Methods, systems, and apparatuses for light-based communication are described. VLC may be used to communicate video content, an electronic program guide (EPG), location information, an advertisement, and/or any other data, content, and/or content item to a user device. VLC may be used to communicate data/information associated with a wireless network, provision a service, navigate an area, track content and/or content item consumption, and more. Light (e.g., VLC, etc.) may be used to communicate any information/data.

A method by a coordination node is provided for controlling communications between Li-Fi APs and UEs. The method includes receiving peer connectivity reports from Li-Fi APs which identify Li-Fi APs having at least partially overlapping coverage areas, and developing a handover pathway data structure, based on the peer connectivity reports, that identifies Li-Fi APs that can receive communication handover from other identified Li-Fi APs. The method further includes determining an identifier of a first Li-Fi AP providing Li-Fi communication service for a UE, and accessing the handover pathway data structure using the identifier of the first Li-Fi AP to determine an identifier of a second Li-Fi AP to which handover from the first Li-Fi AP can be performed. The method then initiates handover of the Li-Fi communication service for the UE from the first Li-Fi AP to the second Li-Fi AP.

An LED light and communication system is in communication with a broadband over power line communications system. The LED light and communication system includes at least one optical transceiver light fixture. The optical transceiver light fixture includes a plurality of light emitting diodes, at least one photodetector, and a processor. A facility control unit is in communication with the light emitting diode light fixtures and a control server. The facility control unit is constructed and arranged to control the operation of the optical transceiver light fixtures.

An orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) base station operative to transmit a sequence of spatially multiplexed OFDM signals simultaneously using at least two separate twisted pairs, in which each of the OFDM signals is modulated by a plurality of sub-carriers. At least two converters are connected to the OFDM base station using the at least two twisted pairs, respectively, in which each of the converters, and simultaneously with the other converters, is configured to receive each of the OFDM signals from the OFDM base station using the respective twisted pair, up-convert the OFDM signal into a radio-frequency (RF) band, and re-transmit wirelessly the OFDM signal, in conjunction with the RF band, from at least one antenna associated with each converter, thereby together creating a macro-diversity effect in conjunction with the spatially multiplexed OFDM signals.

An optical wireless communication (OWC) device comprises: a receiver comprising: a dual-wavelength filter configured to filter light arriving at the receiver, wherein the dual-wavelength filter is configured to pass light of a first frequency and light of a second, different frequency, and wherein the dual-wavelength filter is configured to substantially block light of a third frequency between the first frequency and second frequency; and a photodetector configured to receive the filtered light and to sense modulated light of the first frequency and/or modulated light of the second frequency to produce at least one receiver signal; demodulation circuitry and a processing resource for performing a demodulation and processing with respect to the at least one receiver signal to obtain data encoded in the modulated light of the first frequency and/or data encoded in the modulated light of the second frequency; a transmitter comprising a light source configured to output modulated light of the third frequency; a further transmitter comprising a further light source configured to output modulated light of the second frequency; and a controller configured to control operation of the transmitter and/or further transmitter to produce an output OWC signal in which data is encoded by modulation of light emitted by the light source and/or further light source.

Disclosed herein are methods, devices, and system for beam forming and beam steering within ultra-wideband, wireless optical communication devices and systems. According to one embodiment, a free space optical (FSO) communication apparatus is disclosed. The FSO communication apparatus includes an array of optical sources wherein each optical source of the array of optical sources is individually controllable and each optical source configured to have a transient response time of less than 500 picoseconds (ps).

Devices, systems, and methods for providing wireless personal area networks (PANs) and local area networks (LANs) using visible and near-visible optical spectrum. Various constructions and material selections are provided herein. According to one embodiment, a free space optical (FSO) communication apparatus includes a digital data port, an array of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) each configured to have a transient response time of less than 500 picoseconds (ps), and current drive circuitry coupled between the digital data port and the array of LEDs.

A system comprising a plurality of points of access deployed in venue having a crowd area located next to an event happening area, each one of the plurality of points of access comprising an optical transmitter adapted to broadcast an encoded media stream in light emissions, a plurality of portable optical receiver units, each having: a connector adapted to be electrically connected to one of a plurality of client devices, an optical receiver adapted to capture the light emissions, and a controller adapted to convert the light emissions into a digital stream forwarded via the connector to a respective client device of the plurality of client devices to allow a presentation of the digital stream on a display of the respective client device by an application executed on the respective client device.

A wireless communication system comprises a base station and one or more relay docks and transmits directional wave signals between components using high frequency waves, such as millimeter waves. A beam forming decision engine utilizes position information collected from one or more position or motion sensors of a user device to determine a direction in which to form a directional wave signal being transmitted between components of the wireless communication system.

A system (100) for providing a user device (102) access to a resource or data is disclosed. The system (100) comprises: the user device (102) comprising: a light detector (104) configured to detect light (130) emitted by a light source (122), which light (130) comprises an embedded code comprising a light source identifier of the light source (122), a communication unit (108) configured to communicate with a network device (112), a processor (106) configured to retrieve the light source identifier from the light (130), and to communicate the light source identifier to the network device (112). The system (100) further comprises the network device (112), comprising: a receiver (114) configured to receive the light source identifier from the user device (102), and a controller (116) configured to identify the light source (122) based on the light source identifier, to encrypt an access key or data with a public key corresponding to a private key, and to control the light source (122) such that the light (130) comprises an updated embedded code comprising the encrypted access key or the encrypted data. The processor (106) of the user device (102) is further configured to retrieve the encrypted access key or the encrypted data from the updated embedded code comprised in the light (130), and to decrypt the encrypted access key or the encrypted data with the private key, and access the resource with the decrypted access key or retrieve the decrypted data.