File transfer system by a hidden ID signaling using camera in smart devices: Easy file sharing between computers and smart devices

Abstract

A technique has been developed that allows a smart device to capture a video of a computer screen with its built-in camera and then, using a hidden ID signaling, automatically download the file shown onscreen. The computer displays communication metadata necessary to send a file to a smart device (e.g. the computer's IP address) as a series of color transitions that are nearly imperceptible to humans. The smart device uses a proprietary camera application to capture a video of the computer's screen and read this communication metadata, with which it then accesses the computer and downloads a file. This system implements a simple interface for transferring files between computers and smart devices, a task that has suffered from usability issues for years. In this paper, the system that have been developed and evaluated for its applicability in practical use case is described.