JP4630973B2 - Information distribution system, dedicated device and user device used therefor, and information distribution method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a system for delivering information to a user.

  In recent years, with the practical application of RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tags, various services using RFID tags have been proposed, such as distributing appropriate information to users according to detection of RFID tags by a tag reader (for example, Patent Document 1, 2).

On the other hand, with regard to barcodes that have been used in the past, various types of barcode usage, such as distributing appropriate information to users according to barcode reading by a digital camera equipped with a cellular phone, with the spread of camera-equipped cellular phones. Have been proposed (see, for example, Patent Documents 3, 4, and 5).
JP 2003-244059 A JP 2003-91678 A JP 2004-235798 A JP 2003-198674 A JP 2003-139557 A

  It is an object of the present invention to provide an information distribution system capable of realizing a completely new information distribution service using both of these RFID tags and barcodes, a dedicated device and a user device used therefor, and an information distribution method. Yes.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention firstly moves within the information distribution space by carrying a dedicated device distributed in the information distribution space and a user device brought into the information distribution space by the user himself / herself. A system for performing information distribution corresponding to a user's position in an information distribution space to a user using an information distribution server and a plurality of tag readers installed in the information distribution space, the tag reader being carried by the user Means for reading a dedicated device ID recorded in advance in an RFID tag included in the dedicated device from the RFID tag, and means for transmitting the read dedicated device ID together with a tag reader ID to the information distribution server, The server includes the dedicated device carried by the user together with the RFID tag. Means for receiving from the user device a dedicated device ID and an information distribution URL recorded in advance in a barcode and read by a camera of the user device carried by the same user; the dedicated device transmitted from the tag reader Means for receiving device ID and tag reader ID; means for storing tag reader ID and reader position data in advance in association with each other; means for reading out reader position data corresponding to the received tag reader ID from the means for storing; The information content page corresponding to the position data is provided with means for distributing the information content page using the information distribution URL when the dedicated device ID received from the user device matches the dedicated device ID received from the tag reader. And

The second aspect of the present invention is a dedicated device used in the information distribution system, an RFID tag in which a dedicated device ID assigned to each dedicated device is recorded in advance, and the same dedicated device as the dedicated device ID A bar code in which an ID is recorded in advance together with an information distribution URL is provided.

  In the third aspect of the present invention, a user device used in the information distribution system is a camera capable of photographing a barcode provided in a dedicated device, and recorded in advance from the photographed barcode image to the barcode. Means for reading the read dedicated device ID and information distribution URL, means for transmitting the read dedicated device ID and information distribution URL to the information distribution server, and information content distributed from the information distribution server at the information distribution URL A means for displaying a page is provided.

  Furthermore, the present invention fourthly provides information distribution to a user who moves in the information distribution space by carrying a dedicated device distributed in the information distribution space and a user device that the user himself brings into the information distribution space. A method of performing information distribution corresponding to a user's position in a space by means of an information distribution server and a plurality of tag readers installed in the information distribution space, wherein the dedicated device carried by the user is provided by the tag reader. The dedicated device ID recorded in advance on the RFID tag is read from the RFID tag, the read dedicated device ID is transmitted to the information distribution server together with the tag reader ID, and the information distribution server carries the dedicated device carried by the user. 1 is pre-recorded on the barcode provided with the RFID tag, and the same The dedicated device ID and the information distribution URL read by the camera included in the user device carried by the user are received from the user device, and the dedicated device ID and the tag reader ID transmitted from the tag reader are received. The reader position data corresponding to the received tag reader ID is read from the database stored in advance in association with the tag reader ID and the reader position data, and the information content page corresponding to the read reader position data is received from the user device When the device ID matches the dedicated device ID received from the tag reader, the information is distributed using the information distribution URL.

  According to the above first to fourth inventions, for example, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the dedicated device 1 distributed in the information distribution space (also referred to as an information distribution area) and the user device that the user himself brings into the information distribution space 2 and the RFID tag 11 of the dedicated device 1 that is sequentially read by a plurality of tag readers 3 installed in the information distribution space for each user A, B,. The information content page including information corresponding to the position of each user A, B,... In the information distribution space using the barcode 12 of the dedicated device 1 photographed and read by the second camera 21 A completely new information distribution service that is distributed by the distribution server 4 and that has never been achieved can be realized.

  Here, the dedicated device 1 is provided with at least an RFID tag 11 and a barcode 12 that are valid and used only in an information distribution space such as an admission ticket, an admission card, an employee ID card, a staff pass, and a visitor pass. In short, the device is a device dedicated to the information distribution space that is pre-equipped with the RFID tag 11 and the barcode 12.

  The user device 2 is a device such as a general-purpose mobile phone or PDA that includes at least the camera 21 (regardless of a built-in / external form), or simply a mobile device with a camera.

By using such an invention of the present application, for example, in various indoor and outdoor event venues such as exhibitions, expositions, and academic conferences, or in various buildings such as companies, research institutes, various facilities, etc., visitors and visitors For example, a card-type pass (equivalent to the dedicated device 1) that can be worn around the neck is distributed to users such as participants, and the user wants to receive the above information distribution service while moving in the venue / building. When you think that the camera-equipped mobile phone (equivalent to the user device 2) is just taken the bar code 12 attached to the previously distributed path, the camera-equipped mobile phone The dedicated device ID and the information distribution URL (Uniform Resource Locator) are decoded from the code image and transmitted to the information distribution server 4. On the other hand, when a plurality of tag readers 3 arranged at appropriate positions in the venue / building enter the respective communication ranges, the dedicated device ID is obtained from the RFID tag 11 attached to the path. The information is read and transmitted to the information distribution server 4 together with the tag reader ID. Then, the information distribution server 4 distributes the information content page with the information distribution URL as described above based on the dedicated device ID and information distribution URL from the path and the dedicated device ID and tag reader ID from the tag reader 3. This is received by the mobile phone and displayed. As a result, the user only has to take a pass barcode once with a mobile phone that he / she is familiar with, and then automatically move the RFID tag of the pass and the inside of the venue / building as long as he / she is moving inside the venue / building. The tag reader communicates to grasp the ID and the current position, and an information content page suitable for the ID and current position can be acquired and browsed.

  As for information distribution corresponding to the position, as illustrated in FIG. 2, for example, the reader position data of the tag reader 3 that has read the RFID tag 11, that is, the position in the information distribution space of the tag reader 3 or the tag-reader communication. Since the data indicating the range (which can also be called a detection range) represents a rough position in the information distribution space of the user who carries the dedicated device 1 equipped with the read RFID tag 11, for example, in the vicinity of the position Alternatively, if an information content page on which information about various objects such as exhibits and advertisements in the range is posted is distributed, information distribution corresponding to the position in the information distribution space is performed to the user. .

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in the schematic diagram of FIG. 1, in an environment where an exhibit is present in a building and a plurality of tag readers 3 and information distribution servers 4 constituting an environment-side system are prepared in advance, the user Bring their own user device 2 into the building and distribute to the user the exclusive device 1 that is valid only in the building (regardless of distribution form such as free / paid, rental / sales). Then, an information distribution service is provided that enables browsing of information content pages related to exhibits corresponding to the user's position when moving within the building.

<Dedicated device 1>
First, the dedicated device 1 distributed to the user is a small and portable device having at least the RFID tag 11 and the barcode 12 as shown in the functional block diagram of FIG. 3, for example, a card that can be carried around the neck. An RFID tag 11 embedded in the mold entrance certificate and the barcode 12 attached to the surface thereof can be considered.

  In the RFID tag 11, a dedicated device ID such as an identification number assigned to each dedicated device 1 is recorded in advance.

  In the barcode 12, a URL for distributing the information content page is recorded in advance together with the same dedicated device ID as the dedicated device ID. As the barcode 12, for example, a two-dimensional code such as an existing one-dimensional code having information only in the horizontal direction or a QR code having information in the vertical and horizontal directions can be considered, but represents dedicated device ID data and information distribution URL data. There is no particular limitation as long as it can be used. The bar code 12 can be easily and inexpensively added to an admission card or the like by printing or sticking, and can be easily rewritten.

<User device 2>
As shown in the functional block diagram of FIG. 3, the user device 2 brought in by the user includes a camera 21 that can capture the barcode 12 included in the dedicated device 1, and a dedicated device ID and information distribution URL from the captured barcode image. And a server communication unit 23 that transmits the read dedicated device ID and the information distribution URL to the information distribution server 4, and an information content page distributed by the information distribution URL from the information distribution server 4 is displayed. This is a small and portable device having at least the display unit 24, and a mobile phone with a camera, a PDA, a notebook computer, etc. can be considered.

  The user device 2 stores a shooting process by the camera 21, a reading process by the reading unit 22, a transmission process by the server communication unit 23, and information by the information distribution server 4 when a user inputs a camera shooting operation. It can be constructed to execute a series of processing called display processing by the display unit 24 such as a display when the content page is distributed.

  Regarding the display processing of the information content page, for example, when transmitting the dedicated device ID and the information distribution URL to the information distribution server 4, the Web browser is started and put in a standby state, and automatically received upon receiving the distribution from the information distribution server 4. To display the browser.

  Communication with the information distribution server 4 uses, for example, Internet communication via a wireless network such as a wireless LAN or a mobile phone communication network.

  The reason why the user device 2 and the dedicated device 1 are used in the present invention is that the dedicated device 1 is complicatedly functionalized so that the information content page can be viewed by itself. Users have to operate devices that they are not familiar with in order to enjoy ad hoc information distribution services, which can be considered painful for users and can be considered as one of the obstacles to the spread of services. In order to solve this problem, it is not necessary to operate the dedicated device 1 delivered on the spot, and the user can receive the information distribution service only by operating the user device 2 such as a mobile phone that is normally used. It is to make it. Thereby, even the first user can receive an information distribution service with little resistance.

<Tag reader 3>
Next, as shown in the functional block diagram of FIG. 3, the tag reader 3 in the environment side system reads a dedicated device ID recorded in advance on the RFID tag 11 included in the dedicated device 1 from the RFID tag 11. 31, an ID storage unit 32 that stores a tag reader ID such as an identification number assigned to each tag reader 3 in advance, and a dedicated device ID read by the reader unit 31 together with the tag reader ID read from the ID storage unit 32 to the information distribution server 4 A reader device or reader / writer device having at least the server communication unit 33 for transmission can be considered.

  When the RFID tag 11 of the dedicated device 1 enters the communication range by the reader program stored therein, the tag reader 3 performs a reading process by the reader unit 31, a reading process from the ID storage unit 32, and a server communication unit 33. It can be constructed so as to execute a series of processing called transmission processing by.

  The communication with the information distribution server 4 uses wireless or wired network communication because a plurality of tag readers 3 communicate with each other.

<Information distribution server 4>
As shown in the functional block diagram of FIG. 3, the information distribution server 4 in the environment side system
A user communication unit 41 that receives the dedicated device ID and information distribution URL transmitted from the user device 2, a reader communication unit 42 that receives the dedicated device ID and tag reader ID transmitted from the tag reader 3, and a tag reader ID and reader. The user device 2 includes a database 43 pre-stored in association with position data, a position reading unit 44 that reads reader position data corresponding to the received tag reader ID from the database 43, and an information content page corresponding to the read reader position data. If the dedicated device ID received from the tag reader 3 matches the dedicated device ID received from the tag reader 3, it is possible to consider a computer having at least the page distribution unit 45 distributed by the information distribution URL.

  This information distribution server 4 uses the server program stored therein to receive processing by the user communication unit 41, reception processing by the reader communication unit 42, reading processing from the database 43 by the position reading unit 44, and distribution by the page distribution unit 45. It can be constructed to execute a series of processes called processes.

  The reader position data stored in the database 44 is data indicating the position of each tag reader 3 in the information distribution space or the tag-reader communication range (see FIG. 2), together with the tag reader ID assigned to each tag reader 3. They are stored in correspondence with each other.

Regarding the information content page, it is possible to consider a form in which the information content page is created in advance in a database corresponding to the reader position data, or created by incorporating new information for each distribution.

<Information distribution service flow>
Here, each processing flow of the information distribution service using the dedicated device 1, the user device 2, the tag reader 3, and the information distribution server 4 as described above will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

<Step S101>
First, the user device 2 reads the barcode 12 of the dedicated device 1. More specifically, the barcode 21 of the dedicated device 1 is photographed by the camera 21 of the user device 2 at the time of user operation input, and the dedicated device ID and the information distribution URL are decoded from the barcode image by the built-in program.

<Step S102>
Subsequently, the decrypted dedicated device ID and the information distribution URL are transmitted from the user device 2 to the information distribution server 4.

<Step S103>
The information distribution server 4 receives the dedicated device ID and information distribution URL from the user device 2.

<Step S104>
On the other hand, the RFID tag 11 of the dedicated device 1 is read by the tag reader 3. More specifically, the dedicated device ID is read from the RFID tag 11 that has entered the communication range of the tag reader 3 by a built-in program.

<Step S105>
Subsequently, the read dedicated device ID is transmitted from the tag reader 3 to the information distribution server 4 together with the tag reader ID.

<Step S106>
The information distribution server 4 receives the dedicated device ID and tag reader ID from the tag reader 3.

<Steps S107 to S110>
Then, the information distribution server 4 reads the reader position data corresponding to the tag reader ID from the tag reader 3 from the database 43 (S107), while the dedicated device ID and the tag reader 3 separately received from the user device 2 are read. It is determined whether the received dedicated device ID matches (S108). If they match, the information content page corresponding to the reader position data is distributed using the information distribution URL (S109). If they do not match, delivery is not performed (S108).

  Note that the order of the reader position data reading process (S107) and the coincidence determination process (S108) here may be any order, and the former is executed first in FIG. 3, but conversely the coincidence determination process. It is also possible to read the reader position data only when a match is determined by the above.

<Steps S111 to S112>
By the way, reading of the RFID tag 11 by the tag reader 3 is naturally not performed when the RFID tag 11 is not in the communication range, and may not be read for some reason even if actually in the communication range. It is thought to get.

   Therefore, for example, the information distribution server 4 stores the dedicated device ID received from the tag reader 3 in an internal storage device such as a cache memory for a while after the reception (S111), and waits for the transmission of the ID + URL from the user device 2. In the state, when the ID + URL is transmitted from the user device 2, the last dedicated device ID before the reception, that is, the last dedicated device ID detected by the tag reader 3 is read from the internal storage unit (S112). A match with this is determined (S108).

  As a result, even if the tag reader 3 cannot receive the ID signal from the dedicated device 1 for a while, if an inquiry is received from the user device 2 during that time, the data from the tag reader 3 cached last is used. The information content page regarding the position of the last user that can be detected can be transmitted.

<Another Form of Step S111>
Further, for example, by storing the dedicated device ID and the tag reader ID of the tag reader 3 that has transmitted the dedicated device ID in the internal storage device in association with each other (S111), the same dedicated device ID may be assigned to different tag reader IDs When it is sent from the tag reader 3, it is determined that the user has moved from the position of the tag reader 3 that sent the immediately preceding data to the position of the tag reader 3 that sent the latest data, and automatically It is also possible to distribute information corresponding to a new position.

  As described above, the user can easily acquire information corresponding to the position where the user is present while moving in the building by simply operating the user device 2 such as a mobile phone that is familiar to the user. After the system is constructed, it is possible to provide an appropriate information distribution service while tracking the user position by simply distributing the dedicated device 1 to the user.

The schematic diagram for demonstrating one Embodiment of this invention. The other schematic diagram for demonstrating one Embodiment of this invention. The functional block diagram for demonstrating one Embodiment of this invention. The flowchart for demonstrating one Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Dedicated device 11 RFID tag 12 Barcode 2 User device 21 Camera 22 Reading part 23 Server communication part 24 Display part 3 Tag reader 31 Reader part 32 ID memory | storage part 33 Server communication part 4 Information distribution server 41 User communication part 42 Reader communication part 43 Database 44 Position reading section 45 Page distribution section

Claims (11)

Information that corresponds to the position of the user in the information distribution space for a user who travels in the information distribution space with a dedicated device distributed in the information distribution space and a user device that the user brings into the information distribution space A system that performs distribution by means of an information distribution server and a plurality of tag readers installed in the information distribution space,
The tag reader is
Means for automatically reading the dedicated device ID recorded in advance in the RFID tag included in the dedicated device carried by the user from the RFID tag during the movement of the user , and the read dedicated device ID together with the tag reader ID Means for transmitting to the information distribution server;
The information distribution server is
The dedicated device ID carried by the user is recorded in advance on a barcode provided with the RFID tag and read by a camera provided by the user device carried by the same user, and the information distribution URL, Means for receiving from a user device;
Means for receiving a dedicated device ID and a tag reader ID transmitted from the tag reader;
Means for previously storing tag reader ID and reader position data in association with each other;
Means for reading out the reader position data corresponding to the received tag reader ID from the means for storing; and a dedicated device ID received from the user device and an information content page corresponding to the read reader position data from the tag reader An information distribution system comprising means for distributing by the information distribution URL when the ID matches. The information distribution server further includes:
Means for storing a dedicated device ID received from the tag reader;
Means for reading out the dedicated device ID from the last tag reader before the reception from the storage means when the dedicated device ID and the information distribution URL are transmitted from the user device; and the read dedicated device ID and the user device The information distribution system according to claim 1, further comprising means for determining a match with the dedicated device ID from. The information distribution server further includes:
Means for storing the dedicated device ID and tag reader ID received from the tag reader in association with each other, and when the same dedicated device ID is transmitted from the tag reader having a different tag reader ID, the same dedicated device ID is transmitted later The information delivery system according to claim 1, further comprising means for delivering information corresponding to the position of the tag reader. A dedicated device used in the information distribution system according to claim 1,
A dedicated device comprising: an RFID tag in which a dedicated device ID assigned to each dedicated device is recorded in advance; and a barcode in which the same dedicated device ID as the dedicated device ID is recorded in advance together with an information distribution URL. A user device used in the information distribution system according to claim 1,
A camera that can shoot barcodes on a dedicated device,
Means for reading a dedicated device ID and information distribution URL recorded in advance in the barcode from the photographed barcode image;
A user device comprising: means for transmitting the read dedicated device ID and information distribution URL to an information distribution server; and means for displaying an information content page distributed by the information distribution URL from the information distribution server . Information that corresponds to the position of the user in the information distribution space for a user who travels in the information distribution space with a dedicated device distributed in the information distribution space and a user device that the user brings into the information distribution space An information distribution server that distributes
A dedicated device ID recorded in advance in an RFID tag included in the dedicated device carried by the user, which is automatically read and transmitted during the movement of the user by a plurality of tag readers installed in the information distribution space Means for receiving the tag reader ID of the tag reader;
A dedicated device ID transmitted from the user device carried by the user, recorded in advance on a barcode provided with the RFID tag by the dedicated device carried by the same user, and read by a camera provided by the user device And means for receiving the information distribution URL,
Means for previously storing tag reader ID and reader position data in association with each other;
Means for reading the reader position data corresponding to the received tag reader ID from the storage means, and the dedicated device ID received from the user device and the dedicated device ID received from the tag reader for the information content page corresponding to the read reader position data An information distribution server comprising means for distributing by the information distribution URL when and match. Means for storing a dedicated device ID received from the tag reader;
Means for reading out the dedicated device ID from the last tag reader before the reception from the storage means when the dedicated device ID and the information distribution URL are transmitted from the user device; and the read dedicated device ID and the user device The information distribution server according to claim 6, further comprising means for determining a match with the dedicated device ID from. Means for storing the dedicated device ID and tag reader ID received from the tag reader in association with each other, and when the same dedicated device ID is transmitted from the tag reader having a different tag reader ID, the same dedicated device ID is transmitted later The information delivery server according to claim 6 or 7, further comprising means for delivering information corresponding to the position of the tag reader. Information that corresponds to the position of the user in the information distribution space for a user who travels in the information distribution space with a dedicated device distributed in the information distribution space and a user device that the user brings into the information distribution space A method of performing distribution by an information distribution server and a plurality of tag readers installed in the information distribution space,
By the tag reader,
The dedicated device ID recorded in advance in the RFID tag included in the dedicated device carried by the user is automatically read from the RFID tag during the movement of the user ,
Send the read dedicated device ID together with the tag reader ID to the information distribution server,
By the information distribution server,
The dedicated device carried by the user is recorded in advance on a barcode provided with the RFID tag, and the dedicated device ID and the information distribution URL read by the camera provided by the user device carried by the same user are Received from the user device,
Receiving the dedicated device ID and tag reader ID transmitted from the tag reader;
Read the reader position data corresponding to the received tag reader ID from the database stored in advance in association with the tag reader ID and the reader position data,
The information content page corresponding to the read reader position data is distributed using the information distribution URL when the dedicated device ID received from the user device matches the dedicated device ID received from the tag reader. Information distribution method.   The dedicated device ID received from the tag reader is stored in the storage device by the information distribution server, and the dedicated device ID and the information distribution URL from the user device are waited for. The dedicated device ID and the information distribution from the user device The URL according to claim 9, wherein when a URL is transmitted, a dedicated device ID from the last tag reader before the URL is read from the storage device, and a match between the dedicated device ID and the dedicated device ID from the user device is determined. Information distribution method.   When the dedicated device ID and tag reader ID received from the tag reader are associated with each other and stored in the storage device by the information distribution server, and the same dedicated device ID is transmitted from the tag reader having a different tag reader ID The information delivery method according to claim 9 or 10, wherein information delivery corresponding to the position of the tag reader that has transmitted the same dedicated device ID later is performed.