JP2018092242A - Beacon and server - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To collect measurement results by sensors with the use of a beacon mesh.SOLUTION: Multiple beacons 11 are mutually communicable within a predetermined radio wave arrival distance so as to transmit and receive a predetermined signal. Each one of the beacons 11 is arranged in a device to which electricity is supplied, and connected to a sensor 12 for measuring a predetermined physical amount. The beacons 11 are set in a system including: the multiple beacons 11 that are arranged within a radio wave arrival distance of at least one of other beacons 11; and a control device 20 that is communicable with at least one beacon among the multiple beacons 11. The beacon 11 comprises: communication means for receiving a signal including an acquisition request of a detection result by a sensor 12 transmitted from the control device 20; and acquisition means for acquiring a detection result of a predetermined physical amount from the sensor 12 on the basis of the request. The communication means transmits a signal including the detection result acquired by the acquisition means to the control device 20.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a beacon and a server.

There is a beacon (radio beacon) that notifies the receiver of various information such as position by emitting electromagnetic waves or the like. Some beacons send information to mobile computers. For example, some beacons for mobile computers use Bluetooth (registered trademark). By receiving identification information from a plurality of transmitters, a receiving computer can know its own position.

  In addition, an information communication system is proposed in which a wireless communication monitoring device transmits beacon transmission level information to a beacon and adjusts the beacon transmission level for a beacon that transmits information to a moving body such as an automobile including a receiver. Has been.

  There is a technique for configuring a beacon mesh with a plurality of beacons. Beacons constituting a beacon mesh (also referred to as mesh-type beacons) have a function of communicating with other beacons installed within the reach of radio waves and form a multi-hop wireless network as a whole. The mesh type beacon transmits a radio beacon including its own identification information to other beacons. The beacon mesh can be connected to other networks via a gateway.

JP 2005-149282 A Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2015-88807

  It is required to collect detailed environmental information (road traffic, weather, etc.) in units of city blocks in real time. However, since it is necessary to provide a sensor for acquiring environmental information and a communication means for acquiring a detection result of the sensor for each block, it is difficult to collect detailed environmental information in real time for each block.

  This invention makes it a subject to provide the technique which collects the measurement result by a sensor using a beacon mesh.

In order to solve the above problems, the following means are adopted.
That is, the first aspect is
A plurality of beacons capable of communicating with each other within a predetermined radio wave reach and transmitting / receiving a predetermined signal, each of the plurality of beacons being installed in a device to which electricity is supplied and measuring a predetermined physical quantity A plurality of beacons that are connected to a sensor that is disposed within the radio wave reach of at least one other beacon, and a controller that is capable of communicating with at least one of the plurality of beacons. A beacon,
A communication means for receiving a signal including a request for acquisition of a detection result by the sensor transmitted from the control device;
An acquisition means for acquiring a detection result of a predetermined physical quantity from the sensor based on the request;
With
The communication means transmits a signal including the detection result acquired by the acquisition means to the control device;
Beacon.

The second aspect further includes:
With a rechargeable secondary battery,
The secondary battery is charged by electricity supplied to the device,
When the supply of electricity to the device is stopped, electricity is supplied by the secondary battery.
Beacon.

The third aspect is
A plurality of beacons that can communicate with each other within a predetermined radio wave reach and transmit / receive a predetermined signal, each of the plurality of beacons being connected to a sensor that measures a predetermined physical quantity, and at least one other beacon A server connected to a system including a plurality of beacons arranged within the radio wave reach of a beacon and a control device capable of communicating with at least one beacon of the plurality of beacons,
A signal including a request for acquisition of a detection result by the sensor and identification information of the beacon connected to the sensor is transmitted to the control device toward the beacon, and a signal including the detection result by the sensor from the beacon. Means for receiving from the control device;
Storage means for storing the detection result in association with the identification information of the beacon;
Calculating means for extracting identification information of the beacon, wherein the detection result satisfies a predetermined condition,
The communication unit transmits a signal including address information for accessing predetermined information and the identification information of the beacon extracted by the calculation unit toward the beacon to the control device.
Let it be a server.

  An aspect of the disclosure may be realized by executing a program by an information processing device. That is, the disclosed configuration can be specified as a program for causing the information processing apparatus to execute the processing executed by each unit in the above-described aspect, or a computer-readable recording medium on which the program is recorded. Further, the disclosed configuration may be specified by a method in which the information processing apparatus executes the process executed by each of the above-described units. The configuration of the disclosure may be specified as a system including an information processing apparatus that performs the processing executed by each of the above-described units.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to collect measurement results from sensors using a beacon mesh.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a system according to the embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of functional blocks of the beacon 11. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of functional blocks of the control device 20. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of functional blocks of the terminal 30. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of functional blocks of the server 40. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of the information processing apparatus. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation sequence when the server acquires the detection result by the sensor from the beacon in the beacon mesh. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation sequence when the server provides information to terminals existing around a vending machine in which a beacon is installed.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The configuration of the embodiment is an exemplification, and the configuration of the invention is not limited to the specific configuration of the disclosed embodiment. In carrying out the invention, a specific configuration according to the embodiment may be adopted as appropriate.

Embodiment
<System configuration>
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a system according to the embodiment. In the present embodiment, in addition to the radio beacon transmitted and received for positioning or the like, the radio beacon transmission device is referred to as a beacon. The system according to this embodiment includes a vending machine 10 (in FIG. 1, vending machine 10A to vending machine 10C), a control device 20, a terminal 30, and a server 40. The vending machine 10 includes a beacon 11 (in FIG. 1, beacon 11A to beacon 11C) and a sensor 12 (in FIG. 1, sensor 12A to sensor 12C). The terminal 30 exists at a position where a signal from any one of the beacons 11 can be received. For example, the terminal 30 is carried by a user or attached to a predetermined object. The control device 20 and the server 40 are connected via a network 50 such as the Internet. The terminal 30 may be connected to the network 50. The beacon 11A to the beacon 11C form a multi-hop wireless network.

  The vending machine 10 is a device that stores and sells products such as beverages. The vending machine 10 is supplied with electricity from a commercial power source or the like. The vending machine 10 may be supplied with electricity by a private power generator. The vending machine 10 includes a beacon 11 and a sensor 12. The electricity supplied to the vending machine 10 is also supplied to the beacon 11 and the sensor 12.

  The beacon 11 transmits a wireless sign including identification information and transmission date / time. In addition, the beacon 11 according to the present embodiment has a function of communicating with other beacons 11 installed within the reach of radio waves, and forms a multi-hop wireless network as a whole. In addition, each of the plurality of beacons is arranged within the radio wave reach of at least one other beacon. The beacon 11 receives the identification information of the terminal 30 from the terminal 30. The beacon 11 transmits the identification information of the beacon 11 itself, the reception intensity of the signal from the terminal 30, information indicating the state of the beacon 11, the detection result of the sensor 12, and the like to the other beacons 11 together with the identification information from the terminal 30. Send to. Information indicating the state of the beacon 11 and the like may include information received from another beacon 11. A plurality of beacons that can communicate with each other are collectively referred to as a beacon mesh. Moreover, although the three beacons 11 were illustrated in FIG. 1, the number of beacons 11 is not limited to three. The beacon 11 has, for example, a microcontroller and an antenna, and realizes various functions by cooperation of them.

The sensor 12 is, for example, a camera, a microphone, a thermometer, a hygrometer, an optical sensor, an infrared sensor, an electric meter, a gas meter, a water meter, a measuring instrument, an atmospheric pressure sensor, an illuminance sensor, a human sensor, a vibration sensor, an acceleration sensor, or the like. is there. By these, predetermined physical quantities such as temperature, humidity, illuminance, and atmospheric pressure around the vending machine 10 can be measured. The sensor 12 detects video, images, sounds, values, and the like. The detection result by the sensor 12 is transmitted to the beacon 11. The sensor 12 may transmit the detection time together with the detection result. The sensor 12 may have a wireless communication function using Bluetooth or the like. At this time, the sensor 12 can transmit a detection result or the like to the beacon 11 in a Bluetooth packet. The sensor 12 may be communicably connected to the beacon 11 by wire. The sensor 12 may be built in the beacon 11. The sensor 12 may be a temperature sensor that measures the temperature in the refrigerator in the vending machine 10, a sensor that counts money in the vending machine 10, a sensor that counts products in the vending machine 10, and the like. Good. The detection result detected by the sensor 12 is also referred to as environmental information.

  The control device 20 is a device that centrally controls the operations of the plurality of beacons 11. For example, the control device 20 transmits specific information including identification information for specifying any of the plurality of beacons 11 and predetermined information to the surrounding beacons 11. On the other hand, when the beacon 11 relays the received specific information to the surrounding beacons 11 and receives specific information including identification information indicating itself, the beacon 11 performs a predetermined process based on the specific information. The specific information may include information for controlling the operation of the beacon 11, for example. The control device 20 operates as a gateway that connects the beacon mesh and the network 50.

  The terminal 30 receives the wireless sign from the beacon 11. The terminal 30 transmits identification information for identifying the terminal 30 itself to the beacon 11. 1 shows one terminal 30, the number of terminals 30 is not limited to one. The terminal 30 may have a function as the beacon 11. For example, the terminal 30 may function as one beacon 11 in the beacon mesh. The terminal 30 may include various sensors or be connected to an external sensor. The terminal 30 may be carried by the user or attached to a movable object.

  The server 40 sets, for example, identification information and transmission date / time of the beacon 11 included in the wireless sign from the terminal 30, reception date / time of the wireless sign at the terminal 30, a detection result by the sensor 12, and identification information of the terminal 30. Is acquired via the beacon mesh and the control device 20. The server 40 can acquire information indicating the state of the beacon 11, the detection result by the sensor 12, and the like. Further, the server 40 outputs the acquired information to the terminal 30 or the like via the network 50. The server 40 may output information or the like according to the terminal 30.

<Functional configuration of beacon>
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of functional blocks of the beacon 11 according to the embodiment. The beacon 11 is installed in the vending machine 10. The beacon 11 includes a sign information transmission unit 111, an intercommunication unit 112, and a storage unit 113.

  Based on the information held in the storage unit 113, the sign information transmission unit 111 transmits a radio sign including identification information for identifying the beacon 11, and notifies the reception side device of proximity. The wireless sign may include date and time information indicating a transmission time. Specifically, a technique such as BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) can be used, and wireless sign broadcast communication may be performed.

  The mutual communication unit 112 transmits and receives information to and from the other beacons 11, the terminals 30, and the control device 20. For example, mutual communication may be performed based on a profile such as GATT in BLE. The mutual communication unit 112 may perform connection-type communication. In addition, when the mutual communication unit 112 receives specific information including identification information of another beacon 11, the mutual communication unit 112 relays the specific information to surrounding beacons 11. On the other hand, when specific information including identification information indicating itself is received, the specific information is stored in the storage unit 113 and predetermined processing is performed based on the specific information. The mutual communication unit 112 receives a signal including the terminal ID of the terminal 30 from the terminal 30. The mutual communication unit 112 measures the reception strength of the received signal. The mutual communication unit 112 associates information included in the received signal with the reception intensity of the signal and stores the information in the storage unit 113. The mutual communication unit 112 receives the detection result from the sensor 12 from the sensor 12. The mutual communication unit 112 stores the detection result by the sensor 12 in the storage unit 113.

  The mutual communication unit 112 may respond to the control device 20 via the beacon mesh network with information held in the storage unit 113 in response to a request from the control device 20. Information stored in the storage unit 113 may include information acquired by an internal sensor or an external sensor of the beacon 11. In addition, unique identification information may be assigned in advance to information such as specific information transmitted and received between the beacons 11. At this time, the mutual communication unit 112 once stores the identification information of the transferred information in the storage unit 113, and when the information is transferred, the identification information of the information transferred to the storage unit 113 in the past. If it is information transferred in the past, it is not necessary to transfer the information. Thereby, it can be avoided that the same information continues to be transferred in the beacon mesh.

The storage unit 113 is a non-volatile memory, and is realized by, for example, an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory) such as a flash memory included in a microprocessor. In addition, the storage unit 113 stores predetermined identification information of the beacon 11, a set value of radio wave intensity when the sign information transmission unit 111 transmits a wireless sign, and the like. The storage unit 113 stores information included in the received signal, reception intensity of the signal, detection result by the sensor 12, detection time, and the like. The detection time is, for example, the time when the detection result by the sensor 12 is received. Moreover, the sensor 12 may transmit the detection time to the beacon 11 together with the detection result.

<Functional configuration of control device>
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of functional blocks of the control device 20 according to the embodiment. The control device 20 is, for example, a general computer, and includes a beacon communication unit 21, an information acquisition unit 22, and a storage unit 23. The beacon communication unit 21 performs bidirectional communication with the beacon 11. That is, the specific information described above is transmitted, or life / death information or information held by the beacon 11 is received from the beacon 11. The control device 20 may be connected to one beacon 11 by wire or the like so as to be communicable.

  For example, the information acquisition unit 22 acquires predetermined information from a device (not shown) via the network 50 such as the Internet or a dedicated line. In addition, the information acquisition unit 22 causes the beacon communication unit 21 to transmit specific information based on an input from a user who operates the control device 20, and changes the setting of the beacon 11. Further, the information acquisition unit 22 may acquire information from each beacon 11. Further, identification information corresponding to all beacons 11 may be included in the specific information, and the beacon 11 may broadcast the same specific information only once. In addition, the beacon 11 increments the number of hops every time the setting change information is transferred so that the specific information includes the number of hops indicating the number of times the beacon mesh is transferred on the beacon mesh network, and is transferred between the beacons 11 a predetermined number of times. The specific information may be deleted from the beacon mesh.

  The storage unit 23 is realized by, for example, a hard disk drive (HDD), a solid state drive (SSD), a flash memory, or the like. The memory | storage part 23 memorize | stores the positional information which shows the installation place of several beacon 11, an operation | movement setting, etc. in association with the identification information (beacon ID) of each beacon.

<Functional configuration of terminal>
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of functional blocks of the terminal 30 according to the embodiment. The terminal 30 is a computer such as a smartphone or a slate PC, for example, and includes a sign information transmission unit 31, a mutual communication unit 32, a storage unit 33, and a display unit 34. Note that the sign information transmission unit 31 and the mutual communication unit 32 are realized by, for example, application software (also called a program) installed in the terminal 30 using the communication function of the terminal 30.

  The beacon information transmission unit 31 transmits a radio beacon including identification information for identifying the terminal 30 as the beacon 11 based on the information held in the storage unit 33, and notifies the reception side device of proximity. I do. The wireless sign may include date and time information indicating a transmission time. Specifically, a technique such as BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) can be used, and wireless sign broadcast communication may be performed. The radio beacon (information) including the identification information of the terminal 30 transmitted by the terminal 30 can be received by a plurality of beacons.

  The mutual communication unit 32 transmits and receives information to and from the other beacons 11, the terminals 30, and the control device 20. For example, mutual communication may be performed based on a profile such as GATT in BLE. The mutual communication unit 32 may perform connection-type communication. Further, when receiving the specific information including the identification information of the other beacons 11, the mutual communication unit 32 relays the specific information to the surrounding beacons 11. On the other hand, when specific information including identification information indicating itself is received, the specific information is stored in the storage unit 33 and predetermined processing is performed based on the specific information. Further, the mutual communication unit 32 may respond to the control device 20 via the beacon mesh network with information held in the storage unit 33 in response to a request from the control device 20.

  The mutual communication unit 32 receives the radio marker transmitted by the beacon 11 and stores it in the storage unit 33. The storage unit 33 is a volatile memory or a nonvolatile memory. For example, it is realized by a random access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), an EEPROM such as a flash memory, or the like. In addition, the mutual communication unit 32 transmits the wireless label stored in the storage unit 33, the reception date and time of the wireless label, and the identification information for specifying the terminal 30 to the server 40 via the beacon mesh. The identification information for specifying the terminal 30 may use an ID provided by an OS (Operating System) such as a smartphone, or the server 40 may provide unique identification information for the application software of the terminal 30. May be issued.

  The storage unit 33 is realized by, for example, a hard disk drive (HDD), a solid state drive (SSD), a flash memory, or the like. The storage unit 33 stores identification information for identifying the terminal 30 from the terminal 30. The memory | storage part 33 memorize | stores the positional information etc. which show the installation place of the some beacon 11 in correlation with identification information (beacon ID) of each beacon.

  The display unit 34 displays the position information stored in the storage unit 33 and other information such as information acquired from the server 40 on a monitor provided in the terminal 30.

<Functional configuration of server>
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of functional blocks of the server 40 according to the embodiment. The server 40 is, for example, a stationary computer, and includes a communication unit 41, a calculation unit 42, and a storage unit 43. The control device 20 and the server 40 may be integrated to operate as one control device.

  The communication unit 41 transmits and receives information to and from the control device 20 and the terminal 30 via the network 50 such as the Internet. As described above, the communication unit 41 receives information including the identification information of the terminal 30 from the terminal 30 via the beacon mesh and the control device 20 and stores the information in the storage unit 43.

  The calculation unit 42 performs a predetermined calculation based on information from the beacon 11 and the terminal 30. For example, the calculation unit 42 calculates the position where the terminal 30 is present.

  The storage unit 43 includes, for example, an HDD, an SSD, a flash memory, and the like, and receives information from the terminal 30 via the beacon mesh and the control device 20, and information indicating the position of the terminal 30 calculated based on the information. May be stored in advance as to the position where each beacon 11 is installed (the position of each vending machine 10) and information about the periphery of the position where the beacon 11 is installed. The memory | storage part 43 matches and stores the identification information (beacon ID) of each beacon 11 of a beacon mesh, and the positional information which shows the presence position of each beacon.

<Device configuration>
The control device 20 and the terminal 30 are a smartphone, a mobile phone, a tablet terminal, a car navigation device, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), and a PC (Personal Computer).
This can be realized using a dedicated or general-purpose computer such as the above, or an electronic device equipped with a computer. The server 40 can be realized using a dedicated or general-purpose computer such as a PC or a work station (WS), or an electronic device equipped with the computer.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of the information processing apparatus. The information processing apparatus 90 shown in FIG. 6 has a general computer configuration. The control device 20, the terminal 30, and the server 40 are realized by an information processing device 90 as shown in FIG. The information processing apparatus 90 includes a processor 91, a memory 92, a storage unit 93, an input unit 94, an output unit 95, and a communication control unit 96. These are connected to each other by a bus. The memory 92 and the storage unit 93 are computer-readable recording media. The hardware configuration of the information processing apparatus is not limited to the example illustrated in FIG. 6, and components may be omitted, replaced, or added as appropriate.

  In the information processing apparatus 90, a processor 91 loads a program stored in a recording medium into a work area of the memory 92 and executes the program, and each component is controlled through execution of the program, thereby meeting a predetermined purpose. Function can be realized.

  The processor 91 is, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or a DSP (Digital Signal Processor).

  The memory 92 includes, for example, a RAM (Random Access Memory) and a ROM (Read Only Memory). The memory 92 is also called a main storage device.

The storage unit 93 is, for example, an EPROM (Erasable Programmable ROM), a hard disk drive (HDD, Hard Disk Drive), or a solid state drive (SSD, Solid State Drive). The storage unit 93 can include a removable medium, that is, a portable recording medium. The removable media is, for example, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory or a disc recording medium such as a CD (Compact Disc) or a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc). The storage unit 93 is also called a secondary storage device.

  The storage unit 93 stores various programs, various data, and various tables in a recording medium in a readable and writable manner. The storage unit 93 stores an operating system (OS), various programs, various tables, and the like. Information stored in the storage unit 93 may be stored in the memory 92. In addition, information stored in the memory 92 may be stored in the storage unit 93.

The operating system is software that mediates software and hardware, manages memory space, manages files, manages processes and tasks, and the like. The operating system includes a communication interface. The communication interface is a program for exchanging data with other external devices connected via the communication control unit 96. Examples of the external device include other information processing devices and external storage devices.

  The input unit 94 includes a keyboard, a pointing device, a wireless remote controller, a touch panel, and the like. The input unit 94 may include a video / image input device such as a camera, and an audio input device such as a microphone.

The output unit 95 includes a display device such as a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) display, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), a PDP (Plasma Display Panel), and an EL (Electroluminescence) panel, and an output device such as a printer. The output unit 95 can include an audio output device such as a speaker.

The communication control unit 96 is connected to another device and controls communication between the information processing device 90 and the other device. The communication control unit 96 is, for example, a LAN (Local Area Network) interface board, a wireless communication circuit for wireless communication such as Bluetooth (registered trademark), or a communication circuit for telephone communication. The LAN interface board and the wireless communication circuit are connected to a network such as the Internet.

  The computer that realizes the control device 20, the terminal 30, and the server 40 realizes each function by the processor loading and executing the program stored in the secondary storage device to the main storage device. In addition, the storage unit of each device is provided in a storage area of the main storage device or the secondary storage device.

<Operation example>
<< Collecting environmental information >>
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation sequence when the server acquires the detection result by the sensor from the beacon in the beacon mesh. Here, in the system as shown in FIG. 1, the server 40 requests the beacon 11A to acquire the detection result (environment information) by the sensor 12A installed in the vending machine 10A. Each beacon 11 of the beacon mesh is installed in the vending machine 10. All beacons 11 are installed at positions where they can communicate with any other beacon 11. Further, at least one beacon 11 is installed at a position where it can communicate with the control device 20. It is assumed that the terminal 30 is present at a position where a radio sign from at least one beacon 11 can be received.

  In SQ1001, the server 40 transmits a signal including an instruction (command and command) for requesting acquisition of a detection result (environment information) by the sensor 12 corresponding to the beacon 11A toward the beacon mesh including the beacon 11A. The server 40 may transmit a signal including the request based on a predetermined schedule. The server 40 may transmit a signal including an instruction for requesting acquisition of a detection result by the sensor 12 corresponding to the beacon 11 other than the beacon 11A. The control device 20 receives the signal (environment information acquisition request) from the server 40.

In SQ1002, when receiving the environmental information acquisition request from the server 40, the control device 20 transmits a signal including the environmental information acquisition request toward the beacon 11 of the beacon mesh including the beacon 11A. The signal is, for example, an advertisement signal (notification signal). Further, the signal transmitted from the control device 20 may be a predetermined data signal used in mesh communication by Bluetooth. The signal used in mesh communication may be smaller than the advertise signal. The signal includes identification information for identifying the beacon 11A. A signal from the control device 20 may be received by the plurality of beacons 11. Here, it is assumed that the signal from the control device 20 is received by the beacon 11C. The control device 20 may transmit the signal as a beacon radio indicator.

  The beacon 11C that has received the signal from the control device 20 confirms the content of the signal. The beacon 11C confirms whether or not the information included in the received signal includes its own identification information and an instruction such as acquisition of the detection result of the sensor 12 corresponding to itself. Here, it is assumed that the signal does not include identification information of the beacon 11C. The beacon 11C stores information included in the received signal in the storage unit 113.

  In SQ1003, beacon 11C transmits a signal from control device 20 to surrounding beacons 11 and the like. Moreover, beacon 11C does not transmit the said signal, when the signal from the control apparatus 20 is the same signal as the signal transmitted previously. Here, it is assumed that the signal is received at least by the beacon 11A.

  The beacon 11A that has received the signal from the beacon 11C confirms the content of the signal. The beacon 11A confirms whether or not the information included in the received signal includes its own identification information and an instruction to acquire the detection result of the sensor 12A corresponding to the information. Here, it is assumed that the signal includes identification information of the beacon 11A and the like. The beacon 11A stores information included in the received signal in the storage unit 113.

  In SQ1004, when the beacon 11A recognizes that its own identification information is included in the received signal, the beacon 11A confirms an instruction to acquire the detection result of the sensor 12A corresponding to itself included in the received signal. The instruction to acquire the detection result of the sensor 12 </ b> A may be recognized in the beacon 11 by a bit value at a predetermined position in the signal, which is determined in advance between the control device 20 and each beacon 11, for example. The beacon 11D causes the sensor 12A to perform a predetermined measurement in accordance with an instruction to acquire the detection result of the sensor 12A corresponding to the beacon 11D. The sensor 12A performs a predetermined measurement according to an instruction from the beacon 11A, and transmits a detection result to the beacon 11A. The detection result of the sensor 12A is, for example, a temperature measurement result, a noise measurement result, or the like. The beacon 11A stores the detection result (environment information) acquired from the sensor 12A in the storage unit 113.

In SQ1005, the beacon 11A transmits a signal including information on the detection result acquired from the sensor 12A to the control device 20. The detection result acquired from the sensor 12A is, for example, a measured value of air temperature, a measured value of noise, or the like. The signal is, for example, an advertisement signal (notification signal). The signal may be, for example, a predetermined data signal used in Bluetooth mesh communication. The signal may include identification information for identifying the control device 20 as information indicating that the control device 20 is addressed. In addition, the signal may include identification information for identifying the beacon 11A as information indicating the beacon 11A that is the transmission source of the signal. The detection result acquired from the sensor 12A may be expressed by, for example, a bit value at a predetermined position in the signal that is determined in advance between the control device 20 and each beacon 11. Here, it is assumed that the signal is received by the beacon 11C.

  The beacon 11C that has received the signal from the beacon 11A confirms the content of the signal. The beacon 11C confirms whether the information included in the received signal includes its own identification information, an instruction to itself, or the like. Here, it is assumed that the signal does not include identification information of the beacon 11C. The beacon 11C stores information included in the received signal in the storage unit 113.

In SQ1006, beacon 11C transmits a signal from beacon 11A to surrounding beacons 11 and the like. In addition, when the signal from the beacon 11A is the same signal as the signal transmitted before, the beacon 11C does not transmit the signal so that the same signal is not continuously transferred. Here, it is assumed that the signal is received by the control device 20.

  The control device 20 that has received the signal from the beacon 11C confirms the content of the signal. The control device 20 confirms whether the information included in the received signal includes its own identification information or the like. Here, it is assumed that the signal includes identification information of the control device 20. The control device 20 stores information included in the received signal in the storage unit 23.

  In SQ1007, the control apparatus 20 transmits the signal received from the beacon 11C to the server 40 without transferring the signal to the mesh beacon. Since the received signal includes the identification information of the control device 20, the control device 20 does not transfer the signal to the mesh beacon. The server 40 receives a signal including the detection result acquired from the sensor 12A from the control device 20. The server 40 stores information included in the received signal in the storage unit 43. The server 40 stores the detection result in the storage unit 43 in association with the identification information of the beacon 11A corresponding to the detected sensor 12A.

  In SQ1008, the server 40 processes the received environment information detected by the sensor 12A as necessary, and outputs the processed environment information to the terminal 30 or another device. Further, the server 40 may output the environmental information detected by another sensor 12 acquired separately or the environmental information detected by the sensor 12A acquired in the past, together with the environmental information received here.

  The environment information acquisition request may request a detection result of the sensor of the terminal 30 existing around the beacon 11 (around the vending machine 10). The beacon 11 that has received the request instructs the terminals 30 around the beacon 11 to perform a predetermined measurement using the sensor. The terminal 30 performs a predetermined measurement and transmits the detection result to the beacon 11. The beacon 11 transmits the detection result acquired from the terminal 30 to the control device 20 and the server 40 in the same manner as described above.

  The server 40 can acquire the detection result by the sensor 12 installed in the vending machine 10 via the beacon mesh by the beacon 11 installed in the vending machine 10. The environment information may be information indicating the state of the beacon 11 such as the remaining battery level of the beacon 11 and the vending machine 10 in addition to information such as temperature, atmospheric pressure, and noise. A stable operation of the beacon 11 can be performed by installing the beacon 11 in the vending machine 10 and diverting the electricity supplied to the vending machine 10.

《Information provision》
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation sequence when the server provides information to terminals existing around a vending machine in which a beacon is installed. Here, in the system as shown in FIG. 1, the server 40 provides information to the terminals 30 existing around the vending machine 10A. Information provided by providing information includes advertising information, evacuation information, location information, and the like. The information provided by providing information is information that is preferably transmitted to the user of the terminal 30 existing around the vending machine 10A, for example. Here, URL information (web page address information) for accessing information to be provided is provided from the server 40 to the terminal 30 via the beacon mesh. The terminal 30 acquires information provided from the server 40 to the terminal 30 by accessing a web page based on URL information via a network such as the Internet. By providing the URL information via the beacon 11 of the vending machine 10, information can be provided to the terminals 30 existing around the vending machine 10.

In SQ2001, the server 40 transmits a signal including URL information to the beacon 11A for the terminal 30 existing around the beacon 11A (around the vending machine 10A). The URL information is address information of a web page on which information that the server 40 wants to provide to users of terminals existing around the vending machine 10A is posted. The signal may include information indicating an instruction to notify the URL information to surrounding terminals 30 and the like. The server 40 may transmit a signal including URL information directed to other beacons 11 other than the beacon 11A. The control device 20 receives the signal from the server 40.

  For example, the server 40 may transmit the URL information toward the vending machine 10 (beacon 11) in which the environment information acquired by the operation sequence of FIG. 7 satisfies a predetermined condition. At this time, the calculation unit 42 of the server 40 extracts the identification information of the vending machine 10 (beacon 11) that satisfies a predetermined condition from the storage unit 43. The signal including URL information transmitted from the server 40 includes the identification information. Thereby, arbitrary information can be provided toward the user of the terminal 30 existing around the vending machine 10 whose environmental information satisfies a predetermined condition. For example, the server 40 provides advertisement information of a predetermined beverage to the user of the terminal 30 existing around the vending machine 10 whose temperature is equal to or higher than a predetermined value. The predetermined beverage is, for example, a beverage sold by the vending machine 10.

In SQ2002, when receiving a signal including URL information from the server 40, the control device 20 transmits the signal toward the beacon 11 of the beacon mesh including the beacon 11A. The signal is, for example, an advertisement signal (notification signal). Further, the signal transmitted from the control device 20 may be a predetermined data signal used in mesh communication by Bluetooth. The signal used in mesh communication may be smaller than the advertise signal. The signal includes identification information for identifying the beacon 11A. A signal from the control device 20 may be received by the plurality of beacons 11. Here, it is assumed that the signal from the control device 20 is received by the beacon 11C. The control device 20 may transmit the signal as a beacon radio indicator.

  The beacon 11C that has received the signal from the control device 20 confirms the content of the signal. The beacon 11C confirms whether the information included in the received signal includes its own identification information, an instruction to itself, or the like. Here, it is assumed that the signal does not include identification information of the beacon 11C. The beacon 11C stores information included in the received signal in the storage unit 113.

  In SQ2003, beacon 11C transmits a signal from control device 20 to surrounding beacons 11 and the like. Moreover, beacon 11C does not transmit the said signal, when the signal from the control apparatus 20 is the same signal as the signal transmitted previously. Here, it is assumed that the signal is received at least by the beacon 11A.

  The beacon 11A that has received the signal from the beacon 11C confirms the content of the signal. The beacon 11A confirms whether the information included in the received signal includes its own identification information, URL information, or the like. Here, it is assumed that the signal includes identification information of the beacon 11A and the like. The beacon 11A stores information included in the received signal in the storage unit 113.

In SQ2004, when the beacon 11A recognizes that its received identification information is included in the received signal, the beacon 11A confirms the content of the signal. When the beacon 11A confirms that URL information is included in the received signal, the beacon 11A transmits the signal including the URL information to the terminals 30 around the vending machine 10A. The signal is, for example, an advertisement signal (notification signal). Also, the beacon 11A confirms that the received signal includes information indicating an instruction to notify the surrounding terminal 30 or the like of the URL information, and sends a signal including the URL information to the surroundings of the vending machine 10A. May be transmitted to the terminal 30 or the like. Vending machine 1
The terminal 30 existing around 0A receives a signal including URL information from the beacon 11A.

  In SQ2005, when receiving a signal including URL information from the beacon 11A, the terminal 30 requests information (predetermined information) for displaying a predetermined web page from the address indicated by the URL information. It is assumed that the web page includes information that the server 40 wants to provide to users of the terminals 30 around the vending machine 10A. Here, the address indicated by the URL information is the server 40, but the address indicated by the URL information is not limited to the server 40, and may be another server or the like. The request for information (predetermined information) for displaying a predetermined web page may be made based on an instruction from a user of the terminal 30.

  In SQ2006, when the server 40 receives a request for information for displaying a predetermined web page from the terminal 30, the server 40 transmits the information to the terminal 30. For example, the information is stored in advance in the storage unit 43 or the like, and the server 40 extracts the information from the storage unit 43 or the like and transmits the information to the terminal 30.

  In SQ2007, when receiving information (predetermined information) for displaying a predetermined web page from the server 40, the terminal 30 displays the web page on the monitor of the terminal 30 or the like. The user of the terminal 30 can check the displayed information.

  Thereby, the server 40 can provide desired information to the user of the terminal 30 existing in the predetermined area. Even when the desired information has a large size that is difficult to transmit via the beacon mesh, the desired information can be provided to the terminal 30 by notifying the terminal 30 of the URL information. Since the URL information is generally character information of about 100 bytes, it is possible to communicate via a beacon mesh. The communication range of each beacon 11 is a range of about several meters to several hundred meters. Therefore, the server 40 can provide desired information to the user of the terminal 30 existing in a limited range. For example, the server 40 can provide advertisement information, evacuation information (evacuation route information) at the time of a disaster, and position information.

<Others>
The beacon 11 uses the electricity supplied to the vending machine 10, but when a power failure occurs, the vending machine 10 stops and the beacon 11 also stops. Therefore, each beacon 11 includes a chargeable / dischargeable secondary battery, and when electricity is supplied (normal time), by charging the secondary battery, electricity can be supplied due to a power failure or the like. When the battery is not used, power can be supplied from the secondary battery. Thereby, the stable operation of the beacon 11 can be performed. Even if a power failure occurs due to a disaster or the like, if the secondary battery can supply electricity to the beacon 11, the beacon 11 transmits the detection result by the sensor 12 to the server 40 or evacuates to the terminal 30. URL information for providing information or the like can be transmitted.

  Here, the beacon 11 and the sensor 12 are installed in the vending machine 10, but the location (device) where the beacon 11 and the sensor 12 are installed is not limited to the vending machine 10, for example, street lights, Any place (apparatus) to which electricity is supplied such as a traffic light, a street monitor, a disaster prevention radio, a public telephone, a security camera, etc. may be used.

(Operation and effect of the embodiment)
The beacon 11 in the beacon mesh of the present embodiment receives a signal including a request for obtaining a detection result (environment information) by the sensor 12 from the server 40. The beacon 11 and the sensor 12 are installed in the vending machine 10. Based on the request, the beacon 11
Get the detection result by. The beacon 11 transmits a signal including the detection result toward the server 40. The beacon 11 can transmit a detection result using a packet of mesh communication in the beacon mesh. The server 40 acquires the detection result by the sensor 12 via the beacon mesh and the control device 20. The server 40 can acquire the detection result by the sensor 12 for each vending machine 10 in which the beacon 11 is installed.

  Moreover, the server 40 of this embodiment transmits URL information toward the specific beacon 11 in a beacon mesh. The beacon 11 that has received the URL information transmits the URL information to the terminals 30 existing in the vicinity. The terminal 30 receiving the URL information can acquire predetermined information by accessing the address indicated by the URL information. The server 40 can provide information to the terminals 30 existing around the vending machine 10 using the beacon mesh.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be changed or combined within a range not departing from the gist of the present invention.

<Computer-readable recording medium>
A program for causing a computer or other machine or device (hereinafter, a computer or the like) to realize any of the above functions can be recorded on a recording medium that can be read by the computer or the like. The function can be provided by causing a computer or the like to read and execute the program of the recording medium.

  Here, a computer-readable recording medium is a recording medium that stores information such as data and programs by electrical, magnetic, optical, mechanical, or chemical action and can be read from a computer or the like. Say. In such a recording medium, elements constituting a computer such as a CPU and a memory may be provided to cause the CPU to execute a program.

  Examples of such a recording medium that can be removed from a computer or the like include a flexible disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R / W, a DVD, a DAT, an 8 mm tape, and a memory card.

  Moreover, there are a hard disk, a ROM, and the like as a recording medium fixed to a computer or the like.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Vending machine 11 Beacon 12 Sensor 111 Sign information transmission part 112 Mutual communication part 113 Storage part 20 Control apparatus 21 Beacon communication part 22 Information acquisition part 23 Storage part 30 Terminal 31 Sign information transmission part 32 Mutual communication part 33 Storage part 34 Display Unit 40 server 41 communication unit 42 arithmetic unit 43 storage unit 50 network 90 information processing apparatus 91 processor 92 memory 93 storage unit 94 input unit 95 output unit 96 communication control unit

Claims (3)

A plurality of beacons capable of communicating with each other within a predetermined radio wave reach and transmitting / receiving a predetermined signal, each of the plurality of beacons being installed in a device to which electricity is supplied and measuring a predetermined physical quantity A plurality of beacons that are connected to a sensor that is disposed within the radio wave reach of at least one other beacon, and a controller that can communicate with at least one beacon of the plurality of beacons. A beacon,
A communication means for receiving a signal including a request for acquisition of a detection result by the sensor transmitted from the control device;
An acquisition means for acquiring a detection result of a predetermined physical quantity from the sensor based on the request;
The communication means transmits a signal including the detection result acquired by the acquisition means to the control device;
beacon. With a rechargeable secondary battery,
The secondary battery is charged by electricity supplied to the device,
When the supply of electricity to the device is stopped, electricity is supplied by the secondary battery.
The beacon according to claim 1. A plurality of beacons that can communicate with each other within a predetermined radio wave reach and transmit / receive a predetermined signal, each of the plurality of beacons being connected to a sensor that measures a predetermined physical quantity, and at least one other beacon A server connected to a system including a plurality of beacons arranged within the radio wave reach of a beacon and a control device capable of communicating with at least one beacon of the plurality of beacons,
A signal including a request for acquisition of a detection result by the sensor and identification information of the beacon connected to the sensor is transmitted to the control device toward the beacon, and a signal including the detection result by the sensor from the beacon. Means for receiving from the control device;
Storage means for storing the detection result in association with the identification information of the beacon;
Calculating means for extracting identification information of the beacon, wherein the detection result satisfies a predetermined condition,
The communication unit transmits a signal including address information for accessing predetermined information and the identification information of the beacon extracted by the calculation unit toward the beacon to the control device.
server.

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