JP6442126B2 - Intra-area route guidance system and method, and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a route guidance system, a route guidance method, and a program for providing a recommended route to a user in a limited area, and a program, and more particularly to a route guidance system and a route guidance suitable when the area is indoors. The present invention relates to a method and a program.

  As a means for guiding the inside of a large shopping center or an amusement facility, a map printed on a pamphlet or a sticker is generally used. For example, navigating in real time by computer navigation using a mobile terminal such as a smartphone is difficult indoors. That is, the well-known GPS (Global Positioning System) navigation cannot be applied because GPS radio waves do not reach indoors. In addition, there is a system (see Patent Document 1 or the like) in which a WiFi (Wireless Fidelity) router is installed in each facility and a mobile terminal communicates with which WiFi router to identify the current location. Since the effective reach is relatively large, it is difficult to obtain accurate position information. Further, if the number of WiFi routers is increased, the cost becomes enormous.

JP 2012-142911 A

  In view of the above circumstances, it is an object of the present invention to provide a route guidance system capable of accurately obtaining position information of a current location even in an indoor place and performing route guidance.

In order to solve the above problems, an in-area route guidance system according to the present invention includes:
A system that guides the route in an area using a mobile terminal,
A plurality of beacons that are distributed in the area and transmit unique identification information,
A receiving unit provided in the portable terminal for receiving the unique identification information;
A beacon information storage unit storing beacon information including unique identification information and position information of each beacon;
A current location information acquisition unit that acquires current location information based on the unique identification information and the beacon information from the reception unit;
An input unit provided in the portable terminal for receiving user purpose information;
An attribute information storage unit storing attribute information including position information of each place in the area;
A destination information acquisition unit for acquiring destination information based on the destination information and the attribute information;
A route network information storage unit storing route network information of the area;
A search unit that searches for a recommended route from the current location to the destination based on the current location information, the destination information, and the route network information;
A presentation unit provided in the mobile terminal and presenting the recommended route;
It is provided with.
By using a beacon, it is possible to obtain route information by acquiring location information of the current location of the mobile terminal and the user even indoors. Since the beacon radio wave has an extremely short effective reach compared to the WiFi radio wave, the current location information can be acquired with high accuracy and accurate route guidance can be performed.
The beacon information storage unit is preferably provided in a server, but may be provided in a mobile terminal or may be provided in both the server and the mobile terminal.
The current location information refers to location information of the current location. It is preferable that the current location information is finally acquired by the mobile terminal by exchanging information between the server and the mobile terminal.
The purpose information is information about what the user wants to do in the area (things to buy, things to eat, places to go, etc.).
The destination information refers to location information of the destination corresponding to the destination information. The destination information is preferably finally acquired by the portable terminal by exchanging information between the server and the portable terminal.
The attribute information storage unit is preferably provided in the server, but may be provided in the mobile terminal or in both the server and the mobile terminal. The position information of each place in the attribute information is not limited to information on the position itself (for example, coordinate data), but may be information that indirectly represents the position. For example, the position information of each place in the attribute information may be corresponding beacon information such as unique identification information regarding beacons arranged at the place. If the unique identification information of the beacon arranged at the place is known, the position of the place is specified from the beacon information.
The route network information storage unit is preferably provided in the server, but may be provided in the mobile terminal or may be provided in both the server and the mobile terminal.
The recommended route is preferably searched by the mobile terminal by exchanging information between the server and the mobile terminal.

In addition, the route guidance method in the area according to the present invention is:
A method of route guidance in an area by a mobile terminal and a server,
A plurality of beacons arranged in a distributed manner in the area, and transmitting different unique identification information;
The portable terminal receiving the unique identification information;
The portable terminal inquires the server for position information of a beacon corresponding to the received unique identification information (hereinafter referred to as “beacon position information”);
The server searches for the inquired beacon position information based on beacon information including unique identification information and position information of each beacon;
The portable terminal acquiring current location information by receiving the search result from the server; and
A step in which the portable terminal receives user purpose information;
The server or the mobile terminal acquires destination information based on the destination information and attribute information including position information of each place in the area;
The server or the mobile terminal searching for a recommended route from the current location to the destination based on the current location information, the destination information and the route network information;
The portable terminal presenting the recommended route;
It is provided with.

  It is preferable that the recommended route is any one of a shortest route, a main route priority route, a route via a specific location, a specific location avoidance route, a barrier-free route, and an evacuation route.

  It is preferable that the portable terminal further includes a step of collecting the battery remaining amount information of the beacon and transmitting it to the server. Thereby, the battery remaining amount of a beacon can be collected using a user's portable terminal, and the time and labor for an administrator to check the battery remaining amount directly can be saved. Even if the number of beacons arranged is large, it is possible to cope with the problem, it is possible to prevent a malfunction due to a battery exhaustion, and to ensure the reliability of the system.

  It is preferable that the server further includes a step of creating action history information from a reception record of the unique identification information of the beacon over time by the mobile terminal. Thus, for example, the user's behavior tendency such as staying time, circuit line, re-visit store (repeat) rate, product contact rate, etc. can be analyzed, which can contribute to marketing.

The portable terminal accepting a storage command of a designated location;
Storing the current location information acquired at the location where the portable terminal has received the storage command as location information of the designated location;
Is preferably further provided. In this case, in the purpose information accepting step, the mobile terminal accepts a route guidance command to the designated place as the purpose information,
In the destination information acquisition step, it is preferable that the portable terminal sets position information of the designated place as the destination information.
This makes it possible to guide the route to a designated location arbitrarily stored by the user.

In addition, the route guidance method in the area according to the present invention is:
A method of route guidance in an area with a mobile terminal,
A plurality of beacons arranged in a distributed manner in the area, and transmitting different unique identification information;
A portable terminal receiving the unique identification information;
The portable terminal acquires current location information based on the received unique identification information and beacon information including unique identification information and position information of each beacon stored in the portable terminal;
The mobile terminal searches for an evacuation route from the current location to an evacuation exit based on the current location information and the route network information of the area stored in the mobile terminal;
The portable terminal presenting the evacuation route;
The other feature is that
Thereby, even in the event of a disaster where the mobile terminal becomes unable to communicate with the server, the evacuation route can be reliably presented only by the mobile terminal.

The portable terminal program according to the present invention is
A process of receiving unique identification information from a part of a plurality of beacons distributed in an area;
A process of acquiring current location information based on the received unique identification information and beacon information including unique identification information and position information of each beacon;
A process of accepting user's purpose information;
Processing for obtaining destination information based on the destination information and attribute information including position information of each place in the area;
A process of searching for a recommended route from the current location to the destination based on the current location information, the destination information, and the route network information of the area;
A process of presenting the recommended route;
Is executed by a portable terminal.

The server program according to the present invention is a route guidance system in an area in which a mobile terminal searches for and presents a recommended route from the current location to the destination based on current location information, destination information, and route network information in the area. A server program that communicates with the mobile terminal,
Processing for receiving unique identification information from a part of a plurality of beacons arranged in a distributed manner in the area from the mobile terminal;
Based on the received unique identification information and beacon information including unique identification information and position information of each beacon, a process of searching for position information of the part of beacons (hereinafter referred to as “beacon position information”);
A process of transmitting the beacon position information to the mobile terminal;
A process of receiving user purpose information from the mobile terminal;
Processing for obtaining the destination information based on the destination information and attribute information including position information of each place in the area;
Processing for transmitting the destination information to the mobile terminal;
Is executed by the server.
The beacon position information corresponds to the current location information.

  According to the present invention, current location information in an area can be acquired accurately, and route guidance can be performed accurately.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of an in-area service system (intra-area route guidance system) according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an example of the area service system. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the data structure of the server and mobile terminal of the intra-area service system. FIG. 4 is a table showing an example of the beacon information of the server. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the contents of the beacon radio wave reception process of the intra-area service system. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the contents of the route guidance start process of the intra-area service system. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the contents of current location information acquisition processing of the intra-area service system. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the contents of destination setting to route search and route presentation processing of the intra-area service system. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the evacuation route guidance method when communication in the intra-area service system is impossible. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a route search method using the designated place storage function in the intra-area service system. FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the contents of the topic information distribution process of the intra-area service system. FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the contents of the reminder process of the intra-area service system. FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the contents of the action history acquisition process of the intra-area service system. FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of the beacon battery remaining amount management of the intra-area service system.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described.
As shown in FIG. 1, the in-area route guidance system 1 provides a route guidance (navigation) service to a user 3 in a limited area 2 in real time. Area 2 is a large shopping center, for example. The system 1 is provided with not only route guidance but also a function of providing an advertisement / sales promotion (promotion) service. Hereinafter, the system 1 is also referred to as “in-area service system 1” as appropriate.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the in-area service system 1 includes a plurality of beacons 10, a server 20, a mobile terminal 30 of a user 3, a client computer 4 on the manager side of the area 2, and stores in the area 2. It is constructed by the client computer 5 of 2c. The server 20 and the mobile terminal 30 can communicate via the communication network 6. The server 20 and the client computers 4 and 5 can communicate with each other via the communication network 6. The communication network 6 includes a mobile base station and an Internet line.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of beacons 10 are distributed in the area 2. The beacon 10 is a small transmission module with a built-in transmission circuit 11, and the drive source is a battery 12. For example, a 2.4 GHz band radio wave 13 based on the Bluetooth (registered trademark) standard is transmitted from the transmission circuit 11. The radio wave 13 is extremely weak, and its effective reach is extremely short compared to the WiFi radio wave, being about several meters to several tens of meters, and preferably about several meters (2 m, 3 m) to tens of meters. Here, the effective reach distance is the maximum distance between the beacon 10 and the mobile terminal 30 that the mobile terminal 30 can receive and process the radio wave 13. The transmission period of the radio wave 13 is, for example, about 0.02 seconds to 10 seconds.

  The radio wave 13 represents unique identification information (beacon ID) of the beacon 10. The unique identification information is different for each beacon 10.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the location of the beacon 10 is various places such as the entrance / exit 2a, the passage 2b, each store 2c, and the toilet 2d in the area 2. The beacon 10 can be installed on the ceiling, wall, floor, etc. of these places. You may arrange | position the beacon 10 for every merchandise display shelf 2g in the store 2c. The arrangement interval of the beacons 10 is appropriately set according to the structure of the area 2 (the height of the ceiling, the width of the passage 2b, etc.), the effective reach distance of the beacon radio wave 13, and the like.

  As illustrated in FIG. 3, the server 20 includes a CPU 21, an external communication unit 22 such as a communication interface, a memory 23, and the like. The memory 23 stores a program 29 for executing services such as in-area route guidance in cooperation with the portable terminal 30 or the like. Further, the memory 23 stores data such as beacon information 24, route network information 25, attribute information 26, action history information 27, and beacon battery remaining amount information 28.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the beacon information 24 includes unique identification information 24a, beacon position information 24b, and the like. That is, the beacon information 24 represents the relationship between the unique identification information (ID) of each beacon 10 and the arrangement location. As shown in FIG. 2, the position of each beacon 10 can be expressed as coordinate data by virtually setting the coordinate axes (x, y) on the map of the area 2. 2 and 4, the coordinate axes are two-dimensional, but the coordinate axes may be three-dimensional depending on the structure of the area 2 and the like.
The memory 23 functions as a “beacon information storage unit”.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the beacon information 24 may further include incidental information 24c. As the incidental information 24c, role information of the corresponding beacon 10 can be cited. For example, roles such as route guidance use, topic information delivery use such as coupons and events, message delivery use such as reminders can be assigned to each beacon 10.

As shown in FIG. 3, the route network information 25 is network data for navigation (route search) in the area 2, and includes node information 25a, link information 25b, link cost information 25c, and the like. Nodes are set at various points in the area 2, and the coordinates of these nodes are set as node information 25a. The setting location of the node does not have to coincide with the arrangement position of the beacon 10. Preferably, nodes are also set in the barrier 2e such as the staircase or step in the area 2, the emergency exit 2f, etc. (see FIG. 2). The nodes are connected by a link corresponding to the travel path. The link information 25b is a code attached to each link. The link cost information 25c is data on the distance for each link and the time required for movement.
The memory 23 functions as a “route network information storage unit”.

  The attribute information 26 is information related to the attributes of each location such as the stores 2c, 2c, etc. in the area 2, and includes name information 26a such as store names, corresponding beacon information 26b, handling information 26c, business day / business hours information 26d, and topic information. 26e and the like. The corresponding beacon information 26b is information for identifying the beacon 10 arranged at the place, and is associated with the unique identification information 24a of the beacon information 24. If the unique identification information of the beacon 10 is specified, the position of the beacon 10 is specified. Therefore, the position of each place in the area 2 is specified from the corresponding beacon information 26b. The corresponding beacon information 26 b corresponds to position information of each place in the area 2 in the attribute information 26.

The handling information 26c is information such as products and services handled by the store 2c.
The topic information 26e includes information on coupons and events (events).

Handling information 26c, business days / business hours information 26d, topic information 26e, etc. may be entered and updated by a person in charge at each store 2c by accessing the server 20 with the WEB browser of the client computer 5. . Further, the attribute information 26 is not limited to the store 2c unit, but may be set to, for example, the product display shelf 2g unit of each store 2c.
The memory 23 functions as an “attribute information storage unit”.

  The action history information 27 is information created from the reception record of the unique identification information of the beacon 10 by the mobile terminal 30 with time, and includes user identification information 27a, time information 27b, location information 27c, and the like. The user identification information 27a corresponds to the identification information of the mobile terminal 30. The time information 27b and the location information 27c indicate when and where the user 3 was present. The location information 27c is not limited to direct position information (coordinate data), and may be information that indirectly represents the location. The action history information 27 may be the reception record itself of the unique identification information by the portable terminal 30 over time, and the location information 27c may be the unique identification information itself received by the portable terminal 30, or the time information 27b. May be the reception time of the unique identification information. By post-processing the unique identification information received by the mobile terminal 30, the location of the user 3 at the reception time can be calculated.

  The beacon battery remaining amount information 28 is information for managing the remaining amount of the battery 12 of each beacon 10, and includes beacon identification information 28a, remaining battery amount information 28b, and the like. The beacon identification information 28 a is associated with the unique identification information 24 a of the beacon information 24.

  As illustrated in FIG. 3, the mobile terminal 30 is, for example, a smartphone, and includes a CPU 31, a touch panel display 32, an external communication unit 33 having a connection function with the communication network 6, a Bluetooth communication function 34, a memory 35, and the like. The Bluetooth communication function 34 (reception unit) receives the radio wave 13 from the beacon 10 to acquire the unique identification information 24a and the radio wave intensity, or issues a battery remaining amount transmission command to the beacon 10 to send the battery remaining amount information from the beacon 10. Can be received.

  Application software 50 (hereinafter referred to as “application 50”), which is a program for executing services such as in-area route guidance, is installed in the memory 35 of the mobile terminal 30. The application 50 includes a route guidance (navigation) function 51, an advertisement sales promotion (promotion) function 52, a beacon battery remaining amount collecting function 53, and the like.

  The route guidance function 51 includes a current location information acquisition function 51a, a destination reception function 51b, a destination inquiry function 51c, a route search function 51d, a route presentation function 51e, an emergency response function 51g, a designated location storage function 51j, and the like. The current location information acquisition function 51a (current location information acquisition unit) inquires of the server 20 about beacon position information 24b corresponding to the received unique identification information (beacon ID), and from the inquiry result from the server 20, the current location information of the own terminal 30 This is a function for calculating (acquiring) (location information of the current location).

  The purpose reception function 51b (input unit) is a function for receiving the purpose information of the user 3 in the area 2. In other words, this is a function that allows the user 3 to input what he / she wants to do in the area 2 (what he wants to buy, what he wants to eat, the name of the store 2c he wants to go to). The purpose information corresponds to the name information 26a and handling information 26c of the server 20. For example, the menu page of the application 50 is provided with a “route guidance mode selection” button. When this button is touched, a purpose information input screen is displayed, and the purpose information can be input. The purpose information may be input using the character input function or the voice recognition function of the mobile terminal 30. When the target information narrowing button is displayed on the display 32, for example, when purchasing a tie, "shopping" ⇒ "clothing" The target information may be narrowed down in the order of “goods” → “men's clothing” → “tie”.

  The destination inquiry function 51c (destination information acquisition unit) inquires the server 20 about the location of the destination such as the store 2c corresponding to the destination information in the area 2, so that the destination information (location information of the destination) is obtained. ).

  The route search function 51d (search unit) is a function that searches for a recommended route from the current location acquired by the current location information acquisition function 51a to the destination acquired by the destination inquiry function 51c. Examples of the recommended route include a shortest route, a trunk line priority route, a route via a specific location, a specific location avoidance route, a barrier-free route, and an evacuation route. Preferably, the route search page of the application 50 is provided with a selection button that allows the user 3 to select a shortest route, a trunk line priority route, a barrier-free route, an evacuation route, and the like. It is preferable that the route via the specific location and the specific location avoidance route are automatically selected according to the setting of the manager of the area 2.

  The route presentation function 51e (presentation unit) is a function for displaying a recommended route on the display 32 or for notifying by voice. The application 50 is provided with map data 51f for route display. The map data 51f is image data such as a floor plan of the area 2.

  The emergency response function 51g is a function that makes it possible to present a recommended route such as an evacuation route even when the server 20 and the mobile terminal 30 become unable to communicate due to a disaster such as an earthquake. The application 50 is provided with data such as beacon information 51h and route network information 51i for the emergency response function 51g. The beacon information 51h may be the same as the beacon information 24 of the server 20, or may be data in which a part of the beacon information 24 that is not necessarily required from the viewpoint of route guidance or emergency evacuation is omitted. Good. For example, the beacon information 24 relating to the delivery of the topic information 26e and the beacon information 24 related to the beacon 10 of the merchandise display shelf 2g may be omitted as appropriate. By omitting, the data capacity of the beacon information 51h can be reduced.

  The route network information 51i may be the same as the route network information 25 of the server 20, and is data that excludes some of the route network information 25 that is not necessarily required from the viewpoint of route guidance or emergency evacuation. There may be. For example, node information in the vicinity of the merchandise display shelf 2g may be omitted as appropriate. By omitting, the data capacity of the route network information 51i can be reduced. In the route network information 51i, the node information corresponding to the evacuation exits such as the emergency exit 2f and the entrance 2a in the area 2 is essential as the destination of the evacuation route.

  The beacon information 51h, the route network information 51i, and the like are downloaded from the server 20 when the application 50 is activated. In addition, the beacon information 51h, the route network information 51i, and the like can be used not only in an emergency (when communication with the server 20 is impossible) but also in normal processing. Therefore, it is preferable that the beacon information 51h includes not only the unique identification information and position information of the beacon 10, but also incidental information (such as role information of the beacon 10).

  The designated location storage function 51j is a function in which the portable terminal 30 stores location information of a location (designated location) in the area 2 arbitrarily designated by the user 3. For example, a “designated location storage button” is provided on the menu page of the application 50. When the user 3 touches this button, the location information of the current location of the user 3 is stored in the memory 35 as the location information of the designated location. The memory 35 functions as a “designated location storage unit”. Examples of the designated place include a predetermined parking area where the user 3 has parked in the parking lot in the area 2. It is preferable to distribute a plurality of beacons 10, 10... In the parking lot.

  The advertisement sales promotion function 52 includes, for example, a topic information distribution function 52a and a reminder function 52b. The topic information distribution function 52a acquires the topic information (coupon, event, etc.) of the store 2c near the user 3 from the server 20, and notifies the user 3 of the information by display display, voice (alert), etc. It is.

  The memory 35 of the portable terminal 30 is provided with a shopping list 52c for a reminder function 52b. The reminder function 52b records products that the user 3 intends to purchase in the shopping list 52c, so that the products handled by the store 2c where the user 3 is or the store 2c near the user 3 or the like. Is a function for notifying the user 3 of the item on the shopping list 52c by display display or voice (alert).

  The beacon battery remaining amount collecting function 53 is a function for collecting the remaining battery amount from each beacon 10 and transmitting the remaining amount information to the server 20.

A route guidance method (processing contents of the programs 29 and 50 of the server 20 and the portable terminal 30) by the intra-area route guidance system 1 will be described.
<Beacon radio wave reception processing>
Each beacon 10 in the area 2 continuously transmits the beacon radio wave 13 with a period of, for example, 0.02 seconds to 10 seconds. As shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5, the mobile terminal 30 of the user 3 uses one or more (partial) beacons 10 within the effective reach among the beacons 10 in these areas 2 by the Bluetooth communication unit 34. The beacon radio wave 13 is received (step 101). Since the effective reach distance is short, the user 3 is sufficiently close (for example, within a few meters) to some of these beacons 10. The portable terminal 30 decodes the unique identification information from the received beacon radio wave 13 (step 102) and obtains the radio wave intensity of the beacon radio wave 13 (step 103). The radio wave intensity correlates with the distance between the beacon 10 and the mobile terminal 30. The higher the signal strength, the shorter the distance. The portable terminal 30 executes the beacon radio wave reception process (step 100) including the above steps 101 to 103 every time the beacon radio wave 13 is received.

<App launch>
As shown in the flowchart of FIG. 6, when the user 3 activates the application 50 of the mobile terminal 30 (step 111), the beacon information 24 and the route network information 25 of the server 20 are appropriately processed to the mobile terminal 30. Downloaded (step 112) and stored as beacon information 51h and route network information 51i of the application 50. Therefore, when the beacon information 24 and the route network information 25 of the server 20 have been updated, the beacon information 51h and the route network information 51i of the application 50 can be updated to the updated contents.
When the user 3 enters the area 2 from the entrance / exit 2a, the mobile terminal 30 detects the radio wave 13 from the beacon 10 at the entrance / exit 2a, so that the application 50 is automatically activated or activated. May be.

<Route guidance (navigation)>
It is assumed that after the application 50 is activated, the user 3 selects the route guidance mode (step 113). Then, the mobile terminal 30 performs current location information acquisition processing.

<Current location information acquisition processing; inquiry process>
As shown in the flowchart of FIG. 7, first, the mobile terminal 30 transmits the unique identification information acquired in the beacon radio wave reception process (step 100) to the server 20 and queries the server 20 for the unique identification information. (Step 121).

<Search process>
The server 20 receives the unique identification information and accepts an inquiry (step 122). Subsequently, the server 20 retrieves and reads the beacon position information 24b (coordinate data) corresponding to the inquired unique identification information from the beacon information 24 (step 123). In short, the location of the beacon 10 from which the radio wave 13 is transmitted is obtained. Then, the read beacon position information 24b is transmitted to the portable terminal 30 (step 124).

<Current location information acquisition process>
The portable terminal 30 receives this beacon position information (step 125). The above steps 100 and 121 to 125 are performed for all of the beacons 10, 10... (Step 126). Next, the mobile terminal 30 calculates (acquires) the current location information (coordinate data of the current location) of the terminal 30 from the beacon position information and the radio wave intensity of the beacons 10, 10... (Step 127).

<Purpose information reception process>
When the user 3 touches a “route guidance mode selection” button on the menu page of the application 50, a purpose information input screen is displayed. Purpose information can be entered on this screen. Thereby, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 8, the portable terminal 30 receives the purpose information of the user 3 (step 131). The purpose information includes a name (store name), an address, an item to buy, an item to eat, and the like of a place (store etc.) that the user wants to go in the area 2.

<Destination information acquisition process>
The portable terminal 30 transmits the received destination information to the server 20 and makes a destination inquiry (step 132).
The server 20 receives this purpose information and accepts an inquiry (step 133). The server 20 searches the attribute information 26 for position information corresponding to the received purpose information (step 134). For example, when the user 3 inputs “tie” as an item to be purchased and the purpose information “buy tie” is sent to the server 20, the server 20 reads the “tie” from the handling information 26 c of the attribute information 26. Is searched, and the position information 24b (coordinate data) specified from the corresponding beacon information 26b in the store column is read.
Furthermore, the server 20 transmits the read position information 24b to the portable terminal 30 (step 135).
The portable terminal 30 receives this position information and sets it as a destination. That is, the portable terminal 30 acquires destination information (step 136).

<Route search process>
Furthermore, the portable terminal 30 performs a route search process (step 137). In the route search process, route network information 25 is received from the server 20 and a recommended route from the current location to the destination is searched. For the route search, various known route search algorithms based on, for example, the Dijkstra method can be used.

As the recommended route, the shortest route or the trunk line priority route is usually selected.
<Shortest path>
The shortest route is a route having the shortest distance or required time from the current location to the destination. When the shortest route is selected, the server 20 sends the link cost of the route network information 25 to the portable terminal 30 without processing it. Using the route network information 25, the portable terminal 30 searches for a route that minimizes the total link cost from the current location to the destination.

<Main line priority route>
The main line priority route is a route preferentially passing through a main line such as a main passage or a relatively wide passage in the area 2. When the main line priority route is selected, for example, the server 20 corrects the link cost of the main line in the route network information 25 to a small value and transmits the corrected route network information 25 to the mobile terminal 30. Using the corrected route network information 25, the portable terminal 30 searches for a route having the minimum link cost from the current location to the destination.
Alternatively, the initial value of the link cost information 25c of the server 20 is a trunk line priority value, and the route search may be performed using the route network information 25 without correction.

<Route via specific location>
For example, when an event or a special sale is being performed at a specific store or booth in the area 2, the specific location route is a route that guides the user to go through the specific location. The specific location is preferably set, changed, or canceled by the manager of the area 2 according to the day of the week, the time zone, or the like. For example, an input field such as “desired via place” and “desired via time” is provided on the WEB page for the manager in area 2. When the administrator inputs data in the input field on the client computer 4, data such as “route desired location” and “route desired time” are registered in the server 20. Then, when searching for a route, the registration information is sent from the server 20 to the mobile terminal 30. Based on this, the mobile terminal 30 searches for a route connecting the current location, the specific location, and the destination in order.

<Specific place avoidance route>
For example, when a specific store or booth in the area 2 is closed or renovated, the specific location avoidance route is a route that guides the specific location avoidance route not to pass through the specific location. It is preferable that the specific location can be set, changed, or canceled as appropriate by the administrator of the area 2 accessing the server 20 by the client computer 4. For example, an input field such as “desired avoidance place” and “desired avoidance time” is provided on the WEB page for the administrator. Data such as “desired avoidance place” and “desired avoidance time” is registered in the server 20 by the administrator entering the input field on the client computer 4. In the route search, when the condition such as the desired avoidance time is satisfied, the server 20 corrects the node corresponding to the desired avoidance location in the route network information 25 and then corrects the route after the correction. The network information 25 is sent to the portable terminal 30. Using the corrected route network information 25, the portable terminal 30 searches for a route having the minimum link cost from the current location to the destination. Since the node corresponding to the desired avoidance location is deleted, a route that does not pass through the desired avoidance location can be searched.

<Barrier-free route>
The barrier-free route is a route that avoids the barrier 2e such as the stairs and steps in the area 2. The server 20 performs correction to delete the node corresponding to the barrier 2 e in the route network information 25, and sends the corrected route network information 25 to the mobile terminal 30. Alternatively, the route network information 25 dedicated to the barrier-free route from which the node corresponding to the barrier 2e is deleted may be separately stored in the memory 23.

  For example, when “barrier free route” is selected on the menu page of the application 50, the information is transmitted to the server 20. Receiving this, the server 20 sends the route network information 25 corrected for barrier-free or dedicated to barrier-free to the mobile terminal 30. Using the received route network information 25, the mobile terminal 30 searches for a route that minimizes the total link cost from the current location to the destination. Since nodes corresponding to the barrier 2e such as stairs and steps are deleted, a route that does not pass through the barrier 2e such as stairs and steps can be searched.

<Evacuation route>
The evacuation route is a route for evacuating in an emergency. For example, when “evacuation route” is selected on the mobile terminal 30, the mobile terminal 30 sets an appropriate exit from the emergency exit 2 f or the entrance 2 a as the destination. Subsequently, the mobile terminal 30 uses the route network information 25 from the server 20 to search for a route that minimizes the total link cost from the current location to the evacuation exit, for example.

<Evacuation route search when communication is not possible>
In an emergency such as a large-scale disaster, it is assumed that the communication network 6 is disconnected or the server 20 is turned off due to a power failure or the like, and the mobile terminal 30 becomes unable to communicate with the server 20. On the other hand, since the beacon 10 is driven by the battery 12, the beacon radio wave 13 can be transmitted even if a power failure occurs unless the battery is exhausted. As shown in the flowchart of FIG. 9, the mobile terminal 30 receives this beacon radio wave 13 and obtains the unique identification information and radio wave intensity of the source beacon 10 (step 100). Furthermore, when communication with the server 20 is impossible, the portable terminal 30 searches the beacon information 51h in the memory 35 of the own terminal 30 (step 141), and acquires beacon position information corresponding to the received unique identification information. The above steps 100 and 141 are executed for all the beacons 10, 10... Within the effective reach distance (step 142), and current location information is acquired based on the position information and the radio wave intensity of these beacons 10 (step 143).

  Subsequently, after setting appropriate evacuation exits 2f and 2a as destinations (step 144), the total link cost from the current location to the evacuation exit is minimized using the route network information 51i in the memory 35 of the terminal 30 itself. Is searched for a route (step 145). Therefore, an evacuation route can be searched even if communication with the server 20 is impossible.

<Route presentation process>
As shown in FIG. 8, the mobile terminal 30 searches for a route as described above, and then presents the searched recommended route to the user 3 (step 138).
Examples of the route presentation method include a map mode and an AR (Augmented Reality) mode. In the route presentation step, a route presentation method selection button such as “map mode” or “AR mode” is displayed on the display 32.

<Map mode>
When the user 3 selects the “map mode”, the mobile terminal 30 reads the map data 51f in the memory 35, thereby displaying the map of the area 2 on the display 32 and following the recommended route on the map. Displays a guide line from your current location to your destination.

<AR mode>
When the user 3 selects “AR mode”, the mobile terminal 30 activates a built-in camera function and displays a live video around the current location on the display 32. In addition, the mobile terminal 30 detects the direction of the own terminal 30 by the built-in direction detection function, and obtains the traveling direction along the recommended route from the current location based on the direction of the own terminal 30. The traveling direction is changed to a figure such as an arrow, and displayed in a superimposed manner on the live video on the display 32. Thereby, even a user who is not good at reading a map can easily go to the destination.
The screen of the display 32 may be divided to display the map display and the live video display simultaneously.

<Designated location memory function route search>
FIG. 10 shows a route search method using the designated location storage function 51j of the application 50.
When the user 3 touches the “specified location storage button” on the menu page of the application 50, the portable terminal 30 receives a storage command for the specified location (step 151). Then, the mobile terminal 30 acquires current location information based on the beacon radio wave 13 received from the beacon 10 within the effective reach (current location information acquisition step, step 152), and the current location information is “location information of designated location”. (Step 153). That is, the place where the user 3 operates the “designated place storage button”, and the place where the portable terminal 30 receives the storage command is set as the “designated place”.

  When the user 3 inputs the purpose information “return to the specified location” to the portable terminal 30, the portable terminal 30 receives a route guidance command to the specified location as the purpose information (purpose reception step, step 154). Subsequently, the portable terminal 30 reads the position information of the designated place and sets it as destination information (destination information acquisition step, step 155). Then, a recommended route from the current location to the designated place (destination) is searched (search step, step 156), and the searched recommended route is presented on a display or the like (presentation step, step 157).

  The designated place storage function 51j is suitable for route guidance to the parking position in the area 2 having a large parking lot. For example, when the user 3 parks in a certain parking area in the parking lot in the area 2, the user 3 touches a “specified location storage button” in the parking area. Thereby, the position information of the parking section is stored in the portable terminal 30 as the position information of the designated place. When the user 3 returns from the place other than the parking area in the area 2 to the parking area, the user 3 may input the purpose information “return to the designated place” to the portable terminal 30. Then, the mobile terminal 30 searches for and presents a route to the parking section. Thereby, the user 3 can return smoothly to the parking position.

As described above, according to the in-area route guidance system 1, the beacon 10 is used to reliably acquire the current location information of the mobile terminal 30 and the user 3 even indoors, and perform route guidance in real time. be able to. Since the beacon radio wave 13 has an extremely short effective reach compared to the WiFi radio wave, the current location information can be obtained with high accuracy and accurate route guidance can be performed.
Furthermore, since the beacon 10 is inexpensive, an increase in facility cost can be suppressed even if a large number of beacons are arranged in the area 2. In addition, by arranging a large number of beacons 10 at various locations in the area 2, the accuracy of route search can be increased.

<Distribution of topic information>
Further, as described above, the system 1 has a function of advertising / sales promotion (promotion). One of them is a topic information distribution function. The topic information distribution function operates as follows.
As shown in the flowchart of FIG. 11, the portable terminal 30 refers to the beacon information 51h each time the unique identification information is acquired by the beacon radio wave reception process (step 100), thereby obtaining the role information of the source beacon 10. Read (step 201). When the role information is “beacon for topic information”, the unique identification information of the beacon 20 is transmitted to the server 20 to inquire the contents of the topic information (step 202).

  Upon receiving the inquiry (step 203), the server 20 reads the topic information (event information, coupon information, etc.) corresponding to the unique identification information from the topic information 26e column of the attribute information 26 (step 204). The correspondence between the unique identification information and the topic information 26e can be determined by the corresponding beacon information 26b of the attribute information 26. When the topic information 26e is present, the topic information 26e is transmitted to the portable terminal 30 (step 205).

  When the portable terminal 30 receives the topic information from the server 20 (step 206), the portable terminal 30 notifies the content of the topic information 26e on the display 32 or by voice (step 207). Thereby, for example, when the user 3 comes near a certain store or enters the store, the event information of the store can be notified to the user 3, or a coupon can be issued. The latest topic information can be distributed by making an inquiry to the server 20.

  The topic information is not limited to being distributed when the user 3 is near or inside the store 2c related to the topic information, and the beacon 10 at the entrance 2a has a role of “for topic information” When it is determined that the user 3 has entered the area 2 from the entrance 2a, an event for the entire area 2 or topic information of a certain store 2c may be distributed.

<Reminder>
As shown in FIG. 12, the system 1 is provided with a reminder function as another advertising / sales promotion function. The reminder function operates as follows.
Each time the portable terminal 30 acquires unique identification information by the beacon radio wave reception process (step 100), the portable terminal 30 reads the role information of the source beacon 10 by referring to the beacon information 51h (step 211). When the role information is “message beacon”, the handling information corresponding to the source beacon 10 is inquired by transmitting the unique identification information of the beacon 10 to the server 20 (step 212).

  The server 20 that has received the inquiry (Step 213) reads the handling information 26c corresponding to the unique identification information (Step 214), and transmits the handling information 26c to the portable terminal 30 (Step 215).

When the portable terminal 30 receives the handling information 26c from the server 20 (step 216), the portable terminal 30 checks whether or not the handling product in the handling information 26c is a product listed in the shopping list 52c (step 217). If it is listed in the shopping list 52c, a message indicating that the store 2c handling the product in the shopping list 52c is nearby is displayed or displayed (step 218).
As a result, accurate purchase information can be provided to the user 3 who has purchasing needs, and sales can be promoted. For the user 3, forgetting to buy can be prevented.

Since the beacon 10 is inexpensive, a large number of beacons can be arranged in the area 2, thereby providing a detailed advertising and sales promotion service.
The portable terminal 30 makes a necessary inquiry such as a current location inquiry, a topic information inquiry, and a reminder inquiry to the server 20 in accordance with the role information 24c of the beacon 10, thereby eliminating unnecessary communication. Can reduce the load. Moreover, the operation | movement by the beacon radio wave from the beacon unrelated to the system 1 can be avoided.

<Acquisition of action history>
As shown in FIG. 13, whenever some information (unique identification information of the beacon 10, identification information of the own terminal 30, etc.) is transmitted from the mobile terminal 30 to the server 20 and the server 20 receives the information, the server 20 The received information is stored as action history information 27 together with time information 27b at the time of reception. That is, the server 20 creates the action history information 27 from the reception record of the unique identification information over time by the mobile terminal 30. The unique identification information in the action history information 27 is location information 27c indicating the location of the user 3.
With this behavior history information 27, for example, behavior trends such as days of the week in the area 2, the number of users for each time zone, the staying time at each store 2 c, the circuit, the repeat visit rate, the product contact rate, etc. Can analyze and contribute to marketing.

<Battery remaining amount management of beacon 10>
As shown in FIG. 14, the system 1 is provided with a battery remaining amount management function for each beacon 10. The battery level management function operates as follows.
The portable terminal 30 issues a battery remaining amount notification command to the beacon 10 within the effective reach at a certain command timing (step 302). The command timing includes, for example, the time when the radio wave 13 is first received from a certain beacon 10 while the application 50 is activated once (step 301). Or you may make it issue a command every predetermined time (for example, 30 minutes). The server 20 may control the command timing.
The beacon 10 that has received this command (step 303) sends the remaining battery level information of the beacon 10 to the portable terminal 30 (step 304).
After receiving the remaining battery information (step 305), the portable terminal 30 sends the remaining battery information to the server 20 (step 306).
Receiving this (step 307), the server 20 overwrites the corresponding battery remaining amount information 28b. When the remaining battery level falls below a predetermined threshold, an alarm is transmitted from the server 20 to, for example, the client computer 4 on the manager side in the area 2.
As a result, the remaining amount of the battery 12 can be managed. Since the remaining battery level information can be collected using the mobile terminal 30 of the user 3, it is possible to save the administrator from going to the area 2 and checking the remaining battery level. Even if a large number of beacons 10 are provided, it can be managed reliably, and it is possible to prevent problems such as the current position of the user 3 being unable to be accurately determined because the battery 12 has run out, ensuring the reliability of the system 1 it can.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.
For example, the in-area service system 1 may target a plurality of areas 2 (a plurality of shopping centers). In that case, information such as map data 51 f for each area 2 is stored in the mobile terminal 30 or the server 20.
Information processing and communication timing and logic of the server 20 and the mobile terminal 30, role assignment, and the like may be modified as appropriate. The server 20 and the mobile terminal 30 may have a data structure and various functions other than those illustrated in FIG.
The server 20 may calculate the current position, acquire destination information, search for a recommended route, and the like, and the mobile terminal 30 may receive (acquire) the result.
The type of recommended route, the search procedure, and the like in the embodiment are examples, and can be modified as appropriate.
The portable terminal 30 or the server 20 may have a function of determining whether or not the user 3 has stayed at a predetermined store 2c (location) for a certain period of time or longer. And when it is judged that he / she stays for a certain period of time, the portable terminal 30 may notify related information (topic information, etc.) corresponding to the staying store 2c.
Area 2 is not limited to a large shopping center, and may be a department store, an amusement facility, or the like. The in-area route guidance system 1 is not limited to indoor route guidance, but can also be applied to outdoor route guidance. Area 2 may be a tourist area.

  The present invention can be applied to, for example, a navigation system that provides route guidance indoors in real time using a portable terminal.

1 In-area service system (intra-area route guidance system)
2 Zone 2a-2g Place 3 User 10 Beacon 20 Server 23 Memory (Beacon information storage unit, attribute information storage unit, route network information storage unit)
29 Program 30 Mobile terminal 34 Bluetooth communication function (receiver)
35 Memory 50 Application (Program)
51a Current location information acquisition function (current location information acquisition unit)
51b Purpose acceptance function (input part)
51c Destination inquiry function (Destination information acquisition unit)
51d Route search function (search unit)
51e Route presentation function (presentation part)
51j Designated location storage function (designated location storage unit)

Claims (7)

A system that guides the route in an area using a mobile terminal,
A plurality of beacons that are distributed in the area and transmit unique identification information,
A receiving unit provided in the portable terminal for receiving the unique identification information;
A beacon information storage unit storing beacon information including unique identification information and position information of each beacon;
A current location information acquisition unit that acquires current location information based on the unique identification information and the beacon information from the reception unit;
An input unit provided in the portable terminal for receiving user purpose information;
An attribute information storage unit storing attribute information including position information of each place in the area;
A destination information acquisition unit for acquiring destination information based on the destination information and the attribute information;
A route network information storage unit storing route network information of the area;
A search unit that searches for a recommended route from the current location to the destination based on the current location information, the destination information, and the route network information;
A presentation unit provided in the mobile terminal and presenting the recommended route;
A function of issuing a battery remaining amount notification command at a certain command timing to a beacon provided in the portable terminal and having a beacon radio wave representing the unique identification information within an effective reach distance;
Provided in the beacon, and when receiving the battery remaining amount notification command, a function of transmitting own battery remaining amount information to the mobile terminal;
An intra-area route guidance system provided with the function of collecting the battery remaining amount information and transmitting it to a server for managing the battery remaining amount of the beacon provided in the portable terminal .   The intra-area route guidance system according to claim 1, further comprising a server that creates action history information from a reception record of the unique identification information of the beacon over time by the portable terminal. A method of route guidance in an area by a mobile terminal and a server,
A plurality of beacons arranged in a distributed manner in the area, and transmitting different unique identification information;
The portable terminal receiving the unique identification information;
The portable terminal inquires the server for position information of a beacon corresponding to the received unique identification information (hereinafter referred to as “beacon position information”);
The server searches for the inquired beacon position information based on beacon information including unique identification information and position information of each beacon;
The portable terminal acquiring current location information by receiving the search result from the server; and
A step in which the portable terminal receives user purpose information;
The server or the mobile terminal acquires destination information based on the destination information and attribute information including position information of each place in the area;
The server or the mobile terminal searching for a recommended route from the current location to the destination based on the current location information, the destination information and the route network information;
The portable terminal presenting the recommended route;
The portable terminal issues a battery remaining amount notification command at a certain command timing to a beacon whose beacon radio wave representing the unique identification information is within an effective reach; and
When the beacon receives the battery remaining amount notification command, transmitting its own battery remaining amount information to the portable terminal;
The portable terminal collecting the battery remaining amount information and transmitting it to the server;
The server comprises the step of receiving the remaining battery level information and managing the remaining battery level of the beacon.   4. The intra-area route guidance method according to claim 3, further comprising the step of the server creating action history information from a reception record of the unique identification information of the beacon over time by the mobile terminal. A process of receiving unique identification information from a part of a plurality of beacons distributed in an area;
A process of acquiring current location information based on the received unique identification information and beacon information including unique identification information and position information of each beacon;
A process of accepting user's purpose information;
Processing for obtaining destination information based on the destination information and attribute information including position information of each place in the area;
A process of searching for a recommended route from the current location to the destination based on the current location information, the destination information, and the route network information of the area;
A process of presenting the recommended route;
A process for issuing a battery remaining amount notification command at a certain command timing to a beacon in which the beacon radio wave representing the unique identification information is within an effective reach distance;
A program that causes a portable terminal to execute processing for collecting battery remaining amount information transmitted from a beacon that has received the battery remaining amount notification command and transmitting the information to a server that manages the remaining battery amount of the beacon. For a server that communicates with the mobile terminal in an intra-area route guidance system in which a mobile terminal searches for and presents a recommended route from the current location to the destination based on current location information, destination information, and route network information in the area The program of
Processing for receiving unique identification information from a part of a plurality of beacons arranged in a distributed manner in the area from the mobile terminal;
Based on the received unique identification information and beacon information including unique identification information and position information of each beacon, a process of searching for position information of the part of beacons (hereinafter referred to as “beacon position information”);
A process of transmitting the beacon position information to the mobile terminal;
A process of receiving user purpose information from the mobile terminal;
Processing for obtaining the destination information based on the destination information and attribute information including position information of each place in the area;
Processing for transmitting the destination information to the mobile terminal;
A process for controlling a command timing at which the mobile terminal issues a battery remaining amount notification command to a beacon in which a beacon radio wave representing the unique identification information is within an effective reach; and
A program that causes the server to execute a process of receiving, from the mobile terminal , battery remaining amount information transmitted from a beacon that has received the battery remaining amount notification command and managing the remaining battery amount of the beacon.   The program according to claim 6, further causing the server to execute a process of creating action history information from a reception record of the unique identification information of the beacon over time by the portable terminal.

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