@Philips Intelligent Lighting System delivers Li-Fi Network LBS Coupons using LED Lighting

“The beauty of the system is that retailers do not have to invest in additional infrastructure to house, power and support location beacons for indoor positioning. The Light fixtures themselves can communicate this information by virtue of their presence everywhere in the store.”

Philips Representative Gerben van der Lugt explaining how Philips Intelligent Lighting System works

Dutch company Philips is into more than just Lighting.

They’ve decided to shine a path in the lucrative sector of personalized LBS (Location Based Services) with their Intelligent Lighting System made up of LED (Light Emitting Diode) fixtures that communicate with your smartphone when Grocery shopping as stated in “PHILIPS CHALLENGES APPLE’S IBEACON WITH ‘INTELLIGENT LIGHTING SYSTEM’ FOR SHOPPERS”, published February 18, 2014 By Trevor Mogg, Digitaltrends.

But here’s the twist; Philips Intelligent Lighting System doesn’t communicate with you smartphone using Bluetooth like Apple iBeacon, but rather uses Light received via the smartphones cameras as explained in “Philips’ new intelligent store Lighting can track shoppers”, published FEB. 17, 2014 by David Meyer, GigaOM.

In essence, Philips Intelligent Lighting System is the first known example of a Li-Fi based LBS, with Li-Fi the Optical Equivalent of Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11n) and a derivative of FLORA (Fiber Less Optical Receiver Array) Technology that can be use for Backhaul on Telecom Networks as explained in my blog article entitled  “EPSRC and University of Strathclyde researches FLORA based Li-Fi for developement in the next four years - Selena Gomez’s Come and Get It FLORA Li-Fi for Last Mile Internet to be Downloaded”.

The Intelligent Lighting System was unveiled at the Euroshop Retail Show in Düsseldorf, Germany, which started on Monday February 17^th 2014 and from the looks of it, it's very similar to Apple iBeacon as I'd explained in my blog article entitled “MLB testing out Apple's iBeacon to give New York Mets Fans Treats and Free Coupons - iBeacon a challenge to FourSquare”.

Their main difference is that the beacons in Philips Intelligent Lighting System are multi-functional i.e. they double as energy-saving Lighting fixtures that are powered by the premises power. They most likely receive their access to the Internet using the Powerline AV 500 or Homeplug AV Protocol as explained in “What is Power-Line networking?” Viewed 04/23/2013 by Lindsworth Deer, CNET News.

This saves on messy Ethernet CAT 5/6 Cableing wiring or the need to use Wi-Fi to connect the Lighting Fixtures to the Internet. And of course the Communication Technology from the Philips Intelligent Lighting System to the smartphone, which is effectively Data Transmitted via Light pulses from Bulbs that are nearby.

Something that PAMS (Port Authority Management Services Limited), the company that manages the “White Elephant” known as the Half-Way-Tree Transport Center, can consider as a means of encouraging commuters to buy items from the stores and thus drive revenue among smartphone toting as noted in my blog article entitled “PAMS to debut GOJ branded Food Court in Half-Way-Tree Transport Center - Making revenue from Unruly smartphone toting High School students via Cooked Food and JA$100 a week Wi-fi Internet”.

Philips Intelligent Lighting System uses Li-Fi – Future POC LBS Based on FLORA Derived Technology

Philips Intelligent Lighting System is elegantly simple.

It detects the shopper’s location by determining their proximity to a nearby LED Light fixture based on the known positions of the Li-Fi enable LED that are constantly sending Data via Li-Fi Network of LED. Then Smartphone then responds via using the flash on the camera to pulse on an off rapidly. These pulses are so rapid as to be invisible to the naked eye, appearing as if the light is constantly on!

The App for the store that’s running on the smartphone establishes communications with the Li-Fi Receiver inside of the Philips Intelligent Lighting System LED Bulbs. The Store App then receives and sends Data on what the customer is looking for and what’s on their Grocery List.

  

This may be product offers or guidance to the latest sales and even coupon offers, a flood of Data via an Optical Transmission system that’ll overwhelm the first time shopper toting their smartphone, but one they’ll love, because of the amount of information that a Li-Fi Network can theoretically carry to the smartphone.

Best of all, solves a problem I’ve had with Apple’s iBeacon, in that their System requires frequent maintenance to keep the iBeacon modules powered. Plus, Philips design blends in seamlessly with the Lighting by using the LED Lighting fixtures for BOTH power and a revolutionary form of communication, Li-Fi. 

This makes it suitable for Supermarkets, Transport Centers, Football Stadiums, Large Bars and Restaurants, Amusement Parks and any other Public venue that are lit up by these Energy-saving LEDs Jamaica can possibly manufacture in the future as opined in my blog article entitled “No news on progress of the Rare Earth Pilot Plant at JBI - Cuba-Jamaica CFL Project Heralds manufacturing of LED's, Li-Ion Batteries and Sapphire Screens in Jamaica”.

Albeit I’ve avoided gushing through most of this article, I must say I’m truly impressed by Philips Intelligent Lighting System. This as it uses a Li-Fi Network, the first of its kind and possibly the first practical application of a Li-Fi Network that I know. So if this becomes a finished product by the end of 2014. I’ll be more than thrilled!

Just remember, once your favourite location puts out a customized App using these Personalized LBS Services, be it Apple’s iBeacon or Philip’s Intelligent Lighting System, just saddle up yourself and get ready to be bombarded by In Secret (2013) Advertising and Coupons at the Speed of Light!