IP Library Granted Patent US 12,476,706
Granted Patent B2
US 12,476,706 · App. 18/192,847 · Granted Nov 18, 2025

Using a light communications system to cause an update associated with a virtual meeting

Inventor: Shane Paul Springer (Oregon City, OR)
Assignee: Zoom Communications, Inc.
H04B10/1143H04B10/1149
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,476,706
App. No.
18/192,847
Granted
Nov 18, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A user device may use a light communications system to detect, from a light source in a physical space, light in a pattern that represents encoded information. The light communications system may include a sensor and an emitter. The user device may decode the encoded information based on the pattern to cause an update associated with a virtual meeting. In some implementations, the update may include the user device joining the virtual meeting using a meeting identifier. In some implementations, the update may include adjusting a microphone or a speaker in the physical space. In some implementations, the update may include a pairing between the user device and a second device that enables bidirectional communication between the user device and the second device.

Claims (25)

1 . A method, comprising: detecting, using a light communications system of a user device and from a light source in a physical space, light in a pattern that represents encoded information, wherein the light communications system includes a sensor and an emitter; decoding, at the user device, the encoded information based on the pattern to cause an update associated with a virtual meeting; and adjusting a peripheral device, according to a location of the user device, based on patterns of the light assigned to respective locations of the physical space.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the encoded information includes a meeting identifier, and the update includes the user device joining the virtual meeting using the meeting identifier.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the update includes adjusting at least one of a microphone or a speaker in the physical space.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the update includes a pairing between the user device and a second device that enables bidirectional communication between the user device and the second device.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the pattern is imperceptible to a human eye.

6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

emitting, from the emitter of the light communications system, light in a second pattern for detection by a second sensor in the physical space.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the locations comprise: a first location and a second location, and wherein the light in a pattern is constrained to the first location in the physical space, and further comprising: detecting, using the sensor of the light communications system, light in a second pattern constrained to the second location in the physical space.

8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

controlling ambient light within the physical space with shades.

9 . An apparatus, comprising: a memory; and a processor configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to: detect, using a light communications system of a user device and from a light source in a physical space, light in a pattern that represents encoded information, wherein the light communications system includes a sensor and an emitter; decode, at the user device, the encoded information based on the pattern to cause an update associated with a virtual meeting; and adjust a peripheral device, according to a location of the user device, based on the patterns of the light assigned to respective locations of the physical space.

10 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the update includes invoking whiteboard tools in the virtual meeting.

11 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the update includes adjusting a pan-tilt-zoom camera in the physical space.

12 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the update includes a pairing between the user device and a second device that enables at least one of a short range wireless communication or Wi-Fi communication between the user device and the second device.

13 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the pattern is imperceptible to a human eye.

14 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the processor is further configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to:

emit, from the emitter of the light communications system, light in a second pattern for detection by a second sensor in the physical space.

15 . The apparatus of claim 9 , further comprising:

shades that are configured to control ambient light within the physical space.

16 . A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions operable to cause one or more processors to perform operations comprising: detecting, using a light communications system of a user device and from a light source in a physical space, light in a pattern that represents encoded information, wherein the light communications system includes a sensor and an emitter; decoding, at the user device, the encoded information based on the pattern to cause an update associated with a virtual meeting; and adjusting a peripheral device, according to a location of the user device, based on patterns of the light assigned to respective locations of the physical space.

17 . The non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions of claim 16 , wherein the update includes moving a user of the user device to a virtual breakout room associated with the virtual meeting.

18 . The non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions of claim 16 , wherein the update includes outputting a message to a display in the physical space.

19 . The non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions of claim 16 , wherein the update includes a pairing between the user device and a second device that enables bidirectional communication between the user device and the second device.

20 . The non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions of claim 16 , further comprising:

controlling ambient light within the physical space via the peripheral device comprising shades.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 7, 2025
From: ZOOM VIDEO COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
To: ZOOM COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 069839/0593 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 30, 2023
From: SPRINGER, SHANE PAUL
To: ZOOM VIDEO COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 063161/0984 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240333388A1 · Oct 3, 2024
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