WO2020174738A1

WO2020174738A1 - Device management system

Info

Publication number: WO2020174738A1
Application number: PCT/JP2019/038823
Authority: WO
Inventors: 松本　望; 岡田　隆; 一興市川; 達哉西▲崎▼
Original assignee: 株式会社Ｎｔｔドコモ
Priority date: 2019-02-25
Filing date: 2019-10-01
Publication date: 2020-09-03
Also published as: JP7185757B2; JPWO2020174738A1

Abstract

A device management system according to one embodiment comprises: an acquisition unit for acquiring environment information indicating the environment of a connection destination device connected to a portable connection source device via a radio communication network; and a setting unit for setting an output configuration for content data transmitted to the connection destination device from the connection source device on the basis of the environment information. The connection destination device outputs content data on the basis of the output configuration that has been set.

Description

Device management system

One aspect of the present disclosure relates to a device management system.

　A technology that manages the output of content from devices to make people perceive information is known. For example, Patent Document 1 describes a travel route information distribution system that distributes distribution information in a form that is easier for users to commute. This system includes a user's mobile terminal and an information distribution server that distributes information from an information provider to the user. The information delivery server, based on the route information of the user and the delivery receiving condition, a delivery content determining unit that determines delivery content for the user, position information of the mobile terminal, route information, and delivery destination conditions, A delivery destination device determining unit that determines a delivery destination device of delivery information to the user.

JP, 2005-197778, A

-The output content is controlled by the device that provides the content (that is, the information source) setting the output configuration according to given conditions. However, in this case, the flexibility of information distribution may be impaired. Therefore, it is desired to flexibly control the content data that is output in order to make people perceive the information.

A device management system according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes an acquisition unit that acquires environment information indicating an environment of a connection-destination device connected to a portable connection-source device via a wireless communication network, and a connection destination from the connection-source device. And a setting unit for setting an output configuration for the content data transmitted to the device based on the environment information. The connection destination device outputs the content data based on the set output configuration.

In such an aspect, since the output configuration for the content data is dynamically set based on the environment of the connection destination device that finally outputs the content data, it is possible to flexibly control the output of the content data. You can

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, it is possible to flexibly control content data that is output to make a person perceive the information.

It is a figure which shows an example of management of the cooperation between devices by the device management system which concerns on embodiment. It is a figure showing an example of functional composition of a device management system concerning an embodiment. It is a sequence diagram which shows an example of operation|movement of the device management system which concerns on embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the hardware constitutions of the computer used with the device management system which concerns on embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the description of the drawings, the same or equivalent elements will be denoted by the same reference symbols, without redundant description.

The device management system according to the present embodiment is a computer system that manages cooperation between a connection source device and a connection destination device connected via a wireless communication network. More specifically, the wireless communication network refers to a short-range wireless communication network whose communication distance is on the order of several hundred meters. Examples of wireless communication networks include wireless LANs such as Wi-Fi (registered trademark) and Bluetooth (registered trademark), but the type of wireless communication network for connecting devices is not limited to these. A device is a computer having a wireless communication function. The type of device is not limited at all. For example, the device may be a mobile phone, a high-performance mobile phone (smartphone), a tablet terminal, a wearable terminal (for example, a smart watch, a head mounted display (HMD), etc.), or a mobile terminal such as a non-contact IC card. Alternatively, the device may be any portable or stationary electrical or electronic product, such as a monitor, camera, speaker, robot, air conditioner, vacuum cleaner, etc.

-The connection source device is a portable device carried by the user. The connection destination device refers to a device that can be connected to the connection source device via a wireless communication network. The connection destination device may be a portable type or a stationary type. From the viewpoint of the connection source device, it can be said that the connection destination device is a device that functions as a peripheral device of the connection source device. For example, the connection source device may be a highly portable mobile terminal such as a smartphone, a smart watch, or a contactless IC card. Correspondingly, the connection destination device is a device having a lower portability than the connection source device or an expensive device such as a head mounted display (HMD), a tablet terminal, a large screen monitor (signage), a camera, and a speaker. May be. As described above, the connection source device and the connection destination device are not limited to these examples.

-The ownership and management methods for both the connection source device and the connection destination device are not limited. For example, the connection source device may be a device owned or temporarily occupied by the user. On the other hand, the connection destination device may be used by an unspecified number of people, or may be used by people in a group satisfying a specific condition. The group that satisfies a specific condition is not limited, and may be, for example, people who subscribe to a specific service or people who belong to a specific organization (local government, company, etc.). The connected device may be used by multiple users at the same time. As such, the connected device may be a shared device or a public device. Alternatively, the connected device may be a device owned or temporarily occupied by the user.

When the connection source device is connected to the connection destination device, the user can enjoy various services by temporarily occupying or sharing the connection destination device. For example, the user can have various experiences such as device sharing and cooperation with public devices. In such a service, the user can temporarily connect the connection source device to the connection destination device and link the application program or content data normally used in the connection source device with the connection destination device. For example, a user can link a smartphone (connection source device) with a seat monitor (connection destination device) such as an airplane or a bus to display the content of a video service contracted by the user on the monitor. .. Alternatively, the user can check the route information displayed on the connection destination device by linking the smart watch (connection source device) with the connection destination device such as the ticket gate at the station or the signage at the bus stop.

In such inter-device cooperation, when the connection source device transmits content data to the connection destination device, the connection destination device receives and outputs the content data. To manage the data output, the device management system obtains environment information indicating the environment of the connection destination device, and based on the environment information, the output configuration for the content data transmitted from the connection source device to the connection destination device. Set dynamically. Based on this setting, the connection destination device outputs the content data with the set output configuration.

Content data refers to data that indicates information perceived by the user. The type and structure of the content data are not limited. For example, the content data may include components that can be visually recognized by a person, and may include, for example, text data, still image data, moving image data, and the like. Alternatively, the content data may include components audibly recognizable by humans, such as music data and voice data. Alternatively, the content data may include a component that can be recognized by humans by touch, and may include, for example, data expressed by vibration. Specific examples of content data include electronic mail, documents, schedules, chats, social networking services (SNS), personalized advertisements, music, voice, video, route guidance, news, weather forecasts, etc. The types are not limited to these.

The environment of the connection destination device refers to the internal or peripheral state of the connection destination device that changes over time. The environment of the connected device can be restated as the environment of the side that receives the content data. The element (environmental element) configuring the environment of the connection destination device is not limited, and the environment of the connection destination device may include one or more environment elements.

The environment may include the amount of hardware resources used by the connected device. Examples of the usage amount of the hardware resources include the memory consumption amount, the processor usage amount, the remaining battery amount, the data amount being processed in the connection destination device, and the number of connection source devices being connected. The “data amount being processed in the connection destination device” may be represented by the total amount of data received from one or more connection source devices being connected.

The environment may include the number of people around the connected device. “Person existing around the connected device” refers to a person existing within a given geographical range including the connected device. The geographical range refers to a finite range in a real three-dimensional space (that is, the real world). The size and boundaries of the geographical area may be designed arbitrarily. The boundaries of the geographical range may be virtually defined, may be defined using physical boundaries, or may be defined by both virtual boundaries and physical boundaries. For example, the “person existing around the connection destination device” may be a person located within a given distance from the connection destination device or a person located in a room where the connection destination device is installed.

The environment may include the usage frequency of the connection destination device that can be calculated from the usage history of the connection destination device. The usage history refers to a record of usage of the connection destination device in a given past limited period starting from the present time. The usage history may indicate the number of users or the usage interval in the period. The usage frequency refers to the degree to which the connection destination device is repeatedly used. By looking at this usage frequency, it is possible to know how many times or how often the connected device is used.

The connected device outputs the content data in a format that the user can perceive. The output method is not limited. For example, the connection destination device may display the content data on a monitor, output it from a speaker, or output it from a vibrator.

The output configuration for content data refers to the configuration of the content data or connection destination device for outputting the content data. The setting of the output configuration for the content data includes at least one of the selection of the constituent element of the content data to be output and the setting of the physical control parameter of the connection destination device regarding the output of the content data. In the present disclosure, the constituent elements of the output content data are also referred to as “output constituent elements”. Further, the physical parameter of the connection destination device regarding the output of the content data is also referred to as “output control parameter”. The device management system may set an output configuration for outputting only some of the constituent elements of the content data, or may set an output configuration for outputting all of the constituent elements of the content data. The selection of such output components can affect the amount of information that a person, such as a user, can receive from the connected device. The selection of the output component can be called the filtering of the output component. Alternatively, the device management system may set output control parameters (for example, output time, display area position and area, volume, vibration, etc.) as an output configuration. The setting of the output control parameter may affect the ease with which a person such as a user perceives the content data.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of management of content data output by the device management system 1 according to the embodiment. In FIG. 1, a smartphone is illustrated as the connection source device 10 of the user 90, and a signage is illustrated as the connection destination device 20. In the example (a) of FIG. 1, the device management system 1 provides a large amount of information to the user 90 in response to the relatively small number of persons 91 other than the user 90 existing around the connection destination device 20. The output configuration 81 for setting is set. The connection destination device 20 outputs the content data from the connection source device 10 in its output configuration 81. On the other hand, in the example (b) of FIG. 1, the device management system 1 has a smaller number than the output configuration 81 because the number of persons 91 other than the user 90 existing around the connection destination device 20 is relatively large. Set up an output configuration 82 for providing information to the user 90. The connection destination device 20 outputs the content data from the connection source device 10 in its output configuration 82. The process illustrated in FIG. 1 is intended to limit the output of content data in consideration of the privacy of the user 90 when the number of people 91 existing around the connection destination device 20 is large. Of course, the purpose of the management of the content data output by the device management system 1 is not limited to the protection of the privacy of the user, and the management may be performed for other purposes. For example, the device management system 1 may set the output configuration for the content data so that the hardware resource of the connection destination device 20 does not have an excessive processing load.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the device management system 1. In order to manage the cooperation between the connection source device 10 and the connection destination device 20, in this embodiment, the device management system 1 includes a usage management server 30. The usage management server 30 is a computer that sets an output configuration for the content data transmitted from the connection source device 10 to the connection destination device 20. The usage management server 30 may access the database 40 that stores data records (hereinafter simply referred to as “records”) that can be used to set the output configuration.

The usage management server 30 can access the database 40 via the communication network to read or write records. The connection destination device 20 can send and receive data to and from the usage management server 30 via the communication network. The configuration and type of each of these communication networks are not limited in any way, and may be designed by any policy. For example, the communication network may be built by the Internet, an intranet, or a combination thereof. Also, the communication network may be constructed by a wired communication network, a wireless communication network, or a combination thereof.

In FIG. 2, only one connection source device 10 and one connection destination device 20 are shown, but the number of connection source devices 10 and connection destination devices 20 whose inter-device cooperation is managed by the device management system 1 is not limited in any way. The device management system 1 can manage inter-device cooperation for a plurality of connection source devices 10 or a plurality of connection destination devices 20.

The usage management server 30 is configured by using at least one computer. When a plurality of computers are used, these computers are connected to each other via a communication network to logically form one usage management server 30.

The connection source device 10 includes an output request unit 11 as a functional element. The output request unit 11 is a functional element that requests the connection destination device 20 to output the content data.

The connection destination device 20 includes a request receiving unit 21, an environment acquisition unit 22, and an output control unit 23 as functional elements. The request receiving unit 21 is a functional element that receives a request for output of content data from the connection source device 10. The environment acquisition unit 22 is a functional element that acquires the environment of the connection destination device 20 by inspection or detection and transmits environment information indicating the environment to the usage management server 30. The output control unit 23 is a functional element that controls the output of the content data based on the output configuration. In addition to the output configuration, the output control unit 23 controls the output of content data based on the setting of the connection destination device 20 according to the user 90 of the connection source device 10 (hereinafter also referred to as “device setting”). You may. The setting of the connection destination device (device setting) refers to the setting specified by the operation of the user 90 and related to the configuration or operation of the connection destination device 20. This device setting is used, for example, by the user 90 to adjust the configuration or operation of the connection destination device 20 to his or her preference.

The usage management server 30 includes an environment information acquisition unit 31, an output configuration setting unit 32, and a device setting management unit 33 as functional elements. The environment information acquisition unit 31 is a functional element that acquires environment information from the connection destination device 20. The output configuration setting unit 32 is a functional element that sets the output configuration for content data based on the environment information. The device setting management unit 33 is a functional element that manages device settings.

The database 40 is a device (storage unit) that stores data that can be used to manage inter-device cooperation. The database 40 may be provided as one component of the device management system 1 or may be managed in a computer system different from the device management system 1. The method of realizing the database 40 is not limited, and for example, a relational database may be adopted.

The database 40 may store data indicating the current device setting of the connection destination device 20 (device setting data). For example, each record of device setting data includes a connection destination device ID, a user ID, application information, and a device setting. The connection destination device ID is an identifier that uniquely identifies the connection destination device 20. The user ID is an identifier that uniquely identifies the user 90. The application information is information for identifying the application program used for outputting the content data, and in one example, includes the name of the application and the application type ID that uniquely identifies the type of the application. In such an example, the device setting data indicates the device setting of the connection destination device 20 corresponding to the combination of the user and the application program. The data item of each record of the device setting data is not limited to the above example and may be designed arbitrarily. For example, device configuration data may optionally be normalized or denormalized and stored on one or more data tables.

An example of the operation of the device management system 1 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the operation of the device management system 1. The series of processing illustrated in FIG. 3 is premised on that the connection source device 10 has already been connected to the connection destination device 20 via the wireless communication network.

In step S101, the output request unit 11 of the connection source device 10 transmits an output request to the connection destination device 20. The output request is a data signal for requesting the connection destination device 20 to output content data, and includes content data, a user ID, and application information. The request receiving unit 21 of the connection destination device 20 receives the output request.

In step S102, the output control unit 23 of the connection destination device 20 transmits a setting inquiry to the usage management server 30 in response to the output request. The setting inquiry is a data signal for acquiring the current device setting of the connection destination device 20, and includes the connection destination device ID of the connection destination device 20 and the user ID and application information indicated by the output request.

In step S103, the device setting management unit 33 of the usage management server 30 reads the device setting corresponding to the setting inquiry from the database 40, and transmits the setting response, which is a data signal indicating the device setting, to the connection destination device 20. The device setting management unit 33 can acquire the corresponding device setting by searching the database 40 using the combination of the connection destination device ID, the user ID, and the application information indicated by the setting inquiry as the search key. In the connection destination device 20, the output control unit 23 acquires the device setting by receiving the setting response.

In step S104, the environment acquisition unit 22 of the connection destination device 20 acquires the environment of the connection destination device 20. As described above, since the environmental element of the connection destination device 20 is not limited, the method of acquiring the environment is also not limited. The environment acquisition unit 22 may acquire the environment by inspecting the state of the hardware resource in the connection destination device 20. As a specific example of this, the environment acquisition unit 22 is at least one of the processor usage amount, the memory consumption amount, the remaining battery amount, the data amount being processed in the connection destination device 20, and the number of connection source devices 10 being connected. May be obtained. Alternatively, the environment acquisition unit 22 identifies the usage history (for example, the number of users, the usage interval, etc.) of the connection destination device by referring to the operation log stored in the connection destination device 20, and connects based on this usage history. The usage frequency of the destination device may be calculated. Alternatively, the environment acquisition unit 22 may specify the number of people around the connection destination device 20 by analyzing a data signal from a sensor (for example, a camera) mounted on the connection destination device 20. .. Without being limited to these examples, the environment acquisition unit 22 may acquire any environment element by any method. The environment acquisition unit 22 may acquire a plurality of types of environment elements.

In step S105, the environment acquisition unit 22 transmits the acquired environment information indicating the environment of the connection destination device 20 to the usage management server 30. In the present embodiment, the environment acquisition unit 22 transmits a data signal indicating the environment information to the usage management server 30, and in the usage management server 30, the environment information acquisition unit 31 receives the data signal to acquire the environmental information. .. The environmental information can indicate multiple types of environmental elements.

In step S106, the output configuration setting unit 32 of the usage management server 30 sets the output configuration for content data based on the environment information. The output configuration setting unit 32 performs this setting according to a rule indicating the correspondence between the environment information and the output configuration. The rule may be installed in advance in the usage management server 30 as a part of the algorithm, or may be stored in advance in the usage management server 30 or another device as a setting file. As described above, the environment of the connection destination device 20 indicated by the environment information is not limited, and thus the method of setting the output configuration based on the environment information is not limited.

The output configuration setting unit 32 may set the output configuration based on the number of people around the connection destination device 20. For example, when the number of people is equal to or more than a given threshold, the output configuration setting unit 32 limits the output components of the content data more than when the number of people is less than the threshold. Alternatively, the output configuration setting unit 32 limits the output control parameter when the number of people is equal to or more than a given threshold, compared to when the number of people is less than the threshold. For example, the rule is the first output configuration when the number of people is less than the threshold Ta, the second output configuration when the number of people is greater than or equal to the threshold Ta and less than the threshold Tb, and the third when the number of people is greater than or equal to the threshold Tb. And the output configuration. In this case, the second output configuration may limit the content data output components more than the first output configuration, and the third output configuration may limit the content data output components more than the second output configuration. In another example, let the rules indicate a first output configuration when the number of people is less than the threshold Ta and a second output configuration when the number of people is greater than or equal to the threshold Ta. In this case, the second output configuration may have more limited output control parameters than the first output configuration.

As another example, the output configuration setting unit 32 may set the output configuration based on the usage frequency of the connection destination device 20. For example, when the usage frequency is equal to or higher than a given threshold, the output configuration setting unit 32 limits the output components of the content data more than when the usage frequency is lower than the threshold. Alternatively, when the usage frequency is equal to or higher than a given threshold, the output configuration setting unit 32 limits the output control parameter more than when the usage frequency is lower than the threshold. For example, let us say that the rule indicates a first output configuration when the usage frequency is less than the threshold Tc and a second output configuration when the usage frequency is equal to or greater than the threshold Tc. In this case, the second output configuration may limit the output components of the content data more than the first output configuration. In another example, the rule has a first output configuration when the usage frequency is less than the threshold Tc, a second output configuration when the usage frequency is at least the threshold Tc and less than the threshold Td, and a usage frequency is at least the threshold Td. And the third output configuration in the case of In this case, the second output configuration may limit the output control parameters more than the first output configuration, and the third output configuration may limit the output control parameters more than the second output configuration.

As another example, the output configuration setting unit 32 may set the output configuration for content data based on the usage amount of the hardware resources of the connection destination device. For example, the output configuration setting unit 32 is based on at least one of the memory consumption, the processor usage, the remaining battery capacity, the amount of data being processed in the connected device 20, and the number of connected source devices. The output configuration may be set. When the usage amount of the hardware resource is equal to or larger than a given threshold, the output configuration setting unit 32 limits the output components for the content data more than when the usage amount is less than the threshold value. Alternatively, the output configuration setting unit 32 limits the output control parameter when the usage amount of the hardware resource is equal to or more than a given threshold value, compared to when the usage amount is less than the threshold value. For example, let us say that the rule shows a first output configuration when the amount of hardware resources used is less than the threshold value Te and a second output configuration when the amount of data being processed is greater than or equal to the threshold value Te. In this case, the second output configuration may limit the output components for content data more than the first output configuration. In another example, the rule has a first output configuration when the usage amount of the hardware resource is less than the threshold value Te, a second output configuration when the usage amount is greater than or equal to the threshold value Te and less than the threshold value Tf, and A third output configuration when the usage amount is equal to or larger than the threshold value Tf is shown. In this case, the second output configuration may limit the output control parameters more than the first output configuration, and the third output configuration may limit the output control parameters more than the second output configuration.

Even if the connection destination device 20 is frequently used or the processing load of the connection destination device 20 is high, there is a high probability that a certain number or more of people will exist around the connection destination device 20. In the present embodiment, the output of content data is restricted by filtering or the like based on the number of people existing around the connection destination device 20, the frequency of use of the connection destination device 20, or the amount of hardware resources used by the connection destination device 20. To be done. Therefore, it is possible to protect the privacy of the user 90 by making the information that leads to the identification of the user 90 invisible or hard to see. In addition, by considering the usage amount of the hardware resources of the connection destination device 20, it is possible to suppress an increase in the processing load of the connection destination device 20.

The level of the output configuration based on the environmental information is not limited to two levels and three levels, and the output configuration may be divided into any number of levels of 2 or more. When the environment information indicates a plurality of environment elements, the level of the output configuration may be set more complicatedly based on the combination of environment elements. The output configuration may be set by a combination of output components and output control parameters. In the output configuration having the lowest degree of limitation of the output configuration (the first output configuration in each of the above examples), the output of the content data may not be limited, and in this case, the content data is not limited. It is output from the connection destination device 20.

The specific method of limiting (selecting) the output components is not limited. For example, the output configuration setting unit 32 may select only a part of the data items of the content data as the output target. The data item of the content data refers to a basic unit of information that constitutes the content data, and more specifically, each item obtained by dividing the content data according to a given information type or attribute. A unit. If the content data is an e-mail, the output configuration setting unit 32 selects one of the following data items: subject, destination (TO), carbon copy (CC), blind carbon copy (BCC), mail body, signature, and attached file. You may select only a part as an output target. Alternatively, the output configuration setting unit 32 may select only a part of information about at least one data item of the content data as an output target. If the content data is an email, the output configuration setting unit 32 excludes a specific character string in the email body (for example, a specific part of speech such as a proper noun) from the output target, and removes the remaining portion of the email body. You may select as an output target. Alternatively, the output configuration setting unit 32 may select only a part of the data items of the content data as an output target and select only a part of the information of at least one of the some data items as an output target. .. For example, if the content data is an electronic mail, the output configuration setting unit 32 may select only the subject and the mail text as output targets, and exclude a specific character string in the mail text from the output targets.

The specific method of limiting the output control parameters is not limited. Examples of limiting the output control parameters include shortening the output time, changing the position of the display area (for example, arranging the display area near the edge of the monitor), reducing the area of the display area, reducing the volume, Vibration reduction can be mentioned. If the content data is route guidance, for example, when the number of people is equal to or more than a given threshold, the output configuration setting unit 32 displays the display area of the connection destination device 20 more than when the number of people is less than the threshold. The area may be set small. If the content data is moving image data, the output configuration setting unit 32, for example, when the usage amount of the hardware resource is equal to or greater than a given threshold, The playback time of the moving image on the device 20 may be set to be short.

In step S107, the output configuration setting unit 32 of the usage management server 30 transmits the output configuration information, which is a data signal indicating the set output configuration, to the connection destination device 20. In the connected device 20, the output control unit 23 receives the setting response.

In step S108, the output control unit 23 of the connection destination device 20 outputs the content data based on the output configuration information (set output configuration) and the setting response (acquired device setting). The output control unit 23 may output the content data without restriction based on the output configuration and the device setting, or may output the content data under certain restrictions. In any case, the user 90 can perceive the content data output according to the environment of the connection destination device 20. The method of limiting some output components (in other words, the method of making some output components invisible) is not limited. For example, the output control unit 23 does not have to output the part of the output components, and the part of the output components may be a blank, a mosaic, another character or symbol, another image, another sound, silence. After replacing with another element such as, the content data after the replacement may be output.

The output configuration is a dynamic element set by the environment of the connected device 20 that the user 90 cannot know. On the other hand, the device setting is a static element that is stored in the database 40 in advance by the operation of the user 90, and therefore is set as information that the user 90 knows (in other words, information that the connection source device 10 can recognize). Based on. In the present embodiment, the device management system 1 can precisely control the output of the content data by using both the output configurations and the device settings having the different properties as described above.

The user 90 can change his own device settings of the connection destination device 20. The user 90 may directly operate the connection destination device 20 to change the device settings, or may operate the connection source device 10 to cause the connection source device 10 to transmit a control signal to the device settings. May be changed. When the device settings are changed as described above, the processes of steps S109 and S110 described below are further executed.

In step S109, the output control unit 23 of the connection destination device 20 transmits an update request to the usage management server 30. The update request is a data signal for registering the changed device setting of the connection destination device 20, and includes the connection destination device ID, the user ID, the application information, and the changed device setting.

In step S110, the device setting management unit 33 of the usage management server 30 updates the device setting by registering the device setting indicated by the update request in the database 40, and indicates that the update request has been normally processed. The update response, which is a signal, is transmitted to the connection destination device 20. As a result, the device setting update process is completed.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the usage management server 30 acquires environment information indicating the environment of the connection destination device 20 connected to the portable connection source device 10 via the wireless communication network, and connects from the connection source device 10. The output configuration for the content data transmitted to the destination device 20 is set based on the environment information. The connection destination device 20 outputs the content data based on the set output configuration. Since the output configuration for the content data is dynamically set based on the environment of the connection destination device 20 that finally outputs the content data, the output of the content data can be flexibly controlled. Since the output configuration is automatically set based on the environment of the connection destination device 20, the user 90 does not need to operate the connection source device 10 to adjust the output configuration.

The processing procedure of the device management system 1 is not limited to that shown in FIG. The execution order of the device setting acquisition (steps S102 and S103) and the output configuration setting (steps S104 to S107) is not limited, and either of them may be executed first or both of them may be executed in parallel. Good. Device settings may not be used. In this case, the process (steps S102, S103, S109, S110) related to the setting inquiry, the setting response, the update request, and the update response is not executed. Further, in step S108, the output control unit outputs the content data based on the output configuration without using the device setting.

As mentioned above, the data structure of the device setting data may be designed with an arbitrary policy. Correspondingly, the data items included in the data signals (for example, output request, setting inquiry, and update request) related to reading or writing of the device setting data are not limited to the above embodiment.

The function of the usage management server 30 may be implemented in each connection destination device 20. In this case, the connection destination device 20 functions as one component of the device management system 1. The connection destination device 20 can access the database 40 via the communication network to read or write necessary data. That is, the acquisition of the environment information and the setting of the output configuration based on the environment information may be executed by a server such as the usage management server 30 or a device such as the connection destination device 20.

The block diagram used in the description of the above embodiment shows functional blocks. These functional blocks (components) are realized by an arbitrary combination of at least one of hardware and software. The method of realizing each functional block is not particularly limited. That is, each functional block may be realized by using one device physically or logically coupled, or directly or indirectly (for example, two or more devices physically or logically separated). , Wired, wireless, etc.) and may be implemented using these multiple devices. The functional block may be implemented by combining the one device or the plurality of devices with software.

For example, the server or device according to the embodiment of the present disclosure may function as a computer that performs the processing of the present disclosure. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the computer 100 that functions as the server or the device. The computer 100 may physically include a processor 1001, a memory 1002, a storage 1003, a communication device 1004, an input device 1005, an output device 1006, a bus 1007, and the like.

Note that in the following description, the word "device" can be read as a circuit, device, unit, or the like. The hardware configuration of the server or the device may be configured to include one or a plurality of each device illustrated in the drawing, or may be configured not to include some devices.

For each function in the server or device, a predetermined software (program) is read on hardware such as the processor 1001 and the memory 1002, so that the processor 1001 performs an arithmetic operation to control communication by the communication device 1004 and the memory 1002. Also, it is realized by controlling at least one of reading and writing of data in the storage 1003.

The processor 1001 operates an operating system to control the entire computer, for example. The processor 1001 may be configured by a central processing unit (CPU: Central Processing Unit) including an interface with peripheral devices, a control device, a calculation device, a register, and the like.

Further, the processor 1001 reads a program (program code), a software module, data, and the like from at least one of the storage 1003 and the communication device 1004 into the memory 1002, and executes various processes according to these. As the program, a program that causes a computer to execute at least part of the operations described in the above-described embodiments is used. For example, each functional element of the server or the device may be realized by a control program stored in the memory 1002 and operating in the processor 1001. Although it has been described that the various processes described above are executed by one processor 1001, they may be executed simultaneously or sequentially by two or more processors 1001. The processor 1001 may be implemented by one or more chips. The program may be transmitted from the network via an electric communication line.

The memory 1002 is a computer-readable recording medium, and is configured by at least one of, for example, ROM (Read Only Memory), EPROM (Erasable Programmable ROM), EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM), RAM (Random Access Memory), and the like. May be done. The memory 1002 may be called a register, a cache, a main memory (main storage device), or the like. The memory 1002 may store an executable program (program code), a software module, etc. for performing the method according to the embodiment of the present disclosure.

The storage 1003 is a computer-readable recording medium, for example, an optical disc such as a CD-ROM (Compact Disc ROM), a hard disc drive, a flexible disc, a magneto-optical disc (for example, a compact disc, a digital versatile disc, a Blu-ray disc). (Registered trademark) disk, smart card, flash memory (for example, card, stick, key drive), floppy (registered trademark) disk, magnetic strip, and the like. The storage 1003 may be called an auxiliary storage device. The above-mentioned storage medium may be, for example, a database including at least one of the memory 1002 and the storage 1003, a server, or another appropriate medium.

The communication device 1004 is hardware (transmission/reception device) for performing communication between computers via at least one of a wired network and a wireless network, and is also called, for example, a network device, a network controller, a network card, a communication module, or the like.

The input device 1005 is an input device (for example, a keyboard, a mouse, a microphone, a switch, a button, a sensor, etc.) that receives an input from the outside. The output device 1006 is an output device (for example, a display, a speaker, an LED lamp, etc.) that outputs to the outside. The input device 1005 and the output device 1006 may be integrated (for example, a touch panel).

Each device such as the processor 1001 and the memory 1002 is connected by a bus 1007 for communicating information. The bus 1007 may be configured using a single bus, or may be configured using different buses for each device.

In addition, the computer 100 is configured to include hardware such as a microprocessor, a digital signal processor (DSP: Digital Signal Processor), an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), a PLD (Programmable Logic Device), and an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array). Alternatively, a part or all of each functional block may be realized by the hardware. For example, the processor 1001 may be implemented using at least one of these hardware.

As described above, the device management system according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes an acquisition unit that acquires environment information indicating an environment of a connection destination device connected to a portable connection source device via a wireless communication network, And a setting unit that sets an output configuration for the content data transmitted from the connection source device to the connection destination device based on the environment information. The connection destination device outputs the content data based on the set output configuration.

In the device management system according to another aspect, the environment includes at least one of the usage amount of the hardware resources of the connection destination device, the number of people around the connection destination device, and the usage frequency of the connection destination device. May be included. The output of the content data can be appropriately controlled by considering these environments regarding the connection destination device.

In a device management system according to another aspect, an output configuration setting is at least one of a selection of a constituent element of content data to be output and a setting of a physical control parameter of a connection destination device regarding output of content data. May be included. The output of the content data can be appropriately controlled by considering these control parameters of the connected device.

In the device management system according to another aspect, when the environment includes the number of people existing around the connected device and the setting unit determines that the number of people is equal to or larger than a given threshold, the number of people is The constituent elements of the output content data may be limited more than the case where the content data is less than the threshold value. When there are relatively many people around the connection destination device, the output of the content data is more limited than when it is not, so the privacy of the user of the connection source device that uses the content data can be protected. ..

In the device management system according to another aspect, when the environment includes the number of people existing around the connected device and the setting unit determines that the number of people is equal to or larger than a given threshold, the number of people is The physical control parameter of the connection destination device relating to the output of the content data may be limited more than when it is less than the threshold value. When there are relatively many people around the connection destination device, the output of the content data is more limited than when it is not, so the privacy of the user of the connection source device that uses the content data can be protected. ..

In the device management system according to another aspect, when the environment includes the usage frequency of the connection destination device and the setting unit has the usage frequency equal to or higher than a given threshold, the usage frequency is lower than the case where the usage frequency is lower than the threshold. Also, the constituent elements of the output content data may be limited. The high frequency of use of the connection destination device means that the number of people around the connection destination device is likely to be above a certain level. When the usage frequency is high, the output of the content data is restricted more than when it is not used, so that the privacy of the user of the connection source device that uses the content data can be protected.

In the device management system according to another aspect, when the environment includes the usage frequency of the connection destination device and the setting unit has the usage frequency equal to or higher than a given threshold, the usage frequency is lower than the usage frequency being less than the threshold. Also, the physical control parameter of the connection destination device regarding the output of the content data may be limited. The high frequency of use of the connection destination device means that the number of people around the connection destination device is likely to be above a certain level. When the usage frequency is high, the output of the content data is restricted more than when it is not used, so that the privacy of the user of the connection source device that uses the content data can be protected.

In the device management system according to another aspect, when the environment includes the usage amount of the hardware resource of the connection destination device and the setting unit has the usage amount equal to or more than a given threshold, the usage amount is less than the threshold. The constituent elements of the output content data may be limited more than in the above case. The high usage of the hardware resources of the connection destination device means that there is a high possibility that the number of people around the connection destination device is above a certain level. When the usage amount is high, the output of the content data is more restricted than when it is not, so that the privacy of the user of the connection source device that uses the content data can be protected. In addition, it is possible to suppress an increase in the processing load of the connected device.

In the device management system according to another aspect, when the environment includes the usage amount of the hardware resource of the connection destination device and the setting unit has the usage amount equal to or more than a given threshold, the usage amount is less than the threshold. The physical control parameters of the connection destination device relating to the output of the content data may be limited more than in the above case. The high usage of the hardware resources of the connection destination device means that there is a high possibility that the number of people around the connection destination device is above a certain level. When the usage amount is high, the output of the content data is more restricted than when it is not, so that the privacy of the user of the connection source device that uses the content data can be protected. In addition, it is possible to suppress an increase in the processing load of the connected device.

Although the present disclosure has been described in detail above, it is obvious to those skilled in the art that the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described in the present disclosure. The present disclosure can be implemented as modified and changed modes without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure defined by the description of the claims. Therefore, the description of the present disclosure is for the purpose of exemplification, and does not have any restrictive meaning to the present disclosure.

Each aspect/embodiment described in the present disclosure is LTE (Long Term Evolution), LTE-A (LTE-Advanced), SUPER 3G, IMT-Advanced, 4G (4th generation mobile communication system), 5G (5th generation mobile communication system). system), FRA (Future Radio Access), NR (new Radio), W-CDMA (registered trademark), GSM (registered trademark), CDMA2000, UMB (Ultra Mobile Broadband), IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi (registered trademark) )), IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX (registered trademark)), IEEE 802.20, UWB (Ultra-WideBand), Bluetooth (registered trademark), other systems using appropriate systems, and extensions based on these It may be applied to at least one of the next-generation systems. Also, a plurality of systems may be combined and applied (for example, a combination of at least one of LTE and LTE-A and 5G).

The order of the processing procedures, sequences, flowcharts, etc. of each aspect/embodiment described in the present disclosure may be changed as long as there is no contradiction. For example, the methods described in this disclosure present elements of the various steps in a sample order, and are not limited to the specific order presented.

Information that has been input and output may be stored in a specific location (for example, memory), or may be managed using a management table. Information that is input/output may be overwritten, updated, or added. The output information and the like may be deleted. The input information and the like may be transmitted to another device.

The determination may be performed based on a value represented by 1 bit (0 or 1), may be performed based on a Boolean value (Boolean: true or false), or may be compared by numerical values (for example, a predetermined Value comparison).

Each aspect/embodiment described in the present disclosure may be used alone, in combination, or may be switched according to execution. Further, the notification of the predetermined information (for example, the notification of “being X”) is not limited to the explicit notification, and is performed implicitly (for example, the notification of the predetermined information is not performed). Good.

Software, whether called software, firmware, middleware, microcode, hardware description language, or any other name, instructions, instruction sets, code, code segments, program code, programs, subprograms, software modules. , Application, software application, software package, routine, subroutine, object, executable, thread of execution, procedure, function, etc. should be construed broadly.

Also, software, instructions, information, etc. may be transmitted and received via a transmission medium. For example, the software uses a wired technology (coaxial cable, optical fiber cable, twisted pair, digital subscriber line (DSL: Digital Subscriber Line), etc.) and/or wireless technology (infrared, microwave, etc.) websites, When sent from a server, or other remote source, at least one of these wired and wireless technologies is included within the definition of transmission medium.

The information, signals, etc. described in this disclosure may be represented using any of a variety of different technologies. For example, data, instructions, commands, information, signals, bits, symbols, chips, etc. that may be referred to throughout the above description include voltage, current, electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or magnetic particles, optical fields or photons, or any of these. May be represented by a combination of

Note that the terms described in the present disclosure and terms necessary for understanding the present disclosure may be replaced with terms having the same or similar meanings. For example, the signal may be a message.

The terms "system" and "network" used in this disclosure are used interchangeably.

Further, the information, parameters, etc. described in the present disclosure may be represented by using an absolute value, may be represented by using a relative value from a predetermined value, or by using other corresponding information. May be represented. For example, the radio resources may be those indicated by the index.

-The names used for the above parameters are not limited in any way. Further, the formulas and the like that use these parameters may differ from those explicitly disclosed in this disclosure.

The terms "connected," "coupled," or any variation thereof, mean any direct or indirect connection or coupling between two or more elements, and It can include the presence of one or more intermediate elements between two elements that are "connected" or "coupled." The connections or connections between the elements may be physical, logical, or a combination thereof. For example, “connection” may be read as “access”. As used in this disclosure, two elements are in the radio frequency domain, with at least one of one or more wires, cables and printed electrical connections, and as some non-limiting and non-exhaustive examples. , Can be considered to be “connected” or “coupled” to each other, such as with electromagnetic energy having wavelengths in the microwave and light (both visible and invisible) regions.

As used in this disclosure, the phrase “based on” does not mean “based only on,” unless expressly specified otherwise. In other words, the phrase "based on" means both "based only on" and "based at least on."

Where the terms “include”, “including” and variations thereof are used in this disclosure, these terms are inclusive, as is the term “comprising”. Is intended. Furthermore, the term "or" as used in this disclosure is not intended to be an exclusive or.

In the present disclosure, if translations add articles, such as a, an, and the in English, the present disclosure may include that nouns following these articles are plural.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Device management system, 10... Connection source device, 11... Output request part, 20... Connection destination device, 21... Request receiving part, 22... Environment acquisition part, 23... Output control part, 30... Usage management server, 31... Environmental information acquisition unit, 32... Output configuration setting unit, 33... Device setting management unit, 40... Database.

Claims

An acquisition unit that acquires environment information indicating the environment of a connection destination device that is connected to a portable connection source device via a wireless communication network,
A setting unit configured to set an output configuration for the content data transmitted from the connection source device to the connection destination device based on the environment information,
The connection destination device outputs the content data based on the set output configuration,
Device management system.
The environment includes at least one of the usage amount of hardware resources of the connection destination device, the number of people existing around the connection destination device, and the frequency of use of the connection destination device,
The device management system according to claim 1.
The setting of the output configuration includes at least one of selection of a constituent element of the content data to be output and setting of a physical control parameter of the connection destination device regarding output of the content data,
The device management system according to claim 1.
The environment includes the number of people around the connected device,
When the number of the persons is equal to or more than a given threshold, the setting unit limits the constituent elements of the content data to be output, as compared with the case where the number of the persons is less than the threshold.
The device management system according to any one of claims 1 to 3.
The environment includes the number of people around the connected device,
When the number of the persons is equal to or more than a given threshold, the setting unit physically controls the connection destination device regarding the output of the content data, as compared with the case where the number of the persons is less than the threshold. Limit parameters,
The device management system according to any one of claims 1 to 4.
The environment includes the frequency of use of the connected device,
In the case where the setting frequency is equal to or higher than a given threshold value, the setting unit limits the constituent elements of the content data to be output, as compared with the case where the usage frequency is lower than the threshold value.
The device management system according to any one of claims 1 to 5.
The environment includes the frequency of use of the connected device,
When the usage frequency is equal to or higher than a given threshold, the setting unit sets the physical control parameter of the connection destination device regarding the output of the content data more than when the usage frequency is less than the threshold. limit,
The device management system according to any one of claims 1 to 6.
The environment includes a usage amount of hardware resources of the connection destination device,
When the usage amount is greater than or equal to a given threshold, the setting unit limits the constituent elements of the content data to be output, as compared with the case where the usage amount is less than the threshold.
The device management system according to any one of claims 1 to 7.
The environment includes a usage amount of hardware resources of the connection destination device,
When the usage amount is equal to or more than a given threshold, the setting unit sets the physical control parameter of the connection destination device regarding the output of the content data more than when the usage amount is less than the threshold. limit,
The device management system according to any one of claims 1 to 8.