FI108506B - Local trÕdl ÷ sa services - Google Patents

Description

108506 LOCAL WIRELESS SERVICES 'Field of the Invention

The invention relates to local wireless services and more particularly to the use of mobile terminals to provide local wireless services.

Background of the invention

With the increasing use of mobile phones, it has been proposed that mobile phones be used to control and interact with local systems wirelessly. For example, JP 8249530 describes the use of a mobile telephone to purchase goods from a vending machine by sending a radio signal directly to the vending machine or, alternatively, by calling the vending machine via a telephone circuit. Payment for the purchased product or service is debited from the telephone subscriber's telephone account. Similarly, one can imagine using a mobile phone to buy train and plane tickets as well as remotely controlling televisions, stereos, and so on.

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Consumer demand for products that offer this type of functionality depends to a large extent on the interoperability of the products. The same is true of demand from manufacturers. As such, it is almost necessary to define an appropriate industry-wide standard for the ‘radio interface’ between mobile terminals and local systems, e.g. vending machines, televisions, etc. A number of large electronics companies are currently collaborating on a project called "Blue Tooth", which aims to achieve such a standard.

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Although the achievement of a standard in this area will in theory facilitate the cooperation of mobile terminals with numerous local systems, many practical problems remain unresolved.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The inventor of the present invention has identified one such problem. In relatively congested areas, such as shopping malls, airports, train stations, etc., it is likely that several local systems offering different products are close to each other. As a result, the radio coverage provided by the systems overlaps. Although this may not represent a technical problem (the use of appropriate signaling technology avoids interference between systems), it may pose a problem for a mobile phone user who is likely to receive many different and potentially competing messages and / or advertisements at the same time. A particular problem is that if a user wants to use one particular service, they may not be sure which service they are interacting with.

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The object of the invention is to overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages or at least to alleviate them. This and other purposes are achieved, at least in part, by facilitating interactive communication between the mobile terminal and the local system, or at least a critical part of said communication, only when the mobile terminal is located within a relatively small vicinity.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a mobile terminal; a method of cooperating between a local service and a local service, wherein information is transmitted between the local service and the mobile terminal via a local wireless communication H-method, the method comprising: transmitting service notification messages from the local service via a wireless communication channel; and that a process for identifying the mobile terminal between the mobile terminal and the local service is performed over the wireless communication channel while the process continues only if the mobile terminal is present within a nearby area that is part of the area over which the service notification messages are broadcast.

Embodiments of the invention allow different local services in the same neighborhood to each have "identification" areas, which may be locations, sectors, or the like. These recognition areas can be made to stand out by the different colors, text, etc. on the floor.

It is to be understood that the term "local system" is used herein to define a system capable of communicating with mobile terminals relatively close to the system, e.g., at a range of 100 meters, 10 meters, or the like. The local service is typically a service provider or product delivery device.

The mobile terminal is preferably a cellular radiotelephone or a smartphone communicating with the cellular radio network using a communication protocol, e.g. GSM, which differs from the protocol used on said local communication channel.

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Although service notification messages can be broadcast from a local service via a conventional broadcast antenna (where the wireless communication channel is a radio channel), the identification step can be performed using a directional antenna or receiver provided for the local service.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided an apparatus for cooperating between a mobile terminal and a local service, transmitting information between a local service and a mobile terminal over a local wireless communication channel, the apparatus comprising: a local system for transmitting service notification messages from a local service; and at least one mobile terminal adapted to perform an authentication process with the local service over the wireless communication channel while the process continues only if the mobile terminal is present within a nearby area that is part of the area over which the service notification messages are broadcast.

Preferably, the wireless communication channel is a radio channel and the local system comprises a directional radio transmitter or receiver, the transmission / reception area of which defines said nearby area.

According to a third aspect of the invention, a local service is provided for cooperating with a mobile terminal, transmitting information between the local service and the mobile terminal via a local wireless communication channel, the local service comprising: transmitting means for transmitting service notification messages via a wireless communication channel; 1 for delimiting the transmission / reception proximity area of a directional transmitter or receiver, which is a part of the area over which service notification messages are transmitted as a broadcast; and processing means for performing the identification process with the mobile terminal via the wireless communication channel and using said directional transmitter or receiver while the process continues only if the mobile terminal is present within the vicinity.

Brief explanation of the drawings

In order that the invention may be more readily understood and to show how it may be practiced, reference is now made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a vending machine and a mobile terminal capable of interacting with an embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 illustrates the radiation patterns produced by the broadcast antenna and directional antenna of the vending machine of Figure 1; and • Fig. 3 is a flow chart illustrating the operation of the system of Fig. 1.

Detailed Description of Certain Embodiments

Figure 1 illustrates a vending machine 1, which is one example of a local system in which the invention can be used. Products purchased from the vending machine include such as refreshments, chocolate bars, etc. The vending machine has a control unit 2, which comprises a central unit 3 as well. as a memory device 4 which stores control commands for the central unit 108 as well as other data. The control unit 2 is electrically connected to the mechanical selection and delivery mechanism of the vending machine 1 so that the control unit can have certain product units delivered to the consumer via the delivery tray 5 of the vending machine 1.

The control unit 2 also comprises a radio frequency transceiver 6 connected on one side to the central unit 3 via appropriate interface circuits (not shown) and on the other side to the transmitting and receiving broadcast antenna 7. The transceiver 6, the antenna 7 and the central unit 3 are arranged to communicate such as mobile phones, through the standardized, local, wireless radio protocol RI1. The range over which such communications can be performed is relatively small, e.g. on the order of 10 meters.

The control unit 2 further comprises a transmitting and receiving directional antenna 8 connected to the transceiver 6. The directional antenna 8 can be, for example, of the mechanical slot antenna type. The control unit 2 is adapted to switch between the broadcast antenna 7 and the directional antenna 8 depending on the transmission needs in question. Figure 2 is a plan view of the transmission / reception radiation patterns that may be produced by the two antennas 7, 8, with the broadcast antenna 7 producing a generally circular pattern 9 and the directional antenna 8 producing a pattern 10 covering a limited sector (shaded by cross lines) broadcast pattern. buy. It is to be understood that the radiation pattern produced by the directional antenna 8 differs in practice from the described sector, e.g. in that it is beam-shaped and covers a 3-dimensional area of the space.

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Figure 1 illustrates a typical mobile phone 11 which may be thought of as a "smart phone". Pu-4 The telephone 11 comprises a display device 12 and a keypad 13 and in addition a central processing unit (or digital signal processor) 14. The antenna 15 and the transceiver 16 of the telephone 11 allow the telephone to communicate in a normal manner with the cellular telephone network 14 using e.g. policy RI2, which has several base station subsystems 15 and a mobile switching center 16 in the network. However, the central processing unit 14 is also able to communicate with the control unit 2 of the vending machine 1 using the above-mentioned standardized, local, wireless connection. The same antenna 15 and transceiver 16 can be used for this local communication, although another antenna and transceiver may be required. Because the telephone 11 is capable of communicating using two different protocols, it can be considered a "dual-mode" telephone.

In use, the control unit 2 is arranged at regular intervals to broadcast a service announcement message with its 10 m broadcast base using the broadcast antenna ϊ'7 7. Mobile terminals such as telephone 11 are programmed to listen for such terminal alarm messages and upon receipt inform the telephone user that the telephone with which the user can communicate. The service notification message typically contains additional information explaining the service provided by the broadcasting transmitting system. This can be displayed as text or an icon on the display device 12 of the telephone 11.

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The service notification message contains additional data which, in the event that the user responds to the "Accept service?" Request, causes the following message to be displayed on the telephone> display device 12: "Enter the red circle and enter Figure 2 shows an example of a" red "circle 17 (shaded in the figure). ), which may be painted on the floor in front of the vending machine.

The central unit 3 of the vending machine control unit 2 switches the output and input of the transceiver 6 from the broadcast antenna 7 to the directional antenna 8. Assuming that the user of the mobile phone 11 enters the red circle 17, he enters the transmission / reception area 10 of the directional antenna 8. By keying, the user causes the mobile phone 11 to send an identification message, which is received by the directional antenna 8. The identification message contains, for example, the user's telephone number, which uniquely identifies the telephone 11. It should be noted that in case the user enters outside the sector 10, the vending machine 1 does not receive the sent identification message and the process ends in time.

• ·> · ::; Upon receipt of the authentication message from the vending machine 1, the central unit 3 of the control unit 2 initiates a call to the operator in the cellular network 14 to which the mobile telephone 11 belongs, either using a fixed line connection or via the cellular network. The identity of the operator or the telephone number of the operator • ·· «» can be returned to the control unit 2 in an identification message. The control unit 2 uses this call to verify the identity of the mobile phone 11 and to establish a billing relationship.

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Once the vending machine 1 has verified the identity of the telephone 11, the vending machine 1 initiates the transaction phase, i with the mobile telephone 11. This will not be explained in detail here, but may include, for example, selecting the product to be purchased on the mobile phone 11 from a list of possible products sent to the telephone 11 from the vending machine 1. The transaction phase can be handled using either the broadcast antenna 7 or the directional antenna 8, since now the cooperation relationship between the telephone 11 and the vending machine 1 has been established.

Upon receipt of the purchase message, the central unit 3 of the control unit 2 instructs the vending machine to select and deliver the product indicated in the purchase message. The CPU 3 then redials the network operator's number (if the previous authentication connection has been disconnected) and sends an instruction to the operator to debit the transaction fee from the telephone user's account and credit it to the account owned by the vending machine 1 operator. It should be noted that other charging models can be used. For example, the cellular network operator may act as the subscriber's electronic bank, holding the electronic money as a deposit. Electronic money is transferred to the vending machine operator (or his bank) at the end of the transaction.

Figure 3 is a flow chart illustrating the cooperation method described above.

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One skilled in the art will appreciate that other modifications may be made to the embodiment described above without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, a local radio link (RI1) connecting the telephone 11 to the vending machine 1 can be replaced by an infrared or ultrasonic link.

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As an alternative to using the directional antenna 8, the position of the transmitting mobile telephone can be determined by using an array of antennas in the vending machine 1. By using at least three receiving antennas and measuring the relative transmission delays of the signal (codeword) transmitted from the mobile telephone, it is possible to ensure that the telephone is within a predetermined range.

As yet another alternative, the radio signal may be directed to a predetermined area (and / or a predetermined area) using a waveguide or tube to verify the location of the mobile telephone.

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Claims (6)

A method of cooperating between a mobile terminal and a local service, wherein information is transmitted between a local service and a mobile terminal via a local wireless communication channel, the method comprising: transmitting service notification messages as a broadcast from a local service via a wireless communication channel; and performing a mobile terminal identification process between the mobile terminal and the local service over the wireless communication channel, said process continuing only if the mobile terminal is present within a nearby area that is part of the area over which the service notification messages are broadcast. 1; L 10 8 50 6 Patents for suction et 2. A patent according to claim 1, comprising a mobile terminal or a cellular radiotelephone or an intelligent telephone with a cellular radio and a cellular protocol and a protocol with an averaging protocol according to a local communication channel. * ♦ ·· '3. For the purposes of patent claims 1 or 2, the terms of reference of the present invention are determined by means of a local antenna and of the identification of the circular phase of the present invention. - · · w * Λ A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the mobile terminal is a cellular radiotelephone or a smartphone which communicates with a cellular radio network using a communication protocol different from the protocol used on the local communication channel. c · ''> A method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the service notification messages are transmitted as a broadcast from the local service via a broadcast antenna and the identification step is performed by the local service provider. using a directional antenna or directional receiver. o 4. Communication between mobile terminals and local terminals for information on local terminals and mobile terminals via a fixed communication channel, which shall be based on the following conditions: 108506 to locally be used as a means of communication via den trädlösa communications channel; and where the mobile terminal arrives in the field of identification and the identification process through the local communication channels, the color of the process itself for the mobile terminal will be inherent in the operation of the mobile terminal. 4. An apparatus for cooperating between a mobile terminal and a local service, in which information is transmitted between a local service and a local terminal wirelessly; · Via a communication channel, characterized in that the device comprises: 1 0 8 5136 a local system with transmission means for transmitting service announcement messages as a broadcast from a local service via a wireless communication channel; and at least one mobile terminal adapted to perform an identification process with the local service over the wireless communication channel while the process continues only if the mobile terminal is present within a nearby area that is part of the area over which the service notification messages are broadcast. 5. Anordning enligt patentkravet 4, kännetecknad av att den trädlösa the communication channel of the radio channel and the local communication system, which is a rigging of the carrier or of the signaling arm of the signaling device. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the wireless communication channel is a radio channel, and the local system comprises a directional radio transmitter or receiver, the transmission / reception area of which delimits said nearby area. 6. A local service for cooperating with a mobile terminal to transmit information between a local service and a mobile terminal over a local wireless communication channel, the local service comprising: transmitting means for transmitting service notification messages' broadcast over a wireless communication channel; delimiting the transmission / reception proximity area of the directional transmitter or receiver, which area area is a part of the area over which the service notification messages are broadcast; and> ··>. processing means for performing the identification process with the mobile terminal via the wireless communication channel and using a directional transmitter or receiver while the process continues only if the mobile terminal is present within the vicinity. <· 1 08506 "1. For the purpose of providing a mobile terminal and a local terminal for the provision of information on a local terminal and a mobile terminal via a local, traditional, communication channel, the communication between the mobile terminal and the local terminal: man utsänder tjänstanmälningsmeddelanden frän den locala tjänsten via den tradlösa commonskanalen; This is the case where the requirements of this Regulation do not apply. 6. The local network for mobile terminals shall provide information on the local and mobile terminals via a communication channel, which shall include the following information: the location of the communication between the communication network and the mobile network; • · <en riktad sändare ellot mottagare fört avgränsa et näromräde för sändning / mottagning som är et underomräde av det omräde över vilket tjänstanmälningsmeddelandena utsänds; and means of communication for the identification of the mobile terminal via the mobile communications (channel and communication between the mobile terminal or the mobile terminal, the coloring process for the mobile terminal itself).