FR3110316A1 - Method for managing a virtual community of terminal users - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to the field of the creation and management of virtual communities of users in the context of the Internet of Things and corresponding service applications. Specifically, the invention relates to a method for matching a client terminal (100) with data collected by at least one mobile terminal (300-1, 300-2, 300-3), the method comprising: - receiving, from said client terminal, a location request for a target object (400), said location request comprising an identifier of said target object; - detecting, with the at least one mobile terminal, a communication neighborhood (4000 ) wireless defined by the target object; and - upon detection of said wireless communication neighborhood, providing an association (DP-M1; DP-M2) of the identifier of the target object and current geolocation information of the at least one mobile terminal. Abstract Figure: Figure 1

Description

Method for managing a virtual community of terminal users

Background of the invention

The invention relates to the field of the creation and management of a virtual community of users of mobile terminals in the context of the Internet of Things and corresponding service applications.

In particular, the invention relates to the field of matching collected and processed data, these data being useful for locating equipment in the context of the Internet of Things, for example using interactions of proximity between several of these facilities.

In this context, various target equipment location services are known. Recent connected objects, and in particular devices based on the Internet of Things, are examples of such target equipment, since these are generally equipped with a remote communication device making it possible to locate them thanks to a means of detection. specific.

Also, different types of devices are known that can be configured for this purpose, for example tracers configured to locate a specific object thanks to a corresponding downloadable application and provided by a localization assistance service to which users can subscribe.

In order to be able to quickly and efficiently provide a location of the lost object, a localization assistance service can thus propose to pool several distinct devices in order to increase the probability of detecting this lost object over time in a given territory. .

For example, such a localization assistance service can be offered to a community of users to allow each of these users to find a lost object, based on information provided by the other users of the community.

In the event of loss of a lost item, a member of the community may submit a corresponding request to the associated help desk which, in response, may share information from devices belonging to the other members of the community.

The pooling of multiple devices and/or equipment thus makes it possible to build a community of users who can contribute collaboratively to the location of lost objects. Once the object has been located by the community, it is then possible to inform the owner of this object of the position at which it was detected.

However, a major drawback of this pooling is that to allow efficient and rapid identification of the position of a given object on a given geographical territory, for example the size of a city or a country, the use of a large number of devices are required to compensate for the short range of the location devices used.

Consequently, it is necessary that the number of users belonging to the community be sufficient in relation to the surface of the geographical territory to be covered. It is accepted, for example, that the pooling of several million tracers or localization devices is necessary in order to be able to provide an effective community. Localization assistance services are therefore limited by the size of their community, which is often initially insufficient to make any community search functionality effective.

Another disadvantage is that the known services generally only make it possible to find lost objects of a specific type, often by means of particular location devices, for example GPS plotters. There is therefore a need for generalization of these services in order to be able to allow the location of lost objects of all types, and by means of different means of wireless communication.

Yet another disadvantage is that the range, security and ergonomics of the tracking devices available on the market are often limited.

Subject matter and summary of the invention

In order to improve the situation and to respond to this or these drawbacks, a method is generally proposed for matching a client terminal with data collected by at least one mobile terminal from among a plurality of terminals. mobiles, the method comprising:
- Receiving, from the client terminal, a location request for a target object, the location request comprising an identifier of the target object;
- detecting, with the at least one mobile terminal, a wireless communication neighborhood defined by the target object; And
- upon detection of the wireless communication neighborhood, providing an association between the identifier of the target object and current geolocation information of the at least one mobile terminal.

This makes it possible to provide a correspondence between the data collected and one or more third-party systems for which a manager has previously declared an interest, and provides the elements necessary for locating this or these third-party systems.

This also makes it possible to increase the effectiveness of the community dimension of a service based on the use of a plurality of mobile terminals to locate this or these third-party systems. It is thus possible to determine a correspondence between target objects whose responsibility belongs to different actors, and therefore to take advantage of pooling a plurality of mobile terminals.

In one embodiment, the request for location of the target object is received by a remote server connected to the plurality of mobile terminals, the identifier that comprises the location request being transmitted from the remote server to the plurality of mobile terminals upon receipt of the location request by the remote server, the transmission of the identifier being prior to the detection, with the at least one mobile terminal, of the wireless communication neighborhood defined by the target object.

The use of a remote server forming an intermediate device between the client terminal and the plurality of mobile terminals makes it possible to centralize the sending of target object identifiers to mobile terminals configured to detect wireless communication neighborhoods and the reception of current geolocation information from mobile terminals having participated in this detection.

In one embodiment, upon detection of the wireless communication neighborhood defined by the target object, the association between the identifier and the current geolocation information of the at least one mobile terminal is implemented by the at least a mobile terminal, the association then being transmitted by the at least one mobile terminal to the remote server.

This makes it possible to provide a decentralized operation, in which the matching is carried out directly by the mobile terminal or terminals responsible for detecting the wireless communication neighborhood defined by the type object for which an interest has been declared.

In one embodiment, upon detection of the wireless communication neighborhood defined by the target object, the current geolocation information is transmitted by the at least one mobile terminal to the remote server, the association between the identifier and the information current geolocation being implemented by the remote server upon receipt of the current geolocation information by the remote server.

This makes it possible to provide centralized operation, an alternative to decentralized operation, and in which the matching is carried out by the remote server, which collects all the current geolocation information from the plurality of mobile terminals, so that the association provided involves each of this common geolocation information.

In one embodiment, the transmission of the current geolocation information is implemented according to:
- a charge level of the at least one mobile terminal; and or
- Upon receipt, by the at least one mobile terminal, of a transmission request sent by the remote server.

This makes it possible to automatically or manually trace the position of the at least one mobile terminal to the remote server independently of the detection of a wireless communication neighborhood defined by the target object to be located. This also makes it possible to categorize each of the mobile terminals of the plurality of mobile terminals according to the detection, or not, of a wireless communication neighborhood.

In one embodiment, the current geolocation information of the at least one mobile terminal associated with the identifier of the target object is provided by the remote server to the client terminal, in response to a supply request from the client terminal.

This allows the method to provide the client terminal directly with information on the location of a target object for which the manager has declared an interest, thus giving the manager of the client terminal the possibility of carrying out this location himself.

In one embodiment, the detection of the wireless communication neighborhood defined by the target object is implemented with at least two distinct mobile terminals among the plurality of mobile terminals, the method further comprising providing a position of the target object according to current geolocation information provided by each of the at least two mobile terminals.

This makes it possible to provide an association comprising a position of the target object, a trajectory taken by the target object over time, a count of detections of the wireless communication neighborhood defined by the target object or even a location history of the target object according to several mobile terminals having participated in them. Several current geolocation information can thus be used during the mapping in order to improve the information provided by the association.

In one embodiment, the wireless communication neighborhood is a Bluetooth communication neighborhood, the detection of the Bluetooth communication neighborhood being implemented upon scanning a BLE beacon of the target object.

In the present description, a BLE beacon is a Bluetooth Low Energy beacon.

When the target object to be located includes such a BLE beacon, the use of a Bluetooth type communication makes it possible to limit the power necessary for the operation of the BLE beacon and/or the corresponding detection means with which the at least a mobile terminal. In particular, this is desirable for battery-operated mobile terminals.

In one embodiment, the method further comprises the pairing, upon detection of the wireless communication neighborhood by the at least one mobile terminal, of the at least one mobile terminal with the target object by means of a Bluetooth communications.

Such a pairing makes it possible to implement a remote control of actions by the target object, these actions being able either to contribute to improving the localization of the target object, for example by means of the activation of a positioning module GPS or the emission of a sound signal, or contribute to improving the association between the identifier of the target object and the current geolocation information of the at least one mobile terminal.

In one embodiment, the identifier includes a security parameter, the detection of the wireless communication neighborhood being implemented upon receipt, by the target object, of the security parameter.

The security parameter improves the security and confidentiality of the data exchanged during the matching, for example by means of the exchange of keys or certificates during the detection of the wireless communication neighborhood, the use of these keys or certificates that can be managed remotely by the client terminal and/or the remote server.

According to another aspect, there is proposed, in general, a computer program comprising instructions for the implementation of the method according to any one of the embodiments described above, when these instructions are executed by a processor of a circuit computer processing.

The availability of such a computer program makes it possible to register the owner of the client terminal in a virtual community of users. Belonging to this community then makes it possible to locate, in a collaborative manner, target objects for which other users of the community have declared an interest.

According to yet another aspect, there is proposed, in general, a mobile terminal suitable for:
- receive, from a client terminal, an identifier of a target object;
- detecting a wireless communication neighborhood defined by the target object; And
- upon detection of the wireless communication neighborhood, providing an association between the identifier of the target object and current geolocation information of the mobile terminal to a remote server connected to the mobile terminal.

According to yet another aspect, there is proposed, in general, a server suitable for:
- Receiving, from a client terminal, a location request for a target object, this location request comprising an identifier of the target object;
- upon detection, by at least one remote mobile terminal among a plurality of remote mobile terminals, of a wireless communication neighborhood defined by the target object, the at least one remote mobile terminal being connected to the server, providing an association between the identifier of the target object and current geolocation information from the at least one mobile terminal to the client terminal.

According to yet another aspect, a communication system is generally proposed, this communication system comprising a mobile terminal and a server according to any one of the aspects set out above.

Other characteristics, details and advantages will appear on reading the detailed description below, and on analyzing the appended drawings, in which:

, FIG. 1 shows a non-limiting example of a communication system in which a method is implemented for matching a terminal with collected data, according to the invention;

, FIG. 2 represents, in the form of a flowchart, an example of steps of a method for matching a terminal with data collected according to one or more embodiments;

, FIG. 3 represents, in the form of a flowchart, the steps of a method for matching a terminal with data collected according to a first embodiment;

, FIG. 4 represents in the form of a flowchart the steps of a method for matching a terminal with data collected according to a second embodiment; And

, FIG. 5, represents a schematic block diagram of a computer processing circuit according to one embodiment.

Unless otherwise indicated, the elements common or similar to several figures bear the same reference signs and have identical or similar characteristics, so that these common elements are generally not described again for the sake of simplicity.

The drawings and the description below contain, for the most part, certain elements. They can therefore be used to better understand the present invention and to contribute to its definition, if necessary.

Reference is now made to FIG. 1, which represents an example of a communication system in which is implemented a method for matching a terminal with collected data, in accordance with the present invention.

In particular, FIG. 1 shows an example of matching a client terminal 100 with data from a process for locating a given target object 400, and by extension with mobile terminals (300-1, 2 , 3) such as mobile phones and from which this data originates. More particularly, these data come from a process of detecting a wireless communication neighborhood 4000 defined, that is to say generated, by this target object 400.

A wireless communication neighborhood is typically an electromagnetic network defining a data communication area with a terminal located in this telecommunications area, this area having a so-called proximity range (i.e. from a few meters to 100 meters ) or greater range, and generated by a transmitter acting as a beacon.

The target object comprises a beacon, which is for example a BLE beacon generating a Bluetooth network on a given perimeter, or even a proximity card adapted to allow radio-identification (or “Radio-frequency identification”, RFID, in English ) of target object 400.

The wireless communication neighborhood 4000 is, for example, generated by means of a short-range wireless communication protocol such as WPAN (Wireless Personal Area Network), WLAN ( Wireless Local Area Network ), Bluetooth, Wi-Fi -Fi or ZigBee. These different protocols allow communication between personal or domestic equipment equipped with small low-power radio transmitters.

Preferably, wireless communication neighborhood 4000 is a Bluetooth communication neighborhood. Bluetooth (Bluetooth is a registered trademark of Bluetooth SIG, Inc.) defines a communication standard for transmitting data wirelessly over short distances. These distances are typically limited to 10 meters, and use high frequency radio waves between 300 megahertz and 3 gigahertz. This standard makes Bluetooth devices very popular with customers for making connections to other nearby equipment, due to their portability, high emission level and low power consumption.

In particular, these connections are enabled by means of the establishment of BLE physical transport channels, which encapsulate LE ( Low Energy ) physical channels, defining a set of frequencies that can be used for communication between two devices, for example between a mobile terminal and a target object, configured to interact via such channels. A physical Bluetooth channel is characterized by a set of Bluetooth frequencies, combined with temporal parameters and limited by spatial considerations.

Preferably, when the wireless communication neighborhood 4000 is a Bluetooth communication neighborhood, the target object 400 which defines it is equipped with a BLE (or “Bluetooth Low Energy”) beacon.

BLE beacons allow transmission of raw data to a detector, such as a mobile terminal configured for this purpose. Optionally, this raw data can indicate a relative position of the beacon with respect to the reader.

According to different examples, a BLE beacon is configured according to one or another particular protocol, for example iBeacon, AltBeacon, URIBeacon or Eddystone. These different protocols facilitate the location of the target object 400 by mobile terminals.

In particular, these protocols allow mobile terminals to locate the target object 400 similar to a GPS positioning system (or “Global Positioning System”). In this case, the location of the target object 400 is implemented in a combined manner by the remote server 200 and at least one of the mobile terminals 300-1, 300-2, 300-3 in order to provide a location of the target object 400.

In addition, these iBeacon, AltBeacon, URIBeacon or Eddystone protocols allow mobile terminals to identify the target object 400 2 . This identification is for example implemented at the application level via identifiers specific to these protocols. In other words, any target object 400 for which a client terminal 100 has initially declared an interest is not identified by means of the Bluetooth communication or the BLE beacon, but directly at the level of the protocols used for this Bluetooth communication.

In a non-limiting manner, the embodiments described in the present description can be based on any short-range communication protocol.

Advantageously, when a mobile terminal configured to detect such a wireless communication neighborhood is located close to the target object, that is to say in a position located inside this neighborhood, it can receive the latter data, in particular data making it possible to identify the target object.

In particular, when the wireless communication neighborhood 4000 is a Bluetooth communication neighborhood, a Bluetooth communication link can be created between the target object 400 and a mobile terminal configured for this purpose. Data can then be exchanged between the target object 400 and the mobile terminal via this Bluetooth communication link.

The client terminal 100 is for example a computer, a tablet or a mobile telephone belonging to a user, designated here by “owner” of the terminal.

In a situation considered to be initial, the owner of the client terminal 100 transmits a declaration of interest to the remote server 200. This declaration of interest takes the form of a request to locate a target object, or in a non-limiting manner, can simply signal an owner's wish to determine the location of a particular piece of equipment, here, the target object 400.

The location request allows the owner of the client terminal 100 to provide the remote server 200 with at least one element making it possible to identify the target object 400 among others. This element is an identifier, this identifier being able to correspond to an identifier of a beacon with which the target object to be located is provided. The identifier of this beacon may belong exclusively to the owner of the client terminal 100.

In addition, the location request optionally makes it possible to provide the remote server 200 with position information, for example a national code, a postal code or GPS coordinates, this position information then being able to be used to facilitate detection and identification. later of the target object 400 by mobile terminals configured for this purpose, or to select mobile terminals adapted to this position information.

The location request may include information necessary to allow a third-party device, in particular a mobile terminal, to access protected or encrypted data of the target object to be located.

Each of the mobile terminals 300-1, 300-2, 300-3 is wirelessly connected to a remote server 200. The client terminal 100 is configured to connect to the remote server 200 via a telecommunications network 1000. The telecommunications network 1000 and the server 200 are preferably managed by a common operator. The mobile terminals 300-1, 300-2, 300-3 each belong to other users, distinct, and possibly previously subscribed to a telecommunications operator or to a geolocation service.

Each of the mobile terminals 300-1, 300-2, 300-3 comprises a geolocation module configured to supply geolocation data to the remote server 200. Such a geolocation module comprises, for example, a satellite positioning system such as the “Global Positioning System (GPS)” which allows high precision.

The geolocation module of a mobile terminal can also comprise a positioning system by detection of surrounding networks, for example geolocation by Wifi, Bluetooth and/or communication network of the mobile type. By mobile communication network is meant here a communication network, for example a cellular network compatible with GSM, UMTS, GPRS, EDGE, LTE network architectures and/or with 2G, 3G, 4G services. In certain situations, in particular in a covered environment, positioning by network detection gives better performance than geolocation by satellite alone, and is less energy-intensive than geolocation by satellite.

As shown in Fig. 1, the mobile terminals 300-1 and 300-2 are respectively moved along paths P1 and P2 passing within the wireless communication neighborhood 4000, and can detect the target object 400 upon reception. of data emitted by the latter, while a mobile terminal 300-3 whose path P3 does not pass in this vicinity cannot detect the target object 400, since it is not within sufficient range of the latter .

At predetermined regular intervals, upon receipt of a request sent by the remote server 200 or when a predefined condition is fulfilled, for example when a sufficient charge level is reached, each mobile terminal transmits information to the remote server, for example current geolocation information of the mobile terminal.

In the present description, such geolocation information comprises at least one parameter chosen from a date, a time and a three-dimensional position of the mobile terminal.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the mobile terminal 300-3 communicates to the remote server 200, for example at regular intervals during its movement along the path P3, its current position as provided by its geolocation module. The mobile terminals 300-1 and 300-2, whose respective paths P1 and P2 cross the wireless communication neighborhood 4000, also communicate their respective current positions to the server 200.

Not detecting the target object 400, the mobile terminal 300-3 transmits one or more positions to the remote server 200, in the form of DP-3 data. The mobile terminals 300-1 and 300-2 detecting the target object 400, these can on the other hand communicate to the remote server 200 their current positions at the time of the detection of the wireless communication neighborhood 4000, designated here by geolocation information. current, along with other information.

Preferably, the communication of these current positions is communicated by the mobile terminals at the end of a predetermined period of time during which the detection of the wireless communication neighborhood 4000 has been implemented.

In particular, the mobile terminal 300-1 can transmit to the remote server 200 current geolocation information corresponding to the position X1 in which a detection of the neighborhood 4000 could be carried out by the terminal 300-1, and the mobile terminal 300-2 can transmit to the remote server 200 current geolocation information corresponding to its position X2 in which a detection of the neighborhood 4000 could be carried out by the terminal 300-2.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the mobile terminal 300-1, respectively 300-2, transmits to the remote server 200 data DP-M1, respectively DP-M2, comprising, on the one hand, the current geolocation information X1, respectively X2, and on the other hand, at least one item of information picked up during the detection of the wireless communication neighborhood 4000. This information makes it possible to identify, at least partially, the target object 400. This transmission takes place under the data form DP-M1.

Upon receipt of the DP-M1 and DP-M2 data, the server 200 then seeks to extract therefrom an identifier of a target object 400 and, if the extracted identifier corresponds to that initially provided by the client terminal 100, the server can then informing the latter of the time, of the position at which the target object was detected and/or of information relating to the mobile terminals having participated in this detection.

Reference is now made to FIG. 2 , which represents in the form of a flowchart the main steps of a method for matching a terminal with collected data, according to an exemplary embodiment.

As represented, a step 505 relates to the reception, from a client terminal 100, of a location request for a target object 400, this location request comprising an identifier of this target object.

As a variant, the reception can be performed by a remote device (not shown) and connected to the server 200, for example a manager of the telecommunications network 1000. This remote device can also comprise at least one of the mobile terminals of the plurality 300 of mobile terminals.

A step 510, which follows step 505, concerns the detection, with at least one mobile terminal connected to the server 200 or to the remote device, of a wireless communication neighborhood defined by the target object 400.

Prior to step 510, the location request received during step 505 or else only the identifier contained in the location request, is transmitted from the remote server to the plurality 300 of mobile terminals connected to the remote server .

Step 510 may further comprise, upon detection of the wireless communication neighborhood, a recording of data associated with this neighborhood or current geolocation information of the mobile terminal(s) having implemented the detection.

During step 510, several mobile terminals can participate simultaneously or successively in the detection of the wireless communication neighborhood defined by the target object. A single mobile terminal can also perform several successive detections of the wireless communication neighborhood.

During step 510, a mobile terminal participating in the detection of the target object can pair with the latter, for example to exchange a control flow and possibly trigger the execution of an action by the target object.

A step 515, which follows steps 505 and 510, relates to the association, also called matching, of data coming respectively from the client terminal 100, from the server 200 and from at least one mobile terminals.

In particular, step 515 comprises a processing of these data in order to obtain an association between the identifier of the target object received from the client terminal 100 and at least one current geolocation information item recorded by the mobile terminal having implemented implements the detection of the wireless communication neighborhood of the target object 400.

According to an example, the association of step 515 is implemented by the server 200. This association is carried out following the detection of the wireless communication neighborhood defined by the target object by at least one mobile terminal connected to the server 200, said association matching, for example, an identifier of the target object with current geolocation information of a mobile terminal, received by the server 200.

The current geolocation information can be transmitted by the mobile terminal when specific conditions are met, for example when a charge level of the mobile terminal is sufficient to allow this transmission, at times predetermined in advance or even on request. from server 200.

According to another example, the association of step 515 is implemented by the mobile terminal(s) having implemented the detection of the wireless communication neighborhood of the target object 400.

A step 520, which follows steps 505, 510 and 515, concerns the provision of the association obtained during step 515. For example, the association is provided by the at least one mobile terminal having implemented the detection of the wireless communication neighborhood to the remote server 200. The server 200 can itself then provide the association to the client terminal 100, for example when the client terminal so requests.

FIG. 3 illustrates a flow diagram corresponding to the steps of a method for matching a terminal with data collected according to a first embodiment, called centralized mode.

Preferably, these streams comprise data streams, for example data packets of the ACL type (or "Asynchronous Connection-Less", in English), but may also comprise control data streams, such as data of the SCO type (or "Synchronous Connection Oriented Link", in English) for example for a pairing between a mobile terminal and a target object whose wireless communication neighborhood has been detected, this pairing triggering the transmission of a signal sound by the target object.

As illustrated, the client terminal 100, the server 200 and the plurality 300 of mobile terminals 300-1, 300-2, 300-3 are represented as being distinct and interconnected, for example connected by means of a network provided by a telecommunications operator. This does not exclude the client terminal 100 being part of the plurality 300 of mobile terminals.

In connection with the steps described previously, the reception step 505 comprises the steps 605 and 606 described below, the detection step 510 comprises the steps 610, 611 and 612 described below, the setting step 515 matching includes step 615 described below and providing step 520 includes steps 619 and 620 described below.

As illustrated, during step 605, the client terminal 100 transmits a location request RQ1 to the remote server 200. This makes it possible to provide the remote server with an identifier of a target object 400 to be located, said identifier being included in the location request RQ1.

In a specific example, the location request RQ1 comprises a range of bits provided in a payload, for example a BLE payload, the value(s) of this range forming a means of identifying the target object 400. This means of identification can be added to the identifier supplied by the location request RQ1, with the advantage of being natively supported by the wireless communication neighborhood 4000, i.e. that is, to be able to be exploited directly by the target object defining this Bluetooth communication neighborhood, for example to allow it to be read without requiring the installation of extensions or modules.

Advantageously, this provides a suitable means of identifying and/or locating a target object whose address, for example the MAC address of its BLE beacon, changes over time for security or confidentiality reasons.

During the optional step 606, an acknowledgment message ACK1 is sent back from the server 200 to the client terminal 100 upon receipt of the location request RQ1. The acknowledgment message ACK1 is used to confirm the correct reception of the location request RQ1. Furthermore, the acknowledgment message ACK1 can make it possible to request additional information from the client terminal 100 or from its owner, for example an IP address, a URL address, an estimated position of the target object 400, means of access to the target object 400 from a mobile terminal having detected a wireless communication vicinity of this target object, or alternatively corresponding security means.

Simultaneously or successively to steps 605 and/or 606, each of the mobile terminals 300-1, 300-2, 300-3 of the plurality 300 implements a detection step 610.

To implement step 610, each mobile terminal is configured to perform a scan of nearby wireless communication neighborhoods, for example a reactive Bluetooth scan of BLE beacons, i.e. a Bluetooth scan triggering the transmission of a response by the BLE beacon(s) whose wireless communication neighborhood has been detected during this scan, this response being able to be read or transmitted by the mobile terminal.

During step 610, a mobile terminal seeks to establish communication with a device located nearby, for example by sending a connection request RQ2 at regular intervals. If the mobile terminal is located in a wireless communication neighborhood defined by the target object 400, the target object 400 receives the connection request RQ2 and transmits a corresponding response signaling its presence to the mobile terminal, indicating that the scan performed by the mobile terminal has detected the wireless communication vicinity of the target object.

As a variant, and rather than a connection request RQ2 sent at regular intervals, the target object 400 can send notification messages at regular intervals, the mobile terminals 300-1, 300-2, 300-3 detecting these messages without necessarily request them.

During step 611, and upon detection of the wireless communication neighborhood defined by the target object 400, for example when the responsive Bluetooth scan of at least one of the mobile terminals 300-1, 300-2, 300-3 enabled the detection of a BLE beacon of the target object 400, the target object transmits a corresponding acknowledgment message ACK2 to the mobile terminal having carried out the detection. In particular, this corresponding acknowledgment message ACK2 comprises raw data DP specific to the wireless communication neighborhood of the target object 400.

Still during step 611, the mobile terminal having detected the wireless communication neighborhood records at least one current geolocation information, in particular geolocation information of the mobile terminal itself. As an option, the mobile terminal also records location information for the target object 400.

During step 612, a mobile terminal having received DP raw data during step 611 transmits these DP raw data to the remote server 200.

Still during step 612, each mobile terminal having detected a wireless communication neighborhood can add recorded current geolocation information—even information on the location of the target object 400 defining a detected wireless communication neighborhood—to the DP raw data transmitted to server 200.

In a specific example, the raw data DP can also be transmitted to a third-party server (not shown) to which the client terminal 100 has access. This transmission of the raw data DP can also be made to a URL address for which the owner of the client terminal 100 has access authorization. Preferably, this transmission is conditioned by a prior provision of one or more identifiers of the target object 400 and the address of this third-party server or the URL address of the server 200 to the mobile terminals 300-1, 300 -2, 300-3. Current geolocation information may also be part of this transmission.

During step 611 and/or during step 612, each mobile terminal can timestamp the raw data DP to be transmitted to the server 200.

This allows each mobile terminal to provide the remote server 200 with a report of the detection results obtained during steps 610 and 611, for example to deduce a count therefrom.

During step 615, the server 200 implements a processing of the raw data DP received so as to match them with the identifier ID received in the location request RQ1.

This makes it possible to carry out an association between the identifier of the target object 400 and at least one current geolocation information of at least one mobile terminal having participated in the detection of the wireless communication neighborhood 4000 defined by this target object.

In particular, if the equipment defining the wireless communication neighborhood 4000 detected on receipt of the acknowledgment message ACK2 and the raw data DP, during step 611, corresponds to the identifier of the target object 400 supplied to the server 200 during step 605, the server 200 associates this geolocation information with the raw data DP with a view to recording them on the server 200 and/or subsequently providing them to the client terminal 100 or to a third-party device, in the form of a DP-M data association.

According to various possible examples, the processing implemented by the server 200 can combine several current geolocation information, for example current geolocation information of a single mobile terminal having detected the wireless communication neighborhood of the target object 400 at different occasions over time, or current geolocation information of several mobile terminals having detected the wireless communication vicinity of the target object 400 on one or more occasions.

This allows, for example, the server 200 to generate a trajectory, a history or a tracking of the locations of the target object 400 for a given identifier ID, possibly supplemented with identifiers of the mobile terminals 300-1, 300-2, 300-3 involved in its detection.

Optionally, upon receipt of a corresponding provision request RQ3 from the client terminal 100, the server 200 provides the client terminal with a corresponding ACK3 acknowledgment message, this ACK3 acknowledgment message comprising the DP-M association of the identifier of the target object and current geolocation information of the at least one mobile terminal. As a variant, the DP-M association can be provided to a third-party server whose address is entered by the owner of the client terminal 100, or to a URL address, for example.

In a particular example of the centralized mode described above, the mobile terminals 300-1, 300-2, 300-3 are managed by a common telecommunications operator, and are each equipped with a Bluetooth communication interface configured to put in performs a Bluetooth scan. This configuration allows them to carry out a generalized scan to feed back information obtained during the detection of Bluetooth neighborhoods to the server 200, which here acts as a centralized server. This information includes, for example, a target object identifier, a date, a time or a position.

In this example, the owner of the client terminal 100 can declare community specification criteria that can be used for this configuration, for example identifiers, a desired update periodicity, alert conditions, etc.

Upon receipt of the raw data provided by the mobile terminals, the server 200 then implements a sorting of these raw data according to the specifications of the clients, and returns updates to the client terminal or to its owner, for example by the intermediary of a database to which the owner can access by providing an identifier of his client terminal or security information, such as a password. By way of illustration, the sorted raw data or the returned updates can be made available via an address of an Internet site to which the owner can access from a terminal distinct from the client terminal.

FIG. 4 illustrates a step flow diagram of a method for matching a terminal with data collected according to a second embodiment, called decentralized mode.

In connection with the steps described previously (FIG. 2), the reception step 505 comprises the steps 705 and 706 described below, the detection step 510 comprises the steps 710 and 711 described below, the step 515 matching includes step 715 described below, and providing step 520 includes steps 719 and 720 described below. Step 716 is included in either the match step 515 or the provide step 520.

As shown in Figure 4, steps 705, 706, 710, 711, 719 and 720 are similar to steps 605, 606, 610, 611, 619 and 620 shown in Figure 3, respectively.

During step 707, and following receipt of the supply request RQ1, the server 200 transmits the identifier ID to the plurality 300 of mobile terminals 300-1, 300-2, 300-3.

Unlike the centralized mode illustrated in FIG. wireless communication neighborhoods during steps 710 and 711. Preferably, this configuration takes into account the identifier ID transmitted during step 707.

Thus, when a target object 400 whose wireless communication neighborhood 4000 has been detected by a mobile terminal, corresponding raw data DP is supplied to the mobile terminal, in response to the request RQ2. During step 715, the mobile terminal having participated in the detection associates the identifier ID of the target object and current geolocation information thereof.

This allows the mobile terminals 300-1, 300-2, 300-3, rather than the remote server 200, to implement the DP-M association of the identifier and the current geolocation information.

This DP-M association is then transmitted to the server 200 by the mobile terminal having implemented it.

In a particular example of the decentralized mode described above, the mobile terminals 300-1, 300-2, 300-3 are managed by a common telecommunications operator, and are each provided with a Bluetooth communication interface configured to implement implements responsive Bluetooth scanning. Thus, as soon as the wireless communication neighborhood of a given piece of equipment is detected, the mobile terminal having performed the detection transmits information to the server 200 or to any server owned by the user of the client terminal 100, the user having previously declared this given equipment as being a target object.

This implies the need for step 707, since the server 200 must first send to the mobile terminals 300-1, 300-2, 300-3 one or more equipment identifiers defined as target objects, and optionally, the means necessary to that the mobile terminals participating in the detection can establish communication with these target objects, for example via the implementation of an interaction script.

Step 716 then allows the mobile terminals to transmit to the server 200 the results of the detections carried out, for example to count them or generate a position history.

According to different examples of the centralized mode or the decentralized mode, a DP-M association can include the identifier of the target object 400 as provided by the client terminal 100, an identifier of the target object 400 obtained from the raw data DPs received upon detection of the wireless communication neighborhood 4000 defined by the target object 400, or any other information characteristic of the target object 400 or of its wireless communication neighborhood 4000, the association DP-M being possibly timestamped by the server 200 or by the mobile terminal having participated in the detection of the wireless communication neighborhood.

FIG. 5 illustrates, according to a particular embodiment of the invention, a device 10 for implementing the method according to one of the embodiments described above.

The device 10, which is preferably an integrated circuit, is included in the server 200. Alternatively, the device 10 is an integrated circuit adapted to be integrated into the server 200 or at least into one of the mobile terminals of the plurality 300. The device 10 can also be integrated with any other electronic device distinct from a mobile terminal of the plurality 300 of mobile terminals and from the server 200.

As illustrated, the device 10 comprises a storage space 12, for example a memory MEM, and a processing unit 14 equipped for example with a processor PROC. The storage space 12 is for example a non-volatile memory (ROM or Flash, for example), and can constitute a recording medium, this recording medium possibly also comprising a computer program. When it constitutes a recording medium, the storage space 12 can be read by the server 200 or by one of the mobile terminals of the plurality 300.

The device 10 further comprises a communication module allowing said device to connect to a telecommunications network, for example to the network 1000, and to exchange data with other devices via the telecommunications network. For example, the communication module can be a Wifi or Ethernet network interface, or even a Bluetooth communication module.

The communication module of the device 10 comprises a data reception module 16, for example an IN receiver, and a data transmission module 18, for example an OUT transmitter.

The module 16 is configured to receive a request for connection or disconnection of the device 10 from a mobile terminal among the plurality 300 of mobile terminals, from a server 200 or from any other electronic device. In particular, the module 16 is configured to receive a request from a client terminal 100 such as a location request RQ1, a connection request RQ2 or even a supply request RQ3.

In particular, the location request RQ1 and/or the supply request RQ3 can take the form of a subscription request or a subscription request to a service for matching data collected by a given plurality of terminals mobiles. These mobile terminals are here preferably managed by a common telecommunications operator, this operator also being able to be in charge of managing the server 200.

According to a first variant, the module 18 is configured to transmit data or response messages from the device 10 to at least one of the mobile terminals 300-1, 300-2, 300-3 or to the client terminal 100 if device 10 is included in server 200.

According to a second variant, the module 18 is configured to transmit data or response messages from the device 10 to the server 200 or to the client terminal 100 if the device 10 is included in one of the mobile terminals 300-1, 300-2, 300-3.

According to this first or this second variant, the module 18 can also be configured to transmit data from the device 10 to a third-party electronic device to which the owner of the client terminal 100 and/or the operator of the third-party electronic device have/has access. .

The storage space 12, which can be secured, is configured to record and store any data read by the module 16, processed by the unit 14 and/or sent by the module 18.

The processing unit 14, which can be controlled by a program, is configured to implement the matching method as described in the invention with reference to the preceding figures.

On initialization, the instructions of a program driving the processing unit 14, are for example loaded into a random access memory (RAM, for example) not shown, included in the device 1000, before being executed by the processor of the processing unit 14.

In particular, the processing unit 14 is configured to implement an association between an identifier of a target object and parameters of this target object, of a wireless communication neighborhood defined by a target object and/or of parameters of a mobile terminal intended to detect this target object or this wireless communication neighborhood, this association being made by means of data processing methods.

In the non-limiting examples described above, one of the intended applications is the supply, by a telecommunications operator, of a system and/or a service of the “business to business” type (or “business to business”). », B2B, in English). In particular, an application aims to offer a system and/or a service allowing the constitution and management of a virtual community of subscribed users.

This constitution and this management of virtual community can be implemented on the basis of a deployment of specific software on the mobile telephones of subscribed users, this software being configured to allow the matching of geolocation data of equipment specific devices or lost target objects, with a client terminal belonging to a user who has declared an interest in these specific devices or target objects, for example if he is the owner thereof. This matching can in particular be done on the basis of a corresponding request for access to the collected data sent by the client terminal, the user of the client terminal then being able to be invited to subscribe to the community, and for example, propose that his terminal become part of the community of mobile terminals.

According to one example, this system and/or this service can be provided to any manager of a tracking application, for example an application for the location assisted by Bluetooth of objects marked by means of BLE tags, this application being installed on a large number of mobile terminals configured to participate in this localization. According to another example, this system and/or this service can be provided to a manager of a fleet of mobile equipment such as mobile telephones, to match the data collected by this fleet of mobile equipment on the basis of an expression of interest for a given object, for example a specific lost object. Thus, the manager of a community search location service could initiate its operations on the basis of a large number of corresponding geolocation data without having to have a large number of subscribers.

Although the proposed methods are described in different embodiments as implemented respectively by a server 200 or a plurality of mobile terminals whose users define a virtual community, different embodiments of the methods proposed above can be implemented. using different types of devices such as computers, tablets or computing resources that are distant from each other.

In addition, various aspects and features described above may be implemented together, or separately, or substituted for each other, and all of the various combinations and sub-combinations of aspects and features are covered by the scope of the 'invention. Additionally, some systems and equipment described above may not incorporate all of the features and functions described for the preferred embodiments.

Claims (14)

A method of matching a client terminal (100) with data collected by at least one mobile terminal (300-1, 300-2, 300-3) among a plurality (300) of mobile terminals, the method comprising:
- receiving (505), from the client terminal, a location request (RQ1) of a target object (400), the location request comprising an identifier of the target object;
- detecting (510), with the at least one mobile terminal, a wireless communication neighborhood (4000) defined by the target object; And
- upon detection of the wireless communication neighborhood, providing (520) an association between the identifier of the target object and current geolocation information of the at least one mobile terminal.
Method according to claim 1, in which the request for location of the target object is received by a remote server (200) connected to the plurality of mobile terminals, the identifier that comprises the location request being transmitted (707) from the server remote to the plurality of mobile terminals upon receipt of the location request by the remote server, said transmission of the identifier being prior to the detection, with the at least one mobile terminal, of the wireless communication neighborhood defined by the target object.
Method according to claim 2, in which, upon detection of the wireless communication neighborhood defined by the target object, the association (715) between the identifier and the current geolocation information of the at least one mobile terminal is implemented by the at least one mobile terminal, said association then being transmitted (716) by the at least one mobile terminal to the remote server.
Method according to claim 2, in which, upon detection of the wireless communication neighborhood defined by the target object, the current geolocation information is transmitted (612) by the at least one mobile terminal to the remote server, the association between the identifier and the current geolocation information being implemented (615) by the remote server upon receipt of the current geolocation information by the remote server.
Method according to claim 4, in which the transmission (612) of the current geolocation information is implemented according to:
- a charge level of the at least one mobile terminal; and or
- Upon receipt, by the at least one mobile terminal, of a transmission request sent by the remote server.
Method according to any one of Claims 2 to 5, in which the current geolocation information of the at least one mobile terminal associated with the identifier of the target object is supplied by the remote server to the client terminal, in response to a supply request from the client terminal.
A method according to any preceding claim, wherein detecting the wireless communication neighborhood defined by the target object is implemented with at least two distinct mobile terminals among the plurality of mobile terminals, the method further comprising provision of a position of the target object according to current geolocation information provided by each of the at least two mobile terminals.
A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the wireless communication neighborhood is a Bluetooth communication neighborhood, detection of the Bluetooth communication neighborhood being implemented upon scanning a BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) beacon of the target object.
Method according to claim 9, further comprising the pairing, upon detection of the wireless communication vicinity by the at least one mobile terminal, of the at least one mobile terminal with the target object by means of a Bluetooth communications.
Method according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the identifier comprises a security parameter, the detection of the wireless communication neighborhood being implemented on receipt, by the target object, of the security parameter.
Computer program comprising instructions for implementing the method according to any one of the preceding claims, when the instructions are executed by a processor of a computer processing circuit.
Mobile terminal (300-1; 300-2; 300-3) suitable for:
- receiving, from a client terminal (100), an identifier of a target object (400);
- detecting a wireless communication neighborhood (4000) defined by the target object; And
- upon detection of the wireless communication neighborhood, providing an association between the identifier of the target object and current geolocation information of the mobile terminal to a remote server (200) connected to the mobile terminal.
Server (200) suitable for:
- receiving, from a client terminal (100), a location request for a target object (400), this location request comprising an identifier of the target object;
- upon detection, by at least one remote mobile terminal (300-1; 300-2; 300-3) among a plurality of remote mobile terminals, of a wireless communication neighborhood (4000) defined by the target object, the at least one remote mobile terminal being connected to the server, providing an association between the identifier of the target object and current geolocation information from the at least one mobile terminal to the client terminal.
Communication system comprising a mobile terminal according to claim 12 and a server according to claim 13.