JP2014163910A - System for managing position of facility user in facility - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system for highly accurately grasping and managing the position of a facility user in a facility regardless of indoors or outdoors.SOLUTION: A system 1 for managing the position of a facility user in a facility includes: a plurality of wireless stations 2 installed by a facility manager, which is capable of wirelessly communicating with an information communication terminal 10 owned by the facility user; and a management device 3 for managing the position of the facility user in a management object region M in the facility. The management device 3 detects the position of the information communication terminal 10 on the basis of wireless radio field intensity information received from at least one of the plurality of wireless stations 2 by the information communication terminal 10, and grasps and manages the position of the facility user.

Description

  The present invention relates to a system for managing the location of a facility user in a facility.

  In the behavior management apparatus described in Patent Literature 1, the position of the person to be managed is detected using GPS information. Moreover, in the parking management system described in Patent Document 2, the position of the vehicle (parking lot user) depends on whether the portable terminal of the parking lot user belongs within the communication area of each antenna installed at a predetermined position. Have confirmed.

JP 9-35173 A JP 2003-233898 A

  However, the behavior management device described in Patent Document 1 cannot be used indoors where GPS radio waves cannot be received. Further, as in the parking lot management system described in Patent Document 2, in the configuration in which the parking lot user's mobile terminal confirms the location of the parking lot user based on whether or not the wireless terminal belongs to the communication area of each radio station, Although it can be confirmed that the car park user is located within the communication area of a certain radio station, the position of the parking car user cannot be accurately grasped.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a system capable of accurately grasping and managing the position of a facility user in a facility regardless of indoors or outdoors.

  A system according to one aspect of the present invention is a system for managing the location of a facility user in a facility, and is installed by the facility manager and can wirelessly communicate with an information communication terminal possessed by the facility user. And detecting the position of the information communication terminal based on radio field intensity information received from at least one of the plurality of wireless stations by the information communication terminal and grasping the position of the facility user And having position grasping means.

  According to the system, the information communication terminal possessed by the facility user detects the position of the information communication terminal based on radio field strength information received from at least one of a plurality of wireless stations installed by the facility manager. Since the location of the facility user is grasped, it is possible to accurately grasp and manage the location of the facility user in the facility regardless of indoor or outdoor.

It is a figure showing a schematic structure of a position management system in an embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of arrangement | positioning of several radio station which comprises the said position management system. It is a figure which shows the other example of arrangement | positioning of the said several radio station. It is a block diagram of the management apparatus which comprises the said position management system. It is a figure which shows an example of the state which suspended some of the said some radio stations. It is a figure which shows the other example of the state which suspended some of the said some radio stations. It is a figure which shows the modification of the said position management system.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
First, the outline of the present invention will be described.
The present invention provides a system for managing the location of a facility user in the facility (hereinafter simply referred to as “location management system”). The location management system according to the present invention is mainly applied to a facility that can be used by a plurality of people, and manages the location of the facility user in the facility using information obtained from an information communication terminal possessed by the facility user. To do.

Specifically, the location management system according to the present invention has a plurality of wireless stations (including so-called access points) capable of wireless communication with an information communication terminal possessed by a facility user. The communication terminal detects the position of the information communication terminal based on wireless radio wave intensity information received from at least one of the plurality of wireless stations, and grasps and manages the position of the facility user.
The facility to which the position management system according to the present invention is applied is not particularly limited as long as it is a facility that can be used by a plurality of persons. For example, a parking lot, a railroad facility, or a commercial facility is applicable.

  In the following description, a case where an antenna-integrated radio device is mainly used as a “radio station” will be described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the radio device and the antenna that constitute the radio station may be separated. In this case, “radio station” in the following description mainly indicates the antenna.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a location management system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 1, the position management system 1 includes a plurality of radio stations 2 arranged in a predetermined facility (a parking lot, a railway facility, a commercial facility, etc.), and a management target area M set in the facility. And a management device 3 that manages the position of the facility user in the inside. The management target area M is an area for managing the location of the facility user, and is appropriately set according to the facility. Here, a partial area of the facility is set as the management target area M, but the entire area of the facility may be set as the management target area M.

  The plurality of radio stations 2 are installed by the facility manager, and are assigned individual management numbers. Each wireless station 2 is configured to perform wireless communication with the information communication terminal 10 possessed by the facility user and relay information transmission / reception between the management device 3 and the information communication terminal 10.

  The plurality of radio stations 2 are arranged such that each point in the management target area M is covered by radio waves from at least one radio station 2. Preferably, the plurality of wireless devices 2 are arranged such that each point in the management target area M is covered with two or more (more preferably three or more) wireless radio waves from the wireless stations 2. The plurality of radio stations 2 are basically arranged in the management target area M in the facility and / or in the vicinity thereof, but some of the radio stations 2 may be arranged outside the facility.

  The number of radio stations 2 and the installation locations of the radio stations 2 can be arbitrarily set according to the size and shape of the management target area M and / or the reach of radio waves of the radio station 2 to be used. Usually, the plurality of wireless stations 2 are regularly arranged according to the shape of the management target area M. For example, a plurality of wireless stations 2 are arranged at almost equal intervals (equally), so that each point in the management target area M is covered with radio waves from two or more wireless stations 2. Preferably, at least one of the plurality of radio stations 2 is arranged along the outer edge of the management target area M.

  Here, each radio station 2 (especially the antenna portion) is the facility user for the radio wave transmitted by each radio station 2 (if the facility is a parking lot or the like, the vehicle on which the facility user drives or rides). Is provided at a position higher than the facility user (and the vehicle), for example, at a height of about 2 to 3 m from the floor surface or the ground of the management target area M. . Further, particularly when all or a part of the management target area M is outdoors, each radio station 2 is covered with a cover member (not shown) formed of a material that transmits radio waves (for example, acrylic resin). Further, a solar power generation power source or a wind power generation power source may be used as the power source of each radio station 2.

  FIG. 2 shows an example of the arrangement of a plurality of radio stations 2 in the facility. Here, for convenience of explanation, a case where the management target area M has a rectangular shape in plan view is shown. Note that the broken line in FIG. 2 schematically shows the radio field intensity from each radio station 2.

As shown in FIG. 2, the plurality of radio stations 2 (2 ₁ to 2 ₁₂ ) are arranged in a lattice pattern in a plan view in the facility (here, in the management target area M (area Ma to area Mf)). The interval between two adjacent radio stations 2 is set to be approximately equal to the reach of radio waves from each radio station 2. Then, the arrangement of such a plurality of radio stations 2, in the present embodiment, a plurality of most wireless station 2 (2 1 _{to 2 12)} are arranged along the outer edge of the controlled area M, also, As is clear from FIG. 2, each point in the management target area M is covered with radio waves from three or more radio stations 2.

  However, the arrangement of the plurality of radio stations 2 is not limited to the arrangement in the planar view lattice shape. Depending on the shape or the like of the management target area M, for example, as shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of wireless stations 2 may be arranged in a triangular lattice shape (or honeycomb shape) in plan view. Further, when the management target area M has an irregular shape, for example, a plurality of wireless stations 2 may be arranged so as to form a minimum rectangle that encloses the management target area M.

  Here, it is assumed that a predetermined application is installed in advance in the information communication terminal 10 possessed by the facility user when using the facility. And the information communication terminal 10 performs the following processes by the function of this predetermined application.

That is, when the information communication terminal 10 enters the communication range (within the radio wave reachable range) of at least one of the plurality of wireless stations 2, the information communication terminal 10 responds to a communication request from the wireless station 2. In response, wireless communication is established with the wireless station 2. The information communication terminal 10 is in a state where wireless communication is established with any one of the wireless stations 2, in other words, until the information communication terminal 10 goes out of the communication range of all the wireless stations 2. The radio communication received from each radio station 2 is measured, and the measurement result (hereinafter referred to as “received radio wave intensity information”) is continuously or intermittently established with its own identification information. Transmit to the radio station 2.
The radio field intensity received from each radio station 2 by the information communication terminal 10 is measured by a reception intensity measurement circuit mounted on the information communication terminal 10.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the management apparatus 3.
As illustrated in FIG. 4, the management device 3 can selectively pause or operate a part of the plurality of wireless stations 2 and the transmission / reception unit 31 that can perform wireless communication or wired communication with the wireless station 2. And a position grasping unit 33 for detecting the position of the information communication terminal 10 and grasping the position of the facility user.

  The transmission / reception unit 31 receives the identification information of the information communication terminal 10 and the received radio wave intensity information from the information communication terminal 10 possessed by the facility user via the wireless station 2. The received identification information and received radio wave intensity information are output to the position grasping unit 33.

  The selection unit 32 selectively suspends or operates some of the plurality of radio stations 2 based on the facility manager's selection command via the input unit (not shown). When the selection command is not input, the selection unit 32 operates all of the plurality of radio stations 2 in principle. The radio station 2 to be suspended or operated can be arbitrarily selected by the facility manager, and can be specified by, for example, the management number. In addition, when a part of the plurality of radio stations 2 is suspended or operated, the selection unit 32 stores information (pause / operating radio station information) about the radio station 2 that has been suspended or operated. Output to.

5 and 6 show an example of a state in which some of the plurality of wireless stations 2 (2 ₁ to 2 ₁₂ ) are suspended. Here, only a case where a part of the plurality of radio stations 2 is suspended will be described. However, a case where a part of the plurality of radio stations 2 is operated is a radio other than the radio station 2 to be suspended in the following description. The station 2 may be operated.

For example, regarding the area Ma of the management target area M, when it is not necessary to grasp the position of the facility user or when it is not necessary to grasp the position of the facility user in detail, the facility management inputs the pause command to pause the radio station 2 ₁ via the input unit. Then, the selection unit 32, as shown in FIG. 5, by resting the wireless station 2 ₁ stops the transmission of radio waves from the radio station 2 _1. It may be caused to pause the radio station 2 ₂ and / or wireless station 2 ₅ In addition to the radio station 2 _1.

Further, when it is not necessary to grasp the location of the facility user for the region Mc and the region Mf of the management target region M or when it is not necessary to grasp the location of the facility user in detail, The facility manager inputs a suspension command for suspending the radio stations 2 ₄ , 2 ₈ , 2 ₁₂ via the input unit. Then, the selection unit 32, as shown in FIG. 6, the radio station _{2 4,} 2 _{8, 2 12} by resting the radio station _{2 4,} 2 _{8, 2} stops the transmission of radio waves from the _12.

The facility manager can pause any radio station. For example, the facility manager can continue to manage the facility user by the position management system 1 and can manage a plurality of radio stations 2 (2 ₁ to 2 _12. ) Can be paused one by one in order, and maintenance of each radio station 2 can be performed.

  Returning to FIG. 4, the position grasping unit 33 grasps the position of the facility user by detecting the position of the information communication terminal 10 in the management target area M based on the received radio wave intensity information.

As indicated by broken lines in FIG. 2, the radio field intensity from the plurality of radio stations 2 (2 ₁ to 2 ₁₂ ) is different information at each location (each location) in the management target area M, that is, each location. It becomes unique information. The position grasping unit 33 is, for example, an in-facility radio wave intensity map (hereinafter simply referred to as “in-facility radio wave intensity map”) created by measuring in advance radio wave intensity from each radio station 2 (2 ₁ to 2 ₁₂ ) in each location within the management target area M. "Radio field strength map"). Then, the position grasping unit 33 detects (estimates) the position of the information communication terminal 10 by referring to the radio field intensity map based on the received radio field intensity information acquired from the information communication terminal 10, and this detection (estimation). The position of the information communication terminal 10 is grasped as the position of the facility user who possesses the information communication terminal 10.

Here, the position grasping unit 33 has a radio wave intensity map corresponding to a case where a part of the plurality of wireless stations 2 (2 ₁ to 2 ₁₂ ) is suspended or a part thereof is operated. Based on the pause / operating radio station information input from the selection unit 32 (that is, according to the selection result by the selection unit 32), the position of the information communication terminal 10 is detected by switching the radio wave intensity map to be referred to. .

For example, (see FIG. 5) is when rested radio station 2 _1, locating unit 33 refers to the radio intensity map created based on the radio wave strength from the radio station 2 _{2-2 12} The position of the information communication terminal 10 is detected. For example, when the radio stations 2 ₄ , 2 ₈ , and 2 ₁₂ are suspended (see FIG. 6), the position grasping unit 33 includes the radio stations 2 ₁ to 2 ₃ , the radio stations 2 ₅ to 2 _7, and The position of the information communication terminal 10 is detected with reference to a radio field intensity map created based on radio field intensity from the radio stations 2 _{9 to} 2 ₁₁ .

The radio field intensity map created based on the radio field intensity from the radio stations 2 _{2 to} 2 _{12 is} simply created based on the radio field intensity from the radio stations 2 ₁ to 2 ₁₂ . the radio wave strength from the radio station 2 ₁ can be those that have been 0 on the radio intensity map. Similarly, the radio field intensity map created based on the radio field intensity from the radio stations 2 _{1 to} 2 ₃ , the radio stations 2 ₅ to 2 ₇ and the radio stations 2 ₉ to 2 ₁₁ is simply expressed as a radio station. In the radio field intensity map created based on the radio field intensity from 2 _{1 to} 2 ₁₂ , the radio field intensity from the radio stations 2 ₄ , 2 ₈ , 2 ₁₂ can be set to 0.

  Further, the position grasping unit 33 has table data or the like in which the identification information of each information communication terminal and the owner thereof are associated with each other, so that the position grasping unit 33 specifies who is in the management target area M and where. It is also possible.

  The management device 3 grasps and manages the location of the facility user in the management target area M as described above. That is, the management device 3 can always grasp and manage where each facility user is in the management target area M. Thereby, it becomes possible to provide an appropriate service according to the position of each facility user. For example, if the management apparatus 3 has information about each area obtained by dividing the management target area M into a plurality of areas, the management apparatus 3 will notify each facility user of the current location (area to which each facility user belongs). ) Can be transmitted to the information communication terminal 10 possessed by each facility user via the wireless station 2. Moreover, the management apparatus 3 can also manage entrance / exit of each facility user when the management target area M includes the entrance / exit of the facility.

As described above, the location management system 1 is installed by a facility manager and is capable of performing wireless communication with the information communication terminal 10 possessed by the facility user (2 ₁ to 2 ₁₂ ). And the information communication terminal 10 detects the position of the information communication terminal 10 based on wireless radio wave intensity information (received radio wave intensity information) received from at least one of the plurality of radio stations 2, and is managed by the facility user And a management device 3 that grasps and manages the position in the area M. Here, the plurality of radio stations 2 are arranged at almost equal intervals in the facility, and each point or most points in the management target area M are not only radio waves from one radio station 2, Covered by radio waves from two or more radio stations 2.
As a result, regardless of whether it is indoors or outdoors, the location within the management target area M of each facility user is grasped in detail and managed without imposing a special burden on the facility manager and the facility user. Can do.

  Here, the plurality of radio stations 2 are installed by the facility manager, and a unique management number is assigned to each radio station 2 by the facility manager. Thereby, the facility manager can individually manage each of the plurality of radio stations 2 based on the management number. For example, even if any one of the radio stations 2 breaks down, the facility manager can quickly restore the failed radio station 2 and reduce the management accuracy of the location user's location. Can be suppressed.

  Further, since the location management system 1 is configured so that a part of the plurality of radio stations 2 can be selectively suspended or operated, the facility manager can change or request the management target area M. The radio station 2 used for detecting the location of the facility user can be arbitrarily selected according to the management (detection) accuracy to be performed. As a result, an appropriate number of radio stations 2 can be operated according to the situation, and transmission of unnecessary or excessive radio waves and power consumption can be suppressed. When any one of the wireless stations 2 breaks down, the position management system 1 determines the location of the facility user by stopping the wireless station 2 and switching to the corresponding radio wave intensity map. It is also possible to suppress a decrease in management accuracy (accuracy).

  Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and changes can be made based on the technical idea of the present invention.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, a plurality of wireless stations 2 are arranged at almost equal intervals (substantially equally), and each point in the management target area M is wireless from three or more wireless stations 2. Covered by radio waves. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and depending on the shape of the management target region M, some of the plurality of wireless stations 2 may be non-uniformly arranged, or a part of the management target region M may be partially arranged. May be configured to be covered by radio waves from one or two radio stations 2.

  In addition to the plurality of radio stations 2 installed by the facility manager, there are other radio stations (including public radio stations) whose radio waves cover a part or all of the management target area M. In addition to the radio field strength information received by the information communication terminal 10 from the plurality of radio stations 2, the management device 3 (position grasping unit 33) receives the radio received by the information communication terminal 10 from the other radio stations. The position of the information communication terminal 10 may be detected in consideration of the radio field intensity information. The other radio station may be one or plural. Further, the other radio station may be arranged either inside the facility (including the inside of the management target area M) or outside the facility. However, in order to improve the detection accuracy of the position of the information communication terminal 10 (facility user), it is preferable to use a plurality of the other radio stations arranged outside the plurality of radio stations 2. .

For example, as shown in FIG. 7, in addition to the plurality of radio stations 2 (2 ₁ to 2 ₁₂ ) installed by the facility manager, a plurality of other radio stations 20 (20 ₁ ˜20 ₆ ) is arranged, the management device 3 (position grasping unit 33), the information communication terminal 10 receives the radio field intensity information received from the plurality of wireless stations 22 ₁ ˜2 ₁₂ ) and the plurality of pieces of information. The position of the information communication terminal 10 is detected based on the radio field intensity information received from the other radio stations 20 (20 _{1 to} 20 ₆ ).

In this case, the management device 3 (position grasping unit 33), for example, each wireless station 2 (2 ₁ to 2 ₁₂ ) and each other wireless station 20 (20 _{1 to} 20 ₆ ) at each location in the management target area M. Has a radio field intensity map created by measuring in advance the radio field intensity of the radio. Also, the information communication terminal 10 measures the radio field intensity received from each radio station 2 and each other radio station 20 by the function of the predetermined application, and wirelessly communicates the measurement result (received radio field intensity information). Is transmitted to the radio station 2. The management device 3 (position grasping unit 33) is created based on the radio field strength from each radio station 2 and each other radio station 20, based on the received radio field strength information acquired from the information communication terminal 10. In addition, by referring to the radio wave intensity map, the position of the information communication terminal 10 is detected, and the position of the facility user carrying the information communication terminal 10 is grasped.

Alternatively, the management device 3 (position grasping unit 33) generates the first radio wave created by measuring in advance the radio wave intensity from each radio station 2 (2 ₁ to 2 ₁₂ ) at each location in the management target area M. An intensity map, and a second radio field intensity map created by measuring in advance the radio field intensity from each of the other radio stations 20 (20 _{1 to} 20 ₆ ). Then, the management device 3 (position grasping unit 33) includes a first position detected based on the received radio wave intensity information for a plurality of radio stations 2 (that is, using the first radio wave intensity map), a plurality of The position of the information communication terminal 10 is calculated using the second position detected based on the received radio field intensity information for the other radio station 20 (that is, using the second radio field intensity map). In this case, it is preferable to calculate the position of the information communication terminal 10 by weighting the first position larger than the second position.
In this case, since the same effect as that obtained when the facility manager further adds a plurality of radio stations 2 can be obtained, the facility particularly in the area covered by the radio waves of the other radio stations 20 can be obtained. It becomes possible to improve the management accuracy (grasping accuracy) of the user's position.

  Further, the radio wave intensity (distribution) in the management target area M is adjusted, the radio wave from the specific radio station 2 is given directivity, or the radio wave intensity outside the management target area M is reduced. In order to reduce the radio field intensity at a predetermined location in the management target area M, the facility manager may determine a predetermined position in the facility, more specifically, a predetermined position in the management target area M. You may make it install the shield which shields a radio wave in a position.

  For example, in a case where it is desired to determine (manage) whether or not the facility user has passed through a predetermined location in the management target area M, one or a plurality of the shields are installed to wirelessly transmit the predetermined location. By determining whether or not the facility user has passed the predetermined location by significantly reducing the radio wave or making the area sandwiching the predetermined location covered by the radio waves of different radio stations 2 It can be done easily.

1 ... Position Management System 2 ₍₂ 1 _{to 2 12)} ... radio station 3 ... management device 31 ... transceiver 32 ... selection unit (selection means)
33 ... Position grasping part (position grasping means)
M ... Management target area

Claims (12)

A system for managing the location of facility users in a facility,
A plurality of radio stations installed by a facility manager and capable of wireless communication with information communication terminals possessed by the facility user;
A position grasping means for detecting a position of the information communication terminal based on wireless radio wave intensity information received from at least one of the plurality of wireless stations by the information communication terminal and grasping a position of the facility user;
Having a system.   The system according to claim 1, wherein some of the plurality of radio stations are arranged outside the facility.   The position grasping means has an in-facility radio wave intensity map in which each location in the facility is associated with radio radio wave intensities from the plurality of radio stations, and the information communication is performed with reference to the radio wave intensity map. The system according to claim 1, wherein the position of the terminal is detected.   The position grasping means includes the information communication terminal in consideration of radio field strength information received from at least one other radio station other than the plurality of radio stations installed by the facility manager. The system according to claim 1, wherein the position is detected.   The position grasping means includes a first position based on radio field strength information received by the information communication terminal from at least one of the plurality of radio stations, and the information communication terminal received from the at least one other radio station. The system according to claim 4, wherein the position of the information communication terminal is calculated using a second position based on the wireless radio field intensity information.   The system according to claim 5, wherein the position grasping unit calculates the position of the information communication terminal by weighting the first position larger than the second position.   The position grasping means includes a first in-facility radio wave intensity map in which each location in the facility is associated with radio radio wave intensities from the plurality of radio stations, each location in the facility, and the at least one A second in-facility radio wave intensity map associated with radio radio wave intensities from other radio stations, and detecting the first position with reference to the first in-facility radio wave intensity map, The system according to claim 5, wherein the second position is detected with reference to the second facility radio wave intensity map.   The system according to claim 1, further comprising selection means capable of selectively suspending or operating a part of the plurality of radio stations.   The position grasping means has an in-facility radio wave intensity map corresponding to each of cases where a part of the plurality of radio stations is suspended or operated, and an in-facility radio wave to be referred to according to a selection result by the selection means The system according to claim 8, wherein the position of the information communication terminal is detected by switching an intensity map.   The system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of radio stations are regularly arranged.   The system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of radio stations include at least one radio station arranged along an outer edge of a management target area set in the facility.   The system according to claim 1, further comprising a shield that is installed by the facility manager and shields radio waves from at least one of the plurality of radio stations.