced.

In other embodiments, information / data can be encoded into a light signal, for example by modulating the frequency of a light signal produced by a light bulb such that a device that is exposed to that light signal can operate in a predefined way in accordance with the encoded data. The data may be encoded in the light signal such that it is not visible to the human eye, for example the light signal may be switched on and off at a high enough frequency that it is not discernable to a person. As an example, a light bulb may be configured to encode data into its output light signal indicative of the room in which the light bulb is fitted. In this way, one or more devices that are exposed to light from the light bulb can operate in accordance with the room that they are located. As an example, a mobile telephone may be switched to silent mode when it recognises that it is in a bedroom.

Figure 1 illustrates an apparatus 102 according to an embodiment of the invention. The apparatus 102 includes a light sensor 106, a solar cell 108, and a processor 1 10, for example a microprocessor 110. The apparatus 102 is associated with a device 112, and the apparatus 102 is exposed to a received light signal 104. In this embodiment, the received light signal is encoded with data indicative of a source of the light signal. For example, the received light signal 104 may be encoded with an identifier of a light bulb that produced the light signal 104.

The solar cell 108 is configured to convert energy from the received light signal 104 into electrical energy in order to power the apparatus 102. More particularly, the converted electrical energy is used by the processor 110 to process signals provided by the light sensor 106.

The light sensor 106 generates an output signal representative of the received light signal 104 to which it is exposed. The light sensor output signal is representative of the data encoded in the received light signal 104, and the processor 1 10 is configured to decode the encoded information in order to determine the identifier that is encoded in the received light signal 104. An example of a typical identifier may be an indication of the room in which the light bulb that is used to generate the light signal 104 is fitted, for example a bedroom, lounge, dining room, etc.

In this embodiment, the apparatus 102 is associated with a device 112 that has a plurality of states of operation. The different states of operation may relate to how much power the device 1 12 is consuming, or any other configurable characteristics of the device 112, such as volume, brightness, and such alternative examples are described in more detail below.

Responsive to the data that has been decoded from the received light signal 104 the microprocessor 110 is configured to provide a signal to the device 1 12 indicative of a state of operation that is associated with the determined identifier from the encoded data. In one example, the processor 1 10 may look up the identifier in a look-up-table that associates identifiers with modes of operation and provide a signal to the device 112 to cause the device to operate in the determined state of operation. In other embodiments, the device 112 may only have two states of operation (such as on and off) and the recognition of any identifier by the processor 1 10 causes the state of operation to change (for example from off to on).

The light sensor may be considered as a receiver, as it can be configured to receive information/data from encoded light.

Figure 2 illustrates a television set 200 according to an embodiment of the invention. The television set 200 has a power light 202 and a mains cable 204. The mains cable 204 is used to provide electricity to the television set 200 from a mains supply. The mains power supply may also be known as a household power supply, a household electricity supply or a domestic power supply. The power light 202 may be green when the television set 200 is on and displaying a picture, red when the television set 200 is in standby, and not illuminated at all when the television set is off. It will be appreciated that the television set 200 consumes a relatively large amount of mains power when it is fully on, a reduced amount of mains power when it is in standby, and no mains power at all when it is off.

Fitted to the television set 200 is a "power-saving module" 212 that is similar to the apparatus 102 described in relation to Figure 1. The power-saving module 212 may comprise a light sensor 206, a solar cell 208 and a processor 210. In the same way as described in relation to Figure 1 , the solar cell 208 converts light energy into electrical energy to change the state of the television set from being off to a standby state. In some embodiments, the state of the television set 200 may only be changed when the light signal received at the light sensor 206 is encoded with information that satisfies a pre-defined switching criterion. For example, the television set 200 may only be switched on when it receives light that is encoded with information indicative of a lounge or a bedroom, and not switched on when it receives light with information encoded thereon indicative of a bathroom or a kitchen.

In other embodiments, the television set 200 may be switched from an off state to a standby state when it receives any light signal, including light from the sun. In such embodiments, the light sensor 206 may not be necessary.

Figure 3 illustrates a system 300 according to an embodiment of the invention. The system 300 comprises a light bulb 302, a DVD player 306 and a television set 310. The DVD player 306 has a solar panel 308 and the television set 310 has a solar panel 312, wherein both of the solar panels 308, 312 are in a line of sight with the light bulb 302. Providing the DVD player 306 and television set 310 in line of sight with the light bulb 302 can enable any information that is encoded by the light bulb 302 to be efficiently decoded.

In this embodiment, the light bulb 302 is configured to produce an output light signal 304 that is frequency modulated with data / information indicative of a room in a house that the light bulb 302 has been fitted. It will be appreciated that a user may buy light bulbs that are hard-coded to encode certain information into the light signal 304, for example a user made by a "bedroom" light bulb for fitting in their bedroom, a different "lounge" light bulb for fitting in their lounge, etc. In other embodiments, the light bulb 302 may be configurable to represent a light bulb in one of a plurality of rooms For example, the light bulb may be switchable between a "bedroom light bulb" and a "lounge light bulb"

The light bulb 302 can transmit its room name, and the devices 306, 310 have light sensors that can interpret the data and configure themselves accordingly and completely automatically, that is without user input

Figure 4 illustrates schematically use of the system 300 shown in Figure 3 Figure 4 illustrates how a home device 410, such as a television set, can be "woken-up" to a standby state from a zero-power state when it is illuminated by a light bulb 404, and not "woken-up" when it is liiummated by the sun 402

The home device has a light sensor 406 and mini solar cell 408 associated with it

Initially, sunlight shines on the mini solar cell 408 at step 412 The mini solar cell 408 converts the light energy into electrical energy and switches the state of the home device 410 from a zero-power mode (off) to a standby mode at step 414 At step 416, the processor (not shown) associated with the home device 410 checks the properties of the light signal as received at the light sensor 406 In this case, the processor associated with the home device 410 determines that it does not recognise a pattern encoded in the light signal at step 418 and 420 and provides a signal to the home device 410 instructing it to go back to zero power mode No pattern can be recognised as the light sensor is exposed to sunlight which has not had a pattern encoded in it, as is possible with light bulbs described herein

In this way, the device 410 is not left in a standby mode, that is consuming some mains power, all of the time that the sun shines on the device, and is only switched to the standby mode when a user enters the room and turns the light on

It will be appreciated that the processing that is performed to determine if a recognised pattern is encoded in the received light signal can be performed local to one or more of the home device 410, light sensor 406 and mini solar cell 408 or may be performed remotely

Returning to the example of Figure 4, a user turns on the light bulb 404 at step 424 A light then shines on the mini solar cell 408 at step 426, which again causes the home device 410 to switch to a standby state at step 428. This time, when the light is checked for a pattern at step 430, a pattern indicative of a "living room" is found at steps 432 and 434. In this embodiment, the pattern representing the living room satisfies a predefined criteria that the home device 410 should be switched from the zero power state to a standby state, and therefore the home device 410 remains on standby at step 436. In this example, a pattern indicative of any room can cause the home device 410 to remain on standby, whereas in other embodiments more sophisticated criteria may be applied, examples of which are described below.

The invention may be considered to consist of a "smart light bulb", solar cells and light sensors. The smart iight bulb can be configured to act as "bedroom", "living room" etc. bulb. The light bulb can modulate its light switching frequency to communicate that room name to devices in that room. The frequency can be invisible to humans, but the devices have light sensors to receive and interpret this data. In addition, the devices in the room can have miniature solar cells embedded in them. This can allow the devices to go to zero power mode, that is, to turn themselves completely off, when the lights are off. When the user switches on the light in the room, the solar cells power up from the light and gather a small amount of electricity to wake up the devices, bringing them to conventional standby mode.

Embodiments described herein can provide appliances in the house that can be placed at virtually zero power and can be put in standby mode by a combination of illuminated source and transmitted data. In some embodiments, multiple devices, possibly around a home, can be programmed/configured/controlled by embodiments described herein

Figure 5 illustrates a device 500 according to an embodiment of the invention. The device 500 is configured to be exposed to a received light signal 502 such as a light signal produced by the light bulb in Figure 3. The received light signal 502 is encoded with information such as an identifier of a room in a building / house.

In other embodiments different types of information could be encoded in the received light signal 502, and can include identifiers of: the type of light bulb (for example LED, incandescent, fluorescent); home wireless local area network (WLAN) credentials for automatic configuration; house global positioning system (GPS) coordinates, or country, city and street address; user's phone number and e-mail address; user's language preference; and birth date. This information can be used by home devices to configure themselves automatically, for example when bringing a device home.

The device 500 comprises a light sensor 504 and, a processor 506, and can operate according to a first state of operation 508 or a second state of operation 510. The light sensor 504 is configured to receive the encoded received light signal 502, and provide a signal to the processor 506 that can be processed to decode the information from the light signal 502. In accordance with the information decoded from the light signal 502, the processor 506 can configure the device 500 to operate in either the first state of operation 508 or the second state of operation 510.

As an example, the device 500 may be a mobile telephone / personal digital assistant (PDA), and the first state of operation may set the mobile telephone to silent, and the second state of operation may set the mobile telephone in a mode whereby the mobile telephone 500 makes a noise when it receives an incoming call. The processor 506 may be configured to set the mobile telephone in the first, silent, mode of operation when it is determined that the mobile telephone is in a bedroom, and may set the mobile telephone 500 in the second state of operation 510 when the processor 506 determines that the device 500 is not in the bedroom.

In other examples, the device 500 may be a television set, HiFi, computer or DVD player, for example, and any of the configurable settings associated with these devices can be controlled by the processor in accordance with the information decoded from the received light signal 502.

In further embodiments still, the device 500 may be associated with one or more electromechanical devices, such that a motor to automatically close a set of curtains can be actuated when a light signal 502 is received by the device 500.

In some embodiments, apparatus described herein can be used to provide a level of security for using a device. For example, a device may not be usable if it is not exposed to a light signal that it recognises. In an embodiment where a light bulb is encoded with information representative of an owner of a building in which the light bulb is fitted, an associated device may only switch from an off state to a standby state (for subsequent operation) when the correct owner is recognised. Figure 6 illustrates a light source 600 according to an embodiment of the invention. The light source 600 in this embodiment is a light emitting diode (LED) and in other embodiments may be any light source that is capable of being used for modulating information into a light signal generated by the light source 600. Further examples of suitable light sources can include a traditional filament light bulb, a fluorescent tube.

In this embodiment the light source 600 includes a processor 602 that is hard-coded to encode an identifier for a bedroom into the light signal 604 generated by the light source 600. In this way, a consumer can purchase specific light bulbs 600 for specific rooms in their house such that devices that are exposed to light from the light bulbs 600 can operate in a pre-defined way.

By providing a light bulb 600 that is hard coded in this way, the light bulb 600 can be cheap to manufacture, and in some embodiments can have the identifier printed onto the light bulb 600 for convenience. For example, in the embodiment of Figure 6, the word "bedroom" is printed on the light bulb 600.

In other embodiments, a more flexible and advanced light bulb 600 can be configurable to provide light signals 604 with different information encoded thereon. For example, there could be a physical switch on the light bulb 600 to change the room name to where the light bulb will be installed. In further embodiments still, a light bulb could be configurable over a network, for example using power line communication (PLC) technologies, and in this way the light bulbs could be accessible over a home network using a web browser, for example.

Figure 7 illustrates an accessory device 700 for a light bulb according to an embodiment of the invention. The accessory device 700 includes a socket 702 for receiving a conventional light bulb, and an attachment 704 that is used for connecting to a conventional light bulb socket (not shown). In this way, the accessory device 700 fits between a light bulb and its power supply socket when in use.

The accessory device 700 also includes a processor 706 that is used to control how and when electricity is provided to the light bulb such that the light signal generated by the light bulb is modulated with information. The processor 706 can cause the light bulb to which it is connected to provide a light signal having an identifier of a room encoded therein, as described above. Utilising an accessory device 700, which may be an external adapter device that attaches between the light bulb and its socket, can mean that conventional light bulbs can be used to implement embodiments of the invention. All that is required is to attach the accessory device / adapter 700 to an existing light bulb socket to modulate the light that is generated by a light bulb attached to the accessory device / adapter 700. The accessory device 700 may comprise special controller circuitry to manipulate an AC voltage to control the modulation to the light.

Figure 8 illustrates a mains plug adapter 800 according to an embodiment of the invention.

In this embodiment, the mains adapter 800 has two pins 802 that are configured to be plugged in to a mains electricity supply socket 804 on a wall 806. The mains adapter 800 also has two sockets 808 to receive pins from a plug attached to the end of a power cable of a device. The mains adapter 800 comprises a power saving module 810 including a light sensor 812, a solar cell 814 and a microprocessor 816. The power saving module 810 may operate in a similar way to other embodiments described herein. In particular, the power saving module 810 may be used to switch a device that is connected to the mains adapter 800 from a zero power mode to a standby mode when it is illuminated by a light signal. The light signal may or may not have information encoded thereon.

In this way, existing devices can benefit from advantages of the invention without the need to alter the device. That is, a known device can be plugged into the mains plug adapter 800 such that its power / electricity supply can be controlled in accordance with embodiments described herein.

Figure 9 illustrates schematically a method of changing the operational state of a device according to an embodiment of the invention. A modulated light signal is received at step 900, wherein the light signal has information encoded therein as discussed above.

At step 902, power is extracted from the modulated light signal, for example using a solar cell / photovoltaic cell in order to provide electricity for one or more of the subsequent steps of this method. At step 904, the extracted power from the light signal is used to change the operational state of the device. Changing the operational state may involve switching from a low / zero power state to a standby power state. In this example, the low power state does not consume any mains power, and the standby power state can consume only the minimum amount of mains power that is required to enable the device to be switched on remotely.

In some embodiments, a device may be configured to stay in a second state of operation, such as a standby state, even after it stops receiving light signals from a light source. This can mean that a device is not automatically turned off when it should not be, for example when watching a movie on a television in the dark. However, in other embodiments a device may return to a first state of operation (for example an off state) when a light sensor associated with the device determined that it is no longer exposed to appropriate light signals. In some embodiments, the device may return to a first state of operation after a pre-determined time.

It will be appreciated to the skilled reader that the apparatus/device/server and/or other features of particular apparatus/device/server may be provided by apparatus arranged such that they become configured to carry out the desired operations only when enabled, e.g. switched on, or the like. In such cases, they may not necessarily have the appropriate software loaded into the active memory in the non-enabled (e.g. switched off state) and only load the appropriate software in the enabled (e.g. on state). The apparatus may comprise hardware circuitry and/or firmware. The apparatus may comprise software loaded onto memory. Such software/computer programs may be recorded on the same memory/processor and/or on one or more memories/processors.

It will be appreciated that the aforementioned apparatus/circuitry/elements/processor may have other functions in addition to the mentioned functions, and that these functions may be performed by the same apparatus/circuitry/elements/processor. One or more disclosed aspects may encompass the electronic distribution of associated computer programs and computer programs (which may be source/transport encoded) recorded on an appropriate carrier (e.g. memory, signal).

With reference to any discussion of processor and memory (e.g. including ROM, CD- ROM etc), these may comprise a computer processor, Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), field-programmable gate array (FPGA), and/or other hardware components that have been programmed in such a way to carry out the inventive function.

The applicant hereby discloses in isolation each individual feature described herein and any combination of two or more such features, to the extent that such features or combinations are capable of being carried out based on the present specification as a whole, in the light of the common general knowledge of a person skilled in the art, irrespective of whether such features or combinations of features solve any problems disclosed herein, and without limitation to the scope of the claims. The applicant indicates that the disclosed aspects/embodiments may consist of any such individual feature or combination of features. In view of the foregoing description it will be evident to a person skilled in the art that various modifications may be made within the scope of the disclosure.

While there have been shown and described and pointed out fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the devices and methods described may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, it is expressly intended that all combinations of those elements and/or method steps which perform substantially the same function in substantially the same way to achieve the same results are within the scope of the invention. Moreover, it should be recognized that structures and/or elements and/or method steps shown and/or described in connection with any disclosed form or embodiment of the invention may be incorporated in any other disclosed or described or suggested form or embodiment as a general matter of design choice. Furthermore, in the claims means-plus-function clauses are intended to cover the structures described herein as performing the recited function and not only structural equivalents, but also equivalent structures. Thus although a nail and a screw may not be structural equivalents in that a nail employs a cylindrical surface to secure wooden parts together, whereas a screw employs a helical surface, in the environment of fastening wooden parts, a nail and a screw may be equivalent structures.

Claims

1. Apparatus comprising: a light sensor configured to sense a received light signal, the light signal having data encoded therein; a solar cell configured to convert energy of the received light signal into electrical energy; and a processor; wherein the processor is powered by the electrical energy converted by the solar cell, and is configured to: decode the data from the light signal received by the light sensor; and switch a device associated with the apparatus from a first state to a second state in accordance with the decoded data from the light signal.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first state is a very low power state and the second state is a standby state.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the very low power state does not use any mains power.

4. The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the processor is powered by the converted electrical energy in the first state, and by mains power in the second state.

5. The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the processor is configured to switch the device from the first state to a second state when the decoded data from the light signal satisfies one or more criteria.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the one or more criteria comprise pattern matching criteria.

7. The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the light sensor and the solar cell are the same component.

8. The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the light signal is received from a light bulb or another indoor light source.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the light signal is received from the sun.

10. A light source configured to generate light signals, wherein information is encoded in the light signals by modulating the light source.

1 1. The light source of claim 10, wherein the light source is a light bulb.

12. The light source of claim 10 or 11 , wherein the light source is switched on and off to encode the information in the light signals.

13. The light source of ciaim 10 or 11 , wherein the information encoded in the light signal is by switching frequency modulation.

14. The light source of any one of claims 10 to 13, wherein the information is hard- coded in the light source.

15. The light source of any one of claims 10 to 13, wherein the information is configurable by a user.

16. The light source of any one of claims 10 to 15, wherein the information represents a room name.

17. The light source of any one of claims 10 to 16, wherein the light source is configured to modulate the information in the light signals, and the modulation is not visible to the human eye.

18. An accessory that is configured to be coupled to a light source, wherein the accessory comprises a processor configured to: in use, provide signals for the light source to cause a light signal that is generated by the light source to be modulated with information.

19. A system comprising a light source according to claim 10 and an electronic device, wherein: the electronic device comprises: a receiver configured to receive the light signals from the light source; and a processor configured to change an operating state of the electronic device responsive to the information encoded in the light signals.

20. A method of changing the operational state of a device comprising: receiving a modulated light signal; extracting power from the modulated light signal; and using the extracted power from the light signal to change the operational state of the device from a low power state to a standby power state, wherein the low power state uses no mains power and the standby power state does use mains power.

21. A device that is configured to operate in a plurality of states of operation, wherein the state of operation is selected in accordance with information encoded in a received light signal.

22. The device of claim 21 , wherein the device is a mobile phone.

23. The device of claim 21 or 22, wherein the device extracts power from the received light signal, and is configured to use the extracted power to change the state of operation of the device.

24. The device of any one of claims 21 to 23, wherein the information encoded in the received light signal represents a location of the device.

25. A module for a device, the module comprising the apparatus of claim 1.

26. A computer program, recorded on a carrier, the computer program comprising computer code configured to perform the method of claim 20.

27. A method of assembling an apparatus according to claim 1.

28. A method of assembling a device according to claim 21.

29. Apparatus comprising: a means for light sensing configured to sense a received light signal, the light signal having data encoded therein; a means for converting light energy of the received light signal into electrical energy; and a means for processing; wherein the means for processing is powered by the electrical energy converted by the means for converting light energy, and is configured to: decode the data from the light signal received by the light sensor; and switch a device associated with the apparatus from a first state to a second state in accordance with the decoded data from the light signal.