Smartphone Camera-Based Optical Wireless Communication System: Requirements and Implementation Challenges

Visible light and infrared bands of the optical spectrum used for optical camera communication (OCC) are becoming a promising technology nowadays. Researchers are proposing new OCC-based architectures and applications in both indoor and outdoor systems using the embedded cameras on smartphones, with a view to making them user-friendly. Smartphones have useful features for developing applications using the complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor cameras, which can receive data from optical transmitters. However, several challenges have arisen in increasing the capacity and communication range, owing to the limitations of current cameras and implementation complexities. In this paper, we provide a comprehensive analysis of the OCC technology requirements and opportunities using smartphone cameras from an implementation point of view. Furthermore, we demonstrate an OCC system using a low frame rate smartphone camera to particularly analyze the requirements and critical implementation challenges. Also, some possible solutions are provided with a view to improving the overall system capacity, communication distance, and stability.