JP5804953B2 - Mobile terminal and information access system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an information providing server for a specific area arranged in a wireless network in a specific area, a portable terminal capable of accessing a server arranged in a network such as the Internet, a portable terminal and information for a specific area The present invention relates to an information access system composed of a providing server.

In recent years, mobile terminals such as mobile phones having a built-in wireless LAN function have been widely used.
A mobile terminal having a built-in wireless LAN function is connected to the wireless LAN within the communication area of the wireless LAN access point, and is connected to the Internet or the like through a 3G line or the like outside the communication area of the wireless LAN access point.
Switching between wireless LAN and 3G line is basically performed manually, but to simplify this, a mechanism that automatically connects to a known wireless network when the network is detected is provided. Built in mobile devices.

In addition, wireless LAN access points are often used in area-limited services that provide information limited to a specific area.
In such a case, it is set to automatically connect to a predetermined portal site when connected to the network, and a predetermined area-limited service can be used without the user being aware of it.
A method is also proposed in which an area-limited wireless LAN is configured to be able to access the Internet, and the wireless LAN alone can access the Internet (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2004-274687 (paragraph number [0005], FIG. 7)

Since the conventional portable terminal is configured as described above, when it is connected to an area-specific wireless LAN, it is arranged not only on the information providing server for a specific area disposed on the wireless LAN but also on the Internet. Can access the server. However, since there is a security problem in connecting an area-specific wireless LAN with the Internet, there is a problem that may hinder the provision of a safe area-limited service.
On the other hand, in order to solve the security problem, if the local wireless LAN is not connected to the Internet but used as an original local LAN, when accessing a server located on the Internet, There is a problem that it is impossible to connect to another line such as a 3G line unless the wireless LAN is explicitly disconnected.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and even in a form in which an area-limited wireless network is operated as a unique local network that is not connected to a network such as the Internet, the wireless network in a specific area is used. An object of the present invention is to obtain a portable terminal and an information access system capable of seamlessly accessing a server disposed on a network such as the Internet when connected.

  In the portable terminal according to the present invention, when the profile information of the server indicating the corresponding access point is transmitted from the information providing server for specific area and received by the first network connection means, the profile information The profile storage means to be stored and the server that the browsing means desires to access is an information providing server for a specific area in which profile information is stored by the profile storage means, and there is a corresponding access indicated by the profile information. If the communication means of the point is within the communication area, the browsing means is connected to the first network connection means, while the access means is not within the communication area of the access point, or the server that the browsing means desires to access Profile by means of profile storage If Le information is different from the specific area for an information providing server stored is obtained by so and a network selection unit for connecting with the second network connection means browsing means.

  According to the present invention, the server that the browsing means desires to access is the information providing server for the specific area in which the profile information is stored by the profile storage means, and the access point having the correspondence indicated by the profile information If the browser is not within the communication area of the access point while the browsing means is connected to the first network connection means, or the server that the browsing means desires to access is connected to the first network connection means. Since the browsing means is connected to the second network connection means when the profile storage means is different from the information providing server for the specific area where the profile information is stored, the first wireless network is the second wireless network. Own local network not connected to Also in the form as it is operated as a click, when connected to the first wireless network, there is an effect that it is possible to perform seamless access to servers located in the second wireless network.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is a block diagram which shows the information access system by Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the profile information which matched the network identifier which identifies the information provision server for specific areas 1, and the access point identifier which identifies the wireless LAN access point. It is explanatory drawing which shows the HTML response in which profile information is described in the comment part.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
1 is a block diagram showing an information access system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
In FIG. 1, a specific area information providing server 1 is a server that is arranged in a wireless LAN 2 in a specific area and provides information related to a service limited to the area.
The wireless LAN 2 is a local first wireless network for providing a predetermined area-limited service within the communication area of the wireless LAN access point 3.
The wireless LAN access point 3 is a communication device that transmits and receives wireless signals to and from the mobile terminal 7.

The mobile phone base station 4 is connected to the Internet 5 via a mobile phone network, and is a communication device that transmits and receives radio signals to and from the mobile terminal 7.
The Internet 5 is a second wireless network. In the first embodiment, an example in which the second wireless network is the Internet is shown. However, the second wireless network is not limited to the Internet, and may be a network such as an intranet.
The server 6 is a server disposed on the Internet 5. In the first embodiment, for convenience of explanation, the server 6 is referred to as an “Internet server”.
The mobile terminal 7 is, for example, a terminal such as a mobile phone or a mobile PC. The mobile terminal 7 accesses the information providing server 1 or the Internet server 6 for a specific area, receives information from the information providing server 1 or the Internet server 6 for a specific area, and displays it. It has a function to do.

The wireless LAN access unit 11 of the mobile terminal 7 is composed of a network device such as a LAN card, for example. When the wireless LAN access unit 11 enters the communication area of the wireless LAN access point 3 of the wireless LAN 2, the wireless LAN access unit 11 is connected to the wireless LAN 2 through the wireless LAN access point 3. Perform the process. The wireless LAN access unit 11 constitutes a first network connection unit.
The packet communication unit 12 is composed of, for example, a wireless communication device, and performs processing for connecting to the Internet 5 through the mobile phone base station 4. The packet communication unit 12 constitutes a second network connection unit.

The browse processing unit 13 is composed of, for example, a one-chip microcomputer that executes software such as a WEB browser, a semiconductor integrated circuit on which a CPU is mounted, and the like, and is arranged in the wireless LAN 2 connected by the wireless LAN access unit 11. The information server 1 or the Internet server 6 disposed on the Internet 5 connected by the packet communication unit 12 to receive information from the information server 1 or the server 6 for the specific area; A process of outputting the information to the display processing unit 14 is performed.
The display processing unit 14 includes, for example, a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), a display, and the like, and performs processing for displaying information output from the browse processing unit 13.
The browsing processing unit 13 and the display processing unit 14 constitute browsing means.

  The profile storage unit 15 is composed of, for example, a semiconductor integrated circuit on which a CPU is mounted, a storage device (for example, a RAM, a hard disk), or the like. Is transmitted and received by the wireless LAN access unit 11, a process of storing the profile information is performed. The profile storage unit 15 constitutes a profile storage unit.

  The network selection unit 16 is composed of, for example, a semiconductor integrated circuit on which a CPU is mounted, a one-chip microcomputer, or the like, and the profile storage unit 15 stores profile information in the server that the browse processing unit 13 desires to access. If the information processing server 1 is in a specific area and is within the communication area of the wireless LAN access point 3 having the correspondence indicated by the profile information, the browse processing unit 13 is connected to the wireless LAN access unit 11. While connected, if the wireless LAN access point 3 is not within the communication area, or the server that the browse processing unit 13 desires to access is for a specific area where profile information is stored in the profile storage unit 15 When different from the information providing server 1 (for example, If it is the Internet server 6), it carries out a process of connecting the browse processing unit 13 and the packet communication unit 12. The network selection unit 16 constitutes a network selection unit.

In the example of FIG. 1, the wireless LAN access unit 11, the packet communication unit 12, the browse processing unit 13, the display processing unit 14, the profile storage unit 15, and the network selection unit 16 that are components of the mobile terminal 7 are dedicated hardware. Is assumed to be composed of hardware,
The portable terminal 7 may be configured with a computer.
When the portable terminal 7 is configured by a computer, the processing contents of the wireless LAN access unit 11, the packet communication unit 12, the browse processing unit 13, the display processing unit 14, the profile storage unit 15, and the network selection unit 16 are described. The program may be stored in the memory of the computer, and the CPU of the computer may execute the program stored in the memory.

Next, the operation will be described.
For example, the wireless LAN access point 3 transmits beacon information provided by a wireless LAN standard such as IEEE801.11b.
When the wireless LAN access unit 11 receives beacon information transmitted from the wireless LAN access point 3, the network selection unit 16 of the mobile terminal 7 detects that the wireless LAN access point 3 has entered the communication area of the wireless LAN access point 3.

When the network selection unit 16 of the mobile terminal 7 detects that the wireless LAN access point 3 has entered the communication area, it instructs the wireless LAN access unit 11 to connect to the wireless LAN 2 to which the wireless LAN access point 3 is connected. To do.
As a result, the wireless LAN access unit 11 connects to the wireless LAN 2 through the wireless LAN access point 3.

When the connection with the wireless LAN 2 is completed, the network selection unit 16 accesses the information providing server 1 for a specific area using, for example, HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol).
At this time, the URL (Uniform Resource Locator) accessed by the network selection unit 16 may be arbitrary. That is, the specific area information providing server 1 is an HTTP server, and is set to return a page set in the specific area information providing server 1 to the inaccessible URL by the redirect function. ing.

  Upon receiving access from the network selection unit 16 of the mobile terminal 7, the information providing server 1 for a specific area receives a network identifier (for example, URL) that specifies the information providing server 1 for the specific area, Profile information that associates an access point identifier (for example, SSID (Service Set Identifier)) that identifies the wireless LAN access point 3 of the arranged wireless LAN 2 is described in the comment portion of the HTML response, and the HTML response is The data is transmitted to the mobile terminal 7 via the wireless LAN access point 3.

Here, FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing profile information in which a network identifier that specifies the information providing server 1 for a specific area is associated with an access point identifier that specifies the wireless LAN access point 3.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an HTML response in which profile information is written in a comment part.
In the example of FIG. 3, profile information is described with a line beginning with “<!-”, Which is a portion skipped by a normal WEB browser, as a comment portion.

When the wireless LAN access unit 11 receives the HTML response, the network selection unit 16 of the mobile terminal 7 analyzes the HTML response and extracts profile information from the comment portion of the HTML response.
When the network selection unit 16 extracts profile information, the profile storage unit 15 stores the profile information.
Here, an example is shown in which the HTML response in which the profile information is described in the comment part is transmitted from the information providing server 1 for the specific area, but the profile information only needs to be transmitted to the mobile terminal 7 and the profile information is transmitted. The form does not matter.

Thereafter, when the user holding the portable terminal 7 moves out of the communication area of the wireless LAN access point 3, the connection with the wireless LAN 2 is disconnected, but when the user enters the communication area of the wireless LAN access point 3 again, the wireless LAN 2 is disconnected. When the LAN access unit 11 receives the beacon information transmitted from the wireless LAN access point 3, the network selection unit 16 of the mobile terminal 7 detects that it has entered the communication area of the wireless LAN access point 3.
When the network selection unit 16 detects that the wireless LAN access point 3 has entered the communication area, the network selection unit 16 instructs the wireless LAN access unit 11 to connect to the wireless LAN 2 to which the wireless LAN access point 3 is connected.
As a result, the wireless LAN access unit 11 connects to the wireless LAN 2 through the wireless LAN access point 3.

For example, when the user specifies a network identifier of a server that the user desires to access, the browse processing unit 13 outputs the network identifier of the server. Here, an example in which the network identifier is a URL will be described.
It is conceivable that the browse processing unit 13 outputs the URL of the information providing server 1 for the specific area or the URL of the Internet server 6. For example, the information providing server 1 for the specific area is displayed in the “favorite” column of the WEB browser. If the site of the Internet server 6 is registered, the URL of the information providing server 1 for the specific area and the Internet server 6 can be easily output.

When the network selection unit 16 receives the URL of the server to be accessed from the browse processing unit 13, the URL (network identifier) that matches the URL of the server is stored in the profile information stored in the profile storage unit 15. It is determined whether there is recorded profile information.
When there is profile information with a matching URL, the network selection unit 16 acquires the access point identifier (for example, SSID) of the wireless LAN access point 3 corresponding to the URL (network identifier) recorded in the profile information. .

  When the network selection unit 16 obtains the access point identifier of the wireless LAN access point 3 from the profile information with the matching URL, the access point identifier included in the beacon information received by the wireless LAN access unit 11 If they match, it is determined that they are currently within the communication area of the wireless LAN access point 3 of the wireless LAN 2 where the server to which access is desired is located. On the other hand, if they do not match, it is determined that the wireless LAN access point 3 of the wireless LAN 2 where the server to which access is desired is currently located is not within the communication area.

In the example of FIG. 2, three profile information is stored. For example, when the matching URL is “http: // melcoinfo”, the SSID that is the access point identifier included in the beacon information is If it is “AP1,” it is determined that it is currently within the communication area of the wireless LAN access point 3 of the wireless LAN 2 where the server to which access is desired is located.
When the matching URL is “http: // melcoinfo”, for example, if the SSID that is the access point identifier included in the beacon information is “AP2”, the server to which access is desired is currently arranged. It is determined that the wireless LAN access point 3 of the wireless LAN 2 is not within the communication area.

If the network selection unit 16 determines that it is currently within the communication area of the wireless LAN access point 3 of the wireless LAN 2 where the server to which access is desired is located, it connects the browse processing unit 13 to the wireless LAN access unit 11. To do.
As a result, the browse processing unit 13 can access the information providing server 1 for a specific area that is a server that is desired to be accessed.

When the network selection unit 16 determines that it is not within the communication area of the wireless LAN access point 3 of the wireless LAN 2 where the server to which access is desired is arranged, or matches the URL output from the browse processing unit 13 If there is no profile information in which the URL to be recorded is stored (if the server that desires access is different from the information providing server 1 for the specific area), the connection between the wireless LAN access unit 11 and the wireless LAN access point 3 is terminated. Then, the browse processing unit 13 is connected to the packet communication unit 12.
As a result, after the packet communication unit 12 connects to the Internet 5 through the mobile phone base station 4, the browse processing unit 13 can access a server on the Internet 5 that is a server to which access is desired.
Here, an example in which the browse processing unit 13 is connected to the packet communication unit 12 after the connection between the wireless LAN access unit 11 and the wireless LAN access point 3 has been shown is shown. However, the wireless LAN access unit 11 and the wireless LAN access point are connected. The browse processing unit 13 may be connected to the packet communication unit 12 while maintaining the connection 3.

  If the server having the URL output from the browse processing unit 13 is the Internet server 6, access to the Internet server 6 is possible. For example, the URL output from the browse processing unit 13 includes the profile information. Access is not possible in the case of a URL of an information providing server for a specific area (a server not connected to the Internet) that is not stored in the profile storage unit 15 or an inaccessible URL. However, it is possible to access a server disposed on the Internet 5 by searching for a service site using DNS (Domain Name Server) or the like, as in a service search on a normal Internet.

In the first embodiment, the network selection unit 16 is configured to take charge between the browse processing unit 13 and the wireless LAN access unit 11 or the packet communication unit 12. However, the network selection unit 16 is provided as an independent tool and is always activated. By doing so, it is possible to perform the same operation.
As an implementation method, a function is provided as middleware, and an application such as a WEB browser generates a program using this, and a method of automatically changing routing by hooking communication (interpreting) There is.
Furthermore, any web browser can be applied as long as it is an application that performs network access to access other services, and is not limited to a web browser.

In the first embodiment, an example in which the profile information of one information providing server 1 for a specific area is registered in the mobile terminal 7 is shown. However, a plurality of profile information can be registered.
A plurality of specific area information providing servers 1 can be associated with one wireless LAN access point 3. Also in this case, the collation procedure is as described in the first embodiment.
By associating a plurality of specific area-specific information providing servers 1 with one wireless LAN access point 3, it is possible to provide a unique service and access to a limited-time service in each tenant of a large shopping center. . In addition, the profile information is stored and stored together in a server arranged on the Internet 5 without accessing the information providing server 1 for a specific area, and arbitrary profile information is received and registered. You can also.

As is apparent from the above, according to the first embodiment, the server that the browse processing unit 13 desires to access is the information providing server 1 for a specific area in which profile information is stored in the profile storage unit 15. When the wireless LAN access point 3 having the correspondence indicated by the profile information is within the communication area, the browse processing unit 13 is connected to the wireless LAN access unit 11 while the communication of the wireless LAN access point 3 is performed. If it is not within the area, or if the server that the browse processing unit 13 desires to access is different from the specific area information providing server 1 in which profile information is stored in the profile storage unit 15, the browse processing unit 13 Is configured to connect to the packet communication unit 12, Even when the line LAN 2 is operated as a unique local network not connected to the Internet 5, it is possible to seamlessly access a server arranged in the Internet 5 when connected to the wireless LAN 2 in a specific area. There is an effect that can be done.
That is, the service provided by the information providing server 1 for a specific area and the service provided via the Internet network can be seamlessly switched and displayed without performing communication settings without the user having the mobile terminal 7 being conscious. Is possible.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
In the first embodiment, when the profile information transmitted from the information providing server 1 for a specific area is received by the wireless LAN access unit 11, the profile storage unit 15 stores the profile information unconditionally. However, when the profile information received by the wireless LAN access unit 11 is new profile information (if it is unregistered profile information), the profile storage unit 15 stores the profile information before storing the profile information. A registration confirmation screen for inquiring whether or not to register information may be displayed on the display processing unit 14.
The profile storage unit 15 stores the profile information when the user who looks at the registration confirmation screen performs an operation to instruct registration using an interface (not shown) (for example, a keyboard or a mouse).
On the other hand, if the user performs an operation of refusing registration, the profile information is discarded.

  According to the second embodiment, when the profile information received by the wireless LAN access unit 11 is new profile information, the profile storage unit 15 displays a registration confirmation screen asking whether to register the profile information. It is configured to store the profile information only when an operation for displaying and instructing registration is performed. Therefore, access to the information providing server for a specific area is automatically performed while preventing access to unnecessary services. There is an effect that becomes possible.

Embodiment 3 FIG.
In the second embodiment, the profile information is discarded if the user rejects the registration. At this time, the profile storage unit 15 registers the profile information in the reject profile list. May be.
Thereby, when the profile information received by the wireless LAN access unit 11 thereafter matches the profile information registered in the reject profile list, the profile storage unit 15 confirms the registration as shown in the second embodiment. The profile information is discarded without displaying the screen.
That is, when a profile for which registration is refused is received again, the profile information is discarded without making a new registration inquiry.

  According to the third embodiment, when an operation for refusing registration is performed, the profile information received by the wireless LAN access unit 11 is registered in the refusal profile list and then registered in the refusal profile list. When the same profile information as the profile information is received, the profile information is discarded without displaying the registration confirmation screen, so that the profile information not desired by the user can be blocked.

Embodiment 4 FIG.
In the second embodiment, profile information is stored if the user who has seen the registration confirmation screen performs an instruction to register, and in the third embodiment, if the user performs an operation to refuse registration, the profile is stored. Although information is shown to be registered in the reject profile list, it is possible that the user will not perform an operation to instruct registration or an operation to reject registration even after a predetermined time has elapsed since the registration confirmation screen was displayed. It is done.
In the fourth embodiment, if neither an operation for instructing registration nor an operation for rejecting registration is performed after a predetermined time has elapsed since the registration confirmation screen was displayed, the profile storage unit 15 stores the profile information. Is not performed, and the profile information is discarded without performing the process of registering the profile information in the reject profile list.
As a result, it is possible to prevent processing (useless access) that has not received a user instruction.

  In the present invention, within the scope of the invention, any combination of the embodiments, or any modification of any component in each embodiment, or omission of any component in each embodiment is possible. .

  1 information providing server for specific area, 2 wireless LAN (first wireless network), 3 wireless LAN access point, 4 mobile phone base station, 5 internet (second wireless network), 6 internet server, 7 mobile terminal, 11 Wireless LAN access unit (first network connection unit), 12 packet communication unit (second network connection unit), 13 browse processing unit (browsing unit), 14 display processing unit (browsing unit), 15 profile storage unit (profile) Storage means), 16 network selection section (network selection means).

Claims (6)

When entering the communication area of the access point in the first wireless network, which is a network in a specific area, the first network connection means for connecting to the first wireless network through the access point, and the second wireless through the base station The second network connection means for connecting to the network, and the information providing server for specific area arranged in the first wireless network connected by the first network connection means or the second network connection means. Browsing means for accessing a server arranged in the second wireless network and receiving and displaying information from the information providing server for specific area or the server arranged in the second wireless network. In the mobile terminal
A profile storage unit for storing the profile information when the profile information of the server indicating the corresponding access point is transmitted from the information providing server for the specific area and received by the first network connection unit; The communication area of the access point that the server that the browsing means desires to access is the information providing server for a specific area in which the profile information is stored by the profile storage means, and that has the correspondence indicated by the profile information If the server is not within the communication area of the access point while the browsing means is connected to the first network connection means, or the server to which the browsing means desires access is The profile storage means If the file information is different from the specific area for an information providing server stored, the mobile terminal, characterized in that the browsing means are provided and a network selecting means for connecting with the second network connection means.   The first wireless network connected by the first network connection means is a wireless LAN, and the second wireless network connected by the second network connection means is the Internet, and is connected to the Internet via a mobile phone network. The mobile terminal according to claim 1.   When the profile information received by the first network connection unit is new profile information, the profile storage unit displays a registration confirmation screen asking whether to register the profile information, and performs an operation for instructing registration. The mobile terminal according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the profile information is stored only when it is performed.   The profile storage means registers the profile information received by the first network connection means in the reject profile list when an operation of rejecting the registration is performed, and then the profile information registered in the reject profile list and 4. The portable terminal according to claim 3, wherein when the same profile information is received, the profile information is discarded without displaying a registration confirmation screen.   The profile storage means stores the profile information and the profile information if neither an operation for instructing registration nor an operation for rejecting registration is performed after a predetermined time has elapsed since the registration confirmation screen was displayed. 5. The portable terminal according to claim 4, wherein the profile information is discarded without performing the process of registering in the reject profile list. Access to the information providing server for a specific area located in the first wireless network that is a network in the specific area and the information providing server for the specific area or the server arranged in the second wireless network to specify the information In an information access system including a mobile terminal having a browsing means for receiving and displaying information from a regional information providing server or a server arranged in the second wireless network,
When the mobile terminal enters the communication area of the access point in the first wireless network, the mobile terminal connects to the first wireless network through the access point, and the second network through the base station. Profile information of the server indicating a corresponding access point is transmitted from the second network connection means for connecting to the wireless network and the information providing server for specific areas, and received by the first network connection means. The profile storage means for storing the profile information, and the server that the browsing means desires to access is the information providing server for a specific area in which the profile information is stored by the profile storage means, and Correspondence indicated by profile information If the access means is within the communication area of the access point, the browsing means is connected to the first network connection means, while the access means is not within the communication area of the access point, or the browsing means accesses A network selection means for connecting the browsing means to the second network connection means when the server that desires the information is different from the information providing server for the specific area where the profile information is stored by the profile storage means. An information access system characterized by

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