JP6713729B2 - Information distribution system and information distribution device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention is information for delivering predetermined information to a communication terminal device by predetermined short-distance wireless communication such as short-distance wireless communication in accordance with the Bluetooth (registered trademark: the same applies hereinafter) Low Energy (Bluetooth Low Energy) standard. The present invention relates to an information distribution system including a distribution device and the information distribution device.

Conventionally, a position information service system (information distribution system) described in Patent Document 1 is known. In this location information service system, an electronic tag transmitting device (information distribution device) is installed at a predetermined place (for example, an entrance) in a facility such as a restaurant or a hotel. Predetermined identification information, for example, a unique management device number assigned to the electronic tag transmitting device is broadcast by short-range wireless communication according to the standard. Upon receiving the identification information, a mobile information terminal such as a smartphone that performs a scanning operation (monitoring operation) and waits for the reception of the identification information broadcast from the electronic tag transmitting device receives an application identified by the identification information via a network. Get from above. Then, the portable information terminal measures a received signal strength indicator (for example, RSSI: Received Signal Strength Indicator) at the time of receiving the identification information, and controls the execution of the application according to the received signal strength.

For example, when the received radio field intensity exceeds a predetermined threshold value, it is determined that the mobile information terminal is within the proximity range (for example, within 3 m) of the electronic tag device, and the mobile information terminal according to the started application, A process of displaying coupon information that can be used at the facility where the electronic tag device is installed on the display unit is performed. On the other hand, when the reception of the predetermined information broadcast from the electronic tag device is possible but the received signal strength (RSSI) does not reach the threshold value, the portable information terminal is in the proximity range of the electronic tag device. Information for guiding the person who owns the portable information terminal to the facility in which the electronic tag device is installed, according to the activated application, assuming that the portable information terminal is in an area outside the area (for example, in an area of 3 m to 10 m). Perform processing to display (facility description information, etc.) on the display unit.

Generally, a portable information terminal that receives distribution information from an information distribution device can perform processing according to a relative position with respect to the information distribution device by using the received radio wave intensity as described above.

Patent No. 5650870

By the way, in short-distance wireless communication according to the Bluetooth Low Energy standard (a part of the Bluetooth (registered trademark) 4.0 standard: hereinafter, appropriately referred to as BLE), the frequency band of 2400 MHz to 2483.5 MHz is 40 MHz with a width of 2 MHz. It is used by dividing it into individual channels. Then, in advertising for discovering and connecting to the BLE device, three frequency channels (advertisement channels: 37 channels (2402 MH), 38 channels (2426 MHz), among the 40 frequency channels, 39 channels (2480 MHz) are used.

Here, it is conceivable to construct an information distribution system such as the position information service system described above by using the communication form in BLE advertising. Specifically, the slave side (peripheral side) device is used as an information distribution device, and predetermined information (distribution information) is distributed to a mobile communication terminal such as a smartphone as a master side (central side) device. In this information distribution system, as shown in FIG. 1, the information distribution device S uses, in advertising, distribution information (for example, 3ch, 38ch, 39ch) at intervals of, for example, 20 ms (milliseconds). , Including the identification information of the information distribution device S). On the other hand, the mobile communication terminal M sequentially switches the three frequency channels 37ch, 38ch, and 39ch at intervals of, for example, 50 ms (milliseconds) and delivers each frequency channel for a predetermined period, for example, 25 ms (milliseconds). Scanning operation is waiting for the reception of information.

Then, the mobile communication terminal M located within the predetermined range of the information distribution device S receives the corresponding frequency channel from the information distribution device S when waiting for reception of the distribution information on each of the frequency channels 37ch, 38ch, 39ch. The distribution information broadcast by is received (see the broken line arrow in FIG. 1). The mobile communication terminal M uses the received distribution information and the received signal strength (RSSI) at the time of receiving the beacon information in each of the frequency channels 37ch, 38ch, and 39ch, for example, the received signal strength. Exceeds a predetermined threshold, that is, when the mobile communication terminal M is in the proximity of the information distribution device, and when the received radio field intensity has not reached a predetermined threshold, that is, the mobile communication terminal M. Is different from when the information distribution device is within the proximity range of the information distribution device.

The inventor of the present patent application has found that in the mobile communication terminal M, the characteristics of the received radio wave intensity of each advertisement channel 37ch, 38ch, 39ch are different. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the received radio wave intensity (RSSI) on the frequency channel 39ch is the largest, followed by the received radio wave intensity (RSSI) on the frequency channel 38ch, and the received radio wave on the frequency channel 37ch. It was found that the strength (RSSI) was the smallest. This is because the antenna performance of the information distribution device S as shown in FIG. 3, that is, the efficiency, which is one of the parameters indicating the transmission intensity of the antenna of the information distribution device S, is the largest in the frequency channel 39ch, It is considered that this is due to the antenna performance, which is the smallest at frequency channel 37ch, followed by 38ch.

As described above, the characteristic of the received field strength at the mobile communication terminal M (device on the master side) is different for each of the three frequency channels 37ch, 38ch, and 39ch, which means that the received field strengths at those three frequency channels are different. It is not possible to accurately determine whether the mobile communication terminal M is within the proximity range of the information distribution device S or is within the proximity range of the information distribution device S based on the reception on the three frequency channels. This means that the relative position of the mobile communication terminal M with respect to the information distribution device S cannot be accurately determined based on the radio field intensity.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and a predetermined number (for example, three) of frequencies are used in accordance with a predetermined short-range wireless communication procedure such as short-range wireless communication according to Bluetooth Low Energy. Provided is an information distribution system capable of accurately determining the relative position of a communication terminal device with respect to an information distribution device, based on the received radio wave intensity at the time of receiving the information of the communication terminal device waiting to receive information on each channel. To do. Also, the present invention provides an information distribution device applied to the information distribution system.

In addition, according to a predetermined short-distance wireless communication procedure such as short-distance wireless communication in accordance with Bluetooth Low Energy, the distribution information broadcast from the information distribution device on each of a predetermined number (for example, three) of frequency channels is transmitted. The present invention provides an information distribution system capable of accurately determining the relative position of the communication terminal device with respect to the information distribution device, based on the received radio wave intensity at the time of reception by the communication terminal device. Further, the present invention provides an information distribution device applied to the information distribution system.

An information distribution system according to the present invention waits for reception of distribution information from an information distribution source on each of a predetermined number of frequency channels in accordance with a predetermined short-range wireless communication procedure, and uses the received field intensity at the time of receiving the distribution information. Distribution to the communication terminal device by a communication terminal device that performs processing related to determination of relative position to the information distribution source and one or a plurality of predetermined frequency channels less than the predetermined number of the predetermined number of frequency channels. An information distribution device serving as the information distribution source that broadcasts information according to the procedure of the predetermined short-range wireless communication.

With such a configuration, the communication terminal device waiting for the reception of the distribution information on each of the predetermined number of frequency channels according to the predetermined short-range wireless communication procedure, the information distribution device concerned When the distribution information broadcast according to the procedure of the predetermined short-range wireless communication is received on one or a plurality of frequency channels less than a predetermined number, the received radio wave intensity at the time of receiving the information on the one or a plurality of frequency channels is used. The processing relating to the determination of the relative position with respect to the information distribution device is performed.

In the information distribution system according to the present invention, the communication terminal device waits for reception of information on each of three frequency channels used for advertising defined in the Bluetooth Low Energy standard, and the information distribution device, In the advertising, the distribution information may be broadcast on a single predetermined frequency channel among the three frequency channels.

With such a configuration, the communication terminal device waiting for the reception of information on each of the three frequency channels used for advertising defined in the Bluetooth Low Energy standard, is set by the information distribution device in the advertising When the distribution information broadcast on a single frequency channel of the two frequency channels is received, processing is performed using the received radio wave intensity when the distribution information is received on the single frequency channel.

In the information distribution system according to the present invention, the information distribution device may be configured to have a channel switching unit that switches a frequency channel used for broadcasting the distribution information among the predetermined number of frequency channels.

With such a configuration, the frequency channel when broadcasting the distribution information from the information distribution device can be switched according to, for example, the radio environment of the installation location of the information distribution device.

In the information distribution system according to the present invention, the distribution information may include channel identification information that specifies a frequency channel used for broadcasting the distribution information.

With such a configuration, the communication terminal device can easily recognize the frequency channel on which the distribution information is received from the channel identification information included in the received distribution information.

The information distribution system according to the present invention includes an information distribution device that broadcasts distribution information on each of a predetermined number of frequency channels according to a predetermined short-range wireless communication procedure, and a predetermined number of the predetermined number of frequency channels among the predetermined number of frequency channels. less 1 or wait a plurality of reception of the distribution information in which the information distribution device by a predetermined frequency channel is broadcast in accordance with the procedure of the predetermined short-range wireless communication, the information distribution using the received signal strength at the time of reception of the distribution information The communication terminal device performs a process for determining the relative position of the device.

With such a configuration, in the situation where the information distribution device broadcasts the distribution information on each of the predetermined number of frequency channels according to a predetermined short-range wireless communication procedure, the predetermined number of the predetermined number of frequency channels is When receiving the distribution information, the communication terminal device waiting for the reception of the distribution information by a small number of one or a plurality of frequency channels according to the procedure of the predetermined short-distance wireless communication, shows the reception radio field intensity at the time of receiving the distribution information. A process relating to the determination of the relative position with respect to the used information distribution device is performed.

In the information distribution system according to the present invention, the information distribution device broadcasts the distribution information on each of three frequency channels defined as frequency channels used in advertising defined by the Bluetooth Low Energy standard. However, the communication terminal device may be configured to wait for the distribution information broadcast by the information distribution device on a single predetermined frequency channel of the three frequency channels.

With such a configuration, in the situation where the information distribution device broadcasts the distribution information on each of the three frequency channels in the advertising specified in the Bluetooth Low Energy standard, the communication terminal device is It is waiting for the distribution information to be broadcast by the information distribution device on a single frequency channel out of it. Then, when the communication terminal device receives the distribution information, the communication terminal device performs a process using the received signal strength at the time of receiving the distribution information.

An information distribution system according to the present invention is an information distribution device that broadcasts distribution information including channel identification information for specifying a frequency channel by a predetermined number of frequency channels according to a predetermined short-range wireless communication procedure, and the predetermined number. According to the short-distance wireless communication procedure, the reception of the distribution information is waited on each of the predetermined number of frequency channels, and is specified by the received signal strength at the time of receiving the distribution information and the channel identification information included in the distribution information. The communication terminal device performs a process using the information about the received radio wave intensity corresponding to the frequency channel.

With such a configuration, in the situation where the information distribution device broadcasts the distribution information including the channel identification information for specifying the frequency channel on each of the predetermined number of frequency channels according to the predetermined short-range wireless communication procedure, the communication terminal The device waits for reception of the distribution information on each of the predetermined number of frequency channels according to the predetermined short-range wireless communication procedure. Then, when the communication terminal device receives the distribution information, the communication terminal device uses the received signal strength at the time of reception and the information related to the received signal strength corresponding to the frequency channel specified by the channel identification information included in the distribution information. Performs the specified processing.

In the information distribution system according to the present invention, the information distribution device includes a predetermined number of sub-distribution units that respectively correspond to the predetermined number of frequency channels and broadcast the distribution information on the corresponding frequency channels. be able to.

With such a configuration, each of the predetermined number of sub-distribution units broadcasts the distribution information including the channel identification information that identifies the frequency channel by any of the predetermined number of frequency channels.

In the information distribution system according to the present invention, the information distribution device broadcasts the distribution information on each of three frequency channels defined as frequency channels used in advertising defined by the Bluetooth Low Energy standard. It can be configured to.

With such a configuration, the information distribution device broadcasts the distribution information including the channel identification information for specifying the frequency channel by each of the three frequency channels in the advertising specified by the Bluetooth Low Energy standard.

An information distribution device according to the present invention waits for reception of distribution information from an information distribution source on each of a predetermined number of frequency channels according to a predetermined short-range wireless communication procedure, and uses the received radio wave intensity at the time of receiving the distribution information. One or more of the predetermined number of frequency channels less than the predetermined number according to the predetermined short-range wireless communication procedure for the communication terminal device that performs the process related to the determination of the relative position with respect to the information distribution source. The predetermined frequency channel is used as the information distribution source for broadcasting the distribution information.

Further, the information distribution device according to the present invention waits for reception of information on each of a predetermined number of frequency channels in accordance with a predetermined short-range wireless communication procedure, and performs processing using received signal strength at the time of receiving the information. According to the procedure of the predetermined short-range wireless communication, distribution information including channel identification information for specifying the frequency channel is broadcast to the terminal device by each of the predetermined number of frequency channels.

According to the information distribution system of the present invention, the characteristics of the received radio wave intensity at the communication terminal device are such that each of the predetermined number of frequency channels waiting for the reception of the distribution information broadcast by the communication terminal device from the information distribution device. Even if they differ, the number of frequency channels for which distribution information is actually received by the communication terminal device is less than the number of frequency channels (predetermined number) waiting for the distribution information at the communication terminal device. Compared with the case where the communication terminal device receives the distribution information on all of the predetermined number of frequency channels, the variation in the characteristics of the received radio wave intensity at the communication terminal device is reduced. In this way, since the communication terminal device performs the process using the received signal strength with the characteristic of less variation, it waits for the reception of the information on each of the predetermined number of frequency channels according to the predetermined short-range wireless communication procedure. It is possible to accurately determine the relative position of the communication terminal device with respect to the information distribution device based on the intensity of the received radio wave when the communication terminal device receives the information.

Further, according to the information distribution system of the present invention, even if the characteristics of the received field intensity at the communication terminal device are different for each of the predetermined number of frequency channels used by the information distribution device to broadcast the distribution information. Since the number of frequency channels on which the distribution information is actually received by the communication terminal device is less than the number of frequency channels (predetermined number) used for broadcasting the distribution information from the information distribution device, the communication terminal device Compared with the case where the distribution information is received by all of the predetermined number of frequency channels, the variation in the characteristics of the received radio wave intensity in the communication terminal device is reduced. In this way, since the communication terminal device performs the process using the received field strength with the characteristic that the variation is small, according to the procedure of the predetermined short-distance wireless communication, the information distribution device transmits each of the predetermined number of frequency channels. It is possible to accurately determine the relative position of the communication terminal device with respect to the information distribution device, based on the intensity of the received radio wave when the communication terminal device receives the broadcast distribution information.

Further, according to the information distribution system of the present invention, even if the characteristics of the received field intensity at the communication terminal device are different for each of the predetermined number of frequency channels used by the information distribution device to broadcast the distribution information. , The distribution information received by the communication terminal device includes channel identification information for identifying the frequency channel used for broadcasting the distribution information. The relationship with the frequency channel used for broadcasting the distribution information received with the radio field intensity can be understood. As described above, in the communication terminal device, the relationship between the received radio field intensity at the time of receiving the delivery information and the frequency channel used for broadcasting the delivery information received with the received radio field intensity is known, and the received radio field intensity and the delivery information Since the process using the information on the received radio wave intensity corresponding to the frequency channel specified by the channel identification information included in the information is performed, a predetermined number of frequency channels are transmitted from the information distribution device according to a predetermined short-range wireless communication procedure. It is possible to accurately determine the relative position of the communication terminal device with respect to the information distribution device, based on the received radio wave intensity when the communication terminal device receives the distribution information broadcast by each of the above.

Transmission (broadcast) timing of distribution information using three frequency channels in advertising of slave side device (information distribution device) defined in BLE standard, and scan operation (waiting operation) period in master side device 3 is a timing chart showing the relationship of It is a figure which shows the characteristic example of the received electric field strength of each of three advertisement channels. It is a characteristic view which shows an example of the antenna characteristic which depends on the frequency of an information delivery apparatus (slave side apparatus). It is a figure showing an example of basic composition of an information distribution system (beacon system) concerning an embodiment of the invention. It is a block diagram which shows the basic composition of the beacon apparatus (information distribution apparatus) in the beacon system shown in FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the basic composition of the mobile communication terminal (smartphone) in the beacon system shown in FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the 1st functional structure of a beacon apparatus. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the beacon information (distribution information) broadcast from a beacon apparatus. It is a figure which shows the 1st functional layer structural example of a beacon apparatus. It is a figure which shows the functional layer structural example of a mobile communication terminal. Timing chart showing a first example of the relationship between the transmission (broadcast) timing of beacon information in the beacon device (BLE communication unit) and the period of the scanning operation (waiting operation) in the mobile communication terminal device (BLE communication unit) Is. It is a figure which shows the relationship between a frequency channel and the conversion table which shows the relationship between RSSI (reception field strength) and distance. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the switching procedure of the frequency channel utilized by a beacon device. It is a block diagram which shows the 2nd functional structural example of a beacon apparatus. Timing chart showing a second example of the relationship between the transmission (broadcast) timing of beacon information in the beacon device (BLE communication unit) and the period of the scan operation (waiting operation) in the mobile communication terminal device (BLE communication unit) Is. It is a block diagram which shows the 3rd functional structural example of a beacon apparatus. It is a figure which shows the 2nd functional layer structural example of a beacon apparatus. Timing chart showing a third example of the relationship between the transmission (broadcast) timing of beacon information in the beacon device (BLE communication unit) and the scan operation (wait operation) period in the mobile communication terminal (BLE communication unit) Is. Timing chart showing a fourth example of the relationship between the transmission (broadcasting) timing of beacon information in the beacon device (BLE communication unit) and the scan operation (wait operation) period in the mobile communication terminal (BLE communication unit) Is.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

An information distribution system according to an embodiment of the present invention is a beacon system, and basically, as shown in FIG. 4, for example, a beacon device 10 (information distribution device) installed in a predetermined place of a facility. And a mobile communication terminal device 20 (communication terminal device: smartphone, for example) capable of receiving beacon information (delivery information) broadcast from the beacon device 10. The beacon device 10 has, for example, as shown in FIG. 5, a control unit 11 including a CPU and the like, a BLE communication unit 12, and an operation unit 13 including a push switch and the like. Under the control of the control unit 11, the BLE communication unit 12 performs near field communication according to the BLE standard. The BLE communication unit 12 on the beacon device 10 side particularly functions as a slave device, and broadcasts beacon information in advertising. According to the operation of the operation unit 13 (push switch), the control unit 11 can switch the frequency channel used for transmitting (broadcasting) the beacon information in the BLE communication unit 12 (details will be described later).

The mobile communication terminal device 20 is configured, for example, as shown in FIG. In FIG. 6, the mobile communication terminal device 20 includes a control unit 21, a mobile communication unit 22, a wireless LAN communication unit 23, a BLE communication unit 24, a display unit 25, an operation unit 26, and a storage unit 27 which are configured by a CPU or the like. Have The control unit 21 executes programs (including applications) stored in the storage unit 27, and controls the operation of each of the mobile communication unit 22, the wireless LAN communication unit 23, and the BLE communication unit 24 according to the operation of the operation unit 26. I do. In addition to the program executed by the control unit 21, the storage unit 27 also includes various types of information used for processing in the control unit 21 (for example, including a conversion table for converting a received radio wave intensity into a distance, which will be described later), the control unit 21. Stores various information and the like obtained by the processing in 1. The display unit 25 displays various information under the control of the control unit 21. Under the control of the control unit 21, the mobile communication unit 22 transmits/receives voice and data to/from another communication terminal (telephone communication terminal, etc.) via the mobile communication network, and various information devices (PC, Data communication with the server). Under the control of the control unit 21, the wireless LAN communication unit 23 performs data communication with various information devices via the wireless LAN. Under the control of the control unit 21, the BLE communication unit 24 performs short-range wireless communication with another BLE device according to the BLE standard. The BLE communication unit 24 on the mobile communication terminal 20 side particularly functions as a master device and can receive beacon information broadcast from the beacon device 10 in the advertising.

The functional configuration (first functional configuration example) of the beacon device 10 is, for example, as shown in FIG. 7. In FIG. 7, the control unit 11 includes an application control unit 110 that controls execution of various applications. The application control unit 110 includes a beacon application processing unit 111, a transmission interval setting unit 112, a beacon information generation unit 113, a transmission ON control unit 114, and a transmission channel selection unit 115. The beacon application processing unit 111 performs processing related to the beacon application and controls the transmission interval setting unit 112, the beacon information generation unit 113, the transmission ON control unit 114, and the transmission channel selection unit 115. The transmission interval setting unit 112 sets an interval for transmitting (broadcasting) beacon information under the control of the beacon application processing unit 111. The beacon information generation unit 113 generates beacon information to be transmitted (broadcast) under the control of the beacon application processing unit 111. Under the control of the beacon application processing unit 111, the transmission ON control unit 114 gives an instruction to start (ON) transmission of beacon information. Under the control of the beacon application processing unit 111, the transmission channel selection unit 115 actually transmits (broadcasts) the beacon information from the three frequency channels (37ch, 38ch, 39ch) used in the advertising defined in the BLE standard. A) select a single frequency channel to be used for.

The BLE communication unit 12 includes a BLE stack 120 that performs a process related to near field communication according to the BLE standard, and an RF transmission unit 122. The BLE stack 120 includes a beacon information transmission unit 121. The beacon information transmission unit 121 transmits the beacon information generated by the beacon information generation unit 113 to the transmission channel selection unit 115 when the transmission ON control unit 114 in the application control unit 110 of the control unit 11 gives an instruction to start transmission. The single frequency channel selected by is used to perform control for transmitting at the interval set by the transmission interval setting unit 112. Then, under the control of the beacon information transmission unit 121, the RF transmission unit 122 transmits (broadcasts) the beacon information on the single frequency channel at the set interval.

The beacon information (delivery information) is configured as shown in FIG. 8, for example. The beacon information includes an essential information portion E1 that is essential information in the BLE standard and an arbitrary setting information portion E2 that can be arbitrarily set. The essential information portion E1 includes information indicating the size (SIZE), type (TYPE), and flag (FLAGS) of the essential information portion E1. The arbitrary setting information portion E2 is, for example, information indicating each of the size (SIZE) and the type (TYPE) of the arbitrary setting information portion E2, as well as a company identifier (Company) that identifies the provider of the information distributed by the beacon device 10. ID), whether all three frequency channels (37ch, 38ch, 39ch) for advertising are used for transmitting (broadcasting) the beacon information, or whether a single frequency channel selected from them is used. Information that indicates the fixed frequency FLG (when FLG=1, single frequency channel, when FLG=0, all three frequency channels), selected single frequency channel (when fixed frequency FLG=1) (Channel identification information), information indicating the transmission power of beacon information, the serial number (beacon ID) of the beacon device 10 in question, and information indicating the latitude and longitude of the place where the beacon device 10 is installed.

Further, the functional layers of the beacon device 10 configured as shown in FIG. 5 (hardware) and FIG. 7 (function) are configured as shown in FIG. 9A. In Figure 9 A, the application control unit 110 of the control unit 11 in the high-level layer corresponding to (see FIG. 7), an instruction of transmission start (outgoing ON controller 114), setting the outgoing interval (transmitting interval setting unit 112), The beacon information is generated (beacon information generation unit 113) and the transmission channel is selected (transmission channel selection unit 115). Then, in the lower layer corresponding to the BLE stack 120 (beacon information transmitting unit 121), transmission control is performed by advertising defined in the BLE standard, and the interval is designated using a single frequency channel selected. Beacon information is transmitted (broadcast).

On the other hand, the functional layers of the mobile communication terminal 20 configured as shown in FIG. 6 (hardware) are configured as shown in FIG. 9B. In FIG. 9B, when an instruction to start the scan process (waiting operation) is issued from the higher layer corresponding to the application process of the control unit 21 (see FIG. 6) of the mobile communication terminal 20, the OS management process of the control unit 21 is supported. In the lower layer, the scan process (waiting operation) for waiting for reception of beacon information is performed on each of the three frequency channels (37ch, 38ch, 39ch) defined by the BLE standard as the frequency channel used in the advertising. .. Then, when the beacon information is received, in the higher layer corresponding to the application processing of the control unit 21, the received signal strength (RSSI) at the time of receiving the beacon information is measured and the beacon information (beacon ID Including: See FIG. 8) is acquired.

Further, the beacon information transmission timing in the beacon device 10 (BLE communication unit 12) having the functional configuration (see FIG. 7) and the layer configuration (see FIG. 9A) as described above, and the layer configuration as described above (FIG. 9B) For example, the relationship between the beacon information of the mobile communication terminal 20 (BLE communication unit 24) having the reference) and the scanning operation (waiting operation) period is as shown in the timing chart of FIG. 10.

In FIG. 10, the BLE communication unit 12 of the beacon device 10 sets beacon information (see FIG. 8) on a single frequency channel selected from three frequency channels 37ch, 38ch, 39ch, for example, frequency channel 37ch. Transmission (broadcast) is performed at a set interval, for example, an interval of 20 ms (millisecond). On the other hand, the BLE communication unit 24 of the mobile communication terminal device 20 sequentially switches, for example, three frequency channels 37ch, 38ch, 39ch used in advertising defined by the BLE standard at intervals of 50 ms (milliseconds). , A scanning operation of waiting for reception of beacon information for a predetermined period, for example, 25 ms (milliseconds) is performed for each frequency channel.

In a state where the mobile communication terminal device 20 has entered the receivable area of the beacon information from the beacon device 10, the BLE communication unit 24 of the mobile communication terminal device 20 is waiting for reception of the beacon information on the frequency channel 37ch, for example, In the 25 ms period from 0 ms to 25 ms, beacon information transmitted (broadcast) on the frequency channel 37 ch is received from the BLE communication unit 12 of the beacon device 10. On the other hand, the BLE unit 24 of the mobile communication terminal 20 receives the beacon information on the frequency channels 38ch and 39ch (for example, see the period of 50 ms to 75 ms and 100 ms to 125 ms shown in FIG. 10) from the beacon device 10. It does not receive beacon information broadcast on the frequency channel 37ch.

When receiving the beacon information as described above, the control unit 21 of the mobile communication terminal 20 measures the received radio wave intensity (RSSI) at the time of reception. Then, the control unit 21 converts the RSSI corresponding to each of the three frequency channels 37ch, 38ch, 39ch as shown in FIG. Of the conversion table corresponding to the frequency channel (see FIG. 8) specified by the channel identification information included in the beacon information, in this case, the conversion table A corresponding to the frequency channel 37 ch. The process of acquiring the distance corresponding to the RSSI is performed. As a result, the control unit 21 exists at the location (position) of the acquired distance from the location (position) specified by the latitude and longitude (see FIG. 8) included in the beacon information by the mobile communication terminal 20. You can recognize that. Further, the control unit 21 can change the content of the process (application) according to the measured RSSI (corresponding to the distance from the beacon device 10).

According to such a beacon system and the beacon device 10 included in the beacon system, the characteristics of the reception radio wave intensity in the BLE communication unit 21 of the mobile communication terminal device 20 are broadcast from the beacon device 10 by the BLE communication unit 21. The beacon information is actually received by the BLE communication unit 21 of the mobile communication terminal 20 even if the three frequency channels 37ch, 38ch, 39ch waiting for reception of the beacon information are different (see FIG. 2). Since the number (1) of frequency channels to be transmitted is smaller than the number (3) of frequency channels waiting for the beacon information in the BLE communication unit 21, the number of BLE communication units 21 of the mobile communication terminal 20 is 3. Compared with the case where the beacon information is received on all the one frequency channels, the variation in the characteristics of the received radio wave intensity in the BLE communication unit 21 is reduced. As described above, in the mobile communication terminal device 20 (BLE communication unit 21), a process using the received radio wave intensity with the characteristic of less variation, for example, the received radio wave intensity (RSSI) corresponding to a single frequency channel 37ch Since the distance corresponding to the received radio wave intensity measured using the conversion table A (see FIG. 11) representing the relationship with the distance is obtained as the distance between the beacon device 10 and the mobile communication terminal device 20, the mobile communication It is possible to accurately determine the relative position of the terminal device 20 with respect to the beacon device 10.

In the beacon device 10, the frequency channel used for transmitting (broadcasting) beacon information can be switched by operating the operation unit 13 (push switch). The control unit 11 executes processing for switching frequency channels according to the procedure shown in FIG. 12 (channel switching means).

In FIG. 12, the frequency channel 37ch is set as the initial value of the transmission channel (S11), and in this state, the control unit 11 repeatedly determines whether or not the operation unit 13 is operated (push switch pressing operation). (S12). Here, when the operation unit 13 is operated (YES in S12), the control unit 11 stops the transmission of beacon information using the frequency channel 37ch (initial value) in advertising (S13), and the current beacon information It is determined whether or not the frequency channel (outgoing channel) used for broadcasting is 39ch or more (S14). If the currently used frequency channel (37ch) is not 39ch or more (NO in S14), the control unit 11 sets the frequency channel obtained by adding +1ch to the current transmission channel (37ch), that is, the frequency channel 38ch as the transmission channel. Setting is performed (S15), and beacon information transmission is started using the newly set frequency channel 38ch (S17). After that, the control unit 11 repeatedly determines whether or not the operation unit 13 is operated again (S12).

In this state, when the operation unit 13 is further operated (push switch pressing operation), the control unit 11 stops transmitting beacon information using the frequency channel 38ch in advertising (S13), and the current beacon information is displayed. It is determined whether or not the frequency channel (38ch) used for the broadcast is 39ch or more (S14). If the currently used frequency channel (38ch) is not more than 39ch (NO in S14), the control unit 11 adds a +1ch to the current transmission channel (38ch), that is, the frequency channel 39ch is newly transmitted. It is set as a channel (S15), and transmission of beacon information is started using the newly set frequency channel 39ch (S17). After that, the control unit 11 repeatedly determines whether or not the operation unit 13 is operated again (S12).

When the operation unit 13 is further operated (push switch pressing operation) in this state, the control unit 11 stops transmitting beacon information using the frequency channel 39ch in advertising (S13), and the current beacon information is displayed. It is determined whether or not the frequency channel (39ch) used for the broadcast is 39ch or more (S14). If the frequency channel (39ch) currently used is 39ch or more (YES in S14), the control unit 11 sets the same frequency channel 37ch as the initial value as a new transmission channel (S16). Then, the control unit 11 starts transmitting beacon information using the newly set frequency channel 37ch (S17). After that, the control unit 11 repeatedly determines whether or not the operation unit 13 is operated (S12).

As described above, by repeating the operation of the operation unit 13 (push switch pressing operation), the frequency channel (transmission channel) used for transmitting (broadcasting) the beacon information is advertised by the BLE standard. The three frequency channels used (37ch, 38ch, 39ch) can be cyclically switched. Since the frequency channel used for transmitting (broadcasting) the beacon information can be switched in this way, the beacon information can be broadcast on the frequency channel more suitable for the installation location of the beacon device 10 and the radio environment in the vicinity thereof.

In the example described above, the frequency channel used for broadcasting the beacon information in the beacon device 10 is switched by operating the operation unit 13 such as the push switch. However, this frequency channel switching means is It is not limited to this. For example, the frequency channels can be switched by wireless remote control operation or remote operation via a network or the like.

Further, in the above-mentioned example, the beacon information includes the channel identification information indicating the frequency channel used for broadcasting the beacon information (see FIG. 8), but in the constructed beacon system, the beacon information is broadcasted. If the frequency channel used is negotiated, it is not necessary to include the channel identification information in the beacon information. Further, in this case, as the conversion table for converting the received signal strength (RSSI) into the distance, only the conversion table based on the characteristics of the frequency channel that is decided to be used may be prepared.

Further, in the above-described example, one of the three frequency channels used for advertising defined by the BLE standard is used for broadcasting beacon information, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the three frequency channels of the three frequency channels are not limited to this. Two of the frequency channels may be used for broadcasting the beacon information. In this case, the beacon information may or may not include channel identification information indicating each frequency channel used for broadcasting the beacon information. Even when the beacon information does not include the channel identification information indicating the frequency channel used for broadcasting the beacon information, the beacon information is actually received by the mobile communication terminal 20 (BLE communication unit 24). Since the number of frequency channels (two) is smaller than the number of frequency channels (3: 37ch, 38ch, 39ch) waiting for the beacon information in the mobile communication terminal 20 (BLE communication unit 24), the number of frequency channels is small. Compared with the case where the communication terminal device 20 (BLE communication unit 24) receives the beacon information on all three frequency channels, the variation in the characteristics of the received radio wave intensity in the mobile communication terminal device 20 is reduced. In this way, the mobile communication terminal device 20 performs the process using the received radio field intensity with the characteristic that the variation is small. Therefore, the mobile communication terminal 20 is based on the received radio field intensity (RSSI) when the beacon information is received. It is possible to accurately determine the relative position of the terminal device 20 with respect to the beacon device 10.

When the beacon information includes channel identification information indicating each frequency channel used for broadcasting the beacon information, the mobile communication terminal 20 has a conversion table for converting the received radio field intensity (RSSI) into a distance for each frequency channel. Since it is stored (see FIG. 11 ), the beacon device 10 of the mobile communication terminal device 20 can be used by using the conversion table corresponding to each frequency channel even if the received radio wave intensity varies in the two frequency channels. The relative position with respect to can be determined more accurately.

Beacon device 10 can be configured to have the functional configuration shown in FIG. 13 (second functional configuration example). By the way, as described above, when only one frequency channel (for example, 37 ch) of the three frequency channels (37 ch, 38 ch, 39 ch) to be used for advertising from the beacon device 10 is used for broadcasting beacon information The chance of receiving beacon information by the mobile communication terminal 20 (BLE communication unit 24) is reduced to 1/3. Therefore, the noise resistance performance of receiving the beacon information is deteriorated. The beacon device 10 having the functional configuration shown in FIG. 13 can prevent the deterioration of the noise resistance performance on the mobile communication terminal 20 side.

In FIG. 13, the beacon device 10 has three sub-beacon units (sub-delivery units), which are a first sub-beacon unit 10a, a second sub-beacon unit 10b, and a third sub-beacon unit 10c. The application control unit 110 configured in the control unit 10 includes a beacon application processing unit 111 common to the three sub-beacon units 10a, 10b, and 10c and the three sub-beacon units 10a, 10b, and 10c, respectively. The transmission interval setting units 112a, 112b, 112b, the beacon information generation units 113a, 113b, 113c, the transmission ON control units 114a, 114b, 114c, and the transmission channel selection units 115a, 115b, 115c.

In the first sub-beacon unit 10a, the transmission channel selection unit 115a, under the control of the beacon application processing unit 111, has three frequency channels (37ch, 38ch, 39ch) defined as those used for advertising in the BLE standard. 1) is selected as a frequency channel used for actual transmission (broadcast) of beacon information. Under the control of the beacon application processing unit 111, the beacon information generation unit 113a generates beacon information to be transmitted (broadcast). This beacon information (see FIG. 8) includes a frequency fixed FLG=1 indicating that the frequency channel used for transmitting (broadcasting) the beacon information is limited to a single frequency channel, and The channel identification information indicating the frequency channel 37ch is included.

In the second sub-beacon unit 10b, the transmission channel selection unit 115b, under the control of the beacon application processing unit 111, transmits a single frequency channel 38c among the three frequency channels to the actual transmission (broadcast) of beacon information. Select it as the frequency channel to use. Under the control of the beacon application processing unit 111, the beacon information generation unit 113b generates beacon information to be transmitted (broadcast). The beacon information (see FIG. 8) includes a fixed frequency FLG=1 that indicates that the frequency channel used for transmitting (broadcasting) the beacon information is limited to a single frequency channel. The channel identification information indicating the frequency channel 38ch is included.

In the third sub-beacon unit 10c, the transmission channel selection unit 115c, under the control of the beacon application processing unit 111, transmits a single frequency channel 39c among the three frequency channels to the actual transmission (broadcast) of beacon information. Select it as the frequency channel to use. The beacon information generation unit 113c generates beacon information to be transmitted (broadcast) under the control of the beacon application processing unit 111. The beacon information (see FIG. 8) includes a fixed frequency FLG=1 that indicates that the frequency channel used for transmitting (broadcasting) the beacon information is limited to a single frequency channel. The channel identification information indicating the frequency channel 39ch is included.

In each sub-beacon unit 10a, 10b, 10c, the transmission interval setting units 112a, 112b, 112c transmit (broadcast) beacon information generated by the sub-beacon unit under the control of the beacon application processing unit 111. Set the interval. Under the control of the beacon application processing unit 111, the transmission ON control units 114a, 114b, 114c give an instruction to start transmission (ON) of the beacon information on the selected frequency channel.

The three sub-beacon units 10a, 10b, and 10c are configured in the BLE communication unit 12, and perform BLE stacks 120a, 120b, and 120c that perform processing related to short-range wireless communication according to the BLE standard, and an RF transmission unit 122a. , 122b, 122c. The BLE stacks 120a, 120b, 120c in each sub-beacon unit 10a, 10b, 10c include beacon information transmission units 121a, 121b, 121c. Each beacon data transmission unit 121a, 121b, 121c is a beacon generated by the corresponding beacon information generation unit 113a, 113b, 113c when a transmission start instruction is issued from the corresponding transmission ON control unit 114a, 114b, 114c. The control for transmitting information by the single frequency channel selected by the corresponding transmission channel selection unit 115a, 115b, 115c at the interval set by the corresponding transmission interval setting unit 112a, 112b, 112c is performed. Then, under the control of each beacon information transmission unit 121a, 121b, 121c, the corresponding RF transmission unit 122a, 122b, 122c transmits the beacon information by the single frequency channel at the set interval. (To broadcast.

In the beacon system including the beacon device 10 having the above-described functional configuration, the beacon information transmission timing in the beacon device 10 (BLE communication unit 12) and the mobile communication terminal device 20 (see FIGS. 6 and 9B) ( The relationship between the beacon information of the BLE communication unit 24) and the scanning operation (waiting operation) period is, for example, as shown in the timing chart of FIG.

In FIG. 14, the first sub-beacon unit 10a of the beacon device 10 uses the single frequency channel 37ch selected from the three frequency channels used in the advertising defined by the BLE standard to transmit beacon information (of 37ch). (Including information) is transmitted (broadcast) at a set interval, for example, an interval of 20 ms (millisecond). The second sub-beacon unit 10b has a single frequency channel 38ch different from the frequency channel used by the first sub-beacon unit 10b, and has an interval in which beacon information (including information of 38ch) is set, for example, 20 ms (millimeter). At the interval of (seconds), the signal is transmitted (broadcast) separately from the transmission of the first sub-beacon unit 10a. The third sub-beacon unit 10c has beacon information (including information of 39ch) set in a single frequency channel 39ch different from the frequency channel used in the first sub-beacon unit 10a and the second sub-beacon unit 10b. The signal is transmitted (broadcast) separately from the first sub-beacon unit 10a and the second sub-beacon unit 10b at an interval of, for example, 20 ms (milliseconds).

On the other hand, the mobile communication terminal 20, like the first example (see FIG. 10) described above, for example, at intervals of 50 ms (milliseconds), the three frequencies used in the advertising specified by the BLE standard. Channels 37 ch, 38 ch, and 39 ch are sequentially switched, and a scanning operation is performed for each frequency channel waiting for reception of beacon information for a predetermined period, for example, 25 ms (milliseconds).

In a state where the mobile communication terminal device 20 has entered the receivable area of the beacon information from the beacon device 10, the BLE communication unit 24 of the mobile communication terminal device 20 is waiting for reception of the beacon information on the frequency channel 37ch, for example, In the 25 ms period from 0 ms to 25 ms, beacon information transmitted (broadcast) on the frequency channel 37ch is received from the first sub-beacon unit 10a of the beacon device 10. In addition, the BLE communication unit 24 of the mobile communication terminal 20 is waiting for reception of beacon information on the frequency channel 38ch, for example, in the period of 25 ms from 50 ms to 75 ms, from the second sub-beacon unit 10b of the beacon device 10. The beacon information transmitted (broadcast) on the frequency channel 38ch is received. Further, the BLE communication unit 24 of the mobile communication terminal 20 waits for reception of beacon information on the frequency channel 39ch, for example, during a 25 ms period from 100 ms to 125 ms, the frequency from the second sub-beacon unit 10c of the beacon device. The beacon information transmitted (broadcast) on the channel 39ch is received.

As described above, the control unit 21 of the mobile communication terminal 20 that receives the beacon information during the waiting period of the three frequency channels 37c, 38ch, 39ch receives the beacon information, and the reception radio field intensity at the time of reception ( RSSI) is measured. Then, the control unit 21 performs a process using the received radio field intensity (RSSI) obtained corresponding to each of the three frequency channels 37ch, 38ch, 39. For example, the control unit 21 sets the RSSI corresponding to each of the frequency channels 37ch, 38ch, 39ch specified by the channel identification information included in the beacon information received in the waiting period of each of the frequency channels 37ch, 38ch, 39ch as the distance. A process of acquiring the distance corresponding to the RSSI measured using the conversion tables A, B, and C (see FIG. 11) for conversion is performed. Then, the final distance can be obtained by, for example, averaging the distances obtained in each of the conversion tables A, B, and C. In addition, the final distance can be obtained without using the conversion table corresponding to the frequency channel in which the received radio wave environment is good, or without using the received radio wave intensity for the frequency channel in which the received radio wave environment is bad. The mobile communication terminal 20 recognizes that the mobile communication terminal 20 exists at a place (position) of the finally acquired distance from a place (position) specified by the latitude and longitude (see FIG. 8) included in the beacon information. be able to. Further, the control unit 21 can change the content of the process (application) according to the measured RSSI (corresponding to the distance from the beacon device 10).

According to such a beacon system and the beacon device 10 included in the beacon system, the beacon device 10 broadcasts beacon information in which the characteristic of the received radio wave intensity at the mobile communication terminal 20 (BLE communication unit 24) is. Even if each of the three frequency channels 37ch, 38ch, and 39ch used for this purpose is different, the beacon information received by the mobile communication terminal 20 (BLE communication unit 24) is used for broadcasting the beacon information. Since the channel identification information for specifying the frequency channel is included (see FIG. 8), the received radio field intensity (RSSI) at the time of receiving the beacon information and the frequency used for broadcasting the beacon information received with the received radio field intensity You can see the relationship with the channel. As described above, in the mobile communication terminal 20, the relationship between the received radio wave intensity (RSSI) at the time of receiving beacon information and the frequency channel used for broadcasting the beacon information received with the received radio wave intensity is known, and the received radio wave is received. A process using the intensity and information about the received radio wave intensity corresponding to the frequency channel specified by the channel identification information included in the beacon information, for example, a conversion table (see FIG. 11) for converting the radio wave received intensity into a distance is performed. Therefore, according to the procedure of short-range wireless communication (advertising) according to the BLE standard, the beacon information broadcasted from the beacon device 10 on each of the three frequency channels 37ch, 38ch, 39ch is transmitted by the mobile communication terminal 20. It is possible to accurately determine the relative position of the mobile communication terminal device 20 with respect to the beacon device 10 based on the received radio wave intensity at the time of reception.

Beacon device 10 can be configured to have the functional configuration shown in FIG. 15 (third functional configuration example). Also in the beacon system using the beacon device 10 having such a functional configuration, it is possible to prevent the deterioration of the noise resistance performance on the mobile communication terminal 20 side.

In FIG. 15, the control unit 11 of the beacon device 10 includes an application control unit 110 that controls execution of various applications, and the application control unit 110 includes a beacon application processing unit 111 that performs a process related to a beacon application. A transmission interval setting unit 112, a beacon information generation unit 113, a transmission channel selection unit 115, and a transmission ON/OFF control unit 116 are included. Under the control of the beacon application processing unit 111, the transmission channel selection unit 115 switches one frequency channel from three frequency channels (37ch, 38ch, 39ch) specified to be used in advertising in the BLE standard. select. Under the control of the beacon application processing unit 111, the beacon interval setting unit 112 sets an interval for transmitting (broadcasting) beacon information using three frequency channels that can be switched. The beacon information generation unit 113 generates beacon information to be transmitted (to be broadcast). The beacon information includes channel identification information that identifies a frequency channel used for transmitting (broadcasting) the beacon information, and the beacon information generating unit 113 causes the beacon channel selecting unit 115 to switch each frequency channel. , Rewrite the channel identification information. Under the control of the beacon application processing unit 111, the transmission ON/OFF control unit 116 instructs the transmission start (ON) and transmission stop (OFF) of beacon information on each frequency channel.

The BLE communication unit 12 of the beacon device 10 includes a BLE stack 120 that performs a process related to near field communication according to the BLE standard, and an RF transmission unit 122. The BLE stack 120 includes the beacon information transmission unit 121 as in the example described above (see FIG. 7). The beacon information transmission unit 121 selects the transmission channel from the beacon information generated by the beacon information generation unit 113 when there is an instruction to start transmission from the transmission ON/OFF control unit 116 in the application control unit 110 of the control unit 11. When a signal is transmitted (broadcast) by the single frequency channel switched and selected by the unit 115 and the transmission ON/OFF control unit 116 instructs to stop the transmission, the beacon information is transmitted by the single frequency channel ( Broadcast) to control to stop. In addition, the beacon information transmission unit 121 performs control for repeating transmission and stop at the three frequency channels switched as described above at the intervals set by the transmission interval setting unit 112. Then, under the control of the beacon information transmission unit 121, the RF transmission unit 122 transmits (broadcasts) the beacon information by the single frequency channel that is switched and selected at the set interval.

The functional layers of the beacon device 10 configured as shown in FIG. 5 (hardware) and FIG. 15 (function) are configured as shown in FIG. 16, in the higher layer corresponding to the application control unit 110 (see FIG. 15) of the control unit 11, the transmission interval is set (the transmission interval setting unit 112) by the instruction to start the transmission (the transmission ON/OFF control unit 116). Generation of beacon information (beacon information generation unit 113) and selection of a transmission channel (transmission channel selection unit 115) are performed, and for example, frequency channel 37ch is selected. An instruction to stop transmission is issued after a predetermined time from the processing at the start of transmission (transmission ON/OFF control unit 116). Then, in the lower layer corresponding to the BLE stack 120 (beacon information transmitting unit 121), transmission control is performed by advertising defined by the BLE standard, and beacon information (37ch is used by using the selected single frequency channel 37ch). (Including channel identification information of) is transmitted (broadcast). Then, in the low layer, the transmission (broadcast) of the beacon information using the frequency channel 37 is stopped by the instruction to stop transmission from the high layer.

Further, in the higher layer (application control unit 110), an instruction to start transmission (transmission ON/OFF control unit 116) is given again a predetermined time after the instruction to stop transmission, and the transmission interval is set (transmission interval setting) by the instruction. Unit 112), beacon information generation (beacon information generation unit 113), and transmission channel switching selection (transmission channel selection unit 115) are performed, and, for example, the frequency channel 38ch switched from the frequency channel 37ch is selected. An instruction to stop transmission is issued after a predetermined time from the processing at the start of transmission (transmission ON/OFF control unit 116). Then, in the lower layer corresponding to the BLE stack 120 (beacon information transmission unit 121), transmission control is performed by advertising defined by the BLE standard, and beacon information (switching selected single frequency channel 38ch is used. 38 channel (including channel identification information) is transmitted (broadcast). Then, in the lower layer, the transmission (broadcast) of the beacon information using the frequency channel 38ch is stopped by an instruction to stop transmission from the higher layer.

Next, in the higher layer (application control unit 110) and the lower layer (beacon information transmission unit 121), the frequency channel 38ch is switched to the frequency channel 39 by the same procedure as described above, and the beacon information (39ch (Including channel identification information) is transmitted (broadcast) on the frequency channel 39ch. After that, the beacon information (including the channel identification information of 37ch) is transmitted (broadcast) on the frequency channel 37ch, the beacon information (including the channel identification information of 38ch) is transmitted (broadcast) on the frequency channel 38ch, and the frequency. Transmission (broadcast) of beacon information (including channel identification information of 39ch) on the channel 39ch is repeated at the set transmission interval.

In the beacon system including the beacon device 10 having the functional configuration (see FIG. 15) and the functional layer configuration (see FIG. 6) as described above, the beacon information transmission timing of the beacon device 10 (BLE communication unit 12) and the portable device The relationship between the beacon information of the communication terminal 20 (BLE communication unit 24) and the scanning operation (waiting operation) period is, for example, as shown in the timing chart of FIG.

In FIG. 17, the beacon device 10 (BLE communication unit 12) has three frequency channels 37ch that are switched and selected at a set interval, for example, an interval of 20 ms (milliseconds) in the advertising specified by the BLE standard. , 38 ch, and 39 ch, beacon information including channel identification information for identifying the corresponding frequency channel is transmitted (broadcast). The interval for starting and stopping the transmission of beacon information on each frequency channel is set to 5 ms (milliseconds), for example. On the other hand, the mobile communication terminal 20 is, for example, like the above-described examples (see FIGS. 10 and 14 ), for example, at intervals of 50 ms (milliseconds), three mobile communication terminals 20 used for advertising specified by the BLE standard. The frequency channels 37ch, 38ch, and 39ch are sequentially switched, and a scanning operation is performed for each frequency channel waiting for reception of beacon information for a predetermined period, for example, 25 ms (milliseconds).

In a state where the mobile communication terminal device 20 has entered the receivable area of the beacon information from the beacon device 10, the BLE communication unit 24 of the mobile communication terminal device 20 is waiting for reception of the beacon information on the frequency channel 37ch, for example, In the 25 ms period from 0 ms to 25 ms, beacon information transmitted (broadcast) on the frequency channel 37 ch is received from the BLE communication unit 11 of the beacon device 10. In addition, the BLE communication unit 24 of the mobile communication terminal 20 is waiting for reception of beacon information on the frequency channel 38ch, for example, in the period from 50 ms to 75 ms, from the BLE communication unit 11 of the beacon device 10 on the frequency channel 38ch. Receive beacon information transmitted (broadcast). Furthermore, the BLE communication unit 24 of the mobile communication terminal 20 waits for beacon information on the frequency channel 39ch, for example, during the period from 100 ms to 125 ms, the BLE communication unit 11 of the beacon device 10 transmits on the frequency channel 39ch ( Broadcast) Beacon information is received.

As described above, the control unit 21 of the mobile communication terminal 20 which receives the beacon information during the waiting period of the three frequency channels 37c, 38ch, 39ch transmits the beacon information in the same manner as the example (see FIG. 14) described above. Upon reception, the received radio wave intensity (RSSI) at the time of reception is measured, and processing is performed using the received radio wave intensity (RSSI) obtained corresponding to each of the three frequency channels 37ch, 38ch, 39. Specifically, similar to the above-described example (see FIG. 14), for example, the control unit 21 is specified by the channel identification information included in the beacon information received in the waiting period of each of the frequency channels 37ch, 38ch, and 39ch. Using the conversion tables A, B, and C (see FIG. 11) for converting the RSSIs corresponding to the respective frequency channels 37ch, 38ch, and 39ch into the distances (see FIG. 11), the process of acquiring the distances corresponding to the measured RSSIs is performed. Then, the mobile communication terminal device 20 may recognize that the mobile communication terminal device 20 exists at a location (position) of the acquired distance from a location (position) specified by the latitude and longitude (see FIG. 8) included in the beacon information. it can. Further, the control unit 21 can change the content of the process (application) according to the measured RSSI (distance from the beacon device 10).

According to such a beacon system and the beacon device 10 included in the beacon system, the beacon device 10 broadcasts beacon information in which the characteristic of the received radio wave intensity at the mobile communication terminal 20 (BLE communication unit 24) is. Even if each of the three frequency channels 37ch, 38ch, and 39ch used for this purpose is different, the beacon information received by the mobile communication terminal 20 (BLE communication unit 24) is used for broadcasting the beacon information. Since the channel identification information for specifying the frequency channel is included (see FIG. 8), the received radio field intensity (RSSI) at the time of receiving the beacon information and the frequency used for broadcasting the beacon information received with the received radio field intensity You can see the relationship with the channel. As described above, in the mobile communication terminal 20, the relationship between the received radio wave intensity (RSSI) at the time of receiving beacon information and the frequency channel used for broadcasting the beacon information received with the received radio wave intensity is known, and the received radio wave is received. A process using the intensity and information about the received radio wave intensity corresponding to the frequency channel specified by the channel identification information included in the beacon information, for example, a conversion table (see FIG. 11) for converting the radio wave received intensity into a distance is performed. Therefore, according to the procedure of short-range wireless communication (advertising) according to the BLE standard, the beacon information broadcasted from the beacon device 10 on each of the three frequency channels 37ch, 38ch, 39ch is transmitted by the mobile communication terminal 20. It is possible to accurately determine the relative position of the mobile communication terminal device 20 with respect to the beacon device 10 based on the received radio wave intensity at the time of reception.

In the first example (see FIG. 7 to FIG. 10), the beacon device 10 uses one or two frequency channels among the three frequency channels used in the advertising specified in the BLE standard for beaconing. Although the information is transmitted (broadcast), the mobile communication terminal 20 transmits the beacon information transmitted (broadcast) from the beacon device 10 through three frequency channels in the advertisement in one of the three frequency channels. It may be possible to wait on one or two frequency channels.

In this case, the relationship between the beacon information transmission timing of the beacon device 10 (BLE communication unit 12) and the beacon information scan operation (wait operation) period of the mobile communication terminal 20 (BLE communication unit 24) is, for example, It becomes like the timing chart shown in 18.

In FIG. 18, the beacon device 10 (BLE communication unit 12) uses, in advertising defined by the BLE standard, each of the three frequency channels 37ch, 38ch, and 39, for example, at intervals of 20 ms (milliseconds). Send (broadcast) beacon information. On the other hand, the mobile communication terminal 20 (BLE communication unit 24) uses one of the three frequency channels, for example, a single frequency channel 37ch, at a beacon interval of, for example, 50 ms (milliseconds). It waits for reception of beacon information broadcast from the device 10. Then, the BLE communication unit 24 of the mobile communication terminal 20 is waiting for reception of the beacon information on the frequency channel 37ch in a state where the mobile communication terminal 20 enters the receivable area of the beacon information from the beacon device 10. For example, in the 25 ms period from 0 ms to 25 ms, the 25 ms period from 50 ms to 75 ms, and the 25 ms period from 100 ms to 125 ms, the BLE communication unit 12 of the beacon device 10 transmits (broadcasts) on the frequency channel 37ch. Receive beacon information.

When receiving the beacon information as described above, the control unit 21 of the mobile communication terminal 20 measures the received radio wave intensity (RSSI) at the time of reception, and performs the process using the received radio wave intensity. Specifically, similarly to the first example (see FIG. 10) described above, the conversion table (see FIG. 11) corresponding to the frequency channel 37ch is used to determine the distance corresponding to the measured received signal strength (RSSI). To be acquired. As a result, the mobile communication terminal 20 recognizes that the mobile communication terminal 20 exists at a location (position) of the acquired distance from the location (position) specified by the latitude and longitude (see FIG. 8) included in the beacon information. You can Further, the control unit 21 can change the content of the processing (application) according to the distance from the beacon device 10.

According to such a beacon system, the characteristics of the radio wave intensity received by the mobile communication terminal 20 (BLE communication unit 24) are three frequency channels 37ch, 38ch used by the beacon device 10 to broadcast beacon information, The number of frequency channels (one) at which the beacon information is actually received by the mobile communication terminal device 20 (BLE communication unit 24) is the beacon information from the beacon device 10 even if it is different for each of the 39 channels. Since it is less than the number of frequency channels (3) used for the mobile communication terminal device 20, the mobile communication terminal device 20 is more likely to receive the beacon information than the mobile communication terminal device 20 receives the beacon information on all of the three frequency channels. The variations in the characteristics of the received radio wave intensity of are reduced. As described above, in the mobile communication terminal device 20 (BLE communication unit 24), a process using the received radio wave intensity with the characteristic that the variation is small, for example, the received radio wave intensity (RSSI) corresponding to a single frequency channel 37ch Since the distance corresponding to the received radio wave intensity measured using the conversion table A (see FIG. 11) representing the relationship with the distance is obtained as the distance between the beacon device 10 and the mobile communication terminal device 20, the mobile communication The relative position of the terminal device 20 with respect to the beacon device 10 can be accurately determined.

In the example described above (see FIG. 18 ), one of the three frequency channels used in advertising defined by the BLE standard (for example, 37 ch) is used by the beacon device 10 to generate the three frequencies. Although it waits for beacon information to be broadcast on the channel, it is not limited to this. For example, the beacon information broadcast from the beacon device 10 on the three frequency channels may be waited for on two frequency channels of the three frequency channels.

Further, in each of the examples described above, the beacon information is broadcast from the beacon device 10 (BLE communication unit 12) by advertising defined by the BLE standard, but the invention is not limited to this. The beacon device 10 may broadcast beacon information according to another procedure of near field communication, and the mobile communication terminal 20 may receive the beacon information according to another procedure of near field communication. In this case, when the mobile communication terminal 20 is waiting to receive the beacon information on each of the predetermined number of frequency channels, the beacon device 10 broadcasts the beacon information on one or more frequency channels less than the predetermined number. You can Also, when the beacon device 10 broadcasts beacon information on each of a predetermined number of frequency channels, the mobile communication terminal 20 waits for the beacon information on one or a plurality of frequency channels less than the predetermined number of frequency channels. can do. Further, the beacon information broadcast from the beacon device 10 can include channel identification information that identifies the frequency channel used for the broadcast.

Although the beacon system has been described as an example of the information distribution system, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be a system that distributes general information by an information distribution device.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The information distribution system according to the present invention has an effect that the relative position of the communication terminal device with respect to the information distribution device can be accurately determined, and a predetermined short-distance wireless communication such as short-distance wireless communication according to the BLE standard. It is useful as an information distribution system including an information distribution device that distributes predetermined information to a communication terminal device through communication.

10 Beacon Equipment 10a First Sub Beacon Unit 11 Control Unit 12 BLE Communication Unit 13 Operation Section 20 Mobile Communication Terminal (Smartphone)
21 control unit 22 mobile communication unit 23 wireless LAN unit 24 BLE communication unit 25 display unit 26 operation unit 27 storage unit 110 application control unit 111 beacon application processing unit 112 transmission interval setting unit 113 beacon data generation unit 114 transmission ON control unit 115 Transmission channel selection unit 116 Transmission ON/OFF control unit 120 BLE/stack processing unit 121 Beacon data transmission unit 122 RF transmission unit

Claims (12)

Relative position with respect to the information distribution source that uses the received signal strength at the time of receiving the distribution information, waiting for reception of distribution information from the information distribution source on each of a predetermined number of frequency channels according to a predetermined short-range wireless communication procedure A communication terminal device that performs processing relating to the determination of
Information as the information distribution source that broadcasts distribution information to the communication terminal device by one or more predetermined frequency channels less than the predetermined number out of the predetermined number of frequency channels according to the predetermined short-range wireless communication procedure. An information distribution system having a distribution device. The communication terminal device waits for reception of distribution information on each of three frequency channels used for advertising defined in the Bluetooth Low Energy standard,
The information distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the information distribution device broadcasts the distribution information on a single predetermined frequency channel of the three frequency channels in the advertising. The information distribution system according to claim 2, wherein the information distribution device has a channel switching unit that switches a frequency channel used for broadcasting the distribution information among the predetermined number of frequency channels. The information distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the distribution information includes channel identification information that specifies a frequency channel used for broadcasting the distribution information. The communication terminal device has a storage unit that holds information about the received radio wave intensity corresponding to each of the predetermined number of frequency channels,
Utilizing the received radio field intensity at the time of receiving the delivery information and the information about the received radio field intensity corresponding to the frequency channel specified by the channel identification information included in the delivery information, which is held in the storage unit. The information distribution system according to claim 4, which performs the processing. An information distribution device that broadcasts distribution information on each of a predetermined number of frequency channels according to a predetermined short-range wireless communication procedure,
According to the procedure of the predetermined short-range wireless communication, the reception of the distribution information broadcast by the information distribution device by one or a plurality of predetermined frequency channels less than the predetermined number of the predetermined number of frequency channels An information distribution system including: a communication terminal device that performs processing related to determination of a relative position with respect to the information distribution device using received radio wave intensity at the time of reception. The information distribution device broadcasts the distribution information on each of three frequency channels defined as frequency channels to be used in advertising defined in the Bluetooth Low Energy standard.
The information distribution system according to claim 6 , wherein the communication terminal device waits for the distribution information broadcast by the information distribution device on a single predetermined frequency channel of the three frequency channels. The distribution information broadcast from the information distribution device includes channel specifying information for specifying a frequency channel for distributing the distribution information,
The communication terminal device has a storage unit that holds information about the received radio wave intensity corresponding to each of the predetermined number of frequency channels,
Utilizing the received radio field intensity at the time of receiving the delivery information and the information about the received radio field intensity corresponding to the frequency channel specified by the channel identification information included in the delivery information, which is held in the storage unit. The information distribution system according to claim 6 or 7, which performs the processing. Relative position with respect to the information distribution source that uses the received signal strength at the time of receiving the distribution information, waiting for reception of distribution information from the information distribution source on each of a predetermined number of frequency channels according to a predetermined short-range wireless communication procedure The distribution information is transmitted to the communication terminal device performing the process related to the determination by the one or more predetermined frequency channels smaller than the predetermined number out of the predetermined number of frequency channels according to the predetermined short-range wireless communication procedure. An information distribution device as the information distribution source for broadcasting. In the advertising specified by the Bluetooth Low Energy standard, the communication terminal device waiting to receive information on each of the three frequency channels specified as the frequency channel to be used The information distribution device according to claim 9, wherein the distribution information is broadcast on a single predetermined frequency channel out of two frequency channels. The information distribution device according to claim 9 or 10, further comprising switching means for switching a frequency channel used for broadcasting the distribution information among the predetermined number of frequency channels. The information distribution device according to claim 9, wherein the distribution information includes channel identification information that specifies a frequency channel used for broadcasting the distribution information.

Images