Docking station for connecting to personal computer wireless devices using light communication
A communication system comprises a network configured to support data, voice, and video communications and a docking station coupled to the network and configured to provide data connections to a personal computer wireless device, wherein the personal computer wireless device is configured to communicate with the docking station using light communication. A method for accessing the communication system comprises connecting a personal computer wireless device to a docking station using light communication and identifying a current location of the personal computer wireless device based upon LC with the docking station or an LC access point. One or more selected applications may be enabled or disabled on the personal computer wireless device based upon the current location.
1. A communication system, comprising:
a network configured to support data, voice, and video communications; and
a docking station coupled to the network and configured to provide data connections to a personal computer wireless device, the docking station comprising a light communication (LC) transmitter and an LC receiver;
wherein the personal computer wireless device is configured to communicate with the docking station using light communication; and
wherein the LC transmitter, the LC receiver, or both establish communication with the personal computer wireless device and an LC access point.
2. The communication system of claim 1 , wherein the docking station is coupled to the network over a pair of low-voltage wires having an electrical current sufficient to power the personal computer wireless device.
3. The communication system of claim 1 , wherein the docking station further comprises:
a processor for controlling the docking station according to executable code; and
memory for storing data and executable code, wherein the executable code comprises instructions for causing the processor to establish LC communication with the personal computer wireless device.
4. The communication system of claim 3 , wherein the executable code further comprises instructions for causing the processor to establish LC communication with the LC access point using the LC transmitter, the LC receiver, or both.
5. The communication system of claim 1 , wherein the LC transmitter is a Light Emitting Diode (LED).
6. The communication system of claim 1 , wherein the LC receiver is a photodetector.
7. The communication system of claim 1 , wherein the light communication is established using a visible light spectrum, an invisible light spectrum, or both.
8. The communication system of claim 1 , wherein the personal computer wireless device further comprises:
a light communication (LC) transmitter;
an LC receiver;
a processor for controlling the device according to executable code; and
memory for storing data and executable code, wherein the executable code comprises instructions for causing the processor to establish LC communication with the docking station.
9. The communication system of claim 8 , wherein the executable code further comprises instructions for causing the processor to establish LC communication with the LC access point using the LC transmitter, the LC receiver, or both.
10. The communication system of claim 9 , wherein the executable code further comprises instructions for causing the processor to identify a current location of the personal computer wireless device based upon LC communication with the LC access point or the docking station or both.
11. The communication system of claim 8 , wherein the executable code further comprises instructions for causing the processor to:
enable one or more selected applications on the personal computer wireless device based upon a current location.
12. The communication system of claim 8 , wherein the executable code further comprises instructions for causing the processor to:
disable one or more selected applications on the personal computer wireless device based upon a current location.
13. The communication system of claim 8 , wherein the executable code further comprises instructions for causing the processor to:
generate a transmission from the personal computer wireless device to report a current location to a remote device.
14. The communication system of claim 8 , wherein the executable code further comprises instructions for causing the processor to:
periodically update a current location of the personal computer wireless device based upon communication with the LC access point or the docking station.
15. The communication system of claim 8 , wherein the executable code further comprises instructions for causing the processor to:
establish a session with a remote device; and
exchange session data with the remote device using LC communication with the docking station.
16. The communication system of claim 15 , wherein the session and session data are associated with one or more of phone call, video visitation, email, messaging, gaming, and entertainment.
17. A method for accessing a communication system, comprising:
connecting a personal computer wireless device to a docking station using light communication (LC), wherein the docking station is connected to a network that is configured to support data communications, and wherein the docking station comprises an LC transmitter and an LC receiver;
establishing communications between the personal computer wireless device and the docking station using light communication;
establishing communications between the LC transmitter, the LC receiver, or both with the personal computer wireless device and with an LC access point; and
identifying a current location of the personal computer wireless device based upon LC with the docking station or an LC access point.
18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
enabling one or more selected applications on the personal computer wireless device based upon the current location; or
disabling one or more selected applications on the personal computer wireless device based upon the current location.
19. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
establishing a session between the personal computer wireless device and a remote device; and
exchanging session data with the remote device using LC communication with the docking station.
20. The method of claim 17 , wherein the personal computer wireless device is configured for use in a controlled-environment facility, and wherein the controlled-environment facility has a plurality of separate LC-accessible zones, and wherein identifying the current location of the wireless device further comprises:
identifying a specific LC-accessible zone in which the personal computer wireless device is located.
21. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
tracking the personal computer wireless device across a plurality of locations, wherein each of the plurality of locations are associated with a different LC access point light transmitter or a docking station light transmitter or both.
22. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
generating an alert when the personal computer wireless device is not authorized for operation in the current location.
23. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
generating an alert when a current user of the personal computer wireless device is not authorized in the current location.
24. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
allowing the personal computer wireless device to access a camera on the docking station or on the personal computer wireless device in response to connecting the personal computer wireless device to the docking station.
25. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
allowing the personal computer wireless device to access one or more peripheral devices in response to connecting the personal computer wireless device to the docking station.
26. The method of claim 25 , wherein the one or more peripheral devices are selected from the group consisting of a printer, a scanner, a keyboard, a mouse, a trackball, a handset, a local memory store, a cloud-based memory store, a media capture device, a biometric sensor, and an RFID transceiver.