RU2615318C1 - Information system for urban environment based on high-frequency wireless short-range communication - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: information technology.

SUBSTANCE: system includes the source for the information formation and storage, the identification information media in the form of RFID tags, placed on an identification object or a territory, and the readers of information from the media, displaying the read information in the form available for a user; the information distribution, delivery and display to the consumer is carried out via the means of high-frequency wireless short-range communication. The information readers from tags are represented by a mobile device communicating the user with the installed software tool that provides real-time interaction with the tags.

EFFECT: expansion of the tools arsenal for the same purpose.

2 cl, 2 dwg

Description

The invention relates to the field of information technology and is intended for quick access to information about the location and characteristics of objects located, for example, within a specific urban area or a specific geographically distributed object.

Its use will allow to obtain a technical result in the form of prompt receipt of information of interest to the user without the use of special means of communication and global information systems (Internet, GPS, GIS, GLONAS, etc.) using a conventional mobile device (phone, smartphone, tablet), available a user who just needs to install the standard free software utility.

Currently, there are various information systems based on Internet technologies, satellite and mobile communications, providing access to a variety of information. However, very often, for example, in an urban environment or in an unfamiliar territory, the user needs real-time real-time information about objects located near his location, and existing communication systems are unavailable, do not provide quick access or completeness of the necessary information, and are also expensive .

Recently, wireless technology has been widely introduced for identifying various objects, based on the use of radio frequency tags, which are miniature electronic devices containing the necessary information about the object and transmitting them via a radio frequency channel to special information readers (RFI - Radio Frequency Identification or RFID - Radio Frequency Identification ) Currently, information systems using this technology are known, both global within geographic regions and local within specific geographically located objects.

For example, there is a well-known information guide system for the metro (application KR 20120116035 dated 10.22.2012, “A subway station of guidance information system for the transportation disadvantaged)), in which the RFI tag placed on the smart card contains identification information , allowing you to access the metro server with databases on various communication channels: mobile, Internet, Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.

There is also a guide information system for the selected route through the territory (a walk in the park, promenade, forest, moving around the enterprise, etc.), which transmits information about all the sights encountered during the movement, or by searching and identifying the desired object (WO 2011004998 dated January 13, 2011 “System and method for providing ubiquitous trail service using RFID and GIS techniques)), as well as KR 1020110003857 dated January 13, 2011 ((Ubiquitous promenade service system which combines an RFID technology with a GIS technology and a method thereof, capable of providing information about the best route based on a GPS and a GIS ").

A global positioning system (GPS) and a geographic information system (GIS) are used to select a route, and near the objects that may cause interest, RFID tags that identify the object are installed, which are placed on special signs. Detailed information about the object is stored on the server and at the request of the visitor is transmitted to a special visitor terminal (UMPC - Ultra Mobile PC), which is displayed in the form of audio and video information, including the route of movement. A special terminal combines a cell phone, a personal digital assistant and a portable multimedia player, information exchange with an RFI tag can be carried out via Bluetooth, ZigBee, Rubee, etc., and with an information server via WiBro or HSDPA, satellite communications or wireless LAN. The position of the terminal is determined by GPS, and the user-friendly route is laid by GIS.

Closest to the proposed technical solution (prototype) is the regional information system on shopping and tourist facilities described in the application KR 1020090112251 dated 10.28.2009, “Regional information offering method and a system using RFID for convenient shopping and tour”.

The proposed information system is focused on the tourism business and provides the user with information about the objects in the territory where he is located (tourist sites, transport stations, shopping centers, restaurants, etc.). It allows the user to choose the optimal route of their movement in this territory. Each of the objects is equipped with an active RFI tag containing information for its identification, which is read using a specially designed user terminal at a relatively short distance to the tag (up to 100 m). The received information, for example, graphic, can be additionally displayed from the user terminal on a special monitor for a more detailed study. Using the terminal, the user can also request additional information about the object of interest to him.

The application offers label designs and user terminals.

A special active tag includes a memory module and a control module that provides memory tuning and information exchange between the tag and the user terminal via the radio frequency channel, as well as an independent power source that provides reading, storage and updating of data in the tag memory.

The terminal includes a central processor, read-only and random-access memory, flash memory, memory card slots, as well as communication devices via various channels (RFID-RF module, graphic controller, IDE controller, etc.) for reading information from a tag, transmitting and playback of image files, audio and video information, navigation support, etc.

Analysis of the well-known technical solutions of information systems using RFI technology has revealed the following features of their implementation:

- RFI tags are used as the identifier of the object, and detailed information about the object, as a rule, is located on a special information server in the databases; access to information and its transmission to the user is carried out through various communication channels (Internet, mobile communications, satellite communications networks, wireless local area networks, etc.), the creation and operation of which requires significant costs;

- To obtain information about objects located on the territory and navigate through the territory, access to global positioning systems (GPS, GIS, etc.) is required;

- The information system is created, as a rule, on specially developed devices, which also significantly increases costs due to the need for their production and acquisition.

The aim of the proposed technical solution is to create a simple, convenient when used in an urban environment and relatively cheap information system based on RFI technology, which would not require the development of special hardware and the use of additional communication channels, in addition to high-frequency wireless communication with a short range, which allows contactless data exchange between a pair of devices nearby.

The main components of the proposed information system are the information center, which generates information about the objects, writes it to RFI tags and places the tags on the information boards, the actual information boards with tags installed in places convenient for users to access, and the standard mobile readers available to users , (telephones, smartphones, tablets, etc.) with the installed software utility that ensures their interaction with RFI tags and reading the recorded information from them.

The technology of high-frequency short-range wireless communications has been widely used in recent years. In particular, manufacturers of technology actively integrate Near Field Communication (NFC) technology into mobile phones and smartphones. NFC technology is standardized and represents a simple extension to the contactless card standard, which combines the smart card and reader interface into a single NFC device. Its advantage is a quick connection setup time (in less than one tenth of a second) without a complicated negotiation process. An NFC device is active and can read a passive RFID tag, so there is no need to purchase special readers, and mobile phones and smartphones have long become the most common attributes among users, a massive individual device inseparable from its owner. Moreover, at present, most manufacturers of mobile devices already support NFC technology, and the Android platform is the most popular for NFC devices.

A feature of NFC is that the interface itself does not provide any real practical use cases or solutions. Unlike, for example, Bluetooth, whose profiles clearly describe how to transfer a file, how to connect a headset or provide network access, NFC is only the base, and direct work scenarios are provided with additional software that works through it. This opens up great opportunities for developers to ensure the interaction of different applications and devices, and some scenarios for using NFC imply convenient automation of actions.

Currently, there are already hundreds of free projects in the Play Store database alone. For example, software utilities have been developed that allow the NFC-system to communicate with other faster information transfer systems, in particular, Bluetooth or Wi-Fi (standard Android Beam program), and using special programs for the phone (for example, TagInfo and TagWriter from NXP Semiconductors) you can not only read information from RFI tags, but also create your own tags by writing the required information to them.

As for RFID tags, there is currently a large selection of various tags on the market: passive and active, differing in design features, memory size, frequency range and range, functional features, installation method, cost, etc. The simplest and cheapest are passive tags, which can be used almost everywhere. They can record information about the identifiable object, contact data, geographical coordinates or other relatively small amount of data.

Thus, the proposed technical solution allows you to create for the urban environment simple and convenient to implement, operate and maintain, not requiring the use of network technologies and additional communication systems, information system.

The technical result is achieved by the fact that in the information system for urban areas, containing a source for the formation and storage of information, carriers of identifying information in the form of radio frequency tags, located on the identification object or territory, and readers of information from carriers that display readable information in a form accessible to the user, the source of the formation and storage of information is the center for the preparation and recording of information on radio frequency tags, information carriers are frequency tags prepared and placed by the training center on special information boards installed in places convenient for access in the city territory, and the boards are equipped with mimic diagrams that visually identify the position of the tags and the type of information placed in each of the tags, and is used as readers of information from the tags personal mobile means of user communication with the installed software utility that provides real-time interaction with tags, while distributing avka and displaying the information consumer is done by means of high-frequency wireless communications with short-range without using any additional communication channels and especially designed devices.

Thus, the main features of the proposed information system are as follows.

For the practical implementation of the proposed information system, there are standard well-known purchased components (tags, a device for recording information on tags), it does not require the development of complex and expensive components (in particular, tag readers), additional communication lines between system components (electric cables, local networks) , Wi-Fi Internet, etc.), which simplifies the process of creating a system and reduces the cost of its development and implementation.

The short-range high-frequency wireless technology itself has a low solution cost and low power consumption compared to other existing technologies. Most users have mobile means, and installing a software utility, for example, on a mobile phone is not difficult. Moreover, currently mobile communications are sold with pre-installed NFC-functions.

The information board does not require any communication, you only need to place tags on it and visually draw it to indicate the type of information in the tag. Maintenance consists in periodically changing labels or adjusting the information recorded on them as it changes. In the case of passive tags, there is no need to periodically replace the power source, and in the case of long-term information there is no need to change it, and no maintenance may be required at all.

To read information from the tag, you need to run the installed NFC-utility on your mobile phone (the NFC-utility can be configured to run automatically), without any communication channels with other information systems: mobile communications, Internet, GPS, GIS and others. Just a user’s mobile tool acquires free additional functionality.

Graphic Images:

In FIG. 1 schematically shows the main components of the proposed information system and its functioning.

In FIG. Figure 2 shows an example of the design of an information board with tags placed.

The information system operates as follows (Fig. 1).

The Information Preparation Center (CPI) prepares, disseminates and corrects information. Its functions include the following:

- preparation of a variety of information (textual, graphic, photo and audio information) about located objects in a given city territory (district diagrams with the location of objects, information about shopping centers, cultural objects, catering facilities, public transport stops, etc.);

- structuring and recording prepared information on RFI tags, taking into account the type of information placed on the label, the memory size of the tags and their type, the specifics of access to the placed information, etc .;

- the choice of placements, the organization of the development and installation of information boards in places convenient for access in specific urban areas or the use and equipment of existing urban structures;

- placement of RFI tags on equipped information boards;

- maintenance of information boards: replacing labels and / or updating information recorded on them, collecting service information, for example, on the number of calls (readings) for statistics, etc .;

- distribution of commercial information on the orders of interested firms;

- servicing users by providing information about the additional services provided by the system and distributing free software utilities necessary for the implementation of special functions in order to receive these services.

For example, information board may contain information intended for a certain type of users, provided upon presentation of a special identification code (PIN code). For this, special labels can be used, with which you can also automate and simplify the processing of information. For example, the maintenance of such tags can be carried out by the TSP manager using the PIN code directly on the information board using a tag reading / writing device, which allows updating information on the spot without replacing tags or delivering them to the TSP for recording updated information. The tag can also contain a counter of the number of readings, which will allow you to collect and analyze statistical information on the effectiveness of the use of the system. Other functions may be implemented.

Each of the RFI tags is placed on the information board (Fig. 2) in a strictly defined place that visually identifies the location of the tag and the type of information placed in it. For this, various techniques can be used, for example, in advertising, starting from ordinary textual information and ending with drawings, mnemonic diagrams, logos, special characters and audio information. It should be noted that the information board itself may have a special name or logo that distinguishes it from other advertising sources in the city territory. A number of companies using NFC technology already use similar logos.

The shield is closed with a protective transparent screen, which prevents unauthorized physical access to the set tags, the key to which is accessible only to the CPI manager. This screen should be transparent to radio frequency radiation and placed away from the tags at a distance that ensures reliable reading of information from the tags. After placing the tags, the information system is ready to serve users.

A user who wants to receive the information necessary for him uses his standard mobile tool with NFC-utility. To do this, he turns on the NFC mode on it and brings it to the information board to the place of placement of the mark on which the necessary information is recorded, at a reading distance (usually no more than 10 cm). The high-frequency radiation of the mobile device induces an electrical signal in the receiving antenna of the tag, and using the NFC-utility, a wireless communication channel is established between it and the tag, after which the information is read using the standard protocol, which, with a relatively small amount, appears almost instantly on the screen of the mobile tool.

NFC technology is being intensively developed and implemented in mobile devices, turning telephones and smartphones into universal means of access, the exchange of various information and the management of various objects using NFC tags. At the same time, mobile tools equipped with special software applications can not only read information from tags, but also write it to tags.

The market has a fairly diverse selection of labels, ranging from cheap passive self-adhesive paper with a small amount of memory and ending with special intelligent tags with original chips and a whole range of user interaction scenarios, by choosing specific ones from which you can create the required information environment.

Readers and tag editors have also been developed. With regard to mobile devices, almost all leading manufacturers currently produce phones and smartphones with support for NFC-technology. At the same time, many special software applications are being developed for new areas of application of NFC devices.

Thus, the implementation of the proposed information system can be carried out on the basis of technical equipment available on the market, and in the process of its creation it is only necessary to develop special software applications that implement those functions for which software is not available on the market.

The above information indicates the fulfillment of the following set of conditions when using the claimed technical solution:

- funds that embody the claimed system in its implementation, are intended for use in an urban environment, namely for readily available operational (in real time) providing urban areas with information about the facilities located on them;

- for the claimed system in the form as it is characterized, in the independent clause of the claims, the possibility of its implementation using the means described in the application is confirmed.

Therefore, the claimed technical solution meets the criterion of "industrial applicability".

For the practical implementation of the proposed information system does not require large costs for the manufacture and operation, in particular the development of complex and expensive components, the laying of any electrical cables, communication lines, local networks, etc. The only component that needs to be manufactured is a shield for placing tags. But in principle, tags can be placed on ordinary advertising and information city billboards with the fulfillment of the only requirement for their installation - the ability to keep the tags from being stolen and bring the mobile device to the tag for reading distance.

The technology of high-frequency wireless communication with a short range has a low solution cost and does not require payment for its operation by the user, such as the Internet, mobile or satellite communications. As tags for information of a relatively small volume and general access, one can use cheap passive tags available on the market and devices for recording information on them, including the mobile devices themselves, equipped with the necessary software utility for this.

To develop an information system, automate the process of its maintenance and provide additional services, more expensive intelligent tags (including active ones) equipped with special software utilities that implement additional functions can be used. For example, allowing to perform the function of correcting and recording information on the label directly on the information board or to place limited information on the label, in particular, service information related to the operation and maintenance of the information system. In this case, the function of restricting access to the implementation of such functions or to information of limited distribution (for example, service) intended for personnel serving the system or a certain circle of users should be implemented. A label, in particular, can record the number of readings for a statistical evaluation of the effectiveness of using various types of information provided and the information system as a whole.

Thus, the proposed technical solution allows you to create an information system that is simple and convenient to implement, operate and maintain for the urban environment, free of charge for end users, which is expandable, easily scalable and adaptable to solve problems of online access to various information directly at the user's location .

Information sources

1. Application KR 20120116035, cl. G06K 17/00; G06K19 / 07, publ. 10/22/2012

2. Application WO 2011004998, cl. G06Q 10/00, publ. 01/13/2011

3. Application KR 1020110003857, cl. G06Q 50/00, publ. 01/13/2011

4. Application KR 1020090112251, CL G06K 19/07, filed October 28, 2009 - prototype.

Claims (2)

1. An information system for the urban environment using radio frequency identification means, containing a source for generating and storing information, carriers of identifying information in the form of radio frequency tags, located on the identification object or territory, and information readers from carriers that display the information being read in a form accessible to the user, characterized in that the source of the formation and storage of information is configured to distribute and record information on radio frequency tags , information carriers are radio-frequency tags, intended for placement on mnemonic diagrams, visually identifying the position of these tags and the type of information placed in each of these tags, which are equipped with information boards installed in the city territory with the possibility of users accessing them, as readers of information from the specified tags, a personal mobile means of user communication with the installed software utility is used, which provides real-time access to from interaction with these labels, the delivery and display of user information to said mobile communication device is carried out by means of high-frequency wireless communication with a small radius of action. 2. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that they use smart tags equipped with software utilities for implementing service functions and restricting access to some of the functions or information implemented in the system.

Images