JP2007079719A - Azimuth relevant information providing system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an azimuth relevant information providing system for acquiring azimuth information by portable terminal equipment owned by a user by simple configurations, and for providing an azimuth to which a user is headed and various information relevant to that through the portable terminal equipment to the user. <P>SOLUTION: This azimuth information providing system is configured of a transmitter 11 for optical communication fixedly arranged at a predetermined place for outputting visible rays of light 26 having directivity to a specific direction and a receiver 12 for optical communication owned by a mobile user 13. The transmitter for optical communication includes a light emitting part 21 for emitting visible rays of light and a modulator 23 for modulating the visible rays of light based on the azimuth relevant information. The receiver for optical communication includes a display part 33, a light receiving part 31 for receiving the visible rays of light, a demodulator 32 for demodulating the visible rays of light, and for extracting the azimuth relevant information and a display processing 34 for displaying the azimuth relevant information extracted by demodulation by the demodulator at a display part. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an azimuth related information providing system, and more particularly to an azimuth related information providing system using visible light by using a transmitter and a receiver for optical communication that transmit and receive visible light with high directivity.

  For example, devices and systems described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 below can be cited as means for obtaining information on the location of the person who is moving or the direction toward the moving destination.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a portable navigation device. This portable navigation device is a device that can perform a minimum display necessary for navigation on a display unit having a size restriction such as a wristwatch type display unit. Information such as the current position for navigation is obtained using a GPS system. The display unit displays a direction from the current position to the destination.

Patent Document 2 discloses an information providing system. When displaying a map image on a display unit of a portable terminal device possessed by a person, the information providing system displays the map so that the direction in which the portable terminal device is facing is above the map displayed on the display unit. To do. The direction in which the mobile terminal device is facing is calculated by using the optical signal transmission / reception unit that transmits and receives directional optical signals to calculate the direction in which the mobile terminal device that is accessing using the optical signal is facing. Get.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-118506 JP 2001-12961 A

  A person who is moving possesses a portable terminal device, and this portable terminal device is configured to communicate with an information providing device fixedly installed outside to transmit and receive information. And This mobile terminal device is normally assumed to be a terminal device such as a mobile phone. In such a portable terminal device, in particular, it is desired to provide azimuth information and information related to the azimuth information (azimuth related information) with a simple device configuration or system configuration.

  Usually, direction information is obtained based on absolute position information. A system such as GPS is used for absolute position information. However, the current GPS used for consumer use has an error of about 10 to 20 m, so that a person moving on the ground provides accurate azimuth information or azimuth related information in relation to his / her current position and destination. There is a risk of errors in obtaining. In order to solve such a problem, it is desired to obtain accurate azimuth information with reference to a mark device existing on the ground. At the same time, it is desired to satisfy this demand with a simple device configuration.

  In view of the above-described problems, an object of the present invention is to obtain direction information with a simple configuration in a mobile terminal device possessed by a user, and the user is directed toward the user via the mobile terminal device. It is an object of the present invention to provide an orientation related information providing system capable of providing a given orientation and various information related thereto.

    The azimuth information providing system according to the present invention is configured as follows in order to achieve the above object.

  A first azimuth information providing system (corresponding to claim 1) provides a transmitter for optical communication that is arranged in a predetermined place and outputs visible light having directivity in a specific direction, and a moving user. The optical communication transmitter includes a light emitting unit that emits visible light, and a modulation unit that modulates the visible light with direction-related information. The communication receiver includes a display unit, a light receiving unit that receives visible light, a demodulating unit that demodulates visible light to extract azimuth related information, and azimuth related information extracted by demodulation by the demodulating unit in the display unit. It is comprised so that the display processing means to display may be provided.

  An optical communication transmitter is arranged at an arbitrary position in a station, an arbitrary predetermined place such as a traffic facility. This transmitter for optical communication outputs visible light with high directivity emitted only in a specific direction by the light emitting unit. Visible light is modulated by the modulating means, and direction related information is placed on the visible light. In order to use visible light with high directivity as an information transmission medium, based on receiving the visible light itself, the moving direction of the moving user as the receiver can be confirmed, and the direction information can be accurately obtained. get. The optical communication receiver, which is a portable terminal device possessed by a user moving in an arbitrary direction, has a directivity emitted from the light emitting unit when the light receiving unit faces the light emitting unit of the optical communication transmitter. Receives visible light. Further, the receiver for optical communication takes out the azimuth related information by the demodulation means. Thereby, the user can acquire the direction in which the user is heading at the time and information related to the direction. In addition, since the optical communication uses visible light, it is possible for the user to easily confirm the direction toward the current position. Further, by using visible light, it is possible to visually confirm a place where the direction related information can be received by the user. The direction related information supplied to the transmitter for optical communication is supplied from a management center (center server) or a database.

  In the second azimuth information providing system (corresponding to claim 2), preferably, the azimuth related information is azimuth information. With this configuration, it is possible to acquire the direction itself toward the moving user as information related to the absolute direction.

  In the third azimuth information providing system (corresponding to claim 3), preferably, the azimuth related information is information for guiding a user. It is possible to provide information on a moving path or information on a destination to a user heading to a certain destination in a timely manner, and the user can receive an optimum information providing service.

  The fourth direction information providing system (corresponding to claim 4) is characterized in that, in the above configuration, preferably, the predetermined location is a branch location in a moving path. In particular, it is possible to provide optimal information to the user at a place where such a moving direction is lost.

  In a fifth orientation information providing system (corresponding to claim 5), in the above configuration, preferably, the light receiving unit includes a plurality of light receiving units attached in different directions on the optical communication receiver. It is characterized by that. In a receiver for optical communication, by providing a plurality of light receiving units and changing the installation direction of these light receiving units, the related information about each direction is acquired based on the visible light signal received by any one of the light receiving units. It becomes possible.

  In the above configuration, the sixth direction information providing system (corresponding to claim 6) is preferably configured such that the direction of visible light emitted from the light emitting unit of the optical communication transmitter in a specific direction and the optical communication receiver The optical communication is established when the direction of the light receiving unit faces and matches.

  The present invention has the following effects. Between the transmitter for optical communication installed at an appropriate location and the receiver for optical communication possessed by the moving user, radiated visible light is emitted in a specific direction from the transmitter and is transmitted to the transmitter. Since the receiver that is in an opposing state is configured to receive the visible light, and the visible light has direction information and information related to the direction, the receiver can be configured with a simple configuration. Orientation direction information and information related to the orientation can be obtained. Furthermore, since the information related to the direction is service information related to guidance of various facilities related to the direction to which the user goes, various services can be provided.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments (examples) of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  An embodiment of a direction related information providing system according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 conceptually shows the overall configuration of the azimuth related information providing system in terms of usage, and FIG. 2 shows the detailed configuration of the apparatus.

  In FIGS. 1 and 2, 11 is an optical transmitter for optical communication, and 12 is an optical receiver for optical communication. The optical transmitter 11 for optical communication is arranged in a fixed state at a predetermined location. In this illustrated example, only one optical transmitter for optical communication 11 is shown, but actually, the optical transmitter for optical communication 11 is installed in each of a predetermined number of predetermined locations. Yes. The optical communication receiver 12 is a portable terminal device that is carried by the user 13 and moves with the movement of the user 13. As the portable terminal device, a cellular phone or a similar portable device is assumed. A cellular phone or the like is provided with a light receiver or the like that receives visible light, thereby realizing the optical communication receiver 12 described above.

  The optical communication transmitter 11 is installed on a base 14. The base 14 is a means for attaching or installing the optical communication transmitter 11. What can become the base 14 is arbitrary, and may be an existing apparatus. The installation place of the optical communication transmitter 11 is, for example, a place along a passage or a place such as a branching portion.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the optical communication transmitter 11 includes a light emitting unit 21, a power source 22, a modulation unit 23, and an orientation related information supply unit 24. The light emitting unit 21 is a light emitting means such as an LED or a lamp. The light emitting unit 21 is provided with a condenser lens 25 at the front position of the light emitting unit 21. The visible light emitted from the light emitting unit 21 is collected by the condenser lens 25 and is preferably converted into a parallel light beam. As a result, the visible light 26 output from the optical communication transmitter 11 is visible light having directivity with respect to the specific direction (D1) toward the light emitting unit 21. As shown in FIG. 1, the visible light 26 having directivity output from the transmitter for optical communication 11 actually has distributed directivity spreading in a conical shape. In FIG. 1, the conical shape representing the visible light 26 is exaggerated. From the viewpoint of directivity, the visible light 26 has high directivity enough to confirm the “azimuth” in the specific direction. As shown in FIG. 1 and the like, the visible light 26 having high directivity is emitted toward the specific direction D1. In the transmitter for optical communication 11, the specific direction D1 is predetermined in advance for each transmitter.

  The power source 22 is an AC power source that outputs a pulse train-like AC current. The pulse train AC current output from the power supply 22 is supplied to the light emitting unit 21 via the modulator 23. The light emitting unit 21 flashes and emits light at an arbitrary frequency by a pulse train AC current. Usually, the frequency is high and not perceived by humans. When the AC frequency supplied from the power supply 22 is not subjected to the modulation action in the modulator 23, the light emitting unit 21 merely performs the light emitting operation. In the configuration of the optical communication transmitter 11 shown in FIG. 2, the modulator 23 is supplied with a modulation code signal related to the direction related information from the direction related information supply unit 24. Therefore, the modulator 23 modulates the pulse train AC current supplied from the power source 22 with the code signal related to the direction related information supplied from the direction related information supply unit 24. The light emitting unit 21 performs a light emitting operation based on the modulated pulse train AC current. In the light emission operation of the light emitting unit 21, the direction related information is included in the blinking light emission state based on the pulse train AC current.

  The visible light 26 output from the optical communication transmitter 11 is emitted toward a predetermined specific direction D1. Therefore, in order for the optical communication receiver 12 to receive the visible light 26 output from the optical communication transmitter 11, the light receiving unit of the optical communication receiver 12 is in a state suitable for the light emitting unit 21. Is required. At this time, the direction D2 facing the optical communication receiver 12 coincides with the specific direction D1. When the light emitting unit 21 of the optical communication transmitter 11 and the light receiving unit of the optical communication receiver 12 face each other, an optical communication relationship is established between the optical communication transmitter 11 and the optical communication receiver 12. . Note that the direction D2 in which the optical communication receiver 12 faces is also the direction in which the user 13 moves.

  In the above azimuth related information supply unit 24, based on the installation position of the optical communication transmitter 11 and the specific direction D1 for the visible light 26 emitted from the optical communication transmitter 11, the azimuth data, Various data of the related azimuth directions are stored in advance as “azimuth related information”.

  The above “direction-related information” is information related to the direction (direction) and the direction determined by the specific direction D2. When the optical communication receiver 12 receives the visible light 26, the optical communication receiver 12 is in the direction D2, which coincides with the specific direction D1, so that the direction of the specific direction D1 ( Or direction) information can be obtained. Further, it is possible to obtain information related to the specific direction D1, for example, information about the destination (the destination, a passage or a route on the way) for the user 13 moving in the direction D2.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the optical communication receiver 12 includes a light receiving unit 31, a demodulator 32, a display unit 33, and a display processing unit 34. The light receiving unit 31 is a photodiode or the like. In the state shown in FIG. 2, the light emitting unit 21 of the optical communication transmitter 11 and the light receiving unit 31 of the optical communication receiver 12 face each other. The visible light 26 having directivity emitted from the light emitting unit 21 is incident on the light receiving surface of the light receiving unit 31. The visible light 26 received by the light receiving unit 31 is converted into an electric signal and supplied to the demodulator 32. The demodulator 32 demodulates the input electrical signal and extracts the above azimuth related information. The extracted azimuth related information is supplied to the display unit 33 via the display processing unit 34 and displayed on the screen of the display unit 33 in the form of characters or graphics.

  In the above, the optical communication relationship is established when the distance between the optical communication transmitter 11 and the optical communication receiver 12 is approximately within 10 m.

  In the above, according to the azimuth related information providing system including the optical communication transmitter 11 fixedly installed and the portable optical communication receiver 12 that moves together with the user 13, the direction of the optical communication receiver 12 When D2 coincides with the specific direction D1 of the optical communication transmitter 11, the light receiving unit 31 of the optical communication receiver 12 receives the visible light 26, and the optical communication relationship is established. At this time, the optical communication receiver 12 extracts the azimuth related information from the visible light 26, and the user 13 can obtain azimuth information and information related to the azimuth. The direction related information cannot be obtained unless the optical communication receiver 12 faces the optical communication transmitter 11.

  Examples of direction-related information are provided in the form of text messages such as “If there is a station, there is a Shinkansen ticket gate in the direction of travel”, “If you turn right beyond this, there will be a kiosk”, etc. The information to be provided can be changed by menu selection or the like according to the circumstances of the user 13. For example, when the user wishes to use the facility A, a text message such as “the facility A is in the opposite direction” or “the facility A should turn left at the next 50 m” can be provided. As the information related to the azimuth, it is possible to provide all information (contents) such as service provision information and location information of facilities and shops in the azimuth direction where the user 13 is facing. In this way, the user 13 can obtain guide information related to the destination (destination, wayway, etc.) from the vicinity thereof while he / she is moving.

  The above case is a case where optical communication is established between the optical communication transmitter 11 and the optical communication receiver 12 when the user 13 is facing the intended direction. When the optical communication is established between the optical communication transmitter 11 and the optical communication receiver 12 when the user 13 is facing an unintended direction, the user on the direction related information providing system side Under the assumption that the information on the 13 destinations of movement is known in advance, it is possible to notify that the traveling direction is different and to provide information so as to face the correct direction. In this case, for example, as shown in FIG. 2, the management center (center server) 41 and the optical communication transmitter 11 installed in each place are connected, and information is provided from the upper management center 41. It is essential that a configuration is provided. Furthermore, it is essential to perform signal transmission / reception between the optical communication transmitter 11 and the optical communication receiver 12 by radio or the like to identify the user 13.

  FIG. 3 shows a modified example of the optical communication receiver, and shows a configuration in which the optical communication receiver includes a plurality of light receiving units oriented in a predetermined direction in advance. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the optical communication receiver 51. The basics of the optical communication receiver 51 are as described in FIG. The optical communication receiver 51 includes, for example, six light receiving units 31A, 31B, 31C, 31D, 31E, and 31F. The three light receiving parts 31A, 31B, 31C arranged on the front part face the front left side, the front front, and the front right side, respectively, and the two light receiving parts 31D, 31E arranged on the side part respectively right side, It faces the left side, and the light receiving part 31F arranged on the rear surface part faces the rear rear side. The light receiving directions of the six light receiving portions 31A to 31F are as shown in FIG. 3 in a plan view, and are substantially horizontal when viewed from the side. Each of the six light receiving parts 31A to 31F individually receives visible light from the transmitter for optical communication that has faced. On the other hand, in the optical communication receiver 51, a switch is provided between the six light receiving units 31A to 31F and the demodulator 32, and each of the six light receiving units 31A to 31F and an input unit of the demodulator 32 are provided. The connection relationship between the two is switched at an arbitrary timing, and the received electrical signal related to visible light is input to the demodulator 32.

  According to the optical communication receiver 12 having the configuration shown in FIG. 3, it is possible to obtain direction related information related to the visible light 26 coming from a direction other than the front direction that the user 13 is intentionally facing. Has advantages.

  The configurations, shapes, sizes, and arrangement relationships described in the above embodiments are merely schematically shown to the extent that the present invention can be understood and implemented, and numerical values are merely examples. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the described embodiments, and can be variously modified without departing from the scope of the technical idea shown in the claims.

  The present invention is used to establish optical communication and acquire direction-related information using visible light having directivity.

It is a side view which shows the image of the utilization form of the direction related information provision system which concerns on this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the transmitter for optical communications and the receiver for optical communications which comprise the azimuth | direction relevant information provision system which concerns on this invention. It is a top view which shows the modification of the receiver for optical communications.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Transmitter for optical communication 12 Receiver for optical communication 13 User 14 Base 21 Light emission part 26 Visible light 31 Light reception part 51 Receiver for optical communication

Claims (6)

From an optical communication transmitter that is fixedly arranged at a predetermined location and outputs visible light having directivity in a specific direction, and an optical communication receiver that is carried by a moving user and receives the visible light Consisting of
The transmitter for optical communication includes a light emitting unit that emits the visible light, and a modulation unit that modulates the visible light with direction related information,
The optical communication receiver includes a display unit, a light receiving unit that receives the visible light, a demodulating unit that demodulates the visible light and extracts the azimuth related information, and the azimuth taken out by demodulation by the demodulating unit Comprising display processing means for displaying related information on the display unit;
Orientation related information providing system characterized by this.   2. The direction related information providing system according to claim 1, wherein the direction related information is direction information.   2. The direction related information providing system according to claim 1, wherein the direction related information is information for guiding the user.   The azimuth related information providing system according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined place is a branch place in a moving path.   2. The azimuth related information providing system according to claim 1, wherein the light receiving unit includes a plurality of light receiving units attached in different directions on the optical communication receiver. Optical communication is established when the direction of visible light emitted in a specific direction from the light emitting unit of the optical communication transmitter and the direction of the light receiving unit of the optical communication receiver face each other and coincide with each other. The direction related information providing system according to claim 1.

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