JP3609197B2 - Wireless guidance system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a radio guidance system for providing guidance information to a user of a receiver by wirelessly transmitting an ID (identification information) from a transmitter to a receiver and converting the ID into guidance information by the receiver. .
[0002]
[Prior art]
A system for providing guidance information using wireless technology includes a transmitter that is fixedly arranged and wirelessly transmits guidance information and a receiver that is carried or carried by a user and that wirelessly receives guidance information. Systems are known in the art. According to this system, the user of the receiver can receive guidance information output in the form of voice or the like from the receiver in an area near the transmitter. However, it takes some time to wirelessly transmit a certain amount of guidance information. Therefore, immediately after entering the area where the radio signal can be received from the transmitter (hereinafter simply referred to as “transmission area” or “receivable area”), the receiver must receive the guidance information from the middle, Therefore, it is difficult to provide guidance information to the user from the beginning. This impairs the usability of the guidance service.
[0003]
In order to solve such problems, the applicant of the present application, in Japanese Patent Application No. 7-72068, wirelessly transmits an ID from a transmitter to a receiver, and converts the ID into guide information by the receiver. A wireless guidance system that provides guidance information to users of receivers has been proposed. According to this configuration, since an ID that can be transmitted in a short time is generally used, it is not necessary to transmit guidance information continuously, and intermittent transmission is sufficient. The receiver can output the guide information in response to the first ID reception after entering the receivable area of a certain transmitter.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, there are some problems in the previously proposed system using ID. First, assuming that the receivable areas related to the adjacent transmitters overlap or are close to each other, the receivers from the receivable area related to the first transmitter to the receivable areas related to the second transmitter. When the receiver moves, the moving receiver will receive the signals from both transmitters simultaneously, even instantaneously, at the overlapping part or boundary of the receivable area. When such a collision occurs, the guide information cannot be normally provided to the user, and therefore, each transmitter must be arranged so that there is no overlap or proximity between the receivable areas. In such an arrangement, the interval between transmitters and the size of the transmission area become large, so the content of the guidance information to be provided cannot be changed at a relatively short distance interval, and the application of the system is limited. In addition, in order to arrange the transmitter in such a delicate positional relationship, a large amount of labor and cost are required in construction.
[0005]
Secondly, if the transmitter is placed in a conspicuous place, the aesthetic appearance may be impaired, so it is necessary to embed it in a wall or the like. However, for this purpose, a material that can transmit a radio signal (ID) must be used as the material of the wall. As a result, the radio signal leaks to the back of the wall. For example, inappropriate service provision may occur, such as providing guidance information about a picture posted on the wall to the user behind the wall. There is sex.
[0006]
One of the objects of the present invention is to improve the method for providing guidance information to the receiver user, so that it can be used for a variety of purposes, the transmitter can be positioned more easily, and more appropriate for the user. Is to realize a system capable of providing simple guidance information.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems and Effects of the Invention]
In order to achieve such an object, the radio guidance system according to the first configuration of the present invention is fixedly arranged so that the signal receivable areas of adjacent transmitters at least partially overlap each other, When a plurality of transmitters for wirelessly transmitting unique IDs, storage means for storing ID combinations and guidance information in association with each other, means for wirelessly receiving IDs, and when a plurality of different IDs are received substantially simultaneously A receiver having means for reading out and outputting guide information corresponding to a combination of these IDs from the storage means, and for users of receivers existing in a guide area that is an overlapping portion of the signal receivable areas. , Providing guidance information.
[0008]
The radio guidance system according to the second configuration of the present invention is a plurality of transmissions that are fixedly arranged so that signal receivable areas of adjacent transmitters at least partially overlap each other and wirelessly transmit unique IDs. Storage means for storing the machine, ID reception history and guidance information in association with each other, means for wirelessly receiving the ID, and reading and outputting the guidance information corresponding to the ID reception history within the predetermined period immediately before A receiver having means for performing guidance information for a user of the receiver who is moving from one signal receivable area to another signal receivable area through an overlapping portion of both signal receivable areas. It is characterized by providing.
[0009]
In each configuration of the present invention, the width of the guide area can be made narrower than before by using the overlapping portion of the signal receivable areas instead of the signal receivable area itself of the transmitter as the guide area. Accordingly, it is possible to change the content of the guidance information to be provided at a shorter distance interval than in the past, and the application of the system is expanded. In addition, since the signal receivable areas are intentionally overlapped, even if some position error occurs in the construction of the transmitter, or even if the spread of the signal receivable area changes slightly due to changes in the wireless environment Since the position and spread of the guide area are not significantly affected, the position setting of the transmitter becomes rougher. Furthermore, since the combination of IDs is converted into guide information, even if an ID leaks to the back of the wall where the transmitter is embedded, the guide information is not immediately provided by mistake. As a result, it is possible to provide more appropriate information than before. In addition, the present invention relates to information relating to the guidance area itself as in the first configuration (for example, information relating to the location of the guidance area, place names, etc., and pictures, sculptures, buildings, etc. disposed in the guidance area) Information), and by focusing on the ID reception history, the information about the movement through the guidance area as in the second configuration (for example, “If you turn right here, It can also be configured to provide information such as “is”.
[0010]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0011]
FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a radio guidance system according to an embodiment of the present invention, particularly an arrangement mode of the transmitter. Transmitters 10-1 to 10-6 shown in this figure are arranged so that transmission areas 12-1 to 12-6 partially overlap with those of adjacent transmitters. The transmitters 10-1 to 10-6 can be generated on a sign post, for example, or can be embedded in a wall surface or the like. The receiver 16 carried or carried by the user carries the receiver 16 when passing through overlapping portions of the transmission areas 12-1 to 12-6, that is, the guide areas 14-12 to 14-46. Provide guidance information to existing users.
[0012]
FIG. 2 shows a functional configuration of the transmitter 10 in the present embodiment. As shown in this figure, the transmitter 10 includes a transmission control unit 18, a transmission unit 20, an antenna 22, and a power source 24. The transmission unit 20 is a circuit that intermittently transmits an ID using the antenna 22, and the transmission control unit 18 executes control such as setting an interval of intermittent transmission in the transmission unit 20 at random. Thus, by setting the interval of intermittent transmission at random, the probability that IDs collide with each other in the overlapping areas of the guide areas 14-12 to 14-46, that is, the receivable areas 12-1 to 12-6, is significantly reduced. can do. The power source 24 is a battery, for example, and supplies power to the transmission control unit 18 and the transmission unit 20.
[0013]
FIG. 3 shows a functional configuration of the receiver 16 in this embodiment mobile phone. As shown in this figure, the receiver 16 includes an antenna 26, a reception unit 28, a reception control unit 30, a guidance information memory 32, an audio output unit 34, and a power source 36. The receiving unit 28 receives the ID wirelessly transmitted from the transmitter 10 using the antenna 26 and supplies it to the reception control unit 30. The reception control unit 30 extracts the ID from the signal received by the reception unit 28, and generates guidance information by referring to the information on the guidance information memory 32 with the combination of the received IDs. The audio output unit 34 is a member such as an earphone, for example, and outputs guidance information supplied from the reception control unit 30. Note that a display device or the like may be used instead of or together with the audio output unit 34. The power source 36 is a battery and supplies power to the receiving unit 28, the reception control unit 30, the guidance information memory 32, the audio output unit 34, and the like.
[0014]
FIG. 4 shows an exemplary configuration of the reception control unit 30 in this embodiment. In this figure, the reception control unit 30 includes an ID detection unit 38, an ID reception history determination unit 40, an ID reception history storage unit 42, and an area / route specifying unit 44. The ID detection unit 38 detects an ID from the signal received by the reception unit 28 and supplies the ID to the ID reception history determination unit 40. Based on the information stored in the ID reception history storage unit 42 and the ID obtained by the ID detection unit 38, the ID reception history determination unit 40 is connected to the receiver 16 in which the reception control unit 30 is built. It is determined how the ID has been received, that is, how the ID has been passed through the receivable area or the guidance area. For this reason, the ID reception history storage unit 42 stores information such as the ID detected by the ID detection unit 38 and the time when the detection was performed over at least a predetermined period of time. The area / route specifying unit 44 refers to the guidance information memory 32 based on the ID detected by the ID detection unit 38 and the ID reception history determined by the ID reception history determination unit 40, thereby receiving the reception. The voice output unit 34 is supplied with guidance information corresponding to the area where the receiver 16 equipped with the control unit 30 is present and the route that the receiver 16 has traced so far.
[0015]
FIG. 5 shows the contents of information stored in the guidance information memory 32. As shown in this figure, in the present embodiment, on the guidance information memory 32, the combination of IDs currently received by the receiving unit 28 (currently received ID) and correspondingly supplied to the user Guidance information is stored in association with each other. For example, when ID1 and ID2 are received by the ID detection unit 38 substantially simultaneously (that is, a time difference caused by intermittent transmission is allowed), the area / route specifying unit 44 supplies the ID via the ID reception history determination unit 40. The guidance information memory 32 is referred to by the information related to the current reception ID, and the guidance information A1 obtained as a result is output from the voice output unit 34. In this way, in this embodiment, area guidance for the user of the receiver 16, that is, what area is currently present, or various postings (pictures, etc.) and facilities present in that area. Guidance on (various sculptures, buildings, etc.) has been realized.
[0016]
In addition to the current reception ID, the previous reception ID,... N times previous reception ID, and the like are also stored on the guide information memory 32, and a combination of a plurality of different types of IDs prior to reception is the guide information B1. Are associated with C1. For example, the receiver 16 is located in a transmission area related to the transmitter that transmits ID1 so far and does not belong to a transmission area related to other transmitters. Is moved to a guidance area realized by a position where both can be received, that is, a transmitter according to ID1 and a transmitter according to ID2. In this case, the guide information B1 corresponding to the combination of the previously received ID = ID1 and the current received ID = ID1 and ID2 is read from the guide information memory 32 by the area / route specifying unit 44 and sent to the voice output unit 34. Supplied. Conversely, when the state where ID1 and ID2 are received is changed to a state where only ID1 can be received, the guidance information C1 corresponding to the combination of the previously received ID = ID1 and ID2 and the current received ID = ID1 is The route specifying unit 44 reads the information from the guidance information memory 32 and outputs it from the voice output unit 34. The above-described ID reception history determination unit 40 and ID reception history storage unit 42 provide such route guidance, that is, guidance on movement of the receiver 16 (for example, a service that provides information such as “There is OO if turning right”). It is used to realize.
[0017]
Thus, according to this embodiment, since the overlapping part of the transmission areas of the transmitters adjacent to each other is used as the guide area, not the transmission area of the transmitter itself, Compared with the system, it is possible to shorten the arrangement interval of the transmitters and to reduce the spread of the guide area. For example, when the transmission area has a size of about several tens of meters, the size of the guidance area can be several meters.
[0018]
Furthermore, since the transmission areas are intentionally overlapped in the present embodiment, it is not necessary to avoid overlap or proximity of the transmission areas as in the system according to the prior proposal of the applicant of the present application, and therefore the position setting of the transmitter Becomes easier.
[0019]
In addition, in this embodiment, since the overlapping portion between the transmission areas is a guide area, even if the ID wirelessly transmitted from a certain transmitter leaks to an unintended area (for example, the back side of the wall) It is possible to prevent an unintended guide area from occurring on the back side of the wall.
[0020]
As described above, in this embodiment, the overlapping portion between the transmission areas is used as a guide area, and the receiver 16 side determines the guide information according to the combination of IDs, history, and the like, so the system is installed. Appropriate guidance information can be provided to the user at low cost regardless of the environment. As a result, it is possible to easily provide guidance on facilities or exhibits in indoor and outdoor amusement parks, amusement parks, exhibition halls, etc., and road guidance on public roads.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a configuration of a radio guidance system according to an embodiment of the present invention, particularly an arrangement of transmitters.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a transmitter in the present embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a receiver in the present embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a reception control unit in the present embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram showing the contents of a guidance information memory in the present embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
10, 10-1 to 10-6 transmitter, 12-1 to 12-6 transmission area (receivable area), 14-12 to 14-46 guidance area, 16 receiver, 18 transmission control unit, 20 transmission unit, 28 reception units, 30 reception control units, 32 guidance information memory, 34 voice output units, 38 ID detection units, 40 ID reception history determination units, 42 ID reception history storage units, 44 area / route specifying units.

Claims (2)

A plurality of transmitters that are fixedly disposed so that signal receivable areas of adjacent transmitters at least partially overlap each other and wirelessly transmit a unique ID,
Storage means for storing ID combinations and guidance information in association with each other, means for wirelessly receiving IDs, and storing guidance information corresponding to combinations of IDs when a plurality of different IDs are received substantially simultaneously A receiver comprising means for reading out from the means;
And providing guidance information to a user of a receiver in a guidance area that is an overlapping part of the signal receivable areas. A plurality of transmitters that are fixedly arranged so that signal receivable areas of adjacent transmitters at least partially overlap each other and wirelessly transmit a unique ID,
Storage means for storing ID reception history and guidance information in association with each other, means for wirelessly receiving ID, and means for reading out and outputting guidance information corresponding to ID reception history within the predetermined period immediately before from the storage means A receiver with;
And providing guidance information to a user of a receiver who is moving from one signal receivable area to another signal receivable area through an overlapping part of both signal receivable areas. Wireless guidance system.

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