JP6682342B2 - Information providing device and terminal device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an information providing device and a terminal device.

  In recent years, an area (also called “geopoint”) within a virtual boundary line (also called “geofence”) constructed by using a Wi-Fi (registered trademark) signal, a beacon (beacon) signal, or the like. ), The technique of determining the check-in and check-out of the terminal device owned by the user has been put to practical use. For example, if it is possible to receive an identifier for identifying the area in which the terminal device is checking in from the above-mentioned signal and obtain position information of the area from the received identifier, information such as advertisement corresponding to the position can be obtained. , Can be provided to the user via the terminal device.

Japanese Patent No. 5419891

  As the number of areas that the user can check in increases, the amount of position information associated with the area identifier increases. In that case, it is said that the server manages the identifier and the position information, and every time the terminal device checks in into an area, the identifier of the area is transmitted to the server (inquiring the server) to acquire the position information. A method (server inquiry method) is also conceivable, but it causes an increase in communication data amount. Since communication is required, it takes time to obtain information.

  Patent Literature 1 proposes a method of providing Wi-Fi access point (area) information in a certain area to a mobile client device (terminal device). The provided access point information may be stored in the memory of the terminal device, but the above-mentioned area also includes access points to which the terminal device is unlikely to check in. If the access point information that is unlikely to be checked in by the terminal device is stored in the memory of the terminal device, the usage amount of the memory of the terminal device increases more than necessary.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide an information providing device and a terminal device capable of suppressing the amount of memory used in the terminal device and the amount of communication data. And

  An information providing apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention is stored in a storage unit that stores management information in which identifiers and position information of a plurality of areas for a terminal device to check in are described in association with each other, and the storage unit. Generating means for generating a plurality of groups including one or more areas using the management information, and a target terminal device for all areas in the group including the area checked in by the target terminal device. And a transmitting unit that transmits the management information for each group.

  In the above information providing device, a plurality of groups including one or more areas are generated using management information that describes the identifiers and the position information of a plurality of areas in association with each other. Then, the management information about all areas in the group including the area checked in by the target terminal device is transmitted to the target terminal device for each group. In this way, since the management information describing the identifier and the position information in association with each other is transmitted from the information providing device to the terminal device, the terminal device side uses the management information transmitted from the information providing device to determine from the area identifier. The location information of the area can be acquired. In this case, the terminal device only needs to store (hold) the management information transmitted from the information providing device, and does not need to store the management information for all areas. As a result, it is possible to suppress the amount of memory used in the terminal device. Also, since the management information about all areas in the group is transmitted to the terminal device, when the terminal device checks in to those areas later, the management information already transmitted is used to determine the location information of the area. Can be obtained. This eliminates the need for communication with the information providing device, so that the amount of communication data between the information providing device and the terminal device can be suppressed. Furthermore, since a group is created with each area as a unit, the possibility that it is possible to avoid the location information of the area where the terminal device is unlikely to check in from being transmitted from the server to the terminal device is increased.

  The generation means may generate a plurality of groups based on attribute information of a plurality of areas. In that case, the attribute information may include area owner information, and the generating unit may generate the plurality of groups according to the area owner information. In this case, areas having common or similar points in attribute information of areas such as genre, access, business hours, number of persons accommodated, smoking allowed, coupon allowed can be grouped. Areas with common or similar area owner information, such as railway companies and restaurants, can also be grouped.

  A terminal device according to an aspect of the present invention includes a receiving device that receives management information for all areas in the group including the area checked in by the terminal device from the transmitting device of the information providing device, for each group. An update that deletes the management information stored in the terminal device-side storage means for each group based on the terminal device-side storage means that stores the management information received by the receiving means and the check-in history information of the own terminal device And means.

  In the above terminal device, since the management information received from the above information providing device is stored, by acquiring the area position information from the area identifier using this management information, as described above, the terminal device It is possible to suppress the amount of memory used by the server, the amount of communication data between the information providing device and the terminal device, and the location information of the area where the terminal device is unlikely to check in from the server. The possibility of avoiding transmission to the terminal device increases. Furthermore, in the above terminal device, since the stored information is deleted for each group based on the check-in history information of the own terminal device, the amount of memory used in the terminal device can be further suppressed.

  The updating means identifies, for each group, the check-in time to the area where the latest check-in time of the local terminal device is the latest among the areas in the group, and preferentially deletes from the group having the oldest specified time. You may. In addition, the updating unit specifies, for each group, the number of check-ins to the area in which the own terminal device has most checked-in among the areas in the group, and preferentially deletes from the group having the smallest number of specified times. You may. In this way, the area in the group to be preferentially deleted is less likely to be checked in by the terminal device than the areas in other groups, so that the terminal device later communicates the management information again by communicating with the information providing device. It is possible to release the memory of the terminal device while reducing the possibility of having to acquire it.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to suppress the amount of memory used in the terminal device and the amount of communication data.

It is a figure for explaining the outline of the information service system concerning an embodiment. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of an information provision system. It is a figure which shows the functional block of a terminal and a server. It is a figure which shows the example of management information. FIG. 4A shows an example of management information before being grouped. FIG. 4B shows an example of the management information after being grouped. It is a figure which shows an example of the number of check-ins for every area owner. It is a figure which shows the example of the hardware constitutions of a terminal and a server. It is a flow chart which shows an example of processing performed in an information service system.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the description of the drawings, the same elements will be denoted by the same reference symbols, without redundant description.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the outline of the information providing system according to the embodiment. In this example of a use case (use case), in the information providing system 1, the transmitter 30 transmits a signal such as a WiFi signal or a beacon signal (hereinafter, may be simply referred to as “transmission signal”). An area capable of receiving the transmission signal of the transmitter 30 is referred to as an area 30a and is illustrated. The outgoing signal includes information on an identifier for identifying the area 30a. A BSSID (Basic Service Set Identifier) of the transmitter 30 or the like can be used as the identifier.

  On the terminal device 20, an application for receiving the service of the information providing system 1 is activated as in the screen D1. When the user U moves into the area 30a together with the terminal device 20, the terminal device 20 receives the transmission signal from the transmitter 30 and acquires the BSSID of the area 30a. On the terminal device 20, like the screen D2, the advertisement information associated with the position information of the transmitter 30 (or the area 30a) identified based on the acquired BSSID is displayed. Specifically, the advertisement information regarding the store or the like existing near the position of the transmitter 30 is displayed. In other words, the advertisement information linked with the position information is provided to the user U. As described above, in the information providing system 1, the server 10 (positional information server), the terminal device 20, and the transmitter 30 are used to realize the above-described service such as providing advertisement information.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 2, there are a plurality of terminal devices 20 and a plurality of transmitters 30. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the information providing system. In this figure, in order to distinguish each terminal device 20, each terminal device 20 is also provided with a different symbol of the terminal devices 201 and 202. Similarly, the transmitters 30 have different reference numerals of the transmitters 301 to 303, and the areas 30a of the transmitter 30 have different reference numerals of the areas 301a, 302a, and 303a. However, the numbers of the terminal devices 20 and the transmitters 30 are not limited to the example shown in FIG. Note that FIG. 2 will be referred to again when the operation outlines of the server 10 and the terminal device 20 are described later.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing functional blocks of the terminal and the server. First, the server 10 will be described, and then the terminal device 20 will be described.

  The server 10 is an information providing device for providing the terminal device 20 with the position information of the area 30a in the information providing system 1 (FIGS. 1 and 2). The server 10 includes a storage unit 11, a generation unit 12, a communication unit 13, and a management unit 14.

  The storage unit 11 is a unit (server-side storage unit) that stores management information of a plurality of areas 30a for the terminal device 20 to check in. The management information is set for each area 30a, for example. The management information is described in association with the identifier of the area 30a and the position information. The identifier may be the BSSID described above. The position information may be coordinate information on a map or the like. The management information further includes a check-in log (check-in history information) to the area 30a and attribute information of the area 30a.

  Check-in means that the terminal device 20 moves into the area 30a from outside the area 30a. Checking out means that the terminal device 20 moves from inside a certain area 30a to outside the area 30a. The check-in log indicates the time when check-in occurred, the time when check-out occurred, the time between the time when check-in occurred and the time when check-out occurred (the staying time of the terminal device 20 in the area 30a), It includes information on the terminal device 20 that checked in, information on the checked-in area 30a (BSSID described above), the number of check-ins, and the like. The check-in log can be aggregated for each area 30a. Since there are a plurality of terminal devices 20 as described above, the check-in log for each area 30a is information in which check-in and the like by each terminal device 20 to each area 30a is tabulated. The check-in or the like to each area 30a by each terminal device 20 is aggregated on the server 10 side by periodically transmitting information such as check-in or the like of each terminal device 20 to the server 10. It is totaled.

  The attribute information may be a geofence attribute. Area owner information may be used as the geofence attribute. The area owner indicates the attribute of the owner of the facility or the like where the transmitter 30 is provided, and examples thereof include a railway company and a restaurant. A POI (Point Of Interest (information such as a building or store)) attribute may be used as the geofence attribute. The POI attribute is information such as a building and a store, and may be information such as genre, access, business hours, number of persons accommodated, smoking, and coupon.

  The storage unit 11 also stores management information for each group generated by the generation unit 12 described below.

  The generation unit 12 is a unit (generation unit) that uses the management information stored in the storage unit 11 to generate a plurality of groups including one or more areas 30a. Here, an example of the management information will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 4A shows an example of management information before being grouped. The management information 11a before being grouped by the generation unit 12 is a data table in which "identifier", "position information", "check-in log", and "attribute information" are described in association with each other. The “identifier” is the BSSID, and the “positional information” is the coordinates on the map. The “check-in log” and the “attribute information” are as described above. The generation unit 12 generates a plurality of groups including one or more areas 30a by using the management information shown in FIG. Note that in FIG. 4A, the identifier, the position information, the check-in log, and the attribute information are simplified and shown as “BSSID1”, “Info1”, “Log1”, “Pro1”, and the like.

  FIG. 4B shows an example of the management information after being grouped. The management information 11b after being grouped by the generation unit 12 is a data table that describes a "group name", an "identifier", and "position information" in association with each group name. The “group name” may be any information that can identify each group. The “identifier” and “positional information” are as described above. Note that in FIG. 4B, the group name is simplified and shown as “Gr1” or the like. As shown in FIG. 4B, a group is created with each area (a set of an identifier and position information) as a unit.

  Here, an example of a method of generating a group by the generation unit 12 will be described. The generation unit 12 may generate a plurality of groups based on check-in logs to the plurality of areas 30a. In this case, the generation unit 12 may generate a plurality of groups according to the number of check-ins. When the number of check-ins is totaled for each area 30a, the number of check-ins may be divided into a plurality of designated number ranges, and the areas 30a belonging to each designated number range may be grouped. Further, the generation unit 12 may generate a plurality of groups according to the stay time. When the stay time is aggregated for each area 30a, the stay time may be divided into a plurality of designated time ranges, and the areas 30a belonging to each designated time range may be grouped. As the staying time in this case, the average staying time of each terminal device 20 in the area 30a may be used.

  The generation unit 12 may generate a plurality of groups based on the geofence attributes of the plurality of areas 30a. In this case, the generation unit 12 may generate a plurality of groups in accordance with the area owner information, and specifically, may group the areas 30a located in stores or the like owned by the same area owner. . Further, the generation unit 12 may generate a plurality of groups according to the POI attribute, and specifically, may group the areas 30a having common or similar POI attributes.

  In addition, there is also a group generation method of generating a plurality of groups according to the number of check-ins for each area owner. This will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the number of check-ins for each area owner. The horizontal axis of the graph shows the area owner, and the vertical axis shows the number of check-ins. In the example of FIG. 5, the area owner is simplified by using alphabets such as “A” and “B”. In this way, when the number of check-ins is totaled for each area owner, it is possible to generate a plurality of groups according to the number of check-ins for each area owner. The grouping may use the same method as that used when the number of check-ins described above is aggregated for each area 30a.

  Returning to FIG. 3 again, the communication unit 13 of the server 10 transmits, to the target terminal device 20, management information about all areas 30a in the group including the area 30a checked in by the target terminal device 20. It is a part (transmitting means) to be performed. The area 30a to be checked in by the terminal device 20 is specified, for example, by using the BSSID acquired by the terminal device 20 at the time of check-in. In that case, the BSSID acquired by the terminal device 20 is transmitted from the communication unit 21 (described later) of the terminal device 20 to the communication unit 13 of the server 10.

  The management unit 14 is a unit (management unit) that manages the management information stored in the storage unit 11. The management unit 14 updates the management information stored in the storage unit 11 by adding, changing, or deleting the management information. When the transmitter 30 is newly provided and a new area 30a corresponding to the transmitter 30 is generated, the management unit 14 adds the management information of the new area 30a to the storage unit 11. When a check-in or check-out occurs in any of the areas 30a, the management unit 14 updates the check-in log of the area 30a. When the existing transmitter 30 is stopped, discarded, or the like, and the corresponding area 30a disappears, the management unit 14 deletes the management information of the area 30a.

  Next, the terminal device 20 will be described. The terminal device 20 includes a communication unit 21, an identifier acquisition unit 22, a storage unit 23, an update unit 24, and an application execution unit 25.

  The communication unit 21 is a unit (reception unit) that receives management information about all areas 30a in the group including the area 30a checked in by the terminal device 20 from the communication unit 13 of the server 10. When there are a plurality of groups, the management information is received for each group.

  The identifier acquisition unit 22 is a part (identifier acquisition unit) that acquires the BSSID of the area 30a by receiving a transmission signal from the transmitter 30 (see FIG. 2).

  The storage unit 23 is a unit (terminal device side storage unit) that stores the management information received by the communication unit 21 for each group. The storage unit 23 also stores check-in history information (terminal device-side check-in log) for each area 30a of the terminal device 20. The terminal device side check-in log indicates the time when the check-in occurred, the time when the check-out occurred, and the time between the time when the check-in occurred and the time when the check-out occurred (the stay in the area 30a of the terminal device 20). Time), information on the area 30a checked in by the terminal device 20 (BSSID described above), the number of check-ins, and the like. The number of check-ins can be totaled for each area 30a. The storage capacity of the storage unit 23 of the terminal device 20 may be smaller than the storage capacity of the storage unit 11 of the server 10. The storage unit 23 may be a cache memory for temporarily storing information.

  The update unit 24 adds, changes, or deletes management information (hereinafter, also referred to as “group information”) for each group stored in the storage unit 23 to store the group information stored in the storage unit 23. Is a part (update means) for updating. The update unit 24 also updates the terminal device-side check-in log stored in the identifier acquisition unit 22.

  Here, an example of updating the group information by the updating unit 24 will be described. The updating unit 24 deletes the management information stored in the storage unit 23 for each group (that is, the group information) based on the terminal device side check-in log of the terminal device 20. In this case, the updating unit 24 may delete the group information stored in the storage unit 23 according to the number of check-ins. The updating unit 24 may delete the group information stored in the storage unit 23 that has passed a predetermined deadline (cache deadline). The updating unit 24 may delete the group information so that the number of group information held in the storage unit 23 does not exceed a predetermined number. At that time, the updating unit 24 deletes the group information having a lower priority. The updating unit 24 identifies, for each group, the check-in time of the area 30a in the group, the check-in time of which is the latest check-in time of the terminal device 20, and the group having the oldest specified time is given priority. May be deleted. Further, the updating unit 24 specifies, for each group, the number of check-in times to the area in which the own terminal device has the most number of check-ins among the areas 30a in the group, and the group having the smallest number of specified times is given priority. You may delete it.

  The application execution unit 25 is a part (execution unit) for executing an application for the terminal device 20 to receive the service of the information providing system 1 described above with reference to FIG.

  An example of the operation outline of the server 10 and the terminal device 20 described above will be described again with reference to FIG. In the terminal device 201, the application for receiving the service of the information providing system 1 is activated by the application executing unit 25. First, when the terminal device 201 checks in the area 301a, the identifier acquisition unit 22 of the terminal device 201 receives a transmission signal from the transmitter 301 and acquires the BSSID of the area 301a.

  First, here, it is assumed that the BSSID acquired by the identifier acquisition unit 22 is not included in the group information stored in the storage unit 11 of the terminal device 201. In this case, the communication unit 21 of the terminal device 201 transmits the BSSID to the communication unit 13 of the server 10 (S101). At the same time, the communication unit 21 transmits to the communication unit 13 of the server 10 a request to transmit the position information of the area 301a corresponding to the BSSID to the terminal device 201 (also S101). In response to this, the communication unit 13 of the server 10 stores everything in the group including the area 301a corresponding to the BSSID stored in the management information (see FIG. 4B) stored in the storage unit 11. The management information of the area 30a is transmitted to the communication unit 21 of the terminal device 20 (S102). When there are a plurality of groups, management information is transmitted for each group. Here, it is assumed that the management information of the area 301a and the management information of the area 302a are included in the same group, and both management information are transmitted to the communication unit 21 of the terminal device 20. In the terminal device 20, the communication unit 21 of the terminal device 20 receives the management information transmitted from the communication unit 13 of the server 10. When there are a plurality of groups, management information is received for each group. The storage unit 23 also stores the management information received by the communication unit 21 for each group. The application execution unit 25 displays the advertisement information associated with the position information stored in the storage unit 23. The advertisement information may be stored in the storage unit 11 in advance, or may be acquired from the external server by the communication unit 21.

  Next, the terminal device 201 checks out from the area 301a that was initially checked in and checks in to another area 302a (AR1). In this case, the BSSID of the newly checked-in area 302a needs to be acquired by the identifier acquisition unit 22 of the terminal device 201. Here, the management information of the area 302a corresponding to the BSSID acquired by the identifier acquisition unit 22 is included in the group information stored in the storage unit 11 of the terminal device 201 when the area 301a is checked in first. Therefore, the application execution unit 25 of the terminal device 201 immediately obtains the position information of the area 302a by simply referring to the group information stored in the storage unit 11 and displays the advertisement information associated with the position information. be able to. Therefore, it is not necessary to make an inquiry to the server 10 again as described above.

  Further details of the operations of the server 10 and the terminal device 20 will be described later with reference to FIG. 7.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of the hardware configuration of the server 10 and the terminal device 20. As shown in FIG. 6, the server 10 and the terminal device 20 physically include one or more CPUs (Central Processing Units) 101, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 102 as a main storage device, and a ROM (Read Only). Memory) 103, a communication module 104 that is a data transmission / reception device, an auxiliary storage device 105 such as a semiconductor memory, an input device 106 that receives an input of a user operation, an output device 107 such as a display, and the like. Each function of the server 10 and the terminal device 20 described above with reference to FIG. 3 and the like is controlled by the CPU 101 by loading one or a plurality of predetermined computer software onto hardware such as the CPU 101 and the RAM 102. This can be realized by operating the communication module 104, the input device 106, the output device 107, and the like under this condition, and reading and writing data in the RAM 102 and the auxiliary storage device 105.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of processing executed in the information providing system. Here, the transmission signal of the transmitter 30 is assumed to be a Wi-Fi signal.

  First, the processing executed by the server 10 will be described. In the example of this flowchart, the server 10 creates a group based on the number of check-ins.

  In step S11, the server 10 determines whether the group expiration date has passed. The group expiration date is a deadline set for group reconstruction. Specifically, the management unit 14 of the server 10 determines whether or not the expiration date has passed for each group of the management information (see FIG. 4B) after being grouped. For example, if the period from when the group is created by the generation unit 12 to the present time is equal to or longer than a predetermined period (predetermined period), it is determined that the expiration date has passed, and if the period is less than the predetermined period, the period is valid. It is determined that the deadline has not passed. When the group expiration date has passed (step S11: YES), the server 10 advances the process to step S12. Otherwise (step S11: NO), the server 10 advances the process to step S15.

  In step S12, the server 10 calculates the number of check-ins for each Wi-Fi access point. Specifically, the management unit 14 of the server 10 calculates the number of check-ins to each area 30a by using the check-in log of each management information before being grouped (see FIG. 4A).

  In step S13, the server 10 sorts the Wi-Fi access points by the number of check-ins. Specifically, the management unit 14 of the server 10 organizes the management information based on the number of check-ins calculated in the previous step S12. For example, the number of check-ins is divided into a plurality of designated number ranges, and each designated number range and each management information are associated with each other, whereby the management information is organized for each designated number range of check-in numbers.

  In step S14, the server 10 groups the specified number of items. Specifically, the generation unit 12 of the server 10 groups the management information of each area 30a into ranges of the specified number of check-ins arranged in step S13.

  In addition, in the above-described example of steps S12 to S14, the group is generated based on the number of check-ins, but instead of this, as described above, based on the stay time, area owner information, POI attribute, and the like. Groups may be created.

  In step S15, the server 10 determines whether an inquiry has been received. Specifically, whether or not the communication unit 13 of the server 10 has received from the terminal device 20 a request to transmit the position information corresponding to the BSSID of the area 30a checked in by the terminal device 20 to the terminal device 20. to decide. When the inquiry is received (step S15: YES), the server 10 advances the process to step S16. If not (step S16: NO), the server 10 returns the process to step S11.

  In step S16, the server 10 determines whether or not there is a group including the inquiry target BSSID. Specifically, the management unit 14 of the server 10 adds the management information of the area 30a corresponding to the BSSID received in step S15 to the management information (see FIG. 4B) of each area 30a after grouping. It is determined whether or not a group including is present. If there is such a group (step S16: YES), the server 10 advances the process to step S17. Otherwise (step S17: NO), the server 10 advances the process to step S18.

  In step S17, the server 10 transmits the corresponding group. Specifically, the communication unit 13 of the server 10 transmits, to the terminal device 20, the management information of all the areas 30a included in the group including the management information of the area 30a corresponding to the BSSID received in step S15. When there are a plurality of groups, the management information of all areas 30a included in each group is transmitted to the terminal device 20 for each group.

  In step S18, the server 10 notifies that the BSSID does not exist. Specifically, the communication unit 13 of the server 10 notifies the terminal device 20 that the group including the management information of the area 30a corresponding to the BSSID received in the previous step S15 does not exist.

  After the processing of step S17 or step S18 is completed, the server 10 ends the processing of the flowchart.

  Next, the processing executed by the terminal device 20 will be described with continuing reference to FIG. 7. In the example of this flowchart, in the terminal device 20, the group information stored in the storage unit 23 is deleted when a predetermined period has elapsed.

  In step S21, the terminal device 20 determines whether or not the cache deadline of the group has expired. The cache deadline is a deadline set to delete at least a part of the group information stored in the storage unit 23. Specifically, the updating unit 24 of the terminal device 20 determines whether or not the cache deadline has passed for the group information that has already been acquired. For example, if the period from the time when the group information was acquired (when received or stored in the cache) to the current time is longer than the predetermined period (predetermined period), it is determined that the cache deadline has passed and the cache period has expired. In this case, it is determined that the cache period has not elapsed. When the cache deadline has passed (step S21: YES), the terminal device 20 advances the process to step S22. Otherwise (step S21: NO), the terminal device 20 advances the process to step S23.

  In step S22, the terminal device 20 deletes the cache of the group. Specifically, the updating unit 24 of the terminal device 20 deletes the group information determined in step S21 that the cache deadline has passed.

  In the examples of steps S21 and S22 described above, the group information stored in the storage unit 23 was deleted when the predetermined period of time has passed, but instead of this, as described above, the number of check-ins and the number of check-ins. The group information may be deleted based on the in time.

  In step S23, the terminal device 20 performs Wi-Fi scanning. Specifically, the identifier acquisition unit 22 of the terminal device 20 confirms whether there is a receivable Wi-Fi signal while changing the channel of the Wi-Fi signal to be received.

  In step S24, the terminal device 20 determines whether or not the BSSID of Wi-Fi is detected. Specifically, when the identifier acquisition unit 22 of the terminal device 20 acquires the BSSID of the area 30a from the signal received in the previous step S23, it determines that the BSSID is detected, and when the BSSID is not acquired, Judges that the BSSID is not detected. When the BSSID is detected (step S24: YES), the terminal device 20 advances the process to step S26. Otherwise (step S24: NO), the terminal device 20 advances the process to step S25.

  In step S25, the terminal device 20 stops scanning for a certain period of time. Specifically, the identifier acquisition unit 22 of the terminal device 20 temporarily suspends the Wi-Fi scan described above. After the process of step S25 is completed, the terminal device 20 returns the process to step S21.

  In step S26, the terminal device 20 determines whether or not the BSSID exists in the locally cached group. Specifically, whether the updating unit 24 of the terminal device 20 includes the management information of the area 30a corresponding to the BSSID detected in the previous step S24 in the management information stored in the storage unit 23 (that is, Whether or not there is a BSSID). When there is a BSSID (step S26: YES), the terminal device 20 advances the process to step S30. Otherwise (step S26: NO), the terminal device 20 advances the process to step S27.

  In step S27, the terminal device 20 inquires the server about the BSSID. Specifically, the communication unit 21 of the terminal device 20 transmits to the communication unit 13 of the server 10 a request to transmit the position information of the area 30a corresponding to the BSSID detected in step S24 to the terminal device 20. To do. In response to the processing of step S27, the processing of steps S15 to S17 described above is executed in the server 10.

  In step S28, the terminal device 20 determines whether a group has been acquired. Specifically, the communication unit 21 of the server 10 transmits the management information of all the areas 30a included in the group including the management information of the area 30a corresponding to the BSSID transmitted in the previous step S27 by the communication unit 13 of the server 10. It is determined whether it is received from. When the group is acquired (step S28: YES), the terminal device 20 advances the process to step S29. Otherwise (step S29: NO), the terminal device 20 returns the process to step S25.

  In step S29, the terminal device 20 caches the group. Specifically, the storage unit 23 of the terminal device 20 stores the management information of all areas 30a included in the group information acquired in step S29. After the process of step S29 is completed, the terminal device 20 advances the process to step S30.

  In step S30, the terminal device 20 uses the acquired position information in the application. Specifically, the application executing unit 25 of the terminal device 20 uses the management information stored in the storage unit 23 to receive the service of the information providing system 1 described above with reference to FIG. Run the application.

  In the server 10 described above, a plurality of groups including one or more areas 30a are generated using the management information (see FIG. 4A) that describes BSSIDs and position information of the plurality of areas 30a in association with each other. (Steps S12 to S14, see FIG. 4B). Then, the management information about all areas 30a in the group including the area 30a checked in by the target terminal device 20 is transmitted to the target terminal device 20 for each group (step S17). Since the management information is transmitted from the server 10 to the terminal device 20 in this manner, the terminal device 20 side can acquire the position information of the area 30a from the BSSID of the area 30a using the management information transmitted from the server 10. Yes (steps S28 to S30). In this case, the terminal device 20 only needs to store (hold) the management information transmitted from the server 10 in the storage unit 23, and does not need to store the management information for all areas 30a. Thereby, the amount of memory used in the terminal device 20 (that is, the required capacity of the storage unit 23) can be suppressed.

  Further, since the management information about all areas 30a in the group is transmitted to the terminal device 20 (step S17), when the terminal device 20 later checks in to those areas 30a (step S24), it has already been transmitted and stored. The position information of the area 30a can be acquired using the management information stored in the unit 23 (step S26: YES, step S30). This eliminates the need for communication with the server 10 (processing of step S27), so that the amount of communication data between the server 10 and the terminal device 20 can be suppressed. Furthermore, since a group is created for each area 30a (see FIG. 4B), the location information of the area 30a that is unlikely to be checked in by the terminal device 20 is transmitted from the server 10 to the terminal device 20. There is a high possibility that it can be avoided.

  A plurality of groups may be generated based on the attribute information of the plurality of areas 30a. In that case, a plurality of groups may be generated according to the number of check-ins. By grouping the areas 30a having a large number of check-ins and grouping the areas 30a having a long stay time, it is easy to include the area 30a in which the terminal device 20 is highly likely to check in. On the contrary, the area 30a, which is unlikely to be checked in by the terminal device 20, is less likely to be included in the group.

  A plurality of groups may be generated based on attribute information of a plurality of areas. In that case, a plurality of groups may be generated according to the geofence attribute. Areas 30a having many similarities or similarities in POI attributes such as genre, access, business hours, number of persons accommodated, smoking allowed, coupon used may be grouped. Further, areas 30a having common or similar area owner information such as railway companies and restaurants may be grouped. In either case, the area 30a that is likely to be checked in by the same terminal device 20 is likely to be included in the group. On the contrary, the area 30a, which is unlikely to be checked in by the terminal device 20, is less likely to be included in the group.

  Since the terminal device 20 stores the management information received from the server 10 (step S29), the position information of the area 30a is acquired from the BSSID of the area 30a using this management information (step S30). As described above, it is possible to suppress the amount of memory used in the terminal device 20 (that is, the capacity of the storage unit 23), the amount of communication data between the server 10 and the terminal device 20, and the terminal device. The possibility that it is possible to avoid the location information of the area 30a in which the 20 is unlikely to check in from being transmitted from the server 10 to the terminal device 20 is increased. Furthermore, in the terminal device 20, the group information is deleted based on the check-in log of the own terminal device (steps S21 and S22), so that the amount of memory used in the terminal device 20 can be further suppressed.

  The group information may be preferentially deleted from the group information having the oldest check-in time. The group information may be preferentially deleted from the group having the smallest number of check-ins. In this way, the area 30a in the group to be preferentially deleted is less likely to be checked in by the terminal device 20 than the areas 30a in other groups, and therefore, the terminal device 20 later communicates with the server 10 again by communication. It is possible to open the memory of the terminal device while reducing the possibility that the management information will have to be acquired (the possibility that the process of step S27 will occur).

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Information providing system, 10 ... Server (information providing apparatus), 11 ... Storage part (storage means), 12 ... Generation part (generation means), 13 ... Communication part (transmission means), 14 ... Management part (management means) , 20, 201, 202 ... Terminal device, 21 ... Communication unit (reception unit), 22 ... Identifier acquisition unit (identifier acquisition unit), 23 ... Storage unit (terminal device side storage unit), 24 ... Update unit (update unit) , 25 ... Application execution unit (execution means), 30, 301, 302, 303 ... Transmitter, 30a, 301a, 302a, 303a ... Area.

Claims (4)

Storage means for storing management information in which identifiers and position information of a plurality of areas for the terminal device to check in are described in association with each other;
Generating means for generating a plurality of groups including one or more areas using the management information stored in the storage means;
To the target terminal device, a transmission means for transmitting the management information for all the areas in the group including the area checked in by the target terminal device, for each group,
Equipped with
The attribute information of the plurality of areas includes area owner information,
The generation unit generates the plurality of groups according to the area owner information,
Information providing device. Receiving means for receiving, for each group, the management information about all areas in a group including the area checked in by the own terminal device from the transmitting means of the information providing apparatus according to claim 1 .
Terminal device side storage means for storing the management information received by the receiving means,
Updating means for deleting the management information stored in the terminal device side storage means for each group based on the check-in history information of the own terminal device,
With
Terminal device. The updating means specifies, for each group, a check-in time to an area in which the latest check-in time of the terminal device is the latest in the area in the group, and the group having the oldest specified time is given priority. To delete,
The terminal device according to claim 2 . The updating unit specifies, for each group, the number of check-ins to the area in which the own terminal device has checked in the most in the areas in the group, and preferentially deletes from the group having the smallest number of specified times. To do
The terminal device according to claim 2 or 3 .

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