JP2015195425A - Transmitter and communication control method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a transmitter and a communication control method, enabling data transmission by human body communication with an intuitive user operation.SOLUTION: A communication device A is a transmitter attached to a human body of a user X to perform human body communication through the human body of the user X, and includes: a motion detection unit 23 for detecting, at a part attached to the human body of the user X, a preset specific operation of the user, as an operation for permitting the transmission of predetermined data; and a data transmission unit 24 for transmitting the predetermined data by the human body communication, according to the detection of the specific operation by the motion detection unit 23.

Description

  The present invention relates to a transmission apparatus and a communication control method for controlling communication between devices using human body communication.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a communication mode (human body communication) is known in which data communication is performed using a human body as a transmission medium by passing a weak current through a human body (human body) that is a derivative. For example, in the following Patent Document 1, a communication system that performs human body communication between a device side communication device and a human body side communication device that is a portable terminal held by the user by a user touch panel operation on a touch panel display of the device side communication device. Is described. Conventionally, an information device (wearable device) that has hardware suitable for being worn on a human body and can be worn and carried is known.

JP 2012-34158 A

  In such human body communication, it is necessary to appropriately determine whether or not to permit information transmission by human body communication in order to appropriately protect privacy and manage information. For example, consider a case where a user X wearing a wearable device A capable of human body communication and a user Y wearing a wearable device B capable of human body communication contact each other by shaking hands. In this case, data stored in the wearable device A by human body communication via the human bodies of the users X and Y is transmitted to the wearable device B against the intention of the user X. Privacy protection, information management, etc. From the viewpoint of In addition, there is a sufficient situation where the user Z wearing the wearable device C capable of human body communication exploits human body communication and intentionally contacts the user X and steals data held in the wearable device A to the wearable device C. Can be envisaged.

  In the technique described in Patent Document 1, it is possible to allow the user to touch the operation menu displayed on the touch panel display. However, the technique described in Patent Document 1 requires a touch panel display, which cannot be realized by a wearable device that does not include a touch panel display. In addition, the GUI operation for the operation menu displayed on the touch panel display is not intuitive, and the touch operation must be performed while confirming the operation menu.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a transmission device and a communication control method capable of performing data transmission by human body communication by an intuitive user operation.

  A transmission device according to the present invention is a transmission device that is attached to a user's human body and performs human body communication via the user's human body, and an operation that permits transmission of predetermined data in a portion attached to the user's human body And a data transmission means for transmitting predetermined data through human body communication in response to the detection of the specific action by the action detection means. .

  In the transmission apparatus according to the present invention, when a specific operation of a user preset as an operation that permits transmission of predetermined data is detected in a portion worn on the user's human body, the specific operation is detected. In response, data transmission by human body communication is performed. Thereby, data transmission by human body communication can be performed by intuitive user operation.

  In the transmission device, the motion detection means detects at least one of pressure, vibration, acceleration, bending deformation, and electrostatic quantity in a portion worn on the user's human body, and detects a specific motion based on the detection result. May be.

  According to the transmission device, it is possible to easily and accurately detect a user's specific operation based on at least one detection result of pressure, vibration, acceleration, bending deformation, and electrostatic quantity.

  In the transmission device, the operation detection unit may notify the user that the specific operation is detected when the specific operation is detected.

  According to the transmission device, the user can grasp that his / her specific operation is correctly detected in the transmission device.

  The transmitting apparatus may further include a notification unit that detects a receiving apparatus that can communicate with the own apparatus through human body communication and notifies the user that the receiving apparatus has been detected.

  According to the transmission device, the user can perform a specific operation that triggers data transmission after confirming that a reception device that can be a data transmission destination has been detected.

  The transmission device further includes operation information acquisition means for acquiring operation information indicating a specific operation detected in the reception device capable of communicating with the own device through human body communication, and the data transmission means is detected by the operation detection means. A specific operation may be compared with a specific operation indicated by the operation information acquired by the operation information acquisition unit, and it may be determined whether or not to transmit predetermined data to the receiving device based on the comparison result.

  According to the transmission device, a reception device that is a data transmission destination can be determined based on a comparison result between a specific operation detected by the transmission device and a specific operation detected by the reception device. Thereby, it is possible to prevent data from being transmitted to a receiving device that is not intended by the user.

  The transmission device further includes distance information acquisition means for acquiring distance information indicating a distance from the reception apparatus capable of communicating with the own apparatus through human body communication, and the data transmission means includes the distance information acquired by the distance information acquisition means. Based on this, it may be determined whether or not to transmit predetermined data to the receiving device.

  According to the transmission device, a reception device that is a data transmission destination can be determined based on the distance between the transmission device, the data transmission destination, and the reception device. Thereby, it can prevent more effectively that data will be transmitted to the receiver which a user does not intend. For example, when a user of a transmitting device wants to transmit data to a receiving device worn by a user in the immediate vicinity of the user, the data is mistakenly received by a receiving device worn by a user who is away from the user. Can be prevented from being transmitted.

  In the transmitting apparatus, the data transmitting means transmits the predetermined data to the receiving apparatus after encrypting the predetermined data so that only the receiving apparatus determined as the transmission destination of the predetermined data can be read. May be.

  According to the transmitting device, secure communication can be realized by transmitting data that has been encrypted so that only the receiving device determined as the data transmission destination can be read.

  In the transmission apparatus, the data transmission unit may notify the user of a state related to transmission of predetermined data.

  According to the above transmission device, the user can appropriately grasp the state related to the transmission of predetermined data (for example, transmission start, transmission in progress, transmission completion, transmission error, etc.) by notification from the data transmission means. .

  By the way, the present invention can be described as an invention of a transmission apparatus as described above, and can also be described as an invention of a communication control method executed by the transmission apparatus as follows. Since the present invention is substantially the same invention only in different categories, the same operations and effects are achieved.

  That is, the communication control method according to the present invention is a communication control method that is executed by a transmission device that is attached to a user's human body and performs human body communication via the user's human body, in a portion that is attached to the user's human body. An operation detecting step for detecting a specific operation of a user set in advance as an operation for permitting transmission of predetermined data, and predetermined data is transmitted by human body communication in response to detection of the specific operation in the operation detecting step. A data transmission step of transmitting.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the transmission apparatus and communication control method which can perform data transmission by human body communication by intuitive user operation can be provided.

It is a figure which shows the whole structure of the communication system containing the transmission apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the function structure of the communication system shown in FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the hardware constitutions of the communication apparatus shown in FIG. (A) is a figure which shows the example of the communication apparatus with which a chest is mounted | worn, (b) is a figure which shows the example of the communication apparatus with which an arm part is mounted | worn, (c) is the communication with which a head is mounted | worn. It is a figure which shows the example of an apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the 1st example of operation | movement of the transmitter which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the 2nd example of operation | movement of the transmitter which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the whole structure of the communication system containing the transmitter which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the function structure of the communication system shown in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the transmitter which concerns on 2nd Embodiment.

  An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. If possible, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted.

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing an overall configuration of a communication system including a transmission apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the communication system 1 according to the present embodiment includes a plurality of communication devices A, B, C, D, E, F, and the like that can perform data transmission / reception through human body communication via a user's human body. G, H, I, and J are provided. In the communication system 1, with the configuration described below, it is possible to perform data transmission by human body communication by an intuitive user operation in a communication apparatus (transmission apparatus) on the data transmission side.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the communication system 1. As shown in FIG. 2, the communication system 1 includes a transmission device 2 that performs data transmission by human body communication via a user's human body and one or more reception devices 3 that perform data reception by human body communication. The transmission device 2 includes a communication unit 21, a reception device detection unit 22, an operation detection unit 23, and a data transmission unit 24. The receiving device 3 includes a communication unit 31 and a process execution unit 32.

  In the present embodiment, as an example, the communication devices A, B, and D to H illustrated in FIG. 1 operate as the transmission device 2 and operate as the reception device 3. Further, as will be described later, the communication devices C, I, and J are not attached to the user's human body and do not detect the operation in the portion attached to the user's human body. Accordingly, the communication devices C, I, and J do not operate as the transmission device 2 of this embodiment, and operate only as the reception device 3. Specifically, the communication devices A, B, and D to H include both the functional elements included in the transmission device 2 and the functional elements included in the reception device 3, and the own device is a side that transmits data. Operates as the transmission device 2 and operates as the reception device 3 when the own device is the data reception side. For example, when the communication device A tries to transmit predetermined data (for example, contact information, authentication information, music data, etc.), the communication device A operates as the transmission device 2, and the communication devices B to J are It operates as the receiving device 3. However, the communication system 1 may include a communication device that performs only data transmission (a communication device that includes the functional elements of the transmission device 2 but does not include the functional elements of the reception device 3).

  Here, the contact information is information indicating a contact information such as the telephone number or mail address of the user X. The authentication information is information for enabling operation of another communication device (for example, communication device C such as a smartphone) that can communicate via the human body of the user X (releasing the operation lock). The authentication mechanism using the authentication information is, for example, as follows. That is, when the user X contacts the communication device C, authentication information is transmitted from the communication device A to the communication device C by human body communication, and the communication device C that has received the authentication information releases the operation lock of the own device. With such a mechanism, only the user X wearing the communication device A can make the communication device C operable.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the communication apparatuses A to J. As shown in FIG. 3, the communication devices A to J have, for example, one or a plurality of CPUs 10A, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 10B, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 10C, and an auxiliary storage device 10F as hardware configurations. . Moreover, communication apparatus AJ is provided with input devices 10D, such as various sensors, as an input device. Further, the communication devices A to J include a communication module 10E having a configuration necessary for performing human body communication. The communication module 10E includes, for example, a contact portion with a human body, a device for transmitting a weak current to the human body at the contact portion, and a device for receiving a weak current transmitted from the other communication devices A to J. It is comprised including. Further, the communication devices A to J include, as an output device 10G, a part or all of a device for performing some notification to a user, such as an LED, a vibrator, a low frequency oscillator, and a speaker that performs audio output.

  The functions of the communication devices A to J (the functions of the transmission device 2 and the reception device 3 shown in FIG. 2) are, for example, read predetermined computer software on hardware such as the RAM 10B, and the input device 10D under the control of the CPU 10A. This is realized by operating the communication module 10E and the output device 10G and reading and writing data in the RAM 10B and the auxiliary storage device 10F. Note that the communication devices A to J may be physically configured as one device, or may be configured such that a plurality of separated devices operate in cooperation with each other. For example, the above-described various sensors are not built in the main body (such as a housing in which the CPU 10A or the RAM 10B is stored) of the communication devices A to J, and may be provided at a position spatially separated from the main body. Good.

  As illustrated in FIG. 1, the communication devices A, B, and D to F are wearable devices attached to the human body of the user X. The communication device C is a portable information terminal such as a smartphone, for example, and is a device that can be carried by the user X while being held by hand. In addition to the above-described human body communication, the communication device C is configured to be able to perform mobile communication over a mobile phone network or the like provided by a mobile phone operator or the like by an external communication module such as a network card (not shown). The communication devices G and H are wearable devices attached to the human body of the user Y. The communication device I is a portable information terminal such as a smartphone similar to the communication device C, and is held by the user Y by hand. The communication device J is a thin plate-like device that can be installed on the floor (ground) like a scale, and is installed in a public facility, for example.

  The communication devices A to F are connected to be communicable with each other by human body communication via the human body of the user X. Further, the communication devices G to I are connected to be communicable with each other by human body communication via the human body of the user Y. Further, when the user X and the user Y are in contact with each other by shaking hands, the communication devices A to F and the communication devices G to I are the human body of the user X and the human body of the user Y. Communication is established so that they can communicate with each other. In addition, when the user X and the communication device J are in contact (for example, when the user X is put on the communication device J wearing bare feet or conductive socks), the communication devices A to A. F and the communication device J are connected so as to be able to communicate with each other by human body communication via the human body of the user X.

  The communication devices A and G are devices such as a wristwatch type and a wristband type wound around a user's wrist, for example. The communication devices B and H are, for example, glasses-type and headphone-type devices that are worn on the user's head, and earphone-type devices that are inserted into the user's ears. The communication device D is a device that can be attached to the chest of the user, or can be wrapped around the chest of the user such as exposed or brassiere. The communication device E is a device that can be attached to or wrapped around a user's arm, for example. The communication device F is, for example, a shoe-type device that is attached to a user's leg. 4A is a diagram illustrating an example of the communication device D, FIG. 4B is a diagram illustrating an example of the communication device E, and FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of H.

  The communication devices A to J are provided with a type of sensor (input device 10D) according to the form of each communication device A to J. As such a sensor, for example, a pressure sensor for detecting a pressure, vibration / acceleration, bending deformation, electrostatic quantity and the like in a portion worn on the user's human body, a change in time series (time change), and the like Examples include a sensor, a bending sensor, and an electrostatic sensor. According to the pressure sensor, it is possible to detect how pressure is applied (pressure magnitude, temporal change, etc.). According to the acceleration sensor, the magnitude and time change of acceleration and vibration can be detected. According to the electrostatic sensor, it is possible to detect the magnitude of the electrostatic amount, a change with time, and the like. Also, as shown in FIG. 4B, according to the folding sensor S that can be expanded and contracted like a compress, the magnitude of bending deformation of the bending sensor S (for example, the magnitude of the bending angle θ). It is possible to detect changes in time.

  Hereinafter, an example of a sensor provided in the communication devices A to J will be described. For example, a pressure sensor, an acceleration sensor, an electrostatic sensor, and the like are provided on the inside of the communication device A that is worn on the wrist of the user X. The magnitude of the sensor value detected by each sensor and the pattern of temporal change are input to the operation detection unit 23 of the communication device A, and analysis is performed by a conventionally known analysis method. A specific operation of the user X is detected by the analysis by the operation detection unit 23. Here, the specific operation of the user X is, for example, an operation of holding a fist or raising an index finger. Regarding the communication device G worn on the wrist of the user Y, a specific operation of the user Y is detected by the operation detection unit 23 of the communication device G with the same configuration as the communication device A described above.

  In addition, the communication device B that is worn on the head of the user X is provided with, for example, a pressure sensor, an acceleration sensor, an electrostatic sensor, and the like inside. The magnitude of the sensor value detected by each sensor and the pattern of change over time are input to the operation detection unit 23 of the communication device B, and are analyzed by a conventionally known analysis method. By the above analysis by the motion detection unit 23, for example, a specific motion of the user X relating to the movement, posture, walking state, etc. of the head of the user X is detected. Regarding the communication device H to be worn on the head of the user Y, a specific operation of the user Y is detected by the operation detection unit 23 of the communication device H with the same configuration as the communication device B described above.

  In addition, the communication device C held by the hand of the user X is provided with an electrostatic sensor such as an acceleration sensor, a pressure sensor, and a touch panel on the inside, for example. As described above, the communication device C that is not a device worn on the user's human body cannot be the transmission device 2 of the present embodiment. However, the magnitude of the sensor value detected by each sensor of the communication device C and the pattern of change over time are input to, for example, an operation detection unit (a functional element having the same function as the operation detection unit 23) of the communication device C, Analysis by a conventionally known analysis method may be performed. A specific operation of the user X is detected by the analysis by the operation detection unit. The specific operation of the user X here is, for example, an operation of tapping the touch panel portion of the communication device C, waving a hand holding the communication device C, or holding the communication device C strongly. The communication device I held by the hand of the user Y also has the same configuration as that of the communication device C described above. For example, the operation detection unit of the communication device I (the functional element having the same function as the operation detection unit 23) Specific actions may be detected.

  In addition, the communication device D attached to the chest of the user X is provided with, for example, a pressure sensor, a bending sensor, an acceleration sensor, an electrostatic sensor, and the like on the inner side. The magnitude of the sensor value detected by each sensor and the pattern of temporal change are input to the operation detection unit 23 of the communication device D, and analysis is performed by a conventionally known analysis method. By the above analysis by the motion detection unit 23, for example, a specific motion of the user X such as a motion of the upper body of the user X (for example, a motion of bending forward or stretching a back) is detected.

  Further, the communication device E attached to the arm portion of the user X is provided with, for example, a pressure sensor, a bending sensor S (see FIG. 4B), an acceleration sensor, an electrostatic sensor, and the like inside. The magnitude of the sensor value detected by each sensor and the pattern of change over time are input to the operation detection unit 23 of the communication device E, and are analyzed by a conventionally known analysis method. Based on the above analysis by the motion detection unit 23, for example, a specific motion of the user X such as a motion of the user X's arm (for example, a motion of bending or stretching the joint portion of the elbow) is detected.

  Further, the communication device F attached to the leg portion of the user X is provided with, for example, a pressure sensor, an acceleration sensor, an electrostatic sensor, and the like inside. The magnitude of the sensor value detected by each sensor and the pattern of temporal change are input to the operation detection unit 23 of the communication device F, and analysis is performed by a conventionally known analysis method. By the above analysis by the motion detection unit 23, for example, a specific motion of the user X relating to the walking state of the user X is detected.

  The communication device J that can be installed on the floor is provided with, for example, a pressure sensor on the inside. As described above, the communication device J that is not a device worn on the human body of the user X cannot be the transmission device 2 of the present embodiment. However, the magnitude of the sensor value detected by the pressure sensor of the communication device J and the pattern of change over time are input to the operation detection unit (functional element having the same function as the operation detection unit 23) of the communication device J, Analysis by a well-known analysis method may be performed. By the above analysis by the motion detection unit, for example, a specific motion of the user X such as a bouncing motion on the communication device J is detected.

  Next, functions of the transmission device 2 and the reception device 3 will be described with reference to FIG. In the present embodiment, description will be made assuming that the communication device A operates as the transmission device 2 and the communication device G operates as the reception device 3. In other words, in the present embodiment, in the communication apparatus A, the communication apparatus G is predetermined as a predetermined data transmission destination. In other words, in the communication apparatus A, the communication apparatuses B to F and H to J are excluded in advance from transmission destinations of predetermined data. Further, it is assumed that the predetermined data transmitted from the transmission device 2 to the reception device 3 is contact information of the user X (hereinafter simply referred to as “contact information”).

  First, each functional element of the communication apparatus A (transmission apparatus 2) will be described. The communication unit 21 is a communication unit that performs data transmission / reception by human body communication with the communication unit 31 of the communication device G (reception device 3) capable of communication by human body communication. Specifically, when the communication unit 21 transmits data from the communication device A (self device) to the communication device G, the communication unit 21 converts the data into a weak current by the communication module 10E, and then the user. Send to X's human body. Further, when the communication unit 21 receives the weak current transmitted from the communication device G to the human body of the user X (or the user Y), the communication unit 21 receives the weak current by the communication module 10E described above, Convert to information (digital signal). By such a communication unit 21 and the communication module 10E, data transmission / reception between the communication device A and the communication device G by human body communication is realized.

  For example, the communication unit 21 transmits a detection signal to the human body of the user X at a timing when the communication device A is worn on the human body of the user X or at a regular timing (for example, every 10 minutes). Receive the transmitted detection signal. Thereby, the communication apparatus A and the communication apparatus G can grasp | ascertain that it can communicate with each other by human body communication. In addition, the communication unit 21 and the communication unit 31 of the communication device G may add various types of information (for example, destination information, a public key to be described later) regarding the own device when transmitting such a detection signal. The destination information is information for designating a data transmission destination when transmitting data by human body communication, for example, ID information for identifying the communication devices A and G. Thereby, various information regarding the communication devices A and G is shared between the communication devices A and G capable of human body communication.

  The receiving device detection unit 22 is a unit that detects the communication device G (receiving device 3) that can communicate through human body communication when the communication unit 21 described above receives a detection signal from another communication device G, for example. For example, when the user X comes into contact with the user Y by a handshake or the like, the communication device G is detected when the communication device A and the communication device G can communicate with each other. When detecting the communication device G, the reception device detection unit 22 notifies the data transmission unit 24 that the communication device G has been detected. As will be described in detail later, when the operation detection unit 23 starts detecting a specific operation of the user X triggered by the detection of the communication device G, the reception device detection unit 22 detects the communication device G. This is also notified to the operation detection unit 23.

  After detecting the communication device G, the reception device detection unit 22 functions as a notification unit that notifies the user X that the communication device G has been detected. The receiving device detection unit 22 performs notification to the user X in a manner that the user X can recognize by visual, auditory, tactile sensation, and the like, for example, by vibration by a vibrator, low frequency by a low frequency oscillator, LED lighting, and sounding a sound. Can do.

  The reception device detection unit 22 executes the above-described notification by causing the communication devices B to E, which are worn by the user X and capable of communicating with the communication device A through human body communication, to operate independently or cooperatively between the devices. You may let them. The cooperative operation between the devices is, for example, an operation of causing the communication device E to vibrate by a vibrator and causing the communication device B to sound.

  The operation detection unit 23 is an operation detection unit that detects a specific operation of the user X that is set in advance as an operation that permits transmission of contact information of the own device in a part that is worn on the human body of the user X. Here, the “part attached to the human body of the user X” may be a part constituting the own device (communication device A) attached to the human body of the user X. That is, the portion attached to the human body of the user X is a portion where various sensors included in the own device are provided, for example.

  As described above, the various sensors may not be built in the main body of the device itself (such as a housing in which the CPU 10A, the RAM 10B, or the like is stored), and may be provided at positions spatially separated from the main body. . For example, the motion detection unit 23 may acquire detection results from various sensors built in the main body of the communication devices B to F attached to the human body of the user X. Note that various sensors that operate in cooperation with the own device (that is, transmit the detection result to the own device) even if physically provided at a position separated from the main body of the own device are “ It can be referred to as “various sensors included in the device”.

  In order to determine the process corresponding to the specific operation of the user X, the operation detection unit 23 acquires detection results (such as sensor value magnitudes and temporal change patterns) by various sensors included in the own device.

  When the operation detection unit 23 detects a specific operation of the user X that is set in advance as an operation that permits transmission of contact information, the operation detection unit 23 notifies the data transmission unit 24 of the detection result. As described above, when the operation detection unit 23 acquires the detection results of the various sensors included in the own device, the operation detection unit 23 performs the specific operation of the user X as described above (for example, grasps the fist) based on the acquired detection results. Motion such as bending a joint part).

  Specifically, the operation detection unit 23 stores in advance specific operation information indicating an operation that permits transmission of contact information, for example. Then, the operation detection unit 23 determines whether or not the detected specific operation of the user X matches the operation indicated in the specific operation information, and when it is determined to match, the operation indicated in the specific operation information Is notified to the data transmission unit 24. The specific operation information may be set, for example, at the time of manufacturing the own device, or may be set by the user X afterwards.

  As described above, the motion detection unit 23 can use a conventionally known method in order to detect a specific motion (gesture) of the user X from the detection results of various sensors. For example, a method described in documents such as “Jun Rekimoto Gesture Wrist and Gesture Pad: Unobtrusive Wearable Interaction Devices, ISWC 2001, 2001” can be used as the motion detection unit 23.

  In addition, the operation | movement detection part 23 may perform the process which detects the above-mentioned specific operation | movement of the user X regularly, for example for every preset time. In this case, if the specific action of the user X indicates a specific state such as grasping a fist, the action detecting unit 23 is indicated in the specific action information periodically (every preset time). The data transmission unit 24 is notified that the operation has been detected. Thereby, the data transmission part 24 can grasp | ascertain that the specific operation | movement of the user X is continuing being detected (it is detecting).

  In addition, the operation detection unit 23 may start a process of detecting a specific operation of the user X triggered by the detection of the communication device G by the reception device detection unit 22. In this case, because the user X has unintentionally performed a specific operation indicated by the specific operation information before the communication device G is detected, the data transmission unit 24 causes the user X to make an unintended contact. Transmission of the destination information can be prevented from being executed.

  The data transmission unit 24 communicates by human body communication via the communication unit 21 in response to detection of a specific operation of the user X that is set in advance as an operation that permits transmission of the contact information by the operation detection unit 23. Data transmission means for transmitting the destination information. Specifically, the data transmission unit 24 receives a notification (hereinafter referred to as “device detection notification”) indicating that the communication device G has been detected from the reception device detection unit 22 and also transmits the notification from the operation detection unit 23 to the specific operation information. When a notification indicating that the indicated operation has been detected (hereinafter referred to as “operation detection notification”) is received, contact information is transmitted to the detected communication device G.

  More specifically, the data transmission unit 24 performs the following processing. That is, when receiving the operation detection notification after receiving the device detection notification, the data transmission unit 24 transmits the contact information to the communication device G using the reception of the operation detection notification as a trigger. On the other hand, if the data transmission unit 24 receives the device detection notification after receiving the operation detection notification, the data transmission unit 24 receives the operation detection notification before a predetermined time (a time set in advance by a user or the like) elapses. It is determined whether or not a detection notification has been received. When the data transmission unit 24 receives the device detection notification before a predetermined time has elapsed after receiving the operation detection notification, the data transmission unit 24 transmits the contact information to the communication device G indicated in the device detection notification. On the other hand, the data transmission unit 24 does not transmit the contact information to the communication device G when the device detection notification is received after a predetermined time has elapsed since the operation detection notification was received.

  For example, the data transmission unit 24 adds the destination information of the communication device G acquired in advance by transmission / reception of the above-described detection signal to the header of the contact information and transmits the contact information via the communication unit 21. be able to. However, in human body communication, data (weak current) flowing through the user's human body can be received simply by touching the user's human body (that is, data can be wiretapped easily). Therefore, the data transmission unit 24 may transmit the contact information to the communication device G via the communication unit 21 after encrypting the contact information so that only the communication device G can be read.

  The data transmission unit 24 may acquire information necessary for encryption when the communication unit 21 described above receives a detection signal from the communication device G. In other words, the communication device G may transmit the detection signal with information necessary for encryption. For example, when performing encryption using a public key cryptosystem, the information necessary for the above-described encryption is the public key of the communication device G. In this case, the data transmission unit 24 encrypts the contact information using the public key received from the communication device G, and transmits the encrypted contact information to the communication device G. In this way, by transmitting the contact information encrypted so that only the communication device G can be read from the communication device A to the communication device G, secure communication can be realized.

  In addition, the data transmission unit 24 may notify the user X of a state related to transmission of contact information. Specifically, the data transmission unit 24 is configured so that the user X can recognize visually, auditoryly, tactilely, and the like by, for example, vibration by a vibrator, low frequency by a low-frequency oscillator, LED lighting, and sounding sound. You may perform notification which shows at least 1 state (communication state), such as having started transmission of information, being transmitting, having completed transmission, and having transmitted transmission error. Note that the data transmission unit 24 causes the communication devices B to E, which are worn by the user X and capable of communicating with the communication device A through human body communication, to execute the above-mentioned notification independently or in cooperation between the devices. May be. The cooperative operation between the devices is, for example, an operation of causing the communication device E to vibrate by a vibrator and causing the communication device B to sound. When the data transmission unit 24 notifies the user X as described above, the user X appropriately grasps the state related to the transmission of the contact information (for example, transmission start, transmission, transmission completion, transmission error, etc.). can do.

  Next, each functional element of the communication device G (receiving device 3) will be described. The communication unit 31 is a communication unit that performs data transmission / reception by human body communication with the communication unit 21 of the communication device A capable of communication by human body communication. Of the processes executed for the communication unit 31 to perform data transmission / reception by human body communication, detailed description of the same processing as the communication unit 21 of the communication device A described above will be omitted. When the communication unit 31 receives data through human body communication, for example, the communication unit 31 executes the following processing.

  When the destination information is included in the data received by the human body communication, the communication unit 31 confirms whether the destination information indicates the own device. When the destination information indicates the own device, the communication unit 31 executes appropriate processing according to the content of the data. For example, when contact information is received from the communication device A, the communication unit 31 passes the contact information to the process execution unit 32. On the other hand, when the destination information does not indicate the own device, the communication unit 31 discards the data.

  When data received by human body communication is encrypted (here, as an example, encryption processing by a public key cryptosystem) (when data cannot be read, etc.), the private key of the own device held in advance is stored. Attempts to decrypt data using. When the decryption process is successful, the communication unit 31 determines that the data has been transmitted to the own apparatus, and executes an appropriate process according to the content of the data. On the other hand, if the decoding process fails, it is determined that the data has not been transmitted to the own device, and the data is discarded.

  The process execution unit 32 is means for receiving the contact information transmitted from the communication device A via the communication unit 31 and executing the storage process of the contact information. For example, the process execution unit 32 stores the received contact information in a storage area preset by the user Y as a storage destination of received data.

  Then, the 1st example of operation | movement of the communication apparatus A containing the communication control method which concerns on this embodiment is demonstrated using FIG. The first example is an example of the operation when the data transmission unit 24 receives the device detection notification after receiving the operation detection notification.

  First, the operation detection unit 23 of the communication device A detects a specific operation of the user X (operation that permits transmission of contact information) (step S11, operation detection step). Is notified of the motion detection notification. Subsequently, when the user X contacts the user Y with a handshake or the like, the reception device detection unit 22 of the communication device A detects the communication device G that can communicate with the communication device A (step S12). The unit 22 notifies the data transmission unit 24 of the device detection notification.

  Subsequently, the data transmission unit 24 of the communication device A determines whether or not the communication device G is detected within a certain time after detecting the specific operation of the user X (step S13). That is, the data transmission unit 24 determines whether or not the device detection notification is received within a predetermined time since the last operation detection notification is received. Here, when the data transmission unit 24 receives the notification of the device detection notification within a predetermined time after receiving the operation detection notification (step S13: YES), the data transmission unit 24 transmits the contact information to the communication device G (step S13). S14: Data transmission step). On the other hand, the data transmission unit 24 does not transmit the contact information to the communication device G when the notification of the device detection notification is not received within a certain time after receiving the operation detection notification (step S13: NO).

  Then, the 2nd example of operation | movement of the communication apparatus A containing the communication control method which concerns on this embodiment is demonstrated using FIG. The second example is an example of the operation when the data transmission unit 24 receives the operation detection notification after receiving the device detection notification.

  First, when the user X contacts the user Y with a handshake or the like, the receiving device detection unit 22 of the communication device A detects the communication device G that can communicate with the communication device A (step S21), and the receiving device detection unit. 22, a device detection notification is sent to the data transmission unit 24. Subsequently, the reception device detection unit 22 notifies the user X that the communication device G has been detected (step S22). In step S <b> 22, the reception device detection unit 22 recognizes the user X with respect to the user X in such a manner that the user X can be recognized by visual, auditory, tactile sensation, and the like, for example, by vibration by a vibrator, low frequency by a low frequency oscillator, LED lighting, and sounding. Make a notification.

  Subsequently, when a specific operation of the user X is detected by the operation detection unit 23 of the communication device A (step S22: YES, operation detection step), an operation detection notification is notified from the operation detection unit 23 to the data transmission unit 24. The contact information is transmitted to the communication device G by the data transmission unit 24 (step S24, data transmission step). On the other hand, if the specific operation of the user X is not detected by the operation detection unit 23 of the communication device A (step S23: NO), the operation detection notification is not notified from the operation detection unit 23 to the data transmission unit 24. Information is not transmitted to the communication device G.

  In the communication apparatus A (transmission apparatus 2) according to the present embodiment described above, a user preset by the operation detection unit 23 as an operation permitting transmission of contact information in a portion worn by the user X's human body. When a specific operation of X is detected, the data transmission unit 24 performs data transmission by human body communication in response to the detection of the specific operation. Thereby, data transmission by human body communication can be performed by intuitive user operation.

  Further, in the communication device A, the motion detection unit 23 detects at least one of pressure, vibration, acceleration, bending deformation, and electrostatic quantity in a part worn on the human body of the user X, and specifies a specific value based on the detection result. Detect motion. Thereby, the specific operation of the user X can be detected easily and accurately based on at least one detection result of pressure, vibration, acceleration, bending deformation, and electrostatic quantity.

  In the communication apparatus A, the operation detection unit 23 notifies the user X that the specific operation has been detected when the specific operation is detected. Thereby, the user X can grasp that his / her specific operation was correctly detected in the communication device A.

  Moreover, in the communication apparatus A, the receiving apparatus detection part 22 detects the communication apparatus G which can communicate by human body communication, and notifies the user X that the communication apparatus G was detected. Thereby, the user X can perform a specific operation that triggers data transmission after confirming that the communication device G that can be a data transmission destination has been detected.

[Second Embodiment]
FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically showing an overall configuration of a communication system including a transmission apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated in FIG. 7, the communication system 100 according to the present embodiment includes a plurality of users Z (here, five as an example) wearing a communication device W capable of human body communication. Is different from the communication system 1 according to the first embodiment in that a user group N is formed. Such a user group N can be formed in a crowd such as a crowded train. In the communication system 100, the transmission destination of the data transmitted from the communication apparatus A can be determined based on the user's operation detected by the communication apparatuses B to J and W that can be the data transmission destination by the configuration described below. It is possible.

  FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the communication system 100. As illustrated in FIG. 8, the communication system 100 is similar to the communication system 1 according to the first embodiment, and performs transmission of data by human body communication via a user's human body and data reception by human body communication. The above receiving apparatus 103 is provided. The transmission device 102 is different from the transmission device 2 according to the first embodiment in that the transmission device 102 includes an operation information acquisition unit 121 and a distance information acquisition unit 122, and includes a data transmission unit 123 instead of the data transmission unit 24. The receiving device 103 is different from the receiving device 3 according to the first embodiment in that the receiving device 103 includes an operation detection unit 131.

  Next, functions of the transmission device 102 and the reception device 103 will be described with reference to FIG. In the present embodiment, description will be made assuming that the communication device A operates as the transmission device 102 and the communication devices B to J and W operate as the reception device 103. Further, the predetermined data transmitted from the transmission device 2 to the reception device 3 is contact information of the user X (hereinafter simply referred to as “contact information”), as in the first embodiment. To do. In the following description, description of functional elements that are the same as the functional elements included in the transmission device 2 or the reception device 3 will be omitted as appropriate.

  The operation information acquisition unit 121 is operation information acquisition means for acquiring operation information indicating a specific operation detected in the communication devices B to J and W that can communicate with the own device (communication device A) through human body communication. Specifically, the operation information acquisition unit 121 acquires the operation information generated by the operation detection unit 131 of each communication device B to J, W via the communication unit 21. The operation information acquisition unit 121 passes the acquired operation information to the data transmission unit 123.

  The distance information acquisition unit 122 is a distance information acquisition unit that acquires distance information indicating the distances from the communication devices B to J and W. For example, the distance information acquisition unit 122 acquires position information (for example, latitude / longitude) of the own device and position information of each communication device B to J, W by a predetermined method, and based on these position information, The distance between the device itself and each communication device B to J, W is calculated. The distance information acquisition unit 122 delivers distance information indicating the calculated distances from the communication devices B to J and W to the data transmission unit 123.

  The distance information acquisition unit 122 can acquire the position information of the own device by any method. Specifically, for example, when the own device has a function of acquiring position information using a satellite positioning system such as GPS, the distance information acquisition unit 122 uses the function to detect the position information of the own device. May be obtained. For example, when the own apparatus has an acceleration sensor, the distance information acquisition unit 122 may calculate the estimated position of the own apparatus based on the acceleration measured by the acceleration sensor. In addition, when the distance information acquisition unit 122 has a wireless communication function using a mobile phone network or the like, the distance information acquisition unit 122 may acquire position information of its own device measured by the cellular base station, for example, from the cellular base station. Good. On the other hand, the distance information acquisition unit 122 acquires the position information of the communication devices B to J and W acquired by the communication devices B to J and W, for example, using the above-described method, for example, via the communication unit 21. .

  In addition, when wireless communication using a wireless LAN such as Wi-Fi (registered trademark) can be performed between the communication devices A to J and W, the distance information acquisition unit 122 includes the communication devices B to J and W. Based on the intensity of the received radio wave from W, the estimated distance between the communication device A and each of the communication devices B to J, W may be calculated.

  The data transmission unit 123 acquires information indicating the specific operation of the user X detected by the operation detection unit 23 from the operation detection unit 23. In addition, the data transmission unit 123 acquires the operation information of each communication device B to J, W acquired by the operation information acquisition unit 121 from the operation information acquisition unit 121. Then, the data transmission unit 123 compares the specific operation of the user X (hereinafter referred to as “first operation”) with the specific operation indicated by the operation information (hereinafter referred to as “second operation”), and the comparison result is obtained. Based on this, it is determined whether or not contact information is transmitted to each of the communication devices B to J and W.

  Specifically, for example, the data transmission unit 123 determines whether or not the first operation matches the second operation of each of the communication devices B to J and W, and if the first operation and the second operation match. If determined, the contact information is transmitted to the communication device in which the second operation is detected. For example, when the user X shakes hands with the user Y, the operation detection unit 23 of the communication device A detects the “operation to grip the fist” as the first operation and the operation detection unit 131 of the communication device G “holds the fist”. “Operation” is detected as the second operation. In this case, the data transmission unit 123 transmits the contact information to the communication device G in which the second operation that matches the first operation is detected by the above-described determination.

  According to such a form, based on the comparison result between the specific operation detected by the communication device A and the specific operation detected by the communication devices B to J, W, the communication that is the destination of the contact information Device G can be determined. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the contact information from being transmitted to the communication devices B to F, H to J, and W that are not intended by the user X.

  The data transmission unit 123 stores in advance set information indicating a set of actions corresponding to each other, and determines whether the first action and the second action are actions corresponding to each other with reference to the set information. Then, when it is determined that the first operation and the second operation correspond to each other, the contact information may be transmitted to the communication device in which the second operation is detected. Here, the group information is set in advance by a user or the like, for example.

  Specifically, the data transmission unit 123 stores, in advance, set information indicating that, for example, “the motion of shaking hands (sign)” and “the motion of bending and stretching the elbows (sign)” correspond to each other. Consider the case. In this case, when the motion detection unit 23 of the communication device A detects the “hand waving motion” as the first motion and the motion detection unit 131 of the communication device G detects the “motion to bend and stretch the elbow” In other words, the data transmission unit 123 transmits the contact information to the communication device G in which the second operation corresponding to the first operation is detected by the above-described determination.

  In addition, the data transmission unit 123 receives the time when the specific operation information is received from the operation detection unit 23 (hereinafter referred to as “first time”) and the operation information of each of the communication devices B to J, W from the operation information acquisition unit 121. The received time (hereinafter referred to as “second time”) may be compared to determine whether to send the contact information based on the comparison result.

  Specifically, the data transmission unit 123 determines whether or not the difference between the first time and the second time is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold (for example, 3 seconds). When the data transmission unit 123 determines that the difference between the first time and the second time is within the threshold, the communication device in which the second operation that matches (or corresponds to) the first operation is detected. Contact information may be sent to G. Thereby, when the first action and the second action are not related to each other (when the interval between the time when the first action is detected and the time when the second action is detected is larger than the threshold value), the user It is possible to prevent transmission of contact information that is against the intention of X.

  Further, the data transmission unit 123 transmits contact information to each of the communication devices B to J and W based on the distance information indicating the distance to each of the communication devices B to J and W acquired by the distance information acquisition unit 122. Whether or not to do so may be determined. Specifically, the data transmission unit 123 may determine a communication device having a minimum distance from the own device as a transmission destination of contact information. For example, consider a case where the user X shakes hands with the hand of the user Y wearing the communication device G and the hand of the user Y wearing the communication device G. In this case, the data transmission unit 123 determines that the communication device having the smallest distance from the own device is the communication device G based on the distance information acquired from the distance information acquisition unit 122, and determines the communication device G as a contact address. Determine the destination of information.

  According to such a form, based on the distance between the communication device A and each of the communication devices B to J, W, the communication device G that is the data transmission destination can be determined. Thereby, it can prevent more effectively that contact information is transmitted to the communication apparatuses BF, HJ, and W which the user X does not intend. For example, when the user X wants to send contact information to the communication device G worn by the user Y in the immediate vicinity of the user X, the user X in the remote location is mistaken for the communication device W worn by the user Z. Thus, contact information can be prevented from being transmitted.

  In addition, the data transmission unit 123 may perform the determination using both the determination based on the above-described operation information and the determination based on the distance information. For example, the data transmission unit 123 transmits a communication device whose distance from the own device is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold (for example, 1 m) based on distance information indicating the distances from the communication devices B to J and W. Extract as a candidate. And the data transmission part 123 may implement determination based on the above-mentioned operation information for the communication apparatus extracted in this way.

  The operation detection unit 131 of the communication devices B to J, W detects a user's specific operation by the same method as the operation detection unit 23 described above, generates operation information indicating the detected specific operation, and The operation information is notified to the communication device A via the communication unit 31 of each of the communication devices B to J and W.

  Subsequently, the operation of the communication apparatus A according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. Here, as an example of the operation of the communication apparatus A, an operation when the data transmission unit 123 performs the determination based on the above-described operation information will be described.

  First, when the user X contacts the user Y with a handshake or the like, the receiving device detection unit 22 of the communication device A detects the communication devices B to J and W that can communicate with the communication device A (step S31). A device detection notification is notified from the reception device detection unit 22 to the data transmission unit 24. Subsequently, when a specific operation of the user X is detected by the operation detection unit 23 of the communication device A (step S32: YES, operation detection step), the process proceeds to the processing after step S33, and the specific operation of the user X is performed. Is not detected (step S32: NO), the process related to the transmission of the contact information is not executed. In step S33, as an example, the operation information indicating the specific operation of the user Y detected by the communication device G is acquired by the operation information acquisition unit 121, and the acquired operation information is acquired by the operation information acquisition unit 121 and the data transmission unit 123. Is passed on.

  Subsequently, the data transmission unit 123 associates the specific operation (first operation) of the user X detected by the operation detection unit 23 with the operation (second operation) detected by the communication device G (match or match). It is determined whether or not it corresponds (step S34). Here, when it is determined that the first operation and the second operation are associated with each other (step S34: YES), the data transmission unit 123 determines the communication device G in which the second operation is detected. Contact information is transmitted (step S35, data transmission step). On the other hand, when it is not determined in step S34 that the first operation and the second operation are associated with each other (step S34: NO), the communication device G in which the second operation is detected is determined. Contact information is not sent.

  The present invention has been described in detail based on the embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. The present invention can be variously modified without departing from the gist thereof.

  For example, the communication device that configures the communication systems 1 and 100 is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and may be a wearable device that fits into a finger like a ring, for example. In addition, the type of sensor that detects the user's operation is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, a sensor that can be grasped by the user's hand (for example, a size that can be grasped by the user's hand). , A sensor capable of detecting the magnitude or change of the gripping strength (pressure).

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,100 ... Communication system 2,102 ... Transmission device 3,103 ... Reception device, 10A ... CPU, 10B ... RAM, 10C ... ROM, 10D ... Input device, 10E ... Communication module, 10F ... Auxiliary storage device, 10G ... Output device, 21 ... Communication unit, 22 ... Reception device detection unit, 23 ... Operation detection unit, 24, 123 ... Data transmission unit, 31 ... Communication unit, 32 ... Process execution unit, 121 ... Operation information acquisition unit, 122 ... Distance information acquisition unit, 131... Motion detection unit, A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, W ... communication device, X, Y, Z ... user.

Claims (9)

A transmission device that is mounted on a user's human body and performs human body communication via the user's human body,
An operation detecting means for detecting a specific operation of the user preset as an operation for permitting transmission of predetermined data in a portion worn on the human body of the user;
A data transmission unit configured to transmit the predetermined data through the human body communication in response to the specific operation being detected by the operation detection unit;
A transmission device comprising: The motion detection means detects at least one of pressure, vibration, acceleration, bending deformation, and electrostatic quantity in a portion worn on the user's human body, and detects the specific motion based on a detection result.
The transmission device according to claim 1. The operation detection unit notifies the user that the specific operation has been detected when the specific operation is detected.
The transmission apparatus according to claim 1 or 2. Further comprising a notification means for detecting a receiving device capable of communicating with the own device through the human body communication and notifying the user that the receiving device has been detected.
The transmission apparatus as described in any one of Claims 1-3. The apparatus further comprises operation information acquisition means for acquiring operation information indicating a specific operation detected in the receiving apparatus capable of communicating with the own apparatus through the human body communication,
The data transmission unit compares the specific operation detected by the operation detection unit with the specific operation indicated by the operation information acquired by the operation information acquisition unit, and sends the predetermined information to the receiving device based on a comparison result. Decide whether to send data
The transmission apparatus as described in any one of Claims 1-4. Further comprising distance information acquisition means for acquiring distance information indicating a distance from a receiving apparatus capable of communicating with the own apparatus through the human body communication;
The data transmission means determines whether or not to transmit the predetermined data to the receiving device based on the distance information acquired by the distance information acquisition means.
The transmission device according to any one of claims 1 to 5. The data transmitting means transmits the predetermined data to the receiving device after encrypting the predetermined data so that only the receiving device determined as a transmission destination of the predetermined data can be read.
The transmission device according to claim 5 or 6. The data transmission means notifies the user of a state related to transmission of the predetermined data;
The transmission device according to any one of claims 1 to 7. A communication control method executed by a transmission device that is worn on a user's human body and performs human body communication via the user's human body,
An operation detecting step for detecting a specific operation of the user preset as an operation for allowing transmission of predetermined data in a portion worn on the human body of the user;
A data transmission step of transmitting the predetermined data by the human body communication in response to the specific operation being detected in the operation detection step;
Including a communication control method.

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