JP2006129266A - Information offer system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a user with the position of an article on the outside of the communication distance of a proximity radio communication to the user. <P>SOLUTION: An information offer system has mobile terminals 21 to 2N and information offer servers 11 to 1K constituting a communication network 100 and fixed communication devices 31 to 3M. The mobile terminal 2i detects a proximity communication device 5 annexed to a body O by the proximity radio communication; acquires a body information stored in the proximity communication device 5, and makes the acquired body information and its own positional information at a time when the proximity communication device 5 is detected correspond; generates a profile information to the body O; and transmits the profile information to the information offer server 1i. The information offer server 1i database-makes and stores the received profile information. The mobile terminal 2i is connected to the information offer server 1i, and the profile information corresponding to a certain body O is transmitted. The user can determine the positional information of the body O by the transmission of the profile information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a system that detects the position of an object and provides information.

  In recent years, a personal navigation service that transmits current location information of a mobile phone together with map information and provides the current location information to a user possessing the mobile phone has started in earnest. Development of services (LBS: Location Based Service) is expected.

  In order to further develop services related to location information, it is important to easily detect location information of objects and the like in addition to widening the application range of services. Here, a technique called fixed point sensing is known as a conventional technique for detecting position information. Fixed point sensing is a technique in which a sensor is arranged in a space that is an applicable range, and the position of a person or an object is detected using this sensor.

  However, according to fixed point sensing, it is necessary to arrange a large number of sensors in the space, which entails enormous costs and management costs for the sensors become enormous. Virtually impossible.

Non-Patent Document 1 discloses a technique called patrol detection in which a user has a reader and detects a position of an article by receiving a signal from a tag while patroling a room. Specifically, the reader possessed by the user identifies his / her current position at any time by performing three-point surveying based on signals from three or more reference tags whose positions are fixed, and at the same time The signal received from the article tag is recorded, and the position of the article is calculated based on the propagation strength of the article tag received at a plurality of points and the identified position.
NTT COMWARE TECHNOLOGY 2004, page 15 and Fig. 6 “Kenhei Morishima, Takahiro Konno, Shuhei Watanabe”

  However, since the technology described in Non-Patent Document 1 employs RFID wireless tags and there are many restrictions on communication, a large number of RFID readers are required to apply the technology to a large-scale space (wide area). Is necessary, and enormous costs are required. Therefore, it is not practical to apply the technology to a service related to wide area location information.

  An object of the present invention is to detect the presence of an article within the communication distance of short-range wireless communication, record the unique information of the article together with the discovered position information, and store the position information of the article in the short-range wireless communication. It is to provide an information providing system that can be provided to a user who is out of communication.

  An information providing system according to the present invention includes a proximity communication device attached to each of a plurality of objects, a plurality of mobile terminals, and an information providing server connected to each mobile terminal via a communication network, The communication device includes object information storage means for storing object information including information for specifying an attached object, and the mobile terminal detects the proximity communication device by proximity wireless communication, and detects the detected proximity communication. Object information acquisition means for acquiring object information stored in the apparatus by the proximity wireless communication, and self-position calculation means for calculating self-position information indicating the position of the object when the object information is acquired by the object information acquisition means And the object information acquired by the object information acquisition means and the self-position information calculated by the self-position calculation means Profile information generating means for generating file information and profile information transmitting means for transmitting the profile information to the information providing server via the communication network, wherein the information providing server is transmitted from the mobile terminal. Profile information storage means for storing profile information in a database, and the mobile terminal transmits identification information for transmitting identification information for identifying a predetermined object to the information providing server via the communication network. Profile information determination means for determining whether profile information corresponding to an object indicated by the identification information transmitted from the mobile terminal is stored in the profile information storage means; The profile information judging means If it is determined that profile information corresponding to the object indicated by the identification information transmitted from the mobile terminal is stored, the profile information is transmitted to the mobile terminal that transmitted the identification information, and profile information is provided. And profile information providing means.

  In the above configuration, the close proximity wireless communication includes a plurality of communication methods, and the close proximity communication device corresponds to any one of the plurality of communication methods, and the object of the mobile terminal The information acquisition means preferably corresponds to any one of the plurality of communication methods.

  Further, in the above configuration, the proximity communication device is connected to any one of the plurality of mobile terminals via a predetermined communication line, and uses the proximity wireless communication having a communication method different from that of the mobile terminal. And detecting the object information stored in the detected proximity communication device, and transferring the received object information to a mobile terminal connected via a predetermined communication line. Preferably, the mobile terminal includes object information transfer means, and the mobile terminal acquires object information transmitted from the detection device.

  Further, in the above configuration, the profile information transmitting means of the mobile terminal transmits a connection request to the information providing server, and transmits the profile information when the connection request is permitted. When the connection request is not permitted, the profile information generation unit further includes a local profile information storage unit that stores the profile information generated by the profile information generation unit, and the profile information transmission unit, when the connection request is permitted, Preferably, the profile information stored in the local profile information storage means is transmitted to the information providing server.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, when a person holding the mobile terminal approaches the vicinity of the object, the mobile terminal detects a proximity communication device such as an IC tag attached to the object, and the detected proximity communication device To obtain object information of the object. Here, since the object is detected by proximity wireless communication by the mobile terminal, the self-position information of the mobile terminal can be considered as the position information of the object. That is, the mobile terminal functions as a sensor that detects the position of the object.

  Then, the mobile terminal calculates self-position information indicating its own position, generates profile information in association with the calculated self-position information and the acquired object information, and transmits the profile information to the information providing server. The received profile information is stored in the profile information storage means. Then, when identification information for identifying an object is transmitted from the mobile terminal based on an operation command by the user, the information providing server stores profile information corresponding to the object indicated by the identification information. The profile information is transmitted to the mobile terminal. Thereby, the user who possesses the mobile terminal can know the position of the object.

  Here, since the profile information storage means also stores profile information transmitted from other mobile terminals, the user can know the position of an object outside the close proximity wireless communication distance. In addition, the information providing system according to the present invention enhances the contents of the database for storing profile information as the number of mobile terminals increases, so that it is possible for a user without arranging a large number of sensors in the space. As a result of expanding the range in which the position information related to the object can be provided, it is possible to provide the user with a service related to the wide area position information at low cost.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the proximity wireless communication includes a plurality of communication methods such as RFID, Bluetooth, ZigBee (IEEE802.15.4), wireless LAN, UWB (ultra wide band), and the like. Corresponds to any one of the communication methods, and thus the profile information generated based on the object information acquired using various communication methods is transmitted to the information providing server. Therefore, the information providing server can store more profile information regardless of the communication method, and can provide more information to the user.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, the mobile terminal can detect the proximity communication device using a communication method different from the communication method adopted by itself as the communication method of the proximity wireless communication by connecting the detection device. It becomes possible. That is, the mobile terminal can detect a near field communication device corresponding to a communication method different from the communication method adopted by the mobile terminal via this detection device. As a result, the information providing server can store more profile information, and can provide more information to the user. Furthermore, the user can detect a proximity communication device corresponding to various communication methods by replacing the detection device, and the information providing server can store more profile information.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, in the period when the connection between the mobile terminal and the information providing server cannot be established, the profile information generated by the mobile terminal is later established with the information providing server. When the information is sent to the information providing server, the information providing server can store more profile information and can provide more information to the user.

  Hereinafter, an information providing system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of the information providing system. The information providing system includes K (K is a positive number) information providing servers 11 to 1K, N (N is a positive number) mobile terminals 21 to 2N, and M (M is a positive number of 3 or more). A fixed communication device 31 to 3M and one or a plurality of detection proximity communication devices (detection devices) 4 are provided. The information providing servers 11 to 1 </ b> K and the mobile terminals 21 to 2 </ b> N are connected via the communication network 100 so that they can communicate with each other by TCP / IP. The communication network 100 includes a mobile phone communication network, an Internet communication network, and an ad hoc network. An ad hoc network is composed of a plurality of terminals (personal computers, PDAs (personal digital assistants, mobile phones, etc.)) that can be connected by wireless communication, and any two terminals can be directly or others without going through an access point. It is a network that can communicate indirectly via the terminal.

  The mobile terminals 21 to 2N are mobile wireless communication devices such as PDAs, mobile phones, and portable personal computers, and have a wide area wireless communication function and a proximity wireless communication function for performing communication via a mobile phone network. Here, the mobile terminals 21 to 2N acquire the object information stored in the proximity communication device 5 attached to the object O by using the proximity wireless communication, and obtain the self-position information indicating the position of the self at the time of acquisition. The profile information of the object O is generated by calculating and associating the object information with the self-location information, and the generated profile information is transmitted to the information providing servers 11 to 1K. In other words, the mobile terminals 21 to 2N generate profile information as the position information of the object O detected by the proximity wireless communication using the calculated self-position information.

  The near field communication device 5 stores object information that is information regarding the attached object O. This object information includes an identifier for identifying the object O, the name of the object O, the state of the object O, and the like. Here, each proximity communication device 5 employs an IC tag corresponding to one of the proximity wireless communication methods such as RFID, Bluetooth, ZigBee (IEEE802.15.4), wireless LAN, and UWB. . That is, the information providing system is a system in which various close proximity wireless communication methods are mixed.

  Each of the fixed communication devices 31 to 3M is an access point in a mobile phone communication network or an access point by a wireless LAN in the Internet communication network. In this case, on the assumption that it is used for position estimation in an ad hoc mode, A reference position information packet that is installed at a predetermined position and includes information indicating the position (hereinafter referred to as “reference position information”) is generated, and the generated reference position information packet is transmitted to the mobile terminal 21 via the communication network 100. Distribute to ~ 2N at a predetermined cycle.

  The proximity communication device for detection 4 is directly connected to an external connection terminal included in the mobile terminal 2i with respect to an arbitrary mobile terminal 2i, or connected via a communication cable such as a USB cable, or connected wirelessly. It corresponds to any one of close proximity wireless communication methods such as Bluetooth, ZigBee, RFID (Radio Frequency-Identification), wireless LAN, UWB, etc., and detects the close proximity communication device 5 using the corresponding close proximity wireless communication method. .

  For example, when the proximity wireless communication method of the mobile terminal 2i is Bluetooth, the user can change any of the proximity wireless communication methods other than Bluetooth, such as Zigbee, RFID, and wireless LAN, to the mobile terminal 2i. By appropriately replacing the corresponding detection proximity communication device 4, the mobile terminal 2 i can detect the proximity communication device 5 corresponding to various proximity wireless communication systems.

  The information providing servers 11 to 1K store the profile information transmitted from the mobile terminals 21 to 2N in a database. In addition, the information providing servers 11 to 1K accept profile transmission requests for an object O from the mobile terminals 21 to 2N, and transmit profile information corresponding to the object O to the mobile terminal that transmitted the profile transmission transmission request. The object O includes various daily necessities such as a computer, a printer, a television, a bicycle, a book, an umbrella, and a fountain pen.

(Configuration of information providing server)
Next, the configuration of the information providing servers 11 to 1K will be described. Since the information providing servers 11 to 1K have the same configuration, only the information providing server 1i that is the i-th information providing server will be described. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the information providing server 1i. The information providing server 1i is configured by a normal computer having a communication function, and includes a transmission / reception unit 101, a program execution unit 110, and a storage unit 120. The program execution unit 110 includes a CPU, and functions as a connection permission unit 111, a determination unit 112, and an update unit 113 by executing an information providing server program stored in a hard disk (not shown). The storage unit 120 functions as a user ID storage unit 121 and a profile information storage unit 122.

  The transmission / reception unit 101 includes a communication device, modulates a signal from the information providing server 1i into a wired signal or a wireless signal, transmits the signal to the communication network 100, and demodulates the wired signal or the wireless signal transmitted from the communication network 100. .

  The user ID storage unit 121 stores a user ID database for identifying users who are permitted to connect to the information providing server. The user ID record constituting the user ID database includes fields for storing a user ID and a password corresponding to the user ID, respectively.

  Depending on whether or not the user ID and password transmitted from the mobile terminals 21 to 2N are stored in the user ID storage unit 121, the connection permission unit 111 determines whether the user who transmitted the user ID and password is to the information providing server 1i. It is determined whether or not the user has authority to connect.

  The profile information storage unit 122 stores a profile information database in which profile information transmitted from the mobile terminals 21 to 2N is databased. The profile information record constituting the profile information database includes the identifier of the object O, the self-location information of the mobile terminal that detected the object O, the detection date and time when the object O was detected, the name of the object O, the data indicating the state of the object O, etc. Is stored in each field. The state is data indicating the shipping date, date of manufacture, price, etc. of the product.

  The determination unit 112 determines whether or not a profile information record for the object O indicated by the profile transmission request transmitted from the mobile terminals 21 to 2N exists in the profile information database. Corresponding profile information is transmitted to the mobile terminal that transmitted the profile transmission request.

  The update unit 113 determines whether or not a profile information record for the object O indicated by the profile information transmitted from the mobile terminals 21 to 2N exists in the profile information database. If there is, the received profile information is the latest. It is determined whether it is profile information. If the profile information is the latest profile information, the corresponding profile information record is updated with the received profile information. On the other hand, if it is not the latest profile information, the received profile information is discarded without updating the corresponding profile information record. Furthermore, when the profile information record corresponding to the object O indicated by the received profile information does not exist in the profile information database, a new profile information record corresponding to the object O is created.

  In this embodiment, the determination unit 112 corresponds to a profile information determination unit, the transmission / reception unit 101 corresponds to a profile information providing unit, and the profile information storage unit 122 corresponds to profile information.

(Configuration of mobile device)
Next, the mobile terminals 21 to 2N will be described. Since the mobile terminals 21 to 2N have the same configuration, only the i-th mobile terminal 2i will be described. FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of the mobile terminal 2i. The mobile terminal 2i includes a wide area communication unit 201, a proximity communication unit 202, a self location information calculation unit 203, a profile information generation unit 204, a profile information storage unit 205, an operation unit 206, a display unit 207, a transmission history storage unit 208, and a capacity. A determination unit 209 is provided.

  The wide area communication unit 201 is composed of a wireless communication device, modulates a signal of the mobile terminal 2i and transmits it to the communication network 100 as a wireless signal for wide area wireless communication, and transmits other mobile terminals 21 to 2N (2i Except for) a wireless signal for wide area wireless communication transmitted from the information providing servers 11 to 1K via the communication network 100 and demodulating.

  The proximity communication unit 202 can be connected to the proximity communication device 4 for detection corresponding to any one or more of proximity wireless communication such as Bluetooth, ZigBee, RFID (Radio Frequency-Identification), wireless LAN, UWB, etc. The proximity communication device 5 is detected using the close proximity wireless communication, and the object information stored in the detected proximity communication device 5 is received (acquired) by the proximity wireless communication.

  The self-location information calculation unit 203 calculates self-location information using any one or a plurality of methods among the following first to third methods. The GPS module 2031, the wireless LAN module 2032, and the ad hoc module 2033 are modules that execute the first to third methods, respectively. The first method is a method of calculating self-position information based on radio waves from GPS hygiene received by a GPS antenna (not shown). The second method is a method of calculating self-location information by three-point survey using reference position information packets transmitted from at least three fixed communication devices received by a wireless LAN antenna (not shown). . The third method is a method for calculating self-position information based on position information packets transmitted from mobile terminals other than the self constituting the ad hoc network. Since the third method is not a known technique, details thereof will be described later.

  When the mobile terminal 2 i acquires object information from the proximity communication unit 202, the profile information generation unit 204 uses the object information received by the proximity communication unit 202 and the self-location information calculated by the self-location information calculation unit 203. In association, profile information for the object O is generated. Further, when the mobile terminal 2 i acquires object information via the detection proximity communication device 4, the profile information generation unit 204 and the object information acquired by the detection proximity communication device 4 and the self-position information calculation unit 203. Profile information for the object O is generated by associating with the self-position information calculated by the above.

  The profile information storage unit 205 stores profile information generated by the profile information generation unit 204. The profile information storage unit 205 has a storage capacity capable of storing one or a plurality of profile information. The transmission history storage unit 208 stores a transmission history table in which the transmission history of profile information transmitted by the wide area communication unit 201 is described.

  The capacity determination unit 209 measures the free capacity of the profile information storage unit 205 and determines whether or not the measured free capacity is larger than the data amount of one piece of profile information generated by the profile information generation unit 204. If it is determined that the data amount is larger than the data amount of one piece of profile information, the proximity communication unit 202 causes the proximity communication device 5 to acquire object information.

  In this embodiment, the proximity communication unit 202 corresponds to an object information acquisition unit, the self-location information calculation unit 203 corresponds to a self-location information calculation unit, the profile information generation unit 204 corresponds to a profile information generation unit, and wide area communication. The unit 201 corresponds to profile information generating means.

(Operation of information provision system)
Next, the operation of the information providing system will be described. 4 and 5 are flowcharts showing processing (personal sensing processing) for acquiring object information executed by the information providing system. Hereinafter, personal sensing processing executed by the mobile terminal 2i will be described using the flowcharts shown in FIGS. In the following description, the mobile terminal 2 i detects the proximity communication device 5 via the detection proximity communication device 4.

  First, in step S <b> 1, the wide area communication unit 201 delivers a discovery request for discovering communicable information providing servers 11 to 1 </ b> K to the communication network 100.

  In step S2, when the wide area communication unit 201 receives a discovery response from the information providing server (YES in S2), the wide area communication unit 201 transmits a connection request to the information providing server (S3). Here, when there are a plurality of information providing servers that have transmitted connection responses, the wide area communication unit 201 causes the display unit 207 to display a list of these information providing servers. Then, the wide area communication unit 201 transmits a connection request to one or a plurality of information providing servers selected by the user using the operation unit 206 from this list.

  Here, the connection request includes the user ID and password input by the user using the operation unit 206. The information providing server that has received the connection request refers to the user ID storage unit 121 to determine whether or not the user who has input the user ID and password has the authority to connect to the information providing server, and connects. If it is determined that the user has authority, a connection permission is transmitted to the mobile terminal 2i. Thereby, the user connects to the information providing server. On the other hand, if the information providing server determines that the user who has entered the user ID and password does not have the authority to connect, the information providing server transmits a connection rejection to the mobile terminal 2i. Hereinafter, the information providing server to which the mobile terminal 2i is connected is denoted by the reference numeral “1i”.

  On the other hand, in step S2, when the connection response cannot be received from the information providing server 1i (NO in S2), the mobile terminal 2i shifts the operation mode to the local mode (S4). The local mode process will be described later.

  In step S5, when the wide area communication unit 201 receives a connection permission from the information providing server 1i (YES in S5), the mobile terminal 2i executes a sensing process (S7), detects the proximity communication device 5, and detects it. The profile information of the object attached to the close proximity communication device 5 is generated. Details of the sensing process will be described later. In step S8, the wide area communication unit 201 of the mobile terminal 2i transmits the profile information of the object detected by the sensing process to the information providing server 1i.

  On the other hand, in step S5, when the wide area communication unit 201 has not received a connection request from the information providing server 1i (NO in S5), the mobile terminal 2i shifts the operation mode to the local mode (S6).

  In step S9, the wide area communication unit 201 determines whether or not all data of profile information generated by sensing is transmitted to the information providing server 1i, and determines that all data is transmitted to the information providing server 1i. In the case (YES in S9), the transmitted profile information is marked as transmitted (S10). Specifically, the wide area communication unit 201 has already been transmitted by writing a sequence number for identifying the transmitted profile information, a transmission date and time, and the like in the transmission history table stored in the transmission history storage unit 208. Leave a history showing that.

  In step S9, when the communication between the mobile terminal 2i and the information providing server 1i is interrupted and the wide area communication unit 201 cannot transmit all the data of the profile information (NO in S9), the process is performed. It returns to step S1 and the process after step S2 is performed.

  In step S11, when the detection proximity communication device 4 becomes unusable due to the user removing the detection proximity communication device 4 from the mobile terminal 2i or the like (YES in S11), the wide area communication unit 201 includes the information providing server 1i. Logout request is sent to (S12), the information providing server 1i is logged out, and the process is terminated. On the other hand, when the proximity communication device 4 for detection is available (NO in S11), the process returns to step S7, and sensing is continued.

  Next, a process in which the mobile terminal 2i detects the near field communication device 5 using the near field communication unit 202 included in the mobile terminal 2i without using the near field communication device 4 for detection will be described. 6 and 7 are flowcharts illustrating processing in which the mobile terminal 2 i acquires object information from the near field communication device 5 using the near field communication unit 202. Since the process of step S21-step S26 is the same as step S1-S6 shown in FIG. 4, description is abbreviate | omitted.

  In step S27, the mobile terminal 2i executes a sensing process. The processing in steps S28 to S30 is the same as the processing in steps S8 to S10 shown in FIG.

  In step S31, when sensing of the mobile terminal 2i is terminated (for example, YES in S31), for example, when the user inputs an operation command to terminate sensing via the operation unit 206 (YES in S31), the wide area communication unit 201 A logout request is transmitted to the providing server 1i (S32), the mobile terminal 2i logs out from the information providing server 1i, and the process is terminated. On the other hand, if the sensing is not terminated in step S31 (NO in S31), the process returns to step S27 and sensing is continued.

(Local mode processing)
Next, local mode processing shown in steps S4 and S6 in FIG. 4 will be described with reference to FIG. The local mode is an operation mode performed by the mobile terminal 2i when the mobile terminal 2i cannot find the information providing servers 11 to 1K.

  In step S51, the capacity determination unit 209 measures the free capacity of the profile information storage unit 205, and the measured free capacity is a capacity that can store one piece of profile information (YES in S51). The communication unit 202 performs a sensing process (S52), stores the profile information generated by the sensing in the profile information storage unit 205 (S53), and the process returns to step S51. On the other hand, when the capacity determination unit 209 determines that one profile information cannot be stored in the profile information storage unit 205 with the measured free capacity of the profile information storage unit 205 (NO in S51), the process ends. Is done. That is, the local mode processing is executed until the profile information storage unit 205 cannot store the profile information.

(Sensing process)
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing details of the sensing process shown in step S7 of FIG. 5, step S27 of FIG. 7, and step S52 of FIG. Note that the processing subject is partially different between the sensing process performed using the proximity communication device for detection 4 and the sensing process performed by the proximity communication unit 202. Hereinafter, the sensing process performed by the proximity communication unit 202 is expressed using parentheses. First, in step S41, the proximity communication device for detection 4 (proximity communication unit 202) detects the proximity communication device 5 using proximity wireless communication. In step S <b> 42, the proximity communication device 4 for detection (proximity communication unit 202) acquires object information stored in the proximity communication device 5.

  In step S43, the self-location information calculation unit 203 calculates the self-location information of the mobile terminal 2i by any one of the first to third methods.

  In step S44, the profile information generation unit 204 detects the object information acquired by the detection proximity communication device 4 (proximity communication unit 202) in association with the self-position information calculated by the self-position information calculation unit 203. Profile information for an object to which the near field communication device 5 is attached is generated.

(Download profile information)
Next, processing (profile information download processing) performed between the mobile terminal 2i and the information providing server when profile information is transmitted to the mobile terminal 2i will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, in step S <b> 61, the wide area communication unit 201 distributes a discovery request for discovering an information providing server to the communication network 100. In step S71, when the information providing server receives the discovery request (YES in S71), the information providing server that has received the discovery request transmits a discovery response to the mobile terminal 2i (S72).

  In step S62, when the mobile terminal 2i receives the discovery response from the information providing server (YES in S62), the mobile terminal 2i transmits a connection request to the information providing server 1i (S63). If the mobile terminal 2i has not received a discovery response from the information providing server (NO in S62), the process is terminated.

  In step S73, when the information providing server receives the connection request (YES in step S73), the information providing server has the authority that the user who entered the user ID and password included in the connection request connects to the information providing server 1i. It is determined by referring to the user ID storage unit 121 (S74). If the information providing server determines that the user has the authority to connect to the information providing server (YES in S74), the information providing server transmits a connection permission to the mobile terminal 2i (S75). On the other hand, when the information providing server does not receive the connection request in step S73 (NO in S73), the process returns to step S73. If it is determined in step S74 that the information providing server does not have the authority to connect (NO in S74), the process ends.

  When the mobile terminal 2i receives the connection permission (YES in S64), the user uses the operation unit 206 to obtain the name or identifier, position, or other information included in the profile of the object O for which profile information is desired to be acquired. Etc. are input as search conditions, and the mobile terminal 2i transmits a profile transmission request for requesting transmission of profile information corresponding to the input object O (S65). When the information providing server 1i receives the profile transmission request (YES in S76), the information providing server 1i determines whether or not the profile information corresponding to the object O indicated by the profile transmission request exists in the profile information storage unit 122. (S77). When the information providing server 1i determines that there is profile information corresponding to the object O (YES in S77), the profile information corresponding to the object O is transmitted to the mobile terminal 2i (S78).

  On the other hand, if the information providing server 1i does not receive the profile transmission request in step S76 (NO in S76), the process is returned to step S76. In step S77, when the information providing server 1i determines that there is no profile information corresponding to the object O (NO in S77), the process ends. In this case, the information providing server 1i transmits, for example, a signal indicating that no profile information exists to the mobile terminal 2i.

  In step S66, when the mobile terminal 2i receives the profile information (YES in S66), the mobile terminal 2i displays the received profile information on the display unit 207 (S67), and the process ends. In addition, when the signal which shows that the profile information corresponding to the object O does not exist from the information provision server 1i, the mobile terminal 2i displays the image which shows that profile information does not exist on the display part 207.

(Calculation of self-location information by the third method)
FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of an ad hoc module 2033 that calculates self-location information by the third method. The ad hoc module 2033 includes a reference position list storage unit 301, an adjacent terminal list storage unit 302, another device position information calculation unit 303, a self position information storage unit 304, and a self position information calculation unit 305.

  The reference position list storage unit 301 stores a reference position information database. The reference position information record constituting the reference position information database includes reference position information, IP address, hop number, etc. described in the reference position information packet (AP flatting packet) transmitted from the fixed communication devices 31 to 3M. Consists of fields to be stored.

  This reference position information record is created every time the mobile terminal 2i receives a reference position information packet. The reference position information indicates the position of the fixed communication device 3i that has transmitted the reference position information packet. The position of the fixed communication device 3i is represented by, for example, three values x, y, and z. The IP address is the IP address of the fixed communication device 3i.

  The number of hops indicates the number of mobile terminals constituting the ad hoc network through which the reference position information packet transmitted from the fixed communication device 3i has reached the mobile terminal 2i. Note that the reference position information packet is incremented by one for each hop that passes through the terminals constituting the communication network 100.

  The adjacent terminal list storage unit 302 stores an adjacent terminal database. The adjacent terminal record constituting the adjacent terminal database includes fields for storing IP addresses, time information, adjacent terminal position information, and the like of other mobile terminals adjacent to the mobile terminal 2i. Here, the adjacent terminal refers to a mobile terminal that can directly communicate with the mobile terminal 21 without passing through another mobile terminal that forms an ad hoc network.

  The adjacent terminal position information is calculated based on the other apparatus position information calculated by the other apparatus position information calculation unit 303. This adjacent terminal position information is represented by, for example, three values x, y, and z. The time information indicates the time when the data of the adjacent terminal record is updated. Since the position information packet is set to TTL = 1, it is not transferred from the mobile terminal that has received the position information packet.

  The other apparatus position information calculation unit 303 is the adjacent terminal calculated by the adjacent terminal that has transmitted the self-position information of the mobile terminal 2i stored in the self-position information storage unit 304 and the packet described in the position information packet. The other apparatus position information is calculated using the self-position information.

  The self position information storage unit 304 stores self position information indicating the position of the mobile terminal 2 i calculated by the self position information calculation unit 305. This self-position information is represented by three values of x, y, and z.

  When the location information calculation unit 305 receives a location information packet transmitted from an adjacent terminal, the location information of the mobile terminal 2i (other device location information) calculated by the adjacent terminal included in the received location information packet, Using the reference position information and the number of hops stored in the reference position list storage unit 301, self-position information indicating the position of itself (mobile terminal 2i) is calculated.

  Next, a process in which the mobile terminal 2i calculates self-location information by the third method will be described. FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a process in which the ad hoc module 2033 of the mobile terminal calculates self-location information by the third method. Since the third method is a method for calculating self-location information by transmitting and receiving various data to and from adjacent mobile terminals, in the following description, “2i” is used for the mobile terminal that calculates self-location information. The number “2j” is assigned to other adjacent mobile terminals, and both mobile terminals are distinguished from each other. Further, the flowchart shown in FIG. 12 is executed when the mobile terminal 2i receives the position information packet transmitted from the mobile terminal 2j.

First, the mobile terminal 2i determines whether or not the other device position information ω _{j, i} (position information of the mobile terminal 2i calculated by the mobile terminal 2j) exists in the received position information packet (S81). If the other apparatus position information ω _{j, i} exists (YES in S81), the self position information ω _i stored in the self position information storage unit 304 is updated with the other apparatus position information ω _{j, i} (S82).

On the other hand, when the other device position information ω _{j, i} does not exist in the position information packet transmitted from the mobile terminal 2j in step S81 (NO in S81), the self-position information ω stored in the self-position information storage unit 304 _The process proceeds to step S83 without updating _i .

In step S83, the self-position information calculation unit 305 counts the number of reference position information records stored in the reference position list storage unit 301, and when the counted number of reference position information records is three or more (S84). If YES in step S85, the process proceeds to step S85. If the number of reference position information records is less than three (NO in step S84), the process ends. Here, if the number is less than three reference position information record, it is not possible to calculate its own position information omega _i by a three-point measurement has been decided to terminate the process without calculating the self-position information omega _i .

In step S84, the self-position information calculation unit 305 uses the self-position information ω _i , the reference position information Ω _k and the hop number hop _k stored in the reference position information record, and the expressions (1) and (2) ) To calculate a correction vector φ for correcting the self-position information ω _i .

Cor _k shown in equation (1) represents the correction information with respect to the fixed communication device 3k, G represents the total number of reference position information record constituting the reference position information database, r is shows a communication radius of the mobile terminal 2i. Here, the numerator of the first term on the right side of Equation (1) indicates the distance between the fixed communication device 3k and the mobile terminal 2i obtained from the reference position information Ω _k and the self-position information ω _i, and the denominator of the same term is the hop The distance between the fixed communication device 3k and the mobile terminal 2i obtained by the number is shown. Therefore, since the denominator and the numerator are essentially the same value, the closer the value of cor _k is to 0, the higher the accuracy of the self-position information ω _i .

W (cor _k ) shown in the equation (2) is a weight function for the correction information cor _k ; x defined in the equation (3). Further, a shown in Expression (3) is an adjustment parameter that takes a positive real number. Here, a = 1. Incidentally, formula (2) is an operation for calculating the average of the correction information cor _k.

In step S86, the self-position information calculating unit 305 performs calculation of formula (4), calculates its own position information omega _i, stored in the self-position information storage unit 304 by the calculated self-position information omega _i self The position information ω _i is updated (S87), and the self-position information ω _i is corrected.

S shown in the equation (4) is a parameter for adjusting the influence of correction by the correction vector φ, and is given in advance as an initial parameter with a constant value of 1 or more. Note that the initial value of the self-position information ω _i stored in the self-position information storage unit 304 is determined by the self-position information calculation unit 305 when the number of reference position information records becomes three. It is obtained by calculating the self-location information ω _i using the information.

Next, processing in which the other device position information calculation unit 303 calculates the other device position information will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. This flowchart is executed when the mobile terminal 2j receives a position information packet from the mobile terminal 2i. First, in step S91, the other apparatus position information calculation unit 303 stores the self-position information ω _i (other apparatus position information ω _i ) of the mobile terminal 2i described in the received position information packet and the self-position information storage unit 304. The absolute value of the difference from the stored self-position information ω _j is calculated.

In step S92, the other apparatus position information calculation unit 303 determines whether or not the calculated absolute value | ω _i −ω _j | of the difference is larger than the communication radius r, and is larger than the communication radius r (YES in S92). ), The process proceeds to step S93, and when the calculated absolute value | ω _i −ω _j | of the difference is equal to or less than the communication radius r (NO in S92), the process is performed without correcting the other apparatus position information ω _i. finish.

Here, since the location information packet is received only by the adjacent terminal, the distance between the mobile terminal 2j and the mobile terminal 2i should be equal to or less than the communication radius r. Therefore, in step S92, when | ω _i −ω _j | ≦ r (NO in S92), it is determined that the correction of the other apparatus position information ω _i is unnecessary, and the processing is ended.

In step S93, the other apparatus position information calculation unit 303 corrects the other apparatus position information ω _i by the calculation of Expression (5) using the self position information ω _j and the other apparatus position information ω _i. And the other apparatus position information ω _i is calculated by the calculation of the equation (6) using the correction vector V (S94).

Α and q shown in the equation (6) are predetermined parameters, and here, α = 0.6 and q = 0.5. Equation (6) can be simplified as shown in Equation (7) using λ = α · (1-q) = 0.3. As shown in Expression (7), Expression (5) and Expression (6) are the distances between the self position indicated by the self position information ω _j and the position indicated by the other apparatus position information ω _i , that is, This is an operation for correcting the other apparatus position information ω _i so that the distance between the mobile terminal 2j and the mobile terminal 2i is reduced.

In step S95, the other device position information calculation unit 303 uses the calculated other device position information ω _i to store the adjacent terminal position information included in the adjacent terminal record corresponding to the mobile terminal 2i stored in the adjacent terminal list storage unit 302. Update the data.

  As described above, according to this information providing system, the mobile terminal 2i detects the proximity communication device 5 to acquire object information of the object O, and the object information corresponds to the self-position information at the time of acquisition. Then, the profile information of the object O is generated and transmitted to the information providing server 1i. The information providing server 1i stores the transmitted profile information in a database and stores it in the profile information storage unit 122. When the user of the mobile terminal 2i connects to the information providing server 1i and requests the information providing server 1i to acquire profile information related to an object, the information providing server 1i requests the mobile terminal 2i to obtain profile information about the object. Send. Therefore, the user can know the position of the object O. As a result, for example, when the user forgets to place his property somewhere, the user can know the position of the property by accessing the information providing server.

1 shows an overall configuration diagram of an information providing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the function structure of an information provision server. The block diagram which shows the function structure of a mobile terminal is shown. It is a flowchart which shows the process at the time of the mobile terminal which acquired object information using the proximity communication apparatus for a detection transmitting profile information with respect to an information provision server. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing processing subsequent to the flowchart shown in FIG. 4. FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the process at the time of the mobile terminal which acquired object information without using the proximity communication apparatus for a detection transmitting profile information with respect to an information provision server. It is a flowchart which shows the process following the flowchart shown in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the process of local mode. It is a flowchart which shows a sensing process. It is a flowchart which shows the process performed between a mobile terminal and an information provision server at the time of profile information being transmitted to a mobile terminal. It is a block diagram which shows the function structure of the self-position information calculation part shown in FIG. 3 at the time of calculating self-position information by a 3rd system. It is a flowchart which shows the process in which the self-location information calculation part of a mobile terminal calculates self-location information. It is the flowchart which showed the process in which the other apparatus position information calculation part of a mobile terminal calculates other apparatus position information.

Explanation of symbols

11-1K 1i Information providing server 101 Transmission / reception unit 110 Program execution unit 111 Connection permission unit 112 Determination unit 113 Update unit 120 Storage unit 121 User ID storage unit 122 Profile information storage unit 21-2N 2i 2j Mobile terminals 31-3M 3k Fixed communication Device 4 Detection proximity communication device 5 Proximity communication device O Object 100 Communication network 201 Wide area communication unit 202 Proximity communication unit 203 Self-position information calculation unit 204 Profile information generation unit 205 Profile information storage unit 206 Operation unit 207 Display unit 208 Transmission history storage Section 209 Capacity determination section

Claims (4)

A proximity communication device attached to each of a plurality of objects, a plurality of mobile terminals, and an information providing server connected to each mobile terminal via a communication network,
The proximity communication device includes:
Comprising object information storage means for storing object information including information for identifying the attached object;
The mobile terminal
Object information acquisition means for detecting the proximity communication device by proximity wireless communication and acquiring the object information stored in the detected proximity communication device by the proximity wireless communication;
Self-position calculating means for calculating self-position information indicating its own position when object information is acquired by the object information acquiring means;
Profile information generation means for generating profile information by associating the object information acquired by the object information acquisition means with the self-position information calculated by the self-position calculation means;
Profile information transmitting means for transmitting the profile information to the information providing server via the communication network,
The information providing server includes:
Profile information storage means for storing the profile information transmitted from the mobile terminal in a database;
The mobile terminal
Based on an operation command from a user, the information providing server further includes identification information transmitting means for transmitting identification information for identifying a predetermined object via the communication network,
The information providing server includes:
Profile information determination means for determining whether profile information corresponding to the object indicated by the identification information transmitted from the mobile terminal is stored in the profile information storage means;
When it is determined by the profile information determination means that profile information corresponding to the object indicated by the identification information transmitted from the mobile terminal is stored, the profile information is transmitted to the mobile terminal that transmitted the identification information. The information providing system further comprising: profile information providing means for transmitting profile information and providing profile information. The proximity wireless communication includes a plurality of communication methods,
The proximity communication device corresponds to any one of the plurality of communication methods,
The information providing system according to claim 1, wherein the object information acquisition unit of the mobile terminal corresponds to any one of the plurality of communication methods. A detection device connected to any one of the plurality of mobile terminals via a predetermined communication line and detecting the proximity communication device using proximity wireless communication having a communication method different from that of the mobile terminal. In addition,
The detection device includes:
Comprising object information transfer means for receiving object information stored in the detected proximity communication device and transferring the received object information to a mobile terminal connected via a predetermined communication line;
The mobile terminal
The information providing system according to claim 2, wherein the object information transmitted from the detection device is acquired. The profile information transmitting means of the mobile terminal transmits a connection request to the information providing server, and when the connection request is permitted, transmits the profile information.
The mobile terminal
If the connection request is not permitted, the device further comprises local profile information storage means for storing profile information generated by the profile information generation means,
4. The profile information transmitting unit transmits profile information stored in the local profile information storage unit to the information providing server when the connection request is permitted. Information providing system described in 1.

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