JP2007228241A - Broadcast/communication service receiving system and information terminal device with broadcast/communication service receiving function - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide this type of a system and device which are excellent in characteristics on power saving in automatically selecting an optimum broadcast corresponding to a moving position of a portable information terminal device. <P>SOLUTION: A broadcast/communication service receiving part 300 of this portable information terminal device 200 with a broadcast/communication service receiving function is configured by including a terrestrial broadcast receiving part 310, a satellite broadcasting part 320, a 3G communication part 330 and a short-range radio communicating part 340 as a plurality of respective broadcast/communication service receiving parts, wherein a system controller 350 selectively operates the plurality of respective broadcast receiving parts in accordance with position information acquired by an RFID chip 280 that provides a function as a short-range communicating part. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a portable information terminal device capable of receiving broadcasting / communication services by various communication methods such as terrestrial broadcasting, satellite broadcasting, mobile phone network, wireless LAN, and the like, and position information that provides the current position to this portable information. The present invention relates to a broadcast / communication service reception system and an information terminal device with a broadcast / communication service reception function configured to include a providing device, and more particularly, to a system and device of this type having excellent power saving characteristics.

  When a user inserts a membership card with a boarding ticket or commuter pass into an automatic ticket gate, the automatic ticket gate permits the user's passage and product information on the mobile phone owned by the user from the information distribution device, By sending distribution emails of event information, regional information, etc., we have further developed a technology that allows member users to obtain necessary information while riding, and users can only carry mobile phones with specific gates. There has been proposed an information providing system that can acquire desired or useful information after passing through (see Patent Document 1).

  In this patent document 1, since the recorded content recorded in the internal IC chip changes when the mobile phone is held over the reading / writing means, the application software of the mobile phone is responded to the change timing of the recorded content of the IC chip. Has been proposed to display desired notification information.

Also, depending on at least one of the user's attributes, usage location, usage time, and preferences, different application software is launched, and the personal attributes, location, time and user's It is said that the optimal information that matches your preferences can be displayed on the mobile terminal. In addition, the usage history of the application such as the number of times the content is accessed and data related to the search contents is accumulated, and the application is selected based on the usage history It is said that it is characterized by starting up.
JP 2005-242686 A (paragraphs 0005 to 0007, paragraphs 0020 to 0031, FIG. 3)

However, in Patent Document 1, even if an attempt is made to display optimal information that matches the user's preference etc. on the mobile terminal according to the place where the mobile terminal is used and the tendency of time, Even if there are a lot of broadcast programs that can be viewed at the same point (such as terrestrial broadcasts or satellite broadcasts), only necessary and sufficient function units are operated in a limited manner. Therefore, it is not considered as a technical problem to try to save power, which is a particularly important characteristic for a portable device. Therefore, naturally, no other proposal has been made for such a technology related to power saving.
The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and an object of the present invention is to provide this type of system and apparatus having excellent power saving characteristics.

In order to solve the above-described problems, the present application proposes the following techniques.
(1) A broadcast / communication service receiving system configured to include a portable information terminal device with a broadcast / communication service receiving function and a location information providing device, wherein the location information providing device includes the broadcast / communication service receiving function. If the mobile information terminal device with the attached wireless communication terminal device is detected to be within a predetermined close range, the mobile information terminal device with the broadcast / communication service receiving function is provided with position information substantially representing its current location. The mobile information terminal device with a broadcast / communication service receiving function is provided corresponding to each of a short-range communication unit for receiving the location information from the location information providing device, and a plurality of communication modes, and A plurality of broadcast / communication service receiving units configured to be able to selectively activate the corresponding unit corresponding to the position information received by the short-range communication unit. Broadcasting and telecommunications services reception system according to claim Rukoto.

  In the broadcasting / communication service receiving system of (1) above, the position information providing device taking the form of an automatic ticket gate device at a station, for example, is a portable information terminal with a broadcasting / communication service receiving function taking the form of a mobile phone, for example. When it is detected that the device is in proximity to or in contact with its own detection unit to receive an automatic ticket gate and is within a predetermined close range, the portable information terminal device with the broadcast / communication service receiving function is It provides location information that substantially represents its current location.

  When the mobile information terminal device with a broadcast / communication service reception function receives position information substantially representing its current position from the position information providing device in the short-range communication unit, for example, for terrestrial broadcasting, satellite broadcasting, short-range Of the plurality of broadcast / communication service receiving units provided corresponding to each of a plurality of communication forms such as for wireless communication, the corresponding unit corresponding to the position information received by the short-range communication unit is selectively activated. Only a limited broadcasting / communication service receiving unit operates according to the situation, so it has excellent power saving characteristics.

(2) a short-range communication unit for receiving position information substantially representing its current position by communication with a predetermined position information providing device, a plurality of forms of communication provided corresponding to each, and Broadcast / communication characterized by comprising a plurality of broadcast / communication service receivers configured to selectively activate corresponding units corresponding to position information received by the short-range communication unit Information terminal device with service reception function.

  In the information terminal device with broadcast / communication service reception function (2) above, when the short-range communication unit receives position information substantially representing its current position from the position information providing device, for example, for terrestrial broadcasting, satellite broadcasting Select a corresponding part corresponding to position information received by the short-range communication unit from among a plurality of broadcast / communication service reception units provided corresponding to each of a plurality of communication forms such as for short-range wireless communication, etc. To operate. Only a limited broadcasting / communication service receiving unit operates according to the situation, so it has excellent power saving characteristics.

(3) Correspondence relationship between the position information received by the short-range communication unit and a specific broadcast / communication service receiving unit among the plurality of broadcast / communication service receiving units that can be selected corresponding to the position information. A storage unit storing a table holding information; and a switching unit for selectively enabling a corresponding broadcast / communication service reception unit with reference to the table stored in the storage unit. (2) An information terminal device with a broadcast / communication service reception function.

In the information terminal device with a broadcast / communication service reception function (3) above, in particular in the information terminal device with a broadcast / communication service reception function (2), the position information received by the short-range communication unit and the position information The broadcasting / communication service receiving unit to which the switching unit corresponds is referred to with reference to a table holding information on the correspondence relationship with a specific broadcasting / communication service receiving unit among the plurality of selectable broadcasting / communication service receiving units. Enable selectively.
The specific broadcasting / communication service receiving unit corresponding to the position information is identified quickly and reliably by referring to the table, and only the limited broadcasting / communication service receiving unit operates according to the situation by the switching unit, thus saving power. Excellent characteristics.

(4) A manual channel selection operation for selecting a specific broadcast / communication service according to a user's operation from broadcast / communication services that can be selected in the broadcast / communication service reception unit enabled by the switching unit. An operation unit for receiving, wherein each broadcast / communication service reception unit is configured to be able to execute a channel selection operation according to a manual channel selection operation received by the operation unit, and the table is included in each broadcast / communication service reception unit (3) With a broadcast / communication service reception function, characterized in that it is further configured to include channel selection data for specifying a broadcast / communication service that can be selected in each channel and history data for channel selection Information terminal device.

  In the information terminal device with a broadcast / communication service reception function (4) above, in particular in the information terminal device with a broadcast / communication service reception function (3), it is finally determined according to the user's operation on the operation unit that accepts manual channel selection In addition, channel selection data for identifying broadcast / communication services that can be selected in each broadcast / communication service receiver and the history data for channel selection are stored in a table. Possibility to perform automatic tuning that reflects the history of tuning by station operation is opened.

(5) At least one broadcasting / communication service receiving unit among the plurality of broadcasting / communication service receiving units can execute an operation of automatically selecting a channel according to channel selection history data held in the table. (4) The information terminal device with a broadcast / communication service reception function, which is configured.
In the information terminal device with a broadcast / communication service reception function (5) above, particularly in the information terminal device with a broadcast / communication service reception function (4), at least one broadcast / communication among a plurality of broadcast / communication service reception units. Tuning can be automatically executed by the service receiving unit according to the tuning history data held in the table, including the case of reflecting the tuning history by manual tuning operation, for example.

(6) Each of the plurality of broadcasting / communication service receiving units is configured to receive data by a communication method compliant with any one of terrestrial broadcasting, satellite broadcasting, mobile phone network, and wireless LAN. The information terminal device with a broadcast / communication service reception function according to any one of (2) to (5).
In the information terminal device with a broadcast / communication service reception function of (6) above, particularly in the information terminal device with a broadcast / communication service reception function according to any one of (2) to (5), a plurality of broadcast / communication service reception units Since reception is performed by a communication method compliant with any one of terrestrial broadcasting, satellite broadcasting, a mobile phone network, and a wireless LAN, a configuration in which functions are shared according to the communication method can be adopted.

(7) A positioning communication unit that acquires information for detecting its own position by communication with the outside, and position information representing its own position is generated by calculation based on information received by the positioning communication unit And a position information generation unit configured to be able to selectively operate corresponding units corresponding to the position information generated by the position information generation unit and provided corresponding to each of a plurality of communication forms. A broadcast / communication service reception function-equipped information terminal device, comprising: a plurality of broadcast / communication service reception units.

In the information terminal device with a broadcast / communication service reception function of (7) above, for example, based on information received by a positioning communication unit compatible with the GPS positioning system, the position information generation unit is an information terminal with the broadcast / communication service reception function. Position information representing the position of the apparatus is generated by calculation.
For example, the position generated by the position information generating unit among the plurality of broadcasting / communication service receiving units provided corresponding to each of a plurality of communication forms such as terrestrial broadcasting, satellite broadcasting, short-range wireless communication, etc. The corresponding part corresponding to the information is selectively activated. Only a limited broadcasting / communication service receiving unit operates according to the situation, so it has excellent power saving characteristics.

(8) Correspondence relationship between the position information received by the positioning communication unit and a specific broadcast / communication service receiving unit among the plurality of broadcast / communication service receiving units selectable corresponding to the position information. A storage unit storing a table holding information; and a switching unit for selectively enabling a corresponding broadcast / communication service reception unit with reference to the table stored in the storage unit. (7) An information terminal device with a broadcast / communication service reception function.

In the information terminal device with a broadcast / communication service reception function (8) above, in the information terminal device with a broadcast / communication service reception function (7), it corresponds to the position information generated by the position information generation unit and the position information. The broadcast / communication service receiving unit corresponding to the switching unit with reference to a table holding information on the correspondence relationship with a specific broadcast / communication service receiving unit among the plurality of broadcast / communication service receiving units that can be selected To be selectively operable.
The specific broadcasting / communication service receiving unit corresponding to the position information is identified quickly and reliably by referring to the table, and only the limited broadcasting / communication service receiving unit operates according to the situation by the switching unit, thus saving power. Excellent characteristics.

(9) An operation unit that receives a manual channel selection operation for selecting a specific communication service in accordance with a user operation from among communication services that can be selected in the broadcast / communication service reception unit that is operable by the switching unit. Further, each broadcast / communication service receiving unit is configured to be able to execute a channel selection operation according to a manual channel selection operation received by the operation unit, and the table is selected in each broadcast / communication service receiving unit. The information terminal device with a broadcast / communication service reception function according to (8), wherein the information terminal device further comprises channel selection data for specifying a possible communication service and channel selection history data.

  In the information terminal device with a broadcast / communication service reception function (9) described above, in particular in the information terminal device with a broadcast / communication service reception function (8), it is finally determined according to the user's operation on the operation unit that accepts the manual channel selection operation. In addition, channel selection data for identifying communication services that can be selected in each broadcast / communication service receiver and channel selection history data are stored in a table, allowing manual channel selection operations. The possibility to perform automatic channel selection reflecting the history of channel selection by is opened.

(10) At least one broadcasting / communication service receiving unit among the plurality of broadcasting / communication service receiving units can execute an operation of automatically selecting a channel according to channel selection history data held in the table. The information terminal device with a broadcast / communication service reception function according to (9), which is configured.

  In the information terminal device with a broadcast / communication service reception function of (10) above, particularly in the information terminal device with a broadcast / communication service reception function of (9), at least one broadcast / communication among a plurality of broadcast / communication service reception units. Tuning can be automatically executed by the service receiving unit according to the tuning history data held in the table, including the case of reflecting the tuning history by manual tuning operation, for example.

(11) Each of the plurality of broadcasting / communication service receiving units is configured to receive data by a communication method compliant with any one of terrestrial broadcasting, satellite broadcasting, a mobile phone network, and a wireless LAN. The information terminal device with a broadcast / communication service reception function according to any one of (7) to (10).
In the information terminal device with a broadcast / communication service reception function of (11) above, particularly in the information terminal device with a broadcast / communication service reception function of any one of (7) to (10), a plurality of broadcast / communication service reception units Since reception is performed by a communication method compliant with any one of terrestrial broadcasting, satellite broadcasting, a mobile phone network, and a wireless LAN, a configuration in which functions are shared according to the communication method can be adopted.

(12) The broadcast according to (9), wherein the table is configured to further include position information generated by the position information generation unit and movement history data which is a history of the generation time. -An information terminal device with a communication service reception function.
In the information terminal device with the broadcast / communication service reception function (12) above, in particular in the information terminal device with the broadcast / communication service reception function (9), the location information generated by the location information generation unit and the history of the time of occurrence thereof. The possibility of performing automatic channel selection reflecting movement history data with reference to a table configured to further include certain movement history data is opened.

(13) At least one broadcast / communication service receiving unit among the plurality of broadcast / communication service receiving units is configured to be able to execute an operation of automatically selecting a channel according to movement history data held in the table. (12) An information terminal device with a broadcast / communication service reception function.
In the information terminal device with a broadcast / communication service reception function of (13) above, particularly in the information terminal device with a broadcast / communication service reception function of (9), at least one broadcast / communication among a plurality of broadcast / communication service reception units. The service receiving unit refers to a table configured to further include the position information generated by the position information generation unit and the movement history data that is a history of the time of occurrence thereof, and performs automatic channel selection that reflects the movement history data. Can be done.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings to be referred to below, for the sake of convenience, the main part that is the subject of the description is exaggerated as appropriate, and other than the main part is appropriately simplified or omitted.
FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing a broadcasting / communication service receiving system of the present invention. In the illustrated broadcast / communication service receiving system, the position information providing device 100 takes the form of an entrance-side automatic ticket gate device 110 and an exit-side automatic ticket gate device 120 as an automatic ticket gate device at a station.

  In addition, portable information terminal device 200 with a broadcast / communication service reception function (hereinafter abbreviated as portable information terminal device 200 as appropriate) takes the form of a cellular phone. This portable information terminal device 200 with a broadcast / communication service reception function of a cellular phone is equipped with a function for obtaining permission of entry / exit by the automatic ticket gate apparatus 100, but this function itself is the same as a known one. It is.

  When the user 1000 carrying the portable information terminal device 200 brings the portable information terminal device 200 close to or in contact with the detection unit 111 of the entrance-side automatic ticket gate device 110 in order to receive the automatic ticket gate, the entrance-side automatic ticket gate device 110 becomes the portable information terminal. It is detected that the apparatus 200 is within a predetermined close range (because it is an effective communication at a very short distance, that communication is possible, that is, it is within the predetermined close range. As with known devices of this type, an operation such as opening the gate if it is confirmed that the mobile information terminal device 200 satisfies the regular entrance permission conditions by communicating with the mobile information terminal device 200 side. And admission is permitted.

  When the automatic ticket gate device 100 (entrance-side automatic ticket gate device 110) according to the present invention detects that the portable information terminal device 200 is within a predetermined close range in this way, the portable ticket terminal device 200 substantially does not Provides position information indicating the current position. That is, the automatic ticket gate device 100 installed in each station holds device-specific information, and when communicating for authentication of admission permission, the device-specific information (corresponding to its own device) ID or the like related to authentication with a predetermined device may be included), or the history of authentication with the portable information terminal device 200 is left in the movement history data.

  The mobile information terminal device 200 side is a short-range communication unit that communicates with the automatic ticket gate device 100, and the position information (strictly speaking, the current position from the position information providing device (admission-side automatic ticket gate device 110)). It is information indicating the position where the entrance-side automatic ticket gate device 110 is installed, but since it is in contact with or very close to the information, information substantially corresponding to the current position of the portable information terminal device 200 is received and acquired. To do.

  When the movement history data for authentication with the portable information terminal device 200 is left as described above, the information indicating the position of the content corresponding to the movement history data is transferred to the portable information terminal at an appropriate timing afterwards. The information corresponding to the current position of the portable information terminal device 200 can be provided to the device 200 (the portable information terminal device 200 is within a predetermined short distance from the automatic ticket gate device 100). (Including the case where this is the case).

As will be described later, for example, a short-range communication unit among a plurality of broadcasting / communication service receiving units provided corresponding to each of a plurality of communication forms such as for terrestrial broadcasting, satellite broadcasting, short-range wireless communication, etc. Selectively activates the corresponding part corresponding to the received position information.
When the user 1000 receives admission permission at the entrance-side automatic ticket gate device 110, as described above, when the information on the current position at that time is received and acquired by the short-range communication unit, the mobile information terminal device 200 side has a plurality of information. Communication according to the acquired position information can be received from each broadcast / communication service reception unit.

After entering the station, it is often possible to receive communications on the premises of the station where they entered, but when the user 1000 gets on the train 2000, the receiving conditions are different. A case where the user 1000 receives communication while riding the train 2000 will be described later.
After that, when the user 1000 gets off at the target station and receives the ticket gate at the destination station, the mobile information terminal device 200 side from the exit side automatic ticket gate device 120 from the exit side automatic ticket gate device 120 in the same way as described above at the time of entry, Is received and acquired by the short-range communication unit.

  In FIG. 1, three communication services A, B, and C can be satisfactorily received in the area from when the user 1000 receives entry permission at the entrance-side automatic ticket gate 110 to board the train 2000. Symbolically shows that the communication service of D can be satisfactorily received while boarding, and the communication service of E can be satisfactorily received in the area leaving via the exit-side automatic ticket gate device 120.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration in the embodiment of the portable information terminal device with a broadcast / communication service reception function in FIG.
The portable information terminal device 200 with a broadcast / communication service reception function as an embodiment of the present invention in FIG. 2 is implemented as a digital television broadcast reception function called a so-called one-segment broadcasting, for example.

Each major functional unit of the portable information terminal device 200 is centrally controlled by a system controller 210 mainly composed of a microprocessor. One important functional unit of the portable information terminal device 200 is a functional unit as a mobile phone, and has the following configuration.
That is, the wireless communication unit 220, a voice processing function unit (210 + 220) that processes voice by the cooperation of the wireless communication unit 220 and the system controller 210, a memory 230, a key input unit (operation unit) 240, The display 250 includes a liquid crystal panel, and a data processing function unit (210) corresponding to the function of the system controller 210.

The audio signal received during a normal call is given to the speaker 260 via the above-described audio processing function unit (210 + 220), and audio is emitted.
On the other hand, the voice uttered by the user 1000 is converted into an audio signal by the microphone 270 and then subjected to processing such as amplification in the audio processing function unit (210 + 220), and is passed through the radio communication unit 220 and into the air by the antenna 221 of the telephone function unit. Sent out.

  On the other hand, the data processing function unit (210) performs processing on the received packet. The wireless communication unit 220 performs voice and data transmission / reception processing and predetermined protocol processing with the base station. As described above, the system controller 210 comprehensively controls the entire system including the telephone function unit, but is configured to cover processing for cooperation with the broadcasting / communication service receiving unit 300. ing.

  For example, when a key operation for viewing digital television broadcast is performed by the user 1000 in the operation unit 240, a start command is given to the broadcast / communication service receiving unit 300, and the video output from the broadcast / communication service receiving unit 300 Is given to the display unit 250, and when the numeric keypad of the operation unit 240 is operated, a process of giving a channel selection command to the broadcast / communication service receiving unit 300 using the number as a channel number is executed.

  Further, the telephone function unit acquires a program packet sent from a base station (not shown), and the data processing function unit (210) converts it into a transport stream, which is given to the broadcast / communication service receiving unit 300. Also do. In FIG. 2, the broadcast / communication service receiving unit 300 is represented as having a single antenna 301, but as will be described later, the single antenna 301 symbolically represents a plurality of types of antennas. It is expressed as follows. The configuration of the broadcast / communication service receiving unit 300 will be described with reference to FIG.

The portable information terminal device 200 with the broadcast / communication service reception function in FIG. 2 is further equipped with an RFID chip 280 that serves as a short-range communication unit in cooperation with the system controller 210.
The RFID chip 280 is a one-chip IC commonly referred to as an IC tag, and an external antenna is also used as a power source, as is applied to a non-contact IC card that is widely used for automatic ticket gates of railway companies in Japan. In this case, communication can be performed within a very close distance to the tag reader corresponding to the IC tag (in the example of FIG. 1, the detection unit 111 of the automatic ticket gate 100).

An IC tag that operates with self-induced power by receiving radio waves from a tag reader is known as a passive type and is widely used. However, what is applied to the embodiment of FIG. 2 is such a passive type. It is not limited to those of the above type, but may be of an active type.
However, the passive type that has an extremely short communication distance can communicate only when the distance to the tag reader (an apparatus such as an automatic ticket gate functioning as the position information providing apparatus 100) is closer. Therefore, it can be considered that the information of the installation position obtained from the tag reader side substantially represents the position of the IC tag (therefore, the position of the portable information terminal device 200 with a broadcast / communication service receiving function), as shown in FIG. Such a system can be said to be advantageous in terms of position detection accuracy.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the broadcast / communication service receiving unit in FIG. The broadcast / communication service receiving unit 300 is provided corresponding to each of a plurality of communication forms, and performs reception by a communication method compliant with any one of terrestrial broadcasting, satellite broadcasting, mobile phone network, wireless LAN, and the like. In the example shown in the figure, a plurality of broadcast / communication service reception units, including a terrestrial broadcast reception unit 310, a satellite broadcast unit 320, a 3G communication unit 330, and a short-range wireless communication unit 340 are configured. In addition, the plurality of broadcast / communication service receiving units 310, 320, 330, and 340 are controlled in an integrated manner, and cooperate with each other as necessary. There is provided a system controller 350 for performing exchange (calculation) of information (data) and operations for allowing 320, 330, and 340 to function so as to satisfy each specification.

Since this system controller 350 is a subsystem controller that provides functions corresponding to the lower layer of the system controller 210 described with reference to FIG. 2 according to circumstances, “(sub)” is added at the end in FIG. The notation is attached.
Each broadcast / communication service receiving unit 310, 320, 330, and 340 receives the broadcast / communication service corresponding to the position information received by the RFID chip 280 as the short-range communication unit in FIG. 2 under the control of the system controller 350. The part is configured to selectively operate.

For example, the terrestrial broadcast receiving unit 310 receives digital television broadcasts for mobile receivers commonly referred to as so-called “One Seg”, but it is necessarily limited to the function dedicated to broadcasting of “One Seg”. Absent.
The satellite broadcast unit 320 receives a satellite broadcast service suitable for mobile reception called “Mobaho” (MobaHO! (Registered trademark)), for example.

The 3G communication unit 330 receives an appropriate broadcast service by communication using a CDMA (code division multiple access) system, but also has a function of communicating as necessary.
The short-range wireless communication unit 340 performs reception by a communication method compliant with, for example, IEEE802.11b or IEEE802.11g, but also has a function of communicating as required.

As illustrated above, each of the broadcast / communication service receiving units 310, 320, 330, and 340 adopts a configuration that shares functions according to the communication method. Each of the broadcast / communication service receiving units 310, 320, 330, and 340 can be configured to allow the user to selectively view any one of a plurality of communication services in the communication system that each covers.
The system controller (sub) 350 of the broadcast / communication service receiving unit 300 accesses the memory 230 as a storage unit via the system controller 210 described above with reference to FIG. The memory 230 includes the position information received by the short-range communication unit (RFID chip 280) and a plurality of broadcast / communication service receiving units 310, 320, 330, and 340 that can be selected in accordance with the position information. A table storing information on the correspondence relationship with a specific broadcast / communication service receiving unit is stored.

The system controller (sub) 350 refers to this table and also functions as a switching unit for selectively enabling the corresponding broadcast / communication service receiving unit to supply power to the corresponding broadcast / communication service receiving unit. Etc. to make them selectively operable.
In the table, channel selection data specifying communication services that can be selected in each of the broadcast / communication service receiving units 310, 320, 330, and 340 are also registered.

A specific broadcast / communication service receiving unit (any of 310, 320, 330, and 340) corresponding to the position information is quickly and reliably identified by referring to the table, and limited by the switching unit according to the situation. Since only the broadcasting / communication service receiving unit operates, excellent power saving characteristics can be realized.
On the other hand, as described with reference to FIG. 2, the operation unit 240 and the corresponding functional unit of the system controller 210 cooperate to select a broadcast to be viewed, and the broadcast that can be operated by the switching unit. It also functions as an operation unit that accepts a manual channel selection operation for selecting a specific communication service in accordance with a user operation from among communication services that can be selected in the communication service receiving unit.

  Then, the history data of channel selection by such an operation unit is also registered in the above table. That is, the above-described table further includes channel selection data that specifies broadcast services that can be selected in each of the broadcast / communication service reception units 310, 320, 330, and 340, and channel selection history data. Configured as follows.

  Under the control of the system controller (sub) 350, at least one broadcast / communication service receiver (any of 310, 320, 330, and 340) among the plurality of broadcast / communication service receivers is stored in the above table. An operation of automatically selecting a channel according to the stored history data of the channel selection is configured to be executable. For this reason, at least one broadcast / communication service reception unit (any of 310, 320, 330, and 340) among the plurality of broadcast / communication service reception units is used to record the channel selection history data held in the table. Accordingly, for example, it is possible to automatically execute channel selection including a case where a history of channel selection by manual channel selection operation is reflected.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration in another embodiment of the portable information terminal device with a broadcast / communication service reception function in FIG. 4 corresponding to those in FIG. 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description of these components is omitted. However, in the embodiment of FIG. In place of the RFID chip 280 that serves as a distance communication unit, a positioning communication unit 290 that acquires information for detecting its own position by communication with the outside is provided, and the system controller 210 a receives the positioning communication unit 290. The difference is that it is also configured to function as a position information generation unit that generates position information representing its own position by calculation based on the received information.

  That is, in the information terminal device 200a with a broadcast / communication service reception function in FIG. 4, the position information generation unit (210a) has the broadcast / communication service based on information received by the positioning communication unit 290 suitable for the GPS positioning system, for example. Position information indicating the position of the information terminal device with a reception function is generated by calculation.

  On the other hand, as described above with reference to FIG. 3, the broadcast / communication service receiving unit 300 is provided corresponding to each of a plurality of communication forms, and is provided as a plurality of broadcast / communication service receiving units. The receiver 310, the satellite broadcast unit 320, the 3G communication unit 330, and the short-range wireless communication unit 340 are configured, and the plurality of broadcast / communication service reception units 310, 320, 330, and 340 are further included. Information (data) for controlling in a centralized manner and cooperating as necessary, so that each of these broadcast / communication service receiving units 310, 320, 330, and 340 can function to satisfy each specification. A system controller 350 is provided for executing exchange and calculation.

Among these broadcast / communication service receiving units 310, 320, 330, and 340, a corresponding unit corresponding to the position information generated by the position information generating unit (210a) is selectively operated. Since only a limited broadcast / communication service receiving unit operates according to the situation, the power saving characteristic is excellent as in the embodiment described above with reference to FIG.
The positioning communication unit 290 may be of a system compatible with the GPS positioning system as described above, but in addition to this system, Patent No. 3000666 (registration date: November 12, 1999) by the present inventor. (January 17th, 2000), an identification signal included in a small area base station signal of FM broadcast or mobile telephone may be automatically received as position information.

In this case, as in the above-mentioned patent, a timing means for outputting time information is further provided, and a plurality of broadcast / communications that can be selected corresponding to the position information generated by the position information generation unit (210a) and the position information. Refer to a table (in 230) that holds information on the correspondence with a specific broadcast / communication service receiver (any of 310, 320, 330, and 340 in FIG. 3) of the service receivers. The switching unit (described above with reference to FIG. 3) may be configured to selectively enable the corresponding broadcast / communication service receiving unit.
If the above-described configuration is adopted, a specific broadcast / communication service receiving unit corresponding to the position information is quickly and reliably identified by referring to the table, and the broadcast / communication service receiving unit limited according to the situation by the switching unit. Because it only operates, it has excellent power saving characteristics.

  Further, as in the embodiment described with reference to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the communication service that can be selected in the broadcast / communication service receiving unit that can be operated by the switching unit is selected according to the user's operation. And an operation section (FIG. 2: 240) that accepts a manual channel selection operation for selecting a specific communication service, and each broadcast / communication service reception section (310, 320, 330, and 340 in FIG. 3) is operated. Unit (FIG. 2: 240) is configured to be able to execute a channel selection operation according to the manual channel selection operation. In this case, the above table specifies communication services that can be selected in each broadcast / communication service reception unit. Channel selection data and channel selection history data may be further included.

  Furthermore, at least one broadcast / communication service reception unit (any of 310, 320, 330, and 340 in FIG. 3) among the broadcast / communication service reception units is a history of channel selection held in the table. An operation of automatically selecting a channel according to data may be performed. When such a configuration is adopted, according to the tuning history data held in the table, for example, the tuning is automatically performed including the case of reflecting the tuning history by the manual tuning operation. Can be executed.

  Further, the table is configured to further include location information generated by the location information generation unit (210a) and movement history data that is a history of the time of occurrence thereof, and a plurality of broadcast / communication service reception units If at least one broadcasting / communication service receiving unit is configured to be able to automatically select a channel according to the movement history data stored in the table, it performs automatic channel selection that reflects this movement history data. obtain.

  In each of the embodiments described above, when the user manually operates to form the table data, the retained data is gradually updated as desired by the user from the beginning of use of the present apparatus, so that the user's preference is fitted. The information terminal device with a broadcast / communication service reception function is gradually transformed so as to enable automatic selection of the communication service.

  In other words, at the beginning of the use of the information terminal device with the broadcast / communication service reception function, the user selects a service available in the area to be used from a table obtained from a business operator, etc., and updates the table from the actual use results. Start. When this is selected, the table is updated according to the type of high-speed communication service (broadcasting service) that can be used at that time, usually by scanning (ranking the most appropriate service to the most appropriate one). The

For convenience of understanding, to give a simple example, if you want to keep listening to NHK on your mobile radio, you will have a table (multiple frequencies) with different frequencies for each location in advance. The best frequency is registered in the table.
In the configuration having the table as described above, the optimum candidate information acquisition channel is ranked from the past history, information is received according to the rank, and information reception is performed on a channel capable of receiving information. At the same time, the history of the table can be updated.

For example, when the news was heard via the IEEE802.11b at the short distance wireless communication unit 340 at the train platform yesterday, the news via the IEEE802.11b is automatically provided today.
In this case, the user can manually select a new weather forecast channel. However, when such a manual selection is made, news and a weather forecast are automatically provided on the next day.

  An example that is easy to understand with reference to FIG. 1 again, with the automatic ticket gate 100 (entrance-side automatic ticket gate device 110), using the RFID chip 280 as a trigger for acquisition of position information in short distance communication (RFID communication), When moving to the train home, the user does not touch the device with anything. For example, in the vicinity of the ticket gate, news from Company A via IEEE802.11b. In traffic information, at home and in the car, automatic selection such as English conversation provided by Company D by IEEE802.11b is performed again.

As described above, in the case of an information terminal device with a broadcast / communication service reception function that also has a function that can update the history of the table according to the history related to the selection of the broadcast / communication service by the user, It is also possible to realize a function that can be used as a means for automatically selecting a broadcast / communication service selected and watched at a point at another point based on this history. Specifically, when a so-called one-segment digital television broadcast program selected and watched at a certain station is viewed on a large screen display device (digital television receiver) after returning home, the channel selection at this time is selected. Is a function that can be automatically executed based on the history held in the portable information terminal device.
In addition to the examples described above, various position information providing apparatuses for enabling the portable information terminal apparatus 200 with a broadcast / communication service receiving function to acquire position information are conceivable.

FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an example of a position information providing device. In FIG. 5, a user 1000 has a portable information terminal device 200 in a bag 1500 held in the right hand, and listens to broadcasts using wireless headphones 200h.
A fluorescent lamp-type lighting fixture 500 is provided above the point where the user 1000 has reached, and it is detected that the human body has approached the upper portion of the fluorescent lamp main body 510 in the lighting fixture 500 by infrared light Ir. A detector 520 for automatically lighting the fluorescent lamp is provided.

The detector 520 detects that the human body is approaching and automatically turns on the fluorescent lamp. On the other hand, when the detector 520 detects the approach of the human body and the fluorescent lamp is automatically turned on, in response to this lighting, For example, a position information providing device 150 that radiates position information in the air by short-range wireless communication such as ZigBee (registered trademark) is installed adjacent to the detector 520.
On the portable information terminal device 200 side, the position information obtained by ZigBee (registered trademark) can be received as in the above-described example to acquire the position information. The operations after acquiring the position information are the same as those described above. In FIG. 5, as in FIG. 1, the situation where the three communication services A, B, and C can be satisfactorily received at the illustrated points is symbolically represented.

  FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the position information providing apparatus 150 in FIG. When the operation detection unit 151 detects that the lighting fixture 500 is turned on based on the light or load current caused by the automatic lighting of the fluorescent lamp, this detection signal is supplied to the control unit 152. Upon receiving this detection signal, the control unit 152 radiates its own position information from the antenna 153 into the air by low-power short-range communication such as ZigBee (registered trademark) in the above example. The provision of the position information in such a form is performed at regular intervals (for example, 5 seconds) based on, for example, a timing operation by a timer so that the entire system can save power. It is recommended.

The position information at this time is set at the time of installation of the lighting fixture 500, for example, and is held in advance in the position information storage unit 154 such as an EEPROM or a flash memory. The position information may be acquired from an appropriate server through the network based on the ID information and stored in the position information storage unit 154.
The control unit 152 is operated by electric power supplied from a power source 156 configured to be able to supply power from the solar panel 155, for example, during sunlight. In addition, the acquisition of the electric power for obtaining the operating power supply of the position information providing apparatus 150 as described above is a recently announced power supply that generates power by electromagnetic induction from the magnetic field generated by the current in the inverter type fluorescent lamp. You may comprise using the electric power feeding technique which tapped off electric power from the terminal of a technique or a rapid start type | mold fluorescent lamp.

  The broadcasting / communication service receiving system of the present invention is configured as described above, and a location information providing device is installed at the entrance of a department store or a shopping mall to perform short-range communication (RFID communication) using an RFID chip. With the acquisition of the location information as a trigger, various services and services are provided to the customer who carries (wears) the broadcasting / communication service receiving device (which may take the form of a headset) as an embodiment of the present invention. It can also be constructed in such a form as to provide information on products, events, etc. by communication via Bluetooth (registered trademark).

  In addition to the above, examples of places suitable for constructing a system in which a position information terminal device can acquire position information from a device functioning as a position information providing device are listed below.

-Gates and entrances of companies, schools, etc .: When authenticating with RFID performed at entry / exit in such a place, the mobile information terminal device side is located from the authentication device functioning as the location information providing device at the opportunity of exchanging personal authentication information Obtain information and use the communication channel (broadcast) that matches the location information to obtain the latest information on the day's schedule change and return transportation.

-ETC gate on highway: A communication channel (broadcast) that communicates when an ETC communication trigger occurs and the mobile information terminal device side obtains location information from a location information providing device incorporated in the ETC device and matches the location information To obtain road traffic related information.

Automatic lighting equipment such as stairs and corridors: In the case described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, the above-described position information providing device is installed on the stairs and corridors, and the position information can be obtained therefrom. Therefore, the content is provided by using it as movement position information.

-Entrance / exit of room: When the intention to enter the room is confirmed and the room lights up, the content is provided at the same time as in the example described with reference to FIGS. Build a system to provide content.

・ School route, etc .: Depending on the location information from the location information providing device installed on the school route, news from Company A via IEEE802.11b, traffic information provided by Company C via Bluetooth (registered trademark) when moving to the home, home In the vehicle, the movement history information is generated from the terminal device regularly (once / 30 minutes) or in an emergency using infrastructure such as again, so that there is no need to constantly communicate with the terminal, and practical “watch” It becomes possible.

・ VICS (registered trademark) or other communication service receiving point: Since VICS communication (VICS communication partner device) at intersections is fixed, this is used as a location information providing device, and communication with this is used as a trigger to determine the location from the communication history. This can be used as a trigger for selecting the next automatic communication infrastructure. From the obtained position information, AM radio is set to an optimum channel such as 1620 KHz to obtain traffic information, or when necessary, it is connected to a web such as JARTIC (Road Traffic Information Center) to obtain traffic information.

In the embodiment of the present invention, a supplementary explanation will be given of the advantages in the case where the table as described above is intentionally held and the promising technology that can be applied in realizing the apparatus.
In other words, in the future, the number of types of wireless services and the number of antennas for mobile units will become very large, so it will be possible to select about 10 communication services within the same area, and existing tables are convenient for enumerating candidates. However, it is predicted that the optimum service for receiving selection priority in an actual portable information terminal device also varies depending on the location and portable conditions (inside the bag, the pocket of the jacket, etc.). Therefore, basically, it is advantageous to start by referring to the known table from the position acquired from the position information providing apparatus, and to learn and update this table.

  On the other hand, it is promising to apply a so-called reconfigurable RF chip that can cope with various communication services with a single wireless chip to the apparatus of the present invention. Corresponding functions are organized in response to position information and are expected to be applied in an active form. However, even in this case, if implemented in accordance with the idea of the present invention, the power consumption is small and the time is long. A portable information terminal device with a broadcast / communication service reception function that can withstand battery operation is realized.

  Furthermore, wireless devices such as terminals and base stations are equipped with a function that recognizes the radio wave environment of the area where they are installed or moving, and can be applied by selectively switching the frequency and method according to the radio wave environment. However, technological development of cognitive radio that enhances frequency utilization efficiency has been activated, and the application of a reconfigurable RF chip is considered promising as a way to realize this cognitive radio. Furthermore, if the technology of the present invention is further applied, there is a high possibility that a system in which a plurality of wireless systems adaptively share time and frequency space is constructed efficiently.

1 is a conceptual diagram showing a broadcast / communication service receiving system of the present invention. It is a block diagram showing the structure in embodiment of the portable information terminal device with a broadcast / communication service reception function in FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a broadcast / communication service reception unit in FIG. 2. It is a block diagram showing the structure in other embodiment of the portable information terminal device with a broadcast / communication service reception function in FIG. It is a conceptual diagram showing the example of a positional information provision apparatus. It is a block diagram showing the structure of the positional information provision apparatus of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Position information provision apparatus 110 ... Entrance side automatic ticket gate apparatus 120 ... Exit side automatic ticket gate apparatus 150 ... Position information provision apparatus 200 ... Portable information terminal device 210 ... System controller 220 ... Wireless communication part 230 ... Memory 240 ... Key input part ( Operation unit) 250 ... Display 260 ... Speaker 270 ... Microphone 280 ... RFID chip 290 ... Positioning communication unit 300 ... Broadcasting / communication service receiving unit 310 ... Terrestrial broadcast receiving unit 320 ... Satellite broadcasting unit 330 ... 3G communication unit 340 ... Short-range wireless communication unit 350 ... System controller 500 ... Lighting equipment 1000 ... User 2000 ... Train

Claims (13)

  A broadcasting / communication service receiving system configured to include a portable information terminal device with a broadcasting / communication service receiving function and a location information providing device, wherein the location information providing device has the portable information with the broadcasting / communication service receiving function When detecting that the terminal device is within a predetermined close range, the mobile information terminal device with the broadcast / communication service reception function is configured to provide location information substantially representing the current location, The portable information terminal device with a broadcast / communication service reception function includes a short-range communication unit for receiving the location information from the location information providing device, a plurality of communication modes, and a short-range communication unit. A plurality of broadcast / communication service receivers configured to selectively activate the corresponding unit corresponding to the position information received by the communication unit. Broadcasting and telecommunications services reception system according to claim.   A short-range communication unit for receiving position information substantially representing its current position by communication with a predetermined position information providing device; and a short-range communication provided corresponding to each of a plurality of communication forms A plurality of broadcast / communication service receiving units configured to selectively activate corresponding units corresponding to location information received by the units, and an information terminal device with a receiving function .   Holds position information received by the short-range communication unit and information on correspondence between a specific broadcast / communication service receiving unit among the plurality of broadcast / communication service receiving units that can be selected corresponding to the position information. And a switching unit for selectively enabling a corresponding broadcast / communication service receiving unit with reference to the table stored in the storage unit. The information terminal device with a broadcast / communication service reception function according to claim 2.   An operation unit for accepting a manual channel selection operation for selecting a specific broadcast / communication service from a broadcast / communication service that can be selected in the broadcast / communication service reception unit enabled by the switching unit according to a user operation. Each broadcast / communication service receiving unit is configured to be able to execute a channel selection operation according to a manual channel selection operation accepted by the operation unit, and the table is selected in each broadcast / communication service receiving unit. 4. The information with a broadcast / communication service reception function according to claim 3, further comprising: channel selection data for specifying a broadcast / communication service that can be broadcasted, and history data of channel selection. Terminal device.   At least one broadcasting / communication service receiving unit among the plurality of broadcasting / communication service receiving units is configured to be able to execute an operation of automatically selecting a channel according to channel selection history data held in the table. The information terminal device with a broadcast / communication service reception function according to claim 4.   Each of the plurality of broadcast / communication service reception units is configured to perform reception by a communication method compliant with any of terrestrial broadcast, satellite broadcast, mobile phone network, and wireless LAN. Item 6. An information terminal device with a broadcast / communication service reception function according to any one of Items 2 to 5.   Positioning communication unit that acquires information for detecting its own position by communication with the outside, and position information that generates position information that represents its own position based on information received by the positioning communication unit A plurality of each configured to be able to selectively actuate a corresponding unit corresponding to the position information generated by the generation unit and the plurality of communication forms and corresponding to the position information generated by the position information generation unit An information terminal device with a broadcast / communication service reception function, comprising: a broadcast / communication service reception unit.   Holds position information received by the positioning communication unit and information on the correspondence relationship between a specific broadcast / communication service receiving unit among the plurality of broadcast / communication service receiving units that can be selected according to the position information And a switching unit for selectively enabling a corresponding broadcast / communication service receiving unit with reference to the table stored in the storage unit. The information terminal device with a broadcast / communication service reception function according to claim 7.   An operation unit for accepting a manual channel selection operation for selecting a specific communication service according to a user operation from among the communication services that can be selected in the broadcast / communication service reception unit enabled by the switching unit; Each broadcast / communication service reception unit is configured to be able to execute a channel selection operation according to a manual channel selection operation received by the operation unit, and the table is a communication that can be selected in each broadcast / communication service reception unit. 9. The information terminal device with a broadcast / communication service reception function according to claim 8, wherein the information terminal device further comprises channel selection data for specifying a service and channel selection history data.   At least one broadcasting / communication service receiving unit among the plurality of broadcasting / communication service receiving units is configured to be able to execute an operation of automatically selecting a channel according to channel selection history data held in the table. The information terminal device with a broadcast / communication service reception function according to claim 9.   Each of the plurality of broadcast / communication service reception units is configured to perform reception by a communication method compliant with any of terrestrial broadcast, satellite broadcast, mobile phone network, and wireless LAN. The information terminal device with a broadcast / communication service reception function according to any one of Items 7 to 10.   10. The broadcasting / transmission according to claim 9, wherein the table is configured to further include position information generated by the position information generation unit and movement history data that is a history of the generation time. An information terminal device with a communication service reception function.   At least one broadcast / communication service receiving unit among the plurality of broadcast / communication service receiving units is configured to be able to execute an operation of automatically selecting a channel according to movement history data held in the table. The information terminal device with a broadcast / communication service reception function according to claim 12.

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