JP2000132661A - Control system by number of steps and its method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a control system by which the presence or absence of a user is easily judged and a personal computer is controlled. SOLUTION: The control system 1 is with a portable unit 10 for counting the number of steps and periodically transmitting it by feeble radio wave and a control unit 20 for receiving the feeble radio wave and judging the presence or absence of the user from the increase of with count value. In the system, it is recognized that the user comes close by walking when the received count value ϕ1 is increased from the previously received count value ϕ2 so that presence or absence is judged with precision. Then, a processing for displaying the number of steps during the absence or a greeting to the user who comes back in the personal computer is executed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a control system and a control method suitable for controlling non-portable or semi-portable devices other than those which are always carried, such as personal computers and other electric appliances. It is.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a personal computer (PC), when there is no input for a predetermined time, the display screen is switched to a screen saver screen, and when input is resumed by touching a key or the like, the screen is switched to a work screen. In an automatic door or the like, when a user is detected, the door automatically opens and closes.

[0003]

The screen of the screen saver automatically switches to a work screen when sitting in front of a personal computer, and an indication such as "Thank you" appears automatically when returning from the meeting. There is a convenient process that is automatically started without any operation when facing a personal computer, such as displaying an e-mail received during absence or automatically. The same applies to not only personal computers but also televisions and other electric appliances.

A method for automatically identifying the presence of a user is as follows:
There is an automatic door using a known infrared sensor or the like. However, since the area that can be detected by the sensor is limited, even if the posture is changed or the chair is moved, the same processing as when returning from absence may be started. Of course, constructing a control system that expands the detection range of the sensor, judges the user using radio waves with less directivity, and combines some conditions such as the time when detection became impossible and eliminates problems Would be possible. However, such a control system requires a space for installing a sensor, and it is difficult to determine conditions. For this reason, there are many problems such as an increase in cost due to a complicated control system.

When the personal computer is turned off while the user is absent or the personal computer is turned on or off while the user is in the room, it is impossible for the personal computer to determine whether the user was near the personal computer while the personal computer was off. It is. Therefore, no matter how the personal computer is placed, a function of displaying an appropriate greeting when the user sits in front of the personal computer cannot be easily realized.

Therefore, in the present invention, the location of the user
It is an object of the present invention to provide a control system and a control method capable of accurately determining absence using a simple system. Then, it is an object of the present invention to provide a control system and a control method capable of automatically performing appropriate processing when a user returns from absent, at a low cost.

[0007]

Therefore, according to the control system and the control method of the present invention, a portable unit for counting the number of steps is attached to the user, the count value of the number of steps is received by a weak radio wave, and the count value is received. The state of the user is determined based on the increase in the number of users. That is, the control system according to the present invention is a control system based on the number of steps, and the portable unit is capable of counting the number of steps and periodically transmitting the count value with a weak radio wave, and when the weak radio wave from the portable unit can be received. The first received
And a control unit for performing a predetermined operation when the count value of the second counter has increased with respect to the second count value received previously. Further, the control method of the present invention is a control method based on the number of steps, and counts the number of steps.
When a weak radio wave can be received from a portable unit capable of periodically transmitting the count value by the weak radio wave, the received first count value increases with respect to the previously received second count value. And a control step of performing a predetermined operation.

In the control system and the control method of the present invention, when the user carries the portable unit and walks away from the place where the control unit is installed, the count value of the portable unit increases. Thus, by comparing the first count value received when the user returns to the location of the control unit with the second count value previously received and stored in the control unit, the first count value is calculated. It is easy to judge that the user has gone away from the place where the control unit is installed and has returned when receiving. Further, even if the control unit is turned off while the user is absent or present, the count value is stored in a non-volatile memory such as a hard disk, so that the presence / absence of the user can be determined. In addition, a weak radio wave having a short reach, for example, a radio wave having an intensity of about 10 mW or less cannot receive a count value unless the portable unit is near the control unit. Therefore, it is determined whether the user is near the control unit. Can be easily performed. Furthermore, since radio waves can be transmitted and received without directionality, it is possible to give a count value to the control unit without being affected by the user's posture, sitting position, obstacles between the portable unit and the control unit, and the like. . Therefore, it is possible to provide a highly reliable control system or control method that can reliably determine that the user has returned with a simple configuration.

[0009] For this reason, using the control unit of the present invention, a greeting such as "Good morning" or "Good morning" is displayed on a device such as a personal computer in combination with time information, or new arrival information when absent is displayed. Various processes, such as displaying, which are desirable to be performed when the user returns from absence can be automatically performed. In addition, since the difference between the first and second count values is the number of steps taken while the user is absent, it is displayed as a pedometer, and furthermore, a greeting displayed as information related to the number of steps is displayed. It is also possible to change according to the number of steps. Further, as information relating to the number of steps, the user can obtain information such as whether the recommended number of steps in a day has been reached, how much should be walked within the remaining time, and the number of steps in units of one day or one week. It can be useful for health management.

The portable unit counts the number of steps,
It is only necessary to have a function of transmitting the signal periodically with a weak radio wave, so that it can be realized at a very small size and at low cost. In particular, by periodically transmitting the count value using weak radio waves, the power consumption of the portable unit becomes very small,
It can be operated continuously for a long time with a small battery. Therefore, the portable unit can be inserted in a pocket, incorporated in an ID card or attached to a watch or other electronic device, or even in a form similar to a decorative accessory such as a batch or tie pin. realizable.

In an environment where a plurality of users are in a narrow space, such as in an office, the portable unit is provided with a function of transmitting identification information together with a count value. The user can be identified by comparing the first count value with the second count value when it matches the set identification information.

The first and second operations are performed so that a predetermined operation such as a greeting is not started when the user moves a few steps due to a small errand or when the user changes his / her posture and the count value changes. It is desirable that the predetermined operation is performed only when the difference between the count values is larger than the predetermined value.

[0013] As a device to be controlled by such a control unit or control method, a user rarely carries the device at all times, and a non-portable or semi-portable device that can be installed at a predetermined place is effective. For example, there are a desktop type, a notebook type personal computer, and a television.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a control system based on the number of steps according to the present invention. The control system 1 of this example includes a portable unit 10 sized so as to be worn by a user at all times, and a control unit 20 realized by a non-portable or semi-portable device such as a desktop personal computer. I have. Portable unit 10
Is a sensor 1 that can measure the number of steps, such as an acceleration sensor
1, a step counter 12 for counting up the measured steps, a transmitting unit 13 for transmitting the value of the step counter 12 by a weak radio wave, a transmitting antenna 14, and a transmitting unit 1.
Time counter 15 for periodically performing the operation of 3
And The portable unit 10 has a built-in battery 16 for driving these operating units.

The step counter 12 of the portable unit 10 is always counted up by a signal from the sensor 11, and the value of the step counter 12 is converted into an appropriate code and transmitted from the transmitting unit 13.
The transmitting unit 13 transmits unique identification data φ of about several bits.
d is stored, and the identification data is transmitted together with the data φ1 of the step counter 12. The transmission output of the transmission unit 13 is set so that a weak radio wave of about 1 mW to 10 mW is transmitted, so that the reach of the radio wave transmitted from the portable unit 10 can be limited. The transmission output of the transmission unit 13 can be changed by appropriate means, for example, a dip switch or a software switch operated from a personal computer.

The time counter 15 is a counter for operating the transmitting unit 13 periodically. The time counter 15 counts a clock signal supplied from an appropriate clock source (not shown) and sets an appropriate time set in seconds or minutes. The interval can be determined. For example, if the time counter 15 is 1
If it is set to 0 minutes, the transmitting unit 13 transmits the count value φ1 of the step counter 12 together with the identification data φd by a weak radio wave every 10 minutes.

The control unit 20 includes an antenna 21 capable of receiving a weak radio wave of the portable unit 10 and a receiving unit 22.
And a discrimination unit 23 that decodes the received identification data φd and the value φ1 of the step counter and compares the decoded data with preset identification data. In the determination unit 23,
It also has a function of comparing the received count value φ1 of the step counter with the count value φ2 previously stored in the memory 24. The discrimination unit 23 compares the received identification data φd, and when the count value φ1 is larger than the stored count value φ2, a trigger signal φt is output to the application unit 25, and the application unit 25 starts operating. .

The processing that can be performed by the application section 25 is various, and can be freely changed by user settings. For example, the trigger signal φt
Is displayed, the display of the LCD 26 in which the screen saver is operating or the power saving mode can be returned to the normal state. In addition, greetings such as “go home”, “had troubles”, and if the time data indicate that it was morning, can be displayed on the LCD 26 or a voice output from the audio 27 can be made.
In addition, such as the ability to view emails received while away,
Various functions can be provided.

Further, in the application unit 25, the value obtained by subtracting the count value (second count value) φ2 stored in the memory 24 from the received count value (first count value) φ1 is calculated by the portable unit 10. Since the number of steps taken by the wearing user is the same, the number of steps can be displayed on the LCD 26 to provide a function as a pedometer (registered trademark). In addition, it is also possible to display information related to the number of steps, for example, information compared with the recommended number of steps per day, and statistical information such as a change in the number of steps per day.

As shown in FIG. 2, such a control unit 20 can be realized by simply connecting a simple receiving unit 29 to a personal computer 30 or a control device for other appliances. In the case of a standard personal computer 30 in which the CPU 31, the ROM 32, and the RAM 33 are connected by the bus 34, the receiving unit 22 and the antenna 2 are similarly connected to an external interface 35 such as RS232C or USB connected to the bus 34.
1 only needs to be connected to the receiving unit 29 provided.
Then, a hard disk interface 36 is connected to the bus 35.
By installing software having a processing function as the determination unit 23 and the application unit 25 in a storage medium such as the hard disk unit 37 or the ROM 32 connected via the, the function as the control unit 20 can be realized. Then, based on the software loaded at an appropriate timing, the CPU 31
By the bus 3 via the interfaces 38 and 39
4 can control the LCD 26 or the audio 27 connected thereto to perform the above-described operation.

The processing of the portable unit 10 and the control unit 20 will be further described based on the flowchart shown in FIG. The portable unit 10 operates when the battery 16 is mounted, and continuously performs a process of counting up a signal corresponding to the number of steps measured by the sensor 11 with the step counter 12. When the time counter 15 determines that the predetermined time has elapsed (step 51), the identification data φd and the count value φ1 are transmitted on a weak radio wave (step 52).

On the other hand, when the control unit 20 receives a weak radio wave from the portable unit 10 in step 61, it decodes the received data in step 62 and verifies the identification data φd in step 63. Identification data φd
Are the information from the portable unit 10 held by the user being processed by the control unit 20. Therefore, the count value (first count value) φ1 received in step 64 is stored in the memory and the previously received count value (second count value) φ
Compare with 2. If the identification data φd does not match, a radio wave from a portable unit carried by another user has been received, so that the processing after step 63 is not performed and the process returns to the receiving system.

In step 64, it is determined whether or not the received count value φ1 is larger than the previous count value φ2. If the received count value φ1 is larger than the previously received count value φ2, it indicates that the user has walked during that time, and it can be seen that the user was absent. Therefore, the count value φ2 of the memory is updated with the received count value φ1 in step 65, and the process in the application 25 is started in step 66.

On the other hand, if the received count value φ1 has not increased from the previous count value φ2 in step 64, the user does not walk during that time, and a weak radio wave reaches the same place, that is, the control unit 20. It shows that it was within the range. Therefore, the application 25 does not operate. In the control system 1 of the present example, the above-described determination can be made based on the received count value.
Even if the control unit 20 is not operating, the presence / absence of the user can be determined by the count value at the time of reception.

In the determination at step 64, it is desirable to determine that the received count value φ1 has increased by a predetermined value or more from the previous count value φ2. In the portable unit 10, the acceleration sensor 11 or the like is used to measure the number of steps. However, when the posture is moved or the portable unit 10 is attached or detached, the sensor may react and count up. In addition, the user may move around within a radio wave range, such as taking a book by walking a few steps from a desk or organizing documents. In this case, the count is incremented. Therefore, in such a case, the same processing as when returning from absence is started in the control unit,
If the greeting is displayed on the personal computer, it may give an impression that the control system 1 of this example is abnormal. For this reason,
Received count value φ1 and stored count value φ2
It is desirable to set the processing of the application unit 25 to start when there is a difference of about 10 or several tens from.

Further, even when the difference between the received count value φ1 and the stored count value φ2 does not reach a predetermined value, the stored count value φ2 is updated with the received count value φ1 (step S1). 67), the counting mistakes are accumulated and the application unit 2
5 can be prevented from malfunctioning. Also, the number of steps displayed when functioning as a pedometer is determined by the control unit 2.
It is possible to display a value excluding the effect of moving near 0, and obtain a value close to the actual number of steps taken.

As described above, in the control system 1 of the present embodiment, the number of steps is counted by the portable unit 10 and the value is transmitted to the control unit 20 by a weak radio wave. The count value can be received only when the user holding 10 approaches. Therefore, by comparing the received count value φ1 with the previously received count value φ2,
It is possible to easily determine whether or not the user has just returned from the position remote from the control unit 20. In the control system 1 of the present embodiment, the user needs to carry the portable unit 10 for that purpose, but the configuration of the portable unit 10 is extremely simple as described above, and the portable unit 10 can be inserted or attached anywhere. And can be provided at low cost. In addition, the portable unit 10 of the present example does not require a timekeeping device or a display device, and only has to operate the counter and the transmission function, so that the power consumption is small. Therefore, it can be operated for a long time with a small battery such as a button battery. Of course, the portable unit 10 may be provided with a timekeeping function and operate as a clock, or a display function may be provided so that the portable unit itself can display the number of steps.

The control unit 20 for receiving information from the portable unit 10 can also be realized by connecting a receiving unit for receiving weak radio waves to a personal computer. Therefore, the control system 1 using the number of steps according to the present example can be realized at a very low cost and compactly. Therefore, it can be used for various purposes, such as being mounted as an additional function of a personal computer and having a role of a user interface or a role of health management.

The control unit 20 is not limited to a personal computer. It can also be used to control non-portable or semi-portable devices, for example, appliances such as televisions. Using the control system 1 of the present example to turn on / off the television, audio, lighting, and the like, if the weak radio wave cannot be received, it is determined that the user is absent and the television is automatically turned off, the weak radio wave can be received, and the number of steps increases When it is determined that you are back, you can turn on the TV. By performing such control, automatic ON / OFF control can be performed extremely easily without a trouble that the TV is repeatedly turned ON / OFF while being near the TV. Furthermore, not only the number of steps,
It is also possible to automatically display or output an appropriate greeting by judging the time or other conditions.

[0030]

As described above, the control system based on the number of steps according to the present invention counts the number of steps and transmits the count value by a weak radio wave, so that the presence / absence of the user can be determined with a very simple system and extremely accurately. You can judge. Therefore, automatic control of a desktop personal computer accompanying the presence or absence of a user and automatic control of other electric appliances can be easily introduced at low cost, and can be used for various processes.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an outline of a control system based on the number of steps according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example in which the control unit shown in FIG. 1 is realized by a personal computer.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation of the control system shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Control system 10 Portable unit 11 Sensor 12 Step counter 13 Transmitter 14 Antenna 15 Time counter 16 Battery 20 Control unit 21 Antenna 22 Receiving unit 23 Control unit 24 Memory 25 Application unit 26 LCD 27 Audio 29 Receiving unit 30 Personal computer

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A portable unit capable of counting the number of steps and periodically transmitting the count value by a weak radio wave, and when a weak radio wave from the portable unit can be received,
A control unit for performing a predetermined operation when the received first count value is increased with respect to the previously received second count value. 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the portable unit is capable of transmitting identification information together with the count value, and the control unit is configured to perform the first counting when the received identification information matches the set identification information. Value the second
A control system based on the number of steps, wherein the control value is compared with a count value. 3. The control system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit performs a predetermined operation when a difference between the first and second count values is larger than a predetermined value. 4. The control system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit displays a difference between the first and second count values as the number of steps. 5. The control system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is capable of controlling a non-portable or semi-portable device that can be installed at a predetermined location. 6. The non-portable or semi-portable device according to claim 5, wherein the non-portable or semi-portable device has a display function, and the control unit displays a greeting, displays new arrival information, and displays the first and second counts. A control system based on the number of steps, wherein a difference between the values is displayed as the number of steps, or information related to the number of steps is displayed. 7. When a weak radio wave from a portable unit, which counts the number of steps and periodically transmits the count value by a weak radio wave, can be received, the received first count value is the first received count value. A control step of performing a predetermined operation when the count value is increased with respect to the count value of 2. 8. The portable unit according to claim 7, wherein the portable unit is capable of transmitting identification information together with the count value, and in the control step, when the received identification information matches the set identification information, The count value is changed to the second
A control method based on the number of steps, wherein the control method compares the count value with the count value. 9. When a weak radio wave from a portable unit that counts the number of steps and periodically transmits the count value by a weak radio wave can be received, the received first count value is the first received count value. A computer-readable recording medium characterized by recording a control program capable of executing a control process for performing a predetermined operation when the count value is increased with respect to the count value of 2. 10. The portable unit according to claim 9, wherein the portable unit can transmit identification information together with the count value, and in the control processing, when the received identification information matches the set identification information, The count value is changed to the second
A computer-readable recording medium on which the control program to be compared with the count value is recorded.