JP2017158009A - Information processing apparatus, information processing method and information processing program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a relay of a radio signal including identification information of a transmitter from being chained irregularly.SOLUTION: An information processing apparatus 102 receives a radio signal transmitted from a transmitter 101 or the other information processing apparatus 102. Based on information of the received radio signal, the information processing apparatus 102 discriminates the presence/absence of crowd around the information processing apparatus. The information of the radio signal is e.g., information indicating the number of receptions of radio signals received by the information processing apparatus 102 or a reception electric field strength. If crowd is present around the information processing apparatus 102, the information processing apparatus restricts a relay of a radio signal including identification information of the transmitter 101.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and an information processing program.

  Conventionally, using the received field strength (for example, RSSI: Received Signal Strength Indicator) when the mobile terminal receives the beacon signal transmitted from the beacon apparatus and the position information indicating the installation location of the beacon apparatus, There is a technique for estimating the position.

  In addition, there are techniques for avoiding lost detection of beacon signals due to the presence of shielding objects and congestion of mobile terminals, and a decrease in positioning accuracy of mobile terminals. For example, there is a technique in which a portable terminal that has successfully detected a beacon signal relays the beacon signal to a nearby portable terminal that has failed to detect the beacon signal.

  As a prior art, for example, there is a technique for realizing highly accurate positioning without increasing the number of master units. In addition, there is a technique for enabling highly accurate position detection even indoors where GPS (Global Positioning System) radio waves cannot be received or in places outside a communication area where a mobile phone base station is not installed. In addition, there is a technique for relaying a signal to a destination mobile terminal by another mobile terminal to reach the destination mobile terminal.

JP 2013-152133 A JP 2009-44394 A International Publication No. 2003/015445

  However, in the prior art, relay of beacon signals transmitted from the beacon device may be chained randomly. For example, if the relay of beacon signals is chained one after another, the beacon signals are relayed to mobile terminals that are far away from the beacon device, leading to a decrease in positioning accuracy of the mobile terminals.

  In one aspect, an object of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and an information processing program that prevent relaying of radio signals including identification information of a transmitter from being randomly chained.

  According to one aspect of the present invention, a radio signal transmitted from a transmitter or another information processing apparatus is received, and whether or not there is a crowd around the own apparatus based on information of the received radio signal. An information processing device, an information processing method, and an information processing program that limit relaying of a radio signal including identification information of the transmitter when there is a crowd around the device is determined.

  According to one aspect of the present invention, there is an effect that it is possible to prevent random relaying of radio signals including identification information of a transmitter.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of an example of the information processing method according to the embodiment. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a system configuration example of the system 200. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of the terminal device Ti. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a format example of a beacon signal. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the stored contents of the received electric field strength information table 500. FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration example of the terminal device Ti. FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an information processing procedure of the terminal device Ti. FIG. 8 is a flowchart (part 1) illustrating an example of a specific processing procedure of the crowd determination process. FIG. 9 is a flowchart (part 2) illustrating an example of a specific processing procedure of the crowd determination process. FIG. 10 is a flowchart (part 1) illustrating an example of a specific processing procedure of the parameter changing process. FIG. 11 is a flowchart (part 2) illustrating an example of a specific processing procedure of the parameter changing process.

  Exemplary embodiments of an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and an information processing program according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment)
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of an example of the information processing method according to the embodiment. In FIG. 1, a transmitter 101 is a computer that periodically transmits a radio signal (so-called beacon signal) including identification information of the own device. The transmitter 101 is installed, for example, in each sales floor of a commercial facility, each store, each booth in an exhibition hall, or the like.

  The identification information of the transmitter 101 is information for uniquely identifying the transmitter 101 and is, for example, a BSSID (Basic Service Set Identifier) of the transmitter 101. As the BSSID, for example, the MAC (Media Access Control) address of the transmitter 101 can be used.

  The information processing apparatus 102 (for example, the information processing apparatuses 102-1 to 102-12) is a computer that receives a radio signal transmitted from the transmitter 101 or another information processing apparatus 102. Further, the information processing apparatus 102 has a function of relaying a wireless signal including identification information of the transmitter 101 received from the transmitter 101 or another information processing apparatus 102.

  Further, the information processing apparatus 102 periodically transmits a radio signal including identification information of the own apparatus. This wireless signal is, for example, for informing the other information processing apparatus 102 in the vicinity of the presence of the own apparatus. The vicinity corresponds to a range in which wireless modules mounted on each information processing apparatus 102 can communicate with each other wirelessly.

  In addition, the information processing apparatus 102 determines the position of the own apparatus based on the identification information of the transmitter 101 included in the received wireless signal. Specifically, for example, the information processing apparatus 102 may determine the installation location of the transmitter 101 specified from the identification information of the transmitter 101 as the position of the own apparatus. As a result, it is possible to estimate which transmitter 101 each information processing apparatus 102 is near.

  There is also a technique for estimating how far each information processing apparatus 102 is from the transmitter 101. For example, using the received electric field strength when a mobile terminal (for example, the information processing apparatus 102) receives a beacon signal transmitted from a beacon apparatus (for example, the transmitter 101) and position information indicating the installation location of the beacon apparatus. Thus, there is a technique for estimating the position of the mobile terminal.

  In this technique, the distance between the portable terminal and the beacon device is estimated using the property that the received electric field strength of the radio wave is attenuated at a constant rate according to the distance from the transmission source. The received electric field strength is an index indicating the strength of the signal received by the receiver (for example, the information processing apparatus 102), and is represented by RSSI, for example. The unit of RSSI is, for example, [dBm], and the larger the value, the higher the signal strength.

  However, in an environment where there is an object that greatly attenuates or shields radio waves within the detection area (radio wave reachable range) of the beacon signal, the received electric field strength may be significantly different from the originally obtained value. . For example, if a large number of people are present in the detection area, the probability that the human body shields radio waves increases, leading to a loss of detection loss and positioning accuracy.

  The detection lost is a state where the beacon signal cannot be detected even though the mobile terminal is located at a distance where the beacon signal from the beacon device can be detected. In the example of FIG. 1, the information processing apparatus 102-2 is located in the detection area 110 of the radio signal transmitted from the transmitter 101. However, the wireless signal transmitted from the transmitter 101 is blocked by the user of the information processing apparatus 102-1, and the information processing apparatus 102-2 cannot directly receive the wireless signal from the transmitter 101.

  For this reason, there is a technique for avoiding detection loss by relaying a beacon signal from another mobile terminal in the vicinity of the mobile terminal in the detection lost state. In the example of FIG. 1, the information processing apparatus 102-1 relays a radio signal directly received from the transmitter 101, so that the information processing apparatus 102-2 passes through the information processing apparatus 102-1. The radio signal transmitted from can be received.

  However, if the relay of the beacon signal is allowed without limitation, the relay of the beacon signal is chained one after another, and there is a problem that the beacon signal is erroneously detected. In other words, if there is a mobile terminal that lost the beacon signal in the vicinity of the mobile terminal that relayed the beacon signal, the beacon signal will be relayed many times one after another, and the mobile terminal that is far away from the detection area. The beacon signal is relayed to the terminal.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, an information processing method that prevents the relay of wireless signals transmitted from the transmitter 101 from being randomly chained and prevents a decrease in positioning accuracy of the information processing apparatus 102 will be described. Hereinafter, a processing example of the information processing apparatus 102 will be described.

  (1) The information processing apparatus 102 receives a radio signal transmitted from the transmitter 101 or another information processing apparatus 102. In the example of FIG. 1, for example, the information processing apparatus 102-3 receives a radio signal transmitted from other information processing apparatuses 102-2, 102-4, 102-5, and 102-6 existing in the vicinity.

  (2) The information processing apparatus 102 determines whether there is a crowd around the apparatus based on the information of the received wireless signal. Here, the crowd is a state and a place where many people are crowded. As described above, it can be said that an environment where there is a crowd is a state in which the human body has a high probability of shielding radio waves.

  The radio signal information is, for example, information indicating the number of radio signals received by the information processing apparatus 102 and the received electric field strength. Specifically, for example, when the number of received wireless signals (for example, the number of receptions per unit time) is greater than a preset threshold, the information processing apparatus 102 indicates that there is a crowd around the own apparatus. It may be determined.

  In the example of FIG. 1, the number of wireless signals received by the information processing apparatus 102-3 is “4”, and the preset threshold is “3”. In this case, the information processing apparatus 102-3 determines that there is a crowd around the own apparatus because the number of received wireless signals “4” is larger than the threshold “3”.

  (3) When there is a crowd around the information processing apparatus 102, the information processing apparatus 102 restricts relaying of a radio signal including identification information of the transmitter 101. Specifically, for example, when there is a crowd around the information processing apparatus 102, the information processing apparatus 102 may reduce the maximum number of relays that allow relaying of a radio signal including identification information of the transmitter 101.

  In the example of FIG. 1, for example, the information processing apparatus 102-3 reduces the maximum number of relays permitted to relay a radio signal including identification information of the transmitter 101 by one. As an example, if the preset maximum number of relays is “3”, the maximum number of relays is “2”, and relaying of radio signals including identification information of the transmitter 101 can be restricted.

  As described above, according to the information processing apparatus 102, it is possible to restrict relay of a radio signal including identification information of the transmitter 101 in an environment where there is a crowd. As a result, it is possible to cut off the random relay chain of the radio signal transmitted from the transmitter 101 and prevent the positioning accuracy of the information processing apparatus 102 from being lowered.

  In the example of FIG. 1, it is assumed that the wireless signal 120 transmitted from the transmitter 101 is transmitted to the information processing apparatus 102-3 via the information processing apparatuses 102-1 and 102-2. In this case, the number of relays of the radio signal 120 in the information processing apparatus 102-3 is “2”. Here, when the information processing apparatus 102-3 relays the wireless signal 120, the number of relays of the wireless signal 120 becomes “3”, which exceeds the maximum number of relays “2”.

  For this reason, the information processing apparatus 102-3 does not relay the radio signal 120. As a result, the information processing apparatus 102-3 can break the chain of relay of the wireless signal 120. For example, another information processing apparatus 102 (for example, another information processing apparatus 102-11, which exists outside the detection area 110) can be disconnected. It is possible to avoid the wireless signal 120 being relayed up to 102-12).

(System configuration example of system 200)
Next, a system configuration example of the system 200 according to the embodiment will be described.

  In the following description, the transmitter 101 shown in FIG. 1 is applied to beacon devices B1 to BK (K: natural number of 2 or more) in the system 200, and the information processing device 102 shown in FIG. The case where it applies to apparatus T1-Tn (n: natural number more than 2) is demonstrated. Also, an arbitrary terminal device among the terminal devices T1 to Tn is described as “terminal device Ti” (i = 1, 2,..., N), and an arbitrary beacon device among the beacon devices B1 to BK is “beacon”. May be referred to as “device Bk” (k = 1, 2,..., K).

  FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a system configuration example of the system 200. 2, system 200 includes beacon devices B1 to BK, terminal devices T1 to Tn, and information providing device 201. In the system 200, the terminal devices T1 to Tn and the information providing device 201 are connected via a wired or wireless network 210. The network 210 includes, for example, a LAN (Local Area Network), a WAN (Wide Area Network), the Internet, a mobile communication network, and the like. Note that the beacon devices B1 to BK may also be connected via the network 210.

  The beacon device Bk is a computer that periodically transmits a beacon signal including the BSSID of its own device. For example, the beacon device Bk is a transmitter that uses an advertisement signal of BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) as a beacon signal (Bluetooth is a registered trademark). Each beacon device Bk is installed at a different position, such as each sales floor of a commercial facility, each store, or each booth at an exhibition hall.

  The terminal device Ti is a computer that receives a beacon signal transmitted from the beacon device Bk or another terminal device Tj (j ≠ i, j = 1, 2,..., N). Further, the terminal device Ti has a function of relaying a beacon signal including identification information of the beacon device Bk received from the beacon device Bk or another terminal device Tj.

  In addition, the terminal device Ti periodically transmits a beacon signal including identification information (for example, a MAC address) of the own device. For example, the terminal device Ti is a smartphone, a tablet terminal, or the like capable of short-range wireless communication using BLE. Thereby, each terminal device Ti can recognize other terminal devices Tj capable of short-range wireless communication with each other.

  Further, the terminal device Ti determines the position of the own device based on the BSSID of the beacon device Bk included in the beacon signal received from the beacon device Bk or another terminal device Tj. Specifically, for example, the terminal device Ti obtains position information indicating the installation location of the beacon device Bk by inquiring the information providing device 201 about the BSSID of the beacon device Bk via the network 210. And the terminal device Ti determines the position of an own apparatus based on the positional information on the beacon apparatus Bk acquired from the information provision apparatus 201. FIG. Thereby, it becomes possible to guess which beacon device Bk is near, for example, the terminal device Ti.

  The information providing device 201 is a computer that stores the BSSID of each beacon device Bk and the location information indicating the installation location of each beacon device Bk in association with each other. For example, when the information providing apparatus 201 receives an inquiry including the BSSID of the beacon apparatus Bk from the terminal apparatus Ti, the information providing apparatus 201 transmits position information corresponding to the BSSID to the terminal apparatus Ti. For example, the information providing apparatus 201 is a server.

(Hardware configuration example of terminal device Ti)
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of the terminal device Ti. 3, the terminal device Ti includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 301, a memory 302, a public network I / F (Interface) 303, a short-range wireless I / F 304, a display 305, a keypad 306, Have Each component is connected by a bus 300.

  Here, the CPU 301 controls the entire terminal device Ti. The memory 302 includes, for example, a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and a flash ROM. Specifically, for example, a flash ROM or ROM stores various programs, and a RAM is used as a work area for the CPU 301. The program stored in the memory 302 is loaded into the CPU 301 to cause the CPU 301 to execute the coded process.

  The public network I / F 303 has a wireless communication circuit and an antenna, is connected to the network 210, and is connected to another computer (for example, the information providing apparatus 201 shown in FIG. 2) via the network 210. The public network I / F 303 controls an interface between the network 210 and the inside of the apparatus, and controls data input / output from other computers.

  The short-range wireless I / F 304 includes a wireless communication circuit and an antenna, is connected to a wireless network, and is connected to another computer (for example, a beacon device Bk and another terminal device Tj) via the wireless network. The short-range wireless I / F 304 controls the interface between the wireless network and the apparatus, and controls data input / output from other computers.

  A display 305 displays data such as a document, an image, and function information as well as a cursor, an icon, or a tool box. As the display 305, for example, a liquid crystal display or an organic EL (Electroluminescence) display can be employed.

  The keypad 306 has keys for inputting characters, numbers, various instructions, etc., and inputs data. The keypad 306 may be, for example, a touch panel type input pad or a numeric keypad.

  The terminal device Ti may include, for example, a disk drive, a disk, an SSD (Solid State Drive), and the like in addition to the above-described components. Further, the beacon device Bk and the information providing device 201 shown in FIG. 2 can also be realized by a hardware configuration similar to that of the terminal device Ti. However, the beacon device Bk and the information providing device 201 may not include the display 305, the keypad 306, and the like, for example.

(Beacon signal format example)
Next, a format example of a beacon signal transmitted from the beacon device Bk or the terminal device Ti will be described. Here, a beacon signal format example will be described by taking a BLE packet as an example.

  FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a format example of a beacon signal. In FIG. 4, the beacon signal includes Preamble, Access Address, PDU (Protocol Data Unit) Header, PDU Payload, and CRC (Cyclic Redundancy Check).

  Preamble is a binary 8-bit fixed pattern (10101010b or 01010101b), and is used for detection of signal strength and timing of reading 0/1 bits. Access Address is an address for advertisement. The PDU Header is a PDU header field including a PDU Type, an RFU (Reserved for Future Use), a TxAdd, an RxAdd, a Length, and an RFU.

  The PDU Payload is a data body. The PDU Payload includes, for example, the BSSID of the transmission source (beacon device Bk or terminal device Ti), and relay count information indicating the relay count of the beacon signal transmitted from the beacon device Bk. For example, the number of relays is stored in a field called Beacon_Relay provided in the PDU Payload. CRC is a cyclic check code for PDU error detection.

(Storage contents of received electric field strength information table 500)
Next, the contents stored in the received field strength information table 500 included in the terminal device Ti will be described. The received electric field strength information table 500 is realized by the memory 302 shown in FIG. 3, for example.

  FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the stored contents of the received electric field strength information table 500. In FIG. 5, the reception field strength information table 500 includes fields for reception time, BSSID, and RSSI value. By setting information in each field, reception field strength information (for example, reception field strength information 500-1, 500-2) is stored as a record.

  Here, the reception time is the date and time when the terminal device Ti receives the beacon signal. The BSSID is identification information for uniquely identifying a beacon signal transmission source (beacon device Bk or terminal device Ti). The RSSI value is an index value indicating the received electric field strength when the terminal device Ti receives a beacon signal (unit: [dBm]).

  For example, the reception field strength information 500-1 includes the reception time “2016/2/10 10:00:59” of the beacon signal received by the terminal device Ti, and the BSSID “xx-yy-zz-aa-bb-” of the transmission source. cc "and RSSI value" -56 [dBm] ".

(Functional configuration example of terminal device Ti)
FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration example of the terminal device Ti. In FIG. 6, the terminal device Ti is configured to include a receiving unit 601, a transmitting unit 602, a determining unit 603, a relay control unit 604, a determining unit 605, and an output unit 606. The determination unit 603 to the output unit 606 are functions as control units. Specifically, for example, the CPU 301 executes a program stored in the memory 302 illustrated in FIG. 3 or the public network I / F 303. The function is realized by the short-range wireless I / F 304. The processing result of each functional unit is stored in the memory 302, for example.

  The receiving unit 601 receives a beacon signal transmitted from the beacon device Bk or another terminal device Tj. The reception time of the received beacon signal, the BSSID of the transmission source, and the RSSI value are stored, for example, in the reception field strength information table 500 shown in FIG.

  The transmission unit 602 transmits a beacon signal. Specifically, for example, the transmission unit 602 periodically broadcasts a beacon signal including the BSSID of its own device. In addition, the transmission unit 602 broadcasts a beacon signal including the BSSID of the beacon device Bk according to the control of the relay control unit 604 described later.

  The determination unit 603 determines whether there is a crowd around the device based on the information of the beacon signal received by the reception unit 601. Here, the beacon signal information is, for example, information indicating the number of received beacon signals received by the receiving unit 601 and the RSSI value. In the following description, the number of beacon signals received may be referred to as “beacon reception number C”.

  Specifically, for example, first, the determination unit 603 counts the number of beacons received C. More specifically, for example, the determination unit 603 refers to the reception field strength information table 500 illustrated in FIG. 5 and calculates the number of beacon signals received within the predetermined period T1 as the beacon reception number C. The predetermined period T1 can be arbitrarily set. For example, the predetermined period T1 is set to a period from a time point of several seconds to several minutes back to the present time. However, beacon signals with the same BSSID are not counted repeatedly.

Then, the determination unit 603 determines whether or not the counted beacon reception number C is equal to or less than the threshold value C _Th . The threshold value C _Th can be arbitrarily set, and if the beacon reception number C is equal to or less than the threshold value C _{Th, the} number of people around the terminal device Ti (people with other terminal devices Tj) is small, It is set to a value that can be said to have a low probability of radio waves being shielded by the human body. For example, the threshold C _Th is set according to the area of the detection area (radio wave reachable range) of the beacon signal transmitted from each beacon device Bk.

Here, when the beacon reception number C is equal to or less than the threshold C _Th , the determination unit 603 determines that there is no crowd around the device itself. On the other hand, when the beacon reception number C is larger than the threshold value C _Th , the determination unit 603 determines that there is a crowd around the device itself.

As an example, the threshold C _{Th is set} to “C _Th = 30”. In this case, for example, if the beacon reception number C is “C = 20”, the determination unit 603 determines that there is no crowd around the own device because the beacon reception number C is equal to or less than the threshold value C _Th . On the other hand, when the beacon reception number C is “C = 35”, the determination unit 603 determines that there is a crowd around the own device because the beacon reception number C is greater than the threshold C _Th .

Thereby, it can be determined that there is a crowd around the own device in response to the number of other terminal devices Tj existing around the terminal device Ti exceeding the threshold C _Th . The beacon reception number C may be constantly monitored and counted.

  In addition, when there is a high probability that there are many people around the terminal device Ti and the radio wave is shielded, the variation of the RSSI value when the terminal device Ti receives a beacon signal from a certain transmission source tends to increase. .

  Therefore, the determination unit 603 may calculate a statistic indicating the variation degree of the RSSI value based on the RSSI value of the beacon signal having the same transmission source received by the reception unit 601 within the predetermined period T2. . Here, the predetermined period T2 can be arbitrarily set. For example, the predetermined period T2 is set to a period from the time point of several tens of seconds to several minutes back to the present time.

Further, the statistic indicating the degree of variation of the RSSI value is, for example, the standard deviation σ or variance V (= σ ² ) of the RSSI value. Here, the RSSI value variance V (= σ ² ) will be described as an example of the statistic indicating the degree of variation in the RSSI value. More specifically, for example, the determination unit 603 can calculate the variance V of the RSSI value of the beacon signal having the same transmission source received within the predetermined period T2, using the following equation (1).

Then, the determination unit 603 determines whether or not the calculated variance V is less than or equal to the threshold value V _Th . The threshold value V _Th can be arbitrarily set, and if the variance V is equal to or less than the threshold value V _Th , the number of people around the terminal device Ti is small and it can be said that the probability that radio waves are shielded by the human body is low. Set to Note that the standard deviation σ of the RSSI value may be used instead of the variance V (= σ ² ).

Here, when the variance V is equal to or less than the threshold value V _Th , the determination unit 603 determines that there is no crowd around the device itself. On the other hand, when the variance V is larger than the threshold value V _Th , the determination unit 603 determines that there is a crowd around the device itself.

As an example, the threshold value V _{Th is set} to “V _Th = 70 [dBm ² ]”. First, the determination unit 603 refers to the received electric field strength information table 500, for example, and specifies the RSSI value of a beacon signal that is received within the predetermined period T2 and that has the same source BSSID. Here, it is assumed that the RSSI values x _{1 to} x ₅ are specified.

Each RSSI value x ₁ to x ₅ is expressed as “x ₁ = −56 [dBm], x ₂ = −65 [dBm], x ₃ = −55 [dBm], x ₄ = −66 [dBm], x ₅ = −59 [dBm] ”. In this case, the variance V is “V = 20.56 [dBm ² ]” from the above equation (1), which is equal to or less than the threshold value V _Th . For this reason, the determination unit 603 determines that there is no crowd around the device itself.

Also, the RSSI values x ₁ to x ₅ are expressed as “x ₁ = −58 [dBm], x ₂ = −85 [dBm], x ₃ = −63 [dBm], x ₄ = −72 [dBm], x ₅ = −60 [dBm] ”. In this case, the variance V is “V = 153.4 [dBm ² ]” from the above equation (1), which is larger than the threshold value V _Th . For this reason, the determination unit 603 determines that there is a crowd around the device itself.

  As a result, when there is a large variation in RSSI values of beacon signals with the same transmission source and there is a high probability that radio waves are shielded by the human body, it can be determined that there is a crowd around the device itself. Note that the determination unit 603 may calculate the variance of RSSI values for different transmission sources, for example, and treat the calculated average value of the variances as the variance V.

Further, the determination unit 603 may determine that there is a crowd around the own apparatus when the beacon reception number C is greater than the threshold value C _Th and the variance V is greater than the threshold value V _Th .

When the determination unit 603 determines that there is a crowd around the own device, the relay control unit 604 restricts relay of the beacon signal including the BSSID of the beacon device Bk received by the reception unit 601. Specifically, for example, the relay control unit 604 may reduce the maximum number of relays N _max when there is a crowd around the device itself.

Here, the maximum number of relays N _max is the maximum value of the number of relays that allows relaying of the beacon signal including the BSSID of the beacon device Bk. The initial value of the maximum number of relays N _max can be arbitrarily set, and is set to a value of about 3 to 5, for example. More specifically, for example, the relay control unit 604 may decrement the maximum number of relays N _max by 1 when it is determined that there is a crowd around the device itself.

Accordingly, it is possible to limit the relay of the beacon signal by reducing the maximum number of relays when relaying the beacon signal. However, when the maximum number of relays N _max reaches a predetermined lower limit (for example, 1), the relay control unit 604 may not reduce the maximum number of relays N _max any more.

Further, for example, when there is a crowd around the own device, the relay control unit 604 raises the lower limit value of the RSSI value of the beacon signal to be detected among the beacon signals received by the receiving unit 601. Also good. In other words, the RSSI level (threshold value L _min ) for detecting the beacon signal is raised to make it difficult for the terminal device Ti to detect the beacon signal.

More specifically, for example, the relay control unit 604 increases the threshold value L _min of the RSSI for detecting a beacon signal by 1 [dBm] in response to determining that there is a crowd around the own device. Also good. Even if the beacon signal whose RSSI value is less than the threshold value L _min is received by the receiving unit 601, it is not detected and is treated as not received.

  Thereby, it becomes difficult to detect the beacon signal to be relayed in each terminal device Ti, and as a result, the relay of the beacon signal can be limited.

Further, for example, when there is a crowd around the own device, the relay control unit 604 may reduce the maximum number of relays N _max and raise the lower limit value of the RSSI value of the beacon signal to be detected. More specifically, for example, the relay control unit 604 may reduce the maximum number of relays N _max by 1 and increase the threshold L _min of the beacon signal detection RSSI by 1 [dBm]. Thereby, the relay of the beacon signal in each terminal device Ti can be further restricted.

Further, for example, when it is determined that there is a crowd around the device itself, the relay control unit 604 decreases the maximum number of relays N _max each time, and when the maximum number of relays N _max reaches the lower limit, Thereafter, the threshold L _min may be increased by 1 [dBm]. Thereby, the way of limiting the relay of the beacon signal in the terminal device Ti can be changed according to how much the beacon signal is relayed.

Further, when the RSSI value is equal to or greater than the threshold value L _min and a beacon signal including the BSSID of the beacon device Bk is received, the relay control unit 604 has the relay count N of the beacon signal less than the maximum relay count N _max. Determine whether or not. The number N of relays of the beacon signal is specified from, for example, the relay number information included in the PDU Payload of the beacon signal (see, for example, FIG. 4).

Here, when the relay count N is less than the maximum relay count N _max , the relay control unit 604 increments the value of the relay count information of the beacon signal. Then, the relay control unit 604 controls the transmission unit 602 to relay (broadcast) the beacon signal including the BSSID of the beacon device Bk.

On the other hand, when the number N of relay times of the beacon signal is equal to or greater than the maximum relay number N _max , the relay control unit 604 does not relay the beacon signal. That is, at this time, the relay chain of the beacon signal including the BSSID of the beacon device Bk is broken.

When the RSSI value is equal to or greater than the threshold value L _min and a beacon signal including the BSSID of the beacon device Bk is received, the determination unit 605 determines the position of the own device based on the BSSID. Specifically, for example, the determination unit 605 acquires position information indicating the installation location of the beacon device Bk by inquiring of the information providing device 201 about the BSSID included in the received beacon signal via the network 210. And the determination part 605 determines the position of an own apparatus based on the positional information on the beacon apparatus Bk acquired from the information provision apparatus 201. FIG. For example, the determination unit 605 may determine the installation position of the beacon device Bk as the position of the own device.

  Note that the terminal device Ti may hold installation location information that indicates the BSSID of each beacon device Bk and the position information indicating the installation location of each beacon device Bk in association with each other. In this case, the determination unit 605 can acquire the location information indicating the installation location of the beacon device Bk corresponding to the BSSID included in the received beacon signal with reference to the installation location information.

  The output unit 606 outputs position information indicating the position of the own device determined by the determination unit 605. Examples of the output format of the output unit 606 include display on the display 305 shown in FIG. 3, transmission to an external device via the public network I / F 303, and storage in the memory 302.

  The position information of the terminal device Ti includes, for example, information for specifying the position of the terminal device Ti, information for specifying the date and time when the position of the terminal device Ti is determined, and the like. Thereby, the information which shows when the terminal device Ti was near which beacon device Bk can be provided.

(Information processing procedure of terminal device Ti)
Next, an information processing procedure of the terminal device Ti will be described.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an information processing procedure of the terminal device Ti. In the flowchart of FIG. 7, first, the terminal device Ti determines whether or not the RSSI value is equal to or greater than the threshold value L _min and a beacon signal including the BSSID of the beacon device Bk has been received (step S701).

  Here, the terminal device Ti waits to receive a beacon signal (step S701: No). And terminal device Ti determines the position of an own apparatus using BSSID of beacon apparatus Bk contained in the received beacon signal, when a beacon signal is received (step S701: Yes) (step S702).

  Next, the terminal device Ti determines whether or not the relay count N of the received beacon signal is “N = 0” (step S703). If the number N of relays is “N = 0” (step S703: Yes), the terminal device Ti proceeds to step S708.

  On the other hand, when the number N of relays is “N ≠ 0” (step S703: No), the terminal device Ti executes a crowd determination process for determining whether there is a crowd around the device (step S704). . A specific processing procedure of the crowd determination process will be described later with reference to FIGS.

  Then, the terminal device Ti determines whether or not it is determined that there is a crowd in the crowd determination process (step S705). Here, in the crowd determination process, when it is determined that there is no crowd around the own device (step S705: No), the terminal device Ti proceeds to step S707.

  On the other hand, if the terminal device Ti determines in the crowd determination process that there is a crowd around itself (step S705: Yes), the terminal device Ti executes a parameter change process (step S706). A specific processing procedure of the parameter changing process will be described later with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11.

Next, the terminal device Ti determines whether or not the relay count N of the received beacon signal is less than the maximum relay count N _max (step S707). Here, when the relay count N is less than the maximum relay count N _max (step S707: Yes), the terminal device Ti increments the relay count N of the received beacon signal (step S708).

Then, the terminal device Ti relays the received beacon signal (step S709), and ends a series of processes according to this flowchart. In step S707, when the number N of relays is equal to or greater than the maximum number N _{max of} relays (step S707: No), the terminal device Ti ends the series of processes according to this flowchart.

  Thereby, it is possible to prevent the relay of beacon signals from being randomly chained in an environment where there is a crowd.

  Next, a specific processing procedure of the crowd determination process in step S704 illustrated in FIG. 7 will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart (part 1) illustrating an example of a specific processing procedure of the crowd determination process. In the flowchart of FIG. 8, first, the terminal device Ti refers to the received electric field strength information table 500 and counts the number of beacons received C (step S801). Then, the terminal device Ti determines whether or not the counted beacon reception number C is equal to or less than the threshold value C _Th (step S802).

Here, when the beacon reception number C is equal to or less than the threshold C _Th (step S802: Yes), the terminal device Ti determines that there is no crowd around the own device (step S803) and calls the crowd determination process. Return to step.

On the other hand, when the beacon reception number C is larger than the threshold value C _Th (step S802: No), the terminal device Ti determines that there is a crowd around the own device (step S804), and calls the crowd determination process. Return.

  Thereby, it is possible to determine whether or not there is a crowd around the own device by using the number of other terminal devices Tj existing within a range in which short-distance wireless communication with the terminal device Ti is possible.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart (part 2) illustrating an example of a specific processing procedure of the crowd determination process. In the flowchart of FIG. 9, first, the terminal device Ti refers to the received electric field strength information table 500 and specifies the RSSI value of the beacon signal received within the predetermined period T2 and having the same transmission source BSSID ( Step S901).

Next, the terminal device Ti calculates the variance V of the RSSI value using the above equation (1) based on the RSSI value of the beacon signal having the same source BSSID (step S902). Then, the terminal device Ti determines whether or not the calculated RSSI value variance V is equal to or less than the threshold value V _Th (step S903).

Here, when the variance V is equal to or less than the threshold V _Th (step S903: Yes), the terminal device Ti determines that there is no crowd around the device itself (step S904), and goes to the step of calling the crowd determination process. Return. On the other hand, when the variance V is larger than the threshold value V _Th (step S903: No), the terminal apparatus Ti determines that there is a crowd around the own apparatus (step S905), and returns to the step that called the crowd determination process.

  As a result, when the probability that radio waves are blocked by the human body increases, it is determined whether there is a crowd around the device using the fact that the variation in RSSI values of beacons with the same transmission source increases. can do.

  Note that the terminal device Ti may execute any one of the crowd determination processes shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 in step S704 shown in FIG. Further, the terminal device Ti may combine the crowd determination process shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, for example.

  Next, a specific processing procedure for the parameter changing process in step S706 shown in FIG. 7 will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart (part 1) illustrating an example of a specific processing procedure of the parameter changing process. In the flowchart of FIG. 10, first, the terminal device Ti reads the maximum number of relays N _max from the memory 302 (step S1001).

Next, the terminal device Ti decrements the read maximum relay number N _max by 1 (step S1002). Then, the terminal device Ti writes the maximum relay number N _max subtracted by 1 in the memory 302 (step S1003), and returns to the step that called the parameter change process.

As a result, the maximum number of relays N _max can be gradually reduced to limit the relay of beacon signals including the BSSID of the beacon device Bk.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart (part 2) illustrating an example of a specific processing procedure of the parameter changing process. In the flowchart of FIG. 11, first, the terminal device Ti reads the threshold value L _min of the RSSI for detecting a beacon signal from the memory 302 (step S1101).

Next, the terminal device Ti increases the read threshold value L _min by 1 [dBm] (step S1102). Then, the terminal device Ti writes the threshold value L _min increased by 1 [dBm] in the memory 302 (step S1103), and returns to the step that called the parameter change process.

  Thereby, it is difficult to detect the beacon signal to be relayed, and the relay of the beacon signal including the BSSID of the beacon device Bk can be restricted.

  Note that the terminal device Ti may execute any of the parameter changing processes shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 in step S706 shown in FIG. Further, the terminal device Ti may combine the parameter change processing shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, for example.

  As described above, according to the terminal device Ti according to the embodiment, based on the information of the received beacon signal, it is determined whether there is a crowd around the own device, and the crowd around the own device is crowded. Is present, the relay of the beacon signal including the BSSID of the beacon device Bk can be restricted. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the relay of beacon signals from being randomly chained in an environment where there is a crowd.

Also, according to the terminal device Ti, when there is a crowd around the device itself, the maximum number of relays N _max that allows relaying of the beacon signal including the BSSID of the beacon device Bk can be reduced. Accordingly, it is possible to limit the relay of the beacon signal by reducing the maximum number of relays when relaying the beacon signal according to the number of people present around each terminal device Ti. Further, it is possible to set the maximum number of relays N _max according to the degree of crowding of people around each terminal device Ti.

Further, according to the terminal device Ti, when there is a crowd around the device itself, the threshold value L _min that is the lower limit value of the RSSI for detecting the beacon signal can be increased. Thereby, it becomes difficult to detect the beacon signal to be relayed in each terminal device Ti, and as a result, the relay of the beacon signal can be limited.

Further, according to the terminal Ti, it can be determined that the counted beacon reception number C is larger than the threshold value C _Th, there is crowd around the own device. Thereby, it is determined that there is a crowd around the own device in response to the number of other terminal devices Tj existing within a range in which short-distance wireless communication with the terminal device Ti exceeds the threshold value C _Th. it can.

Further, according to the terminal device Ti, based on the RSSI value of the beacon signal having the same transmission source, a statistic indicating the degree of variation of the RSSI value, for example, the variance V is calculated, and the calculated variance V is calculated from the threshold value V _Th . If it is large, it can be determined that there is a crowd around the device itself. As a result, it can be determined that there is a crowd around the device itself in response to the increase in the variation of the RSSI value to the extent that it can be said that the radio wave is shielded by the human body.

  Further, according to the terminal device Ti, the position of the own device can be determined based on the BSSID of the beacon device Bk included in the received beacon signal. Thereby, the position of the terminal device Ti can be estimated.

  For these reasons, according to the terminal device Ti, it is possible to prevent the relay of beacon signals from being randomly chained in an environment where there is a crowd, and a decrease in positioning accuracy based on the beacon signal transmitted from the beacon device Bk. Can be prevented.

  Thereby, it is possible to infer, for example, which sales floor or store in the commercial facility is near each terminal device Ti or which booth in the exhibition hall. Also, by uploading the location information of each terminal device Ti to a server etc., for example, how many people were in each booth in the exhibition hall, to identify popular booths and booths where people can easily gather Can be useful.

  The information processing method described in this embodiment can be realized by executing a program prepared in advance on a computer such as a personal computer or a workstation. The information processing program is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a hard disk, a flexible disk, a CD-ROM, an MO, and a DVD, and is executed by being read from the recording medium by the computer. The information processing program may be distributed via a network such as the Internet.

  The following additional notes are disclosed with respect to the embodiment described above.

(Supplementary Note 1) A receiver that receives a radio signal transmitted from a transmitter or other information processing apparatus;
Based on the information of the radio signal received by the receiving unit, it is determined whether there is a crowd around the own device, and when there is a crowd around the own device, the received by the receiving unit A control unit that restricts relay of radio signals including transmitter identification information;
An information processing apparatus comprising:

(Appendix 2) The control unit
The information processing apparatus according to appendix 1, wherein when there is a crowd around the own apparatus, the maximum number of relays that allow relaying of a radio signal including identification information of the transmitter is reduced.

(Appendix 3) The control unit
Supplementary note 1 or 2, wherein when there is a crowd around the device, the lower limit value of the received electric field strength of the wireless signal to be detected is increased among the wireless signals received by the receiving unit. Information processing device.

(Appendix 4) The control unit
4. The apparatus according to any one of appendices 1 to 3, wherein when the number of radio signals received by the receiving unit is greater than a first threshold, it is determined that there is a crowd around the device. Information processing device.

(Supplementary Note 5) The control unit
When a statistic indicating the degree of variation in the received electric field strength is calculated based on the received electric field strength of a radio signal having the same transmission source received by the receiver, and the calculated statistic is greater than a second threshold value The information processing apparatus according to any one of appendices 1 to 4, wherein it is determined that there is a crowd around the apparatus.

(Appendix 6) The control unit
The information processing apparatus according to any one of appendices 1 to 5, wherein the position of the own apparatus is determined based on identification information of the transmitter included in the wireless signal received by the reception unit. .

(Supplementary note 7) Any one of Supplementary notes 1 to 6, wherein the information of the radio signal received by the reception unit is information indicating the number of received radio signals or the received electric field strength received by the reception unit. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1.

(Appendix 8) The computer
Receives radio signals transmitted from transmitters or other information processing devices,
Based on the information of the received radio signal, it is determined whether there is a crowd around the own device. If there is a crowd around the own device, the relay of the radio signal including the identification information of the transmitter is performed. Restrict,
An information processing method characterized by executing processing.

(Appendix 9)
Receives radio signals transmitted from transmitters or other information processing devices,
Based on the information of the received radio signal, it is determined whether there is a crowd around the own device. If there is a crowd around the own device, the relay of the radio signal including the identification information of the transmitter is performed. Restrict,
An information processing program for executing a process.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 Transmitter 102, 102-1 to 102-12 Information processing device 120 Radio signal 200 System 201 Information providing device B1 to BK, Bk Beacon device T1 to Tn, Ti, Tj Terminal device 500 Received electric field strength information table 601 Receiving unit 602 Transmission unit 603 determination unit 604 relay control unit 605 determination unit 606 output unit

Claims (8)

A receiver for receiving a radio signal transmitted from a transmitter or other information processing apparatus;
Based on the information of the radio signal received by the receiving unit, it is determined whether there is a crowd around the own device, and when there is a crowd around the own device, the received by the receiving unit A control unit that restricts relay of radio signals including transmitter identification information;
An information processing apparatus comprising: The controller is
2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when there is a crowd around the own apparatus, the maximum number of relays that allow relaying of a radio signal including identification information of the transmitter is reduced. The controller is
3. The lower limit value of the received electric field strength of the radio signal to be detected among the radio signals received by the receiving unit when there is a crowd around the own device. The information processing apparatus described. The controller is
4. The method according to claim 1, wherein when the number of received radio signals received by the receiving unit is greater than a first threshold, it is determined that there is a crowd around the device. The information processing apparatus described. The controller is
When a statistic indicating the degree of variation in the received electric field strength is calculated based on the received electric field strength of a radio signal having the same transmission source received by the receiver, and the calculated statistic is greater than a second threshold value The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein it is determined that there is a crowd around the apparatus. The controller is
The information processing according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a position of the own device is determined based on identification information of the transmitter included in a radio signal received by the receiving unit. apparatus. Computer
Receives radio signals transmitted from transmitters or other information processing devices,
Based on the information of the received radio signal, it is determined whether there is a crowd around the own device. If there is a crowd around the own device, the relay of the radio signal including the identification information of the transmitter is performed. Restrict,
An information processing method characterized by executing processing. On the computer,
Receives radio signals transmitted from transmitters or other information processing devices,
Based on the information of the received radio signal, it is determined whether there is a crowd around the own device. If there is a crowd around the own device, the relay of the radio signal including the identification information of the transmitter is performed. Restrict,
An information processing program for executing a process.

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