Communication using light-emitting device
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for communicating information. An event is detected. A light effect is emitted in response to the detected event. The emitted light effect simulates the detected event or a sensory output associated with the detected event.
1. A method comprising:
detecting an event associated with a mobile device;
in response to the event, producing, by the mobile device, a sensory output indicating the event;
determining a pattern in the sensory output;
emitting light that substantially simulates the determined pattern in the sensory output while concurrently producing the sensory output; and
returning to a normal mode of emission once the sensory output has terminated.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the associated sensory output comprises an on-screen dynamic displayed on a display of a device.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein emitting light substantially similar to the on-screen dynamic comprises emitting light whose intensity over time simulates the on-screen dynamic.
4. The method of claim 2 , wherein emitting light substantially similar to the on-screen dynamic comprises emitting light whose color over time simulates the on-screen dynamic.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the associated sensory output comprises an audio output.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein emitting light substantially similar to the audio output comprises emitting light whose intensity over time simulates at least one of an amplitude or a frequency of the audio output.
7. The method of claim 5 , wherein emitting light substantially similar to the audio output comprises emitting light whose color over time varies with the audio output.
8. A device, comprising:
a light emission module;
one or more processors;
a storage medium; and
instructions stored in the storage medium and configured for execution by the one or more processors, the instructions comprising instructions to:
detect an event associated with a mobile device;
in response to the event, producing, by the device, a sensory output indicating the event;
determining a pattern in the sensory output produced;
emitting light that substantially simulates the determined pattern in the sensory output while concurrently producing the sensory output; and
returning to a normal mode of emission once the sensory output terminates.
9. The device of claim 8 , further comprising a display device; and
wherein the associated sensory output comprises an on-screen dynamic displayed on a display of a device.
10. The device of claim 9 , wherein emitting light having characteristics of the on-screen dynamic comprises emitting light whose intensity over time simulates the on-screen dynamic.
11. The device of claim 9 , wherein emitting light having characteristics of the on-screen dynamic comprises emitting light whose color over time simulates the on-screen dynamic.
12. The device of claim 8 , wherein the associated sensory output comprises an audio output from the device.
13. The device of claim 12 , wherein emitting light having characteristics of the audio output comprises emitting light whose intensity over time simulates at least one of an amplitude or a frequency of the audio output.
14. A computer program product, encoded on a machine-readable storage device or substrate, operable to cause a data processing apparatus comprising a light-emitting device to perform operations comprising:
detecting an event associated with a mobile device;
in response to the event, producing, by the mobile device, a sensory output indicating the event;
determining a pattern in the sensory output produced;
emitting light that substantially simulates the determined pattern in the sensory output while concurrently producing the sensory output; and
returning to a normal mode of emission once the sensory output terminates.
15. The computer program product of claim 14 , wherein the associated sensory output comprises an on-screen dynamic displayed on a display.
16. The computer program product of claim 15 , wherein emitting light having characteristics substantially similar to the on-screen dynamic comprises emitting light whose intensity over time simulates the on-screen dynamic.
17. The computer program product of claim 15 , wherein emitting light having characteristics substantially similar to the on-screen dynamic comprises emitting light whose color over time simulates the on-screen dynamic.
18. The computer program product of claim 14 , wherein the associated sensory output comprises an audio output.
19. The computer program product of claim 18 , wherein emitting light that having a characteristic substantially similar to the audio output comprises emitting light whose intensity over time simulates at least one of an amplitude or a frequency of the audio output.
20. A system, comprising:
means for detecting an event associated with a mobile device;
means for, in response to the event, producing a sensory output indicating the event;
means for determining a pattern in the sensory output;
means for interrupting a normal mode of emission that emits a normal mode light effect, the normal mode light effect conveying particular device information, and initiating an event mode;
means for emitting, in response to the initiation of the event mode, a different event mode light that substantially simulates the determined pattern in the sensory output; and
means for returning to the normal mode of emission following the event mode light effect.
21. A method comprising:
detecting an event;
interrupting a normal mode of emission and switching to an event mode of emission, where the normal mode conveys specified device information using an emission of a particular normal mode light effect;
determining a pattern in the event mode of emission;
in response to switching to the event mode of emission, emitting an event mode light that substantially simulates the determined pattern in the event mode of emission; and
exiting the event mode of emission and returning to the normal mode of emission.