JP2006033660A - Radio communication system, method for detecting place of terminal and terminal-place detecting program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a radio communication system capable of detecting the places of radio terminals arranged at every specified region in a wide-area space, and to provide a method for detecting the positions of the terminals and a terminal-position detecting program. <P>SOLUTION: The radio communication system is transferred to a response-confirmation processing routine with input terminals 11 and display terminals 12 while successively changing radio intensities after the initialization (n=1 and K=0) of the number K of base stations in response settlements with a radio base station 14 (S3). The places of the input terminals 11 and the display terminals 12 are defined in the case of the three base stations K (S5:N0) (S13). When a response-confirmation processing is conducted regarding all base stations 14 in the case of two or less of the number K of the base stations (S5:YES) (S7:YES), an error-output processing is conducted while the places of the input terminals 11 and display terminals 12 cannot be defined (S11). When there is the radio base station 14 conducting no response-confirmation processing (S7:N0), one identifier (n) is added and the process is returned to (S9)S3. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to position detection of wireless terminals arranged in a wide space, and in particular, in a store, a factory, an exhibition hall, etc., information provision and information according to the arrangement position for a plurality of arranged wireless terminals The present invention relates to position detection for performing collection.

  There is a wide-area space where the space is partitioned with different roles for each predetermined area without partitioning one floor, such as retail mass retailers such as supermarkets, exhibition halls such as museums and museums, public facilities such as libraries, and factories. May be formed. In this case, an information management server that arranges wireless terminals for each predetermined area and manages information is provided, and information corresponding to the predetermined area is provided from the information management server, or information for each predetermined area is provided by the information management server. If there is a system to collect, it is convenient.

  For example, with a display terminal or other information output device, retail mass retailers can provide advertising information on display products for each sales floor, and exhibition halls such as museums and museums can provide explanation information about works and exhibits for each exhibition booth. It would be convenient if public facilities such as libraries could provide collection information and facility explanation information, and factories could provide various manufacturing information. In addition, it is convenient if an information reading device for reading information from a recording medium or the like is provided, and various information and image information can be collected and transmitted to an information management server by a video camera or the like.

  The installation positions of terminals such as display terminals, other information output devices, and information readers and video cameras are vacant spaces within a predetermined area due to restrictions on the arrangement space for display products, exhibits, manufacturing equipment, work-in-progress products, etc. It is required to install the system effectively. In order to enable free installation in an empty space, it is conceivable that these terminals are individually separated and information transmission is performed by wireless communication with the information management server. Each predetermined area can be installed independently with a degree of freedom, and a suitable installation position can be secured even when the installation space is limited.

  Ascertaining the installation position of each wireless terminal installed separately is essential for providing effective information or collecting effective information for each terminal, and several methods have been proposed in the past. ing.

  The technique disclosed in Patent Literature 1 specifies a wireless reception area in a mobile communication system in order to maintain good communication with a mobile terminal. When the output data pattern corresponding to the output power is transmitted by the radio base station, the output data pattern is received by the mobile terminal, and when the reply data pattern is returned to the radio base station side, the radio base station The wireless reception area corresponding to the output power is specified.

  In addition, the technique disclosed in Patent Document 2 is for obtaining the location of a mobile radio terminal such as PHS, and configuring a radio zone to arrange a plurality of base stations, and receiving distance pairs from each base station. The field strength characteristics are measured in advance, and the mobile radio terminal measures the received field strength from a plurality of base stations using the base station identification information as an identifier. The position is estimated from the combination of the closest electric field strength distributions in comparison with the received electric field strength characteristics.

  In addition, the technology disclosed in Patent Document 3 is a method in which a data processing device and a wireless base station are connected via a telephone exchange to detect the position of a wireless terminal represented by a mobile phone or PHS. When a call signal is transmitted from the radio base station via the communication means of the data processing device and the telephone exchange, the output level of the call signal is changed by the call signal output level adjusting means of the data processing device, Perform position detection.

JP 2002-359867 A JP-A-9-294287 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-88937

  However, in Patent Document 1, the radio base station includes a data pattern generation unit that generates an output data pattern according to output power, a data pattern transmission unit that transmits and receives an output data pattern and a reply data pattern, a reception unit, and a reception unit. It is necessary to provide a data pattern recognition unit for recognizing the returned reply data pattern. Similarly, the portable terminal includes a data pattern receiving unit that receives the output data pattern, a data pattern calculating unit that calculates the received output data pattern, and a data pattern transmitting unit that transmits the return data pattern obtained by the calculation. There is a need.

  Both the radio base station and the mobile terminal must have a data pattern transmission / reception function and a processing function such as data pattern generation, recognition, and calculation. Both the radio base station and the mobile terminal have to have complicated system configurations, which may cause an expensive system.

  In Patent Document 2, the mobile radio terminal needs to identify a plurality of base stations for each base station and measure the received electric field strength from each base station. In order to detect the position of the wireless terminal, the wireless terminal must be provided with a dedicated function such as a reception field strength measurement function, which may cause an expensive system.

  Further, in order to collate with the measured received electric field strength, it is necessary to provide a database in which the distance from the base station and the received electric field strength characteristics at that point are measured in advance for each base station. Prior to detecting the position of the wireless terminal, it is necessary to measure the electric field strength at each point for each base station, and the workload in the preparatory stage is a problem, and the obtained distance versus electric field strength characteristics Therefore, it is necessary to secure a sufficient storage area for storing the database, which may increase the system scale and the system price.

  Patent Document 3 detects the position of a wireless terminal typified by a mobile phone or PHS by using a telephone line network centered on a telephone exchange and varying the intensity of a call signal emitted from a wireless base station. To do. The present invention is applied to a mobile phone system that performs two-way information communication. A wireless terminal is placed in each predetermined area in a wide area where the space is partitioned with different roles for each predetermined area without partitioning one floor, such as a retail store, exhibition hall, public facility, factory, etc. Therefore, it is an inappropriate system when information transmission according to each area is performed.

  That is, in the field of wireless communication technology using a mobile phone or the like used in Patent Document 3, a standard called so-called third-generation mobile phone is currently being formulated. In this case, multimedia communication including data, moving images, etc. in addition to voice is planned, and a W-CDMA (Wideband Code Multiple Access) method is being studied as a communication method. The data transfer rate is expanded by extending the method (CDMA method) in which each terminal is identified by a unique ID code so that a plurality of terminals can simultaneously communicate in a limited frequency band so that they can simultaneously communicate at the same frequency. Is increasing. However, when performing unique information transmission for each predetermined area of a wide area, it is not always necessary to simultaneously transmit information to wireless terminals arranged in each area, and it is sufficient if transmission can be performed in a time division manner. . Constructing a system using a telephone line network with a mobile phone or the like disclosed in Patent Document 3 as a terminal is a problem because there is a risk of excessive facilities.

  Here, as a method used in the conventional mobile phone system, there is a so-called TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access) method in which carriers are time-divided and sequentially communicated to a plurality of terminals. If used, it is possible to sequentially transmit information for each predetermined area of the wide area. However, in the TDMA system used in the mobile phone system, the data transfer rate is about 10 Kbps, and it is not possible to transmit moving images.

  The present invention has been made to solve at least one of the problems of the background art, and in a wide area, a plurality of wireless terminals arranged for each predetermined area are provided with information corresponding to the arrangement position. An object of the present invention is to provide a wireless communication system, a terminal position detection method, and a terminal position detection program capable of easily and reliably detecting the position of a wireless terminal when providing information and collecting information sequentially.

  In order to achieve the above object, a wireless communication system according to the present invention receives a response request signal by a communication protocol that is arranged for each predetermined area of a wide area space, and a data link layer and a physical layer in a network protocol comply with IEEE 802.11. A radio terminal that transmits a response confirmation signal in response to the transmission, and a radio base station that transmits and receives the response request signal and receives the response confirmation signal according to a communication protocol by increasing or decreasing the transmission radio wave intensity. It is characterized in that it is detected whether or not a wireless terminal exists in the reachable range of the response request signal according to the above.

  In the wireless communication system of the present invention, a data link layer and a physical layer in a network protocol use a communication protocol according to IEEE 802.11, that is, a wireless LAN, and a wireless terminal and a wireless base station that are arranged for each predetermined area in a wide area Information transmission. In this case, the wireless terminal uses an authentication process provided as a standard in IEEE 802.11, that is, transmission and reception of a response request signal and a response confirmation signal, and increases or decreases the transmission radio wave intensity of the response request signal transmitted from the radio base station. Detect individual positions.

  The terminal location detection method and the terminal location detection program according to the present invention are arranged for each predetermined area of a wide area, and the data link layer and the physical layer in the network protocol receive a response request signal by a communication protocol according to IEEE 802.11. To the wireless terminal that transmits the response confirmation signal in response to the communication protocol, in response to the transmission of the response request signal, the wireless communication terminal enters a reception waiting state for the response confirmation signal. After switching the strength and canceling the reception standby state, the communication protocol sets the reception waiting state for the response confirmation signal according to the transmission of the response request signal. Thereafter, the transmission radio wave strength is switched and the response request signal is transmitted. And repeat the reception waiting state of the response confirmation signal until the position of the wireless terminal is specified. And butterflies.

  In the terminal location detection method and the terminal location detection program of the present invention, a data link layer and a physical layer in a network protocol are arranged for each predetermined area in a wide space using a communication protocol according to IEEE 802.11, that is, a wireless LAN. By transmitting the response confirmation signal for the response request signal using the authentication process provided as a standard in IEEE 802.11 while sequentially switching the transmission radio wave intensity of the response request signal when transmitting information to the wireless terminal Detect the individual position of the wireless terminal.

  As a result, if the presence / absence of the response confirmation signal is detected while sequentially changing the transmission radio wave intensity of the response request signal and changing the reach range of the response request signal, the response state of the response request signal by the wireless terminal is detected and not detected. The transmission radio wave intensity of the response request signal when switching is determined. Since the reachable range of the response request signal is known according to the transmitted radio wave intensity, the area where the wireless terminal is located can be detected.

  It is not necessary to have a data pattern processing function, a received electric field strength measurement function, a database for position detection, and the like dedicated to position detection of the wireless terminal. According to the IEEE 802.11 standard as a communication protocol, if a response confirmation signal is transmitted in response to a response request signal using the authentication process of the standard as it is, whether or not a wireless terminal exists in the response request signal reachable range. Judgment can be made. Position detection can be performed using an existing wireless terminal without a dedicated function as it is. Also, the wireless base station can be realized with a configuration conforming to the IEEE802.11 standard if it has control for switching the transmission radio wave intensity of the response request signal. The system can be configured with a minimum addition of dedicated functions.

  Here, if the transmission radio wave intensity is switched every predetermined number of transmissions of the response request signal, even if there is a possibility that the authentication process may accidentally fail due to the surrounding radio wave environment etc., the response request signal is within the reachable range. A wireless terminal can be reliably captured. In this case, if it is determined that the detection at the wireless terminal has been performed by changing the reception state of the response confirmation signal in a predetermined number of transmissions of the predetermined number of transmissions of the response request signal, the position detection of the wireless terminal is performed. This can be done more reliably.

  In addition, if a plurality of radio base stations are arranged at positions where the response request signal reach ranges overlap, and the radio terminal is detected by increasing / decreasing the transmission radio wave intensity of the response request signal for each radio base station, the arrangement positions of the radio terminals can be determined. It can be specified in a narrower range.

  A wireless display terminal is arranged for each predetermined display merchandise group in a mass merchandise store, and is provided as a standard in IEEE 802.11 when providing related product information including voice information and moving image information by a communication protocol according to IEEE 802.11. Since the position of the wireless display terminal can be detected by using the authentication process, the terminal position can be easily grasped even when the installation position of the wireless display terminal is changed. Product information such as a product advertisement that matches the product group in the area where the wireless display terminal is disposed can be displayed.

  According to the present invention, a data link layer and a physical layer in a network protocol use a communication protocol according to IEEE 802.11 and detect a response request when detecting the arrangement position of a wireless terminal arranged for each predetermined area of a wide area. It is possible to provide a wireless communication system, a terminal position detection method, and a terminal position detection program capable of detecting the position of a wireless terminal by a standard authentication process according to IEEE 802.11 by sequentially switching the signal reachable range. It becomes.

  DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of a wireless communication system, a terminal position detection method, and a terminal position detection program according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings based on FIGS.

  In the wireless communication system of the embodiment described below, a case where the present invention is applied to a retail mass retailer such as a supermarket will be described. FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a sales space 1. Product stores 2A and 2B of various sizes are arranged in the store. As for the shape of the display cabinet, there are a product display cabinet 2A having a rectangular shape in plan view arranged so as to divide the sales space, a product display cabinet 2B arranged along the store wall surface, etc. However, there are various types, such as those that are stacked in layers and those that are partitioned and displayed in the height direction using shelf boards.

  An input terminal 11 (blacked portion shown in FIG. 1) as a wireless terminal and a display terminal 12 (shaded portion shown in FIG. 1) are installed at predetermined positions in the sales space. Product ID which is an object identifier stored in an authentication tag 16 (see FIG. 3) as an identification element attached to a displayed product (not shown) in each product display warehouse 2 </ b> A, 2 </ b> B by a store user Is arranged so that the related information can be confirmed by the display terminal 12. The input terminal 11 may be an input device such as a reading device for other recording media or a video camera. In any case, it is provided for collecting information at the store.

  Each product display 2A, 2B is shared by each product display 2A, 2B or shared by a plurality of product display 2A, 2B so that various information is collected and individual product information is provided. An input terminal 11 and a display terminal 12 are installed. In this case, the advertisement information corresponding to the displayed product can be confirmed from the nearest display terminal 12 in any of the product display cabinets 2A and 2B.

  In FIG. 2, the installation position of the input terminal 11 and the display terminal 12 in the product display 2A partitioned by shelves is illustrated, and the configuration of the information providing system including the information management server 13 as information storage means is illustrated. This is shown schematically.

  The installation positions of the input terminal 11 and the display terminal 12 need to be installed by effectively using the empty space centered on the merchandise display warehouse 2A due to the limitation of the sales floor space while considering the convenience of the user. In FIG. 2, the input terminal 11 is installed at the user's hand position. It is necessary that the user can pick up the displayed product and can easily input the authentication tag 16 attached to the product to the input terminal 11 as necessary. In this case, it is convenient for the input terminal 11 to be installed on the shelf board of the commodity display 2A. Although not shown, when the input terminal 11 is a video camera, it is necessary to dispose it at a position where the state of the sales floor can be monitored. In this case, it is conceivable that the input terminal 11 is disposed at a high position in the commodity display 2A. The display terminal 12 is installed at a high position. When product information related to a product whose product ID is read from the authentication tag 16 is displayed, it is necessary that the display screen has a good visibility. In this embodiment, it is installed above the product display 2A.

  In this case, it is preferable that the input terminal 11 and the display terminal 12 are configured separately from each other, and information transmission is performed with the information management server 13 via wireless communication. The fact that the communication wiring is not connected to the input terminal 11 and the display terminal 12 not only contributes to the beauty of the product display in the product display cabinets 2A and 2B, but also the degree of freedom of the installation positions of the input terminal 11 and the display terminal 12 It is because improvement can be aimed at and arrangement | positioning rearrangement of goods display 2A, 2B can be made easy.

  In FIG. 2, information is transmitted between the input terminal 11 and the display terminal 12 and the radio base station 14 by radio communication. From the wireless base station 14 to the information management server 13, information transmission is performed using normal information transmission wiring 15. For example, if the wireless base station 14 is installed on the ceiling of the sales floor space and the information transmission wiring 15 is wired on the ceiling or behind the ceiling, the equipment from the wireless base station 14 to the information management server 13 can be connected to the product display box 2A in the sales floor space. There is no restriction on the arrangement of 2B. In addition, since information is transmitted between the input terminal 11 and the display terminal 12 and the wireless base station 14 by wireless communication, the installation positions of the input terminal 11 and the display terminal 12 with respect to the wireless base station 14 are flexible, and product display The arrangement positions of the cabinets 2A and 2B can be freely changed.

  In FIG. 2, the case where the wireless base station 14 is provided and the information management server 13 is connected by the information transmission wiring 15 has been described as an example, but the input terminal 11 and the display terminal 12 and the information management server 13 are connected. Needless to say, it is possible to transmit information directly by radio.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the input terminal 11 and the display terminal 12 are arranged in the merchandise display cabinets 2 </ b> A, 2 </ b> B, etc., and the merchandise display cabinets 2 </ b> A, 2 </ b> B, etc. are distributed in the sales floor space 1. In order to transmit information to the input terminal 11 and the display terminal 12 without omission, the radio base station 14 is installed, for example, in the sales floor space 1 at predetermined intervals.

  FIG. 3 shows a circuit block diagram of the wireless communication system of the embodiment. The information management server 13 is connected to a plurality of radio base stations 14 via the information transmission wiring 15, and information transmission is performed between input / output units of the radio base station 14. In the wireless base station 14, information input / output from the input / output unit is wirelessly communicated to the transmission / reception unit of the wireless terminal including the input terminal 11 and the display terminal 12 through the transmission / reception unit. The input terminal 11 and the display terminal 12 process information input / output by the control unit. For example, in the input terminal 11 such as a tag reader or a video camera, ID information and video information input by the authentication tag 16 are controlled by the control unit and wirelessly transmitted via the transmission / reception unit. In the display terminal 12, the received image information and the like are processed by the control unit and displayed on the screen.

  Here, information transmission among the information management server 13, the radio base station 14, the input terminal 11, and the display terminal 12 is performed in a local area network (LAN). Among these, a wired LAN is configured between the information management server 13 and the wireless base station 14 via an information transmission wiring 15, and wireless communication is performed between the wireless base station 14 and the input terminal 11 and the display terminal 12. A wireless LAN is configured. Here, the wireless LAN refers to a communication protocol in which the data link layer of the OSI reference model conforms to IEEE 802.11.

  IEEE 802.11 enables transmission of moving images in addition to data transmission and voice transmission. It is possible to transmit and receive moving image information including audio information, and the information management server 13 can collect and record the status of each sales floor taken by the video camera. It is possible to distribute CMs and the like of related products.

  As described above, in order to perform appropriate information transmission between the input terminal 11 and the display terminal 12 appropriately disposed in the sales floor space 1 by the wireless LAN system using the communication protocol compliant with IEEE 802.11. For this, it is necessary to detect the positions of the individual input terminals 11 and display terminals 12. By making the position detection qualified, the area where the input terminal 11 and the display terminal 12 are arranged can be grasped, and product information suitable for the product display boxes 2A and 2B arranged in the area can be collected and provided. It becomes.

  In this case, the individual input terminals 11 and the display terminals 12 are configured separately from each other, and the arrangement positions can be freely moved so as to effectively utilize the empty space in the sales floor. Next, a wireless communication system, a terminal position detection method, and a terminal position detection program capable of easily and easily detecting the arrangement position of the movement destination even when the input terminal 11 and the display terminal 12 are moved will be described below.

  The processing flow shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 shows a procedure for detecting the positions of the input terminal 11 and the display terminal 12. When a plurality of input terminals 11 and display terminals 12 are provided, the following processing flow is performed for each terminal, and the terminal position is detected.

  Initialization is performed in step (denoted as S in the following description) 1. The identifier n is set to 1 (n = 1) for the first radio base station 14 that checks whether or not a response is established by changing the transmission radio wave intensity level. At the same time, the number K of base stations for which a response is established is initialized (K = 0). After initialization, the process proceeds to a processing routine for confirming responses with the input terminal 11 and the display terminal 12 while sequentially changing the transmission radio wave intensity level (S3).

  A response confirmation processing routine is shown in FIG. First, the set base station 14 is selected (S21). In this case, the radio base station 14 having the identifier (n = 1) is selected as the first processing routine after initialization. After selection, the radio wave intensity level of the response request signal transmitted from the radio base station 14 when establishing a response is set to the maximum intensity (S23), and the response request signal is transmitted (S25). When the input terminal 11 and the display terminal 12 receive the response request signal, the input terminal 11 and the display terminal 12 wait for reception of a response confirmation signal returned from the input terminal 11 and the display terminal 12 (S27). For example, a predetermined time-out time is set, and it is determined whether or not a response confirmation signal is received during this time. This response confirmation processing can be performed using an authentication process provided as a standard in IEEE 802.11.

  When the reception of the response confirmation signal is confirmed (S27: YES), 1 is added to the number of times the response is established on the assumption that transmission / reception between the radio base station 14, the input terminal 11 and the display terminal 12 is established and can be mutually recognized. (S29). In this case, since it is the first establishment confirmation, “1” is set as the number of establishments. If the response confirmation signal is not received (S27: NO), the response establishment count is not added.

  A response confirmation process is performed once through S25 to S29. In the embodiment, a response confirmation process is performed a predetermined number of times in order to prevent erroneous detection in the communication environment. That is, it is confirmed whether or not a predetermined number of response confirmation processes have been completed (S31). If not completed (S31: NO), the process returns to S25 again and repeats the response confirmation process at the same radio wave intensity level. .

  When the response confirmation process for the predetermined number of times is completed (S31: YES), the process proceeds to S33, in which it is determined whether or not the number of times the response confirmation has been established is equal to or greater than the prescribed number. In order to be able to reliably detect that response confirmation has been established even when there is a malfunction due to radio wave environment, etc., in order to be able to respond with the establishment of response confirmation more than the specified number of times in a predetermined number of response confirmation processes It is processing.

  When the number is the specified number of times or more (S33: YES), the currently set transmission radio wave intensity level is stored in place of the previous intensity level (S35). In the response confirmation processing routine, whether or not the response can be confirmed while sequentially decreasing the radio wave intensity level is detected, so that the currently set intensity level is the weakest radio wave intensity level. By storing this level value, the detection position can be brought close to the actual separation distance between the input terminal 11 and the display terminal 12 and the radio base station 14.

  Here, when the currently set radio wave intensity level is the minimum intensity level (S37: YES), the input terminal 11 and the display terminal 12 are arranged at positions closest to the selected radio base station 14. It will be. Since the arrangement position is fixed without performing the detection procedure by the other radio base station 14, in S45, K = 3 is set in a pseudo manner, and the process returns to S5 in the processing flow of FIG.

  If the currently set radio wave intensity level is not the minimum intensity level (S37: NO), the distance from the radio base station 14 may be even shorter. The radio wave intensity level is reset to be slightly lower than 1 level (S39), the process returns to S25, and the response confirmation process starting from the transmission of the response request signal (S25) is repeated.

  If the number of times the response confirmation is established in S33 is less than the prescribed number (S33: NO), there is no point in performing the response confirmation process by lowering the transmission radio wave intensity level. You will get out of it. At this time, if the radio wave intensity level is already stored (S41: YES), the response confirmation is established with the stored radio wave intensity. Add 1 to the number of times the response is established (K ← K + 1), and return to S5. If the radio wave intensity level is not stored (S41: NO), the wireless base station 14 cannot establish a response confirmation. Return to S5.

  Returning to FIG. After the processing routine (S3), the process returns to S5 and the subsequent procedures are performed. First, it is determined whether or not response confirmation has been established in the three radio base stations 14 (S5). If the response is confirmed by the three radio base stations 14 (K = 3) (S5: NO), the positions of the input terminal 11 and the display terminal 12 can be determined by the existence distance from each radio base station position. (S13). When the number of wireless base stations whose responses have been confirmed is two or less (K <3) (S5: YES), the process proceeds to S7 to determine the wireless base station that has performed the response confirmation processing. If the identifier n is the maximum (n: MAX) and the response confirmation process is performed for all the radio base stations 14 (S7: YES), the input terminal 11 and the display terminal 12 exist from three points. The distance cannot be determined, and error output processing for position detection is performed (S11). In this case, if the existence position can be confirmed from the two radio base stations 14, the position detection can be determined. In this case, the branch condition in S5 may be (K <2).

  If there is a wireless base station 14 that has not performed a response confirmation process in S7 (S7: NO), 1 is added to the identifier n of the wireless base station (S9), and the process returns to S3. A new radio base station 14 is selected and the response confirmation process is continued.

  FIG. 6 shows a terminal position detection flow according to another embodiment. In addition to the processing flow of FIG. 4, S15 and S17 are added. The position detection procedure is made more efficient with respect to the processing flow of FIG.

  If there is a wireless base station 14 that has not performed the response confirmation processing in S7 (S7: NO), the number K of wireless base stations whose response has already been confirmed is determined (S15). When there is a radio base station 14 whose response has already been confirmed (K ≠ 0) (S15: YES), the process proceeds to S17, and a response is confirmed by the radio base station 14 whose response has been established. The associated radio base station is selected according to the transmission radio wave intensity level when the radio wave is transmitted. Depending on the radio base station 14 and its radio wave intensity level, the area where the input terminal 11 and the display terminal 12 will exist is centered on the radio base station 14 when the response is confirmed. When the response is confirmed by the two radio base stations, it is clear that the region is an intersection region of the annular regions. Therefore, if another radio base station that covers the annular existence area is selected, a response confirmation process can be executed for the selected radio base station. As compared with the case where response confirmation processing is sequentially performed for all wireless base stations, the position of the wireless terminal can be detected more efficiently.

Here, the selection of the related radio base station 14 can be performed by, for example, preparing the base station information library D1 associated with the area in advance. A specific example is shown in FIG. Consider a radio communication system in which radio base stations AP0, APa to APh are arranged in a grid pattern. Suppose that it is determined that a wireless terminal exists in the annular area X in FIG. 7 as a result of the response confirmation process performed by selecting the wireless base station AP0. This can be obtained by sequentially decreasing the transmission radio wave intensity level in the radio base station AP0 and confirming the response from the radio terminal. In this case, the wireless terminal exists in any of the four rectangular areas (A1) to (A4) in FIG. It is clear that the radio base station that should perform the response confirmation process is one of the radio base stations APa to APh. If the response confirmation process is performed only for these radio base stations APa to APh, the position of the radio terminal can be detected efficiently. FIG. 8 shows another specific example. This is a case where the radio base stations AP0, APa to APf are arranged at each intersection position of a regular triangular mesh pattern that intersects with each other at an angle of 60 °. Adjacent radio base stations are arranged at equal intervals, and an arrangement having regularity can be obtained.
Further, as shown in the case of each intersection position of the grid-like mesh pattern shown in FIG. 7 and the case of having an angle of 60 ° in FIG. 8, the triangular mesh-like pattern intersecting with each other at an angle other than 90 ° It is conceivable to arrange a radio base station at each intersection position. The arrangement of the radio base stations can be given regularity, and the accuracy of position detection of the radio terminals can be improved. Furthermore, in this case, if the crossing angle in the triangular mesh pattern is 60 °, the triangle formed by the adjacent radio base stations has an equilateral triangle shape. Adjacent radio base stations are arranged at equal intervals, and the regularity of arrangement can be further improved.

  As described above in detail, according to the wireless communication system, the terminal position detection method, and the terminal position detection program according to the present embodiment, the transmission radio wave intensity level of the response request signal transmitted from the wireless base station 14 is sequentially decreased. Thus, the reachable range of the response request signal can be a circular area whose radius is sequentially reduced with the radio base station 14 as the center. Based on the presence of the input terminal 11 and the display terminal 12 in this reachable range and a response confirmation signal being issued, the position of the input terminal 11 and the display terminal 12 can be detected.

  Response confirmation processing by transmission / reception of a response confirmation signal with respect to a response request signal can be performed using the authentication process of the standard as it is in accordance with the IEEE 802.11 standard as a communication protocol. The position can be detected by using the existing input terminal 11 and display terminal 12 as they are without mounting a dedicated function. As for the radio base station 14, an existing radio base station can be used except for the control for switching the transmission radio wave intensity level of the response request signal. If the system conforms to the IEEE 802.11 standard, the system can be configured with a minimum addition of a dedicated function.

  When the input terminal 11 and the display terminal 12 are arranged in the sales floor space 1 in the mass sales store according to the product display warehouses 2A and 2B in which the predetermined display product group is arranged, the input terminal 11 and the display terminal 12 are individually separated. As a body, wireless communication is performed with the wireless base station 14 using a communication protocol conforming to IEEE 802.11. It is conceivable to construct a wireless information system that collects video information such as sales floor status and provides advertisement information of related products including audio information and video information. In this system, it is possible to easily detect the positions of the input terminal 11 and the display terminal 12 by using an authentication process provided as a standard in IEEE 802.11. Even if the arrangement of the input terminal 11 and the display terminal 12 arranged individually is freely changed, the positions of the input terminal 11 and the display terminal 12 can be detected easily and reliably. The input terminal 11 and the display terminal 12 can be properly associated with the sales floor situation and the display merchandise group, and the above information collection and information provision can be performed appropriately.

In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, It cannot be overemphasized that various improvement and deformation | transformation are possible within the range which does not deviate from the meaning of this invention.
For example, in the present embodiment, the number K of radio base stations for which response confirmation has been established is described as 3, but the present invention is not limited to this. When the annular area selected as the wireless terminal existence area is detected in a manner in which they are in contact with each other, it is possible to detect the existence position of the wireless terminal if the response is confirmed by the two wireless base stations. is there.
Also, depending on the location of the radio base station, the number K of radio base stations whose response can be confirmed with the radio terminal may be 4 or more. In this case, if any of the three radio base stations is determined, the position of the radio terminal can be detected.
In the present embodiment, the case where the radio base station is selected and the transmission radio wave intensity level from the selected radio base station is sequentially reduced has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. In contrast to the flow of the embodiment, it is possible to set a flow in which the radio base station is sequentially changed after setting the radio wave strength level, and the like.
As an application destination of the present invention, an explanation has been given by taking an information terminal at a retail store as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. Applicable to wide-area spaces that have different roles for specific areas without partitioning one floor, such as stores, exhibition halls such as museums and museums, public facilities such as libraries, libraries, and factories. can do. When wireless terminals that collect and provide information according to predetermined areas are arranged, the position of each terminal can be detected in the same manner.

It is a schematic plan view of the sales space of the retail mass sales store in the embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows the arrangement | positioning condition to the goods display warehouse of an input terminal and a display terminal, and the system configuration | structure including an information management server. It is a system configuration | structure figure of the radio | wireless communications system comprised with a radio | wireless terminal, a radio base station, and an information management server. It is a flowchart which shows the terminal position detection procedure of embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows a response confirmation process routine. It is a flowchart which shows the terminal position detection procedure of other embodiment. It is a figure which shows the position detection condition in the terminal position detection procedure of embodiment. It is a figure which shows the case where a wireless base station is arrange | positioned at regular triangular mesh shape.

Explanation of symbols

2A, 2B Commodity display 11 Input terminal 12 as wireless terminal Display terminal 13 as wireless terminal Information management server 14 as information storage means, AP0, APa to APh Wireless communication station 15 Information transmission wiring 16 Authentication tag as identification element

Claims (15)

A wireless terminal that is arranged for each predetermined area of the wide space, and that transmits a response confirmation signal in response to reception of a response request signal by a communication protocol in which a data link layer and a physical layer in a network protocol comply with IEEE 802.11;
A radio base station that increases / decreases transmission radio wave intensity and transmits the response request signal and receives the response confirmation signal according to the communication protocol,
A wireless communication system, comprising: detecting whether or not the wireless terminal exists within a response request signal reachable range according to the transmission radio wave intensity.   The radio communication system according to claim 1, wherein the transmission radio wave intensity is switched every predetermined number of transmissions of the response request signal.   The wireless terminal according to claim 2, wherein the detection of the wireless terminal is performed by changing a reception state of the response confirmation signal in a predetermined number or more of transmissions of the response request signal. Communications system.   The wireless base station is arranged in a plurality of stations at positions where the response request signal reachable ranges overlap, and detects the wireless terminal by increasing or decreasing the transmission radio wave intensity of the response request signal for each wireless base station. Item 4. The wireless communication system according to item 1 to item 3.   The radio communication system according to claim 4, wherein the radio base stations are arranged at each intersection position of a grid-like mesh pattern that intersects with each other at a predetermined interval.   6. The wireless communication system according to claim 5, wherein the lattice-like mesh pattern is a grid-like pattern intersecting at right angles to each other.   6. The wireless communication system according to claim 5, wherein the lattice mesh pattern is a triangular mesh pattern that intersects with each other at an angle of 60 degrees. Comprising information storage means for storing information about the object;
The at least one wireless terminal comprises: an input terminal for inputting an object identifier emitted from an identification element attached to the object; and a display terminal for displaying the information. The radio | wireless communications system of any one.   9. The wireless communication according to claim 8, wherein the input terminal and the information storage means and / or the display terminal and the information storage means are connected via wireless communication. Communications system. The wide area is a mass retail store, and the wireless terminal is a wireless display terminal arranged for each predetermined display product group,
10. The wireless communication system according to claim 1, wherein related product information is displayed on the wireless display terminal in accordance with the predetermined display product group. A wireless terminal that is arranged for each predetermined area in a wide area and that transmits a response confirmation signal in response to reception of a response request signal by a communication protocol in which a data link layer and a physical layer in a network protocol comply with IEEE 802.11.
In response to transmitting the response request signal by the communication protocol, the response confirmation signal is set in a reception standby state,
After transmitting the response request signal, the transmission radio field intensity is switched,
After canceling the reception standby state, according to the communication protocol, in response to transmitting the response request signal, the response confirmation signal reception standby state,
Thereafter, the terminal position detection method characterized by repeating the switching of the transmission radio wave intensity, the transmission of the response request signal, and the reception waiting state of the response confirmation signal until the position of the wireless terminal is specified.   The terminal position detection method according to claim 11, wherein the transmission radio wave intensity is switched every predetermined number of transmissions of the response request signal.   The detection of the wireless terminal is performed by changing a reception state of the response confirmation signal in a predetermined number of transmissions of the predetermined number of transmissions of the response request signal. Terminal position detection method. From each of a plurality of positions in the wide space, in response to transmitting the response request signal sequentially, in each position to be in a standby state for receiving the response confirmation signal,
The terminal position detection method according to at least one of claims 11 to 13, wherein a transmission radio wave intensity is sequentially increased or decreased for each response request signal transmitted from each position. A wireless terminal that is arranged for each predetermined area in a wide area and that transmits a response confirmation signal in response to reception of a response request signal by a communication protocol in which a data link layer and a physical layer in a network protocol comply with IEEE 802.11.
In response to transmitting the response request signal by the communication protocol, the response confirmation signal is set in a reception standby state,
After transmitting the response request signal, the transmission radio field intensity is switched,
After canceling the reception standby state, according to the communication protocol, in response to transmitting the response request signal, the response confirmation signal reception standby state,
Thereafter, the terminal position detection program which repeats the switching of the transmission radio wave intensity, the transmission of the response request signal, and the reception waiting state of the response confirmation signal until the position of the wireless terminal is specified.

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