JP4019411B2 - Information processing system, information processing apparatus, and communication terminal - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an information processing system, an information processing apparatus, a communication terminal, and the like that provide information via a communication environment such as the Internet.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, an information processing apparatus for connecting a user communication terminal to a communication network such as the Internet and playing games such as orienteering and rally has been disclosed. For example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-319662, the current location information of a user is used as a password, and when the user reaches a relay point, the current location information of that location is used as a password. Disclosed is a rally system that provides information to relay points. Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2000-300711 discloses a mobile game navigation device for navigating a game and counting the game results in order to support a game such as orienteering and rally.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the above prior art can navigate the user of the communication terminal when performing orienteering, rally, etc., but cannot temporarily resume and resume later when orienteering is difficult to continue. As a result, there is a problem that the convenience of the user of the communication terminal is poor.
[0004]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems.For communication terminals, when orienteering is difficult to continue or when a user wishes to temporarily stop orienteering, orienteering is temporarily suspended. An object of the present invention is to provide an information processing system, a communication terminal, an information processing apparatus, and the like that can improve user convenience by restarting later.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The first aspect of the present invention has an information center, and transmits information related to a checkpoint to a communication terminal that is communicably connected to the information center, and the communication terminal has reached the checkpoint. Is detected, the information center relates to an information processing system for performing orienteering to transmit information on the next checkpoint to the communication terminal, and the information center temporarily stops orienteering from the communication terminal and Receiving means for receiving a resumption request for resuming orienteering, storage means for storing the position of the communication terminal at the time of the temporary interruption when receiving the temporary interruption request, and storage means for receiving the resumption request Based on the stored location at the time of the suspension, the current location of the communication terminal is -Ring was temporarily suspended the Area Position determination means for determining whether or not the data is present in the Area When it is determined that the communication terminal is present, restart means for allowing resumption of orienteering, and when the communication terminal reaches a plurality of predetermined checkpoints, the goal message and other users Providing means for providing the communication terminal with the ranking of the competition results.
[0007]
According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the information center is suspended when receiving the resume request. Area The information processing system according to claim 1, further comprising guidance means for guiding the communication terminal.
[0010]
The second aspect of the present invention is communicably connected to a communication terminal, transmits information on a checkpoint to the communication terminal, and when it is detected that the communication terminal has reached the checkpoint, The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus for performing orienteering that transmits information related to a next checkpoint to the communication terminal, and receives a temporary suspension request for temporarily suspending orienteering and a resume request for resuming orienteering from the communication terminal. A receiving unit; a storage unit that stores a position of the communication terminal at the time of the temporary suspension when the temporary suspension request is received; and a communication terminal at the time of the temporary suspension that is stored in the storage unit at the time of the reception of the resume request. Based on the location, the current location of the communication terminal suspended orienteering Area Position determination means for determining whether or not the data is present in the Area When it is determined that the communication terminal is present, restart means for allowing resumption of orienteering, and when the communication terminal reaches a plurality of predetermined checkpoints, the goal message and other users Providing means for providing the communication terminal with the ranking of the competition results.
[0011]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, information on a checkpoint is transmitted to a communication terminal, and when it is detected that the communication terminal has reached the checkpoint, information on the next checkpoint is transmitted to the communication terminal. In the control method for controlling the information processing apparatus for performing orienteering, when the information processing apparatus receives a temporary suspension request from the communication terminal, the position of the communication terminal at the time of the temporary suspension is A step of storing the information processing device; and when the information processing device receives a restart request from the communication terminal, based on the position of the communication terminal at the time of the temporary suspension stored in the storage unit, Current position temporarily suspended orienteering Area The information processing device determines whether or not the information processing device exists, and the information processing device temporarily suspended the information processing device. Area When the communication terminal is determined to exist, the information processing apparatus allows the resumption of orienteering, and when the communication terminal reaches a plurality of predetermined check points, a goal message and Providing the communication terminal with rankings of competition results with other users.
[0012]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, information on a checkpoint is transmitted to a communication terminal, and when it is detected that the communication terminal has reached the checkpoint, information on the next checkpoint is transmitted to the communication terminal. In accordance with a control program for controlling an information processing apparatus for performing orienteering, when the information processing apparatus receives a temporary interruption request from the communication terminal, the position of the communication terminal at the time of the temporary interruption is A step of storing the information processing device, and when the information processing device receives a restart request from the communication terminal, based on the position of the communication terminal at the time of the temporary suspension stored in the storage unit, Current position temporarily suspended orienteering Area The information processing device determines whether or not the information processing device exists, and the information processing device temporarily suspended the information processing device. Area When the communication terminal is determined to exist, the information processing apparatus allows the resumption of orienteering, and when the communication terminal reaches a plurality of predetermined check points, a goal message and And providing the communication terminal with a ranking of competition results with other users.
[0013]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, information on a checkpoint is transmitted to a communication terminal, and when it is detected that the communication terminal has reached the checkpoint, information on the next checkpoint is transmitted to the communication terminal. In accordance with a computer readable medium characterized by storing a control program for controlling an information processing device for performing orienteering, when the information processing device receives a temporary suspension request from the communication terminal, The information processing apparatus stores the position of the communication terminal at the time of the temporary interruption, and the communication at the time of the temporary interruption stored in the storage means when the information processing apparatus receives a restart request from the communication terminal Based on the location of the device, the current location of the communication device suspended orienteering Area The information processing device determines whether or not the information processing device exists, and the information processing device temporarily suspended the information processing device. Area When the communication terminal is determined to exist, the information processing apparatus allows the resumption of orienteering, and when the communication terminal reaches a plurality of predetermined check points, a goal message and And providing the communication terminal with a ranking of competition results with other users.
[0014]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention described above, an information processing system, a communication terminal, and an information processing apparatus that can improve the convenience of the user by temporarily interrupting the communication terminal when orientationeering is difficult or the like and resuming it later Etc. are realized.
[0015]
That is, claim 1, 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 According to the present invention, when orienteering is difficult to continue or when the user wishes to suspend orienteering, orienteering is temporarily suspended and information useful for resuming orienteering can be stored, so that it can be resumed later. The convenience of the user of the communication terminal can be improved. In addition, there was a temporary suspension request Area Same as Area By controlling so that orienteering is resumed when the communication terminal arrives at, the continuity of orienteering can be guaranteed to the user of the communication terminal. It is also possible to ensure game fairness with other users.
[0017]
Further, according to the invention of claim 2, when the orienteering is resumed, a temporary suspension request is issued. Area By guiding the user to the user, the convenience at the time of resuming orienteering can be further improved for the user of the communication terminal.
[0020]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an information processing system as a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the specific matters described in this embodiment are merely for helping understanding of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the technical scope of the present invention.
[0021]
In the information processing system of the present embodiment, “orienteering” means, for example, that the information center 1 provides the user with information that can be conceived of checkpoints to the in-vehicle navigation device 4 with communication function and / or the mobile terminal 5. At the same time, when the information center 1 confirms that the user has reached the checkpoint, the information center 1 repeats the process of providing the user with information that can be conceived about the next checkpoint. Says visiting multiple checkpoints while traveling by car. Detailed description of orienteering will be given in FIG.
[0022]
Further, in the information processing system of the present embodiment, “check points” are, for example, target points provided at various places in orienteering and have a predetermined area.
[0023]
In addition, the detection of whether or not the communication terminal has reached the checkpoint may be performed by, for example, confirming that the positioning position measured by the communication terminal substantially matches the position of the checkpoint, or the password transmitted by the communication terminal. This is performed by confirming that the number or keyword is a correct password or keyword, or that a checkpoint arrival signal is received from the communication terminal.
[0024]
[System configuration]
A configuration of an information processing system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing an overall configuration of an information processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0025]
As shown in FIG. 1, the information processing system of this embodiment is, for example, the Internet 2 as an example of a telecommunication line, and a server that can be connected to the Internet 2, and includes an in-vehicle navigation device 4 with a communication function and a portable terminal. 5 includes an information center 1 that provides information on orienteering and a base station 3 that can be connected to the Internet.
[0026]
The information center 1 includes a checkpoint data recording unit 6 and a map data recording unit 7. The checkpoint data recording unit 6 is a memory for storing data related to each checkpoint of orienteering, for example, data such as a checkpoint registration number, a checkpoint genre, a checkpoint name, a checkpoint position, and a keyword. is there. The map data recording unit 7 stores map data for displaying a map on the screens of the in-vehicle navigation device 4 with a communication function and the mobile terminal 5. These memories may be storage devices such as magnetic disks and optical disks. In addition, these memories may be physically used as one memory, and a memory area in the memory may be divided, or a plurality of memories may be used. Further, here, the two memories of the checkpoint data recording unit 6 and the map data recording unit 7 have been described, but the present invention is not limited to this.
[0027]
The information center 1 may be composed of a single server or a plurality of servers. In consideration of the load on the server and the safety of maintenance, for example, the Web server and the DB server may be constructed by separate servers. Since a general server computer and a communication interface are applicable, a detailed description of the configuration of the server of this embodiment is omitted.
[0028]
The in-vehicle navigation device 4 with a communication function and the portable terminal 5 can be connected to the Internet 2 via the base station 3 by general public wireless communication. In the following description, these two devices are connected to the communication terminal 10. Collectively.
[0029]
[Internal structure of information center]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of the information center 1 in the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the information center 1 in this embodiment includes, for example, a CPU 11, a ROM 12, a RAM 13, an HDD 14, a communication interface 15, and an internal bus 16. The CPU 11 loads the program and data stored in the HDD 14 via the internal bus 16 into the RAM 13 and controls the entire information center 1. The ROM 12 stores a control program such as BIOS provided to the CPU 11. The RAM 13 functions as various work areas and temporary save areas used for executing the control program. The HDD 14 includes a memory area for storing map data, checkpoint data, and the like, a control program A for realizing the information processing system according to the present embodiment, an operating system (OS), other control programs, and the like. This is a storage device having a memory area for storing various data related to orienteering. The information center 1 includes a communication interface 15 (wireless transceiver) for communicating with an external device via a communication line 31 (for example, the Internet 2). These components are connected via an internal bus 16, and the CPU 11 controls the whole or a part of the information center 1 according to programs and data stored in the HDD 14.
[0030]
[Internal configuration of communication terminal]
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the internal configuration of the communication terminal 10 in the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3, the communication terminal 10 in this embodiment includes, for example, a CPU 21, an input device 22, an output device 23, a ROM 24, a RAM 25, an HDD 26, a communication antenna 27, an orientation sensor 28, a positioning sensor 29, and an internal bus 30. Composed. The CPU 21 controls the communication terminal 10 as a whole via the internal bus 30. The CPU 21 executes a series of processes related to the information processing system according to the present embodiment in accordance with an instruction input from the input device 22 (for example, a keyboard, a pointing device, a pen, a microphone, an operation switch, etc.). The execution result executed by the CPU 21 is output to an output device 23 (for example, a CRT display, a liquid crystal display, a speaker, etc.). The ROM 24 stores a control program such as BIOS provided to the CPU 21. The RAM 25 functions as various work areas and temporary save areas used for executing the control program. The HDD 26 is a storage device for storing a control program B for realizing the information processing system according to the present embodiment, an operating system (OS) and other control programs, data such as map information for orienteering, and the like. . The CPU 21 loads the program and data stored in the HDD 26 to the RAM 25 and executes them. The communication terminal 10 includes a communication antenna 27 (wireless transceiver) for communicating with an external device via a communication line 32 (for example, the Internet 2). In addition, the communication terminal 10 includes an azimuth sensor 28 and a positioning sensor 29 that detect the current position based on a GPS (global positioning system) signal received from the outside. These components are connected via an internal bus 30, and the CPU 21 controls all or part of the communication terminal 10 according to programs and data stored in the HDD 26.
[0031]
As described above, the information processing system according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is constructed by providing control programs A and B to a general computer. The control programs A and B themselves constitute the invention, and a recording medium storing the control programs A and B also constitutes the invention. Examples of such recording media include magnetic disks such as floppy disks and hard disks, optical disks such as CD-ROMs and DVD-ROMs, magneto-optical disks such as CD-R / W and DVD-RAM, magnetic tapes, and non-volatile media. A memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used.
[0032]
In the present embodiment, the information center 1 and the communication terminal 10 can perform data communication using a general communication protocol used on the Internet 2. In addition, the information center 1 and the communication terminal 10 communicate with each other via the Internet 2 in accordance with a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) unique to the information center 1 input from the communication terminal 10 by software having a browser function. Various data for orienteering which will be described later are displayed on the output device 23.
[0033]
Using the above configuration, the information center 1 performs orienteering at the communication terminal 10 via the Internet 2 and provides a means of transportation suitable for the user of the communication terminal 10 to move to the next checkpoint. An information processing system, a communication terminal, an information processing apparatus, and the like that can be provided to the user are provided to the user.
[0034]
[orienteering]
Next, processing performed for orienteering will be described with reference to FIG. As described above, in the orienteering, the information center 1 repeats the process of providing the user with information that can be conceived about the checkpoint, so that the user can move a plurality of checkpoints while moving in a vehicle equipped with the communication terminal 10, for example. Visit.
[0035]
As shown in FIG. 4, the communication terminal 10 transmits an orienteering start request for starting orienteering to the information center 1. When the information center 1 receives the orienteering start request from the communication terminal 10, the information center 1 provides at least information regarding the checkpoint (first passing area) to the communication terminal 10 that has transmitted the orienteering start request. This information includes, for example, a hint that allows the user of the communication terminal 10 to conceive a checkpoint and / or checkpoint position information. In addition, the hint that the user can conceive of the checkpoint is not provided directly from the information center 1 to the communication terminal 10, but is included in, for example, another server in advance and the URL of the Web page on the server is included. The data may be provided, or the data may be stored in another server, and the data may be provided from the server to the communication terminal 10.
[0036]
Next, the user of the communication terminal 10 uses the provided hint or the provided location information, the map information stored in the HDD 26, the current location information by the direction sensor 28 and the positioning sensor 29, etc. as a checkpoint. Head. In this case, the user of the communication terminal 10 may use a navigation function executed by the CPU 21. If the navigation function is used, the user of the communication terminal 10 can go to the checkpoint while receiving guidance by the navigation function. This navigation function has significant commercial benefits. This increases the likelihood that the user will reach the checkpoint, giving the user more opportunities to visit the checkpoint and also enjoying commercial benefits such as promoting the sale of goods at the checkpoint. Because it can be done.
[0037]
When the user arrives at the checkpoint (first transit area), a predetermined keyword or PIN is provided. These may be provided to the communication terminal 10 by the information center 1 or may be provided to the user of the communication terminal 10 by, for example, a checkpoint sponsor performing a predetermined procedure.
[0038]
Next, the user of the communication terminal 10 inputs the provided keyword or password to the communication terminal 10. If the input keyword or password is correct, the information center 1 provides information (that is, hints and position information) on at least the next target checkpoint. Thereby, the entertainment property can be enhanced, and if the predetermined keyword or password is set for the sponsor of the present system, the sponsor can enjoy commercial merit.
[0039]
Such a series of flows is repeated a plurality of times, and when the information center 1 confirms that the user of the communication terminal 10 has visited a predetermined plurality of checkpoints, the information center 1 sends a goal message to the communication terminal 10. And a completion award (including ranking with others in the case of a regular course). In this case as well, the goal message and completion award provided will include a discount voucher that can receive any special treatment the next time the user uses the checkpoint or affiliated store or facility visited this time. Information such as a display screen that functions as a coupon may be included.
[0040]
[Control flow]
Next, in order to explain the details of the above-mentioned orienteering, individual control flows of the information center 1 and the communication terminal 10 will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0041]
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing control processing on the information center 1 side, and shows a procedure executed by the CPU 11 of the information center 1. The information center 1 and the communication terminal 10 are connected via the Internet 2 so that two-way communication is possible.
[0042]
In FIG. 5, the information center 1 determines whether or not there is a connection start request for starting connection from the communication terminal 10 via the communication interface 15 connected to the communication line 31 (step S1). When the information center 1 receives a connection start request from the communication terminal 10 (YES in step S1), the information center 1 starts connection with the communication terminal 10 via the communication interface 15 (step S2). Next, the information center 1 transmits the data on the menu screen to the communication terminal 10 via the communication interface 15 (step S3).
[0043]
Here, the data format of the menu screen transmitted from the information center 1 to the communication terminal 10 in step S3 is generally an HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) format, for example, but is not limited thereto. . A markup language such as XML, a script language such as JavaScript, a programming language such as Java, or a combination of these languages may be used. Here, the file such as HTML includes a CGI program in the Web server, a procedure or program in the DB server, and a file dynamically created from JavaScript or the like. Also, a plug-in such as Flash of US Macromedia may be used. When using voice or image, a format generally used on the Internet may be used. In the other steps in the embodiment of the present invention, when the information center 1 provides data to the communication terminal, the data is transmitted to the communication terminal 10 in the same manner as described above.
[0044]
In view of user convenience, it is desirable to use a format that is prevalent on the Internet. Therefore, it is desirable to use a format that combines programming languages, script languages, markup languages, sounds, images, plug-ins, and the like that can be used by many users.
[0045]
Next, the information center 1 determines whether or not the orienteering start request transmitted from the communication terminal 10 has been received based on the menu screen transmitted in step S3 (step S4). When the information center 1 receives an orienteering start request from the communication terminal 10 (YES in step S4), the information center 1 permits execution of an orienteering processing operation described later (step S5). When the information center 1 does not receive the orienteering start request, other predetermined processing (for example, mail transmission / reception) is performed, and the information center 1 repeats step S4 until the orienteering start request is received.
[0046]
As described above, the information center 1 performs orienteering. The information center 1 and the communication terminal 10 are connected so as to be capable of bidirectional communication via the Internet 2, and the information center 1 and the communication terminal 10 perform processing in conjunction with each other. Next, control processing on the communication terminal 10 side will be shown.
[0047]
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing control processing on the communication terminal 10 side, and shows a procedure executed by the CPU 21 of the communication terminal 10.
[0048]
In FIG. 6, first, the communication terminal 10 determines whether or not a connection start request for connecting to the information center 1 from the input device 22 has been made by a user operation (step S11). When there is a connection start request from the input device 22 to the information center 1 by a user operation (YES in step S11), the communication terminal 10 receives the information center via the communication antenna 27 connected to the communication line 32. A connection start request is transmitted to 1 (step S12).
[0049]
Next, the communication terminal 10 determines whether or not menu screen data for orienteering has been received from the information center 1 (step S13). Upon receiving the menu screen data, the communication terminal 10 displays the menu screen on the output device 23 (step S14).
[0050]
Furthermore, the communication terminal 10 determines whether or not an orienteering request operation for starting orienteering is performed on the menu screen of the input device 22 by a user operation (step S15). When the orienteering request operation is performed (YES in step S15), the communication terminal 10 transmits the orienteering request to the information center 1 via the communication antenna 27 (step S16). When the orientation requesting operation is not performed, the communication terminal 10 performs other predetermined processes such as route guidance and a call by the navigation function using the direction sensor 28 and the positioning sensor 29, and step S15 until the orientation requesting operation is performed. repeat. When transmitting the orienteering request, the communication device 10 executes an orienteering processing operation described later with reference to FIG. 9 (step S17).
[0051]
[Orienteering operation]
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing details of the orienteering process operation (step S5) in FIG. 5 among the flowcharts showing the control process on the information center 1 side.
[0052]
In FIG. 7, first, the information center 1 determines whether or not the connected communication terminal 10 is orienteering (step S21). If the communication terminal 10 is orienteering (YES in step S21), the information center 1 determines whether there is a temporary interruption request from the communication terminal 10 (step S22). When there is a temporary interruption request from the communication terminal 10 (YES in step S22), the information center 1 includes the contents of the orientation processing performed in the communication terminal 10 and the current information of the communication terminal 10, for example, in FIG. Other history information such as the position at the time of temporary interruption in the database shown in FIG. 6 and the date and time at the time of temporary interruption are stored in the HDD 14 (step S23). The information center 1 resumes orienteering based on the information stored here. When the storage process is completed, the information center 1 rewrites the current state of the database in the HDD 14 shown in FIG. 11 to “temporary suspension” and then allows the communication terminal 10 to execute the temporary suspension processing (step S24). . Furthermore, the information center 1 determines whether there is a restart request from the communication terminal 10 (step S25). When there is a restart request from the communication terminal 10 (YES in step S25), processing for restarting orienteering is started (proceeds to step S29).
[0053]
If the communication terminal 10 is not orienteering (NO in step S21), the information center 1 transmits data of a menu screen for starting orienteering to the communication terminal 10 (step S26). Next, it is determined whether or not the conditions and request for orienteering have been received from the communication terminal 10 (step S27). Here, the conditions for orienteering are, for example, the name of the final checkpoint, the genre of the checkpoint, the target travel distance, the target competition time, and the like. The request for orienteering is, for example, an instruction such as a start request for actually starting an orienteering competition.
[0054]
Next, it is determined whether or not a temporarily interrupted course for allowing resumption of orienteering at the time of temporary suspension has been selected (step S28). When the temporarily interrupted course is selected (YES in step S28), a restart position, a restart time, and the like are transmitted to the communication terminal 10 together with an alarm for permitting resumption of orienteering (step S29). Next, the information center 1 guides the communication terminal 10 to the temporarily interrupted area that is the resume position (step S30). Next, the information center 1 arrives at the area where the orienteering is temporarily suspended from the position at the time of the temporary suspension of the database in the HDD 14 shown in FIG. If the condition matches, the information about the next checkpoint is read from the HDD 14 and transmitted to the communication terminal 10 to allow the communication terminal to execute the restart process (step S31). .
[0055]
If the temporarily interrupted course has not been selected (NO in step S28), the information center 1 stores the conditions and request received from the communication terminal 10 in step S27, for example, in a database in the HDD 14 of the information center 1 ( Step S32). The conditions and requests stored here are, for example, orienteering using the previous conditions and requests without specifying the previously specified conditions and requests again when orienteering is performed at the communication terminal 10 next time. Used in cases. A plurality of these conditions and requests can be stored, and a plurality of orienteering conditions and requests can be used. Also, arbitrary conditions and requests can be deleted from these conditions and requests by a user operation from the communication terminal 10. When the storage of conditions and the like is completed, the information center 1 transmits the position information and hint of the first checkpoint to the communication terminal 10 (step S33).
[0056]
Next, in steps S34 to S36, it is determined whether or not the communication terminal 10 has reached the checkpoint. For example, when the positioning position measured by the communication terminal 10 substantially matches the position of the checkpoint, when the password or keyword transmitted by the communication terminal 10 is a correct password or keyword, or When the checkpoint arrival signal is received from the communication terminal, it may be determined that the communication terminal has reached the checkpoint.
[0057]
When there is no restart request from the communication terminal 10 (NO in step S25), the information center 1 determines whether a checkpoint arrival signal indicating that the communication terminal 10 has reached the checkpoint has been received (step S34). When the check point arrival signal is received (YES in step S34), the information center 1 determines whether or not the current position of the communication terminal 10 and the keyword or password at the check point have been received from the communication terminal 10 ( Step S35). If the current position and keyword or password are not received from the communication terminal 10, step S35 is repeated until the current position and keyword or password is received from the communication terminal 10. During this time, the communication terminal 10 is waiting for input.
[0058]
A keyword or a personal identification number at the check point is assigned to each check point, and the information center 1 may provide the communication terminal 10 when the communication terminal 10 reaches the check point. For example, the sponsor of the check point May be provided to the user of the communication terminal 10 by performing a predetermined procedure. When the information center 1 provides the communication terminal 10, for example, the communication terminal extracts a keyword or password from a database stored in the checkpoint data recording unit 6 (part of the memory area of the HDD 14) of the information center 1. 10 to provide.
[0059]
When the information center 1 receives the current position of the communication terminal 10 and the keyword or password at the checkpoint from the communication terminal 10 (YES in step S35), the information center 1 receives the current position and keyword or password of the communication terminal 10. 1 is judged whether it is a “correct answer” that matches the information registered in advance (step S36).
[0060]
If the received current position and keyword or password of the communication terminal 10 are not “correct” (NO in step S36), an incorrect signal indicating “incorrect” is transmitted to the communication terminal 10 (step S37). .
[0061]
If the current position and keyword or PIN of the received communication terminal 10 are “correct” (YES in step S36), the information center 1 determines that the communication terminal 10 has reached the checkpoint and the predetermined goal condition is satisfied. It is determined whether or not (step S38). The predetermined goal condition is a condition set by the user on the menu screen on the communication terminal 10 and received by the information center 1 from the communication terminal 10 in step S27. For example, the communication terminal 10 sets a goal (final checkpoint). Or items such as whether or not the user has visited predetermined checkpoints. These goal conditions may be based on the conditions received by the information center 1 from the communication terminal 10 in step S27, or may be based on the goal conditions designated in advance by the information center 1. Further, the determination of whether or not the predetermined goal condition is satisfied may be performed by, for example, another information processing apparatus connected via the Internet 2.
[0062]
If the predetermined goal condition is not satisfied (NO in step 38), the information center 1 determines the next check point (step S39). In step S39, the location to be selected as the next checkpoint is transmitted based on the current position of the communication terminal 10 and the remaining time until the desired required time prior to transmitting the position information and the like of the next checkpoint. The user may make a determination / change on the communication terminal 10. In this case, traffic congestion information around the current position of the communication terminal 10 or the desired check point may be acquired from the outside, and an area where the traffic congestion point can be bypassed may be selected as the next check point.
[0063]
When the predetermined goal condition is satisfied (YES in step S38), the information center 1 transmits to the communication terminal 10 completion run prize data including a goal message and the like to the communication terminal 10 (step S40). Next, in the case of the prescribed course, the information center 1 stores the ranking of the competition results with other users in the HDD 14 or a database and presents this ranking on the information center 1 (step S41). The ranking stored in the HDD 14 or the database may be disclosed on another server.
[0064]
In FIG. 7, the information center 1 receives the checkpoint arrival signal, the current position information, and the keyword from the communication terminal 10 in steps S34, S35, and S36, and the current position and keyword received from the communication terminal 10. Alternatively, when the password matches the information registered in the information center 1 in advance, the communication terminal 10 has been shown to proceed to step S38 as reaching the checkpoint. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the communication terminal 10 When the positioning position measured by the mobile terminal 10 substantially matches the position of the check point, when the personal identification number or keyword transmitted by the communication terminal 10 is the correct personal identification number or keyword, or from the communication terminal When a point arrival signal is received, the communication terminal And determined to have reached the, it may proceed to step S38.
[0065]
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing details of the orienteering processing operation (step S17) of FIG. 6 in the flowchart showing the control processing on the communication terminal 10 side.
[0066]
In FIG. 8, first, the communication terminal 10 determines whether or not the data of the orienteering menu screen (FIG. 9) has been received from the information center 1 (step S51). When the communication terminal 10 receives the menu screen data (YES in step S51), the communication terminal 10 displays the received menu screen data on the output device 23 (step S52). Next, the communication terminal 10 transmits the conditions specified on the displayed menu screen, data representing the start request for orienteering, and the like to the information center 1 (step S53). Here, in order to calculate the optimum orienteering route based on the current location of the communication terminal 10 and the destination set by the user, the information center 1 also transmits the current position information of the communication terminal 10 in step S53. Good.
[0067]
When the communication terminal 10 does not receive the menu screen data (NO in step S51), the communication terminal 10 determines whether or not the communication terminal 10 is orienteering (step S54). The communication terminal 10 determines whether or not the communication terminal 10 is orienteering based on the state of the internal flag or the like. If it is orienteering, the process proceeds to step S55, and if not, the process ends.
[0068]
Next, the communication terminal 10 determines whether the position information of the next checkpoint has been received from the information center 1 (step S55). When the target checkpoint position information is received, the checkpoint position information, the map information stored in the HDD 26, the current position information by the azimuth sensor 28 and the positioning sensor 29, etc. are checked. Route guidance to the point is performed (step S56).
[0069]
Next, the communication terminal 10 determines whether or not the hint for the target checkpoint position information has been received from the information center 1 (step S57). When this hint is received (YES in step S57), the received hint is presented on the output device 23 (step S58).
[0070]
Next, the communication terminal 10 indicates that the user of the communication terminal 10 has reached the check point by route guidance to the target check point or a hint related to the check point provided in step S58, in step S55. Judgment is made based on whether the position information of the check point received in this way matches the current position information detected by the direction sensor 28 or the positioning sensor 29 at the current position (step S59). When it matches the position information of the checkpoint, data including a checkpoint arrival signal indicating that the user of the communication terminal 10 has reached the current target checkpoint is transmitted to the information center 1 (step S60).
[0071]
In addition, in the case of a system configuration in which the target checkpoint position information itself is not transmitted from the information center 1 to the communication terminal 10 and the communication terminal 10 does not perform route guidance to the checkpoint, in step S59, communication is performed. It is determined whether or not a predetermined switch that is operated when the user of the terminal 10 determines that the check point has been reached has been operated. In step S60, the operation of the communication terminal 10 is detected in response to detection of the operation of the switch. Data including the current position information and the checkpoint arrival signal may be transmitted to the information center 1. In this case, since it is necessary for the information center 1 to determine whether the received current position information of the communication terminal 10 matches the position information of the checkpoint, the determination result is used to determine whether the above-described incorrect answer signal needs to be transmitted. Add to your judgment.
[0072]
Next, the communication terminal 10 determines whether a predetermined manual operation for inputting a keyword or a personal identification number has been performed (step S61). When the manual operation is performed (YES in step S61), the input keyword or password and the position measurement information detected by the azimuth sensor 28 or the positioning sensor 29 are transmitted to the information center 1 (step S62). Here, when the user of the communication terminal 10 visits a checkpoint facility, the keyword or password may be obtained from the employee of the facility.
[0073]
Next, the communication terminal 10 determines whether data including an incorrect answer signal indicating that the transmitted keyword or password is incorrect is received from the information center 1 (step S63). The fact that the incorrect answer signal has been received is displayed on the output device 23 (step S64).
[0074]
Next, the communication terminal 10 determines whether or not there is a temporary interruption operation (step S65). When the “temporary interruption” button in FIG. An interruption signal is transmitted (step S66).
[0075]
Next, the communication terminal 10 receives from the information center 1 a list of temporarily interrupted courses shown in FIG. 10 from the information center 1, selects one of the temporarily interrupted courses by a user operation, and performs a restart operation (for example, a “Start” button). It is determined whether or not there is an operation of pressing (step S67). This list of temporarily interrupted courses is a list of places and times when temporarily interrupted in the past, and is stored, for example, in the HDD 14 of the information center 1 as a database shown in FIG.
[0076]
If one of the temporarily interrupted courses is selected by the user operation and the “start” button is pressed and there is a resume request, the resume request is transmitted to the information center 1 (step S68), and the resume of orienteering is permitted. If there is no resumption request, step S67 is repeated and the temporarily suspended state is maintained.
[0077]
Next, the communication terminal 10 determines whether or not a completion prize has been received from the information center 1 (step S69). If the communication terminal 10 receives the completion award from the information center 1 (YES in step S69), the communication terminal 10 transmits a signal indicating reception of the completion award to the information center 1 (step S70), and ends the process. If the communication terminal 10 does not receive the completion award from the information center 1 (NO in step S69), the communication terminal 10 returns to step S55.
[0078]
By performing the above processing, the information center 1 and the communication terminal 10 perform orienteering on the communication terminal 10 via the Internet 2, and when the connection of orienteering is difficult, the information center 1 and the communication terminal 10 can be suspended and resumed later. A system, a communication terminal, and an information processing apparatus can be realized.
(Other embodiments)
Here, the above-described software program for orienteering processing on the communication terminal 10 side is provided to the user of the communication terminal 10 by a storage medium such as a CD-ROM prior to use of this system, and is stored in the HDD 26 of the communication terminal 10 or the like. When the communication terminal 10 connects to the information center 1 in order to use this system in advance, or when the communication terminal 10 is connected to the information center 1, the communication terminal 10 described above together with data described in a markup language such as HTML or XML format. A method of acquiring a software program in which the function of the orienteering operation processing on the side is described can be employed.
[0079]
More specifically, in the latter case, the software program in which the function of the orienteering process is described is, for example, a script language such as JavaScript or Perl, a programming language such as Java, C, or C ++, or a plurality of these languages. The combination may be provided to the communication terminal 10. In addition, a software program using a plug-in such as a Java applet or Flash may be provided to the communication terminal 10. When using sound or an image, it may be provided to the communication terminal 10 in a format generally used on the Internet. When a programming language such as Java, C, or C ++ is used, a binary-format software program that can be immediately executed by the communication terminal 10 may be provided to the communication terminal 10. In consideration of user convenience, it is desirable to use a combination of programming languages, script languages, markup languages, sounds, images, plug-ins, and the like in a format that can be comfortably used by many users.
[0080]
In the present invention, a software program that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is directly or remotely supplied to a system or apparatus, and the computer of the system or apparatus reads and executes the supplied program code. Including the case where it is also achieved by. In that case, as long as it has the function of a program, the form does not need to be a program.
[0081]
Accordingly, since the functions of the present invention are implemented by computer, the program code installed in the computer also implements the present invention. That is, the claims of the present invention include the computer program itself for realizing the functional processing of the present invention.
[0082]
In this case, the program may be in any form as long as it has a program function, such as an object code, a program executed by an interpreter, or script data supplied to the OS.
[0083]
As a recording medium for supplying the program, for example, floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, MO, CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM, DVD (DVD-ROM, DVD-R).
[0084]
As another program supply method, a client computer browser is used to connect to an Internet homepage, and the computer program of the present invention itself or a compressed file including an automatic installation function is downloaded from the homepage to a recording medium such as a hard disk. Can also be supplied. It can also be realized by dividing the program code constituting the program of the present invention into a plurality of files and downloading each file from a different homepage. That is, a WWW server that allows a plurality of users to download a program file for realizing the functional processing of the present invention on a computer is also included in the claims of the present invention.
[0085]
In addition, the program of the present invention is encrypted, stored in a storage medium such as a CD-ROM, distributed to users, and key information for decryption is downloaded from a homepage via the Internet to users who have cleared predetermined conditions. It is also possible to execute the encrypted program by using the key information and install the program on a computer.
[0086]
In addition to the functions of the above-described embodiments being realized by the computer executing the read program, the OS running on the computer based on the instruction of the program is a part of the actual processing. Alternatively, the functions of the above-described embodiment can be realized by performing all of them and performing the processing.
[0087]
Furthermore, after the program read from the recording medium is written in a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function expansion board or The CPU or the like provided in the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.
[0088]
According to the present embodiment described above, the user of the communication terminal 10 improves the convenience of the user by temporarily suspending and restarting later when orienteering provided from the information center 1 is difficult. can do.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing an overall configuration of an information processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of an information center in the present embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of a communication terminal according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing orienteering realized by the information processing system in the present embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing control processing on the information center side.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing control processing on the communication terminal side.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an orienteering process operation in the information center control process.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an orienteering process operation in the communication terminal control process.
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a menu screen in an orienteering process.
FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a list of temporarily interrupted courses in orienteering.
FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a user database stored in the information center.
[Explanation of symbols]
1: Information center
2: Internet
3: Base station
4: Car navigation system with communication function
5: Mobile terminal
6: Checkpoint data recording part
7: Map data recording part
10: Communication terminal
11: CPU
12: ROM
13: RAM
14: HDD
15: Communication interface
16: Internal bus
21: CPU
22: Input device
23: Output device
24: ROM
25: RAM
26: HDD
27: Communication antenna
28: Direction sensor
29: Positioning sensor
30: Internal bus
31: Communication line

Claims (6)

The communication terminal has an information center and transmits information about a checkpoint to a communication terminal that is communicably connected to the information center, and when the communication terminal is detected to have reached the checkpoint, the communication terminal An information processing system for orienteering that sends information on the next checkpoint to
The information center
Receiving means for receiving a temporary suspension request for temporarily suspending orienteering and a restart request for resuming orienteering from the communication terminal;
Storage means for storing the position of the communication terminal at the time of the temporary suspension when receiving the temporary suspension request;
Position determining means for determining whether or not the current position of the communication terminal exists in an area where orienteering is temporarily suspended based on the position at the time of temporary suspension stored in the storage means when the restart request is received; ,
Resuming means for allowing resumption of orienteering when it is determined that the communication terminal is present in the temporarily suspended area ;
Providing means for providing the communication terminal with a ranking of a goal message and a competition result with other users when the communication terminal has reached a plurality of predetermined checkpoints;
An information processing system comprising: 2. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the information center includes guidance means for guiding the communication terminal to the temporarily suspended area when the restart request is received. The communication terminal is communicably connected, transmits information on the checkpoint to the communication terminal, and when it is detected that the communication terminal has reached the checkpoint, the communication terminal relates to the next checkpoint. An information processing apparatus for performing orienteering to transmit information,
Receiving means for receiving a temporary suspension request for temporarily suspending orienteering and a restart request for resuming orienteering from the communication terminal;
Storage means for storing the position of the communication terminal at the time of the temporary suspension when receiving the temporary suspension request;
A position for determining whether or not the current position of the communication terminal exists in the area where orienteering is temporarily suspended based on the position of the communication terminal at the time of the temporary suspension stored in the storage means when the restart request is received A determination means;
Resuming means for allowing resumption of orienteering when it is determined that the communication terminal is present in the temporarily suspended area ;
Providing means for providing the communication terminal with a ranking of a goal message and a competition result with other users when the communication terminal has reached a plurality of predetermined checkpoints;
An information processing apparatus comprising: Information for transmitting information about a checkpoint to a communication terminal, and performing orientation processing for transmitting information about the next checkpoint to the communication terminal when it is detected that the communication terminal has reached the checkpoint A control method for controlling a processing apparatus,
When the information processing apparatus receives a temporary interruption request from the communication terminal, the information processing apparatus stores the position of the communication terminal at the time of the temporary interruption;
When the information processing apparatus receives a restart request from the communication terminal, based on the position of the communication terminal at the time of the temporary suspension stored in the storage means, the area where the current position of the communication terminal has temporarily suspended orienteering The information processing apparatus determines whether or not it exists in
Allowing the information processing apparatus to resume orienteering when it is determined by the information processing apparatus that the communication terminal exists in the temporarily interrupted area ;
Providing the communication terminal with a ranking of a goal message and a competition result with other users when the communication terminal has reached a plurality of predetermined checkpoints;
A method for controlling an information processing apparatus, comprising: Information for transmitting information about a checkpoint to a communication terminal, and performing orientation processing for transmitting information about the next checkpoint to the communication terminal when it is detected that the communication terminal has reached the checkpoint A control program for controlling a processing device,
When the information processing apparatus receives a temporary interruption request from the communication terminal, the information processing apparatus stores the position of the communication terminal at the time of the temporary interruption;
When the information processing apparatus receives a restart request from the communication terminal, based on the position of the communication terminal at the time of the temporary suspension stored in the storage means, the area where the current position of the communication terminal has temporarily suspended orienteering The information processing apparatus determines whether or not it exists in
Allowing the information processing apparatus to resume orienteering when it is determined by the information processing apparatus that the communication terminal exists in the temporarily interrupted area ;
Providing the communication terminal with a ranking of a goal message and a competition result with other users when the communication terminal has reached a plurality of predetermined checkpoints;
A control program characterized by causing A computer-readable medium storing the control program according to claim 5 .

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