JP4191736B2 - Electric field communication system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an electric field communication system using a transceiver that induces an electric field based on information to be transmitted in an electric field transmission medium and detects the induced electric field to transmit and receive information.

  Although wearable computers are attracting attention due to the miniaturization and high performance of portable terminals, FIG. 8 shows an example in which such wearable computers are used while being worn by humans. As shown in the figure, the wearable computer 7 is mounted on a person's arm, shoulder, torso, etc. via a transceiver 9 to transmit / receive data to / from each other, and is further provided on the wall or floor so that it can be touched by the tip of a limb Communication is performed with a personal computer (PC) 8 provided outside through the transceivers 9a and 9b and the cables.

  Here, the transceiver 9 used for data communication between the wearable computer 7 and between the wearable computer 7 and the personal computer 8 uses a signal detection technique based on an electro-optic technique using a laser beam and an electro-optic crystal. Thus, an electric field based on information to be transmitted is induced in a living body that is an electric field transmission medium, and information is transmitted and received using the induced electric field.

The transceiver 9 is described in, for example, Patent Document 1.
JP 2001-352298 A

  The transceiver 9 described above is used by being worn on a human arm, shoulder, torso and the like together with the wearable computer 7. As a use scene of such a transceiver 9, for example, when a user wearing the transceiver 9 touches the transceiver 9a connected to a computer (a personal computer 8, a server, etc.) with a finger, the wearable computer 7 and the personal computer 8 are used. It is conceivable that a communication path is formed between and a predetermined data is downloaded from the computer to the wearable computer 7.

  Here, the user cannot release his / her finger from the transceiver 9a until the data download is completed. That is, when the finger is released, the communication path between the wearable computer 7 and the computer is interrupted, and the download is interrupted. Therefore, when the data to be downloaded has a large capacity, the user needs to keep touching the transceiver 9a for a relatively long time. That is, when the data to be communicated has a large capacity, there is a problem that the load is great for the user and the usability is poor.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described object, and reduces the load on the user when transmitting / receiving a large amount of information in an electric field communication system that transmits / receives information via an electric field transmission medium. The purpose is to improve the interface.

To achieve the above object, a first aspect of the present invention is an electric field communication system that communicates via an electric field transmission medium, and induces an electric field based on information to be transmitted in the electric field transmission medium and detects the induced electric field. A first transceiver that transmits and receives information, a computer connected to the first transceiver, and a sensor that detects that a user who is the electric field transmission medium has touched and transmits a detection signal to the computer And a portable terminal carried by the user, wherein the first transceiver has a transmission / reception electrode installed at the user's foot or the user's seat, and the computer receives the detection signal. And communicating with the portable terminal via the first transceiver , the transmission / reception electrode, and the user .

The second aspect of the present invention is an electric field communication system that communicates via an electric field transmission medium, and induces an electric field based on information to be transmitted in the electric field transmission medium, and detects the induced electric field to transmit and receive information. A first transceiver that performs the operation, an information providing device that is connected to the first transceiver and provides content data, and detects that a user who is the electric field transmission medium is in contact with the information transmission device. The first transceiver has a transmission / reception electrode installed at the user's foot or the user's seat, and the information providing device includes: Storage means storing at least one content data; and receiving the detection signal, the predetermined content data stored in the storage means First transceiver, via the transceiver electrode and the user, having a delivery means for delivering to the mobile terminal.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, when transmitting / receiving large capacity information in the electric field communication system which transmits / receives information via an electric field transmission medium, a user's load can be reduced and a user interface can be improved more.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a basic configuration of an electric field communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The illustrated electric field communication system includes a sensor 1, a computer 2, a transceiver 3, and a portable terminal 4 carried by a user. The sensor 1 detects that the user has touched the sensor 1 with a finger or the like, and transmits a detection signal to the computer 2 via the network. Note that the sensor 1 may detect contact using, for example, a pressure detection method, a heat detection method, an infrared detection method, or the like. Specific sensors 1 include a touch panel and buttons. When the computer 2 receives the detection signal from the sensor 1, the computer 2 establishes a communication path with the mobile terminal 4 via the transceiver 3 and a user who is an electric field communication medium, and transmits / receives data to / from the mobile terminal 4.

  The transceiver 3 uses a signal detection technique based on an electro-optic technique using a laser beam and an electro-optic crystal, and induces an electric field based on information to be transmitted in a living body that is an electric field transmission medium. It is a transceiver that transmits and receives information.

  For example, the transceiver 3 has a configuration as shown in FIG. 2. When transmission data from the computer 2 is received via the input / output (I / O) circuit 901, the transmission data is transmitted via the transmission unit 902. The electric field is supplied to the transmission / reception electrode 903, an electric field is induced in the electric field transmission medium via the transmission / reception electrode 903 and the insulating film 904, and the electric field is transmitted to other parts of the electric field transmission medium. The transceiver 3 detects the electric field induced and transmitted by the electric field transmission medium by the transmission / reception electrode 903 via the insulating film 904, and couples the electric field to the electric field detection optical unit 905 to convert it into an electric signal. This electric signal is subjected to signal processing such as amplification and noise removal by the signal processing circuit 906, further subjected to waveform shaping by the waveform shaping circuit 907, and output to the computer 2 via the input / output circuit 901. ing. It is assumed that the transmission / reception electrode 903 and the insulating film 904 of this embodiment are connected to the transceiver main bodies 901, 902, 905, 906, and 907 by cables.

  The portable terminal 4 includes a computer 5 and a transceiver 6. The transceiver 6 of the portable terminal 4 is the same as the transceiver 3 shown in FIG.

  Note that each of the computer 2 and the computer 5 of the portable terminal 4 includes a CPU, a memory, an external storage device, an input device, an output device, a communication control device for connecting to other devices, and each of these. A general-purpose computer system including a bus for connecting devices can be used. In this computer system, each function of each device is realized by the CPU executing a predetermined program loaded on the memory. Each of the computers 2 and 4 includes an external storage device, an input device, and an output device as necessary.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the electric field communication system will be described.

<First Embodiment>
FIG. 3 is an overall configuration diagram of the electric field communication system according to the first embodiment.

  In the electric field communication system of the present embodiment, the information providing apparatus 2 </ b> A transmits various contents (information) to the portable terminal 4 carried by the user via the transceiver 3. Note that the content may be a movie, newspaper, music, or the like. In the present embodiment, a movie will be described as an example of content.

  The illustrated electric field communication system includes a purchase stand 5, an information providing device 2A, a transceiver 3, and a portable terminal 4A. The purchase stand 5 includes at least one sensor 1A. Then, the sensor 1A detects that the user has touched the sensor 1A, and transmits a detection signal to the information providing apparatus 2A.

  In addition, it is possible to use a touch panel or a button for the sensor 1A. When the sensor 1A is a touch panel provided on the display of the purchase stand 5, the sensor 1A detects the user's contact and the touched position, and provides a detection signal including position information (specific information) such as coordinates of the position. Transmit to the providing apparatus 2A. Note that a plurality of pieces of movie information are displayed on the display of the purchase stand 5, and the user touches an area where desired movie information is displayed with a finger. When the sensor 1A is a button, the sensor 1A transmits detection information including a content ID (specific information) of movie information corresponding to the sensor 1A to the information providing apparatus 2A.

  The information providing apparatus 2 </ b> A includes a distribution unit 21, a charging unit 22, and a storage unit 23. The distribution unit 21 receives a detection signal from the sensor 1A of the purchase stand 5, reads out movie data corresponding to the detection signal from the storage unit 23, and carries it through the transceiver 3 and the user (electric field transmission medium). Transmit (download) to the terminal 4. The charging unit 22 performs a charging process on the mobile terminal 4 that has transmitted the movie data. The storage unit 23 stores a plurality of movie data (content data).

  The transceiver 3 is the same as the transceiver 3 shown in FIG. As described above, the transmission / reception electrode 903 and the insulating film 904 are connected to the transceiver main bodies 901, 902, 905, 906, and 907 by cables.

  The portable terminal 4A receives the movie data transmitted from the information providing apparatus 2A. And portable terminal 4A memorize | stores the received movie data in portable terminal 4A, and reproduces | regenerates as needed.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the mobile terminal 4A. The portable terminal 4A includes a computer 5A and a transceiver 6A similar to the transceiver 3 shown in FIG. The computer 5A includes a processing unit 51, an output unit 52, and a storage unit 53. The processing unit 51 receives movie data from the information providing apparatus 2 </ b> A via the transceiver 6 </ b> A and stores it in the storage unit 53. The output unit 52 outputs (reproduces) the movie data stored in the storage unit 53 to an output device (not shown) such as a display or a speaker.

  Next, in the electric field communication system according to this embodiment, a process in which the information providing apparatus 2A transmits movie data to the mobile terminal 4A will be described.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart of processing in which the information providing apparatus 2A transmits movie data to the mobile terminal 4A. First, the user carrying the portable terminal 4A stands on the transmission / reception electrode 903 and the insulating film 904 (hereinafter, “transmission / reception electrode 903 etc.”) in the vicinity of the purchase stand 5 and touches the desired movie sensor 1A with a finger. The sensor 1A detects a user's contact and transmits a detection signal to the information providing apparatus 2A (S10). When the sensor 1A is a touch panel, the detection signal includes display position information (coordinates). When the sensor 1A is a button, the detection signal includes the content ID of the movie.

  And the delivery part 21 of 2 A of information provision apparatuses receives a detection signal from the sensor 1A. And the delivery part 21 reads the movie data corresponding to the positional information or content ID (specific information) contained in a detection signal from the memory | storage part 23 (S20). Note that when the position information is included in the detection signal, the distribution unit 21 specifies the content ID with reference to the content table in which the position information and the content ID are stored in association with each other. In this case, it is assumed that the content table is stored in the memory of the information providing apparatus 2A or an external storage device.

  Then, the distribution unit 21 transmits the read movie data to the mobile terminal 4A via the transceiver 3, the transmission / reception electrode 903 at the user's feet, and the user (electric field transmission medium) (S30). The processing unit 51 of the computer 5A of the portable terminal 4A receives the movie data via the transceiver 6A and stores it in the storage unit 53 (S40).

  Then, after completing the reception of the movie data, the processing unit 51 sends the portable terminal ID (or user ID) to the information via the transceiver 6A, the user (electric field transmission medium), the transmission / reception electrode 903, and the transceiver 3. It transmits to the providing apparatus 2A (S50). Note that the mobile terminal ID (or user ID) is stored in a storage device such as a memory of the mobile terminal 4A.

  Then, the charging unit 22 of the information providing apparatus 2A receives the mobile terminal ID (or user ID) transmitted by the mobile terminal 4A and performs a charging process (S60). For example, the charging unit 22 registers the received mobile terminal ID and the content ID of the distributed movie data in a charging table (not shown), and charges the user for the price of the distributed movie (settlement) at a predetermined timing. Shall. Note that the output unit 52 of the computer 5A of the portable terminal 4A outputs (reproduces) the movie data stored in the storage unit 53 in accordance with a user instruction.

  In the first embodiment described above, the information providing apparatus 2A uses the detection signal transmitted by the sensor 1A as a trigger, and the user's portable terminal 4A via the transceiver 3 and the transmission / reception electrode 903 arranged at the user's foot. Send movie data to. That is, once the user touches the sensor 1A, data can be transmitted / received between the information providing apparatus 2A and the portable terminal 4A via the current transmission / reception electrode 903 or the like. For this reason, the user does not need to keep touching the sensor 1A until data transmission / reception is completed, and can release his / her finger. That is, when a large amount of information is transmitted / received, the load on the user can be reduced and the user interface can be further improved.

<Second Embodiment>
FIG. 6 is an overall configuration diagram of an electric field communication system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  The electric field communication system according to this embodiment distributes desired music to headphones with a transceiver worn by a user via a transceiver installed in a seat in a vehicle such as an airplane or a bullet train.

  The illustrated electric field communication system includes an operation panel 1B, a music distribution server 2B, a transceiver 3, and a headphone 4B with a transceiver. The operation panel 1B, the music distribution server 2B, and the transceiver 3 are connected by a network such as a LAN.

  The operation panel 1B is provided with a sensor function for detecting a user's contact. That is, the operation panel 1B is provided with a touch panel, buttons, or the like, similar to the purchase stand 5 shown in FIG. 3, and the user operates the operation panel 1B. Is detected and a detection signal is transmitted to the music distribution server 2B. The detection signal includes position information or a music content ID, as in the first embodiment. The detection signal of the present embodiment further includes an address on the network of the operation panel 1B.

  The transceiver 3 is the same as the transceiver 3 shown in FIG. As described above, the transmission / reception electrode 903 and the insulating film 904 are connected to the transceiver main bodies 901, 902, 905, 906, and 907 by cables. In this embodiment, the transmitting / receiving electrode 903 and the like are installed on the backrest portion of the seat.

  The music distribution server 2B includes a distribution unit and a storage unit that stores a plurality of music data (contents). The distribution unit receives a detection signal from each operation panel 1B, and transmits music data corresponding to the specific information (position information, content ID) included in the detection signal to the transceiver 3, the transmission / reception electrode 903 installed on the back of the seat, and the like. And distributed to the headphone 4B with a transceiver via the user (electric field transmission medium). The distribution unit distributes music data to the transceiver 3 corresponding to the address of the operation panel 1B included in the detection signal.

  The transceiver-equipped headphone 4B receives the music data distributed from the music distribution server 2B and outputs the received music data. That is, the transceiver-equipped headphone 4B includes a computer 5B and a transceiver 6B similar to the transceiver 3 shown in FIG. The computer 5B of the transceiver-equipped headphone 4B receives music data from the music distribution server 2B via the transceiver 6B, and outputs it from the headphone that is an output device of the computer 5B.

  Similar to the processing flow shown in FIG. 5, the music distribution server 2B of the present embodiment is triggered by the detection signal transmitted from the sensor of the operation panel 1B as a trigger, the transceiver 3, the transmission / reception electrode 903 disposed on the user's seat, and the like. The music data is transmitted to the headphone 4B with a transceiver worn by the user via. That is, once the user touches the sensor on the operation panel 1B, data can be transmitted / received between the music distribution server 2B and the headphones 4B with a transceiver via the transmission / reception electrode 903 of the seat. Therefore, the user does not need to keep touching the operation panel 1B until transmission / reception of music data is completed, and can release his / her finger. That is, when a large amount of information is transmitted / received, the load on the user can be reduced and the user interface can be further improved.

<Third Embodiment>
FIG. 7 is an overall configuration diagram of an electric field communication system according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

  In the electric field communication system of this embodiment, the personal computer 2C reads and writes data from and to the mobile hard disk 5C with a transceiver carried by the user via the transceiver 3 installed in the chair.

  The illustrated electric field communication system includes a personal computer 2C, a transceiver 3 installed in a chair 8, and a mobile hard disk 4C with a transceiver worn by a user. The personal computer 2C and the transceiver 3 are connected by a network such as a LAN.

  The mouse 1C provided in the personal computer 2C has a sensor function. That is, the mouse 1C detects that the user has clicked the mouse button, and transmits a detection signal to the personal computer 2C. Instead of the mouse 1C, the keyboard may detect that the user has pressed any key and send a detection signal to the personal computer 2C.

  The transceiver 3 is the same as the transceiver 3 shown in FIG. Further, the transmission / reception electrode 903 and the insulating film 904 are connected to the transceiver main bodies 901, 902, 905, 906, 907 by cables. In this embodiment, the transmitting / receiving electrode 903 and the like are installed on the seat surface of the chair 8.

  The personal computer 2C receives the detection signal from the mouse 1C, and sends it to the mobile hard disk 4C with a transceiver via the transceiver 3 installed in the chair 8, the transmission / reception electrode 903 installed on the seat surface of the chair, and the user (electric field transmission medium). to access. That is, the personal computer 2C reads / writes data from / to the mobile hard disk 4C with a transceiver.

  The mobile hard disk 4C with a transceiver has a hard disk 5C and a transceiver 6C similar to the transceiver 3 shown in FIG. The hard disk 5C of the mobile hard disk 4C with a transceiver can be accessed from the personal computer 2C after the communication path with the personal computer 2C is established.

  The personal computer 2C of this embodiment is worn by the user via the transceiver 3, the transmission / reception electrode 903 arranged on the seat surface of the chair, etc., triggered by the detection signal transmitted from the mouse 1C (or keyboard). The mobile hard disk 4C with a transceiver is accessed. That is, once the user touches the mouse 1C, data can be read and written between the personal computer 2C and the mobile hard disk 4C with a transceiver via the transmission / reception electrode 903 on the seating surface. For this reason, the user does not need to keep touching the mouse 1C until the operation of the personal computer 2C is completed, and can release the finger. That is, when writing a large amount of data to the mobile hard disk 4C with transceiver, reading from the mobile hard disk 4C with transceiver, or operating the personal computer 2C for a long time, the load on the user is reduced and the user interface is further improved. be able to.

  While the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, various modifications and changes can be made to the embodiments of the present invention without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

It is a figure which shows the basic composition of the electric field communication system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of a transceiver. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an electric field communication system according to a first embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structure of the portable terminal which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart in which an information provision apparatus transmits movie data to a portable terminal. It is a figure which shows the whole structure of the electric field communication system which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the whole structure of the electric field communication system which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example in the case of mounting | wearing and using a wearable computer for a person via a transceiver.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Sensor 2,5 Computer 3,6,9 Transceiver 4 Portable terminal 7 Wearable computer 8 PC
901 I / O circuit 902 Transmission unit 903 Transmission / reception electrode 904 Insulating film 905 Electric field detection optical unit 906 Signal processing circuit 907 Waveform shaping circuit 910 Reception unit

Claims (6)

An electric field communication system for communicating via an electric field transmission medium,
A first transceiver that induces an electric field based on information to be transmitted in the electric field transmission medium and detects the induced electric field to transmit and receive information;
A computer connected to the first transceiver;
A sensor that detects that the user as the electric field transmission medium has touched and transmits a detection signal to the computer;
A portable terminal carried by the user,
The first transceiver has transmitting and receiving electrodes installed at the user's feet or the user's seat,
When the computer receives the detection signal, the computer communicates with the portable terminal via the first transceiver , the transmission / reception electrode, and the user . The electric field communication system according to claim 1,
The mobile terminal includes a second transceiver that induces an electric field based on information to be transmitted in an electric field transmission medium and detects the induced electric field to transmit and receive information. An electric field communication system for communicating via an electric field transmission medium,
A first transceiver that induces an electric field based on information to be transmitted in the electric field transmission medium and detects the induced electric field to transmit and receive information;
An information providing device connected to the first transceiver for providing content data;
A sensor that detects that the user who is the electric field transmission medium is in contact and transmits a detection signal to the information providing device;
A portable terminal carried by the user,
The first transceiver has transmitting and receiving electrodes installed at the user's feet or the user's seat,
The information providing apparatus includes:
Storage means for storing at least one content data;
A distribution unit that receives the detection signal and distributes the predetermined content data stored in the storage unit to the portable terminal via the first transceiver , the transmission / reception electrode, and the user. An electric field communication system. The electric field communication system according to claim 3,
The electric field communication system, wherein the content data includes a movie and music, or a movie or music . The electric field communication system according to claim 3,
The portable terminal induces an electric field based on information to be transmitted in the electric field transmission medium and detects the induced electric field to transmit and receive information; and
An electric field communication system comprising: storage means for storing information distributed from the information providing apparatus. The electric field communication system according to claim 5,
The detection signal includes specific information for specifying content data,
The electric field communication system characterized in that the distribution means of the information providing device reads content data corresponding to the specific information from the storage means and distributes it to the portable terminal.

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