JP5113778B2 - Control system, control method, and control apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for controlling a communication device based on the strength of a signal transmitted and received between the communication devices.

  In order to prevent the mobile phone from being left behind, a loss prevention system is known in which a user wears another loss prevention device and an alarm is sounded when the user is away from a certain distance.

  Although the loss prevention system uses radio waves, the loss prevention system can be realized even by using electric field communication (see Patent Document 1) that performs data communication using an electric field induced in an electric field transmission medium such as a human body. it can. For example, an electric field communication device is incorporated into a mobile terminal such as a mobile phone, and an alarm is sounded when the mobile phone leaves the user by exchanging a check signal with another electric field communication device held by the user be able to.

JP 2001-352298 A

  By the way, since a portable terminal carried by a user, such as the above-described mobile phone or loss prevention device, is driven by a battery, reduction of power consumption is an important issue. Turning off the power when not using the portable terminal can suppress wasteful power consumption, but changing to the power off or low power consumption mode is cumbersome and often forgotten. It is easy to forget to stop the loss prevention function.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to determine a use state of a mobile terminal in a system in which a user holds two or more mobile terminals and confirms the existence of each other. Then, the portable terminal is controlled to reduce power consumption.

A control system according to a first aspect of the present invention is a control system that performs electric field communication using a human body as a communication path between first and second portable terminals, and the first portable terminal transmits a check signal to a second signal When it is detected that the transmission means for transmitting to the portable terminal, the control signal received from the second portable terminal and controlled based on the control signal, and the first portable terminal being lifted, Activating means for transmitting a wake-up signal to the second portable terminal, and the second portable terminal detects the strength of the check signal and receiving means for receiving the check signal transmitted by the first portable terminal And a control means for transmitting a control signal for stopping the function to the first portable terminal and stopping the function of the second portable terminal when the intensity is within a predetermined range for a predetermined time. , the way from the first mobile terminal When receiving the up signal, and having a a startup means for restarting the function of the second mobile terminal.

A control method according to a second aspect of the present invention is a control method for performing electric field communication using a human body as a communication path between a first portable terminal and a second portable terminal. A step of transmitting to the mobile terminal; a step of receiving a control signal from the second mobile terminal; controlling based on the control signal; and detecting that the first mobile terminal is lifted, Transmitting a wake-up signal to the portable terminal of the second mobile terminal, receiving the check signal transmitted from the first portable terminal by the second portable terminal, detecting the strength of the check signal, Is within a predetermined range for a predetermined time, a control signal for stopping the function is transmitted to the first mobile terminal, and the function of the second mobile terminal is stopped , and the first mobile terminal Way from terminal When receiving the up signal, and having the steps of: restarting the function of the second mobile terminal.

  In the present invention, when the second portable terminal detects the strength of the check signal transmitted by the first portable terminal and the strength of the check signal is within a predetermined range for a predetermined time, the first By transmitting the control signal to the portable terminal, the first portable terminal can be controlled when the first and second portable terminals are placed on a still object such as a table. For example, it is possible to stop the function of the first portable terminal or shift to the low power consumption mode. Of course, when the intensity of the check signal is within a predetermined range for a predetermined time, it is possible to control the apparatus itself that has detected this.

  Thus, according to the present invention, in a system in which a user holds two or more portable terminals and confirms the presence of each other, the usage state of the portable terminal is determined, the portable terminal is controlled, and the power consumption is reduced. Can be suppressed.

It is the schematic for demonstrating a mode that the user is holding the control system in 1st Embodiment. It is the schematic for demonstrating a mode that the user placed the control system in 1st Embodiment on the table. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the loss prevention apparatus of the control system in 1st Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the mobile telephone of the control system in 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of operation | movement in which the mobile telephone of 1st Embodiment transfers to sleep mode. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the operation | movement which the loss prevention apparatus of 1st Embodiment transfers to sleep mode. It is the schematic which shows a mode that the user lifted the loss prevention apparatus and the mobile phone. It is the schematic which shows another mode which starts a loss prevention apparatus and a mobile telephone. It is the schematic for demonstrating a mode that the user placed the control system in 2nd Embodiment on the table. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of operation | movement in which the mobile telephone of 2nd Embodiment transfers to sleep mode. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the operation | movement which the loss prevention apparatus of 2nd Embodiment transfers to sleep mode.

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

[First Embodiment]
1 and 2 are schematic diagrams for explaining a control system according to the first embodiment. The control system includes a loss prevention device 10 and a mobile phone 40. Loss prevention device 10 and mobile phone 40 perform data communication with each other by electric field communication using user 100 as a communication path. This control system includes a loss prevention function that warns when communication between the loss prevention device 10 and the mobile phone 40 becomes impossible, and power-off when the loss prevention device 10 and the mobile phone 40 are not used. Alternatively, it has a sleep function for shifting to a low power consumption sleep mode.

  First, the loss prevention function will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a user 100 holds a loss prevention device 10 and a mobile phone 40. The mobile phone 40 transmits a check signal at a predetermined interval, and the loss prevention device 10 receives the check signal and returns the check signal to the mobile phone 40. The check signal is transmitted and received by electric field communication using the user 100 holding the loss prevention device 10 and the mobile phone 40 as an electric field transmission medium. When the mobile phone 40 leaves the user 100, the loss prevention device 10 cannot receive the check signal. Therefore, if the loss prevention device 10 cannot receive the check signal within a predetermined time, the loss prevention device 10 sounds an alarm to warn that the mobile phone 40 has been left unattended. Since the mobile phone 40 cannot receive the response of the check signal, the mobile phone 40 performs an operation such as sounding an alarm or locking the mobile phone function to disable it.

  Next, the sleep function, which is a feature of the present invention, will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the loss prevention device 10 and the mobile phone 40 are placed on a still object such as a table. Even when the loss prevention device 10 and the mobile phone 40 are placed close to each other, the check signal is transmitted and received. The change in the reception intensity of the check signal is different between the case where the user 100 holds it and the case where it is placed on a still life. When the user 100 holds the loss prevention device 10 and the mobile phone 40, the communication environment always changes because the user 100 always moves. However, when the loss prevention device 10 and the mobile phone 40 are placed on a still life. The reception intensity is almost constant with little change in the communication environment.

  Therefore, the loss prevention device 10 is in a state where the loss prevention device 10 and the mobile phone 40 are placed on a still object when the reception strength of the check signal is within a predetermined range, and the loss prevention function is not used. The sleep signal, which is a control signal for shifting the mobile phone 40 to the sleep mode, is transmitted to the mobile phone 40. When the mobile phone 40 receives the sleep signal, the mobile phone 40 shifts to a power-off or low power consumption sleep mode. At this time, the loss prevention device 10 also switches to the power-off or low power consumption sleep mode. Instead of transmitting the sleep signal, a control signal for stopping the loss prevention function may be transmitted to the mobile phone 40. By stopping the loss prevention function of the mobile phone 40, for example, even when the mobile phone 40 receives an incoming call and the user 100 has only the mobile phone 40, the loss prevention function does not work and an alarm does not sound.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the loss prevention device 10 of the present control system. As shown in the figure, the loss prevention device 10 includes a transceiver 20 that controls an electric field communication function, and a control unit 30 that controls a loss prevention function and a sleep function.

  The transceiver 20 includes a transmitter 21, a receiver 22, an electrode 23, an insulating film 24, and an I / O circuit 25.

  The transmission unit 21 includes a modulation circuit 211 and an oscillator 212. When the transmission unit 21 receives data to be transmitted from the control unit 30 via the I / O circuit 25, the modulation circuit 211 modulates the carrier wave generated by the oscillator 212 based on the data, and the electric field is transmitted by the electrode 23. A modulated carrier wave is transmitted by inducing an electric field in the medium.

  The receiving unit 22 includes a carrier wave recovery circuit 221, a demodulation circuit 222, and a correction circuit 223. The receiving unit 22 detects the electric field induced in the electric field transmission medium via the electrode 23, reproduces the carrier wave by the carrier wave reproduction circuit 221, modulates data by the demodulation circuit 222 based on the reproduced carrier wave, and corrects the correction circuit 223. The data is received after correction. The received data is output to the control unit 30 via the I / O circuit 25.

  The control unit 30 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 31, a timer 32, an alarm 33, and an I / O circuit 34.

  The CPU 31 inputs the check signal transmitted from the mobile phone 40 from the transceiver 20 via the I / O circuit 34 and sends back the check signal using the transceiver 20 via the I / O circuit 34. The reception interval of the check signal is checked by the timer 32, and when the check signal is not input for a certain time, the alarm 33 is controlled and sounded to realize the loss prevention function.

  Further, the CPU 31 inputs the signal strength of the check signal from the transceiver 20, and when the input signal strength is equal to or greater than a predetermined magnitude and does not change for a certain period of time, the CPU 31 transmits a sleep signal to the mobile phone 40 and the loss prevention device 10 The sleep function is realized by shifting to the sleep mode.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the mobile phone 40 of the present control system. As shown in the figure, the mobile phone 40 includes a transceiver 50 including a control unit and a mobile phone function 60.

  The transceiver 50 includes a transmission unit 51, a reception unit 52, an electrode 53, and an insulating film 54 as an electric field communication function, and includes a CPU 55, a sensor 56, a timer 57, an alarm 58, and an I / O circuit 59 as a control unit. Since the transmission unit 51 and the reception unit 52 are the same as those of the loss prevention device 10, the description thereof is omitted.

  The CPU 55 inputs and transmits a check signal to the transmission unit 51 at a predetermined interval, and inputs the check signal received by the reception unit 52. The check interval of the check signal is checked by the timer 57, and when the check signal is not input for a certain period of time, the alarm 58 is controlled and sounded to realize the loss prevention function.

  Further, when the receiving unit 52 receives the sleep signal, the CPU 55 shifts the state to the power-off of the cellular phone 40 or the sleep mode with low power consumption. The sensor 56 is a motion sensor, and when the movement is detected during the sleep mode, the mobile phone 40 is turned on, or the state is changed from the sleep mode to the normal mode.

  The mobile phone function 60 functions as a so-called mobile phone communication using radio waves. The cellular phone function 60 performs data input / output with the transceiver 50 via the I / O circuit 61. For example, when the transceiver 50 receives a sleep signal, the cellular phone function 60 also turns off the power or shifts to a sleep mode.

  Next, the operation of the sleep function will be described.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a flow of an operation in which the mobile phone 40 shifts to the sleep mode.

  First, the cellular phone 40 transmits a check signal by electric field communication (step S501). The cellular phone 40 transmits check signals at predetermined intervals. As a check signal, an ID signal or an encrypted signal of a user or a mobile phone is used.

  When the mobile phone 40 receives the check signal returned from the loss prevention device 10 (step S502), the process returns to step S501 and transmits the check signal again.

  On the other hand, when the mobile phone 40 receives the sleep signal without receiving the check signal (step S503), the mobile phone 40 shifts to the sleep mode (step S504).

  Although not shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5, when the mobile phone 40 cannot receive the check signal or the sleep signal within a predetermined time, the loss prevention function such as sounding the alarm 58 or locking the mobile phone function 60 is activated. To do.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a flow of an operation in which the loss prevention device 10 shifts to the sleep mode.

  The loss prevention device 10 receives the check signal transmitted from the mobile phone 40 (step S601). Although not shown in the flowchart of FIG. 6, if the check signal cannot be received within a predetermined time, the loss prevention function is activated and an alarm is sounded.

  Subsequently, it is checked whether or not the signal strength of the received check signal is larger than a predetermined value (step S602). In the present embodiment, the predetermined value is 0.5V. If the reception intensity is less than or equal to the predetermined value, a check signal is returned to the mobile phone 40 (step S610), and the process returns to step S601 to wait for reception of the check signal.

  If the reception intensity is greater than the predetermined value, it is checked whether the reception intensity is constant for a predetermined period (step S603). In the present embodiment, the predetermined period is 60 seconds. If the reception intensity is not constant for a predetermined period, a check signal is returned to the mobile phone 40 (step S610), and the process returns to step S601 to wait for reception of the check signal.

  If the reception intensity is constant for a predetermined period, the loss prevention device 10 transmits a sleep signal to the mobile phone 40 (step S604), and the loss prevention device 10 itself shifts to the sleep mode (step S605).

  Next, the return from the sleep mode of the loss prevention device 10 and the mobile phone 40 will be described.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a state where the loss prevention device 10 and the mobile phone 40 that are placed on a still life and are in the sleep mode are lifted. When the mobile phone 40 is lifted, the sensor 56 operates and the mobile phone 40 shifts from the sleep mode to the normal mode. When the mobile phone 40 shifts to the normal mode, the mobile phone 40 transmits a wake-up signal to the loss prevention device 10 by electric field communication. Then, the loss prevention apparatus 10 that has received the wake-up signal shifts from the sleep mode to the normal mode. Thereafter, a check signal is transmitted and received between the loss prevention device 10 and the mobile phone 40.

  Note that the loss prevention device 10 may also be equipped with a sensor and activated independently.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating another state in which the loss prevention device 10 and the mobile phone 40 are activated. In the example shown in the figure, when the loss prevention device 10 and the mobile phone 40 shift to the sleep mode, the shift to the normal mode is performed only when the activation signal is received in the security zone. That is, it is not possible to shift to the normal mode simply by lifting the loss prevention device 10 and the mobile phone 40.

  When the user 100 holding the loss prevention device 10 and the mobile phone 40 contacts the activation device 90 arranged in the security zone, the cellular phone 40 receives the activation signal and shifts from the sleep mode to the normal mode. The loss prevention device 10 receives the wake-up signal transmitted from the mobile phone 40 and shifts from the sleep mode to the normal mode.

  Therefore, according to the present embodiment, when the signal strength of the check signal transmitted from the mobile phone 40 is detected, the loss prevention device 10 and the mobile phone 40 are still Therefore, the loss prevention device 10 and the mobile phone 40 can be turned off or shifted to the sleep mode.

  The loss prevention device 10 detects the signal strength of the check signal and transmits the sleep signal to the mobile phone 40. Of course, the mobile phone 40 side detects the signal strength of the check signal and detects the loss prevention device 10. It is also possible to transmit a sleep signal.

[Second Embodiment]
FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram for explaining a control system according to the second embodiment. In the first embodiment, the check signal is transmitted and received in both directions. However, in the second embodiment, the check signal is transmitted from the mobile phone 40 to the loss prevention apparatus 10 only in one direction. When the check signal cannot be received within a predetermined time, the loss prevention device 10 sounds an alarm to warn that the mobile phone 40 has been left unattended. When the check signal is transmitted in only one direction, the mobile phone 40 does not check whether or not there is a response to the check signal, and thus cannot know that the mobile phone 40 itself has been left.

  Similar to the first embodiment, the loss prevention device 10 determines that the loss prevention device 10 and the mobile phone 40 are not in use when the change in the reception intensity of the check signal falls within a predetermined range. Then, the loss prevention device 10 is shifted to the sleep mode, and a sleep signal is transmitted to the mobile phone 40. When the mobile phone 40 receives the sleep signal, the mobile phone 40 shifts to a power-off or low power consumption sleep mode.

  Next, the operation of the sleep function of this embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a flow of an operation in which the mobile phone 40 shifts to the sleep mode.

  First, the mobile phone 40 transmits a check signal by electric field communication (step S1001). The cellular phone 40 transmits check signals at predetermined intervals.

  Subsequently, the cellular phone 40 checks whether or not a sleep signal has been received (step S1002). If no sleep signal has been received, the cellular phone 40 returns to step S1001 and transmits a check signal again.

  When the mobile phone 40 receives the sleep signal, the mobile phone 40 shifts to the sleep mode (step S1003).

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a flow of an operation in which the loss prevention apparatus 10 shifts to the sleep mode.

  The loss prevention apparatus 10 receives the check signal transmitted from the mobile phone 40 (step S1101). Although not shown in the flowchart of FIG. 11, if the check signal cannot be received within a predetermined time, the loss prevention function is activated and an alarm is sounded.

  Subsequently, it is checked whether or not the signal strength of the received check signal is larger than a predetermined value (step S1102). In the present embodiment, the predetermined value is 0.5V. If the reception intensity is less than or equal to the predetermined value, the process returns to step S1101 and waits for reception of a check signal.

  If the reception intensity is greater than the predetermined value, it is checked whether the reception intensity is constant for a predetermined period (step S1103). In the present embodiment, the predetermined period is 60 seconds. If the reception intensity is not constant for a predetermined period, the process returns to step S1101 to wait for reception of a check signal.

  If the reception intensity is constant for a predetermined period, the loss prevention device 10 transmits a sleep signal to the mobile phone 40 (step S1104), and the loss prevention device 10 itself shifts to the sleep mode (step S1105).

  In this embodiment, the case where the check signal is transmitted from the mobile phone 40 to the loss prevention device 10 has been described, but the check signal may be transmitted from the loss prevention device 10 to the mobile phone 40. When the loss prevention device 10 transmits a check signal, the mobile phone 40 detects the reception strength of the check signal and transmits a sleep signal to the loss prevention device 10.

  Further, the communication between the loss prevention apparatus 10 and the mobile phone 40 in the first and second embodiments is electric field communication. However, the communication is not limited to this. For example, communication is performed using radio waves. Can be applied similarly.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Loss prevention apparatus 40 ... Cellular phone 100 ... User 20, 50 ... Transceiver 21, 51 ... Transmission part 211,511 ... Modulation circuit 212,512 ... Oscillator 22,52 ... Reception part 221,521 ... Carrier wave reproduction circuit 222, 522 ... Demodulation circuit 223, 523 ... Correction circuit 23, 53 ... Electrode 24, 54 ... Insulating film 30 ... Control unit 31, 55 ... CPU
32, 57 ... Timer 33, 58 ... Alarm 56 ... Sensor 25, 34, 59, 61 ... I / O circuit 60 ... Mobile phone function 90 ... Start-up device

Claims (5)

A control system that performs electric field communication using a human body as a communication path between first and second portable terminals,
The first portable terminal is
Transmitting means for transmitting a check signal to the second portable terminal;
Control means for receiving a control signal from the second portable terminal and controlling based on the control signal;
An activation means for transmitting a wake-up signal to the second portable terminal when it is detected that the first portable terminal is lifted;
The second portable terminal is
Receiving means for receiving a check signal transmitted by the first portable terminal;
When the intensity of the check signal is detected and the intensity is within a predetermined range for a predetermined time, a control signal for stopping the function is transmitted to the first mobile terminal, and the second mobile terminal Control means for stopping the function of
And a starter that restarts the function of the second mobile terminal when receiving a wake-up signal from the first mobile terminal. A control method for performing electric field communication using a human body as a communication path between first and second portable terminals,
According to the first portable terminal,
Transmitting a check signal to the second portable terminal;
Receiving a control signal from the second portable terminal and controlling based on the control signal;
A step of transmitting a wake-up signal to the second mobile terminal when it is detected that the first mobile terminal is lifted;
By the second portable terminal,
Receiving a check signal transmitted by the first portable terminal;
When the intensity of the check signal is detected and the intensity is within a predetermined range for a predetermined time, a control signal for stopping the function is transmitted to the first mobile terminal, and the second mobile terminal Steps to stop the function of
And a step of restarting the function of the second portable terminal when receiving a wake-up signal from the first portable terminal. A control system that performs electric field communication using a human body as a communication path between first and second portable terminals,
The first portable terminal is
Transmitting means for transmitting a check signal to the second portable terminal;
Control means for receiving a control signal from the second portable terminal and controlling based on the control signal;
The second portable terminal is
Receiving means for receiving a check signal transmitted by the first portable terminal;
Control means for detecting the strength of the check signal and transmitting a control signal for stopping the function to the first portable terminal when the strength is within a predetermined range for a predetermined time;
And a starter that transmits a control signal for starting a function to the first portable terminal when it is detected that the second portable terminal is lifted. A control method for performing electric field communication using a human body as a communication path between first and second portable terminals,
According to the first portable terminal,
Transmitting a check signal to the second portable terminal;
Receiving a control signal from the second portable terminal, and controlling based on the control signal,
By the second portable terminal,
Receiving a check signal transmitted by the first portable terminal;
Detecting the intensity of the check signal, and if the intensity is within a predetermined range for a predetermined time, transmitting a control signal for stopping the function to the first portable terminal;
And a step of transmitting a control signal for starting a function to the first portable terminal when it is detected that the second portable terminal is lifted. A control device that performs electric field communication with a mobile terminal using a human body as a communication path,
Receiving means for receiving a check signal transmitted by the portable terminal;
Control means for detecting the strength of the check signal and transmitting a control signal for stopping the function to the mobile terminal when the strength is within a predetermined range for a predetermined time;
An activation means for transmitting a control signal for starting a function to the portable terminal when it is detected that the control device is lifted;
A control device comprising:

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