Patent ID: 8908074

Claim:
An information communication method capable of selecting between a visible light communication mode, in which information is obtained from a subject using an image sensor having a plurality of exposure lines, and a normal imaging mode, the information communication method comprising: obtaining first image data by image capture with a first exposure time in the normal imaging mode by sequentially starting exposure of each of the exposure lines of the image sensor at different times and starting exposure of a next one of the exposure lines before exposure of a current one of the exposure lines is complete; and obtaining second image data by image capture with a second exposure time in the visible light communication mode by sequentially starting exposure of each of the exposure lines of the image sensor at different times and starting exposure of a next one of the exposure lines before exposure of a current one of the exposure lines is complete, and obtaining the information by demodulating data specified by a direction in a pattern of a bright line appearing in the second image data and corresponding to the exposure lines that is substantially perpendicular to the exposure lines, the second exposure time being shorter than the first exposure time, wherein in the visible light communication mode, when the second image data is obtained by capturing a plurality of subjects reflected on a reflection surface, the information is obtained by separating a bright line corresponding to each of the plurality of subjects from bright lines included in the second image data according to a strength of the bright line and demodulating, for each of the plurality of subjects, the data specified by the pattern of the bright line corresponding to the subject.