JP3178013U - Wireless sign apparatus and position information providing system - Google Patents

Abstract

A radio beacon device that can easily secure an installation position for appropriately transmitting a radio beacon and a position information providing system using the same.
An antenna unit including an antenna element for transmitting a radio beacon, a beacon generation unit for generating a beacon signal to be supplied to the antenna element for transmitting the radio beacon, and generating a beacon signal in the beacon generation unit A main body 2 including at least one of a power supply section for supplying electric power, and a connection section 3 for transmitting a beacon signal generated by the beacon generation section or power supplied from the power supply between the main body and the antenna section 1. With.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for providing position information.

  2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, services have been provided that acquire user location information using GPS (Global Positioning System), perform map search, navigation, and provide peripheral information.

  However, GPS positioning has been difficult to use indoors, underground malls, and valleys of buildings because radio signals from satellites do not reach or reflect.

As a positioning technique that can be used even indoors, wireless LAN (Local Area) is available.
a Beacon signal (wireless beacon) is received from a base station (access point) of a network, and the position of the wireless communication device is based on the signal strength of the beacon signal received from the base station and the position information of the wireless LAN base station Techniques for estimating are known.

JP-A-11-74721 JP 2005-277756 A

  As described above, in order to obtain a correct result in the method of performing positioning by communication with the wireless LAN base station, the wireless LAN base station can receive a beacon signal from the wireless LAN base station without fail within the area where positioning is performed. It is desirable that is appropriately arranged.

  However, since the wireless LAN base station is a facility for performing communication using a wireless LAN, the wireless LAN base station is not always suitable for positioning.

  For this reason, it is conceivable to install a dedicated wireless LAN base station for positioning, but it is necessary to secure an installation location and a power source for each wireless LAN base station, and it is very difficult to apply to a wide range. .

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a radio beacon device that can easily secure an installation position for appropriately transmitting a radio beacon and a position information providing system using the same.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the wireless signage device of the present invention is
An antenna unit including an antenna element for transmitting a wireless sign;
A main body including a sign generation unit for generating a radio beacon or a power supply unit for supplying power for generating a radio beacon;
A wireless sign generated by the sign generating part, or a connection part for transmitting electric power supplied from the power source from the main body to the antenna part.

The antenna unit is a planar antenna provided with a radiation electrode and a GND electrode as an antenna element substantially in parallel via a flat substrate, and a feeding point is provided at a predetermined position of the radiation electrode to feed the feeding point. The signal may be transmitted as a circularly polarized radio indicator.
The power supply unit may include a solar cell sheet, and the solar cell may be provided on the outer surface of the main body.
You may attach the said main body to a lighting fixture, and convert the illumination light from the said lighting fixture into electric power with the said solar cell.

  The main body includes the label generation unit, a solar cell sheet is provided separately from the main body, the solar cell sheet and the main body are connected by a power cable, and power generated by the solar cell sheet is transmitted via the power cable. You may supply to the label | marker production | generation part of the said main body.

The antenna unit may include the marker generation unit, the main body may include the power supply unit, and power may be supplied from the power supply unit to the marker generation unit of the antenna unit via the connection unit.
An adhesive layer or a magnet sheet may be provided on the installation surface of the planar antenna unit.
In addition, the position information providing system of the present invention is
The wireless sign device, and a position information server that provides position information according to the wireless sign,
The location information server is
A request receiving unit that receives a request for position information corresponding to the wireless sign from the user terminal that has received the wireless sign;
An extraction unit that extracts position information corresponding to the wireless sign requested from the user terminal with reference to a position information database that stores a correspondence relationship between position information related to the installation position of the lighting fixture and the wireless sign. When,
A position information transmission unit configured to transmit the position information extracted according to the wireless sign to the user terminal.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can provide a radio beacon device that easily secures an installation position for appropriately transmitting a radio beacon and a position information providing system using the same.

Schematic of the radio beacon device according to Embodiment 1 Cross section of planar antenna Diagram showing schematic configuration of antenna element The figure which shows schematic structure of a connection part Diagram showing schematic configuration of main unit The figure which shows the output characteristic when the radio beacon is sent out from the plane antenna section The figure which shows the example which installed the radio beacon device in the event hall The figure which shows the example which installed the radio beacon device in the event hall The figure which shows the example which installed the radio beacon device in the event hall The figure which shows the example which installed the radio beacon device in the event hall The figure which shows schematic structure of the radio | wireless beacon apparatus which concerns on the modification of Embodiment 1. FIG. The figure which shows schematic structure of the main body which concerns on the modification of Embodiment 1. Schematic of the radio beacon device according to Embodiment 2 Schematic of the main body according to Embodiment 2 The figure which shows the modification of Embodiment 2. Schematic diagram of a location information providing system according to Embodiment 3 Diagram showing the hardware configuration of the location information server Functional block diagram of a location information server according to the third embodiment Schematic configuration diagram of a user terminal in the third embodiment Explanatory drawing of the positional information provision method performed by a positional information provision system

Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The configuration of the following embodiment is an exemplification, and the present invention is not limited to the configuration of the embodiment.
<Embodiment 1>
(1-1) Overview of Wireless Labeling Device FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a wireless labeling device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The radio beacon device 10 of this example includes a planar antenna unit 1 that transmits radio labels, a main body 2 having a label generation unit that generates radio labels, and a connection unit 3 that connects the planar antenna unit 1 and the main body 2. Prepare.

The radio beacon device 10 is optimal for sending out a radio beacon used for positioning by providing the planar antenna unit 1 and the main body 2 separately and connecting them by a flexible (flexible) connection unit 3. Even if it is difficult to install the entire radio beacon device 10 at a position, only the planar antenna unit 1 can be installed at an optimal position, and the main body 2 can be installed at another location. It is easy to secure the installation position.
(1-2) Structure of Planar Antenna Unit 1 FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the planar antenna unit 1. As shown in FIG. 2, the planar antenna unit 1 includes an antenna element 13 in a flat housing 11, and one end of the connection unit 3 is connected to the antenna element 13.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the antenna element 13, FIG. 3A is a plan view of the antenna element 13, and FIG. 3B is a side cross-sectional portion of the antenna element 13.

  In the antenna element 13, a radiation electrode 15 made of a substantially square conductor is formed on one flat surface 14A side of a flat substrate 14 made of a dielectric material or a magnetic material, and a substantially square conductor is formed on the other flat surface 14B side of the base material 14. A GND electrode 16 is formed.

  A predetermined position of the radiating electrode 15 is a feeding point 151 for feeding, and a metal feeding pin 152 is connected to the radiating electrode 15 at the feeding point 151 and the surface 14B side of the base 14 on which the GND electrode 16 is formed. And protrudes from the surface 14B of the base 14 so that the tip thereof is not in contact with the GND electrode 16.

  The power supply pin 152 is electrically connected to the power supply line 31 of the connection portion 3 by solder or the like at the end protruding from the surface 14B of the base 14. Further, the GND line 33 of the connection unit 3 is electrically connected to the GND electrode 16. As a result, when the marker signal is supplied to the radiation electrode 15 via the connection portion 3, the marker signal is transmitted as a radio marker from the radiation electrode.

  Note that the antenna element 13 of the present embodiment has two corners 153 that are opposite to each other by chamfering the opposite corner 153 of the radiation electrode 15 in order to obtain a circularly polarized wave, and using the chamfered portion as a degenerate separation element 154. I try to wake up.

  The planar antenna unit 1 according to the first embodiment has a configuration in which the antenna element 13 is built in the housing 11. However, the configuration is not limited thereto, and the antenna element 13 may be molded with resin or the like.

The installation surface (bottom surface) of the planar antenna unit 1 has a mounting portion 17 such as an adhesive layer, a magnet sheet, and a hook-and-loop fastener, and the planar antenna unit 1 is set at the installation position by the adhesive force of the adhesive layer, the magnetic force of the magnet sheet, or the like. Install.
(1-3) Structure of Connection Part 3 FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the connection part 3, FIG. 4 (A) is a diagram showing an example of a coaxial cable, and FIG. 4 (B) is an example of parallel lines. FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 4A, the connection portion 3 formed as a coaxial cable has an inner conductor (feeding line) 31 such as a copper wire covered with an insulator 32 such as polyethylene, and the periphery of the insulator is copper. In this configuration, the wire is covered with a braided wire (outer conductor, GND wire) 33 knitted with a fine wire, and the GND wire 33 is covered with a sheath (protective coating) 34.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4B, the connecting portion 3 that is a parallel line has a configuration in which a power supply line 31 and a GND line 33 are covered in parallel with a protective coating 34.

The connecting portion 3 is set to have a length and flexibility that allow the planar antenna portion 1 and the main body 2 to be installed independently. For example, the connecting part 3 may have a length of several millimeters to 10 m. Further, it is preferable that the connecting portion 3 has a length of 5 cm to 1 m in order to secure the degree of freedom of installation of the planar antenna portion 1 and the main body 2 and suppress the attenuation of the sign signal.
(1-4) Structure of Main Body 2 FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the main body 2. As shown in FIG. 5, the main body 2 includes a sign generation unit 22, a communication control unit 23, and a power supply unit 24 in a housing 21.

  The sign generation unit 22 generates a wireless sign and supplies it to the planar antenna unit 1 via the connection unit 3 to be sent out as a wireless sign. The sign generation unit 22 generates a beacon frame including position information or identification information (SSID or the like) corresponding to the position information as a sign signal (wireless sign). Information such as position information and identification information included in the beacon signal, an output interval of the beacon signal, and transmission power is stored as setting information in a memory, a register, or the like. Is generated and output. The sign generation unit 22 may be an electronic circuit configured by combining a logic circuit or the like so as to generate and output a sign signal, and has a CPU and a memory, and generates and outputs a sign signal according to a program. It may be an information processing unit that performs.

  The communication control unit 23 transmits and receives information by performing wireless communication with other devices. The communication control unit 23 may be of any method as long as it can communicate wirelessly, such as ZigBee or Bluetooth, but in this embodiment, ZigBee is adopted because of low power consumption. For example, when the communication control unit 23 communicates with a management device for maintenance and receives a setting change command, the communication control unit 23 notifies the mark generation unit 22 of the setting change command and changes the setting.

  Here, the setting change includes a change in the transmission interval of the radio beacon, the transmission channel of the radio beacon, the output (transmission power) of the radio beacon, and the like. For example, when the transmission channel of the radio beacon is used for other communication in the same area, when a channel change command is transmitted from the management device (not shown) to the radio beacon device 10, the communication control unit of the radio beacon device 10 23 receives the change command and causes the sign generation unit 22 to change the transmission channel. Similarly, when it is desired to change the transmission interval of the radio beacon, the changed value is input to the management device, and the transmission interval change command and the changed value are transmitted to the radio beacon device 10. Then, the communication control unit 23 of the radio beacon device 10 that has received the transmission interval change command causes the beacon generation unit 22 to change the radio beacon transmission interval to a specified value.

  When it is desired to change the output of the radio beacon, the changed value is input to the management device, and the output change command and the changed value are transmitted to the radio beacon device 10. Then, the communication control unit 23 of the radio beacon device 10 that has received the output change instruction causes the beacon generation unit 22 to change the output of the radio beacon to a specified value. Accordingly, even when the setting is changed, it is not necessary to remove the radio beacon device 10 installed at a high place, and the maintenance can be easily performed.

The power supply unit 24 includes a constant voltage circuit 241 and a battery 242. The constant voltage circuit 241 supplies power of a predetermined voltage to functional units such as the sign generation unit 22 and the communication control unit 23. Note that the constant voltage circuit 241 may be omitted when a voltage variation can be allowed on the functional unit side.

The battery 242 is a power supply source to be supplied to each functional unit via the constant voltage circuit 241. The battery 242 is replaced or charged according to the consumed power.
(1-5) Installation Example FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating output characteristics when a wireless sign is transmitted from the planar antenna unit 1. As shown in FIG. 6A, when the planar antenna unit 1 is installed parallel to the XY plane, the result of measuring and plotting the gain in the ZX plane is shown as a solid line 41 in FIG. . At this time, the plane on the side where the radiation electrode 15 of the planar antenna unit 1 is provided is the front surface 1A, the opposite surface on which the GND electrode 16 is provided is the installation surface, and the direction orthogonal to the front surface 1A is 0 °.

  As shown in FIG. 6B, the distribution of the gain of the radio beacon extends in a substantially circular shape, and the area on the front side of the planar antenna unit 1 is widened. For this reason, it is desirable to install the front surface 1A of the planar antenna toward the area where the radio beacon is used, that is, the area where the user having the terminal receiving the radio beacon comes and goes.

7 to 9 are diagrams showing examples installed in the event venue. In the example of FIG. 7, the flat antenna unit 1 is installed on the vertical surface of the reception table 91 with the front surface 1 </ b> A facing the user. FIG. 8A is a vertical cross-sectional view of a table 91 on which the radio beacon device 10 is installed. In the example of FIG. 8A, the planar antenna unit 1 is attached to the outer surface of the table 91, and the main body 2 is placed inside the table 91 through the connection part 3 through the lower space of the table 91. FIG. 9 is a diagram in which the installation positions of the planar antenna units 1 provided at the booths 90 in the event venue and the gains of the radio signs output from the respective planar antenna units 1 are plotted. In the example of FIG. 8A, an example in which the planar antenna unit 1 is attached to the front surface of the base 91 is shown. However, when the front surface of the base 91 is a material (for example, non-metal) that transmits a wireless sign, An adhesive layer may be provided on the front surface 1A and attached to the back side of the front surface of the base 91 as shown in FIG. 8B. The planar antenna unit 1 is not limited to this, and may be provided at any position as long as the wireless sign can be transmitted to the use area of the wireless sign.
(1-6) Effect of this Embodiment By providing the front surface 1A of the planar antenna unit 1 so as to face the wireless sign usage area in this way, the terminal using the radio sign can be appropriately adapted to its position. Wireless signs can be received with high intensity.

  If the planar antenna unit 1 and the main body 2 are integrated and installed on the vertical surface of the base 91 as shown in FIG. 8A, all of the radio beacon devices including batteries must be attached to the vertical surface. ,It's not easy. Also, if many devices are installed in a position facing the area used by the user, there is a possibility that it will be in the way.

  In the present embodiment, only the flat planar antenna portion 1 may be installed on the vertical surface, and it can be installed with a simple attachment portion such as an adhesive layer, and the degree of freedom of installation is high. Moreover, since it is sufficient to provide only the planar antenna unit 1 so as to face the area used by the user, it is easy to secure the installation position without being in the way.

Further, in a system that performs positioning using a beacon signal transmitted from a conventional wireless LAN base station, if the beacon signal is linearly polarized, and the polarization plane on the transmission side is different from the polarization plane on the reception side, the sensitivity is increased. Therefore, the distance from the wireless LAN base station may not be accurately obtained from the strength of the wireless signal. On the other hand, in this embodiment, since the radio beacon is sent out by circular polarization, it can be used with high accuracy.
(1-7) Modified Example In FIG. 5, an example in which the battery 242 is incorporated as the power supply unit 24 is shown, but the configuration is not limited thereto, and power may be supplied from the outside. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the radio beacon device 10 according to the present modification, and FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a main body according to the present modification.

  As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, in this modification, the power supply unit 24 includes a power cable 243 connected to a commercial power supply and an AC-DC converter 244. Since other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, the same elements are denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof is omitted.

  In the radio beacon device 10 of the present modification, the plug 243A at the end of the power cable 243 is connected to a so-called outlet of a commercial power supply so that an AC current is supplied from the commercial power supply, and a predetermined DC current is received by the AC-DC converter 244. Then, power of a predetermined voltage is supplied to the function units such as the sign generation unit 22 and the communication control unit 23 via the constant voltage circuit 241.

Since power is supplied from the commercial power supply in this way, the main body 2 and the planar antenna unit 1 can be installed independently according to this modification even when the main body and the commercial power supply are connected by a power cable. It is easy to secure the installation position.
<Embodiment 2>
FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram of a radio beacon device according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of the main body 2 according to the second embodiment. The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in the configuration using a solar cell as a power supply source, and the other configurations are the same. For this reason, the same elements are denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof is omitted.

  As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, in this modification, the power supply unit 24 includes a solar cell 245, a power cable 246, and a capacitor 247.

  In the wireless signage device 10 according to the second embodiment, illumination light or the like is converted into electric power by the sheet-like solar cell 245, and functional parts such as the sign generation unit 22 and the communication control unit 23 are connected via the capacitor 247 and the constant voltage circuit 241. Is supplied with a predetermined voltage.

  Note that the capacitor 247 functions as a buffer that smoothes fluctuations in power consumption. This is because when the amount of light received by the solar cell 245 is constant, the current obtained is also constant, whereas the consumption current of the sign generation unit 22 flows during a short time when the sign signal is output, and other standby Sometimes a large current is not required and is smoothed. For example, when a solar cell 245 having a size capable of supplying a current necessary for outputting a marker signal is used, the supply current becomes excessive during other periods. By smoothing this, the size of the solar cell 245 can be reduced. Minimized to the necessary level.

According to the present embodiment, since the radio beacon device 10 can be operated by energy harvesting using illumination light or the like, charging, battery replacement, wiring, etc. are unnecessary, and it is not necessary to newly emit CO ₂ and to the environment. It is possible to provide a wireless sign while suppressing the impact of the.
(2-1) Modification FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a modification of the second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 14, the solar cell 245 may be provided on the outer surface of the main body 2. Thereby, the installation position of the main body 2 and the solar cell 245 can be made small.

Thus, even when the solar cell 245 is provided in the main body 2 and the main body 2 needs to be installed at a position where the illumination light can be received for power generation by the solar cell 245, according to the present modification, the main body 2 and the planar antenna are provided. Since the part 1 can be installed independently, the degree of freedom of installation is high, and the installation position can be easily secured.
In the above-described first and second embodiments, an example in which a planar antenna is employed as the antenna unit has been shown.
The shape of the antenna portion is not limited to a planar antenna, and an antenna having another shape such as a Yagi antenna may be used.
5, 11, and 13, an example in which the main body 2 includes the sign generation unit 22 is illustrated. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the flat antenna unit 1 may include the sign generation unit 22. In this case, the connection unit 3 transmits power supplied from the power supply unit 24 to the sign generation unit 22 and a communication signal between the sign generation unit 22 and the communication control unit 23. Alternatively, the planar antenna unit 1 may be provided with the sign generation unit 22 and the communication control unit 23, and power may be supplied from the power supply unit 24 to the sign generation unit 22 and the communication control unit 23 via the connection unit 3.
<Embodiment 3>
(3-1) Overview of Position Information Providing System FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram of a position information providing system according to the third embodiment.

  The position information providing system 100 of this example includes a plurality of radio beacon devices 10 that transmit radio signs, a position information server 20 that provides position information corresponding to the radio signs to the user terminal 4, the user terminal 4 and the position information server. And a wireless LAN base station 30 that relays communication with the network 20.

  The location information providing system 100 is a system that provides location information in places where GPS signals are not available, such as shopping malls and underground malls.

  First, the identification information included in the radio beacon provided by each radio beacon device 10 and the location information of the installation position of each radio beacon device 10 are associated with each other and stored in the location information server 20 as a location information database.

  When the user instructs positioning, the user terminal 4 receives the wireless sign and requests the position information server 20 for position information corresponding to the wireless sign.

  Upon receiving this request, the location information server 20 refers to the location information database and provides the corresponding location information to the user terminal 4.

As a result, the position information providing system 100 can provide the user with the current position and the surrounding map, information on stores in the vicinity, navigation information from the current position to the destination, and the like as the position information.
(3-2) Hardware Configuration of Location Information Server FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the location information server 20. The location information server 20 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 201, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 202, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 203, a host bus 204, a bridge 205, an external bus 206, an interface 207, , An input device 208, an output device 210, a storage device (HDD) 211, a drive 212, and a communication device 215.

  The CPU 201 functions as an arithmetic processing device and a control device, and controls the overall operation in the position information server 20 according to various programs. Further, the CPU 201 may be a microprocessor. The ROM 202 stores programs used by the CPU 201, calculation parameters, and the like. The RAM 203 primarily stores programs used in the execution of the CPU 201, parameters that change as appropriate during the execution, and the like. These are connected to each other by a host bus 204 including a CPU bus.

The host bus 204 is connected to the PCI (Peripheral Co) via the bridge 205.
connected to an external bus 206 such as a component interconnect / interface bus. Note that the host bus 204, the bridge 205, and the external bus 206 are not necessarily configured separately, and these functions may be mounted on one bus.

  The input device 208 is, for example, an input means for a user to input information, such as a mouse, keyboard, touch panel, button, microphone, switch, and lever, and an input that generates an input signal based on the input by the user and outputs the input signal to the CPU 201 It consists of a control circuit. The operator of the location information server 20 can input various data and instruct processing operations to the location information server 20 by operating the input device 208.

  The output device 210 includes, for example, a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) display device, a liquid crystal display (LCD) device and a display device such as a lamp, and an audio output device such as a speaker and headphones. The output device 210 outputs the processing result of the CPU 201, for example. Specifically, various information such as input data and the operating status of the system is displayed as text or images. On the other hand, the audio output device outputs messages, warning sounds, audio data of contents, and the like as sounds.

  The storage device 211 is a data storage device configured as an example of a storage unit of the location information server 20 according to the present embodiment, and reads data from the storage medium, a recording device that records data in the storage medium, and the storage medium. A reading device and a deleting device for deleting data recorded in the storage medium can be included. The storage device 211 is composed of, for example, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive). The storage device 211 drives a hard disk and stores programs executed by the CPU 201 and various data. The storage device 211 stores a location information database and the like.

  The drive 212 is a storage medium reader / writer, and is built in or externally attached to the position information server 20. The drive 212 reads information recorded on a mounted removable storage medium such as a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, or a semiconductor memory, and outputs the information to the RAM 203.

The communication device 215 is a communication interface configured with, for example, a communication device for connecting to the communication network 12. In addition, the communication device 215 includes a wireless LAN (Local Area).
a Network) compatible communication device, a wireless USB compatible communication device, or a wire communication device that performs wired communication.
(3-3) Function of Location Information Server According to Third Embodiment FIG. 17 is a functional block diagram of the location information server 20 according to the third embodiment. The location information server 20 includes a request reception unit 231, an extraction unit 232, and a location information transmission unit 233. The functions of the request reception unit 231, the extraction unit 232, and the location information transmission unit 233 are realized by the CPU 201 executing processing according to a program and controlling each unit such as the communication device 215 and the storage device 211.

  The request receiving unit 231 receives a request (request) for position information corresponding to the wireless sign from the user terminal 4 that has received the wireless sign via the communication device 215.

The extraction unit 232 refers to the position information database and extracts position information corresponding to the radio beacon received from the user terminal.
The position information transmission unit 233 transmits the position information extracted by the extraction unit 232 to the user terminal 4.
(3-4) Configuration of User Terminal FIG. 18 is a schematic configuration diagram of the user terminal 4 in the third embodiment. The user terminal 4 is a computer carried by the user, for example, a mobile phone, a smartphone, a notebook type P
C (Personal Computer), portable game machine, portable audio player, camera, position information recording device (logger), and the like.

  As shown in FIG. 18, the user terminal 4 includes an arithmetic processing unit 401 composed of a CPU, a main memory, etc., a storage unit (for example, flash memory) 403 storing data and software for arithmetic processing, an input / output unit 404, a communication A control unit (CCU: Communication Control Unit) 405 and the like are provided.

  The input / output unit 404 is appropriately provided with input devices such as a keyboard, buttons, dials, pointing devices, and touch panels, and output devices such as a display and a speaker display light.

The CCU 405 communicates with other computers via a network. The CCU 405 is, for example, a wireless LAN unit or a Bluetooth (registered trademark) unit, and also receives a radio beacon from the radio beacon device 10.
An operating system (OS) and application software are installed in the storage unit 403.

  The arithmetic processing unit 401 reads out and executes the OS and application program from the storage unit 403 as appropriate, and performs arithmetic processing on the information input from the input / output unit 404 and the CCU 405 and the information read from the storage unit 403. It also functions as an information acquisition unit, a position information request unit, and an output control unit.

  The position information acquisition unit receives the radio beacon from the radio beacon device 10 when receiving a positioning instruction from the user or by controlling the CCU 405 at a predetermined timing.

  The position information requesting unit sends identification information included in the wireless sign, user identification information, and the like to the position information server 20 to request provision of position information corresponding to the wireless sign.

Based on the position information received from the position information server 20, the output control unit performs position information output processing such as display of position information and audio output. This output process may be a process of writing position information to a storage medium when the user terminal is a camera or a logger, for example. Further, the output process may be a process of transmitting position information to another device.
(3-5) Location Information Providing Method FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram of a location information providing method executed by the location information providing system 100.

  First, when the luminaire 5 is turned on, the radio beacon device 10 photoelectrically converts the illumination light from the luminaire 5 and sends out the radio beacon at a predetermined cycle (for example, 100 ms) (step S1).

  When the user instructs positioning, the position information acquisition unit of the user terminal 4 acquires a wireless sign from the wireless sign device 10 (step S2).

  The location information request unit of the user terminal 4 requests location information from the location information server 20 via the wireless LAN base station 30 (access point) based on the wireless sign (step S3).

  When the location information server 20 receives a request for location information from the user terminal 4 at the request reception unit (step S4), the extraction unit refers to the location information database to obtain location information corresponding to the radio sign (step S4). S5).

Then, the position information transmission unit of the position information server 20 transmits the position information extracted in step S5 to the requesting user terminal 4 (step S6).
The user terminal 4 that has received the position information performs position information output processing such as display of the position information (step S7).
(3-6) Effects of this Embodiment As described above, according to this embodiment, it is possible to easily construct a position information providing system by using the radio beacon device 10 having a high degree of freedom of installation.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Planar antenna part 2 Main body 3 Connection part 4 User terminal 5 Lighting fixture 10 Radio | wireless labeling device 11 Case 13 Antenna element 14 Base | substrate 15 Radiation electrode 16 GND electrode 20 Position information server 21 Case 22 Label production | generation part 23 Communication control part 24 Power supply Unit 30 Base station 31 Feed line 32 Insulator 33 GND line 34 Protective coating 90 Each booth 91 Stand 100 Position information providing system 241 Constant voltage circuit 242 Battery 243 Power cable 244 Converter 245 Solar battery 246 Power cable 247 Capacitor

Claims (9)

An antenna unit including an antenna element for transmitting a wireless sign;
A main body including at least one of a sign generation unit that generates a beacon signal to be supplied to the antenna element to transmit the radio beacon and a power supply unit that supplies electric power to generate the beacon signal to the sign generation unit;
A connection part for transmitting the sign signal generated by the sign generation part or the power supplied from the power source between the main body and the antenna part;
A radio beacon device comprising:   The antenna unit is a planar antenna provided with a radiation electrode and a GND electrode as antenna elements substantially in parallel via a flat substrate, and a feeding point is provided at a predetermined position of the radiation electrode to feed the feeding point. The radio beacon device according to claim 1, wherein the transmitted signal is sent out as a circularly polarized radio beacon.   The radio beacon device according to claim 1, wherein the power supply unit includes a solar cell sheet, and the solar cell is provided on an outer surface of the main body.   The radio | wireless sign apparatus of Claim 3 which attaches the said main body to a lighting fixture and converts the illumination light from the said lighting fixture into electric power with the said solar cell.   The main body includes the label generation unit, a solar cell sheet is provided separately from the main body, the solar cell sheet and the main body are connected by a power cable, and power generated by the solar cell sheet is transmitted via the power cable. The radio beacon device according to claim 1, wherein the radio beacon device is supplied to a sign generation unit of the main body.   The said antenna part is equipped with the said mark production | generation part, The said main body is equipped with the said power supply part, The electric power is supplied to the label production | generation part of the said antenna part via the said connection part from the said power supply part. Wireless signage device.   The radio beacon device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising an adhesive layer or a magnet sheet on an installation surface of the planar antenna unit.   The radio beacon device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the connection portion is a member having flexibility. A position information providing system comprising: the radio beacon device according to any one of claims 1 to 8; and a position information server that provides position information according to the radio beacon.
The location information server is
A request receiving unit that receives a request for position information corresponding to the wireless sign from the user terminal that has received the wireless sign;
An extraction unit that extracts position information corresponding to the wireless sign requested from the user terminal with reference to a position information database that stores a correspondence relationship between position information related to the installation position of the lighting fixture and the wireless sign. When,
A position information transmitting unit that transmits the position information extracted according to the radio sign to the user terminal;
Location information provision system with

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