JP2005086750A - Service providing system for mobile station, mobile station, and vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide technologies which provides a broad area network connection service and a local service in an inexpensive configuration and gives even a mobile station comprising an automatic selection function increased opportunities to utilize the local service. <P>SOLUTION: A base station 3 provides the broad area network connection service for realizing connection to a broad area network W and the local service for realizing the connection to a local server 2 that is inaccessible from the broad area network W. While a mobile station 4 utilizes the broad area network connection service, the local service information of the base station 3 is notified from a center 1. The local service information contains an ESS-ID of the local service, setting information required for service switching, and the like. When the mobile station 4 learns from the ESS-ID that the base station 3 under communication at present is providing the local service, the mobile station switches the broad area network connection service to the local service. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for guiding and providing a local service limited to a region to a mobile station connected to a wide area network by wireless communication.

  Narrow-area communication using wireless LAN (Local Area Network) technology enables high-speed communication with a wide-area network (such as the Internet) through efficient frequency reuse utilizing narrow cells. Recently, base stations that provide wide-area network connection services have begun to be installed in public places such as restaurants and hotels, and have achieved a certain level of customer attraction. In the future, it is expected to develop services for mobile stations such as in-vehicle terminals (see Patent Document 1).

  As a standard for narrow area communication, IEEE 802.11 established by the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) is widely used. In IEEE 802.11, an ESS-ID (Extended Service Set ID) is used as a base station or service identifier (see Non-Patent Document 1). The same service provider (such as an Internet service provider) is generally set to announce the same ESS-ID, and the mobile station selects a radio wave based on the ESS-ID and selects an appropriate Connect to a service provider.

As a method for connecting to the Internet, there are a mechanism in which a global address is assigned to connect directly to the Internet, a mechanism in which a point to point protocol over Ethernet (PPPoE) once connects to a service provider's center, and then connects to the Internet. .
JP 2003-32752 A Matthew S. Gast, "802.11 Wireless Networks -The Definitive Guide-", O 'REILLY, April 2002, pp. 75

  Since the base station for narrow area communication has a low introduction cost, it is expected that a large number of base stations will be installed everywhere in the future. In that case, it is difficult to differentiate from others only by providing a connection service to a wide area network, and the attractiveness as a connection service is diminished. On the other hand, since the connection cost is low, a free service form in which a retailer or the like has a wireless LAN base station that can access a store free of charge and aims to attract customers is conceivable. Since wireless LAN access can be used free of charge, the motivation for visiting the store can be increased.

  In view of this, the present inventors have considered to provide a combination of a wide area network connection service and a local service such as a limited area utilizing the narrowness and simplicity of narrow area communication in one area. Yes. If you cannot enjoy the local service unless you visit the store, it is expected that you can produce strong motives for visiting the store.

  However, it is necessary to clear the following issues when implementing local services.

First, the network or server that provides the local service must be disconnected from the wide area network. This is because, if a local service can be enjoyed from any location via a wide area network, it will not lead to store motives and the original purpose of the local service cannot be achieved.

  The simplest way to separate the wide area network connection service from the local service is to install two base stations. In this case, however, the installation cost increases and the problem of securing the installation location also arises.

  Even if two base stations are installed in the same area, there is a high possibility that the local service will not be used. Usually, a mobile station stores an available ESS-ID in advance, and automatically selects an appropriate service when receiving a plurality of radio waves. In particular, the in-vehicle terminal is designed to minimize the user's operation, and this type of automatic selection function is thoroughly implemented. Then, the mobile station preferentially connects to a known wide area network connection service, and the local service cannot be used unless the user manually switches.

  Furthermore, since radio waves are not captured visually, the user may not even be able to recognize the presence of a local service. Moreover, even if the presence of the local service is notified to the user by means of a signboard or a poster, the user who actively switches to the local service is required because it requires specialized knowledge and complicated switching operations for switching the wireless communication connection. There is a concern that there are few.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and the object of the present invention is to provide a wide area network connection service and a local service with an inexpensive configuration and a mobile station having an automatic selection function. The aim is to provide technology that can increase the use of local services.

  In order to achieve the above object, a service providing system of the present invention includes a center connected to a wide area network, a local server that cannot be accessed from the wide area network side, and a base station to which the wide area network and the local server are connected. Prepare. The base station includes a first wireless communication service (hereinafter referred to as “wide area network connection service”) that can connect the mobile station to the wide area network and a second wireless communication that can connect to the local server. Service (hereinafter referred to as “local service”). Then, the center stores storage means for storing information on the local service (hereinafter referred to as “local service information”), and notification means for notifying the mobile station using the wide area network connection service of information on the local service. Have

  Here, the service providing system may include a plurality of local servers and base stations. In this case, local service information provided by each base station / local server is stored in the storage means of the center.

  The mobile station has wireless communication means for performing wireless communication with the base station of the service providing system, and can use the wide area network connection service and the local service selectively or simultaneously.

When the mobile station uses the wide area network connection service, the local service information of a certain base station is notified from the center through the wide area network. The mobile station can check whether there is a local service that can be enjoyed at the current location by checking whether the received radio wave from the communicating base station includes a match with the local service notified from the center. . Therefore, even when the mobile station is preferentially connected to the wide area network connection service by the automatic selection function, it can know the presence of the local service.

  If the local service exists, the mobile station may automatically switch to the local service based on the local service information received from the center or prompt the user to switch to the local service. Thereby, the utilization opportunity of a local service can be increased.

  In the present invention, by using a local address for the local server, the wide area network and the local server (the network) are logically separated. Here, the local address may be a private address defined by IETF (Internet Engineering Task Force) RFC (Request For Comment) 1918 or a special global address that is inaccessible from a wide area network. In the case of IPv6 (Internet Protocol version 6), a link local address may be used. By using such a local address, access to the local server through the wide area network is prevented, and the narrowness of the local service can be ensured. In addition, a wide area network connection service and a local service can be provided in a single base station, thereby simplifying the configuration and reducing the installation cost.

  Here, the local service information may include identification information of the local service transmitted by the base station that provides the local service. Typically, ESS-ID can be used as identification information. As a result, the mobile station can determine whether there is an available local service by a simple process of comparing the identification information notified from the center with the identification information included in the radio wave received from the currently communicating base station. it can.

  It is also preferable that the local service information includes setting information necessary for connection (switching) to the local service. This facilitates connection switching from the wide area network connection service to the local service, and eliminates the need for specialized knowledge and complicated switching operations. As setting information, a wireless channel, a password such as a WEP key, a communication protocol, a MAC address of a local server, a network address, and the like are assumed.

  It is also preferable that the center multicasts local service information to a plurality of mobile stations. As a result, the mobile station can obtain local service information without actively accessing the center.

  It is also preferable that the center is a server that provides a connection service to a wide area network to a mobile station. Thus, the mobile station is always connected to the wide area network through the center, and the center can easily grasp the mobile station to which the local service information should be notified.

  The present invention can be understood as a service providing system having at least a part of the above means. Further, the present invention can also be understood as a mobile station that uses the service of the service providing system or a vehicle including the mobile station. The present invention can also be understood as a service providing method or service using method including at least a part of the above processing. Each of the above means and processes can be combined with each other as much as possible to constitute the present invention.

  According to the present invention described above, the wide area network connection service and the local service can be provided with a low-cost configuration, and the use opportunities of the local service can be increased even for a mobile station having an automatic selection function.

  Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Here, an in-vehicle terminal installed in a vehicle will be described as an example. However, the mobile station according to the present invention is not limited to the in-vehicle terminal, and various computers having a wireless communication function such as a portable personal computer and a PDA (information portable terminal). Is assumed.

  FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a service providing system and a mobile station according to an embodiment of the present invention.

(Service providing system configuration)
The service providing system generally includes a center 1 connected to a wide area network W such as the Internet, and a local server 2 and a base station 3 installed in a store L such as a convenience store. The service providing system provides various network services to the mobile station 4 existing in the communication area of the base station 3 (for example, the parking lot of the store L).

  The center 1 is a computer system installed by a service provider such as an Internet service provider, and is a server that provides a connection service to the wide area network W for the mobile station 4. On the other hand, the local server 2 is a server that is installed individually by the business operator of the store L, and is a device that provides a local service limited to an area that can be used only within the communication area of the base station 3.

  Each of the center 1 and the local server 2 is connected to a network device 30 provided in the base station 3. The center 1 and the network device 30 are connected by a broadband line such as an ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) or a dedicated line, and high-speed wide area network connection is possible. The local server 2 and the network device 30 are connected by wire or wireless.

  The base station 3 is a radio base station conforming to the IEEE 802.11 standard. The base station 3 provides a wide area network connection service capable of connecting to the wide area network W via the center 1 and a local service capable of connection to the local server 2 to the mobile station 4 in the communication area. Can be provided. Different ESS-IDs are assigned to the wide area network connection service and the local service, respectively. In this embodiment, it is assumed that “WNET” is assigned to the wide area network connection service and “LNET1” is assigned to the local service.

  The network device 30 is composed of, for example, a layer 2 switch, a router, a modem, etc., and separates a wide area network W using a global address from a local area network using a local address that is valid only in the store L. Is provided.

  A local address is assigned to the local server 2 so that it cannot be accessed from the wide area network W side. However, the local server 2 side can access the center 1 and the wide area network W by using the NAT (Network Address Translation) function of the network device 30.

Examples of local services provided by the local server 2 include provision of electronic coupons and electronic discount coupons that can be used in the store L, provision of product information and price information of the store L, provision of regional information around the store L, and the like. For example, if you offer a service that collects 10 electronic coupons and presents a product, or distribute unique information that can only be obtained at that location, you can differentiate from other stores, which is advantageous. The effect of attracting customers can be achieved.

  The local server 2 transmits to the center 1 local service information such as the ESS-ID “LNET1” of the local service, setting information necessary for switching the connection to the local service, and service content periodically or as necessary. This setting information includes a password such as a wireless channel and a WEP key. Moreover, a communication protocol, the MAC address of the local server 2, a network address, etc. may be included as needed.

  The center 1 has a local service database (storage means) 10 and stores and manages local service information received from the local server 2. As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of stores are connected to the center 1 of the present embodiment, and local service information of each store is managed in the local service database 10 of the center 1.

  Here, it is preferable to share the ESS-ID of the wide area network connection service provided in each store. As a result, the mobile station 4 can automatically connect to the wide area network depending on the identification information “WNET” in any store communication area. On the other hand, the ESS-ID of the local service should be different for each store or for each group store providing the same local service.

(Configuration of mobile station)
The mobile station 4 is a computer provided in the vehicle. As the mobile station 4, an in-vehicle terminal that is also used as a car navigation system, a portable personal computer that is temporarily brought into the vehicle and connected to the in-vehicle LAN, a PDA (personal digital assistant), and the like are assumed.

  The mobile station 4 has a wireless LAN communication unit (wireless communication means) 40 for performing wireless communication with the base station 3, and can use the wide area network connection service and the local service selectively or simultaneously. It is. As the wireless LAN communication unit 40, a communication module compliant with the IEEE 802.11 standard can be used.

  Information relating to a wide area network connection service that can be used in advance is stored in a storage device (such as a nonvolatile memory or a hard disk) of the mobile station 4. The information includes the ESS-ID “WNET” of the wide area network connection service, setting information necessary for connection, and the like. The mobile station 4 has an automatic selection function for automatically connecting to a wide area network when receiving a radio wave having an ESS-ID of “WNET”. Thereby, an efficient wide area network connection can be realized without imposing a burden on the user on operation.

(Description of operation)
Next, operations of the service providing system and the mobile station will be described with reference to the sequence diagram of FIG. The processing of the center 1, the local server 2, and the mobile station 4 is realized by a program stored in a storage device being read and executed by the CPU.

  From the base station 3, an ESS-ID “WNET” (connection destination is the center 1) of the wide area network connection service and an ESS-ID “LNET1” (connection destination is the local server 2) of the local service are announced. The mobile station 4 that has entered the communication area detects both ESS-IDs “WNET” and “LNET1” by receiving radio waves from the base station 3. At this stage, the network address of the mobile station 4 is undetermined.

The mobile station 4 compares the detected ESS-ID with the ESS-ID stored in the storage device, and determines whether there is an available service. Since “WNET” is known here, the ESS-ID of the wide area network connection service is selected.

In order to obtain an IP (Internet Protocol) address, the mobile station 4 inquires of the center 1 to which the “WNET” is connected whether a DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) server exists (DHCP DISCOVER, DHCP OFFER), send a request to DHCP (DHCP REQUEST), and receive a global IP address from center 1 (DHCP
ACK). As a result, the mobile station 4 can connect to the wide area network W using the global IP address and use various network services. The DHCP server may be provided in the base station 3 instead of the center 1.

  The center 1 reads local service information of each store from the local service database 10 periodically or as necessary, and multicasts them. Therefore, the mobile station 4 can obtain local service information without actively accessing the center 1. Since the mobile station 4 is connected to the wide area network W via the center 1, the center 1 can easily grasp the range where the local service information should be multicast.

  When the mobile station 4 receives the multicast local service information, the mobile station 4 extracts the ESS-ID from the local service information, and compares the ESS-ID with the ESS-ID included in the received radio wave from the base station 3. When the two match, it means that the local service limited to the area is provided by the currently communicating base station 3, and when they are different, there is no local service.

  When the mobile station 4 detects the presence of the local service, it extracts setting information and service content from the local service information. When the service is switched manually, the mobile station 4 outputs the service content to the output device and prompts the user to switch to the local service. For example, it is possible to output a message or voice guidance such as “Distributing electronic coupons with LNET1. Do you want to switch services?” On the other hand, when the automatic switching is set, the mobile station 4 automatically switches to the local service. Even at this time, it is preferable to output a guidance such as “The service is switched because electronic coupons are distributed on LNET1”.

  Switching to the local service is performed as follows. First, the mobile station 4 returns the used global IP address to the DHCP server of the center 1 (DHCP RELEASE). Thereafter, the wireless section with the center 1 is also disconnected.

  Next, the mobile station 4 selects the ESS-ID “LNET1” of the local service using the setting information. Then, in order to obtain an IP address, the mobile station 4 inquires of the local server 2 to which “LNET1” is connected whether there is a DHCP server (DHCP DISCOVER, DHCP OFFER), and then follows DHCP. A request is issued (DHCP REQUEST), and a local IP address is received from the local server 2 (DHCP ACK). Thereby, the mobile station 4 connects to the local server 2 using the local IP address, and can use a local service (such as reception of an electronic coupon). Note that the DHCP server may be provided in the base station 3 instead of the local server 2.

  Depending on the contents of the local service, when the service is completed in a short time such as distribution of an electronic coupon, the service may be automatically switched to the wide area network connection service as soon as the service is over.

According to the present embodiment described above, the mobile station 4 detects the presence of the local service by receiving notification from the center 1 even when it is preferentially connected to the wide area network connection service by the automatic selection function. be able to. Therefore, it is possible to increase the use opportunities of local services and enhance the effect of attracting customers.

  Further, by using the local IP address for the local server 2, the wide area network W and the local server 2 (the network thereof) are logically separated. Accordingly, access to the local server 2 through the wide area network W is prevented, so that the service cannot be received unless the store L is visited, and the narrowness characteristic of the local service can be ensured. .

  In addition, a wide area network connection service and a local service can be provided in a single base station 3, and the configuration can be simplified and the installation cost can be reduced.

  In the present embodiment, since the ESS-ID of the local service is included in the local service information, the mobile station 4 transmits the ESS-ID notified from the center 1 and the ESS included in the received radio wave from the base station 3 that is currently communicating. -It is possible to determine the presence or absence of an available local service with a simple process of simply comparing the ID.

  In addition, since the setting information is included in the local service information, connection switching from the wide area network connection service to the local service is facilitated, and specialized knowledge and complicated switching operations regarding wireless communication are not required.

  As mentioned above, one specific example of the present invention has been illustrated, but the scope of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the technical idea.

  For example, the present invention can be more preferably applied when the mobile station and the center make PPP connection such as PPPoE. In the case of the PPP connection, since the mobile station and the center are directly connected through the base station, even if the mobile station and the local server exist in the same segment, the mobile station is not limited as long as it is connected to the center. Unable to communicate with the server. However, according to the present invention, since the mobile station is given an opportunity to switch to the local service by the notification from the center of the PPP connection destination, it is possible to increase the use opportunities of the local service.

  Further, the present invention is applicable not only to IP but also to other communication protocols, and is not limited to the IEEE 802.11 standard and can be applied to other wireless communication systems.

  In addition, the mobile station of the above embodiment disconnects the session with the wide area network connection service and switches to the local service, but establishes communication in a plurality of segments simultaneously using a single wireless LAN communication unit. In this case, both the connection to the wide area network and the connection to the local server can be achieved.

  In the above embodiment, an example in which the mobile station is connected to the wide area network via the center is shown. However, a mode in which the mobile station is connected to the wide area network via a server other than the center is also assumed. In this case, the mobile station communicates with the center via the wide area network.

  In the above-described embodiment, the ESS-ID of the wide area network connection service is different from the ESS-ID of the local service, but both services can share one ESS-ID. For example, a method of assigning a part of the 32-byte ESS-ID for identification of the wide area network connection service and assigning the remaining part for identification of the local service may be considered.

  Further, the center may directly notify the mobile station address by designating the address instead of multicasting the local service information.

It is a figure which shows the structure of a service provision system and a mobile station. It is a sequence diagram which shows operation | movement of a service provision system and a mobile station.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Center 2 Local server 3 Base station 4 Mobile station 10 Local service database 30 Network equipment 40 Wireless LAN communication part L Store W Wide area network

Claims (8)

A center connected to a wide area network;
A local server that cannot be accessed from a wide area network,
A base station to which a wide area network and a local server are connected,
The base station can provide the mobile station with a first wireless communication service capable of connecting to a wide area network and a second wireless communication service capable of connecting to a local server,
The center includes storage means for storing information related to the second wireless communication service, and notification means for notifying the mobile station that is using the first wireless communication service of information related to the second wireless communication service. Offer system.   The service providing system according to claim 1, wherein the information related to the second wireless communication service includes identification information of the second wireless communication service transmitted from the base station.   The service providing system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the information related to the second wireless communication service includes setting information necessary for connection to the second wireless communication service.   The service providing system according to claim 1, wherein the center multicasts information related to the second wireless communication service to a plurality of mobile stations.   The service providing system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the center is a server that provides a mobile station with a connection service to a wide area network. Wirelessly between a base station that can provide a first wireless communication service that enables connection to a wide area network and a second wireless communication service that enables connection to a local server that cannot be accessed from the wide area network Wireless communication means for performing communication;
Means for switching to the second wireless communication service based on the received information when receiving information related to the second wireless communication service through the wide area network while using the first wireless communication service;
A mobile station. Wirelessly between a base station that can provide a first wireless communication service that enables connection to a wide area network and a second wireless communication service that enables connection to a local server that cannot be accessed from the wide area network Wireless communication means for performing communication;
Means for prompting the user to switch to the second wireless communication service based on the received information when receiving information related to the second wireless communication service through the wide area network while using the first wireless communication service;
A mobile station.   A vehicle comprising the mobile station according to claim 6 or 7.

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