JP2009010501A - Information processing apparatus, communication system and locking/unlocking control method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To execute highly reliable locking/unlocking control with a simple configuration without incorporating a dedicated device or protocol into an information processing apparatus to be locked. <P>SOLUTION: The information processing apparatus 10 to be locked is provided with a packet capturing section 12 for capturing a radio LAN signal from a mobile terminal 20 of that user and measuring the reception level; a neighborhood region judging section 13 for judging, based on the reception level, whether the relative position of the mobile terminal 20 for the information processing apparatus 10 is a neighborhood region, an out-of-neighborhood region, a neighborhood monitoring region (intermediate region when moving from the neighborhood region to the out-of-neighborhood region) or an out-of-neighborhood monitoring region (intermediate region when moving from the out-of-neighborhood region to the neighborhood region); and an apparatus control section 16 for unlocking the information processing apparatus 10 when it is judged that the relative position is the neighborhood region or the neighborhood monitoring region, and locking the information processing apparatus 10 when it is judged that the relative position is the out-of-neighborhood region or the out-of-neighborhood monitoring region and when predetermined conditions are met. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, a communication system, and an unlocking control method.

In recent years, personal information leaks from information processing devices such as personal computers and mobile phones, and has become a social problem. As one of the solutions to this problem, there is known a use restriction device that locks the information processing device so that it does not accept input from the keyboard when the user of the information processing device leaves the information processing device. (See Patent Document 1 below).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-88499

  However, the use restriction device according to the above prior art has the following problems. That is, the use restriction device according to the related art uses a dedicated device or protocol, and in order to actually use it, it is necessary to incorporate the dedicated device or protocol into the information processing device to be locked.

  In the above use restriction device, it is detected that the user has left the information processing device to be locked due to a decrease in the reception level of the radio signal from the transmitter carried by the user. The reception level of the radio signal fluctuates with time due to changes in the surrounding radio wave environment caused by the movement of the fixture. Therefore, even though the user is actually near the information processing apparatus to be locked, the reception level of the radio signal temporarily decreases due to a change in the surrounding radio wave environment, so that the information processing apparatus to be locked becomes There was an inconvenience of being locked.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to perform highly reliable unlocking control with a simple configuration without incorporating a dedicated device or protocol into an information processing device to be locked.

  In order to achieve the above object, an information processing apparatus according to the present invention is provided between a locked state in which an operation cannot be performed from an operation unit and an unlocked state in which the locked state is released and can be operated from the operation unit. An information processing apparatus capable of changing its state, and when the information processing apparatus is used, captures a wireless signal transmitted by a wireless LAN from a mobile terminal assumed to be located in the vicinity of the information processing apparatus A packet capture unit that measures the reception level of the radio signal; a neighborhood region determination unit that determines a relative positional relationship of the mobile terminal with respect to the information processing device based on the reception level measured by the packet capture unit; A device control unit that controls the information processing device to be in a locked state or an unlocked state based on a determination result by the vicinity region determination unit. A proximity region in the vicinity of the information processing device, a proximity region outside the proximity region, a proximity monitoring region that is an intermediate region when the mobile terminal moves from the proximity region to the proximity region, and movement The device control unit determines which of the four areas, the non-neighbor monitoring area, which is an intermediate area when the terminal moves from the non-neighbor area to the neighboring area, and the relative position relationship Is determined to be in the vicinity area or the vicinity monitoring area, the information processing apparatus is controlled to be in the unlocked state, and the relative positional relationship is determined to be the vicinity outside area or the outside monitoring area and satisfies the predetermined condition. The processing device is controlled to be locked.

  Further, in the communication system according to the present invention, it is possible to change the state between the locked state in which the operation cannot be performed from the operation unit and the unlocked state in which the locked state is released and the operation unit can be operated. A communication system including an information processing device and a mobile terminal assumed to be located in the vicinity of the information processing device when the information processing device is used. A packet capture unit that captures a radio signal transmitted from a terminal through a wireless LAN and measures a reception level of the radio signal, and a relative position of the mobile terminal with respect to the information processing device based on the reception level measured by the packet capture unit A proximity region determination unit that determines a simple positional relationship, and a device control unit that controls the information processing device to be in a locked state or an unlocked state based on a determination result by the proximity region determination unit; The neighborhood area determination unit includes a neighborhood area in the vicinity of the information processing device, an outside area near the outside area, and a mobile terminal moves from the neighborhood area to the outside area as a relative positional relationship. Which of the four areas, the proximity monitoring area, which is an intermediate area in the case, and the outside monitoring area, which is an intermediate area when the mobile terminal moves from the outside vicinity area to the vicinity area, The device control unit controls the information processing device to be in an unlocked state when the relative positional relationship is determined to be the vicinity region or the proximity monitoring region, and the relative positional relationship is When it is determined that the monitoring area is outside the vicinity and the predetermined condition is satisfied, the information processing apparatus is controlled to be locked.

  Further, the unlocking control method according to the present invention can change the state between the locked state in which the operation cannot be performed from the operation unit and the unlocked state in which the locked state is released and the operation unit can be operated. The unlocking control method executed by the information processing apparatus transmitted from the mobile terminal assumed to be located in the vicinity of the information processing apparatus when the information processing apparatus is used. A packet capture step for capturing a radio signal and measuring a reception level of the radio signal, and a neighborhood region for determining a relative positional relationship of the mobile terminal with respect to the information processing device based on the reception level measured by the packet capture step A device control step for controlling the information processing device to be in a locked state or an unlocked state based on the determination result in the determination step and the vicinity region determination step. In the neighborhood region determination step, as a relative positional relationship, the neighborhood region in the vicinity of the information processing device, the neighborhood region outside the neighborhood region, and the mobile terminal from the neighborhood region to the neighborhood region Any of the four areas of the proximity monitoring area, which is an intermediate area when moving to, and the outside monitoring area, which is an intermediate area when the mobile terminal moves from the vicinity area to the vicinity area, In the device control step, if the relative positional relationship is determined to be the vicinity region or the proximity monitoring region, the information processing device is controlled to be unlocked, and the relative positional relationship is close. The information processing apparatus is controlled to be in a locked state when it is determined as an outside area or a near outside monitoring area and satisfies a predetermined condition.

  According to these inventions, the information processing apparatus determines the relative position of the mobile terminal relative to the information processing apparatus based on the reception level related to the wireless signal transmitted from the mobile terminal via the wireless LAN, A region monitoring area, which is an intermediate area when the mobile terminal moves from the vicinity area to the vicinity area, and an outside area, which is an intermediate area when the mobile terminal moves from the vicinity area to the vicinity area It is determined which of the four areas of the monitoring area corresponds, and when the relative positional relationship is determined to be the vicinity area or the vicinity monitoring area, the information processing device is controlled to be in an unlocked state, When the relative positional relationship is determined to be an out-of-near region or an out-of-near monitoring region and satisfies a predetermined condition, control is performed so that the information processing apparatus is locked.

  In this way, after utilizing the wireless LAN function already provided in the mobile terminal and the information processing apparatus, the information processing apparatus determines the relative position of the mobile terminal with respect to the information processing apparatus based on the reception level of the radio signal from the mobile terminal. By determining the positional relationship and controlling the unlocking state according to the determination result, the unlocking control can be executed with a simple configuration without incorporating a dedicated device or protocol into the information processing device to be locked. . In addition, as a relative positional relationship, not only the neighborhood area and the outside area, but also a proximity monitoring area that is an intermediate area when the mobile terminal moves from the neighborhood area to the outside area, and the mobile terminal By further assuming two areas, the non-neighbor monitoring area, which is an intermediate area when moving from the non-neighbor area to the near area, the propagation is larger than when only the near area and the non-neighbor area are assumed. It is possible to suppress the fluttering of the determination result due to the temporal variation of the reception level based on the environmental change, and to perform highly reliable unlocking control.

  In addition, in said information processing apparatus, it can comprise as follows regarding the determination by a near region determination part, for example. That is, when the neighborhood area determination unit determines that the area is a neighborhood area in the previous determination, the relative position relationship is determined when the reception level continuously falls below a predetermined first threshold value for a predetermined first number of times. When the reception level falls below a predetermined second threshold that is higher than the first threshold continuously for a predetermined second number of times, the relative positional relationship is monitored in the vicinity. If it is determined that the area has been changed, and it is determined to be an out-of-neighbor area in the previous determination, the reception level continuously exceeds a predetermined third threshold value that is higher than the second threshold value for a predetermined third number of times. Sometimes it is determined that the relative positional relationship has changed to the neighboring region, and a predetermined fourth threshold value that is higher than the second threshold value and lower than the third threshold value is continuously received for a predetermined fourth number of times. It is determined that the relative positional relationship has changed to the outside monitoring area when If the reception level is determined to be the vicinity monitoring area in the determination, the relative positional relationship is determined to have changed to the outside vicinity area when the reception level continuously falls below the first threshold for the first number of times. If the relative positional relationship has changed to the neighboring area when the value exceeds the third threshold value for the third consecutive number of times, and the previous judgment determines that the monitoring area is not the vicinity, the reception level is It is determined that the relative positional relationship has changed to the neighboring region when the third threshold value is continuously exceeded for the third time, and the relative value is obtained when the reception level is equal to or lower than the first threshold value for the first time. It can be configured to determine that the general positional relationship has changed to the outside vicinity region.

  In addition, the information processing apparatus includes a signal transmission unit that transmits a radio signal to the mobile terminal, and a signal transmission control unit that controls a time interval for transmitting the radio signal to the mobile terminal based on a determination result by the neighborhood region determination unit. And the signal transmission control unit is configured to reduce the time interval for transmitting the radio signal to the mobile terminal when the relative positional relationship is determined to be the proximity monitoring region or the non-neighboring monitoring region. Can be configured to control. In a wireless LAN, by shortening the time interval for transmitting a radio signal from the information processing device to the mobile terminal, the transmission time interval of the radio signal can be expected to be shortened in the opposite direction (from the mobile terminal to the information processing device). As described above, when the relative positional relationship is determined to be an intermediate area (neighbor monitoring area or non-neighbor monitoring area), the determination by the vicinity area determination unit is executed in a shorter time, and The real-time property of locking control can be improved.

  Further, in the above information processing device, the device control unit is only when a predetermined fixed or a character string that changes every predetermined time is input from the operation unit when the information processing device is locked. It is desirable to control the information processing apparatus so that it is unlocked. In this case, (1) the mobile terminal is located outside the wireless LAN environment, (2) the user does not carry the mobile terminal, (3) the battery of the mobile terminal is dead, (4) the mobile terminal or information processing Even in abnormal situations such as when there is an abnormality in the hardware of the device, the information processing device can be unlocked by inputting the above character string from the operation unit, and flexibly cope with the abnormal situation It becomes possible.

  Further, in the above information processing device, the device control unit determines that the relative positional relationship is the near outside region or the outside near monitoring region and the input from the operation unit is stopped for a predetermined time. It is desirable to control so that is locked. In other words, the device control unit sets the information processing device to the locked state as long as the input from the operation unit is not stopped for a predetermined time even when the relative positional relationship is determined to be the out-of-near region or the out-of-near monitoring region. Never do. In this case, even when the reception level temporarily decreases due to a change in the propagation environment of the wireless LAN, there is an input from the operation unit (when the user uses the information processing apparatus). The user can continue to use the information processing apparatus.

  According to the present invention, highly reliable unlocking control can be executed with a simple configuration without incorporating a dedicated device or protocol into an information processing device to be locked.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of an information processing apparatus, a communication system, and an unlocking control method according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  First, the configuration of the information processing apparatus and the communication system in the present embodiment will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the communication system 1 includes an information processing apparatus 10 that is an object of unlocking and a mobile terminal 20 that is carried by a user who uses the information processing apparatus 10.

  Among these, the mobile terminal 20 includes a signal receiving unit 21 and a signal transmitting unit 22, and is physically configured by a mobile terminal such as a mobile phone or a PDA, and a wireless LAN adapter built in or externally attached to the mobile terminal. The The signal receiving unit 21 receives a wireless LAN signal from a signal transmission unit 15 of the information processing apparatus 10 to be described later. In response to this, the signal transmission unit 22 transmits a wireless LAN response signal to the information processing apparatus 10. Although details will be described later, the relative positional relationship of the mobile terminal 20 with respect to the information processing apparatus 10 is determined based on the reception level of the wireless LAN signal transmitted from the mobile terminal 20, and based on the determination result. The unlocking of the information processing apparatus is controlled. Therefore, it can be said that the mobile terminal 20 is a target for determining the relative positional relationship that is the basis for the unlocking control with respect to the information processing apparatus 10 that is the target of the unlocking. Note that, as a relative positional relationship of the mobile terminal 20 with respect to the information processing apparatus 10, an area as illustrated in FIG. 5 is assumed. In other words, the “neighboring area” in the vicinity of the information processing apparatus 10, the “outer neighboring area” located outside the neighboring area, and the intermediate area when the mobile terminal 20 moves from the neighboring area to the outer neighboring area. “Nearby monitoring area” (see FIG. 5A) and “Nearby monitoring area” (see FIG. 5B), which is an intermediate area when the mobile terminal 20 moves from the non-neighboring area to the neighboring area. A total of four areas are assumed.

  On the other hand, the information processing apparatus 10 includes an attribute information storage unit 11, a packet capture unit 12, a neighborhood region determination unit 13, a signal transmission control unit 14, a signal transmission unit 15, a device control unit 16, and an operation unit 17. Is composed of a personal computer and a wireless LAN adapter built in or externally attached to the personal computer. Here, the wireless LAN adapter includes, for example, a communication wireless LAN adapter set in a communication mode (so-called managed mode) and a capture wireless LAN adapter set in another communication monitoring mode (so-called monitor mode). Or a single wireless LAN adapter set in a mode (so-called Promiscous mode) in which other communications are monitored simultaneously while communicating.

  The attribute information storage unit 11 includes a MAC address that uniquely identifies the mobile terminal 20, an IP address DHCP operation of the mobile terminal, an IP address, a host name, a mobile terminal use channel, a channel switching period, the number of aggregated packets, a mobile terminal security code, MAC address of capture wireless LAN adapter, neighborhood area determination reception level threshold Rin, neighborhood area determination time threshold Nin, outside area determination reception level threshold Rout, outside area determination time threshold Nout, outside area monitoring area determination reception level threshold Rp -in, out-of-proximity monitoring region determination time threshold Np-in, in-proximity monitoring region determination reception level threshold Rp-out, in-proximity monitoring region determination time threshold Np-out, in-proximity region ping execution cycle, out-of-proximity region ping execution cycle, Out-of-neighbor monitoring area Ping execution cycle, ICMP Echo request transmission cycle, ICMP Echo request transmission count, no-input allowable time, forced locking reception level threshold Rf-out To do.

  FIG. 2 shows an example of information stored in the attribute information storage unit 11. Here, the “mobile terminal use channel” is a channel used by an access point to which the mobile terminal can connect in a wireless LAN environment, and the mobile terminal 20 is set to “mobile terminal use channel” according to the position. The selected channel is switched for communication. The “mobile terminal security code” is a character string for releasing the information processing apparatus 10 from being locked (unusable) in an emergency and setting the unlocked state (usable) as an emergency. It can be changed dynamically as needed. When the mobile terminal security code is dynamically changed, a random character string using the time and the initial security code as a seed is generated every fixed time, and the generated character string is used as the information processing apparatus 10 and the mobile terminal 20. Store in each. Note that the above emergency is, for example, (1) the mobile terminal is located outside the wireless LAN environment, (2) the user does not carry the mobile terminal, (3) the battery of the mobile terminal is dead, (4) A case where there is an abnormality in the hardware of the mobile terminal or the information processing apparatus. The “ICMP Echo request transmission count” is the number of times an ICMP Echo request is transmitted in a single Ping execution, and the “ICMP Echo request transmission period” is the transmission period of an ICMP Echo request transmitted in a single Ping execution. “The number of aggregated packets” indicates how many past packets are aggregated from the currently acquired packets to obtain the maximum value. This makes it possible to cope with a temporary decrease in reception level. Further, in the present embodiment, the neighborhood / outside proximity monitoring region Ping execution cycle is set to a value smaller than the neighborhood region Ping execution cycle and the outside neighborhood region Ping execution cycle. In the example of FIG. 2, the neighborhood / outside monitoring area Ping execution cycle is set to 2 seconds, and is set to a value smaller than the neighborhood area Ping execution cycle (4 seconds) and the outside neighborhood region Ping execution cycle (4 seconds). Yes.

  The packet capture unit 12 is physically configured by a wireless LAN adapter, and the wireless LAN adapter is in a mode for monitoring other communications (so-called Monitor mode) or a mode in which other communications are monitored simultaneously while communicating. By setting (so-called Promiscous mode), packets flowing on the wireless LAN network are captured. The packet capture unit 12 acquires the mobile terminal use channel and the channel switching period from the attribute information storage unit 11, and switches the channel for each channel switching period. Capturing is possible. Then, the packet capture unit 12 extracts only data packets in which the source MAC address information of the captured packets matches the MAC address of the mobile terminal 20, and measures the reception level regarding the extracted data packets. Then, the packet capture unit 12 calculates a reception level maximum value among the measured reception levels for each aggregated packet number, and transmits the reception level maximum value to the neighborhood region determination unit 13. Further, when receiving the notification of the emergency mode from the device control unit 16, the packet capture unit 12 monitors whether the packet from the mobile terminal 20 has been captured, and when the capture is completed, the packet capture unit 12 Send a return notification to mode.

  The neighborhood region determination unit 13 receives the neighborhood region determination reception level threshold value Rin, the neighborhood region determination time threshold value Nin, the outside region determination reception level threshold value Rout, the outside region determination time threshold value Nout, the outside region monitoring region from the attribute information storage unit 11. Obtain judgment reception level threshold Rp-in, out-of-proximity monitoring area judgment time threshold Np-in, proximity monitoring area judgment reception level threshold Rp-out, proximity monitoring area judgment time threshold Np-out, forced locking reception level threshold Rf-out To do. Then, the neighborhood area determination unit 13 receives the reception level from the packet capture unit 12, and based on the reception level, the current area of the mobile terminal 20 (specifically, the relative position of the mobile terminal 20 to the information processing apparatus 10) Is determined). This determination process will be described later with reference to FIG. The neighborhood region determination unit 13 transmits the determination result to the signal transmission control unit 14 and the device control unit 16. Further, when the reception level received from the packet capture unit 12 becomes equal to or less than Rf-out, the neighborhood region determination unit 13 transmits a forced lock notification to the device control unit 16.

  The signal transmission control unit 14 acquires, from the attribute information storage unit 11, the neighborhood region Ping execution cycle, the neighborhood outside region Ping execution cycle, and the neighborhood / outside neighborhood monitoring region Ping execution cycle. Then, the signal transmission control unit 14 receives, from the vicinity region determination unit 13, a determination result as to which region the mobile terminal 20 is in among the four regions of the vicinity region, the vicinity outside region, the vicinity monitoring region, and the outside vicinity monitoring region. Then, the Ping execution cycle is determined according to the determination result, and the determined Ping execution cycle is transmitted to the signal transmission unit 15.

  The signal transmission unit 15 acquires the MAC address, IP address DHCP operation, IP address, host name ICMP Echo request transmission cycle, and ICMP Echo request transmission count of the mobile terminal 20 from the attribute information storage unit 11. When the IP address DHCP operation is present, the signal transmission unit 15 specifies the IP address from the host name. At this time, if a program that periodically obtains a correspondence table of MAC addresses and IP addresses from a DHCP application is running on an external DHCP server (not shown), the signal transmission unit 15 uses the program. The acquired MAC address and IP address correspondence table may be received from the DHCP server, and the IP address corresponding to the MAC address of the mobile terminal 20 may be obtained from the received MAC address and IP address correspondence table. And the signal transmission part 15 receives a Ping execution period from the signal transmission control part 14, and performs a Ping command with respect to the mobile terminal 20 for every Ping execution period (namely, ICMPEcho request is transmitted). In this Ping command, it is specified that the ICMP Echo request transmission number is transmitted every ICMP Echo request transmission period.

  The device control unit 16 acquires the mobile terminal security code and the no-input allowable time from the attribute information storage unit 11. Further, the device control unit 16 periodically checks whether there is an input from the operation unit 17. Then, the device control unit 16 receives the determination result related to the region where the mobile terminal 20 exists from the neighboring region determination unit 13. In the determination result, if the presence area of the mobile terminal 20 is a neighborhood area or a neighborhood monitoring area, the device control unit 16 puts the information processing apparatus 10 into an unlocked state, and the existence area of the mobile terminal 20 is an outside neighborhood area or a neighborhood outside monitoring area. If so, the apparatus control unit 16 puts the information processing apparatus 10 into a locked state when there is no input from the operation unit 17 for a time longer than the past no-input allowable time. Even if there is an input from the operation unit 17 within the past no-input allowable time, if the device control unit 16 receives a forced lock notification from the proximity region determination unit 13, the information processing device 10 is locked. And In a state where input from the operation unit 17 is unusable, the device control unit 16 acquires all the information input from the operation unit 17 and does not pass it to the OS or application of the information processing apparatus 10. Only when the mobile terminal security code is input from the operation unit 17, the device control unit 16 sets the emergency mode, sets the information processing device 10 to the unlocked state, and sets the packet indicating that the emergency mode is set. Transmit to the capture unit 12. During the emergency mode, the device control unit 16 always keeps the information processing device 10 in the unlocked state, and when the user sets the normal mode and when the packet capture unit 12 receives a return notification to the normal mode. Only transition to normal mode.

  The operation unit 17 is physically composed of a keyboard and a mouse, and accepts input from the user.

  Next, the operation of the information processing apparatus 10 in this embodiment will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, when operating the information processing apparatus 10, first, the signal transmission control unit 14 initially sets a period when a neighboring area exists, that is, a neighboring area Ping execution period, as a Ping execution period at startup. (Step S101 in FIG. 3). In the example of FIG. 2, it is 4 seconds.

  Next, the signal transmission unit 15 executes a Ping command (step S102). Specifically, the signal transmission unit 15 receives the Ping command execution cycle from the signal transmission control unit 14, and from the attribute information storage unit 11, the mobile terminal IP address DHCP operation, the mobile terminal IP address, the ICMPEcho request transmission count, the ICMP The Echo request transmission cycle is acquired, and an ICMP Echo request is transmitted to the mobile terminal 20 according to these. Here, when the IP address DHCP operation is present, the signal transmission unit 15 specifies the IP address from the host name. At this time, if a program that periodically obtains a correspondence table of MAC addresses and IP addresses from a DHCP application is running on an external DHCP server (not shown), the signal transmission unit 15 uses the program. The acquired MAC address and IP address correspondence table may be received from the DHCP server, and the IP address corresponding to the MAC address of the mobile terminal 20 may be obtained from the received MAC address and IP address correspondence table. The example of FIG. 2 indicates that the acquired IP address result is 192.168.3.1, and the Ping command is executed at a cycle of 4 seconds. With each Ping command, ICMPEcho is executed at a cycle of 1 second for 192.168.3.1. The request will be sent twice.

  Next, the packet capture unit 12 captures a packet transmitted from the mobile terminal 20 (step S103). Specifically, the packet capture unit 12 acquires the mobile terminal MAC address, the mobile terminal use channel, the channel switching period, and the aggregate packet number from the attribute information storage unit 11, and switches the channel for each channel switching period. Even when there are a plurality of used channels, packets of each channel are captured. In the example of FIG. 2, the channel used by the mobile terminal is 1ch, 14ch, and the channel switching period is 1.1 seconds. Therefore, the packet capture unit 12 captures packets on each channel by switching between 1ch and 14ch at 1.1 second intervals. . Then, the packet capture unit 12 refers to the source MAC address information of each packet, and extracts only the packet that matches the MAC address of the mobile terminal 20. Further, the packet capture unit 12 acquires reception level information regarding the extracted packets, and calculates the maximum reception level value of the reception level information for each aggregated packet number. FIG. 6 shows an example of the calculated reception level maximum value.

  Next, the vicinity area determination unit 13 determines the vicinity area of the mobile terminal 20 (step S104). Specifically, the neighborhood region determination unit 13 executes the subroutine of FIG. First, the neighborhood region determination unit 13 acquires Rin, Nin, Rout, Nout, Rp-in, Np-in, Rp-out, and Np-out from the attribute information storage unit 11 and receives them from the packet capture unit 12. The level is acquired (step S401 in FIG. 4), the previous determination result of the existence area of the mobile terminal 20 stored in the vicinity region determination unit 13 itself is read, and the region where the previous determination result is confirmed is confirmed. (Step S402).

  At this time, if the previous existence area is a neighboring area, it is determined whether the reception level is Nout times or less than Rout (step S403). In the example of FIG. 2, it is determined whether or not the reception level is 70 or less three times. In step S403, since the reception level is determined a plurality of times, the neighborhood region determination unit 13 acquires the reception level from the packet capture unit 12 each time a determination is made. When the reception level is determined multiple times as described above, the neighborhood region determination unit 13 also performs packet determination for each determination in steps S405, S406, S407, S411, S413, S414, and S415 related to determination described later. A reception level is acquired from the capture unit 12. If it is determined in step S403 that the reception level is Nout times or less than Rout, the current existence region is determined to be a non-neighboring region (step S404). On the other hand, if a negative determination is made in step S403, it is determined whether or not the reception level is Np-out times or less than Rp-out (step S405). In the example of FIG. 2, it is determined whether or not the reception level is 73 or less once. If it is determined in step S405 that the reception level is Np-out times or less than Rp-out, the current presence area is determined to be a neighborhood monitoring area (step S409), while if negative determination is made in step S405. The current presence area is determined as a neighboring area (step S408).

  In the present embodiment, the initial state is set to “neighboring region”, and in the example of FIGS. 2 and 6, the reception level is 75 or less once at 20070521-15: 00: 14.130. An affirmative determination is made in step S405, and the current presence area is determined to be a neighborhood monitoring area (step S409). Further, at the time of 20070521-15: 00: 24.140, since the reception level is three times or less than 70, an affirmative determination is made in step S403, and the current existence region is determined to be a non-neighboring region (step S404).

  If the previous presence area is the proximity monitoring area, it is determined whether the reception level is Nout times or less than Rout (step S406). In the example of FIG. 2, it is determined whether or not the reception level is 70 or less three times. If it is determined in step S406 that the reception level is Nout times or less than Rout, the current presence area is determined to be an out-of-neighbor area (step S404). On the other hand, if a negative determination is made in step S406, the reception level is Nin. Times Rin is determined (step S407). In the example of FIG. 2, it is determined whether the reception level exceeds 80 twice. Here, if it is determined that the reception level exceeds Nin times Rin, the current existing area is determined to be a neighboring area (step S410). On the other hand, if a negative determination is made in step S407, the current presence area is determined to be a proximity monitoring area (step S409).

  If the previous existence area is an out-of-neighbor area, it is determined whether the reception level exceeds Rin Nin times (step S411). In the example of FIG. 2, it is determined whether the reception level exceeds 80 twice. Here, if it is determined that the reception level exceeds Nin times Rin, the current presence area is determined to be a neighboring area (step S412). On the other hand, if a negative determination is made in step S411, it is determined whether or not the reception level exceeds Np-in times and Rp-in (step S413). In the example of FIG. 2, it is determined whether the reception level exceeds 75 once. If it is determined in step S413 that the reception level exceeds Np-in times and Rp-in, the current presence area is determined to be an out-of-neighbor monitoring area (step S417), while if negative determination is made in step S413. The current presence area is determined to be a non-neighbor area (step S416).

  If the previous presence area is an out-of-neighbor monitoring area, it is determined whether the reception level exceeds Rin Nin times (step S414). In the example of FIG. 2, it is determined whether the reception level exceeds 80 twice. Here, if it is determined that the reception level exceeds Nin times Rin, the current presence area is determined to be a neighboring area (step S412). On the other hand, if a negative determination is made in step S414, it is determined whether the reception level is Nout times or less than Rout (step S415). In the example of FIG. 2, it is determined whether or not the reception level is 70 or less three times. If it is determined in step S415 that the reception level is Nout times or less than Rout, the current presence area is determined to be an out-of-neighbor area (step S418). On the other hand, if a negative determination is made in step S415, the current presence area is determined. Is determined to be an out-of-neighbor monitoring area (step S417).

  Then, the neighborhood region determination unit 13 transmits the determination result as described above to the signal transmission control unit 14 and the device control unit 16, and stores the determination result for the next determination (step S419).

  Next, returning to the processing of FIG. 3, the signal transmission control unit 14 determines the Ping execution cycle according to the determination result, and the device control unit 16 sets the information processing apparatus 10 according to the determination result as described later. Control (step S105).

  Here, regarding the determination of the Ping execution cycle, specifically, the signal transmission control unit 14 receives from the attribute information storage unit 11 the neighborhood region Ping execution cycle, the neighborhood outside region Ping execution cycle, and the neighborhood / outside neighborhood monitoring region Ping execution. If the current existence region is a nearby region, the neighboring region Ping execution cycle is obtained if the current existence region is a neighboring region. If there is, the vicinity / outside vicinity monitoring area Ping execution cycle is adopted. For example, in the example of FIG. 6, when the signal transmission control unit 14 receives a determination result that the current existence region is the vicinity monitoring region from the vicinity region determination unit 13 at 20070521-15: 00: 14.130, The interval is 2 seconds. In addition, when the signal transmission control unit 14 receives a determination result that the current existence region is a non-neighboring region from the neighboring region determination unit 13 at 20070521-15: 00: 24.140, the Ping execution interval is set to 4 seconds. .

  For the control of the information processing apparatus 10, specifically, the apparatus control unit 16 acquires the mobile terminal security code, the no-input allowable time, and the forced locking reception level threshold value Rf-out from the attribute information storage unit 11. At the same time, whether or not there is an input is periodically acquired from the operation unit 17. Then, the device control unit 16 sets the information processing apparatus 10 to the unlocked state if the current presence region is the neighborhood region or the neighborhood monitoring region in the determination result, and the current presence region is the neighborhood outside region or the neighborhood outside monitoring region. Then, when there is no input from the operation unit 17 for a longer time than the past no-input allowable time, the information processing apparatus 10 is set to the locked state. In addition, even when there is an input from the operation unit 17 within the past no-input allowable time, the device control unit 16 sets the information processing device 10 to the locked state if a forced lock notification is received from the neighborhood region determination unit 13. To do. In a state where input from the operation unit 17 is disabled, the device control unit 16 acquires all information input from the operation unit 17 and does not pass it to the OS or application of the information processing apparatus 10. Then, only when the mobile terminal security code is input, the device control unit 16 sets the emergency mode, sets the information processing device 10 to the unlocked state, and transmits the emergency mode to the packet capture unit 12. To do. During the emergency mode, the device control unit 16 always keeps the information processing device 10 in the unlocked state, and when the user sets the normal mode, or notifies the packet capture unit 12 that the packet of the mobile terminal 20 has been captured. When received from, shift to normal mode. In the example of FIG. 6, when 20070521-15: 00: 24.140, the device control unit 16 receives a determination result from the vicinity region determination unit 13 that the current existence region is a region outside the vicinity, and the input from the keyboard is performed. If there is no past 5 seconds, the information processing apparatus 10 is locked. Even when there is an input from the keyboard, at 20070521-15: 00: 36.140, the reception level is equal to or lower than the forced locking reception level threshold Rf-out, so the device control unit 16 locks the information processing device 10. State.

  Then, the effect of this embodiment is demonstrated. In the present embodiment, the mobile terminal 20 and the information processing apparatus 10 use the wireless LAN function that is already provided, and the information processing apparatus 10 performs the processing for the information processing apparatus 10 based on the reception level of the wireless signal from the mobile terminal 20. By determining the relative positional relationship of the mobile terminal 20 (existing region of the mobile terminal 20) and controlling the unlocked state according to the determination result, a dedicated device or protocol is assigned to the information processing device 10 to be locked. Without incorporation, unlocking control can be executed with a simple configuration. Further, as a relative positional relationship, not only two of the vicinity area and the outside vicinity area, but also a proximity monitoring area that is an intermediate area when the mobile terminal 20 moves from the proximity area to the outside vicinity area, and the mobile terminal Compared to the case where only two of the vicinity area and the outside vicinity area are assumed by further assuming two areas, the outside monitoring area, which is an intermediate area when 20 moves from the outside vicinity area to the vicinity area. In addition, it is possible to suppress the fluttering of the determination result due to the time variation of the reception level based on the change in the propagation environment, and to perform highly reliable unlocking control.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the neighborhood / non-neighbor monitoring region Ping execution cycle is set to a value smaller than the neighborhood region Ping execution cycle and the non-neighbor region Ping execution cycle. When it is determined as an area or an out-of-proximity monitoring area, the determination by the vicinity area determination unit 13 can be executed in a shorter time, and the real-time property of the unlocking control of the information processing apparatus 10 can be improved.

  In addition, when the information processing apparatus 10 is in the locked state, the information processing apparatus 10 is brought into the unlocked state when a predetermined fixed character string or a character string that changes every predetermined time is input from the operation unit 17. (1) The mobile terminal is located outside the wireless LAN environment, (2) The user does not carry the mobile terminal, (3) The battery of the mobile terminal is dead, (4) The mobile terminal or information processing Even in an abnormal situation such as an abnormality in the hardware of the apparatus, the information processing apparatus 10 can be brought into an unlocked state by inputting the above character string from the operation unit 17, and can flexibly cope with the abnormal situation. It becomes possible to respond.

  In addition, even when the relative positional relationship is determined to be the near outside region or the near outside monitoring region, the device control unit 16 switches the information processing device 10 as long as the input from the operation unit 17 does not stop for a predetermined time. It is not locked. For this reason, even when the reception level temporarily decreases due to a change in the propagation environment of the wireless LAN, there is an input from the operation unit 17 (that is, the user uses the information processing apparatus 10). The user can continue to use the information processing apparatus 10.

  Subsequently, various modifications related to the present embodiment will be described.

  In the above embodiment, the signal reception unit 21 is provided in the mobile terminal 20 and the signal transmission unit 15 and the signal transmission control unit 14 are provided in the information processing apparatus 10, respectively, but these are not essential components. A configuration without this may be adopted. Such a configuration will be described below as a first modification.

  In FIG. 7, the structure of the communication system 1X which concerns on a 1st modification is shown. In the communication system 1X, as a difference from the communication system 1 of FIG. 1, the mobile terminal 20 is not provided with the signal reception unit 21, and the information processing apparatus 10 includes a signal transmission unit 15 and a signal transmission control unit 14. Not provided. However, the attribute information storage unit 23 is provided in the mobile terminal 20.

  The signal transmission unit 22 of the mobile terminal 20 transmits any one of a control frame, a management frame, and a data frame defined by IEEE 802.11 at a constant period. As shown in FIG. 8, the attribute information storage unit 23 of the mobile terminal 20 has a signal transmission destination IP address, a signal transmission destination host name, a Ping execution interval, a mobile terminal security code, an ICMP Echo request transmission cycle, and an ICMP Echo request transmission count. Is stored. Among these, the “signal transmission destination IP address” is an address designated as a destination when the mobile terminal 20 transmits a ping. If the signal transmission destination uses DHCP (when DHCP is used), the IP address can be acquired from a DHCP server (not shown) using the signal transmission destination host name.

  An example of the unlocking control process in the first modification is shown in FIG. As illustrated in FIG. 9, the signal transmission unit 22 of the mobile terminal 20 acquires the signal transmission destination IP address, the Ping execution interval, the ICMP Echo request transmission cycle, and the number of ICMP Echo request transmissions from the attribute information storage unit 23. The Ping execution interval is set based on the Ping execution interval (step S201), and the Ping is periodically executed based on the acquired information (ICMPEcho request is transmitted to the signal transmission destination IP address). A packet including a control frame, a management frame, and a data frame defined in 11 is transmitted (step S202). On the other hand, in the information processing apparatus 10, packet capture (step S203), proximity region determination (step S204), and apparatus control (step S205) are executed. These are the same as the packet capture in step S103, the neighborhood region determination in step S104, and the device control in step S105 in the processing of FIG.

  As described above, even with the configuration of the communication system 1X in FIG. 7, the processing related to the unlocking control in FIG. 9 can be executed, and the same effect as in the above-described embodiment can be obtained.

  In the process of FIG. 9, the Ping execution cycle is fixed to a predetermined cycle. However, by notifying the mobile terminal 20 of the result of the neighborhood region determination in the information processing apparatus 10 as in the process of FIG. 10, The mobile terminal 20 may determine the Ping execution cycle based on the determination result. In the process of FIG. 10, steps S301 to S304 are the same as steps S201 to S204 of FIG. 9. In step S305, device control is performed, and the result of neighborhood region determination is notified to the mobile terminal 20. The mobile terminal 20 determines a Ping execution cycle based on the determination result (step S306), executes Ping at the determined Ping execution cycle, and transmits a control frame, a management frame, and a data frame defined by IEEE802.11. The included packet is transmitted (step S307).

  Next, an example in which a plurality of packet capture units is provided in the information processing apparatus will be described as a second modification. In the information processing apparatus of the above-described embodiment, there is one packet capture unit and physically configured by one wireless LAN adapter. However, the information processing apparatus includes a plurality of packet capture units (physically a plurality of packet capture units). Wireless LAN adapter).

  In this case, the neighborhood region determination unit of the information processing apparatus determines the neighborhood region for each packet capture unit based on the reception level measured by each packet capture unit, and obtains a determination result for each packet capture unit. At this time, the vicinity area determination unit determines that the mobile terminal existence area is determined to be a non-neighbor area for all packet capture units, and determines that the at least one packet capture unit is a vicinity area or a proximity monitoring area. If it is determined that it is one of the out-of-proximity monitoring areas, the determination may be adopted, or the existence area may be determined by majority decision from among the vicinity area, the proximity monitoring area, and the out-of-proximity monitoring area.

  In this way, the information processing apparatus is provided with a plurality of packet capture units, so that the reception level measured by a single packet capture unit is temporarily or permanently reduced due to a change in the propagation environment. Even in this case, the determination result based on the reception level measured by another packet capture unit can finally obtain an appropriate determination result, and it is possible to determine a reliable neighborhood region. effective.

  Next, as a third modification, an example in which a plurality of values are set as Rin, Nin, Rout, Nout, Rp-in, Np-in, Rp-out, and Np-out will be described. In the above-described embodiment, Rin, Nin, Rout, Nout, Rp-in, Np-in, Rp-out, and Np-out are each a single value, but a plurality of values may be set. An example of information stored in the attribute information storage unit of the information processing apparatus in this case is shown in FIG. At this time, Rin1 and Rin2 are set as Rin, and Nin1 and Nin2 are set as Nin. If the Rin2 value is exceeded, the mobile terminal presence area may be determined as the neighboring area. Thereby, when the reception level that can be clearly determined as the near region is measured, the determination result as the near region can be obtained quickly, and the information processing apparatus can be immediately brought into the unlocked state.

  Next, as a fourth modification, an example in which there are a plurality of mobile terminals that are subject to determination of unlocking control in the information processing apparatus will be described. An example of information stored in the attribute information storage unit of the information processing apparatus in this case is shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 12, the MAC address, DHCP operation, IP address, host name, channel used, and security code are set for each mobile terminal. At this time, the packet capture unit of the information processing device transmits the measured reception level for each mobile terminal to the neighboring region determining unit in association with the MAC address of the corresponding mobile terminal, and the neighboring region determining unit and the signal transmission control unit Performs the same processing as in the above-described embodiment for each mobile terminal. The device control unit receives the determination result (the presence region of each mobile terminal) from the neighborhood region determination unit, and resolves the information processing device when the presence region of at least one mobile terminal is determined to be the neighborhood region or the neighborhood monitoring region. Locked. In addition, the apparatus control unit determines that the existence area of all mobile terminals is an out-of-proximity area or an out-of-proximity monitoring area, and sets the information processing apparatus to the locked state when there is no input from the operation unit for the past no-input allowable time or more. To do. In addition, the device control unit locks the information processing device if it receives a forced lock notification for all mobile terminals from the proximity region determination unit even when there is an input from the operation unit within the past no-input allowable time. State. As described above, even when there are a plurality of mobile terminals for one information processing apparatus (for example, when one information processing apparatus is shared by a plurality of users), unlocking control can be performed smoothly.

  Next, as a fifth modified example, an example will be described in which a determination server is newly introduced and the determination of the vicinity area of all mobile terminals and signal transmission control are performed on the determination server. FIG. 13 shows a configuration example of the communication system 1Y. In FIG. 13, the packet capture unit 12 of the information processing device 10 transmits information on the measured reception level to the signal transmission unit 15 in association with the MAC address of the information processing device 10, and the signal transmission unit 15 Is transmitted to the signal receiving unit 35 of the determination server 30.

  The signal reception unit 35 of the determination server 30 transmits the received reception level information to the neighborhood region determination unit 34, and the neighborhood region determination unit 34 receives parameters such as a threshold related to the target information processing apparatus 10 from the attribute information storage unit 32. And the neighborhood region determination process is performed. At this time, since the attribute information storage unit 32 stores parameters such as threshold values for each information processing apparatus 10, even if there are a plurality of target information processing apparatuses 10, the neighborhood information determination process is performed for each information processing apparatus 10. Just do it. FIG. 14 shows an example of attribute information and the like related to one information processing apparatus 10 stored in the attribute information storage unit 32. The attribute information storage unit 32 stores information as shown in FIG. 14 for the number of information processing apparatuses.

  The neighborhood region determination unit 34 transmits the determination result of the neighborhood region determination process to the signal transmission unit 31 in association with the MAC address of the target information processing apparatus 10, and the signal transmission unit 31 receives the target information from the attribute information storage unit 32. An IP address corresponding to the MAC address of the information processing apparatus 10 is acquired, and the above determination result is transmitted to the IP address (to the target information processing apparatus 10). The signal receiving unit 18 of the target information processing device 10 transmits the received determination result to the device control unit 16, and the device control unit 16 determines whether the information processing device is in accordance with the determination result (existing area of the mobile terminal 20). 10 unlocking control is performed.

  Thereby, even if the information processing performance of the information processing apparatus 10 is low, the unlocking control can be smoothly performed by performing processing with a high calculation processing load in the determination server 30. Even if the network to which the information processing apparatus 10 is connected is different from the network in which the mobile terminal 20 is present, and the ICMP Echo request cannot be transmitted and received between the information processing apparatus 10 and the mobile terminal 20, the determination server 30 By connecting to both networks, it is possible to send and receive ICMPEcho requests.

  Further, two or more of the first to fifth modifications described above may be combined. For example, the determination server is introduced into the communication system, and the vicinity region determination unit of the determination server performs measurement with a plurality of packet capture units mounted on the information processing device when performing the vicinity region determination for one information processing device. The neighborhood region determination may be performed for each packet capture unit based on the received level. The processing of the neighborhood region determination unit in this case is the same as the processing of the neighborhood region determination unit when a single business terminal is equipped with a plurality of packet capture units and the neighborhood region determination unit.

It is a block diagram of the communication system in this embodiment. It is a table | surface which shows an example of the information stored in the attribute information storage part. It is a flowchart of the unlocking control process in this embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the subroutine of a near region determination process. It is a figure which shows the name of the area | region when a mobile terminal moves away, and the name of an area | region when a mobile terminal approaches. It is a table | surface which shows an example of the calculated reception level maximum value. It is a block diagram of the communication system in a 1st modification. It is a table | surface which shows an example of the information stored in the attribute information storage part of a mobile terminal. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the unlocking control process in a 1st modification. It is a flowchart which shows the other example of the unlocking control process in a 1st modification. It is a table | surface which shows an example of the information stored in the attribute information storage part in a 3rd modification. It is a table | surface which shows an example of the information stored in the attribute information storage part in a 4th modification. It is a block diagram of the communication system in a 5th modification. It is a table | surface which shows an example of the information stored in the attribute information storage part in a 5th modification.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 1X, 1Y ... Communication system, 10 ... Information processing apparatus, 11 ... Attribute information storage part, 12 ... Packet capture part, 13 ... Neighborhood area determination part, 14 ... Signal transmission control part, 15 ... Signal transmission part, 16 ... Device control unit, 17 ... operation unit, 18 ... signal reception unit, 20 ... mobile terminal, 21 ... signal reception unit, 22 ... signal transmission unit, 23 ... attribute information storage unit, 30 ... determination server, 31 ... signal transmission unit, 32 ... Attribute information storage unit, 33 ... Signal transmission control unit, 34 ... Neighborhood region determination unit, 35 ... Signal reception unit.

Claims (7)

An information processing apparatus capable of changing a state between a locked state that cannot be operated from an operation unit and an unlocked state that is unlocked and can be operated from the operation unit,
When the information processing apparatus is used, a packet capture that captures a radio signal transmitted by a wireless LAN from a mobile terminal assumed to be located in the vicinity of the information processing apparatus and measures a reception level of the radio signal And
Based on the reception level measured by the packet capture unit, a neighborhood region determination unit that determines the relative positional relationship of the mobile terminal with respect to the information processing device;
A device control unit that controls the information processing device to be in the locked state or the unlocked state based on a determination result by the vicinity region determining unit;
With
The neighborhood area determination unit includes, as the relative positional relationship, a neighborhood area in the vicinity of the information processing apparatus, an outside area located outside the neighborhood area, and the mobile terminal outside the neighborhood from the neighborhood area. A proximity monitoring area that is an intermediate area when moving to an area, and an out-of-proximity monitoring area that is an intermediate area when the mobile terminal moves from the non-neighbor area to the near area. Determine which of them is applicable,
The device control unit controls the information processing device to be in the unlocked state when the relative positional relationship is determined to be the vicinity region or the vicinity monitoring region, and the relative positional relationship is When it is determined as an out-of-near region or the out-of-near monitoring region and satisfies a predetermined condition, the information processing device is controlled to be in the locked state.
An information processing apparatus characterized by that. The neighborhood region determination unit
If it is determined in the previous determination that the region is in the vicinity, the relative positional relationship is the region outside the vicinity when the reception level continuously falls below a predetermined first threshold for a predetermined first number of times. When the reception level falls below a predetermined second threshold value that is higher than the first threshold value continuously for a predetermined second number of times, the relative positional relationship is monitored in the vicinity. Judge that it has changed to an area,
If it is determined in the previous determination that the region is not in the vicinity, the relative level when the reception level continuously exceeds a predetermined third threshold value higher than the second threshold value for a predetermined third number of times. A predetermined fourth threshold value that is higher than the second threshold value and lower than the third threshold value for a predetermined fourth number of times continuously. It is determined that the relative positional relationship has changed to the outside monitoring area when
When it is determined as the vicinity monitoring area in the previous determination, the relative positional relationship is set to the outside vicinity area when the reception level becomes equal to or lower than the first threshold continuously for the first number of times. And determining that the relative positional relationship has changed to the neighboring area when the reception level exceeds the third threshold value for the third consecutive number of times,
When it is determined as the out-of-neighbor monitoring area in the previous determination, the relative positional relationship is changed to the near area when the reception level exceeds the third threshold continuously for the third number of times. Determining that the relative positional relationship has changed to the out-of-neighbor region when the reception level is equal to or lower than the first threshold continuously for the first number of times,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1. The information processing apparatus includes:
A signal transmission unit for transmitting a radio signal to the mobile terminal;
A signal transmission control unit that controls a time interval for transmitting a radio signal to the mobile terminal based on a determination result by the vicinity region determination unit;
Further comprising
The signal transmission control unit sets the time interval so that a time interval for transmitting a radio signal to the mobile terminal is shortened when the relative positional relationship is determined to be the vicinity monitoring region or the outside monitoring region. Control,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2. When the information processing device is in the locked state, the device control unit is configured so that the information processing device is only in the case where a predetermined fixed or a character string that changes every predetermined time is input from the operation unit. Control to be in the unlocked state,
The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The apparatus control unit determines that the information processing apparatus is locked when the relative positional relationship is determined to be the near outside area or the outside near monitoring area and an input from the operation unit is stopped for a predetermined time. Control to be in a state,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information processing apparatus is an information processing apparatus. An information processing apparatus capable of changing a state between a locked state in which the operation unit cannot be operated and a unlocked state in which the locked state is released and the operation unit can be operated, and the information processing apparatus A mobile terminal that is assumed to be located in the vicinity of the information processing apparatus when used,
The information processing apparatus includes:
A packet capture unit that captures a radio signal transmitted from a mobile terminal via a wireless LAN and measures a reception level of the radio signal;
Based on the reception level measured by the packet capture unit, a neighborhood region determination unit that determines the relative positional relationship of the mobile terminal with respect to the information processing device;
A device control unit that controls the information processing device to be in the locked state or the unlocked state based on a determination result by the vicinity region determining unit;
With
The neighborhood area determination unit includes, as the relative positional relationship, a neighborhood area in the vicinity of the information processing apparatus, an outside area located outside the neighborhood area, and the mobile terminal outside the neighborhood from the neighborhood area. A proximity monitoring area that is an intermediate area when moving to an area, and an out-of-proximity monitoring area that is an intermediate area when the mobile terminal moves from the non-neighbor area to the near area. Determine which of them is applicable,
The device control unit controls the information processing device to be in the unlocked state when the relative positional relationship is determined to be the vicinity region or the vicinity monitoring region, and the relative positional relationship is When it is determined as an out-of-near region or the out-of-near monitoring region and satisfies a predetermined condition, the information processing device is controlled to be in the locked state.
A communication system characterized by the above. An unlocking process executed by an information processing apparatus in which the state can be changed between a locked state in which the operation unit cannot be operated and an unlocked state in which the locked state is unlocked and can be operated from the operation unit. A locking control method,
When the information processing apparatus is used, a packet capture that captures a radio signal transmitted by a wireless LAN from a mobile terminal assumed to be located in the vicinity of the information processing apparatus and measures a reception level of the radio signal Steps,
Based on the reception level measured by the packet capture step, a proximity region determination step for determining a relative positional relationship of the mobile terminal with respect to the information processing device;
A device control step for controlling the information processing device to be in the locked state or the unlocked state based on the determination result in the vicinity region determining step;
Have
In the neighborhood region determination step, as the relative positional relationship, a neighborhood region in the vicinity of the information processing device, a neighborhood region outside the neighborhood region, and the mobile terminal from the neighborhood region to the outside region A proximity monitoring area that is an intermediate area when moving to an area, and an out-of-proximity monitoring area that is an intermediate area when the mobile terminal moves from the non-neighbor area to the near area. Which of these is determined,
In the device control step, when the relative positional relationship is determined to be the vicinity region or the vicinity monitoring region, the information processing device is controlled to be in the unlocked state, and the relative positional relationship is When it is determined as an out-of-near region or the out-of-near monitoring region and satisfies a predetermined condition, the information processing device is controlled to be in the locked state.
An unlocking control method characterized by that.

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