JP2010118840A - Communication system, service management server, service providing method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To equally provide users with a service as a result of relaxing congestion of stores providing a free spot. <P>SOLUTION: When a terminal is located at a first base station for performing radio communication with the terminal or a specific place, with which base station the terminal communicates between the first base station and a second base station is determined on the basis of base station identification information for identifying a base station, which is transmitted from the second base station transmitting a radiowave so that the terminal can receive the radiowave stronger than receiving strength of a radiowave which is transmitted from the first base station and is received by the terminal, and the terminal is connected to a network through the first base station for a time longer than a connection time when the terminal is connected to the network through the second base station in the case that the base station with which the terminal communicates is determined to be the first base station. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication system, a service management server, a service providing method, and a program for providing a service to a wireless communication terminal.

  In recent years, public wireless LAN spots have been used when performing wireless LAN (Local Area Network) communication. This public wireless LAN spot is an area where a connection service to the Internet using a wireless LAN is provided. Public wireless LAN spots are also called “hot spots”, “wireless LAN spots”, and “access points”, and are mainly installed at restaurants such as coffee shops and fast food, stations, airports, hotels, and the like.

There are mainly the following three types of public wireless LAN spots.
(1) A member-based spot that allows a public wireless LAN spot provided by a business operator to be a member of a public wireless LAN spot service provider in advance, so that the public wireless LAN spot provided by the business can be used on a monthly basis.
(2) A guest-based spot that gets access rights with restrictions on time such as a daily connection fee each time a public wireless LAN spot is used (often in places where tourists visit such as airport lounges and hotels).
(3) Free spots that can be connected for free without restrictions.

  As a business model using the free spot (3) in this form of provision, free spot providing stores, which are free spot providing stores, individually contract with Internet service providers and can connect free of charge only within the store. Some wireless LAN connections are provided as a value-added service to store users.

  As a technique related to this free spot, an advertisement distribution system is considered in which an advertisement is displayed on a free spot user's terminal and then connected to the Internet free of charge (see, for example, Patent Document 1). As a result, the user can connect to the Internet for free, and the free spot provider can obtain advertising revenue.

In addition, in a wireless LAN service provided by a store, a regional information providing system that provides information on a local store and coupons to a user free of charge, and provides other Internet access to the user for a fee is considered (for example, (See Patent Document 2).
JP-A-2005-267122 JP 2003-228637 A

  However, a user who uses a free spot as described above tends to stagnate in the store. In addition, since the free spot user provides only a small amount of money to the free spot providing store, the free spot providing store cannot obtain a sufficient price by setting the free spot.

  Even if the techniques described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 are used, a free spot user can use the service only in a limited area such as a restaurant. Even if there is advertising revenue to the provider, it is not easy to prevent the stagnation of the user in the store, and a system for improving the liquidity of the user becomes necessary.

  That is, there is a problem that the customer turnover rate is hindered by the store providing free spots. The reason for this is that free spots can be used only in stores, and because there is an increase in store stagnation due to the ability to connect to free spots without restrictions even when using small stores. is there.

  In addition, the store is crowded due to the hindrance to the customer turnover rate. There is a problem that when a takeout is forced due to the congestion in the store, or when there are many free spot users in the store and the access line is crowded, the store user cannot use the free spot. As a result, a service called a free spot may not be provided to store users equally.

  An object of this invention is to provide the communication system, the service management server, the service provision method, and program which solve the subject mentioned above.

The communication system of the present invention includes:
A terminal having a wireless communication function, a first base station that performs wireless communication with the terminal, and the terminal is transmitted from the first base station and received when the terminal exists at a specific location A second base station that transmits the radio wave so that the terminal receives a radio wave having a strength stronger than the reception intensity of the radio wave, and a predetermined time through the first base station or the second base station. In a communication system having a service management server for connecting the terminal and the network,
The service management server is configured such that a base station with which the terminal is communicating is based on base station identification information for identifying a base station transmitted from the first base station or the second base station. When it is determined whether the first base station or the second base station, and it is determined that the base station with which the terminal is communicating is the first base station, the first base station The terminal and the network are connected via the first base station for a time longer than the time for connecting the terminal and the network via two base stations.

The service management server of the present invention is
A terminal having a wireless communication function and a network, a first base station that performs wireless communication with the terminal, and the terminal transmits from the first base station when the terminal exists at a specific location A service management server connected for a predetermined time via either one of the second base station that transmits the radio wave so that the terminal receives a radio wave having a stronger intensity than the received radio wave received intensity. There,
Based on base station identification information for identifying a base station transmitted from the first base station or the second base station, the base station with which the terminal is communicating is the first base station And a terminal position determination unit that determines whether it is the second base station,
When the terminal location determination unit determines that the base station with which the terminal is communicating is the first base station, a connection time for connecting the terminal and the network via the first base station is determined. And a processing unit that sets a time longer than a connection time for connecting the terminal and the network via the second base station.

The service providing method of the present invention includes:
A terminal having a wireless communication function and a network, a first base station that performs wireless communication with the terminal, and the terminal transmits from the first base station when the terminal exists at a specific location Connected to the terminal for a predetermined time via either one of the second base stations that transmit the radio wave so that the terminal receives a radio wave having a stronger intensity than the received intensity of the received radio wave. A service providing method for providing a service,
Based on base station identification information for identifying a base station transmitted from the first base station or the second base station, the base station with which the terminal is communicating is the first base station And a process of determining whether it is the second base station;
If it is determined that the base station with which the terminal is communicating is the first base station, a connection time for connecting the terminal and the network via the first base station is set to the second base station. And processing for setting a time longer than a connection time for connecting the terminal and the network via a base station.

The program of the present invention is
A terminal having a wireless communication function and a network, a first base station that performs wireless communication with the terminal, and the terminal transmits from the first base station when the terminal exists at a specific location To the service management server to be connected for a predetermined time via either one of the second base station that transmits the radio wave so that the terminal receives the radio wave having a strength stronger than the reception intensity of the received radio wave. ,
Based on base station identification information for identifying a base station transmitted from the first base station or the second base station, the base station with which the terminal is communicating is the first base station And a procedure for determining whether it is the second base station;
If it is determined that the base station with which the terminal is communicating is the first base station, the connection time for connecting the terminal and the network via the first base station is set as the second base station. And a procedure for setting a time longer than a connection time for connecting the terminal and the network via a station.

  As described above, in the present invention, a terminal is transmitted from the first base station when a terminal is present at a first base station or a specific location that performs wireless communication with a terminal having a wireless communication function. The terminal based on the base station identification information for identifying the base station transmitted from the second base station that transmits the radio wave so that the terminal receives the radio wave having a strength stronger than the reception intensity of the radio wave received Determines whether the base station with which the terminal is communicating is the first base station or the second base station, and determines that the base station with which the terminal is communicating is the first base station In this case, since the terminal is connected to the network via the first base station for a longer time than the connection time for connecting the terminal and the network via the second base station, the store providing the free spot As a result, It is possible to provide equality in service in person.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a communication system according to the present invention. 1 shows an example in which the communication system according to the present invention is a mobile WiMAX (World Wide Interoperability for Microwave Access).

  In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, a terminal 101, base stations 110 and 120, an AAA (Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting) server 140, a service management server 150, a Web server 160, a mail server 170, It consists of a user information database 180, a store information database 190, and store terminals 200-1 to 200-n (n is a natural number). The base station 110 and the store terminal 200-1 are installed in a free spot providing store 100 that is a store such as a coffee shop that provides a free spot. The AAA server 140, the service management server 150, the Web server 160, the mail server 170, the user information database 180, and the store information database 190 are facilities of the communication carrier 130 that performs the communication business. . Here, the communication carrier 130 is a WiMAX operator.

  The terminal 101 is a terminal (information processing apparatus) such as a mobile personal computer that has a wireless communication function and can be carried (moved) by a user. Further, the terminal 101 receives WiMAX radio waves from the base stations 110 and 120, and displays information transmitted by the received radio waves on a screen such as a display. Similarly to the general wireless communication terminal, when the terminal 101 receives radio waves transmitted from a plurality of base stations, the terminal 101 selects the radio wave having the stronger reception intensity, and the base station that has transmitted the radio wave. Communicate between the two. Further, the terminal 101 transmits information input by the user's operation to the service management server 150 via the base stations 110 and 120 and the AAA server 140. Here, the transmitted information includes a user ID (Identification) such as an e-mail address that can identify the user, and a password for authenticating the user. Information such as number and address is included.

  The base station 120 is a WiMAX base station (first base station) that is installed by the communication carrier 130 and has a wide communication range. In addition, when the terminal 101 exists in a place where the terminal 101 can communicate with the base station 120, the base station 120 connects the terminal 101 to a wide area wireless LAN (Local Area Network) via the communication carrier 130.

  The base station 110 is a WiMAX base station (second base station) installed in the free spot providing store 100 by the communication carrier 130 and having a narrow range as a wireless communication range. Also, the base station 110 connects the terminal 101 to the free spot via the communication carrier 130 when the terminal 101 exists in a place where the terminal 101 can communicate with the base station 110. In addition, the base station 110 has an antenna set so that radio waves can reach the free spot providing store 100 using beamforming. That is, when the terminal 101 exists in the free spot providing store 100, the reception intensity at the terminal 101 of the radio wave transmitted from the base station 110 is stronger than the reception intensity at the terminal 101 of the radio wave transmitted from the base station 120. . For this reason, the terminal 101 existing in the free spot providing store 100 selects a radio wave transmitted from the base station 110 and communicates with the base station 110. Further, the terminal 101 existing outside the free spot providing store 100 selects a radio wave transmitted from the base station 120 and communicates with the base station 120. Also, when the terminal 101 moves from the free spot providing store 100 to the outside of the free spot providing store 100, or when the terminal 101 moves from the outside of the free spot providing store 100 to the free spot providing store 100, the terminal 101 communicates with the base station 110. And switching between the base station 120 and the base station 120.

  The AAA server 140 is an authentication server that is connected to the base stations 110 and 120 and performs authentication, approval, and accounting of the terminal 101. Further, the AAA server 140 transmits base station identification information for identifying the base stations 110 and 120 with which the terminal 101 is communicating, to the service management server 150. This transmits base station identification information for identifying the base stations 110 and 120 included in the signal transmitted from the terminal 101 to the service management server 150.

  The service management server 150 is an information processing apparatus installed in the telecommunications carrier 130 and has three functions of a user authentication function, a user access control function, and a store authentication function.

  The user authentication function receives the user ID and password transmitted from the terminal 101 via the AAA server 140, and user information corresponding to the user ID and password exists in the user information database 180. It is determined whether or not. When the user information does not exist in the user information database 180, the user information is registered.

  Further, when user information exists in the user information database 180, the user access control function determines whether or not access is possible based on the number of user possession points possessed by the user. This is a function for transmitting access permission information, which is a determination result, to the terminal 101 via the AAA server 140.

  The store authentication function refers to authentication of store terminals 200-1 to 200-n when registering campaign information, coupon information, and the like transmitted from the store terminals 200-1 to 200-n in the store information database 190. It is a function to perform.

  Here, the above-mentioned “point” will be described.

  This “point” is determined by the free spot providing store 100 to the user according to the degree of use of the free spot providing store 100 (mainly the purchase price of goods and services at the free spot providing store 100, the frequency of visits, etc.). Is given. The user can use the given points for connection with the communication carrier 130 for the time set per point. In addition, the point grant rate (for example, 1 point for every 100 yen purchased) and how the points can be used at the free spot providing store 100 (for example, from 10 points at the time of product purchase as 1 point 1 yen) The free spot providing store 100 can freely set “usable”.

  Further, the points can be used as a substitute for cash not only for connection with the communication carrier 130 but also for product purchase at the free spot providing store 100. In addition, points can be shared with points from other industries that only issue and use points such as convenience stores and CD shops and do not offer free spots (this type of shop is referred to as a partner store below). is there. Therefore, it is possible to provide an equivalent service to a store user who has contracted with the communication carrier 130 and does not need a connection with the communication carrier 130. Further, even if the store user makes a contract with the communication carrier 130 after using the free spot service, the utility value of the service for the user is not lost.

  Further, points are given to user IDs assigned to the respective users. This user ID is entered in a card distributed when the user uses the free spot providing store 100 or the providing store for the first time. Points given to the user ID of the card cannot be used as they are, and users such as e-mail addresses and passwords can access service portal sites from free spots, free wide area wireless LANs, or the general Internet. You need to activate your card by registering your personal information. The user can confirm, use, and receive points by presenting this card when using the store.

  In order to realize such a point system, this point is common to a plurality of free spot providing stores 100 and affiliated stores provided by the same communication carrier 130 and is managed by the communication carrier 130. Moreover, since this point is managed using user IDs, such as a user's e-mail address, the communication carrier 130 can construct a new customer channel called a partner store user.

  The web server 160 is an information processing apparatus connected to the service management server 150. The Web server 160 has a function of providing a store portal and a service portal to the terminal 101 in response to a request from the terminal 101, and a store terminal 200-1 in response to a request from the store terminals 200-1 to 200-n. 200-n has a function of providing a store management / operation site.

  The store portal and service portal use each user's user information (e-mail address, name, etc.) confirmation and change functions, point information (number of user possession points owned by the user, and points) The time that can be connected to the telecommunications carrier 130, how many yen it can be used to purchase the points), and various information on the stores that the user has used to obtain points (new) Product information, campaign information, coupons, etc.), the advertisement display function of the free spot providing store 100 and affiliated stores, and the base station identification information of the base stations 110 and 120 to which the terminal 101 is connected Free service providing stores 100 and affiliated store introductions, access point information providing function with low hourly unit price, and distribution of original contents in specific stores And a and sales function.

  The store management / operation site can be accessed only from the store terminals 200-1 to 200-n, and stores information set in the store portal and service portal and store information setting functions such as e-mail contents transmitted to the terminal 101 It has.

  The mail server 170 is an information processing apparatus connected to the service management server 150. The mail server 170 cooperates with the user information database 180 and the store information database 190 to send an e-mail including various store information (new product information, campaign information, coupon information) stored in the store information database 190 to the store. The function to send to the user's e-mail address.

  The user information database 180 is a storage device such as a hard disk, and stores basic information of the user who owns the terminal 101. For example, the user ID, password, name, e-mail address, use store ID, etc. of each user are stored in association with each other.

  The store information database 190 is a storage device such as a hard disk, and stores basic information of each store where the store terminals 200-1 to 200-n are installed. For example, store ID of each store, password, store attributes (coffee shop, convenience store, bookstore, etc.), store name, address, campaign information, new product information, coupon information, user ID of the user using the store A list or the like is stored in association with each other. Moreover, the number of points with respect to the purchase amount when a product or service is purchased at the store is stored. Moreover, the connection time information which shows the connection possible time of the terminal 101 and the communication carrier 130 with respect to a point is memorize | stored.

  The store terminals 200-1 to 200-n are information processing devices such as personal computers installed in the free hot spot providing store 100 and other affiliated stores such as a coffee shop, a convenience store, a bookstore, and the like. The store terminals 200-1 to 200-n are connected to the service management server 150 through dedicated lines. The store terminals 200-1 to 200-n each have a function of transmitting the store ID uniquely assigned to the store, the user ID of the store user, and the purchase price of the user to the service management server 150, And a function of referring to and updating the number of user possession points possessed by the user ID by inquiring of the service management server 150.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of the AAA server 140 shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the AAA server 140 shown in FIG. 1 includes a base station communication unit 141, an authentication unit 142, a processing unit 143, and a server communication unit 144.

  The base station communication unit 141 performs communication with the base stations 110 and 120. In addition, the base station communication unit 141 outputs authentication information such as a user ID and a password transmitted from the terminal 101 via the base stations 110 and 120 to the authentication unit 142. In addition, the base station communication unit 141 outputs other signals transmitted from the terminal 101 via the base stations 110 and 120 to the processing unit 143. Further, the signal output from the processing unit 143 is transmitted to the terminal 101 via the base stations 110 and 120.

  The authentication unit 142 authenticates the terminal 101 (user) based on the authentication information output from the base station communication unit 141 and outputs the authentication result to the processing unit 143.

  When the authentication result output from the authentication unit 142 is a result of successful authentication of the terminal 101 (user), the processing unit 143 performs predetermined processing on the signal output from the base station communication unit 141, and the server 143 The data is output to the communication unit 144. Further, when the authentication result is successful, the processing unit 143 performs predetermined processing on the signal output from the server communication unit 144 and outputs the signal to the base station communication unit 141.

  The server communication unit 144 transmits the signal output from the processing unit 143 to the service management server 150. In addition, the server communication unit 144 outputs the signal transmitted from the service management server 150 to the processing unit 143.

  FIG. 2 shows only the components related to the present invention among the components included in the AAA server 140 shown in FIG.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of an internal configuration of the service management server 150 illustrated in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the service management server 150 shown in FIG. 1 includes a server communication unit 151, a processing unit 152, a terminal position determination unit 153, a user information acquisition unit 154, and a store information acquisition unit 155. A connection time acquisition unit 156 is provided.

  The server communication unit 151 outputs base station identification information for identifying the base stations 110 and 120 among the signals transmitted from the AAA server 140, the Web server 160, or the mail server 170 to the terminal position determination unit 153. In addition, the server communication unit 151 outputs other signals transmitted from the AAA server 140 to the processing unit 152. In addition, the server communication unit 151 transmits the signal output from the processing unit 152 to the AAA server 140, the Web server 160, or the mail server 170. In addition, the server communication unit 151 outputs a signal transmitted from the store terminals 200-1 to 200-n to the processing unit 152. At this time, store identification information (store ID) given uniquely to each of the store terminals 200-1 to 200-n is given to the signals transmitted from the store terminals 200-1 to 200-n. In addition, the server communication unit 151 transmits the signal output from the processing unit 152 to the store terminals 200-1 to 200-n.

  The processing unit 152 performs predetermined processing on the signal output from the server communication unit 151. When the processed signal is a user information request signal for requesting user information, the processing unit 152 outputs the user information request signal to the user information acquisition unit 154. In addition, the user information output from the user information acquisition unit 154 is subjected to predetermined processing and is output to the server communication unit 151. Further, when the processed signal is a store information request signal for requesting store information, the processing unit 152 outputs the store information request signal to the store information acquisition unit 155. Further, the store information output from the store information acquisition unit 155 is subjected to a predetermined process and output to the server communication unit 151. Further, when the processed signal is a connection time request signal for requesting connection time information, the processing unit 152 outputs the connection time request signal to the connection time acquisition unit 156. In addition, a predetermined process is performed on the information indicating the connection time output from the connection time acquisition unit 156, and the information is output to the server communication unit 151.

  The terminal position determination unit 153 determines whether the terminal 101 is inside or outside the free spot providing store 100 based on the base station identification information output from the server communication unit 151. The terminal position determination unit 153 is installed so that the base stations 110 and 120 are installed so as to communicate in the free spot providing store 100 or communicate outside the free spot providing store 100. It has been set in advance whether it has been done. Based on this setting content and the base station information output from the server communication unit 151, it is determined whether the terminal 101 is inside or outside the free spot providing store 100. Then, the determination result is output to the connection time acquisition unit 156.

  When a user information request signal is output from the processing unit 152, the user information acquisition unit 154 acquires user information from the user information database 180. In addition, the user information acquisition unit 154 outputs the acquired user information to the processing unit 152.

  When the store information request signal is output from the processing unit 152, the store information acquisition unit 155 acquires store information from the store information database 190. Further, the store information acquisition unit 155 outputs the acquired store information to the processing unit 152.

  When the connection time request signal is output from the processing unit 152, the connection time acquisition unit 156 acquires information indicating the connection time from the store information database 190 based on the determination result output from the terminal position determination unit 153. To do. In addition, the connection time acquisition unit 156 outputs information indicating the acquired connection time to the processing unit 152.

  FIG. 3 shows only the components related to the present invention among the components of the service management server 150 shown in FIG.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of user information stored in the user information database 180 shown in FIG.

  In the user information database 180 shown in FIG. 1, as shown in FIG. 4, an ID indicating a user ID, a password, an e-mail address, and a point number are stored in association with each other. Here, the number of points is the number of user-owned points described above.

  For example, ID “00000001”, password “aaaaaa”, e-mail address “AAA@xxx.ne.jp”, and the number of points “78” are stored in association with each other. This is because the password for authenticating the user who owns the card with the ID “00000001” is “aaaaaa”, and the email address of the user is “AAA@xxx.ne.jp” This indicates that the number of user possession points of the user is “78”. Further, an ID “00000002”, a password “bbbbbb”, an e-mail address “BBB@yyy.ne.jp”, and a point number “156” are stored in association with each other. This is because the password for authenticating the user who owns the card in which the ID “00000002” is entered is “bbbbbb”, and the email address of the user is “BBB@yyy.ne.jp” This indicates that the number of points owned by the user is “156”.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of connection time information stored in the store information database 190 shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the store information database 190 shown in FIG. 1 stores the number of points and the connectable time for each point in association with each other. Furthermore, the connection possible time for each point stores a case where the terminal 101 is in the free spot providing store 100 and a case where the terminal 101 is outside.

  For example, the number of points “1 to 100”, the connectable time for each point in the store (second connection time) “1 minute”, and the connectable time for each point outside the store (first connection time) “3 minutes” Are stored in association with each other. This is because when the user (terminal 101) having the number of points “1 to 100” is in the free spot providing store 100, it is connected to the network (free spot) via the communication carrier 130. The available time is “1 minute” for each point, and the time that can be connected to the network (wide area wireless LAN) via the communication carrier 130 when it is outside the free spot providing store 100 is “3 minutes” for each point. It shows that there is. In addition, the number of points “101 to 200”, the connectable time for each point in the store “2 minutes”, and the connectable time for each point outside the store “6 minutes” are stored in association with each other. This is because when the user (terminal 101) having the number of points “101 to 200” is in the free spot providing store 100, it is connected to the network (free spot) via the communication carrier 130. The possible time is “2 minutes” for each point, and the time that can be connected to the network (wide area wireless LAN) via the communication carrier 130 when the person is outside the free spot providing store 100 is “6 minutes” for each point. It shows that there is.

  In this way, the connectable time when the terminal 101 is outside the free spot providing store 100 is set to be longer than the connectable time when the terminal 101 is in the free spot providing store 100. Yes.

  The service providing method in this embodiment will be described below.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining a connection method between the terminal 101 and the communication carrier 130 (network) in the service providing method according to this embodiment.

  First, when the base station 110 or 120 is detected by the terminal 101 (step S1), a service login screen is displayed on the terminal 101 (step S2).

  If the user does not yet have a user ID for receiving the service, that is, if the user does not have a card filled with the user ID (step S3), the user uses this service. The service is terminated because it is not possible.

  When the user has a user ID, if the user information of the user has already been registered in the user information database 180 (step S4), the user can use the user ID and password on the service portal site. The login process is performed (step S5). In this login process, the user ID and password input by the user to the terminal 101 are transmitted to the communication carrier 130 and stored in the user information database 180 by the user information acquisition unit 154 of the service management server 150. A user ID and a password are acquired, and are generally compared by the processing unit 152.

  On the other hand, if the user information is not registered, the user selects whether or not to register the user information (step S6). If the user does not register the user information, the service is terminated. If the user registers user information, a registration process is performed (step S7). To select whether or not the user registers user information, a selection screen is displayed on the terminal 101, and the user selects the selection screen. In the registration process, user information to be registered in the user information database 180 such as a user ID and a password is registered from the terminal 101.

  When the login process in step S5 or the registration process in step S7 is completed, the service management server 150 refers to the user information database 180 and confirms the number of points held by the received user ID (step S8).

  If there is no point possessed by the user ID, a connection impossible message indicating that connection is not possible is transmitted to the terminal 101, and the connection impossible message is displayed on the terminal 101 (step S9). Then, the service portal is displayed on the terminal 101 (step S10). However, access is restricted except for this service portal.

  On the other hand, when the user ID has points, the terminal 101 is in the free spot providing store 100 based on the base station identification information transmitted from the base stations 110 and 120 via the AAA server 140. Whether the terminal is located or not is determined by the terminal position determination unit 153 (step S11). When the base station identification information is that of the base station 110, it is determined that the terminal 101 is in the free spot providing store 100. When the base station identification information is that of the base station 120, it is determined that the terminal 101 is outside the free spot providing store 100.

  Thereafter, when it is determined that the terminal 101 is in the free spot providing store 100, or when it is determined that the terminal 101 is outside the free spot providing store 100, the connection time is acquired by the connection time acquisition unit 156. Obtained from the database 190 (steps S12 and S15). The acquired connection time is set in the processing unit 152.

  When the connection time is set in the processing unit 152 in step S12, the terminal 101 is connected to the free spot by the communication carrier 130 at the set time (step S13). Then, the store portal is displayed on the terminal 101 by the communication carrier 130 (step S14).

  Further, when the connection time is set in the processing unit 152 in step S15, the terminal 101 is connected to the wide area wireless LAN by the communication carrier 130 in the set time (step S16). Then, the service portal is displayed on the terminal 101 by the communication carrier 130 (step S17).

  Thereafter, the process proceeds to an access control flow described later (“a” in the flowchart).

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining the access control method of the terminal 101 in the service providing method according to this embodiment.

  It is determined whether or not the handover of the terminal 101 is detected by constantly monitoring the terminal 101 by the AAA server 140 (step S21).

  When it is determined by the AAA server 140 that the handover of the terminal 101 has been detected, the service management server 150 determines whether the handover is a handover that crosses the inside and outside of the free spot providing store 100 ( Step S22). This is because the terminal position determination unit 153 determines whether the position of the terminal 101 is inside or outside the free spot providing store 100 based on the base station identification information transmitted from the AAA server 140.

  When it is determined that the handover is a handover between the inside and outside of the free spot providing store 100, the connectable time for each corresponding point is acquired from the store information database 190 by the connection time acquisition unit 156 (step S1). S23).

  If it is determined that the handover is not a handover between the inside and outside of the free spot providing store 100, the connectable time is not newly acquired from the store information database 190 because there is no change in the connectable time. .

  Then, the number of points owned by the user is acquired from the user information database 180 by the user information acquisition unit 154 and confirmed by the processing unit 152 to determine whether there is a remaining connectable time corresponding to the number of points held. It is determined by the unit 152 (step S24).

  When it is determined that there is a remaining connectable time, the service management server 150 determines whether the remaining connectable time of the terminal 101 connected to the free spot or the wide area wireless LAN is shorter than a preset threshold. (Step S25).

  If it is determined that the remaining connectable time of the terminal 101 connected to the free spot or the wide area wireless LAN is shorter than a preset threshold, the service management server 150 indicates that the remaining connectable time to the terminal 101 is short. A warning message is displayed (step S26). Thereafter, the process of step S21 is performed.

  If it is determined that the remaining connectable time of the terminal 101 connected to the free spot or the wide area wireless LAN is not shorter than a preset threshold value, the warning message display in step S26 is not performed, The process of step S21 is performed.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S24 that there is no remaining connectable time, the service management server 150 displays a disconnect message indicating disconnection to the terminal 101 (step S27), and disconnection processing is performed (step S27). S28).

  Next, processing executed by the service management server 150 when the store terminals 200-1 to 200-n confirm, use, and grant points of user-owned points will be described.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining processing executed by the service management server 150 when the number of user-owned points is confirmed by the store terminals 200-1 to 200-n.

  First, the service management server 150 receives a point confirmation request, which is a confirmation request for the number of points held by the user, and a user ID and a store ID necessary for the point confirmation from the store terminals 200-1 to 200-n. Then (step S31), the user information database 180 is referred to by the user information acquisition unit 154, and the number of points associated with the user ID is acquired. Further, the store information database 190 is referred to by the store information acquisition unit 155, and the time during which the terminal 101 can be connected inside and outside the store and the converted amount are confirmed (step S32). Then, the information is transmitted from the service management server 150 to the store terminals 200-1 to 200-n having the store ID (step S33).

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining the process executed by the service management server 150 when the number of user-owned points is used by the store terminals 200-1 to 200-n.

  First, when the service management server 150 receives a point use request, which is a request to use points from the store terminals 200-1 to 200-n, a user ID, a store ID, and a purchase price of the user necessary for using the points. (Step S41) Based on the information acquired from the store information database 190 by the store information acquisition unit 155, the number of points corresponding to the purchase price is calculated by the processing unit 152. Then, the number of points calculated by the processing unit 152 is subtracted from the number of points associated with the user ID acquired from the user information database 180 by the user information acquisition unit 154 (step S42).

  Then, the number of used points and the remaining number of points are transmitted from the service management server 150 to the store terminals 200-1 to 200-n having the store ID (step S43).

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining a process executed by the service management server 150 when the store terminals 200-1 to 200-n grant the user-owned points.

  First, the service management server 150 receives a point addition request that is a request for adding points from the store terminals 200-1 to 200-n, a user ID necessary for point addition, a store ID, and a user's payment amount. (Step S51), the store information acquisition unit 155 acquires store information from the store information database 190. Based on the point issuance conditions at the store terminal having the received store ID included in the acquired store information, the processing unit 152 calculates the number of points to be issued (step S52). Thereafter, the calculated number of points is registered in the user information database 180 by the user information acquisition unit 154 (step S53).

  If neither a point use request nor a point addition request is received, that is, if only the number of points held by the user is confirmed, point subtraction processing and point registration processing are not performed, and the number of points and connectable time When the converted amount information is transmitted to the store terminal, the service is terminated.

  Next, use the store terminals 200-1 to 200-n to access the store management / operation site, register campaign information, change the point grant rate, set the contents of emails delivered to users, Processing executed by the service management server 150 when using various store functions such as confirmation of user information using points at the store will be described.

  FIG. 11 shows access to a store management / operation site using the store terminals 200-1 to 200-n, registration of campaign information, change of a point grant rate, setting of mail contents to be distributed to users, It is a flowchart for demonstrating the process performed by the service management server 150 at the time of utilizing the various functions for stores, such as confirmation of the user information using the point in the own store.

  First, when the service management server 150 receives a site access request and a store ID and a password from the store terminals 200-1 to 200-n (step S61), the service management server 150 receives the received store ID and The store terminals 200-1 to 200-n are authenticated using the password (step S62).

  When the store terminals 200-1 to 200-n are authenticated by the service management server 150, the service management server 150 permits the store terminals 200-1 to 200-n to access the store management / operation site. Various functions are provided from the service management server 150 to the store terminals 200-1 to 200-n (step S63).

  Thus, the present invention has a function of determining whether the terminal 101 is in the free spot providing store 100 or outside the free spot providing store 100. The specific inside / outside determination of the free spot providing store 100 is whether the terminal 101 is connected to the network from the free spot in the free spot providing store 100 or is connected to the network from the wide area wireless LAN network. It is performed by constantly monitoring with the AAA server 140 installed on the 130 operator side.

  In the conventional Wi-Fi communication, it was possible to grasp from which access point the user was connected, but it was difficult to install an access point that covers the free spot providing store 100. It was difficult to determine inside / outside the free spot providing store 100 by points.

  However, as described above, the WiMAX free spot in the present invention is installed so that the base station 110, which is an ultra-small base station, surrounds the free spot providing store 100 just by beam forming. Therefore, it becomes easy to determine whether the terminal 101 is in the free spot providing store 100 or outside the free spot providing store 100 based on the base station information used by the terminal 101.

  With this free spot providing store 100 inside / outside determination function, the handover of the terminal 101 from the free spot providing store 100 to the outside of the free spot providing store 100 on the service management server 150 side, and each store's unique to the free spot user Services and contents can be provided.

  Further, the present invention has a function of prompting the terminal 101 to move from a free spot in the free spot providing store 100 to a wide area wireless LAN network outside the free spot providing store 100.

  As a specific method, the time that can be connected per point in the wide area wireless LAN network is set longer than the time that can be connected per point in the free spot. For example, while a free spot in the free spot providing store 100 can be connected for 1 minute per point held by the user, a point outside the free spot providing store 100 can be connected for 3 minutes. Thereby, it is possible to connect at the same point for a longer time when connecting outside the free spot providing store 100 than when connecting inside the free spot providing store 100. Therefore, it is possible to give a merit to the connection outside the free spot providing store 100, and the stagnation of the free spot user in the free spot providing store 100 can be reduced. Further, the advantage of the connectable time outside the free spot providing store 100 may be displayed on the terminal 101.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen on the terminal 101 when the advantage of the connectable time outside the free spot providing store 100 is displayed on the terminal 101.

  As shown in FIG. 12, the connection time of the outside of the free spot providing store 100 is indicated on the terminal 101 as “connection time in the store is 10 minutes, but connection is possible for 20 minutes when going outside the store”. The user may be prompted to move out of the free spot providing store 100 by displaying the advantage.

  In addition, the usage point rate setting change, which is the connectable time per point, is made by the AAA server 140 that manages which base station 110, 120 the terminal 101 is using, and the free spot providing store of the terminal 101. When a handover from the inside 100 to the outside of the free spot providing store 100 or a handover from the outside of the free spot providing store 100 to the inside of the free spot providing store 100 is detected, the service management server 150 switches the setting instantaneously. It is possible.

  Further, as another means for prompting the user to move to the wide area wireless LAN network, the terminal 101 has been handed over from the free spot in the free spot providing shop 100 to the wide area wireless LAN network outside the free spot providing shop 100. When the AAA server 140 detects this, a method of giving a handover incentive point to the terminal 101 may be used.

  In the present invention, a user portal site and a store management / operation site are prepared.

  As the portal site provided to the user, when the user uses the free spot, the store portal that is the portal site of the store providing the free spot is selected and displayed on the terminal 101. . When the user uses a wide area wireless LAN, a service portal that is a portal site of this service is automatically selected and displayed on the terminal 101.

  The store portal can distribute various types of campaign information, coupon information, new product information, and the like of stores that provide free spots, and can also distribute and sell original contents in specific stores.

  Based on the base station information of the base stations 110 and 120 to which the terminal 101 is connected, the service portal distributes information on nearby free spot providing stores and affiliated store information. From the affiliated stores, display the advertisement of the company that gave the most points for a certain period of time (last week, last month, etc.). As a result, the principle of competition between stores and companies can be used, and partner stores and sponsor companies can be incorporated.

  Further, the service portal site can be accessed from any terminal other than the wide area wireless LAN network and free spot of the present invention as long as it is a terminal connected to the Internet. Therefore, the user can confirm the number of points he / she owns, campaign information, etc. even from an Internet connection at home or a mobile phone.

  In both the store portal and the service portal, the user can obtain point information (the number of points held by the user, the time at which the user can connect to the free spot and the free wide area wireless LAN using the points, How many yen can be used when purchasing points for product purchases) and various information (new product information, campaign information, coupons, etc.) of the stores that users have used to earn points can do.

  The store management / operation site is a web page that can be accessed only from the store terminals 200-1 to 200-n by performing authentication using the store ID and the store password. The store management / operation site can be used to register campaign information and coupon information, change the point grant rate, set email content to be delivered to users, etc. User information and user information using points at the store can be confirmed.

  Note that the processing of the service management server 150 described above may be performed by a logic circuit manufactured according to the purpose. Further, a program in which processing contents are described as a procedure is recorded on a recording medium readable by the service management server 150, and the program recorded on the recording medium is read by the service management server 150 and executed. good. The recording medium readable by the service management server 150 includes a removable recording medium such as a floppy disk (registered trademark), a magneto-optical disk, a DVD, and a CD, as well as a ROM, a RAM, and the like built in the service management server 150. Memory, HDD, etc. The program recorded on the recording medium is read by a CPU (not shown) in the service management server 150, and the same processing as described above is performed under the control of the CPU. Here, the CPU operates as a computer that executes a program read from a recording medium on which the program is recorded.

  As described above, the present invention has the following effects.

  The first effect is that the free spot and free wide area wireless LAN service method of the present invention can provide a free wide area wireless LAN connection within the wide area wireless LAN network outside the free spot providing shop, and the flow of shop users It is to increase the nature.

  The second effect is that it is possible to give merit to connection outside the store by changing the point digestion rate (time that can be connected with one point) inside and outside the store.

  The third effect is that even if a free spot cannot be used in the store due to congestion in the store, a free wide area wireless LAN connection is possible outside the store, and it is also possible to save the connection right as a point. The spot service can be provided to store users equally.

  The fourth effect is that it is possible to provide free access as a value-added service for store use even at partner stores such as convenience stores that do not have seats. This will create a new promotion channel for communication operators such as WiMAX. Will lead to the expansion of the telecommunications business.

It is a figure which shows one form of the communication system of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the internal structure of the AAA server shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of an internal structure of the service management server shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the user information memorize | stored in the user information database shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the connection time information memorize | stored in the shop information database shown in FIG. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the connection method of a terminal and a communication provider (network) among the service provision methods in this form. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the access control method of a terminal among the service provision methods in this form. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the process performed by the service management server at the time of confirmation of the number of user possession points by a shop terminal. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the process performed by the service management server at the time of utilization of the number of user possession points by a shop terminal. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the process performed by the service management server at the time of provision of the user possession point number by a shop terminal. Use the store terminal to access the store management and operation site, register campaign information, change the point grant rate, set the content of emails delivered to users, and store user information using points at your store It is a flowchart for demonstrating the process performed by the service management server at the time of utilizing the various functions for stores, such as confirmation. It is a figure which shows an example of the display screen in a terminal at the time of displaying the advantage of the connection possible time outside a free spot provision store on a terminal.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Free spot provision terminal 101 Terminal 110,120 Base station 130 Communication carrier 140 AAA server 141 Base station communication part 142 Authentication part 143,152 Processing part 144,151 Server communication part 150 Service management server 153 Terminal position determination part 154 User Information acquisition unit 155 Store information acquisition unit 156 Connection time acquisition unit 160 Web server 170 Mail server 180 User information database 190 Store information database 200-1 to 200-n Store terminal

Claims (14)

A terminal having a wireless communication function, a first base station that performs wireless communication with the terminal, and the terminal is transmitted from the first base station and received when the terminal exists at a specific location A second base station that transmits the radio wave so that the terminal receives a radio wave having a strength stronger than the reception intensity of the radio wave, and a predetermined time through the first base station or the second base station. In a communication system having a service management server for connecting the terminal and the network,
The service management server is configured such that a base station with which the terminal is communicating is based on base station identification information for identifying a base station transmitted from the first base station or the second base station. When it is determined whether the first base station or the second base station, and it is determined that the base station with which the terminal is communicating is the first base station, the first base station A communication system, wherein the terminal and the network are connected via the first base station for a time longer than a time required for connecting the terminal and the network via two base stations. The communication system according to claim 1,
A first connection time for connecting the terminal and the network via the first base station, and a connection between the terminal and the network via the second base station that is shorter than the first connection time. A second database for storing a second connection time,
The communication system, wherein the service management server acquires the connection time from the database. The communication system according to claim 2,
The database stores a connection time corresponding to a point given to the terminal at the specific location,
The service management server connects the terminal and the network for a connection time corresponding to the point given to the terminal. The communication system according to claim 1,
The communication system, wherein the second base station transmits a radio wave to the specific location using beam forming. The communication system according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
A communication system characterized by being a WiMAX system. A terminal having a wireless communication function and a network, a first base station that performs wireless communication with the terminal, and the terminal transmits from the first base station when the terminal exists at a specific location A service management server connected for a predetermined time via either one of the second base station that transmits the radio wave so that the terminal receives a radio wave having a stronger intensity than the received radio wave received intensity. There,
Based on base station identification information for identifying a base station transmitted from the first base station or the second base station, the base station with which the terminal is communicating is the first base station And a terminal position determination unit that determines whether it is the second base station,
When the terminal location determination unit determines that the base station with which the terminal is communicating is the first base station, a connection time for connecting the terminal and the network via the first base station is determined. A service management server comprising: a processing unit that sets a time longer than a connection time for connecting the terminal and the network via the second base station. In the service management server according to claim 6,
A first connection time for connecting the terminal and the network via the first base station, and a connection between the terminal and the network via the second base station that is shorter than the first connection time. A connection time acquisition unit that acquires the connection time from a database that stores the second connection time.
The service management server, wherein the processing unit sets the connection time acquired by the connection time acquisition unit. In the service management server according to claim 7,
The service management server, wherein the connection time acquisition unit acquires a connection time stored in the database according to a point given to the terminal at the specific location. A terminal having a wireless communication function and a network, a first base station that performs wireless communication with the terminal, and the terminal transmits from the first base station when the terminal exists at a specific location Connected to the terminal for a predetermined time via either one of the second base stations that transmit the radio wave so that the terminal receives a radio wave having a stronger intensity than the received intensity of the received radio wave. A service providing method for providing a service,
Based on base station identification information for identifying a base station transmitted from the first base station or the second base station, the base station with which the terminal is communicating is the first base station And a process of determining whether it is the second base station;
If it is determined that the base station with which the terminal is communicating is the first base station, a connection time for connecting the terminal and the network via the first base station is set to the second base station. A service providing method comprising: setting a time longer than a connection time for connecting the terminal and the network via a base station. The service providing method according to claim 9,
A first connection time for connecting the terminal and the network via the first base station, and a connection between the terminal and the network via the second base station that is shorter than the first connection time. A process of obtaining the connection time from a database that stores the second connection time;
And a process for setting the acquired connection time. The service providing method according to claim 10,
A service providing method comprising: obtaining a connection time corresponding to a point given to the terminal at the specific location stored in the database. A terminal having a wireless communication function and a network, a first base station that performs wireless communication with the terminal, and the terminal transmits from the first base station when the terminal exists at a specific location To the service management server to be connected for a predetermined time via either one of the second base station that transmits the radio wave so that the terminal receives the radio wave having a strength stronger than the reception intensity of the received radio wave. ,
Based on base station identification information for identifying a base station transmitted from the first base station or the second base station, the base station with which the terminal is communicating is the first base station And a procedure for determining whether it is the second base station;
If it is determined that the base station with which the terminal is communicating is the first base station, the connection time for connecting the terminal and the network via the first base station is set as the second base station. A program for executing a procedure for setting a time longer than a connection time for connecting the terminal and the network via a station. The program according to claim 12,
A first connection time for connecting the terminal and the network via the first base station, and a connection between the terminal and the network via the second base station that is shorter than the first connection time. Obtaining the connection time from a database storing the second connection time;
A program for executing the procedure for setting the acquired connection time. The program according to claim 13, wherein
The program for performing the procedure which acquires the connection time according to the point provided to the said terminal in the said specific place memorize | stored in the said database.

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