JP5756819B2 - Information providing system, information providing apparatus, and information providing method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an information providing system, an information providing apparatus, and an information providing method.

  In recent years, wireless LAN (Local Area Network) communication has rapidly spread. Wireless LAN access points are installed in various places such as stations, airports, stores, etc., and wireless LAN communication functions are installed as standard in various mobile devices such as personal computers, mobile phones, and portable game machines. It has become. Such wireless LAN communication is expected to become more widespread, and users of mobile devices that are wireless terminals are expected to be able to use a high-speed Internet connection environment in various places.

  In such a communication environment, for example, in Patent Document 1, when a wireless terminal existing in an access point is detected, a technique for notifying information corresponding to the access point from the information distribution control device to the wireless terminal by mail. Is described.

JP 2005-107897 A

  However, in the above prior art, since information corresponding to the access point is transmitted by mail, there is a case where content cannot be provided promptly. Therefore, it is conceivable to transmit information from the information distribution control device to the wireless terminal via the access point.

  However, when the access point relays transmission / reception data between the wireless terminal and a server device such as a website, if the above information is transmitted to the wireless terminal via the access point, communication traffic increases, and the relay processing described above May be affected.

  The present application has been made in view of the above, and an information providing system and an information providing apparatus capable of appropriately notifying information to a user of a wireless terminal while suppressing influence on relay processing of a wireless LAN access point And an information providing method.

The information providing system according to the present application includes a wireless LAN access point connected to a communication network, and at least first notification information and first notification information as notification information corresponding to the wireless LAN access point. Information storage means for storing different second notification information, terminal information acquisition means for acquiring information of a wireless terminal existing in a wireless LAN communication area of the wireless LAN access point, the wireless LAN access point, Communication state acquisition means for acquiring information on communication traffic with the communication network, and based on the information on the communication traffic acquired by the communication state acquisition means, any one of a wireless LAN access point and a wireless WAN base station determining means for determining whether to notify the notifying information from the communication medium, wherein When the communication medium determined by the determination means is the wireless LAN access point, the communication medium determined by the determination means for the first notification information stored in the information storage means is the wireless WAN base station. In this case, the notification means for notifying the second notification information stored in the information storage means from the communication medium determined by the determination means to the wireless terminal specified by the information acquired by the terminal information acquisition means And having.

  The information providing system, the information providing apparatus, and the information providing method according to the present application have an effect of appropriately performing information notification to the user of the wireless terminal while suppressing the influence on the relay processing of the wireless LAN access point.

FIG. 1A is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an information providing system according to an embodiment. FIG. 1B is an explanatory diagram of an information providing process performed by the information providing system illustrated in FIG. 1A. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a specific configuration example of the information providing system according to the embodiment. FIG. 3A is a diagram (part 1) illustrating a sequence for establishing a session between a wireless LAN access point and a wireless terminal. FIG. 3B is a diagram (part 2) illustrating the sequence of session establishment between the wireless LAN access point and the wireless terminal. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a terminal information table stored in the location information DB. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a communication medium selection table stored in the location information DB. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a location information table stored in the location information DB. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a user information table stored in the user information DB. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a screen example in which information provided from the information providing apparatus is displayed on the display unit of the wireless terminal. FIG. 9 is a flowchart of information processing in the wireless LAN access point. FIG. 10 is a flowchart of information processing in the information providing apparatus. FIG. 11 is a flowchart of the notification process shown in FIG.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of an information providing system, an information providing apparatus, and an information providing method according to the present application will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the information providing system, the information providing apparatus, and the information providing method according to the present application are not limited by this embodiment.

[1. Information providing system)
First, the configuration of the information providing system according to the embodiment will be described. FIG. 1A is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an information providing system according to an embodiment.

  As illustrated in FIG. 1A, the information providing system according to the embodiment includes a wireless local area network (LAN) access point and an information providing apparatus. The wireless LAN access point and the information providing apparatus are connected via a communication network. The communication network is, for example, an IP (Internet Protocol) network such as the Internet.

  The wireless LAN access point includes a wireless LAN communication unit, and the wireless LAN communication unit can wirelessly communicate with a wireless terminal. Wireless LAN access points include, for example, retail stores, restaurants, beauty salons and barbers, hospitals, hotels, movie theaters, complex leisure facilities, stations, shopping streets, event venues where concerts and sports are held, etc. A commercial space is a wireless LAN communication area (hereinafter referred to as an AP communication area).

  The wireless LAN access point includes a communication unit that connects to a communication network, and has a relay function that relays transmission / reception data between the wireless terminal and the communication network side device. The communication network side device is, for example, an information providing device or a server (for example, a website).

  A wireless terminal can access a server (for example, a website) connected to a communication network via a mobile phone base station (an example of a wireless WAN base station) of a mobile phone communication network that is a WAN (Wide Area Network). Is possible. The cellular phone communication network is connected to the communication network via a gateway server (not shown). The wireless terminal is a mobile phone equipped with a wireless LAN communication function, and can access the server via the wireless LAN access point within the AP communication area of the wireless LAN access point.

  The information providing apparatus includes a database for storing notification information (hereinafter referred to as DB), and the notification corresponding to the wireless LAN access point where the wireless terminal is present among the notification information stored in the DB. Information is selected, acquired from the DB, and transmitted to the wireless terminal.

  The information providing apparatus selects either a wireless LAN access point or a wireless WAN base station as a communication medium for notifying information for notification (hereinafter referred to as a notification communication medium). The selection of the communication medium for notification is performed based on the state of communication traffic between the wireless terminal via the wireless LAN access point and the communication network.

  As described above, by transmitting the notification information to the wireless terminal based on the communication traffic state, it is possible to appropriately provide information to the wireless terminal existing in the communication area of the wireless LAN access point.

[2. (Information provision method)
Next, an example of an information providing method by the information providing system will be described. FIG. 1B is an explanatory diagram of an information providing method according to the embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1B, the wireless LAN access point detects communication traffic between a wireless terminal relaying transmission / reception data and a communication network side device (step S1). The communication traffic is determined based on, for example, the amount of communication packets transmitted from the communication network side to the wireless LAN access point.

  The wireless LAN access point transmits the detected communication traffic information as detection information to the information providing apparatus (step S2). The information providing apparatus acquires the detection information transmitted from the wireless LAN access point and stores it in the internal DB (step S3).

  Thereafter, when the wireless terminal enters the AP communication area of the wireless LAN access point and a wireless signal is transmitted from the wireless terminal to the wireless LAN access point (step S4), the wireless LAN access point transmits the wireless signal transmitted from the wireless terminal. Based on the signal, the terminal ID and the radio wave intensity information of the wireless terminal are detected as terminal information (step S5).

  The terminal ID is, for example, the MAC address (Media Access Control address) of the wireless LAN communication unit of the wireless terminal, and the radio wave intensity information is, for example, the radio wave of a radio signal transmitted from the wireless terminal and received by the wireless LAN access point. It is strength information. The wireless LAN access point transmits information including terminal information and AP-ID as terminal information to the information providing apparatus (step S6). AP-ID is identification information of a wireless LAN access point.

  The information providing apparatus determines a notification communication medium based on the state of communication traffic for the wireless terminal specified by the terminal information transmitted from the wireless LAN access point (step S7). As a communication medium for notification, there are a wireless LAN access point and a mobile phone base station.

  When the amount of communication traffic is small, for example, as shown in FIG. 1A, the information providing apparatus sets the radio field intensity threshold to “2”, and if the radio field intensity of the wireless terminal specified by the terminal information is “2” or more, The communication medium for notification is determined as a wireless LAN access point. On the other hand, if the radio field intensity of the wireless terminal specified by the terminal information is less than “2”, the information providing apparatus determines the notification communication medium as the mobile phone base station.

  In addition, when the amount of communication traffic is large, for example, as shown in FIG. 1A, the information providing apparatus sets the radio field intensity threshold to “5” and the radio field intensity of the wireless terminal specified by the terminal information is “5” or more. For example, the communication medium for notification is determined as a wireless LAN access point. On the other hand, if the radio field strength of the wireless terminal specified by the terminal information is less than “5”, the information providing apparatus determines the notification communication medium as the mobile phone base station. Here, the radio field intensity of the wireless terminal is represented by an intensity level that increases as the intensity increases in the range of 0 to 10.

  The information providing apparatus may set the radio field intensity threshold to a value lower than “5” when the number of wireless terminals existing in the AP communication area is small even when the communication traffic volume is large. it can. In this case, the information providing apparatus detects the number of wireless terminals based on the terminal information transmitted from the wireless LAN access point.

  When the information providing apparatus determines the communication medium for notification as the wireless LAN access point, the information providing apparatus transmits the notification information to the wireless LAN access point via the communication network (step S8a), and the notification information is transmitted from the wireless LAN access point to the wireless terminal. (Step S9a). On the other hand, when the information providing apparatus determines the notification communication medium to be the mobile phone base station, the information providing apparatus transmits the notification information from the communication network to the wireless terminal of the mobile phone communication network (step S8b), and the mobile phone base station transmits the notification information. Information is notified to the wireless terminal (step S9b).

  When receiving the notification information from the wireless LAN access point or the mobile phone base station, the wireless terminal displays the notification information on the display unit (step S10). The notification information displayed in this way is notification information corresponding to the wireless LAN access point that detected the wireless terminal. For example, information related to “A store”, which is a location where a wireless LAN access point is installed (hereinafter sometimes referred to as an AP location), is displayed on the display unit of the wireless terminal as notification information.

  As described above, in the information providing system according to the embodiment, when the wireless terminal enters the communication area of the wireless LAN access point, notification information corresponding to the wireless LAN access point is notified to the wireless terminal.

  Therefore, for example, when a wireless LAN access point is installed in a store, the store information can be notified to the user of the wireless terminal that has entered the store, thereby effectively providing the store information to the user. Notification can be made. In addition, for the user, information that is completely unrelated to the store where the store entered is not notified randomly, and the user is not uncomfortable.

  In addition, in the information providing system according to the embodiment, it is possible to notify the wireless terminal of appropriate notification information from different communication routes in accordance with the communication traffic between the wireless terminal and the communication network side device.

  When the communication traffic amount is large at the wireless LAN access point, when the notification information is transmitted from the wireless LAN access point to the wireless terminal, communication between the wireless terminal and the communication network side device via the wireless LAN access point is prevented. May have an impact. In the information providing system according to the embodiment, when the amount of communication traffic is large, notification information is notified from the mobile phone base station to the wireless terminal, so that the wireless terminal via the wireless LAN access point and the communication network side device The influence on the communication between them can be suppressed.

  Hereinafter, the specific configuration and specific processing of the information providing system will be described more specifically with reference to the drawings.

[3. Specific configuration of information providing system]
A specific configuration example of the information providing system according to the embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a specific configuration example of the information providing system according to the embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 2, the information providing system 1 includes a plurality of wireless LAN access points 2 ₁ to 2 _n and an information providing device 3 and provides various types of information to the wireless terminals 4 ₁ to 4 _n . . The wireless terminals 4 ₁ to 4 _n are mobile phones having a wireless LAN communication function, such as smartphones, and are owned by each user. In addition, when it is not necessary to distinguish the wireless terminals 4 ₁ to 4 _n , they are collectively referred to as “wireless terminal 4”.

The plurality of wireless LAN access points 2 ₁ to 2 _n and the information providing device 3 are managed by, for example, an information providing service provider. When it is not necessary to distinguish between the wireless LAN access points 2 ₁ to 2 _n , they are collectively referred to as “wireless LAN access point 2”.

  The wireless LAN access point 2 is connected to the information providing device 3 via the communication network 5, and the information providing device 3 provides various types of information from the wireless LAN access point 2 to the wireless terminal 4 via the communication network 5. can do. In the present embodiment, the communication network 5 is described as the Internet. However, the communication network 5 is not limited to the Internet, and may be a network provided exclusively for an information providing service provider, for example.

The mobile phone communication network 6 is connected to the communication network 5 via the gateway servers 8 and 9, and the information providing device 3 is connected to the mobile phone communication network 6 via the communication network 5. Information can also be transmitted from the stations 7 _{1 to} 7 _n to the wireless terminal 4. In addition, when it is not necessary to distinguish the mobile phone base stations 7 _{1 to} 7 _n , they are collectively referred to as “mobile phone base station 7”.

  Here, the mobile phone base station 7 is a wireless WAN base station, and the mobile phone communication network 6 is described as an example of the communication network to which the wireless WAN base station is connected. However, the communication network to which the wireless WAN base station is connected is described. Is not limited to the mobile phone communication network 6. For example, the communication network to which the wireless WAN base station is connected may be a dedicated data communication network. In this case, the wireless WAN base station is a wireless base station of a dedicated data communication network, and information is transmitted from the wireless base station to the wireless terminal 4.

  The wireless terminal 4 has a function of displaying the notification information on the display unit, and acquires and displays the notification information provided from the information providing system 1 via the communication network 5. Note that the function of displaying the notification information is, for example, a function of an operating system (OS) or application of the wireless terminal 4.

  The wireless terminal 4 is equipped with a browser, and displays information on a page provided from the information providing system 1 or a site (not shown). For example, when the communication network 5 is the Internet, the page provided from the information providing system 1 is a web page defined in a markup language such as HTML (HyperText Markup Language).

  Hereinafter, specific configurations of the wireless LAN access point 2 and the information providing apparatus 3 will be described in this order.

[4. Configuration of wireless LAN access point 2]
First, the configuration of the wireless LAN access point 2 will be specifically described. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the wireless LAN access point 2 includes a wireless LAN communication unit 20, a communication unit 21, and a control unit 22.

  The wireless LAN communication unit 20 is installed such that a region including a target location is the communication area. The wireless LAN communication unit 20 is a communication interface that performs wireless LAN communication, and transmits and receives information to and from the wireless terminal 4 equipped with a wireless LAN communication function using a wireless signal. Note that the wireless LAN includes, for example, a wireless LAN defined by IEEE 802.11, but is not limited to such a wireless LAN.

  The communication unit 21 is connected to the communication network 5 and transmits / receives information to / from the information providing device 3 and a web server (not shown) via the communication network 5. The communication unit 21 connects to the communication network 5 by wire or wireless. Hereinafter, devices such as the information providing device 3 and the web server (not shown) connected to the communication network 5 are referred to as server devices.

  The control unit 22 includes a relay unit 25 that performs a relay process between the wireless terminal 4 and the server device, and a detection unit 26 that performs a detection process of the wireless terminal 4, and functions and functions of information processing described below. Realize or execute. Note that the internal configuration of the control unit 22 is not limited to this configuration, and may be another configuration as long as information processing described later is performed.

[4.1. Relay unit 25]
For example, the relay unit 25 transmits information acquired from the wireless terminal 4 via the wireless LAN communication unit 20 to the server device from the communication unit 21, and transmits information acquired from the server device via the communication unit 21 to the wireless LAN. Transmission from the communication unit 20 to the wireless terminal 4.

  The information transmission from the wireless LAN access point 2 to the server device is performed using, for example, the address of the communication network 5 assigned to the wireless LAN access point 2 as a transmission source address and the address of the communication network 5 assigned to the server device as a transmission destination. It is performed by packet communication using addresses. The address of the communication network 5 is, for example, an address assigned to the communication unit 21 and is, for example, an IP address.

[4.2. Detection unit 26]
The detection unit 26 detects the presence of the wireless terminal 4 by acquiring the wireless packet transmitted from the wireless terminal 4 via the wireless LAN communication unit 20. 3A and 3B are diagrams showing a session establishment sequence between the wireless LAN access point 2 and the wireless terminal 4.

  In the example shown in FIG. 3A, wireless packets called probe requests are periodically transmitted from the wireless terminal 4 by broadcast or the like, and the detection unit 26 acquires such wireless packets via the wireless LAN communication unit 20, The presence of the wireless terminal 4 is detected.

  The probe request includes a BSSID (Basic Service Set Identifier), and the detection unit 26 transmits a probe response to the wireless terminal 4 when the probe request matches the BSSID of the wireless LAN communication unit 20. The wireless terminal 4 that has received the probe response shifts to a communicating state when automatic communication is set.

  As shown in FIG. 3A, the transition to the in-communication state is performed by establishing a session by an association request and an association response, and thereafter, a data frame or control between the wireless terminal 4 and the wireless LAN communication unit 20 A frame is transmitted and received to enter a communication state.

  In addition, for example, as illustrated in FIG. 3B, the detection unit 26 broadcasts a wireless packet called a beacon via the wireless LAN communication unit 20 to the wireless terminal 4 to which a wireless packet is not periodically transmitted. The presence of the wireless terminal 4 is detected by receiving the association request for. The detection unit 26 that has received the association request establishes a session by transmitting an association response to the wireless terminal 4, and places the wireless terminal 4 and the wireless LAN communication unit 20 in a communicating state.

  When the detection unit 26 shifts to the communication state, the detection unit 26 repeatedly receives wireless packets until the communication state is canceled and detects the presence of the wireless terminal 4. The communication state is canceled when a disconnection request is received from the wireless terminal 4 or when wireless packets cannot be transmitted / received between the wireless terminal 4 and the wireless LAN communication unit 20.

  For example, when the detection unit 26 determines that the wireless terminal 4 has been detected, the detection unit 26 transmits the terminal information of the wireless terminal 4 to the information providing apparatus 3 via the communication unit 21. Specifically, the detection unit 26 extracts the terminal ID included in the wireless packet transmitted from the wireless terminal 4, and further detects the radio wave intensity.

  The terminal ID is, for example, the MAC address of the wireless LAN communication unit of the wireless terminal 4, and is added to the wireless packet and transmitted from the wireless terminal 4. The radio wave intensity is the radio wave intensity of a radio signal received by the wireless LAN access point 2. The radio wave intensity may be a radio wave reception intensity (RSSI: Received Signal Strength Indication) acquired by the wireless terminal 4. In this case, a wireless signal including radio wave intensity information is transmitted from the wireless terminal 4 to the wireless LAN access point 2.

  In addition to the terminal ID and radio wave intensity information of the wireless terminal 4, the detection unit 26 transmits the AP-ID and information indicating whether the communication is in progress to the information providing apparatus 3 as terminal information. As the AP-ID, for example, the network address of the communication network 5 assigned to the communication unit 21 can be used.

  Moreover, the detection part 26 detects the information amount received by the communication part 21 per predetermined period for every predetermined period, and transmits this detection result to the information provision apparatus 3 as communication traffic information. The information received by the communication unit 21 is, for example, information on a communication packet transmitted from the server device to the wireless LAN access point 2.

  Moreover, the detection part 26 detects the information amount received by the communication part 21 per predetermined time as a communication traffic for every predetermined period, and transmits this detection result to the information provision apparatus 3 as detection information. The information received by the communication unit 21 is, for example, information on a communication packet transmitted from the server device to the wireless LAN access point 2. The detection unit 26 uses the average value of the information amount received by the communication unit 21 during a predetermined period as detection information, but may use the information amount received by the communication unit 21 at a certain timing as detection information.

[5. Configuration of information providing apparatus 3]
Next, a specific configuration of the information providing apparatus 3 according to the embodiment will be described. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the information providing device 3 includes a communication unit 30, a storage unit 31, and a control unit 32. Furthermore, the storage unit 31 includes a user information DB 33 and a location information DB 34, and the control unit 32 includes an acquisition unit 35, a determination unit 36, a transmission unit 37, and an information provision unit 38.

  The communication unit 30 is an interface such as a NIC (Network Interface Card). The control unit 32 transmits / receives various information to / from the wireless LAN access point 2 and the wireless terminal 4 via the wireless LAN access point 2 via the communication unit 30 and the communication network 5.

  The user information DB 33 and the location information DB 34 are storage devices such as a hard disk, a RAM (Random Access Memory), a semiconductor memory element such as a flash memory, and an optical disk. The user information DB 33 and the location information DB 34 may be a single DB. The various IDs stored in the user information DB 33 and the location information DB 34 will be described using symbols such as “A1” and “U1”. It is not intended to be limited to.

  For example, the control unit 32 is realized by an integrated circuit such as an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or a field programmable gate array (FPGA). The control unit 32 is configured such that a program stored in an internal storage device by a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or an MPU (Micro Processing Unit) is executed using the RAM as a work area, whereby an acquisition unit 35, a determination unit 36, It functions as a transmitting unit 37 and an information providing unit 38. The configuration of the control unit 32 is not limited to this configuration, and may be another configuration as long as the configuration performs information processing to be described later.

[5.1. Acquisition unit 35]
The acquisition unit 35 acquires information transmitted from the wireless LAN access point 2. Information transmitted from the wireless LAN access point 2 includes, for example, detection information and terminal information as described above.

  When the acquisition unit 35 acquires the terminal information and detection information transmitted from the wireless LAN access point 2, the acquisition unit 35 updates the terminal information table in the location information DB 34 based on the information included in the terminal information and detection information.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of the terminal information table. As shown in FIG. 4, for each “AP-ID”, the terminal information table includes a set of “terminal ID”, “check-in time”, “check-out time”, and “radio field strength”, and “communication traffic information”. And are associated information.

  “AP-ID” is identification information of the wireless LAN access point 2 and is information assigned to each wireless LAN access point 2. “AP-ID” is, for example, the network address of the communication network 5 assigned to the communication unit 21 of the wireless LAN access point 2.

“Terminal ID” is the terminal ID of the wireless terminal 4 existing in the communication area of the associated wireless LAN access point 2. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 4, the wireless LAN access point 2 ₁ in the communication area of the AP-ID "A1", the terminal ID "T2" - such as a wireless terminal 4 _{2-4 4} "T4" is present It shows that.

  “Radio wave intensity” is information on the radio wave intensity of the wireless terminal 4 existing in the AP communication area. In the example shown in FIG. 4, for the sake of convenience, the latest information on the radio field intensity is shown corresponding to each terminal ID, but the information on the radio field intensity from when the wireless terminal 4 entered the AP communication area and its average value are shown. Is set in the terminal information table. In the example shown in FIG. 4, the radio wave intensity is represented by an intensity level that increases as the intensity increases in the range of 0 to 10, but may be set in other units (for example, dBm).

  “Communication traffic information” is the amount of information received by the wireless LAN access point 2 from the server device via the communication network 5 per predetermined period. Such “communication traffic information” includes the maximum amount of information that can be received by the wireless LAN access point 2 from the server device via the communication network 5 per predetermined period (hereinafter referred to as the maximum traffic amount). The maximum traffic amount is set in the terminal information table in advance, but may be included in the detection information transmitted from the wireless LAN access point 2 and set in the terminal information table by the acquisition unit 35.

  When receiving the terminal information including information indicating that the communication is in progress from the wireless LAN access point 2, the acquiring unit 35 associates the terminal ID and the radio wave included in the terminal information in association with the “AP-ID” included in the terminal information. Set the strength information in the terminal information table. Further, the acquisition unit 35 sets the time when the wireless terminal 4 is in a communication state as the “check-in time” in the terminal information table.

  The staying time of the wireless terminal 4 in the AP communication area can be detected by comparing the check-in time with the current time. Note that the acquisition unit 35 can also set the time when the reception of the terminal information starts regardless of whether or not the communication is in progress as the “entry time” in the terminal information table.

  When the wireless terminal 4 whose information is set in the terminal information table subsequently leaves the AP communication area, the acquisition unit 35 sets the leaving time of the wireless terminal 4 as the “checkout time” in the terminal information table and then leaves. Information on the wireless terminal 4 is deleted from the terminal information table and managed as history information.

  Further, when receiving the detection information from the wireless LAN access point 2, the acquisition unit 35 sets the communication traffic information included in the detection information as “communication traffic information” of the AP-ID corresponding to the wireless LAN access point 2. Set in the terminal information table.

  In the example illustrated in FIG. 4, for example, in “communication traffic information” of the wireless LAN access point 2 with the AP-ID “A1”, “400 Mbit / s” is set as the communication traffic amount, and “1 Gbit / s” is set as the maximum traffic amount. s "is set.

[5.2. Determination unit 36]
Based on the terminal information table, the determination unit 36 determines from which communication medium of the wireless LAN access point 2 and the mobile phone base station 7 notification information is to be notified.

  Specifically, the determination unit 36 determines whether there is a wireless terminal 4 that has newly entered the AP communication area based on the terminal information table. When there is a wireless terminal 4 that has newly entered the AP communication area (hereinafter referred to as a new entry terminal), the determination unit 36 determines the AP-ID of the wireless LAN access point 2 having the AP communication area into which the new entry terminal has entered. Communication traffic information corresponding to is acquired from the terminal information table.

  And the determination part 36 determines the communication traffic state of the wireless LAN access point 2 which the new approaching terminal approached based on the communication traffic information acquired from the terminal information table. The communication traffic state is, for example, the ratio of the communication traffic amount to the maximum traffic amount, and is 40% (= 400 Mbit / 1 Gbit) in the wireless LAN access point 2 with the AP-ID “A1” shown in FIG.

  Further, the determination unit 36 acquires terminal information stored in association with the AP-ID of the wireless LAN access point 2 having the AP communication area in which the newly entering terminal has entered among the terminal information set in the terminal information table. . Based on the acquired terminal information, the determination unit 36 determines the number of wireless terminals 4 (hereinafter referred to as the number of existing terminals) present in the AP communication area into which the new ingress terminal has entered.

  The determination unit 36 acquires a radio field intensity threshold based on the communication traffic state and the number of existing terminals from the communication medium selection table stored in the location information DB 34.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a communication medium selection table. As shown in FIG. 5, the communication medium selection table is information in which “communication traffic state”, “number of existing terminals”, and “radio field strength threshold” are associated.

  As described above, the “communication traffic state” is a ratio of the communication traffic amount to the maximum traffic amount. Further, “the number of existing terminals” is the number of wireless terminals 4 existing in the AP communication area as described above. The “radio field intensity threshold value” is a threshold value of the radio field intensity of the wireless terminal 4 that determines the wireless LAN access point 2 as a communication medium for notification.

  For example, when the communication traffic state of the wireless LAN access point 2 having the AP communication area into which a newly entering terminal has entered is “70%” and the number of existing terminals is “15”, the radio field intensity threshold is “6”. is there. Therefore, the determination unit 36 determines the wireless LAN access point 2 as the notification communication medium if the radio wave intensity of the new entry terminal is “6” or more, and if the radio wave intensity of the new entry terminal is less than “6”. The mobile phone base station 7 is determined as the notification communication medium.

  Note that the communication medium selection table can be set for each AP-ID, whereby the notification communication medium can be appropriately determined according to the AP installation location.

  In the above description, the determination unit 36 uses the communication medium selection table to determine the notification communication medium. However, the determination unit 36 can also determine the notification communication medium using the communication medium selection arithmetic expression.

  For example, the determination unit 36 can calculate the radio field intensity threshold using a communication medium selection arithmetic expression of “radio field intensity threshold” = “communication traffic state” × “existing terminal number rate” × 10. The “existing terminal number rate” is, for example, the ratio of the existing terminal number to the reference terminal number.

  In this case, for example, if the reference terminal number is set to “25” and the number of existing terminals is “20”, if the communication traffic state is “60%”, the radio field intensity threshold is “ 4.8 (= 0.6 × 0.8 × 10) ”. Note that the above arithmetic expression is an example, and a communication medium selection arithmetic expression corresponding to the AP installation location can be used.

  In the above description, the determination unit 36 acquires the radio field intensity threshold in consideration of the number of existing terminals. However, the determination unit 36 acquires the radio field intensity threshold for the communication traffic state without considering the number of existing terminals. Also good.

  In addition, the determination unit 36 uses the reception amount in the communication unit 21 as the communication traffic state. However, in addition to the reception amount, the determination unit 36 considers the type of received data (for example, video, music, page, etc.). You can also. For example, the determination unit 36 relatively increases the radio wave intensity threshold when the ratio of moving images in the received amount is large, and relatively decreases the radio wave intensity threshold when the ratio of moving images in the received amount is small. Etc. can be performed.

  Moreover, the determination part 36 can determine the radio | wireless terminal 4 whose stay time in AP communication area is more than a predetermined time threshold value as a new approach terminal, for example. The determination unit 36 can also change the time threshold according to, for example, the communication traffic state. For example, when the communication traffic state is high, the time threshold is lengthened, and when the communication traffic state is low, the time threshold is shortened. Further, the radio field intensity threshold and the time threshold may be changed according to the user attribute of the user of the wireless terminal 4.

[5.3. Transmitter 37]
The transmitting unit 37 notifies the new ingress terminal specified by the terminal information of the notification information in the location information table stored in the location information DB 34 from the notification communication medium determined by the determining unit 36.

  The transmission unit 37 acquires notification information corresponding to the communication medium for notification from the location information table stored in the location information DB 34, and transmits the notification information to a destination based on the user information table stored in the user information DB 33 for notification. Information is notified from the notification communication medium to the new entry terminal.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of the location information table. As shown in FIG. 6, the location information table corresponds to each information such as “location name”, “LAN notification information”, “WAN notification information”, and “location information” for each “AP-ID”. The attached information is included.

  “AP-ID” is the same information as “AP-ID” set in the terminal information table. The “location name” is the name of the AP installation location. For example, in the AP-ID “A1”, the “location name” is “A store”. “LAN notification information” is information indicating a file name of notification information to be notified to the wireless terminal 4 via the wireless LAN access point 2, and is stored in the location information DB 34. “WAN notification information” is information indicating the file name of notification information to be notified to the wireless terminal 4 via the mobile phone base station 7 and is stored in the location information DB 34.

  In the location information table illustrated in FIG. 6, for example, “LAN notification information” of the AP-ID “A1” is the file name “noticeA11.data”, and “WAN notification information” is the file name “noticeA12.data”. It is.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of the user information table. As illustrated in FIG. 7, the user information table includes information in which each information such as “terminal ID”, “WAN-ID”, and “notification flag” is associated with each “user ID”. The “terminal ID”, “WAN-ID”, and “notification flag” are, for example, information included in a registration request from the wireless terminal 4 to the information providing apparatus 3, and the wireless terminal 4 sends information to the information providing apparatus 3. When the user registration or registration change is performed, the acquisition unit 35 sets the user information table.

  User registration can be performed, for example, from the wireless terminal 4 to the information providing apparatus 3 via the mobile phone communication network 6. In this case, the acquisition unit 35 of the information providing device 3 assigns a user ID to the user registration request transmitted from the wireless terminal 4, and sets the terminal ID, WAN-ID, and notification flag included in the user registration request. Information to be set in the user information table. Although not shown, user attributes can be set in the user information table.

  “User ID” is an ID assigned to each user of the wireless terminal 4, and is set in the user information table by the acquisition unit 35 when, for example, user registration is performed from the wireless terminal 4 to the information providing device 3. Is done.

  The “terminal ID” is the same information as the “terminal ID” set in the terminal information table. The terminal ID is not limited to the MAC address as long as it can identify the wireless terminal 4.

  “WAN-ID” is identification information on the mobile phone communication unit side of the wireless terminal 4. For example, when the wireless terminal 4 is a third generation mobile communication system, the WAN-ID is a unique number of a SIM card (Subscriber Identity Module Card) mounted on the wireless terminal 4. Such a unique number is also called IMSI (International Mobile Subscriber Identity). The wireless terminal 4 communicates with the mobile phone base station 7 by transmitting and receiving wireless packets including the WAN-ID.

  The “notification flag” is a flag indicating whether or not to notify WAN notification information. The wireless terminal 4 whose notification flag is “1” is a notification target of WAN notification information, and the notification flag is “0”. The wireless terminal 4 is not subject to notification of WAN notification information.

  When the notification communication medium is the wireless LAN access point 2, the transmission unit 37 acquires the LAN notification information set in the location information table and uses the terminal ID set in the user information table as the destination of the new entry terminal. Transmit to the wireless LAN access point 2. Thereby, the LAN notification information is notified from the wireless LAN access point 2 to the new entry terminal.

  Further, when the notification communication medium is the mobile phone base station 7, the transmission unit 37 acquires the WAN notification information set in the location information table, and uses the WAN-ID set in the user information table as a new entry terminal. To the mobile phone communication network 6 via the communication network 5 as a destination. Thereby, the LAN notification information is notified from the mobile phone base station 7 to the new entry terminal.

  The “LAN notification information” is, for example, digital contents or shopping pages related to the AP installation location, and is information with a relatively large amount of information. FIG. 8A is a diagram showing an example of a screen in which information for notification via the wireless LAN access point 2 is displayed on the display unit of the wireless terminal 4. In the example shown in FIG. 8A, information on products sold in the store where the AP is installed, a moving image, and the like are displayed on the display unit of the wireless terminal 4 as notification information. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a screen example in which information provided from the information providing device 3 is displayed on the display unit of the wireless terminal 4.

  Since communication via the wireless LAN access point 2 often has a relatively high communication speed, even when information having a relatively large amount of information is used as notification information, the wireless terminal 4 can acquire the notification information at high speed. Therefore, the notification information can be notified to the wireless terminal 4 at an appropriate timing. In addition, communication via the wireless LAN access point 2 often has a low or zero communication charge, and the charge for the user of the wireless terminal 4 is low.

  On the other hand, “WAN notification information” is, for example, simple information corresponding to the AP installation location, and is information with a relatively small amount of information. FIG. 8B is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen in which information for notification via the mobile phone base station 7 is displayed on the display unit of the wireless terminal 4. In the example shown in FIG. 8B, information indicating that the microwave oven sold in the store where the AP is installed is being sold at a large special price is displayed on the display unit of the wireless terminal 4 as notification information.

  Since communication via the mobile phone base station 7 often has a relatively slow communication speed, information for a relatively small amount of information is used as notification information so that the wireless terminal 4 can obtain the notification information at high speed. The notification information can be notified to the wireless terminal 4 at an appropriate timing. Communication via the mobile phone base station 7 often has a relatively high communication fee, and often has a use upper limit, which can reduce the burden on the user of the wireless terminal 4. .

  Note that the LAN notification information and the WAN notification information may be the same. By doing so, it is possible to reduce the burden of selecting information for notification.

[5.4. Information providing unit 38]
When there is an information provision request from the wireless terminal 4 via the wireless LAN access point 2, the information providing unit 38 transmits information corresponding to the information provision request to the requesting wireless terminal 4 via the wireless LAN access point 2. To do.

  Information corresponding to the information provision request is stored in the location information DB 34 as location information for each AP-ID, and the information provision unit 38 is based on the AP-ID of the wireless LAN access point 2 that transferred the information provision request. The location information is acquired from the location information DB 34 and transmitted to the wireless terminal 4.

  For example, when the display unit of the wireless terminal 4 is a touch panel display, the user of the wireless terminal 4 selects the notification information shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B displayed on the display unit of the wireless terminal 4. Thus, the information provision request is transmitted from the wireless terminal 4.

[6. Processing flow of information providing system 1]
Next, a procedure of information providing processing by the information providing system 1 according to the embodiment will be described. 9 to 11 are diagrams for explaining an information provision processing flow by the information provision system 1. In the following, the process of the wireless LAN access point 2 will be described with reference to FIG. 9, and the process of the information providing apparatus 3 will be described with reference to FIGS.

[6.1. Processing flow of wireless LAN access point 2]
First, information processing of the wireless LAN access point 2 according to the embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 is a flowchart of information processing in the wireless LAN access point 2. Such an operation is a process repeatedly executed by the control unit 22 of the wireless LAN access point 2.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the control unit 22 of the wireless LAN access point 2 determines whether or not the wireless terminal 4 has been detected via the wireless LAN communication unit 20 (step S20). In this process, if it is determined that the wireless terminal 4 is detected (step S20; Yes), terminal information including information such as the terminal ID, the radio wave intensity, the AP-ID, and the busy state is provided via the communication unit 21. It transmits to the apparatus 3 (step S21).

  When it is determined in step S20 that the wireless terminal 4 has not been detected (step S20; No), or when the process of step S21 is completed, the control unit 22 has a predetermined period (for example, one second period). It is determined whether or not the timing has arrived (step S22).

  If it is determined that the timing of the predetermined period has arrived (step S22; Yes), the control unit 22 detects the amount of information received by the communication unit 21 per predetermined time (for example, 1 second) as communication traffic, and performs such communication. The traffic information is transmitted as detection information to the information providing apparatus 3 (step S23). The communication traffic is, for example, an average value of communication traffic for a predetermined period (for example, 10 seconds), but may be instantaneous communication traffic when a predetermined cycle timing arrives.

  In the process of step S22, when it is determined that the timing of the predetermined cycle has not arrived (step S22; No), or when the process of step S23 is completed, the control unit 22 is a server connected to the communication network 5. It is determined whether information is received from the apparatus via the communication unit 21 (step S24). If it determines with having received information from the server apparatus (step S24; Yes), the control part 22 will transfer the received information to the radio | wireless terminal 4 used as the destination of this information (step S25).

  If it is determined in step S24 that no information has been received (step S24; No), or if the process of step S25 is completed, the control unit 22 determines whether there is a request from the wireless terminal 4 to the server device. Is determined (step S26). When determining that there is a request for the server device from the wireless terminal 4 (step S26; Yes), the control unit 22 transfers the request for the server device from the wireless terminal 4 to the server device via the communication unit 21 (step S27). .

  When the process of step S27 ends, or when it is determined in step S26 that there is no request for the server device from the wireless terminal 4 (step S26; No), the control unit 22 ends the process. For example, the control unit 22 can execute the processes of Steps S20 and S21, the processes of Steps S22 and S23, the processes of Steps S24 and S25, and the processes of Steps S26 and S27 by multitask processing.

[6.2. Processing flow of information providing apparatus 3]
Next, processing of the information providing apparatus 3 will be described. FIG. 10 is a flowchart of information processing in the information providing apparatus 3. Such an operation is a process repeatedly executed by the control unit 32 of the information providing apparatus 3.

  As illustrated in FIG. 10, the control unit 32 determines whether or not terminal information has been acquired from the wireless terminal 4 via the communication unit 30 (step S <b> 30). When it determines with having acquired terminal information from the radio | wireless terminal 4 (step S30; Yes), the control part 32 performs a notification process (step S31). Such notification processing is processing in steps S40 to S45 shown in FIG. 11, and will be described in detail later.

  In step S30, when it is determined that the terminal information has not been acquired from the wireless terminal 4 (step S30; No), or when the process of step S31 ends, the control unit 32 performs wireless LAN via the communication unit 30. It is determined whether detection information from the access point 2 has been acquired (step S32). When it determines with having acquired detection information (step S32; Yes), the control part 32 updates a terminal information table based on the information of the communication traffic contained in detection information (step S33).

  In step S32, when the detection information is not acquired (step S32; No), or when the process of step S33 ends, the control unit 32 has received a request for information provision from the wireless terminal 4 via the communication unit 30. It is determined whether or not (step S34). When there is an information provision request (step S34; Yes), the control unit 32 transmits location information corresponding to the information provision request to the requesting wireless terminal 4 (step S35).

  In step S34, when there is no information provision request | requirement (step S34; No) or when the process of step S35 is complete | finished, the control part 32 complete | finishes a process.

  Next, the notification process shown in step S31 shown in FIG. 10 will be described. FIG. 11 is a flowchart of notification processing in the information providing apparatus 3.

  As shown in FIG. 11, in the notification process, the control unit 32 updates the terminal information table based on the AP-ID, the terminal ID, the radio wave intensity, and information on whether communication is in progress or not included in the acquired terminal information ( Step S40).

  Next, the control unit 32 determines whether or not there is a new entry terminal based on the updated terminal information table (step S41). The new entry terminal is a wireless terminal 4 that newly enters the AP communication area and is in communication with the wireless LAN access point 2. The “communication state with the wireless LAN access point 2” is a state in which, for example, the wireless terminal 4 can acquire the notification information via the wireless LAN access point 2.

  When it is determined that there is a new entry terminal (step S41; Yes), the control unit 32 determines a communication medium for notifying the new entry terminal of notification information based on the communication traffic included in the terminal information table (step S41). S42).

  When the communication medium for notifying the notification information is determined to be the wireless LAN access point 2 (step S43; Yes), the control unit 32 acquires the LAN notification information set in the location information table and sets it in the user information table. The terminal ID thus transmitted is transmitted to the wireless LAN access point 2 as the destination of the new entry terminal (step S44).

  On the other hand, when the mobile phone base station 7 is determined as the communication medium for notifying the notification information (Step S43; No), the control unit 32 acquires the WAN notification information set in the location information table, and the user information table Is transmitted to the mobile phone communication network 6 via the communication network 5 as the destination of the new entry terminal (step S45). When the information providing apparatus 3 includes a mobile phone communication unit, the control unit 32 can also transmit WAN notification information directly from the mobile phone communication unit to the mobile phone communication network 6.

  When the processes of steps S44 and S45 are completed, or when it is determined in step S41 that there is no new entry terminal (step S41; No), the control unit 32 ends the process.

[7. (Modification)
In the above-described embodiment, the communication medium for notifying the notification information is determined based on the radio field intensity threshold based on the communication traffic state. However, the control unit 32 determines the communication medium based on a criterion other than the radio field intensity threshold. It can also be determined.

  For example, the control unit 32 can determine a communication medium that notifies the notification information with a probability based on the state of communication traffic. Also in this way, in order to notify the wireless terminal 4 of the notification information from the mobile phone base station 7 with a probability based on the state of communication traffic, the communication between the wireless terminal 4 and the server device via the wireless LAN access point 2 is prevented. The influence can be suppressed.

  Specifically, the control unit 32 can also determine the wireless LAN access point 2 as a communication medium that notifies the notification information with a probability inversely proportional to the communication traffic volume. In this case, for example, the control unit 32 has a probability of 100% if the communication traffic amount is less than or equal to a predetermined threshold, and if the communication traffic amount exceeds the predetermined threshold, it has a probability that is inversely proportional to the amount exceeding the predetermined threshold. The wireless LAN access point 2 can determine the communication medium for notifying the notification information.

  In addition, the control unit 32 can determine a communication medium for notifying information for LAN notification based on a radio wave intensity change rate threshold based on the state of communication traffic. The rate of change in radio field intensity is the rate of change in radio field intensity per hour of the wireless terminal 4, and the greater the rate of change in radio field intensity, the faster the moving speed of the user of the radio terminal 4.

  The control unit 32 is, for example, a radio field strength change rate threshold that is 100% probability if the communication traffic amount is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold, and is inversely proportional to the amount exceeding the predetermined threshold if the communication traffic amount exceeds the predetermined threshold. The wireless LAN access point 2 can determine the communication medium that notifies the notification information.

  In the above-described embodiment, the control unit 32 increases the radio field intensity threshold as the communication traffic amount increases. However, the control unit 32 may increase the radio field intensity threshold as the communication traffic change amount increases. The control unit 32 can also set the radio field intensity threshold and the radio field intensity change rate threshold based on the communication traffic amount and the communication traffic change amount.

  In the above-described embodiment, the notification information is transmitted to the wireless terminal 4 at the timing when the wireless terminal 4 enters the AP communication area or at a predetermined timing after entering the AP communication area (hereinafter, these timings are referred to as entry timings). However, the control unit 32 may further transmit the notification information to the wireless terminal 4 after the entry timing.

  For example, the control unit 32 transmits notification information having different contents to the radio terminal 4 every time a stay time in the AP communication area elapses a predetermined time from the entry timing. Also in this case, the control unit 32 can determine the communication medium that notifies the notification information under conditions based on the state of communication traffic, similarly to the entry timing.

  In addition, the control part 32 can make only the information for LAN notification the notification information transmitted at the timing after an approach timing. In this case, the control unit 32 does not transmit the notification information to the wireless terminal 4 when the mobile phone base station 7 is selected at a timing after the entry timing.

  In the above-described embodiment, the function of transmitting the detection information of the wireless terminal 4 is performed in each wireless LAN access point 2, but the function of transmitting the detection information of the wireless terminal 4 is provided separately. It may be executed by the LAN access point 2. By providing the wireless LAN access point 2 for detection separately, by installing the wireless LAN access point 2 for detection in a place where the wireless LAN access point 2 has already been installed, the information providing service described above can be provided. Can be provided.

[8. effect〕
As described above, in the information providing system 1 according to the embodiment, the location information DB 34 (an example of the information storage unit) stores the notification information corresponding to the wireless LAN access point 2 and acquires the acquisition unit 35 (terminal information acquisition). And an example of the communication status acquisition means) of information on the wireless terminal 4 existing in the wireless LAN communication area of the wireless LAN access point 2 and communication traffic between the wireless terminal 4 and the server device via the wireless LAN access point 2 Information, and the determination unit 36 (an example of a determination unit), based on the communication traffic information acquired by the acquisition unit 35, the wireless LAN access point 2 and the mobile phone base station 7 (an example of a wireless WAN base station) From which communication medium to notify the notification information is determined, and the transmission unit 37 (an example of a notification unit) determines the location information DB 34. The stored notification information from the communication medium determined by the determination unit 36, is notified to the radio terminal 4 that is identified by the information acquired by the acquiring unit 35.

  With this configuration, when the wireless terminal 4 enters the AP communication area of the wireless LAN access point 2, notification information corresponding to the wireless LAN access point 2 is notified to the wireless terminal 4. Therefore, for example, when the wireless LAN access point 2 is installed in a store, the store information can be notified to the user of the wireless terminal 4 that has entered the store. Notification is possible. In addition, for the user, information that is completely unrelated to the store where the store entered is not notified randomly, and the user is not uncomfortable.

  In addition, appropriate notification information can be notified from the different communication routes to the wireless terminal 4 in accordance with communication traffic via the wireless LAN access point 2 between the wireless terminal 4 and the device connected to the communication network 5. Thereby, it is possible to appropriately notify the user of information while suppressing the influence on the relay processing of the wireless LAN access point 2.

  In addition, the determination unit 36 (an example of a terminal number detection unit) detects the number of wireless terminals 4 existing in the AP communication area based on the information acquired by the acquisition unit 35, and the determination unit 36 determines the communication traffic. A notification communication medium is determined based on the information and the number of wireless terminals 4.

  With such a configuration, for example, even if the amount of communication traffic is large, if the number of wireless terminals 4 is small, there is a possibility of affecting communication between the wireless terminals 4 and devices connected to the communication network 5. Since it is low, the communication medium for notification can be determined as the wireless LAN access point 2. Therefore, the wireless LAN access point 2 can quickly notify the user of the wireless terminal 4 of a relatively large amount of information.

  An acquisition unit 35 (an example of intensity information acquisition unit) acquires radio field intensity information indicating the radio field intensity of the wireless terminal 4, and a determination unit 36 (an example of a threshold setting unit) receives radio waves based on communication traffic information. Set the intensity threshold. Furthermore, the determination unit 36 determines the wireless terminal 4 having a radio field intensity equal to or higher than the radio field intensity threshold based on the radio field intensity information acquired by the acquisition unit 35, and determines the radio terminal 4 having a radio field intensity equal to or higher than the radio field intensity threshold. Thus, the wireless LAN access point 2 is determined as the notification communication medium, and the mobile phone base station 7 is determined as the communication medium for notifying the wireless terminal 4 having the radio field intensity less than the radio field intensity threshold.

  With this configuration, the wireless LAN access point 2 has priority over the wireless terminal 4 near the installation position of the wireless LAN access point 2 while suppressing the influence on communication between the wireless terminal 4 and the device connected to the communication network 5. LAN notification information can be transmitted. Therefore, for example, value can be given to the distance from the installation position of the wireless LAN access point 2, and a value space corresponding to the installation position of the wireless LAN access point 2 can be configured.

  An acquisition unit 35 (an example of intensity information acquisition unit) acquires radio field intensity information indicating the radio field intensity of the wireless terminal 4, and a determination unit 36 (an example of a threshold setting unit) receives communication traffic information and an AP communication area. The radio field intensity threshold is set based on the number of wireless terminals 4 in FIG. Furthermore, the determination unit 36 determines the wireless terminal 4 having a radio field intensity equal to or higher than the radio field intensity threshold based on the radio field intensity information acquired by the acquisition unit 35, and determines the radio terminal 4 having a radio field intensity equal to or higher than the radio field intensity threshold. Thus, the wireless LAN access point 2 is determined as the notification communication medium, and the mobile phone base station 7 is determined as the communication medium for notifying the wireless terminal 4 having the radio field intensity less than the radio field intensity threshold.

  With this configuration, the wireless LAN access point 2 has priority over the wireless terminal 4 near the installation position of the wireless LAN access point 2 while suppressing the influence on communication between the wireless terminal 4 and the device connected to the communication network 5. LAN notification information can be transmitted. Therefore, for example, value can be given to the distance from the installation position of the wireless LAN access point 2, and a value space corresponding to the installation position of the wireless LAN access point 2 can be configured.

[9. Others]
As described above, some of the embodiments of the present application have been described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, these are merely examples, and various modifications, including the aspects described in the disclosure section of the invention, based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art, It is possible to implement the present invention in other forms with improvements.

  The information providing apparatus 3 described above may be realized by a plurality of server computers, and depending on the function, an external platform or the like may be realized by calling an API (Application Programming Interface) or network computing. Can be changed flexibly. Further, some of the functions of the information providing apparatus 3 described above may be realized by the wireless LAN access point 2.

1 information providing system 2 ₁ to 2 _n, 2 wireless LAN access point 3 the information providing apparatus 4 ₁ to 4 _n, 4 wireless terminal 5 communications network 6 the mobile phone communication network 7 ₁ to _7-n, 7 cellular base station 8,9 Gateway server 20 Wireless LAN communication unit 21 Communication unit 22 Control unit 25 Relay unit 26 Detection unit 30 Communication unit 31 Storage unit 32 Control unit 33 User information DB
34 Location information DB
35 acquisition unit 36 determination unit 37 transmission unit 38 information provision unit

Claims (6)

A wireless LAN access point connected to the communication network;
Information storage means for storing at least first notification information and second notification information different from the first notification information as notification information corresponding to the wireless LAN access point;
Terminal information acquisition means for acquiring information of a wireless terminal existing in a wireless LAN communication area of the wireless LAN access point;
Communication status acquisition means for acquiring information of communication traffic between the wireless LAN access point and the communication network;
Determining means for determining from which communication medium of a wireless LAN access point and a wireless WAN base station to notify the information for notification based on the information of the communication traffic acquired by the communication state acquiring means;
When the communication medium determined by the determination means is the wireless LAN access point, the communication medium determined by the determination means is the wireless WAN base station, the first notification information stored in the information storage means. If there is, a notification for notifying the second notification information stored in the information storage means from the communication medium determined by the determination means to the wireless terminal specified by the information acquired by the terminal information acquisition means Means,
An information providing system characterized by comprising: Terminal number detection means for detecting the number of wireless terminals present in the wireless LAN communication area based on the information acquired by the terminal information acquisition means;
The determining means includes
2. The information providing system according to claim 1, wherein a communication medium for notifying the notification information is determined based on the information on the communication traffic and the number of wireless terminals detected by the terminal number detecting means. . Intensity information acquisition means for acquiring radio field intensity information indicating the radio field intensity of the wireless terminal;
Threshold setting means for setting a radio field intensity threshold based on the information of the communication traffic,
The determining means includes
A wireless terminal having a radio field intensity equal to or higher than the radio field intensity threshold is determined based on the radio field intensity information acquired by the intensity information acquisition unit,
A wireless LAN access point is determined as a communication medium that notifies the notification information to a wireless terminal having a radio field strength equal to or higher than the radio field intensity threshold, and The information providing system according to claim 1, wherein a base station is determined as a communication medium for notifying the notification information. Intensity information acquisition means for acquiring radio field intensity information indicating the radio field intensity of the wireless terminal;
Threshold setting means for setting a radio field intensity threshold based on the information on the communication traffic and the number of wireless terminals detected by the terminal number detecting means,
The determining means includes
A wireless terminal having a radio field intensity equal to or higher than the radio field intensity threshold is determined based on the radio field intensity information acquired by the intensity information acquisition unit,
A wireless LAN access point is determined as a communication medium that notifies the notification information to a wireless terminal having a radio field strength equal to or higher than the radio field intensity threshold, and The information providing system according to claim 2, wherein a base station is determined as a communication medium for notifying the notification information. Information storage means for storing at least first notification information and second notification information different from the first notification information as notification information corresponding to a wireless LAN access point connected to a communication network; ,
Terminal information acquisition means for acquiring information of a wireless terminal existing in a wireless LAN communication area of the wireless LAN access point;
Communication status acquisition means for acquiring information of communication traffic between the wireless LAN access point and the communication network;
Determining means for determining from which communication medium of a wireless LAN access point and a wireless WAN base station to notify the information for notification based on the information of the communication traffic acquired by the communication state acquiring means;
When the communication medium determined by the determination means is the wireless LAN access point, the communication medium determined by the determination means is the wireless WAN base station, the first notification information stored in the information storage means. If there is, a notification for notifying the second notification information stored in the information storage means from the communication medium determined by the determination means to the wireless terminal specified by the information acquired by the terminal information acquisition means Means,
An information providing apparatus comprising: A computer that stores at least first notification information and second notification information different from the first notification information is executed as notification information corresponding to a wireless LAN access point connected to a communication network. An information providing method,
A terminal information acquisition step of acquiring information of a wireless terminal existing in a wireless LAN communication area of the wireless LAN access point;
A communication state acquisition step of acquiring information of communication traffic between the wireless LAN access point and the communication network;
A determination step for determining whether to notify the notification information from any one of a wireless LAN access point and a wireless WAN base station, based on the communication traffic information acquired by the communication state acquisition step;
When the communication medium determined by the determination step is the wireless LAN access point, the first notification information is used. When the communication medium determined by the determination step is the wireless WAN base station, the second notification is performed. A notification step of notifying the wireless terminal specified by the information acquired by the terminal information acquisition step from the communication medium determined by the determination step;
An information providing method comprising:

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