JPWO2019146089A1 - Area determination system and area determination method - Google Patents

Abstract

The area determination system (100) includes a wireless client device (103), a first detection device (101A) and a second detection device (101B), a first detection device (101A), and a second detection device ( 101B), a wireless communication strength A1 between the wireless handset (103) and the first detection device (101A), and a third detection device. (102) and the wireless communication intensity A2 between the first detection device (101A), the wireless communication device B (103) and the second detection device (101B), and the third detection device (102). ) And the wireless communication strength B2 between the second detection device (101B) and A2 / A1 <B2 / B1, the wireless slave device (103) is connected to the first detection device (101A) and the third detection device (101B). It is determined that it exists in the first area (105A) with the device (102). To.

Description

  The present invention relates to an area determination system and an area determination method for determining an area where an object exists.

  As a system for managing the positions of a plurality of objects, for example, Patent Literature 1 discloses a system for managing the positions of containers in an airport using ID tags.

  Further, Patent Literature 2 discloses a technique for estimating a position using a relationship in which a radio wave intensity is inversely proportional to a square of a distance.

JP 2008-143658 A JP 2016-14641 A

  When detecting the position of an object using the radio wave intensity, the radio wave intensity changes according to the environment between the communicating devices. As a result, there is a problem that the position may not be detected accurately.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a region determination system and a region determination method that can improve determination accuracy.

  An area determination system according to an aspect of the present invention is an area determination system that determines an area where an object exists, and a first wireless communication device that wirelessly communicates with the wireless slave device attached to the object. A detection device and a second detection device, and are disposed between the first detection device and the second detection device, and wirelessly communicate with the first detection device and the second detection device. A wireless communication intensity A1 between the wireless slave device and the first detection device, a wireless communication intensity A2 between the third detection device and the first detection device, When the wireless communication strength B1 between the wireless handset and the second detection device and the wireless communication strength B2 between the third detection device and the second detection device satisfy A2 / A1 <B2 / B1. Wherein the wireless slave device is located between the first detection device and the third detection device. Determined to be present in the first area, it determines that if it meets A2 / A1> B2 / B1, the radio personal station is present in the second region between the third detecting device and the second detection device.

  According to this, the area determination system can determine the area where the target object exists based on the communication strength in that situation, and thus can realize highly accurate area determination independent of the environment. In addition, in the area determination system, since the area can be determined using only the communication intensity, there is no need to measure the position of the detection device in advance. Thus, the system can be easily introduced.

  For example, the region determination system is arranged along a boundary of the first region opposite to the second region, includes the first detection device, and includes a plurality of second devices that wirelessly communicate with the wireless slave device. A plurality of second detection devices that are arranged side by side along a boundary opposite to the first region of the second region and that includes the second detection device and wirelessly communicates with the wireless slave device; Device, and the plurality of first detection devices and the plurality of second detection devices are arranged side by side along a boundary between the first region and the second region, and include the third detection device. A plurality of third detection devices that wirelessly communicate with the device, wherein the plurality of first detection devices, the plurality of second detection devices, and the plurality of third detection devices are each one first detection device. A set including a device, one second detection device and one third detection device, The first detection device, the second detection device, and the third detection device included in one set are arranged on a straight line, and the plurality of first detection devices, the plurality of second detection devices, Among the plurality of third detection devices, a selected device having the highest wireless communication strength with the wireless slave device is determined, a group including the selected device is selected, and the wireless slave device and the selected group are selected. Wireless communication strength A1 with the first detection device included in the set, the third detection device included in the selected set, and the wireless communication with the first detection device included in the selected set. A communication strength A2, a wireless communication strength between the wireless slave device, and the second detection device included in the selected set; a third communication device included in the selected set; And the wireless communication strength B2 with the second detection device included in the set If A2 / A1 <B2 / B1, it is determined that the wireless handset is in the first area, and if A2 / A1> B2 / B1, it is determined that the wireless handset is in the second area. May be.

  According to this, the area determination system can perform the area determination with high accuracy even for a wide area.

  For example, the area determination system further includes a fourth detection device and a fifth detection device that wirelessly communicate with the wireless slave device and the third detection device, and further includes the fourth detection device and the fifth detection device. Device is disposed with the third detection device interposed therebetween, and the wireless communication strength A1, the wireless communication strength A2, the wireless communication strength B1, the wireless communication strength B2, the wireless slave, and the wireless slave unit. The wireless communication strength C1 between the fourth detecting device, the wireless communication strength C2 between the third detecting device and the fourth detecting device, and the wireless communication strength between the wireless slave device and the fifth detecting device. When D1 and the wireless communication strength D2 between the third detection device and the fifth detection device satisfy A2 / A1 <B2 / B1, and C2 / C1 <D2 / D1, the wireless slave device Is between the fourth detection device and the third detection device. When it is determined that the third area and the first area are present in an overlapping area, and A2 / A1 <B2 / B1 and C2 / C1> D2 / D1, the wireless communication device performs the fifth operation. It is determined that a fourth region between the detection device and the third detection device and the first region are present in an overlapping region, and A2 / A1> B2 / B1 and C2 / C1 <D2 / D1. Is satisfied, the wireless slave device determines that the third region and the second region are present in an overlapping region, and satisfies A2 / A1> B2 / B1 and C2 / C1> D2 / D1. In this case, the wireless slave device may determine that the wireless terminal exists in an area where the fourth area and the second area overlap.

  According to this, the area determination system can determine a finer position of the target object with high accuracy.

  For example, the area determination system determines an area where each of the plurality of objects including the object is present, includes the wireless slave, and includes a plurality of wireless slaves attached to each of the plurality of objects. Wherein the first detection device and the second detection device wirelessly communicate with the plurality of wireless slaves, and (1) a target which is an area determination target wireless slave among the plurality of wireless slaves. A wireless communication status between the slave and the first detection device and the second detection device; and (2) a determined slave whose region has been determined among the plurality of wireless slaves; The area where the target slave unit exists may be determined based on the similarity between the device and the wireless communication status with the second detection device.

  According to this, the area determination system can determine the area of the wireless slave device to be determined using the received radio field intensity of another wireless slave device whose area has been determined. Thereby, the accuracy of the area determination can be improved.

  An area determination system according to one aspect of the present invention is an area determination system that determines an area in which each of a plurality of objects is present, and a plurality of wireless slaves attached to each of the plurality of objects, A plurality of detection devices that wirelessly communicate with the plurality of wireless slave devices; (1) a target slave device that is a wireless slave device to be subjected to an area determination among the plurality of wireless slave devices; and the plurality of detection devices. And (2) the target slave unit based on the similarity between the wireless communication status with the plurality of detection devices and the wireless communication status with the plurality of detection devices. Is determined.

  According to this, the area determination system can determine the area of the wireless slave device to be determined by using the received radio field intensity of another wireless slave device whose area has been determined. Thereby, the accuracy of the area determination can be improved.

  An area determination method according to an aspect of the present invention is an area determination method in an area determination system that determines an area in which an object is present, wherein the area determination system includes a wireless handset attached to the object, A first detection device and a second detection device that wirelessly communicate with the wireless slave device, and the first detection device and the second detection device are disposed between the first detection device and the second detection device; A third detection device that wirelessly communicates with the second detection device, wherein the area determination method includes: a wireless communication intensity A1 between the wireless slave device and the first detection device; Wireless communication intensity A2 between the wireless communication device and the first detection device, wireless communication intensity B1 between the wireless slave device and the second detection device, and wireless communication intensity A1 between the third detection device and the second detection device. When the communication strength B2 satisfies A2 / A1 <B2 / B1, When it is determined that the wireless slave device is present in the first area between the first detection device and the third detection device, and when A2 / A1> B2 / B1, the wireless slave device is connected to the second device. It is determined that it exists in the second area between the detection device and the third detection device.

  According to this method, the area determination method can determine the area where the target object is present based on the communication strength in that situation, so that highly accurate area determination independent of the environment can be realized. In addition, in the area determination method, since the area can be determined using only the communication intensity, there is no need to measure the position of the detection device in advance. Thus, the system can be easily introduced.

  An area determination method according to an aspect of the present invention is an area determination method in an area determination system that determines an area in which each of a plurality of objects is present, wherein the area determination system includes: A plurality of wireless slaves to be mounted and a plurality of detection devices wirelessly communicating with the plurality of wireless slaves, the area determination method includes: (1) an area determination target of the plurality of wireless slaves; Wireless communication status between the target handset, which is a wireless handset, and the plurality of detection devices; (2) a determined handset whose area has been determined among the plurality of wireless handset devices; and the plurality of detection devices Based on the similarity with the wireless communication status with the target, the area where the target slave unit exists is determined.

  According to this, in the area determination method, the area determination system can determine the area of the wireless slave device to be determined using the received radio field intensity of another wireless slave device whose area has been determined. Thereby, the accuracy of the area determination can be improved.

  Note that these comprehensive or specific aspects may be realized by a recording medium such as a system, a method, an integrated circuit, a computer program or a computer-readable CD-ROM, and the system, the method, the integrated circuit, and the computer program. And any combination of recording media.

  The present invention can provide a region determination system and a region determination method that can improve determination accuracy.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the area determination system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the wireless slave device according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the detection device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the area determination device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an operation of the area determination system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a detection signal according to the first embodiment. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a notification signal according to the first embodiment. FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining an area determination process according to the first embodiment. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an area determination system according to the second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a flowchart of an area determination process according to the second embodiment. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an area determination system according to the third embodiment. FIG. 12 is a flowchart of an area determination process according to the third embodiment. FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining an area determination process according to the third embodiment. FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an area determination system according to a modification of the third embodiment. FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an area determination system according to a modification of the third embodiment. FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an area determination system according to the fourth embodiment. FIG. 17 is a flowchart of an area determination process according to the fourth embodiment. FIG. 18 is a diagram for explaining an area determination process according to the fourth embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.

  Each of the embodiments described below shows one specific example of the present invention. Numerical values, shapes, materials, constituent elements, arrangement positions and connection forms of constituent elements, steps, order of steps, and the like shown in the following embodiments are merely examples, and do not limit the present invention. In addition, among the components in the following embodiments, components not described in the independent claims indicating the highest concept are described as arbitrary components.

(Embodiment 1)
In the area determination system according to the present embodiment, the communication status (received radio field intensity) between the wireless handset and the detection devices arranged at both ends of the two areas, and the area allocated to the boundary between the two areas. The area where the wireless client exists is determined based on communication information (received radio field intensity) between the detection device and the detection devices arranged at both ends. Thus, the area determination system can realize a highly accurate area determination that does not depend on the environment, and can also realize a system that can easily introduce the system.

  First, the configuration of the area determination system 100 according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an outline of an area determination system 100 according to the present embodiment.

  The area determination system 100 is a system for determining an area where each of a plurality of objects exists. The area determination system 100 includes detection devices 101A, 101B, and 102, a plurality of wireless terminals 103, and an area determination device 104.

  Each of the plurality of wireless slaves 103 is attached to the target. The target object is, for example, an irregular large article, such as a mold for parts of a large heavy machine, a ship, or an aircraft. In other words, the object is, for example, a non-standardized article. For example, the size of the object is about several meters. Further, although simplified in FIG. 1, the number of objects (that is, the number of wireless slave devices 103) is, for example, about several hundred.

  The usage of the area determination system 100 is not limited to the above, and can be used for detecting the position of an arbitrary target.

  The plurality of objects are stored in a storage area including the areas 105A and 105B. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the regions 105A and 105B are arranged side by side in the x direction. Note that the storage area may be located indoors or outdoors. Further, the objects may be stacked in the vertical direction (z direction) directly or by using a shelf or the like.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the wireless client device 103. The wireless slave device 103 includes an identification code storage unit 111, a control unit 112, a wireless communication unit 113, and a power supply unit 114.

  The identification code storage unit 111 stores an identification code 161 that is information for uniquely identifying the wireless slave device 103.

  The control unit 112 wirelessly transmits the detection signal 151 including the identification code 161 via the wireless communication unit 113.

  The wireless communication unit 113 transmits the detection signal 151. The detection signal 151 is a wireless signal conforming to, for example, IEEE 802.15.4, and is a 920 MHz band, a 950 MHz band, or a 2.4 GHz band wireless signal. Note that a radio signal of LPWA (Low Power, Wide Area) may be used as the detection signal 151. Further, the detection signal 151 may be a wireless signal of an arbitrary method other than the above.

  The power supply unit 114 is a power supply that supplies power to the wireless slave device 103, and is, for example, a battery or a battery. That is, the wireless slave device 103 can operate only with the power supply from the inside (or the power generated inside) without receiving the power supply from the outside.

  The detection devices 101A, 101B, and 102 are arranged side by side in the x direction, and transmit and receive the detection signal 151. For example, the detection devices 101A, 101B, and 102 are arranged on a straight line. The detection device 102 is arranged at a boundary between the region 105A and the region 105B. The detection device 101A is arranged at an end of the area 105A on the opposite side to the above-described boundary. The detection device 101B is arranged at an end of the area 105B on the opposite side to the above-described boundary. In other words, the region 105A is a region between the detection device 101A and the detection device 102, and the region 105B is a region between the detection device 101B and the detection device 102.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the detection devices 101A, 101B, and 102. Each of the detection devices 101A, 101B, and 102 includes an identification code storage unit 121, a control unit 122, a wireless communication unit 123, and a communication unit 124.

  The identification code storage unit 121 stores an identification code 162 that is information for uniquely specifying the detection device 101A, 101B, or 102.

  The wireless communication unit 123 transmits the detection signal 151 and receives the detection signal 151 wirelessly transmitted from another detection device or the wireless slave device 103.

  The control unit 122 wirelessly transmits the detection signal 151 including the identification code 162 via the wireless communication unit 123. Further, when the wireless communication unit 123 receives the detection signal 151 transmitted from the wireless slave device 103 or another detection device, the control unit 122 includes information indicating the received signal strength of the received detection signal 151. A notification signal 152 is generated and transmitted to the area determination device 104 via the communication unit 124.

  The communication unit 124 communicates with the area determination device 104. The communication method between the detection devices 101A, 101B, and 102 and the area determination device 104 is not particularly limited. For example, a public telephone network, an Internet line (wireless or wired LAN, Wi-Fi (registered trademark), or the like) may be used. Or its own wired or wireless network. Further, the wireless communication method may be the same as the wireless communication method of the detection signal 151.

  Next, the configuration of the area determination device 104 will be described. The region determination device 104 determines a region where the target object exists. FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the area determination device 104. The area determination device 104 includes a communication unit 131, an area determination unit 132, a determination result storage unit 133, and a display unit 134.

  The communication unit 131 receives the notification signal 152 transmitted from the detection devices 101A, 101B, and 102.

  The area determination unit 132 determines an area where a plurality of objects (wireless handsets 103) exist using the information included in the notification signal 152. The display unit 134 displays the positions and the like of the plurality of determined objects.

  The determination result storage unit 133 stores information of an area where each of the plurality of objects determined by the area determination unit 132 exists.

  The configuration of the area determination system 100 is not limited to the configuration shown in FIG. The function of the area determination device 104 may be realized by a plurality of devices. Further, each function of the detection devices 101A, 101B, and 102 may be realized by a plurality of devices. Further, at least a part of the function of the area determination device 104 and at least a part of the function of the detection devices 101A, 101B, and 102 may be realized by a single device. In this case, at least a part of signal transmission between the detection devices 101A, 101B, and 102 and the area determination device 104 is performed in the device. In other words, the transmission of the notification signal 152 described above is not limited to transmission between devices via a network or the like, but also includes transmission of a signal within the device.

  FIG. 3 illustrates an example in which the detection devices 101A, 101B, and 102 have a transmission / reception function of the detection signal 151 and a transmission function of the notification signal 152. However, the detection devices 101A and 101B have the detection signal It is sufficient that the detection device 102 has a reception function of the detection signal 151 and a transmission function of the notification signal 152.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the area determination system 100 will be described. In the following, an operation for detecting an area where one wireless slave device 103 exists will be described, but the same operation is performed for each of the plurality of wireless slave devices 103. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the area determination system 100.

  The wireless slave device 103 and the detection device 102 wirelessly transmit the detection signal 151 at predetermined intervals (S101, S102). Note that the transmission intervals of the detection signal 151 by the wireless slave device 103 and the detection device 102 may be the same or different. For example, the transmission interval of the detection device 102 may be longer than the transmission interval of the wireless slave device 103. Thereby, it is possible to suppress the detection signal 151 from the detection device 102 from interfering with the detection signal 151 from the wireless slave device 103. Further, the wireless transmission method of the detection signal 151 by the wireless slave device 103 and the detection device 102 may be different.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration of the detection signal 151. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the detection signal 151 includes transmission device information 163 indicating a device (the wireless slave device 103 or the detection device 102) that is the transmission source of the detection signal 151. The transmission device information 163 is, for example, an identification code 161 or 162 held by the transmission source device.

  The detection devices 101A and 101B that have received the detection signal 151 transmitted from the wireless slave device 103 and the detection device 102 transmit a notification signal 152 (S103, S104). Note that the wireless slave device 103 may transmit the notification signal 152 when the received signal strength of the detection signal 151 is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration of the notification signal 152. As shown in FIG. 7, the notification signal 152 includes receiving device information 164 and receiving information 165.

  The reception device information 164 indicates the detection device 101A or 101B that has received the detection signal 151, for example, the identification code 162 of the detection device 101A or 101B.

  The reception information 165 is information on the received detection signal 151, and includes transmission device information 166 and reception radio field intensity information 167. The transmission device information 166 indicates the device (wireless slave device 103 or the detection device 102) of the transmission source of the detection signal 151 received by the detection device 101A or 101B, and includes, for example, the identification code 161 of the transmission source device or 162. The received radio wave intensity information 167 indicates the received radio wave intensity of the received detection signal 151.

  When the detection device 101A or 101B has received a plurality of detection signals 151 transmitted from a plurality of devices, the notification signal 152 includes a plurality of reception information 165. Alternatively, a plurality of notification signals 152 are transmitted. This notification signal 152 is transmitted to the area determination device 104.

  Next, the area determination device 104 determines the area where the wireless slave device 103 is present, using the received signal strengths of the detection devices 101A and 101B included in the received notification signal 152 (S105).

  FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining this determination processing. As shown in FIG. 8, the transmission intensity of the detection signal 151 of the wireless slave device 103 is X1, the transmission intensity of the detection signal 151 of the detection device 102 is X2, and the detection intensity of the detection device 101A from the wireless slave device 103A is X1. The received signal strength of the detection signal 151 is A1, the received signal strength of the detection signal 151 from the detection device 102 in the detection device 101A is A2, and the detection signal 151 from the wireless slave device 103 in the detection device 101B. , The reception radio field intensity of the detection signal 151 from the detection device 102 in the detection device 101B is B2, the distance between the wireless slave device 103 and the detection device 101A is d1, and the detection device The distance between the wireless device 103 and the detection device 101B is d3, the distance between the wireless device 103 and the detection device 101B is d3. The distance between the intellectual equipment 101B and d4.

  Here, since the received radio wave intensity is inversely proportional to the square of the distance, the following relationship is established.

A1 = X1 / d1 ²
A2 = X2 / d2 ²
B1 = X1 / d3 ²
B2 = X2 / d4 ²

  As can be seen from FIG. 8, when d1 / d2 <d3 / d4, the wireless handset 103 exists in the area 105A, and when d1 / d2> d3 / d4, the wireless handset 103 exists in the area 105B. . Therefore, from the above relationship, when A2 / A1 <B2 / B1, the wireless slave device 103 exists in the region 105A, and when A2 / A1> B2 / B1, the wireless slave device 103 exists in the region 105B.

  Based on the above, the area determination device 104 determines that the wireless client 103 is present in the area 105A when A2 / A1 <B2 / B1, and determines that the wireless client 103 is in the area 105B when A2 / A1> B2 / B1. Is determined to exist.

  Note that the above relationship holds true when the detection devices 101A, 101B, and 102 are arranged in a straight line. However, even when there is a slight deviation, similar determination results can be obtained although the accuracy is lowered.

  As described above, the area determination system 100 can determine the area where the target object exists based on the communication strength in that situation, and thus can realize highly accurate area determination independent of the environment. For example, there is a possibility that the received radio wave intensity changes with the movement of the object in each area. In the present embodiment, it is possible to reduce the influence of such a change in the received radio wave intensity and realize highly accurate area determination.

  In addition, the area determination system 100 can determine an area using only the received radio wave intensities A1, A2, B1, and B2. Therefore, it is not necessary to measure the positions of the detection devices 101A, 101B, 102, and the like in advance to perform the area determination. Thus, the system can be easily introduced.

  In the above description, an example is described in which the received radio wave intensity in the detection devices 101A and 101B is used, but the radio communication intensity between the two devices may be used. Here, the wireless communication strength between two devices is one of the received signal strength of a signal from one of the two devices and the received signal strength of a signal from one of the two devices. For example, instead of the received signal strength of the detection signal 151 transmitted from the detection device 102 at the detection device 101A, the received signal strength of the detection signal 151 transmitted from the detection device 101A at the detection device 102 is used. You may. In this case, the processing may be performed after normalizing or multiplying the transmission radio field intensity of the detection signal 151 in the detection devices 101A and 101B. Further, both of them may be used.

  Further, in the above description, processing for two regions has been described, but similar processing can be performed for three or more regions arranged in the x direction. For example, in this case, three detection devices with high received signal strength of the detection signal 151 from the wireless slave device 103 are selected, and the same processing as described above is performed. In this case, the detection device located at the boundary between the areas according to the position of the wireless slave device 103 functions as one of the detection devices 101A (101B) and 102. Therefore, these detection devices need to have both a function of transmitting and receiving the detection signal 151 and a function of transmitting the notification signal 152, as shown in FIG.

  Further, the shapes of the regions 105A and 105B shown in FIG. 1 and the like schematically show each region, and each region does not need to be rectangular. These areas are actually shaped according to the communication status of each detection device and the surrounding environment. Further, the various modifications described here can be similarly applied to the following embodiments.

(Embodiment 2)
In the present embodiment, a case will be described in which a plurality of detection devices arranged in the y direction are arranged at the boundary of the region. As a result, highly accurate area determination can be realized even for a wide area.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a configuration of an area determination system 100A according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 9, a plurality of detection devices 101A arranged in the y direction, a plurality of detection devices 101B arranged in the y direction, and a plurality of detection devices arranged in the y direction. Equipment 102. That is, the plurality of detection devices 101A are arranged side by side along a boundary of the region 105A opposite to the region 105B. The plurality of detection devices 101B are arranged side by side along a boundary of the region 105B opposite to the region 105A. The plurality of detection devices 102 are arranged side by side along the boundary between the region 105A and the region 105B.

  One detection device 101A, one detection device 101B, and one detection device 102 arranged in the x direction are referred to as a set. The detection devices 101A, 101B, and 102 included in the same group are arranged, for example, on a straight line.

  In this embodiment, the detection device 102 also receives the detection signal 151 from the wireless slave device 103 and transmits the notification signal 152.

  Each of the detection devices 102 and the wireless slave device 103 transmits a detection signal 151. Each of the detection devices 101A and 101B sends the received signal strength of the detection signal 151 from each of the detection devices 102 and the wireless slave device 103 to the area determination device 104A. Further, each of the detection devices 102 sends the received signal strength of the detection signal 151 from the wireless slave device 103 to the area determination device 104A.

  Next, the area determination device 104A determines the area where the wireless slave device 103 is present, using the received radio wave intensity included in the notification signal 152. FIG. 10 is a flowchart of an area determination process performed by the area determination device 104A. First, the area determination device 104A selects, from the plurality of detection devices 101A, 101B, and 102, a detection device having the highest received radio wave intensity of the detection signal 151 from the wireless slave device 103 to be processed (S111).

  Next, the area determination device 104A selects a group including the selected detection device (S112).

  Lastly, the area determination device 104A determines the area where the wireless client device 103 is present by using the detection devices 101A, 101B, and 102 included in the set selected in step S112, in the same manner as in the first embodiment. (S113).

  In the above description, in steps S111 and S112, a group including the detection device having the highest received signal strength of the detection signal 151 from the wireless slave device 103 is selected from the plurality of detection devices 101A, 101B, and 102. However, from among the plurality of detection devices 101A, a set including the detection device 101A having the highest received signal strength of the detection signal 151 from the wireless slave device 103 may be selected, or a plurality of detection devices 101A may be selected. A set including the detection device 101B having the highest received signal strength of the detection signal 151 from the wireless slave device 103 may be selected from the devices 101B, or the wireless slave device 103 among the plurality of detection devices 102 may be selected. May be selected including the detection device 102 having the highest received signal strength of the detection signal 151 from the. Among the detection devices 101A, 101B, and 102, a set may be selected using the reception radio wave intensity of the detection signal 151 from the wireless slave device 103 in the two types of detection devices. For example, a pair having the highest sum of the received radio wave intensities of the two types of detection devices may be selected.

  Also, the area determination device 104A detects the peak of the received radio wave intensity based on the received radio wave intensity of the plurality of detection devices 101A (or 101B or 102) instead of simply selecting the device having the highest received radio wave intensity. Alternatively, the detection device 101A (or 101B or 102) having the highest received radio wave intensity may be selected. Further, the area determination device 104A may perform noise removal or the like based on a time-series change in the received radio wave intensity.

  Further, the area determination device 104A may use the received radio wave intensity of a plurality of detection devices 101A (or 101B or 102) instead of the received radio wave intensity of a single detection device 101A (or 101B or 102). . For example, the area determination device 104A may use an average value of the peak of the received radio wave intensity and the received radio wave intensity of the plurality of detection devices 101A (or 101B or 102) around the peak.

(Embodiment 3)
In the present embodiment, a method will be described in which the method of the first embodiment is applied to determine a region where the wireless client device 103 is present among four regions arranged in a matrix.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a configuration of an area determination system 100B according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 11, the area determination system 100B includes a plurality of detection devices 101A to 101D and 102, and an area determination device 104B. The functions of the detection devices 101A to 101D are the same as the functions of the detection devices 101A and 101B in the first embodiment.

  The detection device 101A and the detection device 101B are arranged with the detection device 102 interposed therebetween. The detection device 101C and the detection device 101D are arranged with the detection device 102 interposed therebetween.

  The area determination device 104B determines in which of the areas 105A to 105D the wireless client device 103 exists. FIG. 12 is a flowchart of an area determination process performed by the area determination device 104B.

  First, the area determination device 104B uses the received radio wave intensity at the detection devices 102, 101A, and 101B to perform the same procedure as in the first embodiment so that the wireless slave device 103 communicates with the detection device 102 and the detection device 101A. Are present in the area 105A or 105B between the two, or in the area 105C or 105D between the detection device 102 and the detection device 101B (S121).

  Next, the area determination device 104B uses the received radio wave intensity at the detection devices 102, 101C, and 101D and, in the same manner as in the first embodiment, causes the wireless slave device 103 to detect the detection device 102 and the detection device 101C. Is determined in the area 105A or 105C between the detection device 102 and the detection device 102 and the detection device 101D (S122). Note that the order of steps S121 and S122 may be reversed.

  Finally, the area determination device 104B determines that the wireless slave device 103 exists in an area where the area determined in step S121 and the area determined in step S122 overlap (S123).

  For example, in the example shown in FIG. 13, the wireless client device 103 exists in the area 105A. In this case, in step S121, it is determined that the wireless slave device 103 exists in the area 105A or the area 105B. In step S122, it is determined that the wireless client device 103 exists in the area 105A or the area 105C. Then, in step S123, it is determined that the wireless client device 103 exists in the area 105A where the area 105A or the area 105B and the area 105A or the area 105C overlap.

  That is, the area determination device 104B makes the following determination. The received signal strength of the detection signal 151 from the wireless handset 103 in the detection device 101A is A1, the reception signal strength of the detection signal 151 from the detection device 102 in the detection device 101A is A2, and the detection device 101B , The received radio wave intensity of the detection signal 151 from the detection device 101B in the detection device 101B is B2, and the reception radio wave intensity of the detection signal 151 from the detection device 102 in the detection device 101B is B2. The received radio wave intensity of the detection signal 151 from the detection device 101 is denoted by C1, the reception radio wave intensity of the detection signal 151 from the detection device 102 in the detection device 101C is denoted by C2, and the detection from the wireless slave device 103 by the detection device 101D is performed. The received signal strength of the signal for use 151 is D1, and the detection device 102 in the detection device 101D Received signal strength of the detection signal 151 is referred to as D2.

  In this case, when A2 / A1 <B2 / B1 and C2 / C1 <D2 / D1 are satisfied, the area determination device 104B determines that the wireless slave device 103 exists in the area 105A, and A2 / A1 <B2 // When B1 and C2 / C1> D2 / D1 are satisfied, it is determined that the wireless client device 103 exists in the area 105B, and when A2 / A1> B2 / B1 and C2 / C1 <D2 / D1 are satisfied. It is determined that the wireless slave device 103 exists in the area 105C, and when A2 / A1> B2 / B1 and C2 / C1> D2 / D1 are satisfied, it is determined that the wireless slave device 103 exists in the area 105D.

  As described above, the area determination system 100B can determine a finer position of the target object with high accuracy.

  Note that FIG. 13 shows an example in which the line connecting the detection devices 101A and 101B and the line connecting the detection devices 101C and 101D are orthogonal to each other. However, as shown in FIG. You may. In this case, the region determination device 104B uses a set of the detection devices 101A and 101B to form a region 105A and a region 105B with a line AB orthogonal to a line connecting the detection devices 101A and 101B, and a region 105C and a region 105B. It is determined which of the wireless slave device 103 and the wireless client device 105D is present. Further, the area determination device 104B uses a set of the detection devices 101C and 101D, and uses the pair of the detection devices 101C and 101D as boundaries of a line CD orthogonal to a line connecting the detection devices 101C and 101D, and the regions 105B and 105D. It is determined in which of the two the wireless slave device 103 is present.

  Further, here, an example is described in which two sets of the detection devices 101A and 101B and the detection devices 101C and 101D are used, but three or more sets of the detection devices may be used. FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example in which three sets of detection devices are used. By using three sets of detection devices, it is possible to determine in which of the six areas 105A to 105F the wireless slave device 103 exists.

(Embodiment 4)
In the present embodiment, a method will be described in which a region in which a wireless slave device to be determined is present is determined using received radio field intensity of another wireless slave device whose region has been determined.

  FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a configuration of an area determination system 100C according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 16, the area determination system 100C includes a plurality of detection devices 101A, 101B, and 102, a plurality of wireless handsets 103A to 103E, and an area determination device 104C. The functions of the detection devices 101A, 101B and 102 are the same as in the first embodiment.

  FIG. 17 is a flowchart of an area determination process performed by the area determination system 100C. FIG. 18 is a diagram for explaining the area determination process, and is a diagram illustrating an example of the radio wave intensity received from each wireless slave device in each detection device. Also, a description will be given of a process in a case where the wireless slave devices 103A to 103D have already determined the existing area and determine the area where the wireless slave device 103E exists. For example, when the movement of the wireless slave device 103E is detected, the area where the wireless slave device 103E exists is determined. For example, when the received signal strength of the detection signal 151 from the wireless slave device 103E changes by a predetermined value or more, it is determined that the wireless slave device 103E has moved. Alternatively, the wireless slave device 103E may include an acceleration sensor or the like, and the movement of the wireless slave device 103E may be detected based on a sensor result of the acceleration sensor.

  First, the area determination device 104C determines the area where the wireless client device 103E exists by the first method (S131). For example, the area determination device 104C determines the area where the wireless communication device 103E exists by using the method described in the first embodiment. Note that the first method may be any known method using the received radio wave intensity, or may be a method using information other than the received radio wave intensity.

  Next, the area determination device 104C performs the area determination target wireless communication based on the similarity between the received signal strength of the area determination target wireless terminal 103E and the area determined wireless terminals 103A to 103D. The region where the device 103E exists is determined (S132). For example, the area determination device 104C determines that the area determination target wireless slave 103E exists in the same area as the area determined wireless slave having the highest similarity in received radio field intensity with the area determination target wireless slave 103E. I do.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 18, the area determination device 104C holds the determination result of the area in which the wireless communication devices 103A to 103D exist. For example, this determination result is a determination result obtained in the past using the method of Embodiment 1 or the method shown in FIG. A part or all of these determination results may be determination results obtained by another determination method, or may be information input from outside.

  In addition, the received radio wave intensities of the wireless handsets 103A to 103D whose areas have been determined are updated at a predetermined cycle. As a result, the latest received radio wave intensity is always stored even when an environmental change such as movement of the object occurs.

  Here, an example will be described in which each area has two wireless handsets whose area has been determined. However, in practice, about tens of area determined wireless handsets exist in each area.

  The region determination device 104C calculates, for example, the sum of the differences between the received radio wave intensities or the sum of the squares of the differences in the plurality of detection devices, and determines the similarity with the wireless slave unit having the smallest sum of the differences or the sum of the squares of the differences. Is determined to be the highest. Alternatively, the area determination device 104C may normalize the received radio wave intensity by the peak value (maximum value) of the received radio wave intensity and calculate the sum of the normalized received radio wave intensity or the sum of squares of the difference. Note that the similarity determination method is not limited to this, and the area determination device 104 </ b> C has the highest received radio wave intensity in the wireless slave device 103 </ b> E, or a predetermined number of detection devices from the higher side, or the received radio wave intensity. A detection device whose strength is equal to or larger than a threshold value may be selected, and a difference in received radio wave intensity between the selected detection devices may be used. Alternatively, the area determination device 104C may weight and add the difference between the received signal strengths of the respective detection devices. For example, the area determination device 104C may increase the weight as the received radio wave intensity at the wireless handset 103E is higher.

  Also, the area determination device 104C may determine the difference after performing a predetermined calculation instead of using the received radio wave intensity as it is. For example, the area determination device 104C may calculate the value corresponding to the distance by calculating the square root of the received radio wave intensity or the reciprocal of the square root, and use the difference between the values. Alternatively, the area determination device 104C may estimate the position of the wireless handset from a plurality of received radio wave intensities and use the difference between the estimated positions.

  Next, the region determination device 104C determines whether the determination result of step S131 matches the determination result of step S132 (S133). If the two determination results match (Yes in S133), the area determination device 104C determines that the determination results obtained in Steps S131 and S132 are correct, and holds the determination results.

  On the other hand, when the two determination results do not match (No in S133), the area determination device 104C determines that an error has occurred (S134). For example, the region determination device 104C notifies the user that the determination result may be incorrect. Alternatively, the region determination device 104C performs a response such as performing a determination process again after a predetermined time.

  As described above, the area determination system 100 </ b> C can determine the area of the determination target wireless child device by using the received radio field intensity of another wireless child device whose area has been determined. Thereby, the accuracy of the area determination can be improved.

  In the above description, a total of two determinations are made in steps S131 and S132. However, the area determination device 104C may perform only the determination processing in step S132 and use the determination results as they are.

  As described above, the area determination system according to the embodiment of the present invention has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this embodiment.

  For example, the detection device may have a function of relaying the notification signal 152 transmitted from another detection device. In this case, each detection device has a function of receiving the notification signal 152.

  In addition, various signals (such as the detection signal 151 or the notification signal 152) may include information indicating a transmission time or information indicating a reception time.

  Each processing unit included in each device included in the area determination system according to the above-described embodiment is typically realized as an LSI that is an integrated circuit. These may be individually integrated into one chip, or may be integrated into one chip so as to include some or all of them.

  Further, the integrated circuit is not limited to the LSI, and may be realized by a dedicated circuit or a general-purpose processor. An FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) that can be programmed after manufacturing the LSI, or a reconfigurable processor that can reconfigure the connection and setting of circuit cells inside the LSI may be used.

  Further, some or all of the functions of each device included in the area determination system according to the above-described embodiment may be realized by a processor such as a CPU executing a program.

  Furthermore, the present invention may be the above-mentioned program, or may be a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium on which the above-mentioned program is recorded. Needless to say, the program can be distributed via a transmission medium such as the Internet.

  Further, the present invention can be realized not only as an area determination system but also as various devices included in the area determination system. Further, the present invention may be realized as a position detection method in which a characteristic means included in such an area determination system is set as a step, or may be realized as a program for causing a computer to execute such characteristic step. Can also.

  In addition, the numbers used above are all examples for specifically describing the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the illustrated numbers.

  The division of functional blocks in the block diagram is merely an example, and a plurality of functional blocks can be implemented as one functional block, one functional block can be divided into a plurality of functional blocks, and some functions can be transferred to other functional blocks. You may. Also, the functions of a plurality of functional blocks having similar functions may be processed by a single piece of hardware or software in parallel or time division.

  Further, the order in which the steps shown in the flowchart are performed is merely an example for specifically describing the present invention, and may be any other order. Also, some of the above steps may be performed simultaneously (in parallel) with other steps.

  As described above, the area determination system according to one or more aspects has been described based on the embodiment, but the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. Unless departing from the spirit of the present invention, various modifications conceivable to those skilled in the art may be applied to this embodiment, and a form constructed by combining components in different embodiments may be in the range of one or more aspects. May be included within.

  The present invention can be applied to a region determination system.

100, 100A, 100B, 100C Area determination system 101A, 101B, 101C, 101D, 101E, 101F, 102 Detecting device 103, 103A, 103B, 103C, 103D, 103E Wireless slave unit 104, 104A, 104B, 104C Area determination device 105A, 105B, 105C, 105D, 105E, 105F Area 111, 121 Identification code storage section 112, 122 Control section 113, 123 Wireless communication section 114 Power supply section 124, 131 Communication section 132 Area determination section 133 Determination result storage section 134 Display section 151 detection signal 152 notification signal 161, 162 identification code 163, 166 transmission device information 164 reception device information 165 reception information 167 reception radio field intensity information

Claims (7)

An area determination system that determines an area where an object is present,
A wireless handset attached to the object,
A first detection device and a second detection device that wirelessly communicate with the wireless slave device;
A third detection device that is disposed between the first detection device and the second detection device and wirelessly communicates with the first detection device and the second detection device,
A wireless communication intensity A1 between the wireless slave device and the first detection device, a wireless communication intensity A2 between the third detection device and the first detection device, and a wireless communication intensity A2 between the wireless slave device and the second detection device. The wireless communication strength B1 with the device and the wireless communication strength B2 between the third detection device and the second detection device are:
When satisfying A2 / A1 <B2 / B1, it is determined that the wireless slave exists in a first area between the first detection device and the third detection device,
When A2 / A1> B2 / B1, an area determination system determines that the wireless slave exists in a second area between the second detection device and the third detection device. The area determination system,
A plurality of first detection devices arranged side by side along a boundary opposite to the second region of the first region, including the first detection device, and wirelessly communicating with the wireless slave;
A plurality of second detection devices arranged side by side along a boundary opposite to the first region of the second region, including the second detection device, and wirelessly communicating with the wireless slave device;
A plurality of the first detection devices and the plurality of the second detection devices are wirelessly communicated with the plurality of the first detection devices and the plurality of the second detection devices, including the third detection device, arranged side by side along a boundary between the first region and the second region. A plurality of third detection devices,
The plurality of first detection devices, the plurality of second detection devices, and the plurality of third detection devices are respectively one first detection device, one second detection device, and one third detection device. Form a set including detection equipment,
The first detection device, the second detection device, and the third detection device included in the same set are arranged on a straight line,
Among the plurality of first detection devices, the plurality of second detection devices and the plurality of third detection devices, a selected device having the highest wireless communication strength with the wireless slave device is determined,
Selecting a set including the selection device,
The wireless slave unit, the wireless communication strength A1 with the first detection device included in the selected set, the third detection device included in the selected set, and the selected set The wireless communication strength A2 with the first detection device included, the wireless communication device, the wireless communication strength B1 with the second detection device included in the selected set, and the selected set The third detection device included, and the wireless communication strength B2 of the second detection device included in the selected set,
If A2 / A1 <B2 / B1, it is determined that the wireless handset is present in the first area,
The area determination system according to claim 1, wherein when A2 / A1> B2 / B1, the wireless slave device is determined to be present in the second area. The area determination system further includes:
Including a fourth detection device and a fifth detection device that wirelessly communicate with the wireless slave device and the third detection device,
The fourth detection device and the fifth detection device are arranged with the third detection device interposed therebetween,
The wireless communication strength A1, the wireless communication strength A2, the wireless communication strength B1, the wireless communication strength B2, the wireless communication strength C1 between the wireless slave device and the fourth detection device, the third The wireless communication intensity C2 between the detecting device and the fourth detecting device, the wireless communication intensity D1 between the wireless slave device and the fifth detecting device, the third detecting device and the fifth detecting device And the wireless communication strength D2 with
When satisfying A2 / A1 <B2 / B1 and C2 / C1 <D2 / D1, the wireless handset is configured to include a third region between the fourth detection device and the third detection device; It is determined that the first area exists in an area overlapping with the first area,
When satisfying A2 / A1 <B2 / B1 and C2 / C1> D2 / D1, the wireless handset is configured to include a fourth area between the fifth detection device and the third detection device; It is determined that the first area exists in an area overlapping with the first area,
When satisfying A2 / A1> B2 / B1 and C2 / C1 <D2 / D1, it is determined that the wireless handset exists in an area where the third area and the second area overlap.
2. When A2 / A1> B2 / B1 and C2 / C1> D2 / D1 are satisfied, the wireless slave device determines that the wireless terminal exists in an area where the fourth area and the second area overlap. Area determination system. The area determination system,
Determine the region where each of the plurality of objects including the object is present,
Including the wireless slave, including a plurality of wireless slaves attached to each of the plurality of objects,
The first detection device and the second detection device wirelessly communicate with the plurality of wireless slaves,
(1) a wireless communication status between a target handset that is a wireless handset of an area determination target among the plurality of wireless handset units and the first detection device and the second detection device; Based on the similarity between the determined sub-unit of the radio sub-units whose area has been determined and the wireless communication status of the first detection device and the second detection device, the region where the target sub-unit exists is determined. The area determination system according to claim 1. An area determination system that determines an area where each of a plurality of objects exists,
A plurality of wireless handsets mounted on each of the plurality of objects,
Including a plurality of detection devices that wirelessly communicate with the plurality of wireless slaves,
(1) a wireless communication status between the target handset that is a wireless handset whose area is to be determined among the plurality of wireless handset units and a wireless communication status with the plurality of detection devices; and (2) an area among the plurality of wireless handset units. An area determination system that determines an area where the target slave exists based on a similarity between a determined slave and a wireless communication status between the plurality of detection devices. An area determination method in an area determination system that determines an area where an object is present,
The area determination system,
A wireless handset attached to the object,
A first detection device and a second detection device that wirelessly communicate with the wireless slave device;
A third detection device that is disposed between the first detection device and the second detection device and wirelessly communicates with the first detection device and the second detection device,
The area determination method includes:
A wireless communication intensity A1 between the wireless slave device and the first detection device, a wireless communication intensity A2 between the third detection device and the first detection device, and a wireless communication intensity A2 between the wireless slave device and the second detection device. The wireless communication strength B1 with the device and the wireless communication strength B2 between the third detection device and the second detection device are:
When satisfying A2 / A1 <B2 / B1, it is determined that the wireless slave exists in a first area between the first detection device and the third detection device,
When A2 / A1> B2 / B1, an area determination method for determining that the wireless slave exists in a second area between the second detection device and the third detection device. An area determination method in an area determination system that determines an area in which each of a plurality of objects is present,
The area determination system,
A plurality of wireless handsets mounted on each of the plurality of objects,
Including a plurality of detection devices that wirelessly communicate with the plurality of wireless slaves,
The area determination method includes:
(1) a wireless communication status between the target handset that is a wireless handset whose area is to be determined among the plurality of wireless handset units and a wireless communication status with the plurality of detection devices; and (2) an area among the plurality of wireless handset units. An area determination method for determining an area in which the target slave exists based on a similarity between the determined slave and a wireless communication status between the plurality of detection devices.

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