JP7452915B2 - Rental management system and program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a technique and/or program for a mobile object rented out at a station as a storage location and/or a system for operating the same.

Techniques already exist for advertising by using moving objects that move in physical space as sources of advertising information.

Patent Document 1 discloses a technology for conducting advertising activities using a vehicle by having an individual drive the vehicle and moving the vehicle in real space.

Specifically, according to the technology described in this document, an advertising section (for example, a sticker for advertising a product of a company selected by the individual) and an identification section (for example, the individual A barcode (barcode) is attached to identify the

When the vehicle arrives at a particular facility, the vehicle's identification is read by a device installed at the particular facility. As a result, it becomes clear that the vehicle has arrived at a specific facility (that the driver of the vehicle is conducting advertising activities) and who the driver of the vehicle is. Thereafter, as compensation for the advertising activity, that is, as a benefit, the driver is given coupons, discounts, etc. that are valid for future product purchases.

Special Publication No. 2003-514256

In contrast to the technology described in Patent Document 1, the present inventor has developed a system in which a player tracks a target that moves unspecified in real space in the same real space, and when the player captures the target, the player obtains a benefit in return. I proposed a tracking game.

Furthermore, as a business using the tracking game, the present inventor proposes that when a player captures a target, advertising information is provided to the player from the target, and in return, the advertiser of the advertising information is proposed a business model that would earn profits from sponsoring companies.

With the above knowledge as a background, the present invention has been made with the object of providing a technique and/or program for a new moving object rented out at a station serving as a storage place and/or a new system for operating the same. It is something that

In order to solve the problem, according to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a rental operation system for operating the rental of moving objects at a station serving as a storage location, the system comprising:
including the management server,
The moving object is
a positioning unit that measures the current position of the moving object;
a transmitting unit that transmits position information representing the measured current position in association with the object ID of the moving object or information that can specify it;
A code that can be read by a mobile device and
including;
The management server and/or the mobile terminal use the code read by the mobile terminal and the object ID or the information associated with the position information received from the transmitter to send information to the user of the mobile terminal. Provided is a rental management system including an access determination unit that determines whether the moving object has been accessed.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a program executed by a computer of a user's mobile terminal in order to lend a moving object to the user at a station serving as a storage location, the program comprising:
The moving object is
a positioning unit that measures the current position of the moving object;
a transmitting unit that transmits position information representing the measured current position in association with the object ID of the moving object or information that can specify it;
a code readable by said mobile terminal;
including;
The mobile terminal includes a transmission function that associates the code read by the mobile terminal with a user ID of a user of the mobile terminal and transmits it to a management server,
A program is provided to be executed by the computer to implement the transmission function.

Further, according to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a rental operation system for operating the rental of moving objects at a station serving as a storage location, comprising:
including the management server,
The moving object is
a positioning unit that measures the current position of the moving object;
a transmitting unit that transmits position information representing the measured current position;
contains a code readable by a mobile device;
The management server and/or the mobile terminal control the movement by the user of the mobile terminal based on the code read by the mobile terminal and the current position represented by the position information received from the transmitter. A rental management system is provided that includes an access determination unit that determines whether an object has been accessed.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a program executed by a computer of a user's mobile terminal in order to lend a moving object to the user at a station serving as a storage location, comprising:
The moving object is
a positioning unit that measures the current position of the moving object;
a transmitter that transmits position information representing the measured current position in association with an object ID of the moving object;
a code readable by the mobile terminal;
The mobile terminal includes a transmission function that associates the code read by the mobile terminal with a user ID of a user of the mobile terminal and transmits it to a management server,
The management server receives the position information from the transmission unit in association with the object ID,
A program is provided that is executed by the computer to implement the sending function.

Further, according to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a moving object lending program executed by a computer of a user's mobile terminal in order to lend a moving object to a user at a station serving as a storage location, comprising:
The moving object is
a positioning unit that measures the current position of the moving object;
a transmitting unit that transmits position information representing the measured current position;
a code readable by the mobile terminal;
The mobile terminal has multiple functions:
A function to read the code;
a function of receiving the transmitted location information;
If the object ID of the actual moving object represented by the read code is successfully matched with the object ID of the regular moving object corresponding to the current position represented by the received position information, the mobile a function of detecting that the terminal approaches the moving object;
A moving object rental program is provided that is executed by the computer to implement the plurality of functions.

Further, according to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a rental operation system for operating the rental of moving objects at a station serving as a storage location, comprising:
The moving object is
a positioning unit that measures the current position of the moving object;
a transmitting unit that transmits position information representing the measured current position;
contains a code readable by a mobile device;
After the code is read by the mobile terminal, the rental operation system reads the object ID of the actual moving object represented by the code and the official moving object corresponding to the current position measured by the positioning unit. A rental management system is provided that includes a detection unit that detects that the mobile terminal approaches the moving object when the verification with the object ID is successful.

Further, according to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a program executed by a computer of a mobile terminal for a moving object rented out at a station serving as a storage location, comprising:
The moving object is
a positioning unit that measures the current position of the moving object;
a transmitting unit that transmits position information representing the measured current position;
a code readable by the mobile terminal and having a part representing an object ID that is an ID of the moving object;
After the code is read by the mobile terminal, the mobile terminal reads the object ID of the actual moving object represented by the code and the object ID of the regular moving object corresponding to the current position measured by the positioning unit. a detection unit that detects that the mobile terminal approaches the moving object when the verification with the ID is successful;
A program for causing the computer to function as the detection unit is provided.

Further, according to a third aspect of the present invention, a moving object rented out at a station serving as a storage place,
a positioning unit that measures the current position of the moving object;
a transmitting unit that transmits position information representing the measured current position;
A moving object is provided, the code being readable by a mobile terminal and having a portion representing an object ID that is an ID of the moving object.

Further, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a movable object rented out at a station serving as a storage place,
a positioning unit that measures the current position of the moving object;
a transmitting unit that transmits position information representing the measured current position;
A moving object is provided that includes: a QR code (registered trademark) that can be read by a mobile terminal and has a portion representing an object ID that is an ID of the moving object.

Further, according to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a rental operation system for operating the rental of moving objects at a station serving as a storage location, comprising:
The moving object is
a positioning unit that measures the current position of the moving object;
a transmitting unit that transmits position information representing the measured current position;
a QR code (registered trademark) that can be read by a mobile terminal and has a part representing an object ID that is an ID of the moving object;
The rental operation system includes a detection unit that detects that the mobile terminal approaches the moving object on the condition that the QR code (registered trademark) is read by the mobile terminal. .

Further, according to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a program executed by a computer of a mobile terminal for a moving object lent out at a station serving as a storage location, comprising:
The moving object is
a positioning unit that measures the current position of the moving object;
a transmitting unit that transmits position information representing the measured current position;
a QR code (registered trademark) that can be read by the mobile terminal and has a part representing an object ID that is an ID of the moving object;
The mobile terminal includes a detection unit that detects that the mobile terminal approaches the moving object on the condition that the QR code (registered trademark) is read by the mobile terminal,
A program for causing the computer to function as the detection unit is provided.

Further, according to an aspect of the present invention, advertisements can be sent to passersby who use mobile terminals capable of both long-distance and short-distance communication at each moment, compared to when advertising using mass media. An advertising system that performs advertising so that a group of advertising targets who can share the same advertising information are narrowed down, thereby disseminating advertising information to a plurality of potential consumers with high efficiency,
A moving object moving in physical space is used as a source of advertising information, and traffic captured by visually observing the moving object at a short distance is sent to unspecified passersby who are near the moving object. an indiscriminate advertisement providing device that indiscriminately provides first advertisement information with the same content to anyone, regardless of whether it is a person or not;
A targeting type in which each passerby who visually captures the moving object is set as an advertisement target, and data representing second advertisement information including content not included in the first advertisement information is transmitted to the passerby's mobile terminal. including an advertisement serving device;
The indiscriminate advertisement providing device uses a short-range wireless communication method to detect the moving object, which enables each passerby's mobile terminal to detect that the moving object has been captured by the passerby by visually observing the moving object at a short distance. comprising detectable means;
The targeted advertisement providing apparatus is provided with an advertisement system including a management server capable of long-distance communication.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a moving object that moves in physical space is used as a source of advertising information to send an advertisement to a plurality of unspecified passersby who are near the moving object. An advertising system that performs
To the moving object,
The first advertisement information with the same content is indiscriminately sent to a plurality of unspecified passersby located near the moving object, regardless of whether they are passersby who captured the moving object with their own mobile terminals. an indiscriminate advertisement providing device that provides
a moving object positioning unit that measures the current position of the moving object from moment to moment;
a transmitter that transmits moving object position information representing the measured current position of the moving object to each passerby's mobile terminal in real time;
Through a short-range wireless communication method, each passerby's mobile terminal captures the moving object so that each passerby can see the moving object because the distance to the moving object is less than a reference value. Each passerby's mobile device detects the moving object, or the identification data reading method allows each passerby's mobile device to detect the moving object by passing it over or touching the moving object. capture detection enabling means that enables each passerby's mobile terminal to detect that a person has visually captured the moving object;
The advertising system includes a management server installed in a management center and capable of communicating with each passerby's mobile terminal using a long-distance communication method,
on each passerby's mobile device.
a receiving unit that receives the moving object position information;
a passerby positioning unit that measures the current location of the mobile terminal as the passerby's current location;
a display unit that displays the measured current position of the passerby and the current position of the moving object based on the received moving object position information on the screen of the mobile terminal;
a detection unit that detects that the mobile terminal has captured the moving object in cooperation with the capturing detection enabling means for the moving object;
and a transmitting unit that transmits data representing the fact of capture to the management server,
When the management server receives data representing the fact of capture from the transmitter of the mobile terminal, the management server sends a second advertisement containing content not included in the first advertisement information to the mobile terminal that captured the moving object. An advertising system is provided that includes a direct advertising providing device that directly transmits data representing information without going through the moving object.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, a moving object that moves in physical space is used as a source of advertising information, and advertisements are sent to a plurality of unspecified passersby who are near the moving object. An advertising system that performs
To the moving object,
The first advertisement information with the same content is sent to a plurality of unspecified passersby who are located near the moving object using their own mobile terminals because the distance between the moving object and the moving object is less than a reference value. an indiscriminate advertisement providing device that indiscriminately provides advertisements to passersby who visually capture the moving object or not;
a moving object positioning unit that measures the current position of the moving object from moment to moment;
It is equipped with a transmitting unit that transmits moving object position information representing the measured current position of the moving object to each passerby's mobile terminal in real time.
The advertising system includes a management server installed in a management center and capable of communicating with each passerby's mobile terminal using a long-distance communication method,
on each passerby's mobile device.
a receiving unit that receives the moving object position information;
a passerby positioning unit that measures the current location of the mobile terminal as the passerby's current location;
a display unit that displays the measured current position of the passerby and the current position of the moving object based on the received moving object position information on the screen of the mobile terminal;
Based on the current position of the mobile terminal measured by the passerby positioning unit and the current position of the mobile object based on the received moving object position information, the mobile terminal detects the moving object based on the distance to the moving object. a detection unit that detects that each passerby has visually captured the moving object because the detection unit is below the value;
and a transmitting unit that transmits data representing the fact of capture to the management server,
When the management server receives data representing the fact of capture from the transmitter of the mobile terminal, the management server sends a second advertisement containing content not included in the first advertisement information to the mobile terminal that captured the moving object. An advertising system is provided that includes a direct advertising providing device that directly transmits data representing information without going through the moving object.

Further, according to an aspect of the present invention, an advertisement that uses a moving object that moves in a physical space as a source of advertising information to advertise to a plurality of unspecified passersby who are in the vicinity of the moving object. A system,
To the moving object,
The first advertisement information with the same content is indiscriminately sent to a plurality of unspecified passersby located near the moving object, regardless of whether they are passersby who captured the moving object with their own mobile terminals. an indiscriminate advertisement providing device that provides
Equipped with a transmitter,
The advertising system includes a management server that can communicate with each passerby's mobile terminal,
on each passerby's mobile device.
The distance between the mobile terminal and the transmitter is measured based on the signal received from the transmitter, and when the measured distance falls within a predetermined range, it is detected that the mobile terminal has captured the moving object. a detection unit to
and a transmitting unit that transmits data representing the fact of capture to the management server,
The management server is a direct advertisement providing device that, upon receiving data representing the fact of capture from the transmitter of the mobile terminal, directly transmits data representing second advertisement information to the mobile terminal that has captured the moving object. An advertising system including:

According to another aspect of the present invention, a moving object moving in a physical space is used as a source of visual advertising information, and a plurality of unspecified passersby who are near the moving object are notified. An advertising system that performs advertising using
To the moving object,
an advertisement display device that visually displays the advertisement information;
Equipped with a transmitter,
The advertising system includes a management server that can communicate with each passerby's mobile terminal,
on each passerby's mobile device.
The distance between the mobile terminal and the transmitter is measured based on the signal received from the transmitter of the moving object, and when the measured distance falls within a predetermined range, the mobile terminal captures the moving object. a detection unit that detects that the
and a transmitting unit that transmits data representing the fact of capture to the management server,
When the management server receives the data representing the fact of capture, the management server determines a benefit to be given to a passerby whose mobile terminal has captured the moving object, and transfers the data representing the determined benefit to a passerby whose mobile terminal has captured the moving object. An advertising system is provided for transmitting to captured mobile terminals.

Further, according to one aspect of the present invention, a moving object moving in a physical space is used as a source of visual advertising information, and a plurality of unspecified passersby who are in the vicinity of the moving object are An advertising system that performs advertising,
To the moving object,
an advertisement display device that visually displays the advertisement information;
a moving object positioning unit that measures the current position of the moving object from moment to moment;
a transmitting unit that broadcasts moving object position information representing the current position of the moving object to multiple people's mobile terminals in real time;
Equipped with a transmitter,
The advertising system includes a management server that can communicate with each passerby's mobile terminal,
on each passerby's mobile device.
a receiving unit that receives the moving object position information;
a passerby positioning unit that measures the current location of the mobile terminal as the passerby's current location;
a display unit that displays the measured current position of the passerby and the current position of the moving object based on the received moving object position information on the screen of the mobile terminal;
The distance between the mobile terminal and the transmitter is measured based on the signal received from the transmitter of the moving object, and when the measured distance falls within a predetermined range, the mobile terminal captures the moving object. a detection unit that detects that the
and a transmitting unit that transmits data representing the fact of capture to the management server,
When the management server receives the data representing the fact of capture, the management server determines a benefit to be given to a passerby whose mobile terminal has captured the moving object, and transfers the data representing the determined benefit to a passerby whose mobile terminal has captured the moving object. An advertising system is provided for transmitting to captured mobile terminals.

Here, in one embodiment, the mobile terminal further includes an ID acquisition unit that acquires a transmitter ID from a signal received from the transmitter,
The transmitting unit of the mobile terminal transmits data representing the acquisition fact together with the acquired transmitter ID to the management server.

In another embodiment, the mobile terminal further includes an ID acquisition unit that acquires a transmitter ID from a signal received from the transmitter,
The transmitting unit of the mobile terminal transmits data representing the fact of capture together with the acquired transmitter ID to the management server,
The management server includes an advertisement information transmitter that transmits data representing advertisement information according to the received transmitter ID to the mobile terminal.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a moving object moving in a physical space is used as a source of visual advertising information, and a plurality of unspecified passersby who are in the vicinity of the moving object are An advertising system that performs advertising using
To the moving object,
an advertisement display device that visually displays the advertisement information;
a moving object positioning unit that measures the current position of the moving object from moment to moment;
It is equipped with a transmitting unit that broadcasts moving object position information representing the current position of the moving object to multiple people's mobile terminals in real time.
on each passerby's mobile device.
a receiving unit that receives the moving object position information;
a passerby positioning unit that measures the current location of the mobile terminal as the passerby's current location;
a display unit that displays the measured current position of the passerby and the current position of the moving object based on the received moving object position information on the screen of the mobile terminal;
and a detection unit that detects that the mobile terminal has captured the moving object,
When the capture is detected, an advertising system is provided in which a predetermined benefit is given to a passerby who uses each mobile terminal that captures the moving object.

The following aspects can be obtained by the present invention. Each aspect is divided into sections, each section is numbered, and the numbers of other sections are cited as necessary. This is to facilitate understanding of some of the technical features that can be adopted by the present invention and their combinations, and the technical features that can be adopted by the present invention and their combinations are limited to the following aspects. It should not be interpreted as such. That is, it should be interpreted that technical features not described in the following embodiments but described in this specification may be appropriately extracted and adopted as technical features of the present invention.

Furthermore, it should be noted that the description of each section in the form of quoting the numbers of other sections does not necessarily prevent the technical features described in each section from being separated and independent from the technical features described in other sections. It should be interpreted that the technical features described in each section can be made independent as appropriate depending on the nature of the technical features described in each section.

(1) Enables players to play a tracking game in which a player tracks a target that moves unspecified in real space in the same real space, and when the player captures the target, the player receives a reward in return. A tracking game system that
The target is equipped with a target positioning unit that measures the current position of the target and transmits target position information representing the measured current position of the target to the player's mobile terminal in real time and in a broadcast manner,
to the mobile terminal,
a player positioning unit that measures the current position of the mobile terminal as the current position of the player;
a display unit that displays the measured current position of the player and the current target position based on the target position information received from the target on the screen of the mobile terminal;
A tracking game system comprising: a detection unit that detects that the mobile terminal has captured the target.

(2) The target positioning unit includes a GPS positioning unit that measures the current position of the target,
The tracking game system according to item (1), wherein the player positioning unit includes a GPS positioning unit that measures the current position of the player.

(3) The target positioning unit includes a transmitter that transmits a signal representing an identification code unique to the target in a state where it can be received by the mobile terminal using a short-range communication method,
The detection unit authenticates the target on which the transmitter is mounted based on the signal received from the transmitter, measures the distance between the target and the mobile terminal, and determines whether the measured distance is less than a predetermined distance. Tracking game system according to clause (1) or (2), configured to detect said capture if it is short.

(4) Each player's mobile terminal transmits own player position information representing the current position of the own player to other players' mobile terminals, and also transmits other player position information representing the current position of the other player to the other players' mobile terminals. received from the terminal,
The mobile terminal of each player displays the current position of the other player on the screen together with the current position of the own player and the current position of the target based on the received position information of the other player,
The tracking game according to any one of (1) to (3), in which if each player's mobile terminal captures the target at an earlier time than any other player, that player acquires the benefit as a winner. ·system.

(5) Furthermore, when the player captures any target, the device includes a direct advertisement providing device that directly provides advertisement information pre-assigned to each target to the player who captures the target. The tracking game system according to any of item 4).

(6) The direct advertisement providing device is installed in a management server capable of communicating with the mobile terminal, and upon receiving the capture from the mobile terminal, transmits data representing the advertisement information to the mobile phone of the player who captured the target. The tracking game system according to item (5), which transmits to a terminal using a unicast method.

(7) Furthermore, the advertising information installed in each target and assigned in advance to that target can be transmitted to multiple unspecified people located near the target, regardless of whether they are the player who captured the target or not. The tracking game system according to any one of (1) to (6), including an indiscriminate advertisement providing device that indiscriminately displays advertisements to potential consumers.

(8) The tracking game system according to any one of (1) to (7), wherein the benefit has a value that increases depending on the extent to which a sponsor of the tracking game financially supports the tracking game.

(9) The benefits include data displaying a mascot character specific to the target, or gift certificates, coupons, or discount tickets for purchasing products or services, or rights thereof (1) to (8) A tracking game system according to any of the paragraphs.

(10) The benefit has a value that increases according to the time or distance traveled from the time the player discovers the target on the mobile terminal to the time the player captures the target. A tracking game system as described in any of the above.

(11) Data readable by a reader of the mobile terminal is attached to the target,
The tracking game system according to any one of items (1) to (10), wherein the detection unit detects the capture when the reader reads the data.

(12) A program executed by a computer of a mobile terminal to implement the mobile terminal according to any one of items (1) to (11).

A program according to this and other sections shall be construed to mean, for example, a combination of instructions executed by a computer to perform its functions, and not only a combination of such instructions, but also a program processed in accordance with each instruction. It can be interpreted to include, but is not limited to, files and data.

In addition, this program may be executed by a computer alone to achieve the desired purpose, or may be executed together with other programs to achieve the desired purpose. Yes, but not limited to. In the latter case, the program according to this section may be data-based, but is not limited thereto.

(13) A recording medium on which the program described in item (12) is recorded in a computer-readable manner.

This recording medium can be in various formats, including magnetic recording media such as flexible disks, optical recording media such as CDs and CD-ROMs, magneto-optical recording media such as MO, and unremovable storage media such as ROM. Any of the following may be adopted, but the invention is not limited to these.

(14) The tracking game system according to any one of (1) to (11), wherein the target is a moving object that moves in physical space.

(15) The moving object is a bicycle, a car, a motorcycle, a recreational or competitive go-cart, a shopping cart, a stroller, a handcart, a wheelchair, or a golf cart, each of which is placed at a corresponding station for rental. The tracking game system according to item (14), including one that is stored.

(16) The tracking game system according to item (15), wherein the moving object includes a rental cycle lent to a tenant.

(17) The tracking game system according to (16), wherein when the rental cycle is captured by any player, a second benefit is given to the lessee of the captured rental cycle.

(18) An advertising system that uses a moving object moving in a physical space as a source of visual advertising information to advertise to a plurality of unspecified passersby who are in the vicinity of the moving object. ,
To the moving object,
an advertisement display device that visually displays the advertisement information;
a moving object positioning unit that measures the current position of the moving object from moment to moment;
It is equipped with a transmitting unit that broadcasts moving object position information representing the current position of the moving object to multiple people's mobile terminals in real time.
on each passerby's mobile device.
a receiving unit that receives the moving object position information;
a passerby positioning unit that measures the current location of the mobile terminal as the passerby's current location;
a display unit that displays the measured current position of the passerby and the current position of the moving object based on the received moving object position information on the screen of the mobile terminal;
and a detection unit that detects that the mobile terminal has captured the moving object,
An advertising system in which, when the capture is detected, a predetermined benefit is given to a passerby who uses each mobile terminal that captures the moving object.

This advertising system relates to a technology for advertising by using a moving object that moves in physical space as a source of visual advertising information.

Here, "moving objects that move in physical space" may be natural objects (e.g., mobile humans themselves, animals, etc.) or artificial objects (e.g., mobile industrial products, etc.). do not have. Furthermore, it does not matter whether the "physical space" exists on land, in the air, on the sea, underwater, or in outer space.

Furthermore, this advertising system distributes advertising information in a way that is more likely to attract the attention of potential consumers than when advertising using mass media (advertising targets that can share the same advertising information at each moment). By disseminating advertising information to multiple potential consumers with a higher penetration rate by transmitting it to each potential consumer via their mobile device (in a targeted manner) and via each potential consumer's mobile device. This was done with the aim of doing so.

As a result, this advertising system makes it possible to use existing communication infrastructure and send advertising information to multiple potential consumers with high efficiency, resulting in large advertising effects relative to advertising costs. This has the effect of making it easier to obtain.

(19) The moving object is a man-made object, and the man-made object includes a bicycle, a car, a motorcycle, a recreational or competitive go-kart, a shopping cart, a stroller, a wheelbarrow, a wheelchair, or a golf cart. Advertising system as described in Section.

(20) The advertisement display device is mounted on the moving object and includes a display object that displays the advertisement information as a still image or a display device (for example, a liquid crystal display) that displays the advertisement information as a moving image (18) ) or the advertising system described in item (19).

(21) Furthermore, it is installed in a management server that can communicate with each mobile terminal, and when the moving object is captured by any mobile terminal, the advertisement information and/or another advertisement information is transmitted to the mobile terminal. The advertising system according to any one of items (18) to (20), including an advertising information transmitting unit that directly transmits the data representing the information using a unicast method (a method of transmitting by specifying a destination).

(22) A program executed by a computer of a mobile terminal to implement the mobile terminal according to any one of (18) to (21).

(23) A recording medium on which the program described in (22) is recorded in a computer-readable manner.

FIG. 1 is a diagram conceptually representing a chase game system according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, along with how a player plays a chase game using the system.

FIGS. 2(a) to 2(c) are diagrams conceptually representing temporal changes in images displayed on the screen of the mobile terminal during execution of the tracking game shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram conceptually representing the hardware configuration of the entire system shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a diagram conceptually representing the hardware configuration of the target-related subsystem SBT shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a diagram conceptually representing the hardware configuration of the transmitter shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart conceptually representing an example of a program (hereinafter also referred to as an "application"; the same applies to other programs) executed by the computer of the transmitter shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart conceptually representing an example of a program executed by the processor of the GPS controller shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram conceptually representing the mobile terminal shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 9 is a diagram conceptually representing the station data file stored in the station data memory in FIG. 8 in a table format.

FIG. 10 is a diagram conceptually representing the bicycle data file stored in the bicycle data memory in FIG. 8 in a table format.

FIG. 11 is a functional block diagram conceptually representing the management server shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart conceptually representing an example of a tracking game application executed by a mobile terminal and a management server, respectively.

Hereinafter, some exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail based on the drawings.

FIG. 1 conceptually depicts a tracking game system (hereinafter simply referred to as the "system") 10 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

The system 10 makes it possible to run a tracking game. Generally speaking, the tracking game is a game in which a player tracks a target that moves unspecified in real space in the same real space by using positioning and communication devices installed on the target and the player respectively. It is. In this tracking game, when a player captures a target, the player receives a reward in return.

Here, the "target" is a moving object that moves in physical space, and the moving object is a natural object (e.g., a mobile human being, an animal, etc.) or an artificial object (e.g., a mobile object). industrial products, etc.). Furthermore, it does not matter whether the "physical space" exists on land, in the air, on the sea, underwater, or in outer space.

Specifically, in the tracking game, a player who is a user of a mobile terminal 90 having a GPS positioning unit 28 (see FIG. 3) uses the mobile terminal 90 to virtually track a rental cycle 12 as a target on the screen. It is executed as if it were being tracked in real space while being tracked visually.

FIG. 2 conceptually represents a series of representative images displayed on the screen of the player's mobile terminal 90 in chronological order during execution of the chase game.

Here, the phrase "the player acquires the target" means, for example, that the player approaches the target within reach or within a predetermined range closer than 1 m, 2 m, 3 m, 4 m, or 5 m. It can be interpreted to mean that the player contacts the target directly with his or her own hand or indirectly through his or her mobile terminal 90.

The modes in which this chase game is executed include a solo play mode in which one player plays alone with no other players present, and a battle mode in which multiple players compete against each other. , it is possible to select one of these two types of modes.

In this embodiment, the tracking game is not played purely as a tracking game, but uses a target as a moving object as a source of visual advertising information, and a target that is located at or near the moving object is used as a source of visual advertising information. Advertising is also being carried out for the purpose of advertising to an unspecified number of passersby. In that sense, this system 10 is also an advertising system.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the target is a moving object driven by an individual who is not an advertising agent, and in one example, a rental cycle (an industrial product or an artificial object as a moving object) rented out at any station (not shown) is used as a target. example) is 12. When the rental cycle 12 is no longer used, it is returned by the user to the same station from which it was rented or to a different station.

The lessee of the rental cycle 12 is informed in advance that he or she may be tracked by the player in the tracking game. Therefore, the renter of the rental cycle 12 does not have to experience a situation where he is suddenly chased by a player and feels scared while driving. However, it is not essential to notify the borrower of traceability in advance in order to implement the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 3, this system 10 has a hardware configuration including a target-related subsystem SBT associated with a target, a player-related subsystem SBP associated with a player, and a management center-related subsystem associated with a management center 40. It has SBM.

The target related subsystem SBT has a part directly related to the tracking game and a part not directly related to the tracking game.

The part directly related to the tracking game acquires the target's location information every moment in real time, and sends the latest location information to multiple players using a broadcast method (a method in which it is sent indiscriminately without specifying a destination). configured to do so. Specifically, the parts directly related to the tracking game include a GPS positioning section 28 and a transmitter 30, as will be explained in detail later.

On the other hand, a portion not directly related to the tracking game includes an advertisement display device 32 (see FIG. 1), and in one example, is a display object (for example, a printed matter) mounted on a target and displaying advertisement information as a still image, or , a display device (for example, a liquid crystal display) that displays advertising information as a moving image. The advertisement display device 32 is a mobile advertisement medium that moves together with the target, and is also an example of the above-mentioned "indiscriminate advertisement providing device."

An example of the advertisement display device 32 is an advertisement medium in the form of a printed matter attached to the front (and/or side) of a storage basket 34 attached to the rental cycle 12, as shown in FIG.

Here, the basic content of the tracking game will be explained with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. A target exists at an arbitrary position in real space at each moment. The position information of the target is broadcast from the target to a plurality of players from time to time. In FIG. 1, the position information is a GPS positioning signal that is capable of both short-range communication and long-distance communication and is transmitted from the GPS positioning unit 28, and a transmitter signal that is capable of only short-range communication and is transmitted. Although the GPS positioning signal may be transmitted from the aircraft 30, only the GPS positioning signal may be used.

In each player, when his own mobile terminal 90 receives the position information (at this stage, only the GPS positioning signal), the mobile terminal 90 receives his own current position (blacked out in the figure) based on the GPS positioning signal. The target's current position (indicated by a black circle in the figure) is displayed on the screen of the mobile terminal 90 along with the target's current position (indicated by a black circle in the figure).

Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 2A, the player's current position and the target's current position begin to appear on the screen of the mobile terminal 90 at the same time, usually by chance. This timing is the timing at which the player discovers a target near him for the first time, and at the same time, this is the timing at which the current tracking is started.

Next, as shown in FIG. 2(b), the player moves on the ground by walking, riding a bicycle, riding a car, etc. in order to track an unspecified moving target in real space. move. During this time, the player successively acquires the position information (also at this stage, only the GPS positioning signal) from the target, and the position information assists the player in approaching the target.

Eventually, as shown in FIG. 2(c), the player sees the target directly and actually discovers it in real space.

When the player and the mobile terminal 90 further approach the target, the player and the mobile terminal 90 are within an effective reception area centered on the target's transmitter 30 (for example, a distance range from 0 m (in contact with the transmitter 30) to 2 m). enter. Prior to entering its effective reception area, the mobile terminal 90 has already started receiving transmitter signals. This is because the transmitter 30 is assigned a receivable area (maximum reception area) that is wider than the effective reception area. When the mobile terminal 90 enters the effective reception area, it is determined that the mobile terminal 90 has captured the target.

When a chase game is run in solo play mode, when a player captures a target, the player receives a reward in return. It is expected that players will actively try to participate in this chase game, motivated by the acquisition of the benefits.

In one example, the mobile terminal 90 receives data for displaying a mascot character unique to the target from the management server 50, and the player displays the mascot character on the screen of the mobile terminal 90. It means getting rights.

In another example, the award is a gift certificate, coupon or discount ticket or the right to purchase a product or service or cash or a redeemable ticket.

In yet another example, the benefit has a value that increases depending on the time or distance traveled by the player from the time the target is discovered on the mobile device 90 to the time the target is captured.

In yet another example, the benefit has a value that increases the more the sponsor of the chase game (or the sponsor of the bike rental business) financially supports the chase game. .

In yet another example, when the player captures the target, the player is expected to view the advertisement display device 32 of the rental cycle 12 that is the target and obtain advertisement information. As a result, the rental cycle 12 is expected to function as a mobile advertising medium. In this example, the advertisement display device 32 constitutes an example of the aforementioned "indiscriminate advertisement providing device."

In yet another example, upon receiving from the mobile terminal 90 that the player has captured the target, the management server 50 transmits data representing advertisement information to the player's mobile terminal 90 in a unicast manner. As a result, the player also obtains the additional benefit of obtaining advertising information that can only be obtained by the player who has captured the target.

In this example, the portion of the management server 50 that responds to the capture and individually transmits advertising information data in a unicast manner to the mobile terminal 90 of the player who has successfully captured the player is the "Direct Advertisement Providing Device". ” constitutes an example.

On the other hand, when the tracking game is executed in the battle mode, each player's mobile terminal 90 transmits own player position information representing the current position of the own player to the other players' mobile terminals 90. Other player position information representing the player's current position is received from the other player's mobile terminal 90.

The mobile terminal 90 of each player displays the current position of the other player on the screen together with the current position of the own player and the current position of the target based on the received position information of the other player. When each player captures the target with his or her mobile terminal 90 at an earlier time than any other player, that player acquires the above-mentioned benefits as a winner.

Next, by referring to FIG. 4, the above-mentioned target related subsystem SBT will be specifically explained.

As described above, the target related subsystem SBT includes the GPS positioning unit 28 as a target positioning unit that measures the current position of the target.

The GPS positioning unit 28 includes a GPS receiver 42 that receives GPS signals from a plurality of GPS satellites, a GPS controller 44 that controls the GPS receiver 42, and a target current that is measured based on the received GPS signals. The communication device 46 transmits a signal representing the position as a GPS positioning signal to the player's mobile terminal 90 in real time and in a broadcast manner.

The target-related subsystem SBT further includes a transmitter 30, as described above. The transmitter 30 is configured to transmit a signal representing an identification code unique to the target as a transmitter signal in a state where it can be received by the mobile terminal 90 using a short-range communication method.

<Transmitter>

The transmitter 30 transmits a unique identification signal actively, locally, and permanently without the need for an external trigger signal unless the supplied power is insufficient.

The transmitter 30 is generally a device also known as a beacon device, a radio beacon, or the like that transmits a beacon signal as an identification signal. In one example, the transmitter 30 generates an identification signal representing the corresponding station ID by modulating the original signal, and transmits the generated identification signal to an IR signal, a Bluetooth (registered trademark) signal, or an NFC (near field communication) signal. Distance wireless communication) is transmitted locally as a signal, etc.

Next, the hardware configuration will be described with reference to FIG. 5, which is a functional block diagram. It is constituted as a subject.

Transmitter 30 further includes a replaceable disposable battery 106 as a power source. Instead of the battery 106, it is possible to use a rechargeable battery or a commercial power source as an external power source.

The transmitter 30 further includes a transmitter 108 that generates and transmits an identification signal representing a regular transmitter ID (an example of a "transmitter code") unique to itself.

The transmitter 108 is operated by the battery 106 and is controlled by the controller 110. The controller 110 is controlled by the computer 100.

Next, the software configuration of the transmitter 30 will be described with reference to FIG. 6. The processor 100 of the transmitter 30 repeatedly executes a program conceptually represented by a flowchart in FIG.

When the program is executed each time, first, in step S1, the regular transmitter ID corresponding to the transmitter 30 is read from the memory 102. The regular transmitter ID corresponds one-to-one to the bicycle ID unique to one rental cycle 12.

Next, in step S2, the remaining amount of battery 106 is estimated.

Subsequently, in step S3, a signal for modulating the original signal (for example, a carrier signal) is sent to the controller 110 so that the read regular transmitter ID and the estimated remaining battery level are reflected. output for The controller 110 controls the transmitter 108, and as a result, the transmitter 108 generates the identification signal to be transmitted this time.

Thereafter, in step S4, the generated identification signal is transmitted from the transmitter 108. Then, the process returns to step S1.

It should be noted that the algorithm or procedure for generating an identification signal in the transmitter 30 so as to reflect at least the ID of the transmitter ID, bicycle ID, and remaining battery level is different from the algorithm or procedure shown in FIG. It is possible to adopt a different one.

<Software configuration of GPS controller>

FIG. 7 shows a flowchart of an example of a program executed by a processor (not shown) of the GPS controller 44 shown in FIG. 4.

This program is repeatedly executed during operation of the target-related subsystem SBT. At each execution time, first, in step S11, a GPS signal is received from the GPS receiver 42. Next, in step S12, the current position (latitude and latitude) of the target is measured based on the received GPS signal. Subsequently, in step S13, a GPS positioning signal representing the measured current position of the target is transmitted from the communication device 46.

<Setting the transmitter reception range>

Two types of reception areas are assigned to the transmitter 30. These are the above-mentioned receivable area and the above-mentioned effective reception area (hereinafter also referred to as "reception range").

Each of these areas is generally defined by a circle with the transmitter 30 as the source. The coverage area has a maximum reception radius (eg, approximately 50 m), whereas the effective reception area has an effective reception radius (eg, a range from a radius of 0 m to a radius of approximately 50 m or less). While the maximum receiving radius is a constant value, the effective receiving radius is a variable value that can be changed by the mobile terminal 90 at any time.

The receivable area is an area where the identification signal from the transmitter 30 can be reached when the power supply to the transmitter 30 is normal, that is, as long as the identification signal exists within the area, the mobile terminal 90 can receive the identification signal. means possible area.

On the other hand, the effective reception area has an effective reception radius smaller than the maximum reception radius of the receivable area. While the maximum reception radius cannot be arbitrarily set, the effective reception radius can be arbitrarily set by the mobile terminal 90.

That is, it is possible that the maximum reception radius means a reception limit determined by hardware, whereas the effective reception radius means a reception limit determined by software.

The mobile terminal 90 measures the distance to the transmitter 30 when it transmitted the received identification signal. The distance measurement may or may not exceed the effective reception radius. When the measured distance value does not exceed the effective reception radius, it means that the mobile terminal 90 is within the effective reception area, whereas when the measured distance value exceeds the effective reception radius, the mobile terminal 90 exists within the receivable area but not within the effective reception area.

The mobile terminal 90 determines whether the distance measurement value is less than or equal to the set value of the effective reception radius by activating a tracking game application conceptually shown in a flowchart in a part of FIG. If it is determined that the value is below the set value, the mobile terminal 90 is currently located within the effective reception area (reception range), so the mobile terminal 90 determines that the identification signal from the transmitter 30 has been effectively received (hereinafter referred to as (It is also simply referred to as ``an identification signal was received.'')''.

On the other hand, if the mobile terminal 90 determines that the distance measurement value is larger than the set value, the mobile terminal 90 is currently located outside the effective reception area of the transmitter 30. 30 (hereinafter also simply referred to as "not receiving an identification signal").

That is, in this embodiment, when the mobile terminal 90 is located outside the effective reception area, the mobile terminal 90 appears to be The software will treat this as not having received the identification signal.

<User's mobile device>

Briefly, the mobile terminal 90 includes a player positioning unit (GPS receiver 152) that measures its own current position as the player's current position, the measured player current position, and the target GPS positioning unit 28. The display unit 136 displays the target current position based on the target position information received from the mobile terminal 90 on the screen of the mobile terminal 90, and the mobile terminal 90 displays the current position based on the distance between the current position of the mobile terminal 90 and the current position of the target. and a detection section that detects that the target has been captured.

The detection unit authenticates (identifies) the target on which the transmitter 30 is mounted based on the signal received from the transmitter 30, measures the distance between the target and the mobile terminal 90, and measures the distance between the target and the mobile terminal 90. The acquisition is configured to be detected when the distance is shorter than a predetermined distance (effective reception distance, reception range).

Next, the hardware configuration of the user's mobile terminal 90 will be described with reference to FIG. 8 which is a functional block diagram. The mobile terminal 90 includes a processor 130 and a memory that stores a plurality of applications executed by the processor 130. The computer 134 has a computer 132 as a main component.

A user who wishes to play the aforementioned tracking game can download the tracking game application shown in FIG. 12 from the management server 50 to his or her mobile terminal 90, and thereby participate in the tracking game as a player. The player participates in the tracking game by selecting either the solo play mode or the battle mode described above.

This mobile terminal 90 further includes a display unit (for example, a liquid crystal display) 136 that displays information on a screen (having a window with a finite area that is variable or unchangeable), a GPS positioning unit 28, a transmitter 30, and a It has a receiving section 138 that receives a signal from the management server 50 and a transmitting section 140 that generates a signal and transmits the signal to the management server 50.

This mobile terminal 90 further includes an input section 150 for inputting data and commands from the user. The input unit 150 includes, for example, an operation unit that can be operated by the user to input desired information (eg, commands, data, etc.) into the mobile terminal 90. The operating parts include a touch screen that displays icons (e.g., virtual buttons) that can be operated by the user, physical operating parts that can be operated by the user (e.g., a keyboard, keypad, buttons, etc.), and a touch screen that displays user-operable icons (e.g., virtual buttons). Examples include, but are not limited to, a sensing microphone.

This mobile terminal 90 further includes a GPS (satellite positioning system) receiver 152. As is well known, the GPS receiver 152 receives multiple GPS signals from multiple GPS satellites, and determines the position (latitude, longitude, and altitude) of the GPS receiver 152 on the earth based on the GPS signals. Measure by triangulation. That is, this mobile terminal 90 has a positioning function that uses satellites.

As shown in FIG. 8, memory 132 includes a plurality of data memories including map data memory 161, station data memory 163, and bicycle data memory 165.

The map data memory 161 temporarily stores map data that the user's mobile terminal 90 downloads from the management server 50 or another map database (not shown), depending on the user's current location. Based on the map data, a map (an example of a "partial map") is displayed on the screen of the display unit 136. The map displayed on the screen changes from moment to moment as the user moves.

As conceptually shown in FIG. 9, correspondence between a plurality of station IDs and a plurality of station position data can be downloaded from the management server 50 and stored in the station data memory 163. The plurality of station IDs correspond to the plurality of stations 20 that are centrally managed by the system 10, respectively. Further, each of the plurality of station position data represents the latitude and longitude (latitude X, longitude Y) of the ground position of the corresponding station 20.

The station data memory 163 temporarily stores a plurality of station position data corresponding to the plurality of stations 20 together with a plurality of corresponding station IDs.

As conceptually shown in FIG. 10, the bicycle data memory 165 in FIG. 50 and can be downloaded and stored. When any one of the plurality of bicycles 12 is discovered by the mobile terminal 90, one corresponding bicycle ID is determined, and in turn, one corresponding authorized transmitter ID is determined.

Here, "icon data" refers to an icon (unique data) that is overlaid on the map when displaying the current location of the target (there may be more than one target) discovered by the mobile terminal 90 on the screen. This is the data for displaying the figure.

This icon is displayed on the screen as a different figure for each target, for example. The icon is displayed on the screen as, for example, a graphic that reflects the advertising information (for example, a symbol of a sponsoring company).

When this icon represents advertising information assigned to each target, when the mobile terminal 90 of the mobile terminal 90 discovers a target, it reads the advertising information assigned to that target from the memory 132 (or The portion that is downloaded from the management server 50 and displayed on the screen of the mobile terminal 90 constitutes an example of the above-mentioned "direct advertisement providing device."

Here, the phrase "the mobile terminal 90 discovers the target" means, for example, a state where both the player's current position and the target's current position are displayed on the screen, as illustrated in FIG. 2(a). It can be interpreted to mean that is achieved, or that the state in which the distance between the player's current position and the target's current position is less than or equal to a threshold is achieved. be.

Here, the distance between the player's current position and the target's current position is measured by, for example, the mobile terminal 90 based on the GPS positioning signal of the GPS receiver 152 and the GPS positioning signal received from the target. Is possible.

<Management server>

Next, the hardware configuration of the management server 50 will be described with reference to FIG. 11, which is a functional block diagram. The main body is a computer 164 having a computer 164.

This management server 50 further includes a display section (for example, a liquid crystal display) 166 that displays information, a receiving section 168 that receives signals from the mobile terminal 90, and a receiver section 168 that generates a signal and transmits the signal to the mobile terminal 90. and a clock 172 that measures the current time.

<Chasing game sequence>

At the target, the GPS positioning unit 28 continuously transmits a GPS positioning signal in a broadcast manner, and in parallel, the transmitter 30 continuously transmits a transmitter signal in a broadcast manner.

In the mobile terminal 90, first, in step 101, a login request for logging into the management server 50 is sent to the management server 50 together with a user ID and password for identifying the current user.

In response, the management server 50 receives the login request together with the user ID and password in step S201. Subsequently, the management server 50 searches the memory 162 for the station data and bicycle data described above in step S202. Thereafter, the management server 50 transmits the searched data to the mobile terminal 90 in step S203.

In response, the mobile terminal 90 receives the data from the management server 50 in step S102. Subsequently, in step S103, the received data is stored in the memory 102.

Subsequently, the mobile terminal 90 receives a GPS positioning signal from the target GPS positioning unit 28 in step S104. Thereafter, in step S105, the mobile terminal 90 identifies the target based on information for identifying the target in the received GPS positioning signal. The target's communicator 46 is designed to transmit the GPS positioning signal along with the target's identification signal to the mobile terminal 90.

Thereafter, in step S106, the mobile terminal 90 measures the current position (latitude and latitude) of the target based on the received GPS positioning signal. Subsequently, in step S107, the mobile terminal 90 searches the memory 102 for icon data corresponding to the identified target.

Thereafter, in step S108, the mobile terminal 90 overlays a corresponding icon on the screen displaying the map at a position representing the current position of the current target based on the retrieved icon data.

Subsequently, in step S109, the mobile terminal 90 determines whether the mobile terminal 90 has received the transmitter signal, that is, whether the mobile terminal 90 is located within the transmitter's receivable area. This time, assuming that it is determined that the mobile terminal 90 has not yet received the transmitter signal, the determination in step S109 is NO, and the process returns to step S104.

As a result of repeating the execution of steps S104-S109, if the determination in step S109 becomes YES, the mobile terminal 90 measures the distance between the mobile terminal 90 and the transmitter 30 based on the received transmitter signal in step S110. Then, it is determined whether the measured value is smaller than the effective reception radius (reception range).

This time, assuming that it is determined that the mobile terminal 90 is not effectively receiving the transmitter 30, the determination in step S110 is NO, and the process returns to step S104.

As a result of repeating the execution of steps S104 to S110, if the determination in step S110 becomes YES, the mobile terminal 90 demodulates the received transmitter signal in step S111, and the mobile terminal 90 demodulates the received transmitter signal, and decipher the transmitter ID and thereby identify the target.

The identified target should match the target identified in step S106. If they do not match, this application is immediately terminated because some abnormality may have occurred.

If no such abnormality has occurred, the mobile terminal 90 determines in step S112 that the mobile terminal 90 has captured the target, and then displays the fact of the capture on the screen in step S113. do. Thereafter, in step S114, the mobile terminal 90 transmits the fact of capture to the management server 50 along with the current transmitter ID (or target ID) and the player's user ID.

On the other hand, in step S204, the management server 50 determines a benefit to be given to the player as compensation for the capture. The memory 162 stores the correspondence between the conditions achieved during the current chase game and the benefits as a table. In step S204, the management server 50 determines a benefit corresponding to the condition achieved by the current player during the current tracking game, according to the correspondence relationship.

Subsequently, in step S205, the management server 50 stores the determined benefit in the memory 162 in association with the player. Thereafter, the management server 50 transmits data representing the determined benefit to the mobile terminal 90 in step S206.

In one example, in step S206, the management server 50 further transmits the advertisement information assigned to the target to the mobile terminal 90 in a unicast manner. The advertisement information is stored in the memory 162 in advance in association with the transmitter ID or the target ID. As a result, in this example, the player obtains the benefit and the advertisement information assigned to the current target.

On the other hand, in step S115, the mobile terminal 90 receives data representing the benefit from the management server 50 together with data representing the advertisement information, and thereby the player knows that the player has acquired the benefit. Subsequently, in step S116, the mobile terminal 90 displays the acquired benefit on the screen together with or separately from the advertisement information received from the management server 50.

Subsequently, the mobile terminal 90 transmits a logout request requesting logout from the management server 50 to the management server 50 in step S117.

In response, the management server 50 receives the logout request in step S207. Subsequently, in step S208, the management server 50 transmits an acknowledgment signal ACK indicating that reception of the logout request has been successfully completed to the mobile terminal 90.

In response, the mobile terminal 90 receives the acknowledgment signal ACK from the management server 50 in step S118.

In this embodiment, the GPS positioning unit 28 mounted on the target continuously transmits the GPS positioning signal (first position information signal) in a broadcast manner, while the transmitter 30 mounted on the same target transmits the GPS positioning signal (first position information signal) as a transmitter. The signal (second position information signal) is continuously transmitted in a broadcast manner.

For the mobile terminal 90, both the GPS positioning signal and the transmitter signal are common in that they are signals (location information signals) that assist in guiding the player to the target.

However, in this embodiment, the GPS positioning signal is used as a signal for the mobile terminal 90 to continuously detect temporal changes in the distance between the player and the target, whereas the transmitter signal is , is used as a signal for the mobile terminal 90 to detect temporal changes in the distance between the player and the target stepwise (for example, whether or not it is within the reception range) and with higher accuracy than the GPS positioning signal. .

In this sense, in this embodiment, unlike the GPS positioning section 28 mounted on the same target, the transmitter 30 mounted on the target outputs signals depending on whether or not it is in close proximity to the player. It is designed to function as a proximity switch with changing signals.

Some of the embodiments described above can be implemented with various modifications; for example, the management server 50 may perform at least some of the same data processing as that performed by the mobile terminal 90. It is possible to improve the mobile terminal 90 so that the mobile terminal 90 performs the same data processing as at least part of the data processing performed by the management server 50.

Further, in some of the embodiments described above, when the distance between the player and the target measured by the mobile terminal 90 becomes less than the reference value based on the signal from the transmitter 30 mounted on the target, , the mobile terminal 90 determines that the player has actually captured the target (that is, physically, in real space).

On the other hand, in another example, the mobile terminal 90 is equipped with a reader (for example, an image reader) that reads data, and the target is equipped with data that can be read by the reader (for example, a one-dimensional barcode). , a two-dimensional barcode (for example, a QR code (registered trademark), etc.) is mounted in a position that can be accessed by its reader.

In this case, the player holds the reader of the mobile terminal 90 over the data attached to the target (brings it close to the data so as to face the data) or contacts it, thereby , allowing the reader to read the data.

At this time, if the mobile terminal 90 determines that the reader has successfully read the data, it determines that the player has captured the target.

In this example, it is possible to adopt a mode in which the data does not have a part representing the ID of the target to which the data is assigned, or a mode in which it does have a part representing the ID of the target to which the data is assigned.

In the latter aspect, for example, when the mobile terminal 90 reads the data, it identifies the ID of the target to which the data is attached, and collates the identification result with the identification result in step 105 shown in FIG. It is possible to do this. Only when the verification is successful, the mobile terminal 90 determines that the player has captured the target.

By the way, in some of the embodiments described above, a rental cycle lent to a tenant is used as an example of the target.

In general, rental bicycles basically operate at slower speeds and in locations closer to passersby than other means of transportation such as cars and motorcycles (an example of moving objects). likely to move.

This possibility is due to the possibility that the number of passersby who see the rental cycle as it moves per unit of time is greater than in the case of other means of transportation, and the possibility that the rental cycle Each passerby looks at the advertising sign (advertising media, advertising information, etc.) attached to the vehicle more clearly and for a longer time than when using other means of transportation, and as a result, it is easier to remember the advertising sign accurately. This brings about the possibility that

This shows that rental bicycles can provide advertising information more directly to potential consumers than other means of transportation, and are therefore more effective in advertising.

Furthermore, although rental cycles may be operated by private companies, they may also be operated by public organizations (for example, city halls, etc.). In the latter case, the operating entity usually tries to cover the operating costs of the rental cycle through the rental fee paid by the lessee of the rental cycle. However, since rentals are for public benefit purposes, rental fees cannot be set so high. Therefore, the operating entity needs to use other financial sources such as taxes to compensate for the total operating costs that cannot be covered by the revenue from rental fees alone.

In this case, for example, the operating body solicits sponsors for rental bicycles from private companies, etc., and asks the sponsors who apply to provide funds. A business model is proposed in which sponsors are granted the right to advertise their products and services.

Furthermore, like rental cars, rental bicycles are the property of the entity that operates them, and are not the property of individuals. Therefore, the operating entity can freely select or replace the advertising signboard to be attached to each rental cycle based solely on the operating entity's convenience, regardless of circumstances such as the preferences of the renter of the rental cycle. As a result, in the case of rental cycles, it is easier to acquire a variety of sponsors than the target of privately owned bicycles.

In summary, when rental cycles are selected as a target, the economical efficiency of rental cycle operations can be improved more easily than when other means of transportation are selected.

However, in order to implement the present invention, the target may choose other rental moving objects besides rental bicycles, such as rental cars, other moving objects not intended for rental, or personal ownership. You may choose a moving object.

Furthermore, in order to implement the present invention, a moving object that exists in the natural world (for example, a human being, an animal, a floating object, a flowing object, etc.) may be selected as another target.

In this embodiment, when a player captures a target, a benefit (first benefit) is given to the player in return. At this time, the lessee (driver) of the rental cycle 12, which is the captured target, may also be given a benefit (second benefit) as compensation for being captured.

Specifically, for example, when the player captures a target, the mobile terminal 90 transmits information including the bicycle ID of the rental cycle 12 captured by the player to the management server 50.

Upon receiving the information, the management server 50 determines the relationship between the bicycle ID and the user ID unique to the renter of the rental cycle 12 or the address (for example, telephone number, email address, etc.) of the renter's mobile terminal 90. According to the information stored in the memory 162 in advance, the mobile terminal 90 of the current tenant corresponding to the bicycle ID received this time is searched.

Furthermore, the management server 50 transmits information indicating that a predetermined benefit has been granted to the borrower in a unicast manner to the searched mobile terminal 90.

In this chase game, if a rental cycle 12 is captured by a player, a benefit is given to the renter of the rental cycle 12 in return, so that the renter is also encouraged to actively participate in the chase game.

Furthermore, in this example, the borrower is naturally informed in advance that there is a possibility of being tracked by the player in this tracking game, and that the borrower will be given a benefit if caught by the player. It turns out.

By the way, the tracking game system 10 described above is a combination of the game element of the tracking game and the advertising element of providing advertising information directly to potential consumers. If given importance, this tracking game system 10 can be re-understood as an advertising system 10.

Specifically, this advertising system 10 uses moving objects (not only industrial products but also objects existing in the natural world, such as humans themselves or animals) that are driven by drivers, regardless of whether they are advertisers or not. This is a system that advertises to a plurality of unspecified passersby who are near the moving object, using it as a source of visual advertising information.

Here, an example of the "moving object" is the aforementioned rental cycle 12, and an example of the "unspecified plurality of passersby" is the aforementioned plurality of players.

This advertising system 10 includes an advertising display device that visually displays the advertising information on the moving object, a moving object positioning unit that measures the current position of the moving object from time to time, and a moving object positioning unit that measures the current position of the moving object. It is equipped with a transmitter that broadcasts moving object position information in real time to multiple people's mobile terminals.

Here, an example of the "advertisement display device" is the aforementioned advertisement display device 32, and an example of the "moving object positioning section" is the GPS receiver 42 of the aforementioned GPS positioning section 28, and An example of the "transmitter" is the aforementioned communication device 46.

In this advertising system 10, each passerby's mobile terminal 90 is further provided with a receiving unit that receives the moving object position information, and a passerby positioning unit that measures the current position of the mobile terminal 90 as the current position of the passerby. , a display unit that displays the measured current position of the passerby and the current position of the moving object based on the received moving object position information on the screen of the mobile terminal 90; A detection unit for detection is installed.

Here, an example of the "receiving section" is the aforementioned receiving section 138, an example of the "passerby positioning section" is the aforementioned GPS receiver 152, and an example of the "display section" is: The display unit 136 mentioned above is an example of the “detection unit”, and is a part of the mobile terminal 90 that executes steps S109 to S112 in FIG. 12.

In this advertising system 10, furthermore, when the capturing is detected, a predetermined benefit is given to a passerby who uses each mobile terminal 90 that captured the moving object. The awarding of benefits is executed, for example, by a portion of the management server 50 that executes steps S204-206 in FIG.

This advertising system 10 is further provided with an advertising information transmitter mounted on the management server 50 that can communicate with the mobile terminals 90 of each passerby. When the moving object is captured by one of the mobile terminals 90, the advertisement information transmitter directly sends data representing the advertisement information and/or another advertisement information to the mobile terminal 90 using a unicast method. configured to send.

Several embodiments of the present invention have been described above in detail based on the drawings, but these are merely illustrative, and based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art, including the aspects described in the above [Summary of the Invention] column. It is possible to implement the present invention in other forms with various modifications and improvements.

Claims (8)

A rental operation system that operates the rental of moving objects at a station serving as a storage location,
including the management server,
The moving object is
a positioning unit that measures the current position of the moving object;
a transmitting unit that transmits position information representing the measured current position in association with the object ID of the moving object or information that can specify it;
contains a code readable by a mobile device;
The management server and/or the mobile terminal use the code read by the mobile terminal and the object ID or the information associated with the position information received from the transmitter to send information to the user of the mobile terminal. A rental management system including an access determination unit that determines whether or not the moving object has been accessed. The access determination unit compares the object ID of the actual moving object corresponding to the code read by the mobile terminal with the object ID of a regular moving object associated with the position information received from the transmission unit. 2. The rental management system according to claim 1, wherein if the mobile terminal is successfully accessed, it is determined that the moving object has been accessed by the user of the mobile terminal. 3. The rental management system according to claim 1, wherein the moving object includes a rental cycle lent to a tenant. The management server according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the management server receives the location information from the transmitter in association with the object ID or the information, and receives the code read by the mobile terminal from the mobile terminal. Rental management system. A program for causing a computer to function as a management server according to claim 1 or 2. A recording medium on which the program according to claim 5 is recorded in a computer-readable manner. A program executed by a computer of a mobile terminal of a user to lend a moving object to the user at a station serving as a storage location, the program comprising:
The moving object is
a positioning unit that measures the current position of the moving object;
a transmitting unit that transmits position information representing the measured current position in association with the object ID of the moving object or information that can specify it;
a code readable by the mobile terminal;
The mobile terminal includes a transmission function that associates the code read by the mobile terminal with a user ID of a user of the mobile terminal and transmits it to a management server,
A program executed by said computer to realize its transmission function. A recording medium on which the program according to claim 7 is recorded in a computer-readable manner.

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