JP2009182382A - System and method for information communication - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To raise efficiency and security of operations relating to recording and instruction of patrol and inspection by performing bi-directional communication using visible light of LEDs between a fixed unit and a portable unit in a technique with respect to a system for information communication. <P>SOLUTION: An inspection place instruction means 38 of a center device 3 reads, from an inspection place storage means 37, information designating an inspection place corresponding to the fixed unit 2 at a position specified by a position specifying means 34, namely a patrol place (such as coordinate data, an appropriate number among a plurality of illumination LEDs) and transmits the information to the fixed unit 2 for reporting. In the fixed unit 2 having received the information, an inspection place reporting means 26 reports the inspection place reported from the center device 3 to a patroller by controlling LEDs 212 and 213 to irradiate the inspection place with visible light. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for performing communication using visible light from an LED.

In recent years, the progress of electronic technology and information communication technology has been remarkable, and various technologies such as a digital wireless communication device and a portable terminal for information recording have been introduced even in work performed by humans such as patrol of night security. As an example, there is also a proposal to prevent ICP leakage by installing IC tags such as RFID at each garbage collection site, and performing location confirmation by wireless communication between the IC tag and the patrol person's mobile terminal using weak radio waves. (See Patent Document 1).
JP 2004-234275 A

  By the way, as an important element in the field of patrol security, ensuring communication between the center equipment and the patrol person, preventing leakage of the patrol route and inspection points as described above, and giving the patrol person accurate instructions Sometimes. Of these, there are various types of communication media. Conventionally, visible light communication was considered unsuitable for data transmission due to the relationship with ambient brightness, etc. Invisible transmission media such as radio waves and infrared rays have been used.

  However, since the invisible transmission medium as described above cannot transmit the information visually, there is a risk of information leakage due to eavesdropping and the like, and improvement of security has been demanded. In addition, patrol places and inspection points need to be separately communicated in advance to the patrol person, and there has been a great demand for operational efficiency through labor saving in this respect.

  The present invention solves the above-described problems of the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to perform bidirectional communication by visible light of an LED between a fixed unit and a portable unit in a technology related to an information communication system. By doing so, it is intended to improve the efficiency and security of operations related to records and instructions for patrols and inspections.

  In view of the above object, one embodiment of the present invention includes a portable unit, one or more fixed units that are installed for each place to be visited and communicate with the portable unit, and each fixed unit and a communication network. In the information communication system having a center device that communicates via, the portable unit includes an LED that emits visible light, a light-receiving sensor unit for visible light, and a control circuit that transmits unique ID information by blinking the LED The fixed unit includes an LED that emits visible light, a light receiving sensor unit for visible light, a communication unit that communicates with the center device via a communication network, and the ID information transmitted from the portable unit. And a control means for transferring the information from the communication unit to the center device, and the center device includes each of the fixed units. The center side communication unit that communicates with the communication network, an ID table that stores ID information for each portable unit, a position table that stores a position for each fixed unit, and the ID from the fixed unit at the center side communication unit By receiving the information and referring to the respective tables based on the information on which ID information is received from which fixed unit, position information indicating which portable unit is present at which fixed unit is obtained. For each fixed unit constituting the circuit, one or two or more inspection points to be inspected are stored for identifying and outputting as circular record information or storing in predetermined storage means From the inspection location storage means, the inspection location storage means and the inspection location corresponding to the fixed unit at the position specified by the location specification means And an inspection location instruction means for notifying the fixed unit, and the fixed unit controls the LED and irradiates visible light with respect to the inspection location notified from the center device. It has an inspection location notifying means for notifying.

  Another aspect of the present invention captures the above aspect from the viewpoint of a method, and includes a portable unit having an LED that emits visible light, a light receiving sensor unit for visible light, a control circuit, and a place to be visited. One or two or more fixed units that are installed in the portable unit and communicate with the portable unit, the LED that emits visible light, the light receiving sensor unit of visible light, and the communication unit that communicates with the center device via a communication network; A center unit that communicates with each fixed unit via a communication network, and a center side communication unit that communicates with each fixed unit via the communication network; An ID table storing ID information for each portable unit, a position table storing a position for each fixed unit, position specifying means, and each constituting a circuit In an information communication method using an information communication system that combines a center device having an inspection location storage means that stores one or more inspection locations to be inspected at each location for each fixed unit and an inspection location instruction means. The control circuit of the portable unit sends out unique ID information by blinking the LED, and the ID information sent from the portable unit by the control means of the fixed unit And receiving the ID information from the fixed unit at the center side communication unit by the processing step of receiving at the light receiving sensor unit and transferring from the communication unit to the center device, and the position specifying unit of the center device, Each table is referred to based on information on which ID information is received from which fixed unit. To identify the position information of which portable unit is located at which fixed unit, and output it as cyclic recording information or store it in a predetermined storage means, and the inspection location instruction of the center device Means for reading the inspection location corresponding to the fixed unit at the position specified by the location specification means from the inspection location storage means and notifying the fixed unit; and the inspection location notification of the fixed unit And a processing step of performing notification by controlling the LED and irradiating visible light to the inspection location notified from the center device.

In this way, high-accuracy location is achieved by using visible light with higher directivity than radio waves for bidirectional communication between the portable unit and the fixed unit in order to confirm the location of the patrolman and record the patrol / inspection. Confirmation is easy and security is improved because visible light is less likely to leak from radio waves. In addition, since visible light can share light emitting means such as LEDs, it is possible to construct a system at low cost without newly installing wireless devices or lighting equipment. In addition, the combination of visible light and portable units allows visual confirmation of the arrival of visible light even when communicating with a fixed unit. It is easy to ensure safe and reliable operation, such as allowing light to pass between.
In addition, for each patrol place, by informing the patrol person by irradiating the inspection points that should be inspected from the fixed unit, it is possible to prevent forgetting the inspection and to ensure detailed inspections such as checking valuable exhibits. .

  According to another aspect of the present invention, the center device further includes a circuit storage unit storing each fixed unit that is permuted on the circuit, and a center for each fixed unit stored in the circuit storage unit. The destination unit is configured to instruct a destination to be visited next from the side communication unit, and the fixed unit transmits the next destination specified by the center device to the portable unit by blinking of the LED. The portable unit has output means for outputting which destination is transmitted from the fixed unit.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, the above aspect is viewed from the viewpoint of a method. The center device includes a circuit storage unit that stores each fixed unit that is permuted on a circuit, and a circulation destination instruction unit. A processing step that is implemented by the arithmetic control unit and that instructs the next destination to be visited from the center side communication unit in order for each fixed unit stored in the circuit storage means by the visiting destination instruction means. The fixed unit transmits the next circulation destination instructed from the center device to the portable unit by blinking of the LED by the circulation destination transfer means realized by the calculation control unit of the computer. The portable unit executes a processing step in which a predetermined output means outputs which traveling destination is transmitted from the fixed unit. And features.

  In this way, by sequentially transmitting the next patrol destination from the center device to the portable unit via the fixed unit and outputting it, it is possible to effectively prevent the patrol leak while improving the efficiency of the work. Become.

  In another aspect of the present invention, the fixed unit further confirms whether or not the ID information of the portable unit is received by the light receiving sensor unit within a predetermined time after notifying the inspection location and receiving the information. A completion confirmation means for notifying the center device when it has or has not been performed, and the center device has at least one of an alarm and a record depending on the content of the notification from the fixed unit. It has a completion processing means for performing processing.

  In this way, by confirming that the inspection site was actually inspected by irradiating the fixed unit with the portable unit, along with the inspection of the inspection location that was irradiated, by enabling the alarm and recording The reliability of patrols and inspections can be effectively improved.

  According to the present invention as described above, in the technology related to the information communication system, the bi-directional communication by the visible light of the LED is performed between the fixed unit and the portable unit, so that the work relating to the record and instruction of the tour and inspection is performed. Efficiency and security improvement can be achieved.

  Next, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that assumptions common to those already described in the background art and problems are omitted as appropriate.

[1. Constitution〕
In the present embodiment, as shown in the configuration diagram of FIG. 1, a portable unit 1 carried by a patrol person and one or two or more fixed units 2 installed at each place to be visited and communicating with the portable unit 1 ( 21), and a center apparatus 3 that communicates with each fixed unit 2 via the communication network N (hereinafter referred to as “the present system”), and an information communication method using the present system is also possible. It is possible to grasp.

  Among the components of this system, the portable unit 1 has a flashlight-like shape, a case (not shown), a battery, a switch, etc., as shown in FIG. 1, a white LED 11 that emits visible light, and a visible light It has a light receiving sensor unit 12 and a control circuit 15.

  In addition, the fixed unit 2 is provided for each patrol destination in units of sections in a patrol guard area such as a sales floor or an exhibition room, and has a white LED 21 (211, 212, 213) that emits visible light and a visible light. It has a light receiving sensor unit 22 and a communication unit 23 that communicates with the center device 3 through a communication network N. Further, in the fixed unit 2, a control unit 24, a traveling destination transfer unit 25, an inspection location notification unit 26, and a completion confirmation unit 27 are controlled by controlling an arithmetic control unit (not shown) such as a microcomputer with a computer program. These means are processing means for realizing and executing the functional action of the present embodiment as will be described later.

  The center device 3 includes a center side communication unit 31 that communicates with each fixed unit 2 via the communication network N, an ID table 32 that stores ID information for each portable unit 1, and a position table 33 that stores a position for each fixed unit. And a circuit storage means 35 that stores each fixed unit 2 that is permuted on the circuit, and an inspection that stores one or more inspection points to be inspected at each location for each fixed unit 2 that constitutes the circuit A location storage means 37 is provided.

  Further, in the center device 3, by controlling a calculation control unit (not shown) such as a microcomputer with a computer program, a position specifying means 34, a traveling destination instruction means 36, an inspection location instruction means 38, a completion processing means 39, Is realized. Each of these means is also a processing means for realizing and executing the following effects of the present invention and this embodiment.

[2. Action)
The processing procedure in the present embodiment as described above is shown in the flowchart of FIG.

[2-1. (Identification of location and patrol record)
First, a visitor who is a user irradiates the fixed unit 2 with visible light including ID information by performing a predetermined operation on the portable unit 1 for each visiting place (step S21). At this time, the control circuit 15 of the portable unit 1 causes the LED 11 to blink and transmit predetermined information including unique ID information stored in advance (also referred to as “touring information”) as optical signal data. More specifically, although not shown, the control circuit 15 modulates the blinking of the LED 11 by each function unit of coding based on the clock and FM modulation, thereby transmitting the ID information to the visible light to be emitted. Superimpose as information.

  The control unit 24 of the fixed unit 2 (for example, 21) receives the ID information sent from the portable unit 1 as described above, and transfers it from the communication unit 23 to the center device 3 (step). S22). At this time, although not shown, the light receiving sensor unit 22 and the control unit 24 convert the received light into an electric signal by a photodetector or the like, and transmit the converted electric signal by each function unit of FM demodulation and decoding. Demodulate information.

  In the center apparatus 3, the position specifying unit 34 receives the ID information from the fixed unit 2 by the center side communication unit 31. Then, by referring to the tables 32 and 33 based on information indicating which ID information is received from which fixed unit, position information indicating which portable unit 1 is present at which fixed unit 2 is obtained. It is specified and output as traveling record information including date and time (also referred to as “traveler data”) or stored in a predetermined storage means (for example, a record field provided in advance in the traveling circuit storage means 35 or the inspection location storage means 37). (Step S23).

[2-2. (Instructions for inspection points)
It is also possible to instruct a more specific inspection location such as a display shelf for each patrol destination in units of sections. That is, the inspection location instruction means 38 of the center device 3 specifies information (for example, coordinate data or a plurality of illumination LEDs) that specifies the inspection location corresponding to the position specified by the location specification means 34, that is, the fixed place 2 of the traveling place. The corresponding number is read out from the inspection location storage means 37 and specified (step S24), and is transmitted to the fixed unit 2 for notification (step S25).

  In the fixed unit 2 that has received this notification, the inspection point notification means 26 controls the LEDs 212 and 213 to irradiate visible light with respect to the inspection point notified from the center device 3 (step S26), thereby notifying the patrol person. To do. As the LED control, for example, only a corresponding LED among a plurality of LEDs directed in advance to different locations may be turned on or blinked, and the direction of a single LED is controlled by a motor or the like. Thus, the target portion may be irradiated.

[2-3. (Notification and record of inspection completion)
Along with the inspection of the irradiated inspection location as described above, the patrol person irradiates the fixed unit 2 that is the irradiation source with the portable unit 1 to return it to the confirmation operation (step S27). On the other hand, the completion confirmation means 27 of the fixed unit 2 waits for a predetermined inspection time after notifying the inspection location (step S28).

  The completion confirmation means 27 is supposed to confirm the completion of the inspection if the light receiving sensor unit 22 can receive the ID information of the portable unit 1 during the inspection time (step S29), but the ID information cannot be received during that time. If there is an inspection NG, that is, information indicating that some abnormality has occurred (step S31), the completion processing means 39 of the center device 3 gives an alarm when the inspection NG is notified. At the same time (step S32), information such as the history is recorded.

  If the end of the inspection can be confirmed within the inspection time (step S29), the inspection NG does not occur, and the completion processing means 39 of the center device 3 indicates that the inspection is completed by a predetermined storage means (for example, inspection location storage means). 37).

[2-4. (Direction of patrol destination)
After the completion of the inspection can be confirmed (step S29), the center device 3 instructs the portable unit 1 on the next circulation destination (step S30). That is, the tour destination instructing unit 36 of the center apparatus 3 sequentially selects each of the fixed units stored in the tour circuit storage unit 35 from the center-side communication unit 31 to the fixed unit 2 for the next tour destination to be visited. For example, the ID of the fixed unit or location is instructed by information transmission.

  In response to this, the traveling destination transfer means 25 of the fixed unit 2 transmits the next traveling destination instructed from the center device 3 to the portable unit 1 by blinking the LED as traveling information including the traveling destination ID. The output means 16 of the portable unit 1 that has received the transmission is not shown to the user who is the patrol person by means of a liquid crystal display or a speaker output of synthesized speech, although it is not shown which destination is sent from the fixed unit 2. Output.

[3. effect〕
As described above, according to the present embodiment, visible light having higher directivity than radio waves is used for bidirectional communication between a portable unit and a fixed unit in order to confirm the position of a patrol person and record the patrol / inspection. By using, it becomes easy to confirm the position with high accuracy, and since visible light is less likely to leak from radio waves, security can be improved. In addition, since visible light can share light emitting means such as LEDs, it is possible to construct a system at low cost without newly installing wireless devices or lighting equipment.

  In addition, the combination of visible light and portable units allows visual confirmation of the arrival of visible light even when communicating with a fixed unit. It is easy to ensure safe and reliable operation, such as allowing light to pass between.

  In addition, in this embodiment, for each patrol place, by inspecting the patrol person by irradiating the inspection points to be inspected from the fixed unit, it is possible to prevent forgetting the inspection and to ensure detailed inspection such as confirmation of valuable exhibits. Can be implemented.

  In addition, in this embodiment, the next patrol destination is sequentially transmitted from the center device to the portable unit via the fixed unit and output, thereby effectively preventing the patrol leak and improving the efficiency of the work. Is possible.

  In addition, in this embodiment, along with the inspection of the irradiated inspection location, the patrol person irradiates the fixed unit with the portable unit, thereby confirming that the inspection location is actually inspected, and enabling alarms and recording. By doing so, the reliability of patrols and inspections can be effectively improved.

  In particular, in this embodiment, in a portable unit that also serves as a flashlight, an LED that emits visible light for illumination is controlled, and transmission information such as ID is superimposed and transmitted by sufficiently fast blinking. For this reason, the necessary equipment is made more compact than the case of separately preparing the lighting fixture and the communication device, and the operation with one hand becomes easy. Further, since the battery and the LED are common between both the illumination and communication functions, the number of parts is reduced, and the reliability improvement and the cost reduction are facilitated.

[4. Other embodiments]
In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, The thing illustrated below and other embodiment other than that are included. For example, it is possible to omit the notification of the next patrol destination or the transfer of a check completion result such as check NG between the center device and the portable unit via the fixed unit.

The block diagram of embodiment of this invention. The flowchart which shows the process sequence in embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Portable unit 2 ... Fixed unit 3 ... Center apparatus 12 ... Light receiving sensor part 15 ... Control circuit 16 ... Output means 22 ... Light receiving sensor part 23 ... Communication part 24 ... Control means 25 ... Patrol destination transfer means 26 ... Inspection location notification Means 27 ... Completion confirmation means 31 ... Center side communication unit 32 ... ID table 33 ... Position table 34 ... Position specifying means 35 ... Circuit storage means 36 ... Travel destination instruction means 37 ... Inspection location storage means 38 ... Inspection location indication means 39 ... Complete processing means 11, 211-213 ... LED
N ... Communication network

Claims (5)

A portable unit;
One or more fixed units installed at each location to be visited and communicating with the portable unit;
A center device that communicates with each of the fixed units via a communication network;
In an information communication system having
The portable unit includes an LED that emits visible light, a light receiving sensor unit for visible light, and a control circuit that sends unique ID information by blinking the LED,
The fixing unit is
An LED that emits visible light, a light receiving sensor unit for visible light, a communication unit that communicates with the center device via a communication network, and the ID information sent from the portable unit is received by the light receiving sensor unit and the communication And a control means for transferring to the center device from the section,
The center device is
A center-side communication unit that communicates with each of the fixed units via the communication network;
An ID table storing ID information for each portable unit;
A position table that stores the position of each fixed unit;
The center side communication unit receives the ID information from the fixed unit and refers to each table based on the information on which ID information is received from which fixed unit, which portable unit is which Position specifying means for specifying position information as to whether or not the fixed unit exists, and outputting as cyclic recording information or storing it in a predetermined storage means;
Inspection location storage means for storing one or more inspection locations to be inspected at each location for each fixed unit constituting the circuit,
An inspection point corresponding to the fixed unit at the position specified by the position specifying unit is read out from the inspection point storage unit and notified to the fixed unit;
Have
The information communication system, wherein the fixed unit has an inspection location notifying unit that notifies the inspection location notified from the center device by controlling the LED and irradiating visible light. The center device is
Circuit storage means for storing each fixed unit permuted on the circuit;
For each fixed unit stored in the tour route storage means, there is a tour destination instruction means for instructing a tour destination to be visited next from the center side communication unit,
The fixed unit has a circulation destination transfer means for transmitting a next circulation destination instructed from a center device to the portable unit by blinking the LED;
The information communication system according to claim 1, wherein the portable unit includes an output unit that outputs which traveling destination is transmitted from the fixed unit. The fixed unit confirms whether or not the ID information of the portable unit has been received by the light receiving sensor unit within a predetermined time after informing the inspection location, and if it has or has not been received. And a completion confirmation means for notifying the center device,
3. The information communication system according to claim 1, wherein the center device includes a completion processing unit that performs at least one of alarming and recording in accordance with the content of the notification from the fixed unit. A portable unit having an LED that emits visible light, a light-receiving sensor unit for visible light, and a control circuit;
One or two or more fixed units that are installed at each place to be visited and communicate with the portable unit, and communicate with the LED that emits visible light, the light receiving sensor unit of visible light, and the center device via a communication network. A fixed unit having a communication unit, a control unit, and an inspection point notification unit,
A center device that communicates with each fixed unit via a communication network, a center-side communication unit that communicates with each fixed unit via the communication network, an ID table that stores ID information for each portable unit, and a fixed unit A position table storing the position of each, a position specifying means, an inspection location storage means storing one or more inspection locations to be inspected at each location for each fixed unit constituting the circuit, and an inspection location A center device having instruction means;
In an information communication method using an information communication system combining
A process step of causing the control circuit of the portable unit to send out unique ID information by blinking the LED; and
The control unit of the fixed unit receives the ID information sent from the portable unit at the light receiving sensor unit and transfers the ID information from the communication unit to the center device; and
The center specifying unit of the center device causes the center side communication unit to receive the ID information from the fixed unit, and refers to each table based on information about which ID information is received from which fixed unit. Processing step for identifying position information indicating which portable unit is located at which fixed unit, and outputting it as cyclic recording information or storing it in a predetermined storage means;
The inspection step corresponding to the fixed unit at the position specified by the position specifying unit is read from the inspection point storage unit and notified to the fixed unit by the inspection point instruction unit of the center device;
A processing step of notifying the inspection location notified from the center device by controlling the LED and irradiating visible light by the inspection location notification means of the fixed unit;
The information communication method characterized by performing. The center device implements a traveling route storage means that stores each fixed unit that is permuted on the traveling route, and a traveling destination instruction means, with a calculation control unit of a computer,
Instructing a circulation destination to be visited next from the center side communication unit sequentially for each fixed unit stored in the circuit storage means by the circulation destination instruction means,
The fixed unit executes a processing step of transmitting a next circulation destination instructed from a center device to the portable unit by blinking of the LED by a circulation destination transfer unit realized by a calculation control unit of a computer,
5. The information communication method according to claim 4, wherein the portable unit executes a processing step in which a predetermined output unit outputs which traveling destination is transmitted from the fixed unit.

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