JP2016076861A - Radio communication system, terminal device and radio communication method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To present sufficient information using a plurality of beacon devices.SOLUTION: A radio communication system includes: a plurality of beacon devices which respectively transmit beacon signals each including a sequence number and divided data; and a terminal device which receives the beacon signals. A receiver unit of the terminal device receives each beacon signal, to acquire the sequence number and the divided data included in the beacon signal. A storage unit of the terminal device stores the sequence number and the divided data, acquired by the receiver unit, in an associative manner. A processing unit of the terminal device sorts the divided data stored in the storage unit in order of the sequence number to execute predetermined processing.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for presenting information by a beacon signal. Specifically, the present invention relates to a wireless communication system, a terminal device, and a wireless communication method for presenting information to a mobile terminal using a plurality of beacon devices.

  With the widespread use of communication terminals, systems that connect communication terminals and electronic devices and transmit information from the electronic devices to the communication terminals are used. In particular, a system that presents information by using a beacon signal by proximity wireless communication has attracted attention. For example, a data communication system is proposed that detects that a purchaser's device has approached a store using a beacon signal, starts communication between the seller's device and the purchaser's device, and performs product advertisements. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

JP 2000-134147 A

  In the above-described conventional technology, the merchandise advertisement information for the purchaser is transmitted based on the response signal transmitted from the purchaser side device. However, in order to present information from a beacon device, its capacity is limited, and it may be difficult to present sufficient information from a single beacon device.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and an object thereof is to provide sufficient information using a plurality of beacon devices.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and a first aspect thereof includes a plurality of beacon devices each transmitting a beacon signal including a sequence number and divided data, and the beacon signal. A wireless communication system comprising a terminal device for receiving, wherein the terminal device receives the beacon signal and acquires the sequence number and the divided data included in the beacon signal, and the reception A wireless unit comprising: a storage unit that stores the sequence number acquired by the unit in association with the divided data; and a processing unit that executes the predetermined process by arranging the divided data stored in the storage unit in the sequence number order. A communication system and a wireless communication method thereof. This brings about the effect that the divided data included in the beacon signals transmitted from a plurality of beacon devices is arranged in the sequence number order in the terminal device and a predetermined process is executed.

  Further, according to a second aspect of the present invention, a receiving unit that receives each beacon signal transmitted from a plurality of beacon devices and acquires a sequence number and divided data included in the beacon signal, and the receiving unit includes A terminal device comprising: a storage unit that stores the acquired sequence number and the divided data in association with each other; and a processing unit that executes the predetermined processing by arranging the divided data stored in the storage unit in the order of the sequence number It is. This brings about the effect | action of arranging the division | segmentation data contained in the beacon signal transmitted from the several beacon apparatus in order of a sequence number, and performing a predetermined | prescribed process.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to achieve an excellent effect that sufficient information can be presented using a plurality of beacon devices.

It is a figure which shows the structural example of the radio | wireless communications system in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the beacon signal in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of application of the radio | wireless communications system in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the list of beacon signals in the application example of the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a display in the radio | wireless communications system of the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the process sequence of the radio | wireless communications system in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the beacon signal in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the list of beacon signals in the application example of the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the process sequence of the radio | wireless communications system in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of application of the radio | wireless communications system in the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the list of the beacon signals in the application example of the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a display in the radio | wireless communications system of the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the process sequence of the radio | wireless communications system in the 3rd Embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, modes for carrying out the present invention (hereinafter referred to as embodiments) will be described.

<1. First Embodiment>
[Configuration of wireless communication system]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a wireless communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention. This wireless communication system includes a plurality of beacon devices 200 and a terminal device 100. Here, although one terminal device 100 is shown, a plurality of terminal devices 100 may be provided.

  Each of the plurality of beacon devices 200 periodically transmits a beacon signal by wireless transmission. A beacon signal transmitted from each of the plurality of beacon devices 200 includes divided data DD obtained by dividing data having a predetermined length (hereinafter referred to as combined data). That is, the divided data DD is transmitted divided into a plurality of beacon signals. Each beacon signal includes a sequence number SN indicating which divided data DD of the combined data is included. By arranging the divided data DD according to the sequence number SN, the terminal device 100 can configure (restore) the combined data.

  Each beacon signal includes an identification information ID for identifying that the divided data DD is obtained by dividing the combined data. By arranging the divided data DD having the same identification information ID in accordance with the sequence number SN, the terminal device 100 can form combined data. However, the identification information IDs do not necessarily have to be the same, as long as they can identify that they relate to the same combined data.

  In this embodiment, each beacon signal includes the total number of divided data TN. The terminal device 100 can determine whether or not all the divided data DD necessary for configuring the combined data has been obtained by grasping the total divided data TN.

  Each of the plurality of beacon devices 200 includes a storage unit 220 and a transmission unit 230. The storage unit 220 is a memory that stores information necessary to configure a beacon signal. More specifically, this storage unit 220 stores identification information ID, sequence number SN, divided data total number TN, and divided data DD as information necessary for configuring a beacon signal.

  The transmission unit 230 configures a beacon signal according to the contents stored in the storage unit 220, and transmits the beacon signal by wireless transmission. As a standard of wireless communication in the transmission unit 230 when transmitting a beacon signal, for example, “Bluetooth (registered trademark) Low Energy” (hereinafter abbreviated as “BLE”) optimized for ultra-low power consumption is assumed. The In addition, as long as wireless transmission to the terminal device 100 is possible, the transmission unit 230 may wirelessly transmit a beacon signal according to another communication standard such as the Wi-Fi (registered trademark) standard.

  The terminal device 100 is a terminal carried by a user (for example, a customer). Examples of the terminal device 100 include a mobile terminal and a tablet personal computer. The terminal device 100 receives beacon signals from a plurality of beacon devices 200, respectively, and configures combined data based on information included in the received beacon signals. The terminal device 100 includes a processing unit 110, a storage unit 120, an input unit 130, a display unit 140, and a receiving unit 150. These are connected to each other by a bus 190.

  The processing unit 110 is a processor that performs necessary processing in the terminal device 100. Specifically, the processing unit 110 controls reception of a beacon signal from the beacon device 200 in the reception unit 150 and controls a user interface in the input unit 130 and the display unit 140. Moreover, the process part 110 arranges the division | segmentation data DD contained in the received several beacon signal, and comprises combined data. A program (application) for performing such processing is installed in the processing unit 110.

  The storage unit 120 is a memory that stores data necessary for the processing of the processing unit 110. Specifically, this storage unit 120 stores a plurality of received beacon signals in order to form combined data.

  The input unit 130 is for receiving input from the user. For example, a touch panel tactile sensor is assumed as the input unit 130, but an externally connected keyboard or the like may be used. The display unit 140 is for outputting information to the user. As the display unit 140, for example, a display unit of a touch panel is assumed. Therefore, the input unit 130 and the display unit 140 can be realized as an integrated touch panel.

  The receiving unit 150 receives a beacon signal from the beacon device 200. When the terminal device 100 enters the communication range of the beacon device 200, the receiving unit 150 receives the transmitted beacon signal.

[Configuration of beacon signal]
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a beacon signal according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The beacon signal in the first embodiment includes identification information ID 711, sequence number SN 712, divided data total number TN 713, and divided data DD 714. The order of these is not limited to this. Further, the beacon signal may further include other information.

[Application example]
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an application example of the wireless communication system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In this example, a total of 20 beacon devices 200 are installed near the entrance of a store such as a restaurant. Hereinafter, when the 20 beacon devices 200 are distinguished, the beacon device numbers 1 to 20 are distinguished as shown in FIG.

  When the user carrying the terminal device 100 approaches the vicinity of the entrance of the store and enters the communication range of the beacon signal, reception of the beacon signal from the beacon device 200 is started. When all the beacon signals from the 20 beacon devices 200 are received, the terminal device 100 arranges the divided data DD according to the sequence number SN and configures the combined data. The combined data thus configured is displayed on the display unit 140 as a message.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a list of beacon signals in an application example of the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In this example, for each of the 20 beacon devices 200, the identification information ID, the sequence number SN, the total number of divided data TN, and the divided data DD are shown as information (transmission data) included in the beacon signal. Here, it is assumed that the data length of the sequence number SN and the total number of divided data TN is 8 bits, respectively, and the data length of the divided data DD is 16 bits.

  The identification information IDs are all “# 1”. Further, the total number of divided data TN is all “20”. The sequence numbers SN indicate different values from “1” to “20”. Since the divided data DD is assumed to have a data length of 16 bits, two half-width characters are held. In addition to alphanumeric characters, the half-width characters may include symbols such as white space ([space]) and control characters such as line feed ([LF]).

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a display example in the wireless communication system according to the first embodiment of this invention. When receiving the beacon signals from all of the 20 beacon devices 200, the terminal device 100 arranges the divided data DD according to the sequence number SN and displays the configured combined data on the display unit 140 as a message. In this example, 40-character combined data is composed of 20 beacon signals including 2-character divided data DD, and "JUL 29-31 ONLY!" (Line feed) "Buy 1 Get 1 FREE Burger!" A message is displayed on the display unit 140.

[Processing procedure]
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing procedure of the wireless communication system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  The terminal device 100 receives the beacon signal and waits for the identification information ID included in the beacon signal to indicate a predetermined value (step S911). Note that the following steps S911 to S917 are assumed to be processing for each identification information ID or for each group consisting of a plurality of identification information IDs indicating that they are related to the same combined data. For each group, the application generates combined data.

  When a beacon signal whose identification information ID indicates a predetermined value is received (step S912: Yes), it is confirmed whether or not the sequence number SN included in the beacon signal has already been acquired. If the sequence number SN has already been acquired (step S913: Yes), the process returns to the standby operation for a new beacon signal (step S911) without processing the beacon signal.

  If the sequence number SN included in the beacon signal is not already acquired (step S913: No), the sequence number SN and the divided data DD are acquired and stored in the storage unit 120 in association with each other (step S914). ). If acquisition of all the sequence numbers SN has not been completed by the processing so far (step S917: No), the process returns to the standby operation for a new beacon signal (step S911). In this first embodiment, since the total number of divided data TN is included in all beacon signals, if any one beacon signal is received, the sequence number SN and the number of divided data DD to be acquired are set. It is possible to grasp.

  When acquisition of all the sequence numbers SN is completed (step S917: Yes), the processing unit 110 generates combined data by arranging the divided data DD according to the order of the sequence numbers SN (step S918). The processing unit 110 performs a predetermined process on the generated combined data. Here, as the predetermined process, assuming that the combined data is text data, a message display process on the display unit 140 by the message display application can be considered. Note that the combined data may be image data, audio data, or the like. In this case, image display processing, audio output processing, or the like can be considered as the predetermined processing.

  Note that the information stored in the storage unit 120 in step S914 may be appropriately deleted. For example, if a corresponding beacon signal cannot be received even after a predetermined time has elapsed in step S912, or if all sequence numbers SN cannot be acquired even after a predetermined time has elapsed in step S917, they are stored in the storage unit 120. The information may be discarded.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the divided data DD transmitted from the beacon device 200 divided into a plurality of beacon signals is configured as combined data in the terminal device 100 according to the sequence number SN. Thus, sufficient information can be presented.

<2. Second Embodiment>
In the first embodiment described above, each of the beacon signals holds the divided data total number TN, and by receiving any one of the beacon signals, the sequence number SN and the number of divided data DD to be acquired are set. It was configured to be understood. On the other hand, in the second embodiment, the divided data total number TN is not included in the beacon signal, but the data end symbol indicating the end of data is included in the divided data DD of the final beacon signal. Thereby, it is not necessary to transmit the divided data total number TN redundantly, and the area used for that purpose can be used for transmitting the divided data DD.

  The configuration of the wireless communication system is basically the same as that of the first embodiment described above, and detailed description thereof is omitted. However, in the second embodiment, it is not necessary to store the total number of divided data TN in the storage unit 220 of the beacon device 200. The terminal apparatus 100 can grasp the total number of divided data TN by receiving a beacon signal including a data end symbol.

[Configuration of beacon signal]
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a beacon signal according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The beacon signal in the second embodiment includes identification information ID 721, sequence number SN722, and divided data DD724. That is, the beacon signal in the second embodiment does not include the divided data total number TN, unlike the first embodiment. In this second embodiment, since the data end symbol is included in the divided data DD of the final beacon signal, the terminal device 100 can grasp the total number of divided data TN by extracting it.

  Note that the order of information included in the beacon signal is out of order, other information is allowed, and the like, as in the first embodiment described above.

[Application example]
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a list of beacon signals in an application example of the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In this example, for each of 14 beacon devices 200, identification information ID, sequence number SN, and divided data DD are shown as information (transmission data) included in the beacon signal. Here, it is assumed that the data length of the sequence number SN is 8 bits. In the second embodiment, since the beacon signal does not include the divided data total number TN, it is assumed that the data length of the divided data DD is 24 bits. Therefore, it is possible to transmit divided data DD having a larger capacity compared to the first embodiment, and it is possible to reduce the number of necessary beacon devices 200.

  The identification information IDs are all “# 3”. The sequence numbers SN indicate different values from “1” to “14”. Since the divided data DD is assumed to have a data length of 24 bits, it holds three half-width characters. The content of the combined data is the same as that of the first embodiment, but since the data length of the divided data DD is long, more character information is included in one beacon signal. Also, the data end symbol ([EOD]) is included in the divided data DD of the final beacon signal whose sequence number SN indicates “14”. The data after the data end symbol of the divided data DD may be an arbitrary bit string.

[Processing procedure]
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing procedure of the wireless communication system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  In the processing procedure in the second embodiment, steps S921 to S924 and S927 to S929 are the same as steps S911 to S914 and S917 to S919 of the first embodiment described above.

  In the second embodiment, when the beacon signal is received and the sequence number SN and the divided data DD are stored in the storage unit 120 in association with each other, the divided data DD includes a data end symbol ([EOD]). (Step S925: Yes), the sequence number SN of the beacon signal is stored in the storage unit 120 as the divided data total number TN (step S926). Until the total number of divided data TN is determined in step S926, “No” is always determined in step S927, and the process returns to a new beacon signal standby operation (step S921).

  As in the first embodiment described above, the information stored in the storage unit 120 in step S924 may be appropriately deleted. For example, if a corresponding beacon signal cannot be received even if a predetermined time or more elapses in step S922, or if a beacon signal including a data end symbol cannot be received even if a predetermined time or more elapses in step S925, the predetermined time or more in step S927 If all the sequence numbers SN cannot be acquired even after elapse, the information stored in the storage unit 120 may be discarded.

  As described above, in the second embodiment of the present invention, by including the data end symbol in the divided data DD of the final beacon signal, transmission of the divided data total number TN itself is not required, and the divided data having a larger capacity can be obtained. DD can be transmitted, and the number of necessary beacon devices 200 can be reduced.

<3. Third Embodiment>
In the first and second embodiments described above, predetermined processing is performed after all beacon signals having different sequence numbers SN are received. On the other hand, in the third embodiment, it is assumed that a predetermined process is performed before all beacon signals having different sequence numbers SN are received.

  The configuration of the wireless communication system is basically the same as that of the first embodiment described above, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

[Application example]
FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an application example of the wireless communication system according to the third embodiment of the present invention. In this example, a venue for a character search game is assumed. A total of 12 beacon devices 200 are installed in each place in the venue. Hereinafter, when the 12 beacon devices 200 are distinguished, the beacon device numbers 21 to 32 are distinguished as shown in FIG. The game participant searches for a beacon signal transmitted from the beacon device 200 hidden in the venue, and replies with a keyword composed of characters included in the beacon signal.

  When the user carrying the terminal device 100 moves within the venue and enters the communication range of the beacon signal, reception of the beacon signal from the beacon device 200 is started. Each time the terminal device 100 receives a beacon signal from the beacon device 200, the terminal device 100 arranges and displays the characters included in the divided data DD according to the sequence number SN.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a list of beacon signals in an application example of the third exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In this example, for each of the 12 beacon devices 200, identification information ID, sequence number SN, total number of divided data TN, and divided data DD are shown as information (transmission data) included in the beacon signal. Here, it is assumed that the sequence number SN, the total number of divided data TN, and the data length of the divided data DD are all 8 bits.

  The identification information IDs are all “# 2” in common. The total number of divided data TN is all “12”. The sequence number SN indicates different values from “1” to “12”. Since the divided data DD is assumed to have a data length of 8 bits, half-width characters are held one by one.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a display example in the wireless communication system according to the third embodiment of this invention. When a beacon signal is first received from any one of the beacon devices 200, the total number of divided data TN can be grasped, so that the total number of characters is determined. Therefore, the display frame for each character can be displayed based on the total number of characters. Each time a beacon signal having a new sequence number SN is received, the characters indicated by the divided data DD are displayed on the display unit 140 in the display frame at the position indicated by the sequence number SN. In this application example, it is assumed that the game participant can estimate and answer the keyword even before all the characters hidden in the venue are gathered.

[Processing procedure]
FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing procedure of the wireless communication system according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

  In the processing procedure in the third embodiment, steps S931 to S934 and S937 are the same as steps S911 to S914 and S917 of the first embodiment described above.

  In the third embodiment, when the beacon signal is received and the sequence number SN and the divided data DD are associated and stored in the storage unit 120, even before the acquisition of all the sequence numbers SN is completed, The divided data DD is arranged in accordance with the order of the sequence number SN and screen display is performed (step S935). At this time, the parts that are not aligned are blank and displayed in a so-called worm-eaten state.

  As described above, in the third embodiment of the present invention, even before acquisition of all sequence numbers SN is completed, a predetermined process can be performed every time a beacon signal is received. Display can be performed.

  Note that the above-described embodiment shows an example for embodying the present invention, and the matters in the embodiment and the invention-specific matters in the claims have a corresponding relationship. Similarly, the matters specifying the invention in the claims and the matters in the embodiment of the present invention having the same names as the claims have a corresponding relationship. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment, and can be embodied by making various modifications to the embodiment without departing from the scope of the invention.

  Further, the processing procedure described in the above embodiment may be regarded as a method having a series of these procedures, and a program for causing a computer to execute these series of procedures or a recording medium storing the program. You may catch it. As this recording medium, for example, a CD (Compact Disc), an MD (MiniDisc), a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), a memory card, a Blu-ray disc (Blu-ray (registered trademark) Disc), or the like can be used.

100 terminal device 110 processing unit 120 storage unit 130 input unit 140 display unit 150 reception unit 190 bus 200 beacon device 220 storage unit 230 transmission unit

Claims (10)

A plurality of beacon devices each transmitting a beacon signal including a sequence number and divided data;
A wireless communication system comprising a terminal device for receiving the beacon signal,
The terminal device
A receiving unit that receives the beacon signal and acquires the sequence number and the divided data included in the beacon signal;
A storage unit that stores the sequence number acquired by the receiving unit and the divided data in association with each other;
A wireless communication system comprising: a processing unit that arranges the divided data stored in the storage unit in order of the sequence numbers and executes predetermined processing. The beacon signal further includes identification information;
The receiver further acquires the identification information included in the beacon signal,
The storage unit stores the identification information acquired by the reception unit, the sequence number, and the divided data in association with each other,
The wireless communication system according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit performs the predetermined processing by arranging the divided data in the order of the sequence numbers for each identification information. The beacon signal further includes a total number of divided data;
The receiver further acquires the total number of the divided data included in the beacon signal;
2. The wireless communication system according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit generates combined data by arranging the number of pieces of the divided data indicated by the total number of divided data in order of the sequence numbers, and executes the predetermined processing on the combined data. When the divided data included in the beacon signal includes data indicating the end of data, the receiving unit acquires the sequence number included in the beacon signal as the total number of divided data,
2. The wireless communication system according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit generates combined data by arranging the number of pieces of the divided data indicated by the total number of divided data in order of the sequence numbers, and executes the predetermined processing on the combined data. The divided data is text data composed of characters or character strings,
The terminal device further includes a display unit,
5. The display unit according to claim 3, wherein the processing unit performs a display process of generating a character string in which the number of pieces of the divided data indicated by the total number of divided data is arranged in the order of the sequence number and displaying the character string on the display unit. The wireless communication system described. The wireless communication according to claim 3, wherein the processing unit discards the divided data stored in the storage unit when the receiving unit does not acquire the number of pieces of divided data indicated by the total number of divided data within a predetermined time. system. When the receiving unit does not acquire the total number of pieces of divided data within a predetermined time, or when the receiving unit does not acquire the number of pieces of divided data indicated by the total number of divided data within the predetermined time. The wireless communication system according to claim 4, wherein the divided data stored in the storage unit is discarded. The divided data is text data composed of characters or character strings,
The terminal device further includes a display unit,
2. The processing unit executes a display process for displaying the divided data at a display position indicated by the sequence number in the display unit every time the receiving unit acquires the sequence number and the divided data. Wireless communication system. A receiving unit that receives each beacon signal transmitted from a plurality of beacon devices and acquires the sequence number and the divided data included in the beacon signal;
A storage unit that stores the sequence number acquired by the receiving unit and the divided data in association with each other;
A terminal device comprising: a processing unit that arranges the divided data stored in the storage unit in order of the sequence numbers and executes a predetermined process. A wireless communication method between a plurality of beacon devices and a terminal device,
Each of the plurality of beacon devices transmits a beacon signal including a sequence number and divided data;
The terminal device receives each of the beacon signals and obtains the sequence number and the divided data included in the beacon signals;
A storage procedure in which the terminal device stores the sequence number acquired in the reception procedure in association with the divided data;
A wireless communication method comprising: an execution procedure in which the terminal device arranges the divided data stored in the storage procedure in the order of the sequence numbers and executes a predetermined process.

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