JP2000341208A - Information service system and information service method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain information required by a user at each location without special conscriousness by the user. SOLUTION: A user carries a radio device 10 and a computer (PC) 20 set to a given place serves information to the radio device 10 through a radio channel. The radio device 10 registers personal information of the user and when the PC 20 detects that the radio device 10 enters a communication zone, the PC 20 retrieves a database 23 on the basis of the personal information sent from the radio device 10 and extracts information in response to a current position of the radio device 10. The PC 20 transmits the extracted information to the radio device 10 as the information to be served to the user. Thus, the user can obtain information required for the user at each place without special consciousness.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an information providing system and an information providing method for providing information required by a user, for example, in a theme park, an exhibition hall, a department store, an airport, and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there are various systems for providing various types of information to users, but these systems only provide the requested information unilaterally when the user requests information. There is no system that provides necessary information at the place without the user's awareness.

[0003]

In a theme park, an exhibition hall, a department store, an airport, and the like, information required by a user differs for each location. For example, it is a description of a product displayed at the place or a guide from the place to the destination. However, in conventional systems, information cannot be provided unless the user consciously requests information, and the user himself / herself clearly specifies what information is needed at each location. And it was very bad.

[0004] The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and provides an information providing system and an information providing method which can obtain information required by a user at each location without the user being particularly conscious. The purpose is to:

[0005]

An information providing system according to the present invention carries a wireless device with a user and wirelessly provides information to the wireless device from a computer set in a specific place.

In particular, personal information of a user is registered in the wireless device, and when the computer detects that the wireless device has entered a communicable area, the personal information transmitted from the wireless device is detected. And retrieves a database based on the received personal information, retrieves information corresponding to the current position of the wireless device therein, and transmits the retrieved information to the wireless device as information to be provided to a user. It is characterized by doing.

According to such an information providing system, personal information is transmitted from a wireless device carried by a user,
A computer installed at a predetermined location searches a database based on the personal information and transmits information according to the current location of the wireless device, so that the user can respond to the location without issuing a request for information. Information can be obtained easily.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an information providing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The present system includes a wireless device 10 and a PC (personal computer) 20. The user carries the wireless device 10 and wirelessly provides information to the wireless device 10 from the PC 20 set at a specific location. Things.

The wireless device 10 is, for example, a PHS (Pers
onal Handyphone System, a wireless card, a pager, or the like, and is a small electronic device capable of wirelessly transmitting and receiving data to and from the PC 20.
Since the wireless device 10 is distributed to a large number of users as a receiving device for receiving information provided from the PC 20 in a theme park, an exhibition hall, a department store, an airport, or the like, a portable radio (earphone or the like) is provided. ), It is desirable to have a configuration that is easy to carry and that is inexpensive. In addition, it is assumed that the wireless device 10 has a wireless area that is small enough to communicate only with the PC 20 in the vicinity where the PC 20 is installed.

As shown in FIG. 1, a wireless device 10 includes a CPU 11, a control software storage unit 12, a user data storage unit 13, an input unit 14, an output unit 15, and a communication unit 1.
6 and the like are provided.

The CPU 11 controls the entire wireless device. The control software storage unit 12 includes, for example, a ROM, a RAM, and the like.
(Hereinafter, referred to as control SWA). Control SW
A means reading / writing of user data, input / output control,
Software for performing wireless control and the like. CPU
11 reads / writes user data according to the control SWA.
Executes processing related to writing, input / output control, and wireless control.

The user data storage section 13 is composed of a nonvolatile rewritable memory such as a flash memory, and stores user data. The user data is data unique to the user carrying the device,
(Reception PC to be described later) by the wireless device 1
0 is registered. The user data indicates personal information of the user, and can be divided into invariable data and variable data. The non-variable data includes name, gender, age, data such as language used and VIP.
The variable data includes not only items indicating what information the user needs, but also data such as the number of receptions indicating how many times the information has been received and the level of the received information.

The input unit 14 is an input device including, for example, a keyboard, a pointing device, a microphone, and the like.
It is used when the user inputs data or gives a function instruction. The output unit 15 is an LCD (Liquid Cryst)
al Display), a speaker (including an earphone), and the like, and is used to display information provided from the PC 20 on a screen or to listen to voice. Communication unit 1
6 is a wireless device 10 according to a predetermined communication protocol.
And data transmission / reception processing between the PC and the PC 20 by radio.

On the other hand, the PC 20 is installed at a predetermined place,
It has a wireless function and can wirelessly transmit and receive data to and from the wireless device 10. The PC 20 is used as an information providing device for providing information required by a user to the wireless device 10. When classified by function, a user data setting PC (hereinafter, referred to as a reception PC) for setting basic information (user data) for the wireless device 10 provides information in response to user data transmitted from the wireless device 10. Information providing PC (hereinafter referred to as guide PC), guide PC
Management PC that aggregates, manages, and monitors information from
Control PC) (Fig. 2
reference).

As shown in FIG. 1, a PC 20 has a CPU
21, control software storage 22, database 2
3, an input unit 24, an output unit 25, a communication unit 26, and the like.

The CPU 21 controls the entire PC. The control software storage unit 22 stores, for example, an RO
M, RAM, and the like, and stores control software B (hereinafter, referred to as control SWB). The control SWB is a database 2 based on information from the wireless device 10.
3 is software for performing input / output control, wireless control, and the like, in addition to control for searching for and transmitting necessary information to the wireless device 10. The CPU 21 executes processes related to information search, input / output control, and wireless control according to the control SWB.

The database 23 has various kinds of information corresponding to the needs of each user. This database 23
Is performed based on the invariable data and the variable data of the user data transmitted from the wireless device 10.

The input unit 24 includes, for example, a keyboard, a pointing device, a microphone, and the like, as well as a CD-ROM and an FD.
Also included. The output unit 25 is an LCD (Liquid Cryst
al Display) and an output device including a speaker and the like. The communication unit 26 performs a wireless data transmission / reception process between the wireless device 10 and the PC 20 according to a predetermined communication protocol.

FIG. 2 shows a reception P as the PC 20.
C20a, guide PC 20b, control PC 20c
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration in a case where the present system is constructed by using.

Reception PC 20a, Guide PC 20
b, the control PC 20c is a LAN (Local Area N
etwork) 30. The reception PC 20a is a PC for setting basic information (user data) in the wireless device 10. Before handing over the wireless device 10 to the user, user data is set using the reception PC 20a. Guide PC 20b
Is a PC that searches a database for information required by the user based on user data transmitted from the wireless device 10 and passes the information to the wireless device 10. The control PC 20c includes a reception PC 20a and a guide PC.
The customer management information (for example, information on where and what information the user has received) accumulated in the storage device 20b, an instruction to provide necessary information to the wireless device 10 is issued, It is a PC that centrally manages 10 states and the like.

Of these PCs, the guide PC 20b actually provides information to the wireless device 10, and has a configuration as shown in FIG. Reception P
The C20a and the control PC 20c have basically the same configuration as in FIG. Reception PC 20a, Guide P
It is assumed that there are a plurality of C20b, each of which is installed at a predetermined location. The control PC 20c may be at least one for centrally managing the reception PC 20a and the guide PC 20b. Reception PC 20a, guide PC 20b, control PC 2
0c can exchange information with each other through the LAN 30 or a storage medium.

The guide PC 20b is connected to the reception P
C20a function (user data setting function), reception PC 20a, guide PC 20
b. It is also possible to construct this system with one computer having the functions of the control PC 20c.

By constructing the system as shown in FIG. 2, the following can be realized.

1. The guide PC 20 uses the user data registered in the wireless device 10 by the reception PC 20a.
b provides information. At this time, by updating the variable data portion of the user data, for example, the same guide PC 20b
When the wireless device 10 enters the wireless coverage area again, the guide PC 20b can refer to the variable data portion of the user data and provide another information from the second time onward.

2. Reception PC 20a, Guide PC
By transmitting the data collected in 20b to the control PC 20c, for example, the movement route of each wireless device 10, the category of required information, and the like can be totaled.

3. The wireless device 10 is a guide PC 20b
When the user enters the wireless service area of the user, the guide P is created based on the user data registered in the wireless device 10 by the reception PC 20a.
C20b can perform the corresponding processing.

4. When a plurality of wireless devices 10 exist within the wireless coverage area of the same guide PC 20b, since data unique to each user is registered in each wireless device 10, the guide PC 20b corresponds to each wireless device 10. Processing can be performed.

5. Reception PC installed at each location
By monitoring the exchange between the guide PC 20b and the wireless device 10 with the control PC 20c, the position of the wireless device 10 can be grasped, and the
You can issue instructions.

Next, the processing operation of the present system will be described in the following three stages.

(A) Database setting process (b) User data setting process (c) Information providing process

It is assumed that the user data and the database search key are as follows.

User data consists of invariable data and variable data. The immutable data is data including a user's name, gender, age, language used, VIP, and the like, and after being registered once, remains unchanged until it is changed again. The variable data is data including information items required by the user, the number of times information has been received, the level of information, and the like, and is updated each time.

The database search key is a combination of non-variable data and variable data of user data. Information searched by this search key (information body)
Has a structure including information for updating variable data of user data.

Hereinafter, the processes (a) to (c) will be described with reference to flowcharts. Here, the processing regarding the control PC 20c is omitted.

(A) Database setting process FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the database setting process. In order to realize this system, various information for responding to the user's request is stored in the PC 20 (guide PC 2).
0b) must be set in the database 23.

Assume now that certain information is set in the database 23. As shown in FIG. 4, on the PC 20 (guide PC 20b) side, information to be registered in the database 23 is input through the input unit 24 (step A1).
1). The input unit 24 used for inputting the information may be a CD-ROM, an FD, or the like in addition to the keyboard.

The PC 20 (guide PC 20b) updates the search key and information body of the database 23 based on the input information (step A12), and outputs the updated information to the output unit 25 (step A13). Specifically, the update information is displayed on the display device, and the operator is made to confirm whether the update information is correct. If there is an error in the update information (No in step A14), the update information is deleted and re-input is performed. If the update information is correct (step A
14 (Yes), the information is determined, and the processing here ends.

In this way, various kinds of information are set in the database 23. Various information can be considered as the information of the database 23. For example, the information is road guidance information (a map), a description of a product, or the like.

(B) User Data Setting Process FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the user data setting process. FIG. 4 (a) is a process on the wireless device 10 side, and FIG. 4 (b) is a PC 20 (reception PC 20a) side. Is shown. Before handing over the wireless device 10 to the user, the user-specific data (user data) is transmitted to the PC 2.
0 (reception PC 20a) must be set and registered in the wireless device 10.

First, the PC 20 (Reception PC 20)
On the a) side, data of the user who passes the wireless device 10 is input from the input unit 24 (step B11). As described above, user data includes invariable data and variable data. Enter the user's name, gender, age, language, VIP, etc. as invariable data.
The type of information required by the user is input. In addition, the variable data may include count data indicating how many times information has been received, level data indicating what level of information has been received, and the like. At the initial stage, “0” is set as a default value in the number-of-times data and the level data. These variable data are updated each time the wireless device 10 receives provision of information.

The input user data is output to the output unit 25 (step B12). That is, it is displayed on the screen of the display device, and it can be confirmed whether or not the input data is correct. If there is an error in the input data (No in step B13), the input data is deleted and re-input is performed. If the input data is correct (step B1
3), an instruction to transmit the data to the wireless device 10 is issued (step B14). In response to the transmission instruction, the user data is transmitted to the wireless device 10 through the communication unit 26 (Step B15). At this time, it is assumed that the wireless device 10 and the PC 20 (reception PC 20a) are within wireless coverage.

On the other hand, on the wireless device 10 side, the PC 20
The communication unit 16 receives the user data transmitted from the (reception PC 20a) (step C11). The user data received by the communication unit 16 is read by the CPU 11 and then stored in the user data storage unit 13 (Step C12). Here, the user data storage unit 13
The communication unit 16 returns the user data stored in the PC 20 to the PC 20 (reception PC 20a) (step C13). This is PC20 (Reception PC2
0a) is a process for confirming whether the set user data has been correctly registered on the wireless device 10 side.

When the PC 20 (reception PC 20a) receives the user data returned from the wireless device 10 through the communication unit 26 (step B17), the user data, that is, the user data registered in the wireless device 10 and itself are received. By comparing the transmitted user data, it is determined whether or not both match (step B17).
If the result of the determination is that they do not match (No in step B17), retransmission is attempted (step B15), assuming that transmission was not performed correctly due to radio conditions and the like. At this time, the number of retransmissions is counted (step B1).
9) When the count value exceeds the predetermined number (Yes in step B18), an error message or a warning sound indicating the error is output from the output unit 15 as an error, and the processing here is terminated.

In this manner, the data unique to the user carrying the wireless device 10 is stored in the PC 20 (the reception PC).
20a) to set and register with the wireless device 10. As described below, the user can receive necessary information from the PC 20 (guide PC 20b) at each place by walking with the wireless device 10 carried.

(C) Information Providing Process FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the information providing process. FIG. 5 (a) is a process on the wireless device 10 side, and FIG. 5 (b) is a process on the PC 20 (guide PC 20b) side. Is shown. A wireless device 1 that has registered data unique to the user, ie, user data, to a user who uses the system.
0 is distributed individually. PC20 (guide PC20
When the user passes near the location where b) is installed, information required by the user is transmitted to the wireless device 10 from the PC 20 (guide PC 20b). There are several ways to implement this information provision process.
Here, a basic processing flow will be described.

The wireless device 10 is a PC 20 (guide PC).
20b) has a narrow wireless area near the location where the PC 20 is installed. PC20 (guide PC2
When the user passes near the location where 0b) is installed, the wireless device 10 and the PC 20 (guide PC 20b) can detect by negotiation that they have entered the wireless coverage area with each other (step D11, step E11).

Here, on the wireless device 10 side, the PC 2
When it is detected that 0 (guide PC 20b) has entered the wireless range, the user data stored in the user data storage unit 13 is transmitted to the PC 20 by the communication unit 16 (step D12). On the PC 20 (guide PC 20b) side,
By receiving the user data transmitted from the wireless device 10 by the communication unit 26 (step E12), information necessary for searching the database 23 is extracted from the received user data to create a search key (step E).
12). In this case, the database 23 contains the PC2
0 (guide PC 20b) contains information specific to the place where it is installed. This database 23
Is composed of a combination of an invariable date of user data and variable data.

On the side of the PC 20 (guide PC 20b), the data corresponding to the current position of the wireless device 10 (that is, the P
A search is made for data relating to the place where C20 is installed (step E14). Specifically, for example, if the user data includes the destination of the user, the guidance information from the current position to the destination is stored in the database 23.
Search from.

If the corresponding data exists in the database 23 (Yes in step E15), the corresponding data (information body) is extracted from the database 23 and
6 to the wireless device 10 (step E1).
6). At this time, if there is information to be updated based on the variable data of the user data in the transmitted information body (Yes in step E17), the information is updated (step E18). For example, the number of passages of the wireless device 10 is updated. Also, PC 20 is included in the transmitted information body.
If there is information to be displayed on the (guide PC 20b) side (Yes in step E19), the information is output to the output unit 25 and displayed on the screen.

On the other hand, on the wireless device 10 side, the PC 20
When the information body transmitted from the (guide PC 20b) is received by the communication unit 16 (step D13), the received information body is divided into information for updating variable data of user data and information to be output to the output unit 25. (Step D14). The information to be output to the output unit 25 is, for example, information to be provided to the user, such as route guidance information to the destination. The wireless device 10 displays this on the display device or outputs the sound to the speaker and presents it to the user (step D15).

The information for updating the variable data of the user data is, for example, the number of times the wireless device 10 has been provided with the information, the level of the information, and the like. When receiving the information from the PC 20 (guide PC 20b), the wireless device 10 updates the number-of-receptions data and the level data of the information included in the variable data of the user data stored in the user data storage unit 13 (Step D16). The variable data of the updated user data is used as a reference when the PC 20 (guide PC 20b) provides information next time.

That is, the PC 20 (guide PC 20b)
When providing information required by the user based on the user data transmitted from the wireless device 10, if the variable data of the user data includes the number of receptions, the same information is not provided. Database 23
Can be controlled to provide other information related to the information. In the case of information having a level,
Level data (wireless device 10
, The next level of information can be provided based on the

As described above, in the present system, information required by the user at each location can be provided without issuing a request from the user. In this case, information can be provided in various forms by referring to the user data registered in the wireless device 10. In particular,
The following is possible.

(Example 1) Explanation guide In a theme park, an exhibition hall, a department store, etc., a wireless device 10 in which user data of the user is registered is distributed to each user when entering. In this wireless device 10, a name, an age, a gender, a language used, and the like are registered as invariable user data. The PC 20 (guide PC 20b) is arranged in each area, and the explanation information is transmitted to the wireless device 10 therefrom. At that time, referring to the language data included in the user data registered in the wireless device 10, the description can be given in the language of the user, such as Japanese or English. It is also possible to use the name data to address the user.

When the explanation is completed, the level of the explanation contents at that time is registered in the wireless device 10 as variable data of the user data. Thus, when the same area comes for the second time or later, another explanation can be given.
Further, the area information and the like that have been passed can be obtained from the variable data of the user data.

(Example 2) Destination Guidance In a wide place such as a theme park, an exhibition hall, a department store, or an airport, the current situation is to proceed with a guide map in the venue if the destination is not known. On the other hand, in the present system, when entering the venue, the wireless device 10 in which the user data of the individual is registered is distributed to each user as in Example 1 above. Each user carries his or her wireless device 10 and moves within the venue. At this time, when the user determines a destination on the guide map and points to the position (for example, points with a finger or presses a button), the destination information is registered in the wireless device 10 as variable data of user data.

Here, the user data transmitted from the wireless device 10 to each point in the venue is read in advance,
A PC 20 (guide PC 20b) for determining a destination is installed. When the user carrying the wireless device 10 passes near each point, the P set for each point
Based on the destination information included in the user data transmitted from the wireless device 10, the C20 (guide PC 20b) can send guidance information such as "go right".

It should be noted that what has been described here is merely an example, and that various other arrangements are possible according to places where information provision is required. In short, the present invention can be variously modified without departing from the gist thereof.

[0060]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, personal information of a user is registered in a wireless device carried by the user, and transmitted from the wireless device by a computer set in a predetermined place. Searching the database based on personal information, extracting information corresponding to the current position of the wireless device therein, and transmitting the extracted information to the wireless device as information to be provided to the user, Even if a request for information is not issued, information corresponding to the place can be easily obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an information providing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration when the information providing system is constructed using a reception PC, a guide PC, and a control PC.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation of a database setting process in the information providing system.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation of a user data setting process in the information providing system, and FIG.
4 is a flowchart showing processing on the wireless device side, and FIG. 4B is a flowchart showing processing on the PC (reception PC) side.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation of an information providing process in the information providing system. FIG. 5 (a) is a flowchart showing a process on a wireless device side, and FIG. 5 (b) is a flowchart showing a process on a PC (guide PC) side.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 wireless device 11 CPU 12 control software storage unit 13 user data storage unit 14 input unit 15 output unit 16 communication unit 20 PC 20a reception PC 20b guide PC 20c control PC 21 CPU 22 ... control software storage unit 23 ... database 24 ... input unit 25 ... output unit 26 ... communication unit 30 ... LAN

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An information providing system comprising a wireless device carried by a user and a computer having a wireless communication function set in a specific place, wherein the wireless device stores personal information of the user. Means, detecting that the computer is in a wireless service area, and transmitting the personal information stored in the storage means to the computer, based on the personal information transmitted by the transmitting means. Receiving means for receiving information provided from the computer, and outputting means for outputting the provided information received by the receiving means, wherein the computer has a database storing various information; Detects when the device is in wireless range,
Receiving means for receiving the personal information from the wireless device; and searching the database based on the personal information received by the receiving means, and retrieving information corresponding to the current position of the wireless device in the database. Means for transmitting information obtained by the database search means to the wireless device as information to be provided to a user. 2. The personal information updating means which, when receiving information from the computer, includes data indicating that the information has been received in the personal information stored in the storage means. Information providing control for, when receiving the personal information updated by the personal information updating means from the wireless device, changing the information provided to the user based on the variable data therein; 2. The information providing system according to claim 1, further comprising means. 3. The personal information updating means, when receiving information provision from the computer, includes data indicating the number of times of receiving the information in the personal information stored in the storage means. The means, when receiving the personal information updated by the personal information updating means from the wireless device, provides another information based on the reception count data included in the variable data therein. The information providing system according to claim 2, wherein 4. The personal information updating means, when receiving information having a level from the computer, causes the personal information stored in the storage means to include data indicating the level of the information, The information provision control means, when receiving the personal information updated by the personal information update means from the wireless device, provides the next level information based on the level data included in the variable data therein. 3. The information providing system according to claim 2, wherein: 5. An information providing method for carrying a wireless device to a user and wirelessly providing information to the wireless device from a computer set in a specific place, wherein the personal information of the user is provided to the wireless device. When the computer detects that the wireless device has entered the communicable area, the computer receives the personal information transmitted from the wireless device, and, based on the received personal information, An information providing method, comprising: searching a database; extracting information corresponding to a current position of the wireless device therein; and transmitting the extracted information to the wireless device as information to be provided to a user.