JP6346597B2 - Radio station - Google Patents

Description

  Embodiments described herein relate generally to a wireless station, a search support apparatus, a wireless access point, a search support method, and a search support program.

  There is a search support device that supports a search for an article to which a wireless tag is attached by presenting a user with the position of the wireless tag detected using radio waves. For example, an RFID (Radio Frequency Identifier) tag is used as the wireless tag.

  However, in the case of an RFID tag, the communicable distance is about 5 m. For this reason, unless the search support apparatus is close to the search target article to some extent, the search support apparatus may not be able to detect the position of the article.

  Further, when the search target article is moved and the location of the article is unknown, the search support device may not be able to approach the search target article.

JP 2014-139553 A

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a wireless station, a search support device, a wireless access point, a search support method, and a search support program that can support searching for an article whose location is unknown.

  The wireless station according to the embodiment includes a notification unit that performs a notification operation using at least one output of sound, light, or vibration, a wireless communication unit that performs wireless communication, and a predetermined time interval via the wireless communication unit. A control unit that switches between a wireless transmission mode for transmitting identification information and an execution mode for causing the notification unit to execute the notification operation, wherein the control unit has acquired a predetermined instruction via the wireless communication unit; Sometimes the wireless transmission mode is switched to the execution mode.

The figure which illustrates the structure of the search assistance system of embodiment. The block diagram which illustrates the hardware constitutions of the search support system of an embodiment. The figure which illustrates the positional information on the radio station of embodiment. 6 is a diagram illustrating association data between a wireless station and a wireless tag according to the embodiment. FIG. The flowchart which illustrates operation | movement of the search assistance apparatus of embodiment. The flowchart which illustrates operation | movement of the search assistance apparatus of embodiment. The figure which illustrates the list display of embodiment. The figure which illustrates the 1st guidance display of an embodiment. The figure which illustrates the 2nd guidance display of an embodiment. The figure which illustrates the 3rd guidance display of an embodiment. The figure which illustrates the 4th guidance display of an embodiment. The figure which illustrates other position information on the radio tag of an embodiment. The block diagram which illustrates the functional composition of the search support device of an embodiment. The block diagram which illustrates the functional composition of the radio station of an embodiment. The block diagram which illustrates the functional composition of the access point of an embodiment. 6 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the wireless station according to the embodiment.

Hereinafter, a wireless station, a search support device, a wireless access point, a search support method, and a search support program according to embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings.
In each figure shown below, the same numerals are attached about the same composition and explanation is omitted.

  First, the configuration of the search support system will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a search support system according to an embodiment.

  In FIG. 1, a search support system 1000 according to this embodiment includes a search support apparatus 100, a wireless tag 200, a wireless station 300, and an access point 600.

  The search support device 100 is a device that supports the search for an article to which the wireless tag 200 is attached. The search support apparatus 100 includes a communication unit 1 and a portable information terminal 2. In a present Example, the communication unit 1 and the portable information terminal 2 are comprised by the hardware which can be isolate | separated, and illustrate the case where it connects so that communication is possible. The communication unit 1 and the portable information terminal 2 may be configured by hardware.

The communication unit 1 performs wireless communication with the wireless tag 200 and reads the tag ID of the wireless tag 200. The communication unit 1 transmits a predetermined radio wave for performing a tag ID transmission operation to the wireless tag 200. The communication unit 1 reads the tag ID from the wireless tag 200 that has performed the tag ID transmission operation by transmitting a predetermined radio wave.
The communication unit 1 includes a main body 1a, a holder 1b, and a grip 1c. The main body 1a is communicably connected to the portable information terminal 2 and transmits / receives data to / from the portable information terminal 2. A directional antenna for performing wireless communication with the wireless tag 200 is disposed on one surface of the main body 1a. The holder 1b holds the portable information terminal 2 in a detachable manner. The grip 1c is held by a user of the search support apparatus 100 (hereinafter referred to as “user”). When the user holds the grip 1c, the surface (antenna surface) of the main body 1a on which the directional antenna is disposed is in the forward direction of the user.

The portable information terminal 2 of the search support device 100 performs wireless communication with the wireless station 300 and the access point 600. The portable information terminal 2 is in communication with the communication unit 1. Wireless communication used between the wireless station 300 and the access point 600 may be used.
The search support apparatus 100 can use wireless communication of any communication standard. The communication distance that the search support apparatus 100 can communicate with varies depending on the communication standard of wireless communication to be used. In this embodiment, for example, wireless communication with a communication distance of about 70 m is used. As a communication standard for wireless communication to be used, for example, Bluetooth (registered trademark) can be used.
For the portable information terminal 2, for example, a device such as a smartphone or a tablet computer can be used. The portable information terminal 2 has a touch panel 23. The portable information terminal 2 is held by the holder 1b so that the touch panel 23 can be operated by the user. When the user holds the grip 1c while the portable information terminal 2 is held by the holder 1b, the touch panel 23 faces the user. The user can read the tag ID of the wireless tag 200 while holding the grip 1c and viewing the touch panel 23 with the antenna surface facing the wireless tag 200. Further, the user can operate the touch panel 23 while holding the grip 1c.

  The portable information terminal 2 can transmit a predetermined instruction to execute a notification operation by at least one output of sound, light, or vibration to a specific wireless station 300 via wireless communication. The user may be able to select a specific radio station 300 that transmits a predetermined instruction by operating the touch panel 23. Details of the operation of the radio station 300 in response to the predetermined instruction will be described later.

  The wireless tag 200 wirelessly communicates with the communication unit 1 of the search support apparatus 100 and transmits a tag ID for identifying the wireless tag by wireless communication. The wireless tag 200 is attached to an article to be searched. In FIG. 1, the wireless tag 200 indicates that three wireless tags 200-1, 200-2 and 200-3 (not shown) are attached to three articles. However, the number of the wireless tags 200 is not limited to this, and may be attached to another article (not shown). In the present embodiment, the wireless tag 200-1 to 200-3 is described as “wireless tag 200” regardless of whether it is different.

  The wireless tag 200 has a tag ID for identifying each wireless tag. When receiving a predetermined radio wave from the communication unit 1, the wireless tag 200 performs a transmission operation of transmitting the tag ID using the predetermined radio wave as an energy source. As the wireless tag 200, for example, a radio frequency identifier (RFID) tag can be used. When the wireless tag 200 is a passive type wireless tag that operates using a received predetermined radio wave as an energy source, the receivable distance of the wireless tag 200 is about several meters. In the present embodiment, description will be made assuming that the communicable distance of the wireless tag 200 is about 5 m. Note that the wireless tag 200 can use various standards. The communicable distance of the wireless tag 200 varies depending on various standards.

  In the present embodiment, the article to which the wireless tag 200 is attached shows a case in which an article such as a box or a pallet for transportation can be placed and moved on a loading table 309 that can be transported. When the tag ID of the wireless tag 200 is read by the search support device 100, the distance between the search support device 100 and the wireless tag 200 needs to be within about 5 m. When the article is moved by the cargo handling platform 309, the user must move with the search support apparatus 100 so that the distance between the search support apparatus 100 and the wireless tag 200 is within 5 m. However, when the article is moved and the position where the article is located becomes unknown, the tag ID of the wireless tag 200 cannot be read. In particular, in a situation where a large number of articles are stored in a large warehouse, it may be difficult to visually search for articles to be searched and approach within 5 m. Further, when the storage location of the article is recorded and managed, it is necessary to always update and record the storage location of the article when the article is moved, which makes the management complicated. In addition, when the storage location of the article is incomplete, the position where the article is located may be unknown.

The wireless station 300 performs wireless communication with the search support device 100 and the access point 600. The communication distance of wireless communication used in the present embodiment is longer than the communication distance of the wireless tag 200 (also referred to as a wide communication range, cell, or coverage area).
The radio station 300 is attached to each cargo handling table 309, for example. Although FIG. 1 illustrates the case where there is one radio station 300, when there are a plurality of cargo handling platforms 309, there are also a plurality of radio stations 300. When the article is moved while being placed on the cargo handling table 309, the position of the radio station 300 is always the same (substantially the same) as the position where the article is located. Each wireless station 300 attached to each cargo handling table 309 performs wireless communication with substantially the same radio wave intensity.
The wireless station 300 transmits identification information (also referred to as a “beacon signal” or “ID”) via wireless communication at predetermined time intervals. In the present embodiment, a mode in which identification information is transmitted via wireless communication at a predetermined time interval is referred to as “wireless transmission mode”. The radio station 300 operates as a radio beacon (beacon) that transmits identification information at predetermined time intervals in the radio transmission mode. The predetermined time interval is, for example, an interval such as 100 ms or 350 ms.
The identification information transmitted by the wireless station 300 in the wireless transmission mode can be a combination of one or more data for identifying the wireless station. The identification information may be, for example, a combination of a specific ID that uniquely identifies a wireless station, and a first integer and a second integer. However, the specific ID may be shared by a plurality of radio stations. In this case, the specific radio station can be specified by the first integer and the second integer. When a beacon signal using the Bluetooth communication standard is used for wireless communication, a UUID (Universally Unique Identifier) may be used as the specific ID, a major value may be used as the first integer, and a minor value may be used as the second integer. The identification information may be different in attributes of the beacon signal itself, such as a radio frequency for transmitting the identification information.
When acquiring identification information from the radio station 300 in the radio transmission mode, the search support apparatus 100 and the access point 600 do not need to be paired with the radio station 300. For pairing, for example, in two devices that perform wireless communication, one device is set as a searchable state, the other device is searched for a searchable device, and the same authentication key is input to both devices. It is a procedure to identify each other by doing. Accordingly, in the wireless transmission mode, the identification information of the wireless station 300 can be read by a device that is not paired.

Further, when the wireless station 300 obtains a predetermined instruction via wireless communication, the wireless station 300 operates a notification circuit that executes a notification operation by at least one output of sound, light, or vibration, which will be described later with reference to FIG. Let The radio station 300 includes a notification unit that can output at least one of sound, light, and vibration. In this embodiment, the mode in which the notification circuit executes the notification operation is referred to as “execution mode”. When the wireless station 300 acquires a predetermined instruction via wireless communication, the mode is switched from the wireless transmission mode to the execution mode. In the present embodiment, a case where a notification operation with at least one output of sound, light, or vibration is executed in the execution mode is illustrated. However, other operations may be executed in the execution mode. In order to operate in the execution mode, the radio station 300 needs to pair with a partner of radio communication.
Details of the operation of the radio station 300 including the radio transmission mode and the execution mode will be described later with reference to FIG.

  The access point 600 performs wireless communication with the search support device 100 and the wireless station 300. The access point 600 enables access by wireless communication from a wireless communication device such as the search support device 100 or the wireless station 300. In FIG. 1, three access points 600-1 to 600-3 are arranged in a predetermined space (hereinafter referred to as “search target area”) in which the search support apparatus 100 searches for the location of an article. This is illustrated. However, the number of access points is not limited to three, and may be two or less or four or more. In the present embodiment, “access point 00” is described when the access points 600-1 to 600-3 are not distinguished. A plurality of access points 600 are arranged in the search target area to enable wireless communication access from wireless communication devices existing within a communication distance (communication range). In this embodiment, the same identification information is used for wireless communication of a plurality of access points. By making the IDs for performing wireless communication the same, the wireless communication apparatus can communicate with any access point 600. It is assumed that a plurality of access points 600 arranged in the search target area can share information related to the search support device 100 or the radio station 300 by being connected so as to be able to communicate with each other. Therefore, even when the search support apparatus 100 or the radio station 300 moves in the search target area and switches the access destination access point 600 to perform wireless communication, the access point 600 is not limited to the search support apparatus 100 or the radio station. Information about 300 can be shared.

  The access point 600 measures the position of the accessed wireless communication apparatus (search support apparatus 100 or wireless station 300). The access point 600 can measure the distance from the wireless communication device according to the radio wave intensity of the wireless communication transmitted from the accessed wireless communication device. The radio wave intensity can be measured by, for example, RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indication) of a radio signal. For example, the distance from the wireless communication device may be classified into three stages (long distance, medium distance, short distance) and measured according to the radio wave intensity. When a plurality of access points 600 are installed in the search target area, the position of the wireless communication device can be measured (estimated) based on the distance from the wireless communication device measured at each access point 600. The measured position may be, for example, a planar position (a position expressed in two dimensions of X, Y coordinates) or a three-dimensional position (a three dimension of X, Y, Z coordinates). Position). For example, when the loading table 309 is stored in a three-dimensional multi-level rack, if the height (Z coordinate) can be measured in addition to the planar position (X, Y coordinates), the number of the rack in which the loading table 309 is positioned. It can be measured whether it is stored.

  For example, consider a case where the wireless station 300 is measured for distances from three access points 600-1 to 600-3. The position of the radio station 300 can be calculated based on the distances measured (three-point positioning) by the three access points. Therefore, the distance can be calculated by collecting the distance data measured at the three access points at one location. In this embodiment, it is assumed that a plurality of access points 600 arranged in the search target area are connected to each other, and the position is calculated at any access point based on the collected distance data.

  In the above description, the method of calculating the position of the wireless station 300 based on the distance from the plurality of access points 600 has been described. For example, the position of the access point 600 closest to the wireless communication apparatus is determined as the wireless communication apparatus. It may be measured as the position.

Further, instead of calculating the position by the access point 600, the position may be calculated in a server with which the access point 600 can communicate.
The calculation of the position of the search support apparatus 100 can be performed by the same method as the calculation of the position of the radio station 300. For example, the search support apparatus 100 may be set in the same state as the wireless transmission mode of the wireless station 300 to transmit a beacon signal. The access point 600 may measure the position of the radio station 300 in the search target area and the position of the search support apparatus 100 at the same time.

  The access point 600 can transmit position information of the search support apparatus 100 or the radio station 300 based on the measured position to the search support apparatus 100. The search support apparatus 100 can know the current position of the own apparatus by acquiring the position information of the own apparatus. Further, the search support apparatus 100 can know the current position of the search target radio station by acquiring the position information of the search target radio station 300. The access point 600 may record the measured location information of the radio station 300 in advance, and transmit the recorded location information in response to a request from the search support apparatus 100.

In FIG. 1, the search support apparatus 100 has been described as being used in combination with the communication unit 1 and the portable information terminal 2, but the communication unit 1 and the portable information terminal 2 may be used in a separated state. Good.
Moreover, you may use the portable information terminal 2 combining what was purchased separately from the communication unit 1. FIG.

  Next, the functional configuration of the search support system 1000 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the search support system 1000 according to the embodiment.

  In FIG. 2, the search support system 1000 in this embodiment includes a search support apparatus 100, a wireless tag 200, a wireless station 300, an access point 600, and a server 500 connected via a communication network 400.

  The search support apparatus 100 includes a communication unit 1 and a portable information terminal 2. The communication unit 1 includes a processor 11, a memory 12, a transmission / reception circuit 13, a measurement circuit 15, a communication circuit 16 and a system transmission path 17. The portable information terminal 2 includes a processor 21, a memory 22, a touch panel 23, a sensor 24, a transmission / reception circuit 25, a communication circuit 26, a system transmission path 27, and a measurement circuit 28. The radio station 300 includes a processor 31, a memory 32, a transmission / reception circuit 36, a notification circuit 39 and a system transmission path 37. The access point 600 includes a processor 61, a memory 62, a transmission / reception circuit 65, a communication circuit 66 and a system transmission path 67.

  In the communication unit 1, the processor 11, the memory 12, the transmission / reception circuit 13, the measurement circuit 15, and the communication circuit 16 are connected by a system transmission path 17. The processor 11 and the memory 12 constitute a computer for controlling the communication unit 1 by being connected by a system transmission path 17.

  The processor 11 controls each unit of the communication unit 1 according to an operating system and application programs.

  The memory 12 may include a nonvolatile memory area and a volatile memory area. The nonvolatile memory area of the memory 12 stores, for example, an operating system and application programs. The memory 12 may store data necessary for the processor 11 to execute processing for controlling each unit in a nonvolatile or volatile memory area. The volatile memory area of the memory 12 is used as a work area where data is appropriately rewritten by the processor 11, for example. As the memory 12, a semiconductor memory can be used. However, other types of storage devices such as an HDD (Hard Disc Drive) may be used as the memory 12.

  The transmission / reception circuit 13 emits radio waves for operating the wireless tag 200, and the transmission / reception circuit 13 is an example of a communication device that receives a wireless signal transmitted by the wireless tag 200. The transmission / reception circuit 13 can extract and read the tag ID from the received radio signal. The transmission / reception circuit 13 reads a plurality of tag IDs included in the received radio signals when receiving radio signals from the plurality of radio tags 200 by radio wave radiation. For example, when a plurality of articles are placed on the same cargo handling table 309, the wireless tag 200 attached to the plurality of articles can be read by one reading operation. The transmission / reception circuit 13 may transmit the received wireless signal to the measurement circuit 15 together with the read tag ID. The transmission / reception circuit 13 may include a directional antenna. By using a directional antenna, the intensity of radio waves radiated in a specific direction can be concentrated, and the reception sensitivity (gain) of radio waves from a specific direction can be improved. For example, when the direction perpendicular to the antenna surface of the main body 1a described with reference to FIG. 1 is a specific direction, the user directs the antenna surface to the direction of the wireless tag 200, thereby the tag ID of the wireless tag 200 in the specific direction. It is possible to read only. The directivity of the directional antenna can be selected as appropriate depending on the specifications of the antenna used.

  The measurement circuit 15 measures the reception intensity based on the radio signal acquired from the transmission / reception circuit 13. The measurement circuit 15 stores the measured reception intensity together with, for example, the tag ID in the memory 12 so that it can be read from the processor 11.

  The communication circuit 16 communicates with the transmission / reception circuit 25 of the portable information terminal 2. In the present embodiment, the communication circuit 16 performs communication with the transmission / reception circuit 25 through wireless communication that the search support apparatus 100 uses for communication with the wireless station 3300 and the access point 600. As a result, it is not necessary to provide communication wiring for connecting the communication circuit 16 and the transmission / reception circuit 25 to the holder 1 b that holds the portable information terminal 2. Further, it is not necessary to add a function for communicating with the communication circuit 16 to the portable information terminal 2.

  The system transmission path 17 connects the processor 11, the memory 12, the transmission / reception circuit 13, the measurement circuit 15, and the communication circuit 16. The system transmission line 17 may include an address bus, a data bus, a control signal line, and the like.

  In the portable information terminal 2, the processor 21, the memory 22, the touch panel 23, the sensor 24, the transmission / reception circuit 25, the communication circuit 26, and the measurement circuit 28 are connected by a system transmission path 27. The processor 21 and the memory 22 constitute a computer for controlling the portable information terminal 2 by being connected by a system transmission path 27.

  The processor 21 controls each part of the portable information terminal 2 according to an operating system and application programs.

  The memory 22 may include a nonvolatile memory area and a volatile memory area. The nonvolatile memory area of the memory 22 stores, for example, an operating system and application programs. The memory 22 may store data necessary for the processor 21 to execute processing for controlling each unit in a nonvolatile or volatile memory area. The volatile memory area of the memory 22 is used as a work area where data is appropriately rewritten by the processor 21, for example. As the memory 22, a semiconductor memory can be used. However, other types of storage devices such as HDDs may be used as the memory 12.

  The touch panel 23 functions as an input device and a display device of the search support apparatus 100. The user can use various functions of the search support device 100 by operating or visually checking the touch panel 23.

  The sensor 24 detects the state of the portable information terminal 2. The sensor 24 is, for example, an acceleration sensor or a magnetic sensor. The acceleration sensor detects the inclination of the portable information terminal 2. The magnetic sensor detects the direction of the portable information terminal 2. When the portable information terminal 2 is held by the holder 1b, the direction of the antenna surface is the same as the direction of the portable information terminal 2. Therefore, the direction detected by the magnetic sensor indicates the direction of the antenna surface.

The transmission / reception circuit 25 performs wireless communication with the communication circuit 16 of the communication unit 1, the transmission / reception circuit 36 of the wireless station 300, and the transmission / reception circuit 65 of the access point 600.
The transmission / reception circuit 25 receives a beacon signal transmitted from the wireless station 300. The transmission / reception circuit 25 acquires identification information of the radio station 300 based on the received beacon signal. The transmission / reception circuit 25 stores the acquired identification information of the radio station 300 in, for example, the memory 22 so that it can be read out from the processor 21. Note that the transmission / reception circuit 25 may store the identification information in the memory 22 only when the acquired identification information of the radio station 300 is a predetermined value.
Further, the transmission / reception circuit 25 may transmit the received beacon signal to the measurement circuit 28 together with the tag ID read.
Further, the transmission / reception circuit 25 can transmit a predetermined instruction to the transmission / reception circuit 36. For example, the predetermined instruction is to switch the above-described wireless station 300 from the wireless transmission mode to the execution mode, and to execute a notification operation by at least one output of sound, light, or vibration.
Further, the transmission / reception circuit 25 can request the transmission / reception circuit 65 to acquire position information of the own device. The acquired position information of the own device can be displayed on the touch panel 23.

  The communication circuit 26 performs data communication via the communication network 400. The communication network 400 is a mobile network, for example. The communication circuit 26 can communicate with the server 500 via the communication network 400, for example.

  The system transmission path 27 connects the processor 21, the memory 22, the touch panel 23, the sensor 24, the transmission / reception circuit 25, the communication circuit 26, and the measurement circuit 28. The system transmission path 27 may include an address bus, a data bus, a control signal line, and the like.

  The measurement circuit 28 measures the reception intensity based on the beacon signal acquired from the transmission / reception circuit 25. The measurement circuit 28 stores the measured reception intensity together with, for example, the identification information of the radio station 300 in the memory 22 so that it can be read from the processor 11.

  In the wireless station 300, the processor 31, the memory 32, the transmission / reception circuit 36 and the notification circuit 39 are connected by a system transmission path 37. The processor 31 and the memory 32 constitute a computer for controlling the radio station 300 by being connected by a system transmission path 37.

  The processor 31 controls each unit of the radio station 300 according to an operating system and application programs.

  The memory 32 may include a nonvolatile memory area and a volatile memory area. The nonvolatile memory area of the memory 32 stores, for example, an operating system and application programs. The memory 32 may store data necessary for the processor 31 to execute processing for controlling each unit in a nonvolatile or volatile memory area. The volatile memory area of the memory 32 is used as a work area where data is appropriately rewritten by the processor 31, for example. As the memory 32, a semiconductor memory can be used. However, other types of storage devices may be used as the memory 32.

  The transmission / reception circuit 36 performs wireless communication with the transmission / reception circuit 25 of the portable information terminal 2 and the transmission / reception circuit 65 of the access point 600. The transmission / reception circuit 36 transmits a beacon signal at predetermined time intervals in the wireless transmission mode. Details of the beacon signal transmitted by the wireless station 300 in the wireless transmission mode are as described above.

  The system transmission path 37 connects the processor 31, the memory 32, the transmission / reception circuit 36, and the notification circuit 39. The system transmission path 37 may include an address bus, a data bus, a control signal line, and the like.

  The notification circuit 39 controls the notification means in the execution mode. The notification means is a device that outputs sound, a device that outputs light, or a device that outputs vibration. The device that outputs sound is, for example, an acoustic device including a speaker. The device that outputs light is, for example, an LED driving device including an LED. The device that outputs vibration is a vibration generating device including a vibrator. The notification circuit 39 causes the notification means to execute a notification operation by at least one output of sound, light, or vibration.

  The processor 31 causes the notification circuit 39 to select and execute a notification operation using at least one of sound, light, and vibration. By selecting the notification operation, the mode of the notification operation changes. For example, when there are a plurality of search support devices 100 that transmit an instruction to execute a notification operation, when the notification operation of the radio station 300 is always in the same mode, which search support device 100 is the notification operation of the radio station 300 In some cases, it may not be possible to know what was instructed by. If the mode of the notification operation is changed for each search support device 100, it becomes easy to determine which notification operation is based on an instruction to execute the notification operation transmitted from which search support device 100.

  For example, information on an operation pattern set for each search support apparatus 100 may be included in the instruction for executing the notification operation and transmitted from the search support apparatus 100. In that case, the notification circuit 39 of the radio station 300 prepares a plurality of operation patterns in advance. When the processor 31 receives an instruction to execute the notification operation, the processor 31 confirms information on an operation pattern included in the instruction. Based on the operation pattern information included in the instruction, the processor 31 causes the notification circuit 39 to select and execute one operation pattern from the operation patterns prepared in advance. In this way, the mode of operation of notification can be changed.

For changing the mode of operation of notification, for example, an output pattern of sound output from a speaker (tone color, sound interval, volume, etc.) may be selected. Moreover, as a thing which changes the mode of operation | movement of notification, you may select the pattern (light emission color, light emission pattern, brightness | luminance, etc.) of the light output from LED. In addition, a vibration pattern (vibration frequency, vibration interval, vibration magnitude, etc.) of the vibrator may be selected as a change in the mode of notification operation.
For example, the notification circuit 39 performs a notification operation using continuous sounds in response to a notification operation instruction from a certain search support apparatus 100. In addition, the notification circuit 39 performs a notification operation using an intermittent sound in response to a notification operation instruction from another search support apparatus 100. A user who operates the search support device 100 can identify the radio station 300 that is searching based on the difference in the mode of the notification operation. In addition, the user may instruct a notification operation in which the volume is increased and the amount of light is increased by setting the search support device 100 in a noisy warehouse.
When the processor 31 acquires a predetermined instruction via the transmission / reception circuit 36, the processor 31 switches the mode from the wireless transmission mode to the execution mode and causes the notification circuit 39 to execute the notification operation.

  In the access point 600, the processor 61, the memory 62, the transmission / reception circuit 65, the communication circuit 66, and the measurement circuit 68 are connected by a system transmission path 67. The processor 61 and the memory 62 are connected by a system transmission path 67 to constitute a computer for controlling the access point 600.

  The processor 61 controls each part of the portable information terminal 2 according to an operating system and application programs.

  The memory 62 may include a nonvolatile memory area and a volatile memory area. The non-volatile memory area of the memory 62 stores, for example, an operating system and application programs. The memory 62 may store data necessary for the processor 61 to execute processing for controlling each unit in a non-volatile or volatile memory area. The volatile memory area of the memory 62 is used as a work area where data is appropriately rewritten by the processor 61, for example. As the memory 62, a semiconductor memory can be used. However, another type of storage device such as an HDD may be used as the memory 62.

The transmission / reception circuit 65 performs wireless communication with the transmission / reception circuit 25 of the portable information terminal 2 and the transmission / reception circuit 36 of the wireless station 300.
The transmission / reception circuit 65 receives a beacon signal transmitted from the wireless station 300. The transmission / reception circuit 65 acquires the identification information of the wireless station 300 based on the received beacon signal. The transmission / reception circuit 65 stores the acquired identification information of the radio station 300 in, for example, the memory 62 so that it can be read out from the processor 61. Note that the transmission / reception circuit 65 may store the identification information in the memory 22 only when the acquired identification information of the radio station 300 is a predetermined value.
The transmission / reception circuit 65 may transmit the received beacon signal to the measurement circuit 68 together with the tag ID read.
Further, the transmission / reception circuit 65 may transmit the radio signal received from the transmission / reception circuit 25 of the portable information terminal 2 to the measurement circuit 68 together with the identification information of the transmission / reception circuit 25. Further, the transmission / reception circuit 65 may transmit the beacon signal received from the transmission / reception circuit 36 of the wireless station 300 to the measurement circuit 68 together with the identification information of the wireless station 300.

  The system transmission path 67 connects the processor 61, the memory 62, the transmission / reception circuit 65, the communication circuit 66, and the measurement circuit 68. The system transmission path 67 may include an address bus, a data bus, a control signal line, and the like.

The measurement circuit 68 measures the reception intensity of the radio signal (including the beacon signal) acquired from the transmission / reception circuit 65. The measurement circuit 68 may calculate the position of the portable information terminal 2 or the radio station 300 from the reception intensity of the radio signal acquired from the transmission / reception circuit 65.
The measurement circuit 68 stores the measured reception intensity or the position information of the position calculated from the reception intensity in the memory 62 together with the identification information of the wireless station 300 or the identification information of the portable information terminal 2, for example, and can be read from the processor 61. To.
The processor 61 may transmit the reception strength or position information to the server 500 together with the identification information of the wireless station 300 or the identification information of the portable information terminal 2.

  Further, the transmission / reception circuit 65 can receive a request for acquisition of position information of the transmission / reception circuit 25 from the transmission / reception circuit 25. In response to the received position information acquisition request, the transmission / reception circuit 65 transmits the measured position information to the transmission / reception circuit 25.

  The communication circuit 66 performs data communication via the communication network 400. The communication circuit 66 can communicate with the server 500 via the communication network 400, for example.

  The system transmission path 67 connects the processor 61, the memory 62, the transmission / reception circuit 65, the communication circuit 66, and the measurement circuit 68. The system transmission path 67 may include an address bus, a data bus, a control signal line, and the like.

  Server 500 communicates with portable information terminal 2 and access point 600 via communication network 400. The server 500 is assumed to have a storage device. Server 500 stores information received from portable information terminal 2 and access point 600 in a storage device. Server 500 also transmits the stored information to portable information terminal 2 and access point 600. The information stored in the server 500 is, for example, position information of the portable information terminal 2 and the wireless station 300. The information stored in the server 500 may be association information (also referred to as “association data”) between the wireless station 300 and the wireless tag 200.

Next, the position information of the wireless station will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating position information of the wireless station according to the embodiment.
In FIG. 3, the position information of the wireless station is a set of data records in which the field items are associated with “wireless station ID” and “position information”. The radio station ID is identification information of the radio station 300 described above. In FIG. 3, the wireless station IDs are represented as “WS1” and “WS2”. Further, the position information represents the position of the radio station 300. The coordinate value (X: Y: Z) exemplified in the position information is a three-dimensional representation of the distance from a predetermined reference point in the search target area. For example, if the value of XYZ is (m), WS1 indicates that the position is 100 m in the X direction, 200 m in the Y direction, and 10 m in the Z direction (height direction) from the reference point. Note that FIG. 3 illustrates the case where the position information is recorded in three dimensions represented by XYZ coordinates. However, the position information is represented by two dimensions (positions on a plane) represented by XY coordinates and X coordinates. It may be recorded in one dimension (position on the line).

The expression format of the position information is not limited to XYZ coordinates. For example, when the search target area is divided by a predetermined division, the division information can be used as the position information expression format. Moreover, you may use the encrypted information which a user cannot recognize as it is for the expression format of position information.
In the present embodiment, the location information of the wireless station is recorded in the server 500, but the recording location is not limited to the server 500. For example, it may be recorded in the memory 22 of the portable information terminal 2 or the memory 62 of the access point 600.
The recorded radio station location information can be updated. A method for updating the position information of the radio station will be described later.

  Next, the association data between the wireless station and the wireless tag will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating association data between a wireless station and a wireless tag according to the embodiment.

In FIG. 4, the association data of the wireless station and the wireless tag is a set of data records in which the field items are associated with “tag ID” and “wireless station ID”. The tag ID is the tag ID of the wireless tag 200 described above. In FIG. 4, the tag IDs are represented as “TG1”, “TG2” to “TG5”. The wireless station ID is the same as the wireless station ID in FIG.
For example, three wireless tags 200 of “TG1”, “TG2”, and “TG3” are associated with the wireless station 300 whose wireless station ID is “WS1”. Further, “WS2” is associated with two of “TG4” and “TG5”.

In this embodiment, the association data between the wireless station and the wireless tag is recorded in the server 500, but the recording location is not limited to the server 500. For example, it may be recorded in the memory 22 of the portable information terminal 2 or the memory 62 of the access point 600.
The recorded association data between the wireless station and the wireless tag can be updated. A method for updating the position information of the radio station will be described later.

  Next, the operation of the search support apparatus will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6 are flowcharts illustrating the operation of the search support apparatus according to the embodiment.

  When execution of control processing for search support is instructed by an operation on the touch panel 23 by the user, the processor 21 starts the control processing shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 according to the control program stored in the memory 22. Note that the content of the processing described below is an example, and various processing that can obtain the same result can be used as appropriate.

  In Act 1 shown in FIG. 5, the processor 21 starts home display on the touch panel 23. The home display displays an image that prompts the user to specify a process to be executed. The home display includes a GUI (graphical user interface) for accepting designation of the target wireless tag and a button for instructing the start of registration. The target wireless tag is a wireless tag 200 attached to an article to be searched. The GUI includes, for example, a tag ID input field and a determination button of the target wireless tag. Alternatively, for example, the above GUI may select one tag ID from a list of tag IDs, or may select an item name when the tag ID and the item name are separately associated with each other. When the ID and the article name are associated with each other and a process requiring the article is associated with another, the process name may be selected.

  In Act 2, the processor 21 determines whether or not the target wireless tag has been designated. If the processor 21 determines No because the designation is not made, the processor 21 proceeds to Act3.

  In Act 3, the processor 21 determines whether or not a registration start is instructed. If the processor 21 determines No because the instruction is not made, the processor 21 proceeds to Act4.

  In Act 4, the processor 21 determines whether or not an instruction other than the designation of the target wireless tag and the instruction to start registration is given. If the processor 21 determines No because the instruction has not been made, the processor 21 returns to Act2.

  As described above, in Act2 to Act4, the processor 21 waits for any of the designation of the target wireless tag, the instruction to start registration, and other instructions. If the processor 21 determines Yes in Act 4 because another instruction is given by the user, the processor 21 proceeds to processing according to the instruction. A description of the processing in this case is omitted.

  When the user sets a place in the search area as a new storage place for the article, the user installs the article with the wireless tag 200 attached thereto. Next, the user touches a button for instructing the start of registration. When the touch is detected on the touch panel 23, the processor 21 determines Yes in Act3 and advances the process to Act5.

In Act 5, the processor 21 scans the wireless tag 200 and the wireless station 300.
The processor 21 requests the processor 11 to scan the wireless tag 200 via the transmission / reception circuit 25 and the communication circuit 16. In response to this request, the processor 11 scans all wireless tags 200 that can communicate from the transmission / reception circuit 13. That is, the processor 11 collects tag IDs of all the wireless tags 200 within the communication distance of the transmission / reception circuit 13. The scanning of the wireless tag 200 can be performed by the same operation as that performed in an existing wireless tag system. The processor 11 transmits the collected tag ID to the processor 21 via the communication circuit 16. The processor 21 can acquire the tag ID of the communicable wireless tag 200 within the communication distance.
Further, the processor 21 requests the transmission / reception circuit 25 to scan the radio station 300 in the scan mode. The processor 21 collects the radio station ID from each of all the beacon signals received by the transmission / reception circuit 25.
The measurement circuit 28 measures the reception intensity of the beacon signal received from each wireless station. The processor 21 acquires the reception intensity of the beacon signal received from each wireless station measured by the measurement circuit 28.

  Further, the processor 21 transmits the collected tag ID information to the server 500 via the communication circuit 66. Based on the information of the transmitted tag ID information, the server 500 transmits the association information of the wireless station with which the tag ID is associated to the search support apparatus 100. The processor 21 of the search support apparatus 100 can associate the tag ID with the radio station 300 based on the transmitted association information.

  In Act 6, the processor 21 starts display of a list display on the touch panel 23, and accepts selection of a wireless tag and a wireless station to be associated.

  Here, the list display displayed on the touch panel 23 is demonstrated using FIG. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a list display of the embodiment.

  In FIG. 7, the list display includes guidance text T11, list L11, list L12, and button B11, button B12, button B13, and button B14.

  The list L12 is a list of candidate radio stations. The list of candidate radio stations indicates the IDs of radio stations collected in Act5. The ID of the radio station displayed in the list of candidate radio stations may be, for example, one in which the reception intensity measured by the measurement circuit 28 is a certain numerical value or more. The processor 21 can display, in the list L12, candidate radio stations whose reception strength is equal to or higher than a certain numerical value as candidate radio stations in the order of reception strength. The list L12 illustrates a case where the ID of the wireless station and the reception intensity of the beacon signal are displayed in association with each other.

  The user can select the wireless stations listed in the list L12 by touching the touch panel 23. With the wireless station selected in the list L12, the user can press the button B13. The button B13 is a button for outputting an instruction for causing the notification circuit 39 of the radio station 300 to perform a notification operation by outputting sound and light. The radio station 300 selected in the list L12 performs a notification operation corresponding to the button B13. Therefore, the user can identify the selected wireless station 300 by the notification by sound and light output and confirm the location of the search target article. The wireless station 300 that is executing the notification operation ends the notification operation by pressing the button B13 again. When the user identifies the wireless station 300, the user can stop the notification operation of the wireless station 300 by pressing the button B13 again. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the radio station 300 is switched from the execution mode to the radio transmission mode by pressing the button B13 again.

Note that a plurality of radio stations displayed in the list L12 may be selected. When the button B13 is pressed in a state where a plurality of wireless stations are selected, all the selected wireless stations may perform a notification operation. Further, when the button B13 is pressed without selecting a radio station displayed in the list L12, the notification operation may be executed assuming that all the radio stations displayed in the list L12 are all selected. .
When the button B14 is pressed in a state where a plurality of wireless stations displayed in the list L12 are selected (including all selections), the selected wireless station 300 is displayed at a predetermined time interval or a user Notification operations may be executed in order by an explicit operation.
Further, when the notification operation is executed for a plurality of radio stations 300, the mode of the notification operation such as changing the sound for each radio station 300 may be changed.
The user can confirm the IDs of the plurality of radio stations displayed in the list L12 and the locations of the respective radio stations 300.

  The list L11 displays items of “selection”, “registration”, “tag ID”, and “wireless station ID”. The tag ID displayed in the list L11 is the tag ID of the wireless tag 200 collected in Act5. “Registration” and “wireless station ID” indicate whether or not the tag ID is associated with the wireless station. Whether or not the tag ID is associated with the wireless station can be determined based on the association information transmitted from the server 500. When “registration” is “present”, the tag ID is associated with the wireless station, and the wireless station ID (identification information of the wireless station 300) associated with the item “wireless station ID” is displayed. On the other hand, when “registration” is “none”, the tag ID is not associated with the wireless station, and the item “wireless station ID” is blank.

  The item of “selection” is a check box. The check box is used to select a tag ID for registering association information. The initial state of the check box may be either a checked state or an unchecked state. The user confirms the display of the list L11 and touches the check box of the tag ID whose association is to be updated to make the check state. The processor 21 may display the tag ID that has been checked in reverse video.

Returning to the description of the flowchart of FIG.
In Act 7, the processor 21 determines whether an end instruction has been issued. If the processor 21 determines No because the instruction has not been given, the process proceeds to Act8.

  In Act 8, the processor 21 determines whether or not a registration instruction has been issued. If the processor 21 determines No because the instruction has not been made, the processor 21 returns to Act 7. In Act 7 and Act 8, the processor 21 waits for an end instruction or a registration instruction.

  The user presses the button B11 after checking all the check boxes for updating the association information among the check boxes described in FIG. The button B11 is a button for instructing update execution of association. In response to the touch on the button B11 being detected by the touch panel 23, the processor 21 determines Yes in Act 8, and advances the process to Act 9.

  In Act 9, the processor 21 updates the association information. For example, the processor 21 generates request data for requesting the update of the association data, and transmits the request data from the communication circuit 26 to the server 500 to the communication network 400. The processor 21 includes, in the request data, the tag ID represented in the tag ID cell in the same row as the selected cell in which the check box in the checked state is arranged.

  As the wireless station ID, the ID of the wireless station acquired by the Act5 scan is displayed. However, when a plurality of wireless stations 300 are present in the vicinity, the wireless tag ID may be displayed together with an incorrect wireless station ID. In that case, the wireless station ID or tag ID can be arbitrarily changed by the user. For example, when the location of the wireless station 300 is confirmed by the above-described notification operation and the combination of the wireless station 300 and the wireless tag 200 is confirmed, the user changes the wireless station ID or the tag ID and associates them with the correct combination. Can be registered. For example, any one of the wireless stations displayed in the list L12 may be set as the wireless station ID.

  When the request data is transmitted to the server 500 via the communication network 400, the server 500 updates the association data according to the request data. For example, if the tag ID included in the request data is already included in the association data, the server 500 uses the wireless station ID included in the same data record as the tag ID as the wireless station ID included in the request data. Rewrite to Further, if the tag ID included in the request data is not included in the association data, the server 500 adds a new data record describing the tag ID and the wireless station ID included in the request data to the association data. To do.

  Note that the position of the wireless tag 200 can be registered by another method without using the association with the wireless station 300 described above. Other position information of the wireless tag will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating another position information of the wireless tag according to the embodiment.

  In FIG. 12, the position information of the wireless tag 200 is a set of records including items of “tag ID” and “position information”. The position information can be set as a calculated position of the search support device 100 at the time when the tag ID is recognized. Further, information obtained from the sensor 24 at that time can be added. For example, when the sensor 24 is a magnetic sensor, the azimuth angle of the portable information terminal 2 can be obtained. As the position information, the position of the wireless tag 200 may be specified based on the measured position information of the search support apparatus and the azimuth angle of the wireless tag 200 detected by the search support apparatus 100. By adding the information obtained from the sensor 24 to the position information, a more accurate position of the wireless tag 200 can be recorded.

Returning to the description of the flowchart of FIG.
In Act 10, the processor 21 updates the list display to reflect the update result of the association data. Then, the processor 21 returns to the standby state for Act7 and Act8.

  When the user confirms the list display and determines that the association data need not be updated, the user touches the button B12. The button B12 is a button for instructing the end of the update of the association data. In response to the touch on the button B12 being detected by the touch panel 23, the processor 21 determines Yes in Act 7 and returns to Act 1.

  In Act 2, when searching for an article, when the search support apparatus 100 is in the home display state, the user inputs the tag ID of the target wireless tag and presses the decision button. As the search target, an article name or a process name may be entered in the input field. When the determination button is pressed, the processor 21 determines Yes in Act 2 and advances the processing to Act 11 in FIG. In the subsequent processing, the processor 21 sets the tag ID associated with the content input in the input field as the target ID. The target wireless tag identified by the target ID is a search target.

  In Act 11, the processor 21 starts the first guidance display on the touch panel 23.

  Next, the first guidance display of the embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a first guidance display according to the embodiment.

  In FIG. 8, the first guidance display includes guidance text T21, list L21, map display M21, and button B21.

  The guidance text T21 informs the user that the target wireless tag is being searched. The list L21 is a list that can be displayed and selected when there are a plurality of target wireless tags when an article name or process name is designated as a search target. The map display M21 displays the location where the user is present on the map to inform the user. The button B21 is a button for instructing the end of the search.

Returning to the description of the flowchart of FIG.
In Act 12, the processor 21 determines whether or not the end of the search is instructed. If the processor 21 determines No because the instruction has not been made, the processor 21 proceeds to Act 13.

  In Act 13, the processor 21 scans the wireless tag 200. Specifically, the processor 21 requests the processor 11 to scan the wireless tag 200 via the transmission / reception circuit 25 and the communication circuit 16. In response to this request, the processor 11 drives the transmission / reception circuit 13 to scan all wireless tags 200 that can communicate. That is, the processor 11 collects tag IDs of all wireless tags 200 that can communicate. The scanning of the wireless tag 200 can be performed by the same operation as that performed in an existing wireless tag system.

  In Act 14, the processor 21 determines whether or not even one tag ID has been obtained by the above scan. If the processor 21 determines No because no tag ID has been obtained, the processor 21 returns to Act 12.

  As described above, in Act12 to Act14, the processor 21 repeats scanning of the wireless tag 200 until the search is instructed or the tag ID is obtained. If the processor 21 determines Yes in Act 14 because the tag ID has been received, the processor 21 proceeds to Act 15.

  In Act 15, the processor 21 determines whether or not the target ID is included in the obtained tag ID. If the processor 21 determines No because there is no target ID, the processor 21 proceeds to Act 16.

  In Act 16, the processor 21 determines whether there is an association of the wireless station ID with the target ID in the association data.

  For example, the processor 21 generates inquiry data including the target ID, and transmits the inquiry data to the communication network 400 from the communication circuit 26 to the server 500.

  When the inquiry data is transmitted to the server 500 via the communication network 400, the server 500 extracts the wireless station ID associated with the target ID included in the inquiry data from the association data. Subsequently, the server 500 determines position information described in the data record including the extracted wireless station ID from the location data. Server 500 transmits notification data for notifying the determined position information to communication network 400 addressed to portable information terminal 2. However, the wireless station ID may not be associated with the target ID. In addition, the wireless station ID associated with the target ID may not be described in the location data. In these cases, the processor 21 transmits notification data for notifying that the position information is unknown to the portable information terminal 2 to the communication network 400.

  When the notification data is transmitted to the portable information terminal 2 via the communication network 400, the communication circuit 26 receives this notification data and gives it to the processor 21. If the position information is indicated in the notification data, the processor 21 determines Yes in Act 16 and advances the process to Act 17.

  In Act 17, the processor 21 starts the second guidance display on the touch panel 23. If the second guidance display has already been performed before this, the processor 21 continues it. If the processor 21 has previously performed a guidance display other than the second guidance display, the second guidance display ends.

  next. The second guidance display will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a second guidance display according to the embodiment.

  In FIG. 9, the second guidance display includes guidance texts T31 and T32, a list L31, a map display M31, and buttons B31 and B32.

  The guidance text T31 informs the user that the target wireless tag is outside the search range. The guidance text T32 informs the user where to move to search for the target wireless tag.

  The guidance text T32 includes the position information indicated in the notification data. The list L31 is a list that can be displayed and selected when there are a plurality of target wireless tags when an article name or process name is designated as a search target.

  The map display M31 displays the current position of the user and the destination position to be moved on the map to notify the user. The map display can be easily recognized by the user by scaling and rotation. Even when the current position or the destination position is not included in the display range, an indicator that shows the direction may be displayed. Further, the route from the current position to the destination position may be displayed to assist the movement. Further, when the azimuth information is included in the position information, the azimuth may be displayed on the map.

The button B31 is a button for instructing the end of the search. The button B32 is a button for instructing the notification circuit 39 of the wireless station 300 associated with the target wireless tag to perform a notification operation.
The search support apparatus 100 may cause the notification circuit 39 to perform a notification operation after the communication range with the wireless station 300 is reached. The position of the search support device 100 is measured by the access point 600 as described above. The search support apparatus 100 can know from the display on the touch panel 23 that the wireless communication station 300 can communicate. Further, the search support apparatus 100 may be notified from the access point 600 that the search support apparatus 100 is in a range where communication with the radio station 300 is possible. The search support apparatus 100 may output an instruction for causing the notification circuit 39 to perform a notification operation automatically or when operated by the user when the communication range with the wireless station 300 is reached. In this case, the portable information terminal 2 of the search support device 100 automatically changes from a state in which information that can be measured by communicating with the access point 600 is transmitted to a state in which the notification mode is controlled by communication with the wireless station 300, or It changes according to the user's operation.

  The user looks at the second guidance display and moves to the location of the position information indicated in the guidance text T32. In addition, when the search support device 100 is linked to another portable information terminal (for example, a wearable terminal), the wearable terminal has a notification function (to induce a user by a vibration function or voice guidance at a branch point). To the destination position according to the notification function). The destination position is the current position of the radio station 300. However, the movement destination position may be changed by the movement of the article. In the present embodiment, since the position information of the moved radio station 300 can be measured, the user can easily search for articles.

Returning to the description of the flowchart of FIG.
In Act 16, if the notification data indicates that the installation location is unknown, the processor 21 determines No in Act 16, and advances the processing to Act 18.

  In Act 18, the processor 21 starts the third guidance display on the touch panel 23. If the third guidance display has already been performed before this, the processor 21 continues it. If the processor 21 has previously performed a guidance display other than the third guidance display, the third guidance display ends.

  Next, the third guidance display will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a third guidance display according to the embodiment.

  In FIG. 10, the third guidance display includes guidance texts T41 and T42, a list L41, a map display M41, and a button B41.

  The guidance text T41 notifies the user that the target wireless tag is outside the search range. The guidance text T42 informs the user that the article to be searched should be moved to the vicinity of the place where the article is stored. The list L41 is a list that can be displayed and selected when there are a plurality of target wireless tags when an article name or process name is designated as a search target. The map display M41 displays the location where the user is present on the map to inform the user. The button B41 is a button for instructing the end of the search.

  When the user visually observes the third guidance display, the user moves to the vicinity of the place where the article to be searched is stored with reference to the map of the third guidance display.

Returning to the description of the flowchart of FIG.
If the target ID is received because the search support device 100 is located within the communication area of the target wireless tag, the processor 21 determines Yes in Act 15 and advances the process to Act 19.

  In Act 19, the processor 21 estimates the distance and direction. Here, the distance estimated by the processor 21 is a distance from the search support apparatus 100 to the target wireless tag. The direction estimated by the processor 21 is the direction of the location of the target wireless tag with respect to the current location of the search support apparatus 100. The processor 21 refers to the reception intensity measured by the measurement circuit 15 when the target ID is received and the direction of the search support device 100 detected by the sensor 24 when the target ID is received. The processor 21 estimates the distance and direction based on the received reception intensity and the direction of the search support apparatus 100. A conventionally known technique may be used for estimating the distance and the direction.

  In Act 20, the processor 21 starts the fourth guidance display on the touch panel 23. If the fourth guidance display has already been performed before this, the processor 21 continues it. If the processor 21 has previously performed any guidance display other than the fourth guidance display, the fourth guidance display ends.

  Next, the fourth guidance display will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a fourth guidance display according to the embodiment.

  In FIG. 11, the fourth guidance display includes a chart C51 and a button B51.

  A chart C51 represents the relative position of the target wireless tag with a PPI (plan position indicator) method around the current position of the search support device 100. A black dot in the chart C51 represents the position of the target wireless tag. In the fourth guidance display, the position of the black spot in the chart C51 changes as the search support apparatus 100 moves. The button B51 is a button for instructing the end of the search.

Returning to the description of the flowchart of FIG.
In Act 21, the processor 21 determines whether or not there is a tag ID other than the target ID in the tag ID obtained in Act 13. If the processor 21 determines No because no tag ID other than the target ID is obtained, the processor 21 returns the process to the standby state of Act12 to Act14. However, the processor 21 proceeds to Act 22 if a tag ID other than the target ID is obtained. Note that the processor 21 proceeds to Act 22 even after the second or third guidance display is started in Act 17 or Act 18.

  In Act 22, the processor 21 determines whether or not the learning function is set to be valid. The learning function is set to be valid / invalid according to an instruction from the administrator of the search support apparatus 100 or the like in a separate setting process by the processor 21. If the processor 21 determines Yes because the learning function is enabled, the processor 21 proceeds to Act 23.

  In Act 23, the processor 21 searches for a nearby radio station 300 at the current position of the search support apparatus 100. For example, the processor 21 requests the radio station 300 to scan via the transmission / reception circuit 25. By scanning the radio station 300, the processor 21 can collect the radio station ID from each of all the beacon signals received by the transmission / reception circuit 25. The processor 21 selects a radio station as a candidate for association to be learned based on the reception intensity measured by the measurement circuit 28 for each beacon signal. The processor 21 can learn to associate the radio station ID of the radio station 300 instructed by the user with the tag ID by performing the following procedure and display.

  In Act 24, the processor 21 determines whether or not there is a wireless station 300 to be associated. If the processor 21 determines Yes because it has received an instruction to register the radio station ID of the radio station 300 to be associated by the user, the processor 21 proceeds to Act 25.

  In Act 25, the processor 21 performs an association data update process. For example, the processor 21 generates request data. The request data includes a tag ID other than the target ID among the tag IDs obtained in Act 13 and the radio station ID of the radio station 300 instructed to be associated. The processor 21 transmits the generated request data from the communication circuit 26 to the server 500.

  When the request data is transmitted to the server 500 via the communication network 400, the server 500 updates the association data as described above according to the request data.

  The association data can be updated based on the reception status of the tag ID of the wireless tag 200 that is not the search target in the search process and the reception status of the beacon signal.

  If the learning function is set to be invalid and the processor 21 determines No in Act 22, the processor 21 passes the update process in Act 25. The processor 21 passes the update process and returns the process to the standby state of Act12 to Act14. The processor 21 also passes the update process in Act 25 even when it is determined No in Act 24 because the association target radio station 300 is not designated. If the selected maximum value is less than a predetermined limit value, the processor 21 may determine that there is no neighboring radio station 300 and determine No in Act 24.

  When ending the search, the user presses one of the buttons B12, B21, B31, B41, and B51 included in the guidance display at that time. If any of the buttons is detected to be pressed, the processor 21 determines Yes in Act 12, and returns the process to Act 1 in FIG.

  As described above, the search support device 100 guides the user to the place to move to search for the target wireless tag by the second guidance display. The guidance by the second guidance display is performed when the search support device 100 is located outside the communication area of the target wireless tag and has been associated with the association data of the target ID. By the second guidance, the user can recognize which position the user should move to receive guidance by the fourth guidance display.

  If the search support device 100 is located within the communication area of the target wireless tag, the search support device 100 performs a fourth guidance display for the user. The fourth guidance display guides the relative position of the target wireless tag with respect to the current position of the search support apparatus 100. By the fourth guidance, the user can recognize the position of the target wireless tag, that is, the position of the search target article.

  If the communication area of the wireless tag 200 has a radius of 5 m, the communication area of the wireless tag 200 is an extremely small range in, for example, a large factory site. However, according to the search support apparatus 100, the user may first move to a designated location according to the second guidance display. Thereafter, the user can specify the position of the search target article according to the fourth guidance display.

  As described above, the search support device 100 can support the search for articles from outside the communication area of the wireless tag 200.

  In addition, when the registration support process is activated, the search support apparatus 100 can associate a tag ID that can be acquired at the same location with a wireless station ID. By associating with the radio station ID, the search support apparatus 100 can update the association data. Therefore, the search support apparatus 100 can reduce the burden on the user related to the update of the association data when an article to which the wireless tag 200 is attached is newly added as a search support target. In addition, when the storage location of the article to which the wireless tag 200 is attached is changed, the search support device 100 can reduce the burden on the user related to the update of the association data.

  In addition, the search support apparatus 100 may receive a tag ID other than the target ID (referred to as “non-target tag ID”) while executing the process for supporting the search for the target wireless tag. The search support apparatus 100 may update the association data when the non-target tag ID is received. For example, the search support device 100 acquires the received non-target tag ID and the wireless station ID of the beacon signal received at that position. The search support apparatus 100 can update the association data based on the acquired non-target tag ID and the wireless station ID. This makes it possible to effectively register and correct associations for newly stored articles or articles whose storage positions have been changed.

  Next, the functional configuration of the search support apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 13 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the search support apparatus according to the embodiment.

  In FIG. 13, a search support apparatus 100 that supports searching for an article includes an application 101, a wireless processing unit 102, an operation display unit 103, and a wireless tag reading unit 104. The application 101 includes an identification code storage unit 1011, an acquisition unit 1012, a transmission unit 1013, and an association unit 1014. The wireless processing unit 102 includes a wireless profile 1021, a wireless core 1022, a wireless driver 1023, and a wireless antenna 1024.

  The identification code storage unit 1011 stores the identification code of the wireless tag 200 attached to the article. The acquisition unit 1012 acquires identification information transmitted at predetermined time intervals from the wireless station 300 that is moved together with the article via wireless communication. The transmission unit 1013 transmits an instruction to execute a notification operation using at least one of sound, light, and vibration to the wireless station 300 via wireless communication. The associating unit 1014 associates the wireless station 300 that acquired the identification information with the identification code stored in the identification code storage unit 1011.

  Note that the identification code storage unit 1011, the acquisition unit 1012, the transmission unit 1013, and the association unit 1014 of the application 101 can be realized by a program executed by the processor 21 of the search support apparatus 100. The application 101 may be a preinstalled program installed from the beginning in the memory 22 of the search support apparatus 100. The application 101 may be a program that is installed based on data stored in a storage medium such as an optical disk. Further, the application 101 may be installed with a program that is earned through communication.

For example, the wireless processing unit 102 performs communication based on a communication standard for wireless communication used in the transmission / reception circuit 25. The wireless profile 1021 is a protocol standard established for each type of device used in the wireless standard used. The wireless processing unit 102 can perform wireless communication based on a predetermined wireless profile.
The wireless core 1022 is a framework for implementing a program for controlling wireless communication, for example. By using the wireless core 1022 for the program, a communication control program corresponding to the wireless standard can be easily implemented.
The wireless driver 1023 is a device driver for using the wireless antenna 1024, for example. The wireless processing unit 102 can perform wireless transmission / reception via the wireless antenna 1024 using the wireless driver 1023.
Note that the function of the wireless processing unit 102 may be previously possessed by the portable information terminal 2.

  Next, the functional configuration of the radio station will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 14 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of a wireless station according to the embodiment.

  In FIG. 14, the radio station 300 includes a notification unit 301, a radio communication unit 302, and a control unit 303. The notification unit 301 performs a notification operation with at least one output of sound, light, or vibration. The wireless communication unit 302 performs wireless communication. The control unit 303 switches between a wireless transmission mode in which identification information is transmitted at a predetermined time interval via the wireless communication unit 302 and an execution mode in which the notification unit 301 executes a notification operation. The control unit 303 switches from the wireless transmission mode to the execution mode when a predetermined instruction is acquired via the wireless communication unit 302. The control unit 303 changes the mode of notification operation according to a predetermined instruction.

  Next, the functional configuration of the access point will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 15 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of an access point according to the embodiment.

  In FIG. 15, the access point 600 includes a wireless communication unit 601, an acquisition unit 602, a position measurement unit 603, and a position information transmission unit 604. The wireless communication unit 601 accepts wireless communication access from the search support apparatus 100 that supports search for articles. The acquisition unit 602 acquires identification information transmitted from the wireless station 300 moved together with the article at predetermined time intervals via wireless communication. The position measurement unit 603 measures the position of the radio station 300. The position information transmission unit 604 transmits position information based on the measured position to the search support device 100.

  Next, the operation of the radio station will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the wireless station according to the embodiment. The operation shown in FIG. 16 can be executed by the processor 31 shown in FIG. 2 executing a program stored in the memory 32. The flowchart shown in FIG. 16 is a part of a program executed by the processor 31, and will be described as a subroutine that is repeatedly executed. In the following description, FIG. 2 will be referred to as appropriate.

In FIG. 16, Act 111 to Act 112 are operations in the wireless transmission mode. In Act 111, the processor 31 determines whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed (Act 111). The predetermined time is, for example, 350 ms. The predetermined time interval may be switched to a predetermined value. For example, the time interval can be switched at 100 ms, 350 ms, or 1000 ms. When the time interval becomes longer, the power consumption of the radio station 300 in the radio transmission mode can be reduced.
When it is determined that the predetermined time has elapsed (Act 111; Yes), the processor 31 advances the process to Act 112. In Act 112, the processor 31 transmits the identification information (beacon signal) of the radio station 300 from the transmission / reception circuit 36. After executing Act 112, the processor 31 advances the processing to Act 113.
On the other hand, if it is determined that the predetermined time has not elapsed (Act 111; No), the processor 31 advances the process to Act 113. That is, the radio station 300 transmits identification information at predetermined time intervals.

  In Act 113, the processor 31 determines whether or not an instruction to start notification has been issued. The notification start instruction is transmitted from the search support device 100 via the transmission / reception circuit 36. If it is determined that the notification start instruction has not been given (Act 113; No), the processor 31 ends the process of FIG. On the other hand, if it is determined that an instruction to start notification is given (Act 113; Yes), the processor 31 advances the process to Act 114.

  In Act 114, the processor 31 switches the mode from the wireless transmission mode to the execution mode. Act 114 to Act 120 are operations in the execution mode. In addition, in FIG. 16, although the case where a mode is switched when the notification start instruction | indication is given from the search assistance apparatus 100 is demonstrated, the opportunity of mode switching is not limited to this. For example, the mode may be switched by another instruction that does not include the notification start operation. Further, a switch may be provided in the radio station 300, and the mode may be switched by switching the switch. After executing Act 114, the processor 31 advances the processing to Act 115.

  In Act 115, the processor 31 selects a notification operation. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the notification operation by the notification circuit 39 can have a plurality of operation modes. The notification operation is selected based on information included in the notification start instruction. By selecting the notification operation, the processor 31 can change the mode of the notification operation to facilitate identification from the search support apparatus 100. After executing Act 115, the processor 31 advances the processing to Act 116.

  In Act 116, the processor 31 controls the notification circuit 39 to start the notification operation selected in Act 115. The notification circuit 39 performs the notification operation in the selected operation mode. The notification operation includes notification by output of at least one of sound, light, and vibration. The user can recognize at least one output of the notified sound, light, or vibration, and can grasp the position of the radio station 300. After executing Act 116, the processor 31 advances the processing to Act 117.

  In Act 116, the processor 31 determines whether or not there is an instruction to end the notification. The notification end instruction is transmitted from the search support apparatus 100 via the transmission / reception circuit 36 in the same manner as the notification start instruction. However, the notification end instruction may be issued by a timer such as a timer when a predetermined time has elapsed since the notification operation was started. The notification termination instruction may be given by a user operating an operation unit such as a push button switch of the wireless station 300. When it is determined that there is no notification termination instruction (Act 117; No), the processor 31 repeats the processing of Act 117 until a notification termination instruction is received. On the other hand, when it is determined that there is an instruction to end the notification (Act 117; Yes), the processor 31 advances the process to Act 118.

  In Act 118, the processor 31 controls the notification circuit 39 to end the notification operation. After executing Act 118, the processor 31 advances the processing to Act 119.

  In Act 119, similarly to Act 113, the processor 31 determines whether or not an instruction to start notification has been issued again. If it is determined that an instruction to start notification has been given (Act 119; Yes), the processor 31 advances the process to Act 115 again. On the other hand, if it is determined that a notification start instruction has not been given (Act 119; No), the processor 31 advances the process to Act 115 again. On the other hand, if it is determined that the notification start instruction has not been given (Act 119; No), the processor 31 advances the process to Act 120.

  In Act 120, the processor 31 determines whether or not there is an instruction to end the execution mode. The execution mode end instruction is transmitted from the search support apparatus 100 via the transmission / reception circuit 36, similarly to the notification start instruction. However, the instruction to end the execution mode may be issued by a timer such as a timer when a predetermined time has elapsed since the notification operation was started. Further, the execution mode end instruction may be given by a switch operation of the radio station 300 or the like. When it is determined that there is no instruction to end the execution mode (Act 120; No), the processor 31 repeats the processes of Act 119 to Act 120 until there is an instruction to end the execution mode. On the other hand, when it is determined that there is an instruction to end the execution mode (Act 120; Yes), the processor 31 advances the process to Act 121.

In Act 121, the processor 31 switches the mode from the execution mode to the wireless communication mode. That is, in this embodiment, when the execution mode is entered, the execution mode is maintained until an instruction to end the execution mode is given. While the execution mode is maintained, the radio station 300 stops the operation in the radio communication mode.
After executing Act 121, the processor 31 ends the processing of FIG.

  In addition, although the radio station 300 in this embodiment illustrated the case where execution of notification operation | movement by the notification circuit 39 was performed in execution mode, you may perform another operation | movement in execution mode. For example, in the execution mode, predetermined data may be transmitted / received via wireless communication.

  Moreover, the case where the radio station 300 in the present embodiment has two modes of the radio communication mode and the execution mode has been described. However, the number of modes is not limited to this, and may have three or more modes. For example, the radio station 300 may have a wave stop mode in which transmission of a beacon signal is stopped during a predetermined time period. In addition, the radio station 300 may have a power saving mode in which the wireless station 300 shifts to a power saving state when the battery remaining in the built-in battery is low.

  Moreover, the radio station 300 in this embodiment illustrated the case where a radio transmission mode and an execution mode are switched by the predetermined | prescribed instruction | indication which switches a mode. However, the mode switching is not limited to this. For example, the mode may be switched at a predetermined time interval.

The wireless station according to the present embodiment can support searching for an article whose location is unknown by including a notification unit, a wireless communication unit, and a control unit.
Moreover, the search assistance apparatus of this embodiment can assist the search of the articles | goods with unknown location by including a memory | storage part, an acquisition part, a transmission part, and an association part.
In addition, the wireless access point of the present embodiment includes a wireless communication unit, an acquisition unit, a position measurement unit, and a position information transmission unit, thereby assisting in searching for an article whose location is unknown.

  Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are also included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof.

  For example, as long as each function according to the above-described embodiment has the above-described function, a plurality of illustrated function blocks may be combined into one function block. Further, the illustrated one functional block may be divided and implemented as a plurality of functional blocks. Moreover, you may make it comprise a part or all of each functional block with a hardware. Further, some or all of the functional blocks may be realized by firmware implemented by LSI. The LSI may include an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit).

  Further, the apparatus according to the above-described embodiment may be realized by a computer. In that case, a program for realizing the function of each functional block is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium. The program recorded on the recording medium may be read by a computer system and executed. The “computer system” here includes an OS and hardware such as peripheral devices. The “computer-readable recording medium” refers to a portable medium such as a flexible disk, a magneto-optical disk, a ROM, and a CD-ROM. The “computer-readable recording medium” includes a storage device such as a hard disk built in the computer system. Furthermore, the “computer-readable recording medium” may include a medium that dynamically holds a program for a short time. What holds the program dynamically for a short time is, for example, a communication line when the program is transmitted via a network such as the Internet or a communication line such as a telephone line. In addition, the “computer-readable recording medium” may include a medium that holds a program for a certain period of time, such as a volatile memory inside a computer system that serves as a server or a client. The program may be for realizing a part of the functions described above. Further, the program may be a program that can realize the above-described functions in combination with a program already recorded in the computer system. The program may be realized using a programmable logic device. The programmable logic device is, for example, an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array).

The following supplementary notes are further disclosed with respect to the embodiments including the above examples.
(Appendix 1)
A notification step for executing a notification operation by output of at least one of sound, light or vibration;
A wireless communication step for performing wireless communication;
A control step of switching between a wireless transmission mode for transmitting identification information at a predetermined time interval in the wireless communication step and an execution mode for executing the notification operation in the notification step;
In the control step, a radio station control method of switching from the radio transmission mode to the execution mode when a predetermined instruction is acquired in the radio communication step.
(Appendix 2)
The radio station control method according to appendix 1, wherein, in the control step, a mode of the notification operation is changed according to the predetermined instruction.
(Appendix 3)
A notification process for executing a notification operation by output of at least one of sound, light or vibration;
Wireless communication processing for performing wireless communication;
Radio station control for causing a computer to execute a control process for switching between a radio transmission mode for transmitting identification information at predetermined time intervals in the radio communication process and an execution mode for executing the notification operation in the notification process A program,
In the control process, a control program for a radio station that switches from the radio transmission mode to the execution mode when a predetermined instruction is acquired in the radio communication process.
(Appendix 4)
4. The wireless station control program according to appendix 3, wherein in the control process, an operation mode of the notification is changed according to the predetermined instruction.
(Appendix 5)
A wireless communication step of accepting wireless communication access from a search support device that supports search for an article;
An acquisition step of acquiring identification information transmitted at a predetermined time interval via wireless communication from a wireless station moved with the article;
A position measuring step for measuring a position of the wireless station;
A position information transmission step of transmitting position information based on the measured position to the search support device.
(Appendix 6)
Wireless communication processing for accepting wireless communication access from a search support device that supports search for articles;
An acquisition process for acquiring identification information transmitted at a predetermined time interval via wireless communication from a wireless station moved with the article;
A position measurement process for measuring the position of the wireless station;
A wireless access point control program for causing a computer to execute position information transmission processing for transmitting position information based on the measured position to the search support device.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Communication unit, 2 ... Portable information terminal, 11 ... Processor, 12 ... Memory, 13 ... Transmission / reception circuit, 15 ... Measurement circuit, 16 ... Communication circuit, 17 ... System transmission line, 21 ... Processor, 22 ... Memory, 23 ... Touch panel, 24 ... sensor, 25 ... transmission / reception circuit, 26 ... communication circuit, 27 ... system transmission path, 28 ... measurement circuit, 31 ... processor, 32 ... memory, 36 ... transmission / reception circuit, 39 ... notification circuit, 61 ... processor, 62 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS ... Memory 65 ... Transmission / reception circuit 66 ... Communication circuit 67 ... System transmission path 68 ... Measurement circuit 100 ... Search support device 200 ... Wireless tag 300 ... Wireless station 400 ... Communication network 500 ... Server 600 …access point.

Claims (1)

A notification unit that performs a notification operation by at least one output of sound, light, or vibration;
A wireless communication unit for performing wireless communication;
A control unit that switches between a wireless transmission mode for transmitting identification information at a predetermined time interval via the wireless communication unit and an execution mode for causing the notification unit to execute the notification operation;
The control unit switches from the wireless transmission mode to the execution mode when an instruction to start notification is acquired via the wireless communication unit,
In the execution mode, the control unit changes the mode of the notification operation in response to the notification start instruction, ends the notification operation when the notification end instruction is received, and again starts the notification start . performs a process in accordance with an instruction of the first notice when acquiring the instruction Ru changing the mode of operation of the notification, after the notification operation is finished, without re-obtaining the instruction of the first notice instruction execution mode end switching from the run mode to the wireless communication mode when the accepted,
Radio station.

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