JP2004259117A - Environment providing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To collect personal information through a network according to a personal policy while protecting the right of privacy and provide environment on the basis of the collected information. <P>SOLUTION: In this system, an environment providing device for providing environment and an information collection sensor for collecting information on a person are disposed in an access point setting place, the environment providing device and the information collection sensor are adapted to perform information communication with a policy server and a personal information storage server disposed on the network, and the policy server and the personal information storage server are adapted to perform information communication with each other. In this system, the latest personal information collected by the information collection sensor and the personal information on a personal information database of the personal information storage server are transferred to the policy server, processed in consideration of the inherent personal information disclosure permit range previously registered in the policy server by a user and the kind and quality of personal information requested by the environment providing device, and then transferred to the environment providing device. Then the environment providing device provides the user with the environment. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a technology for collecting personal information via a network while protecting privacy according to a personal policy, and providing an environment and services based on the collected information.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Network access by wireless LAN has recently become a public service. However, the service provided in the place where the public wireless LAN access point is installed is limited to network access. Furthermore, no service considering personal information is provided.
On the other hand, in the related art, there is known a method of recognizing a user, reading data registered in a database statically in advance corresponding to the user, and controlling a device according to the data (Patent Document 1). .
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 05-035877
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the device disclosed in Patent Document 1, it is necessary to register user authentication information and control data in advance for each environmental control device, and in a place where a public wireless LAN access point including temporary users is installed. In addition to being difficult to use, there is a problem that a mechanism for updating control data of each environmental control device in real time is lacking. In addition, since users are not alone in the place where the public wireless LAN access point is installed, competition occurs between users in the same place where the public wireless LAN access point is installed due to the public nature. There is also the problem that there is no process.
[0005]
The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and collects and processes personal information of a plurality of users staying in a public wireless LAN access point installation location based on user policies. It is another object of the present invention to provide an environment providing method that enables an environment in a public wireless LAN access point installation location and a service to be provided to be determined and changed while mediating between users.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to the first aspect of the present invention, an environment providing device for providing an environment and an information collecting sensor for collecting information about an individual are arranged in a place where a public wireless LAN access point is installed, and the environment providing device and the information collecting sensor are connected to a network. In a system in which information communication with the policy server and the personal information storage server arranged above is enabled, and the policy server and the personal information storage server can also communicate with each other, the latest personal information collected by the information collection sensor The personal information in the personal information database of the personal information storage server is transferred to the policy server, and the user of the public wireless LAN access point registers in the policy server a unique personal information disclosure permission range and the environment provision. After processing in consideration of the type and quality of personal information required by the device, By transferring the boundary providing device, wherein the environment providing device provides the environment for the user.
[0007]
The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that the environment providing device determines a service to be provided while arbitrating among a plurality of users by integrating personal information of users of the access point. I do.
[0008]
The invention according to claim 3 is characterized in that even if the user moves between a plurality of public wireless LAN access point installation locations, the personal information is stored on a network so that the stored personal information can be stored at the destination. And providing an environment based on the information.
[0009]
The invention according to claim 4 is characterized in that the information collection sensor collects personal information of an access point user in real time and updates an environment in which the information is provided.
[0010]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a service providing method for providing an appropriate service to a user by using the environment providing method according to the first to fourth aspects. A contract for using the access point is concluded with the person installing the point, and instead of having the person who manages the information collection sensor, information collection server and policy server collect personal information, By concluding a contract to provide a suitable environment, the person who manages the information collection sensor, information collection server and policy server collects personal information from the user and processes the information processed according to the user's policy. , Providing the environment providing device and the access point with the information providing fee, Persons who can provide customized environment to the user using the information, characterized in that to obtain the effect of attracting the user.
[0011]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an environment providing system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the embodiment. In this figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a public wireless LAN access point. Reference numeral 2 denotes an authentication server that performs user authentication, and includes an authentication database 21 that records information necessary for authentication. Reference numeral 3 denotes a policy server that processes personal information based on the user's personal information disclosure range (hereinafter, the personal information disclosure range is referred to as a policy), and includes a policy database 31 that records the policy information. Reference numeral 4 denotes an information collection sensor that collects personal information and the like at a place where the access point 1 is installed. Reference numeral 5 denotes a personal information storage server that stores personal information of a user, and includes a personal information database 51 that records personal information. Reference numeral 6 denotes an environment providing device that provides an environment to a user, and includes an environment database 61 that records the environment. Reference numeral 7 denotes a user terminal, which moves with the user on a notebook computer or the like having a wireless interface for communicating with an access point. Reference numeral 8 denotes a public wireless LAN access point installation location where the access point 1, the information collection sensor 4, and the environment providing device 6 are installed. In this example, it is assumed that the access point is a music CD store. Reference numeral 9 denotes a center system including the authentication server 2, the policy server 3, and the personal information storage server 5.
[0012]
Next, the operation of each device will be described with reference to FIG. The access point 1 receives a wireless signal from the user terminal 7 and transfers it to the center system 9, thereby enabling authentication of the user by the authentication server 2 and enabling the user terminal 7 to access the network.
[0013]
When the authentication server 2 receives an authentication request from the user terminal 7 through the access point 1, the authentication server 2 performs an authentication process based on the authentication database 21 to determine whether the user may connect to the network through the access point 1. judge.
[0014]
The policy server 3 is provided with a policy database 31 that records a policy on who and to what extent the user can provide his / her personal information, and uses the personal information request sent from the environment providing device 6. Process and provide personal information in consideration of the policy of the individual. FIG. 2 shows a table structure of the policy database 31. In the policy database 31, for each user ID capable of uniquely identifying a user, each personal information (here, the latest position information, position information history, and purchase item list) is made public or private. Is defined. The contents recorded in the policy database 31 are set in advance by the user as desired.
[0015]
The information collecting sensor 4 acquires information such as the position of the user, the temperature of the place where the information collecting sensor 4 is installed, and information on articles purchased by the user based on information of the POS system. Send to
[0016]
The personal information storage server 5 is a server that records personal information collected by the information collecting sensor 4 in the personal information database 51, and also records past information. FIG. 3 shows a table structure of the personal information database 51.
The personal information database 51 may be configured to register not only the information obtained from the sensor but also personal information input by the user through the Internet or the like in advance.
[0017]
The environment providing device 6 is installed in the public wireless LAN access point installation location 8 and requests the policy of each user from the policy server 3 in order to provide an environment suitable for surrounding users. The environment to be provided is determined by integrating information and mediating between users. It also has an environment providing database 61 to hold the user's personal information obtained in response to the request. FIG. 4 shows a table structure of the environment providing database 61.
[0018]
Next, an operation of updating the environment when a new user joins the public wireless LAN access point installation location 8 will be described with reference to FIG.
First, the user carrying the user terminal 7 approaches the public wireless LAN access point installation location 8, and transmits authentication information necessary for wireless LAN access from the user terminal 7 to the access point 1 as an authentication request (step). S1). Then, the authentication request is transmitted from the access point 1 to the authentication server 2 arranged on the network, and is processed in accordance with the authentication database 21 of the authentication server 2. If the authentication is successful, the user terminal 7 is transmitted through the access point 1. Is sent to the user (steps S3 and S4). Up to this point, the authentication sequence is the same as the authentication sequence for normal public wireless LAN use.
[0019]
Next, the authentication server 2 transmits identification information such as an ID of a newly participating user to the environment providing device 6 (step S5). In response, the environment providing device 6 requests the personal information of the user from the policy server 3 on the network by designating the type and quality within a range necessary for providing the environment (step S6). At this time, the requested personal information includes the user's current position, action history, personal information such as articles purchased in the past, and information such as the temperature there. The policy server 3 receiving this request transfers the request to the personal information storage server 5 (step S7), and the personal information storage server 5 requests the latest personal information from the information collection sensor 4 (step S8). . In response, the information collection sensor 4 acquires the latest personal information (step S9), and returns this personal information to the personal information storage server 5 (step S10). Subsequently, the personal information storage server 5 updates or adds the internal personal information database 51 based on this information (step S11).
[0020]
Next, the personal information storage server 5 responds to the personal information request from the policy server 3 based on the latest contents of the obtained personal information database 51, and transmits the personal information (step S12). The policy server 3 processes the transmitted user information in consideration of the user's policy in the policy database 31 and the request content of the environment providing device 6 (step S13), and then processes the information in the environment providing device 6. Transfer (Step S14). The environment providing device 6 updates and adds the personal information of the newly participating user obtained through these processes to the environment providing database 61 (step S15). The environment providing device 6 collects new personal information each time a user newly joins in this manner, and thus holds in the environment providing database 61 personal information of all users who are currently participating in the service. . Then, the environment providing device 6 arbitrates between the personal information of all users on the environment providing database 61 in response to the addition of the personal information to the environment providing database 61, and provides an environment suitable for the user group. For example, if the access point 1 is installed in a music CD store, the user's taste is grasped based on the user's music CD purchase history, and new music that matches the taste is played as BGM in the store. Environment can be provided.
Here, providing the environment means changing the surrounding state according to the user's preference with respect to the sensation felt by the user. For example, according to the taste of music, it is possible to play BGM, adjust an air conditioner to a desired temperature, and provide a lighting environment according to taste.
[0021]
Next, an operation of changing the environment in real time when the information collection sensor 4 newly acquires the personal information of the user will be described with reference to FIG. In the above description, the information collection sensor 4 is linked to the POS system in the store, and is an environment changing operation when collecting personal information as to which user purchased which music CD.
First, when the information collection sensor 4 newly acquires personal information (step S21), the personal information is transferred to the personal information storage server 5 (step S22). In response to this, the personal information storage server 5 updates the personal information database 51 or adds information based on the transferred personal information (step S23). Then, the personal information storage server 5 transfers the updated personal information to the policy server 3 (step S24), and the policy server 3 temporarily stores this information.
[0022]
Next, the policy server 3 that has received the personal information notifies the environment providing device 6 that the personal information has been updated (step S25), and the environment providing device 6 determines the type of personal information required by itself. The quality is specified and a reply is made as a personal information request (step S26). In response to this, the policy server 3 processes the temporarily stored personal information in consideration of the user's policy in the policy database 31 and the request from the environment providing device 6 (step S27). To the environment providing device 6 (step S28). Then, the environment providing device 6 adds the personal information to the environment providing database 61 (step S29), newly arbitrates between the personal information of all users, and provides an environment suitable for the user group.
[0023]
Next, with reference to FIG. 7, an operation when the user leaves the public wireless LAN access point installation location 8 and leaves will be described.
First, when the connection between the user terminal 7 and the access point 1 is disconnected (step S31), the access point 1 updates the contents of the authentication database 21 to the authentication server 2 assuming that the user has left. Is transmitted (step S32). The authentication server 2 updates the authentication database 21 for the user who has left after receiving this request (step S33), and notifies the user who has left to update the environment providing database 61 of the environment providing device 6 (step S33). S34). In response to this, the environment providing device 6 deletes the personal information of the user recorded in the environment providing database 61, updates the database (step S35), and renews all the users except for the leaving user. Mediate between personal information and update the environment. In order to confirm that the update of the environment providing database 61 has been successful, the environment providing device 6 notifies the authentication server 2 of the update success, and the authentication server 2 subsequently notifies the access point 1 of the update success (step S36). , S37).
[0024]
Next, a business model of the service will be described with reference to FIG.
The user concludes a contract for using the access point 1 with the person who installs the environment providing device 6 and the access point 1, and manages the information collection sensor 4, the personal information storage product server 5, and the policy server 3. A contract is made to provide a customized environment instead of collecting personal information. These contracts can be paid or free. A person who manages the information collecting sensor 4, the personal information storage server 5, and the policy server 3 collects personal information from the user and processes the processed personal information according to the user's policy. , And receive an information provision fee as compensation. Thereby, the person who installs the environment providing device 6 and the access point 1 can provide the user with a customized environment, and can expect the effect of attracting users.
[0025]
As described above, in the system of the present invention, the environment provider acquires the user's personal information from the server or the like via the network instead of from the user himself / herself through the network, thereby providing a plurality of public wireless LAN access point installation locations. Even if the user moves between the eight positions, it is not necessary to re-register, and the trouble of registering the user can be reduced. In addition, the information collection sensor 4 and the personal information storage server 5 are used as a personal information collection source, and the environment is changed in a timely manner by notifying the environment providing device 6 that new personal information has been collected in real time. Becomes possible. Then, the privacy of the user can be protected by restricting the range of the personal information to be disclosed to the environment provider according to the policy registered in advance in the policy server 3 by the user. Further, it is possible to determine a change of an environment or a service to be provided to the user in consideration of the personal information of the plurality of users by the environment provider.
[0026]
In addition, a program for realizing the function of each server in FIG. 1 is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, and the program recorded on this recording medium is read into a computer system and executed to execute the environment providing process. May go. Here, the “computer system” includes an OS and hardware such as peripheral devices. The “computer system” also includes a WWW system provided with a homepage providing environment (or display environment). The “computer-readable recording medium” refers to a portable medium such as a flexible disk, a magneto-optical disk, a ROM, and a CD-ROM, and a storage device such as a hard disk built in a computer system. Further, the “computer-readable recording medium” refers to a volatile memory (RAM) inside a computer system serving as a server or a client when a program is transmitted through a network such as the Internet or a communication line such as a telephone line. In addition, programs that hold programs for a certain period of time are also included.
[0027]
Further, the above program may be transmitted from a computer system storing the program in a storage device or the like to another computer system via a transmission medium or by a transmission wave in the transmission medium. Here, the "transmission medium" for transmitting the program refers to a medium having a function of transmitting information, such as a network (communication network) such as the Internet or a communication line (communication line) such as a telephone line. Further, the program may be for realizing a part of the functions described above. Furthermore, what can implement | achieve the function mentioned above in combination with the program already recorded on the computer system, and what is called a difference file (difference program) may be sufficient.
[0028]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible for a subject providing an environment or a service in a place where a public wireless LAN access point is installed to collect personal information of an access point user according to a user-specific policy. Thus, it is possible to provide an effect that an environment and a service suitable for a group of users can be provided.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a table structure of a policy database 31 shown in FIG.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a table structure of a personal information database 51 shown in FIG.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a table structure of an environment providing database 61 shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram illustrating an environment change operation when a new user has joined.
FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram showing an operation of changing an environment in real time when the information collection sensor 4 newly acquires information.
FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram illustrating an operation of changing an environment when a user leaves.
FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a business model.
[Explanation of symbols]
Reference Signs List 1 access point 2 authentication server 21 authentication database 3 policy server 31 policy database 4 information collection sensor 5 personal information storage server 51 individual Information database 6 Environment providing device 61 Environment providing database 7 User terminal 8 Public wireless LAN access point installation location (music CD store)
9 ... Center system

Claims (5)

A policy server and an individual, in which an environment providing device for providing an environment and an information collecting sensor for collecting information about an individual are arranged in a place where a public wireless LAN access point is installed, and the environment providing device and the information collecting sensor are arranged on a network. In a system in which information communication with the information storage server is enabled, and the policy server and personal information storage server are enabled to communicate with each other,
The latest personal information collected by the information collecting sensor and the personal information on the personal information database of the personal information storage server are transferred to the policy server,
After processing in consideration of the unique personal information disclosure permitted range previously registered in the policy server by the user of the public wireless LAN access point and the type and quality of the personal information requested by the environment providing apparatus, An environment providing method, wherein an environment providing device provides an environment to a user by transferring the environment to a providing device. 2. The environment providing method according to claim 1, wherein the environment providing device determines a service to be provided while arbitrating between a plurality of users by integrating personal information of users of the access point. Even if the user moves between a plurality of public wireless LAN access point installation locations, the environment is provided based on the stored personal information at the destination by storing the personal information on a network. 2. The environment providing method according to claim 1, wherein: The environment providing method according to claim 1, wherein the information collection sensor collects personal information of an access point user in real time and updates an environment in which the information is provided. A service providing method for providing an appropriate service to a user using the environment providing method according to claim 1,
The user concludes a contract to use the access point with the person who installs the environment providing device and the access point, and personally concludes with the person who manages the information collection sensor, the information collection server, and the policy server. By signing a contract to provide users with a suitable environment instead of collecting information,
The person who manages the information collection sensor, information accumulation server and policy server collects personal information from the user and processes it according to the user's policy and provides it to the person who installs the environment providing device and access point The person who installs the environment providing device and the access point can provide the user with a customized environment using the information, thereby obtaining an effect of attracting users. A service providing method.

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