Terminal operation management device, terminal operation management method, and recording medium on which terminal operation management program is recorded

Abstract

The invention provides a terminal operation management device, a terminal operation management method, and a recording medium on which a terminal operation management program is recorded, capable of setting a combination of a display device and a communication terminal that operates the display device while suppressing violation of the intention of a user. A terminal operation management device (3) is provided with: a communication terminal position recognition unit (11) that recognizes the position of a communication terminal (50), which is present around a display device (60), with respect to the display device (60); and a terminal operation permission determination unit (12) that enables the communication terminal (50) to operate the display device (60) when the position of the communication terminal (50) with respect to the display device (60) is a predetermined position.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a terminal operation management device, a terminal operation management method and a recording medium recording a terminal operation management program. Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, there is known a technology in which a plurality of operating devices and a plurality of displays are connected to a computer system via cables, and each operating device can exclusively use one of the plurality of displays (for example, see Patent Document 1).

[0003] In addition, the following technology is known: in a display device that displays multiple screens simultaneously on a single display, the positions of multiple remote controls relative to the display are determined, and the screen to be operated by each remote control is set to the screen closest to the remote control (for example, see Patent Document 2).

[0004] [Prior art literature]

[0005] [Patent Document]

[0006] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Publication No. 11-503849

[0007] Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-34977 Summary of the Invention

[0008] [Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

[0009] In the configuration disclosed in Patent Document 1, the combination of a display device and an operating device for operating the display device is determined by the connection state of a cable. Therefore, operation of the display device by a communication terminal performing wireless communication is not supported.

[0010] Furthermore, in the configuration disclosed in Patent Document 2, the closest screen among multiple screens displayed on the display device is selected as the remote control operation target. Consequently, there is a disadvantage in that a remote control located significantly away from the display device or located diagonally in front of the display device and outside the display device's field of view may be set as the remote control for operating the display device against the user's will.

[0011] The present invention is completed in view of the above background, and its purpose is to provide a terminal operation management device, a terminal operation management method and a recording medium recording a terminal operation management program that can suppress the situation where a combination of a display device and a communication terminal for operating the display device is set against the user's wishes.

[0012] [Means for solving the problem]

[0013] As a first method for achieving the above-mentioned purpose, there can be cited a terminal operation management device, which comprises: a communication terminal position identification unit, which identifies the position of a communication terminal existing in the periphery of a display device relative to the display device; and a terminal operation feasibility determination unit, which enables the communication terminal to operate the display device when the position of the communication terminal relative to the display device is a specified position.

[0014] In the terminal operation management device described above, the operation of the display device by the communication terminal may include an operation for utilizing content displayed on the display device.

[0015] In the above-mentioned terminal operation management device, it can also be configured that the communication terminal position identification unit identifies the position of the communication terminal relative to the display device based on the distance between the display device and the communication terminal, and the measurement information of the angle from the display device to the communication terminal relative to a specified reference direction.

[0016] In the terminal operation management device described above, the predetermined position may be a position inside a usage area set around the display device.

[0017] In the terminal operation management device described above, the utilization area may be set on one side of a display screen of the display device.

[0018] In the above-mentioned terminal operation management device, it can also be constructed that, when the position of the communication terminal becomes outside the utilization area while the communication terminal is located in the utilization area and the communication terminal is able to operate the display device, the terminal operation possibility determination unit maintains the state in which the communication terminal can operate the display device until a specified time has passed from the moment when the position of the communication terminal becomes outside the utilization area, or until the user of the communication terminal performs a specified release operation.

[0019] In the terminal operation management device, when a plurality of the communication terminals are present in the use area, the terminal operation permission determination unit may enable all the communication terminals present in the use area to operate the display device.

[0020] In the terminal operation management device, when a plurality of the communication terminals are present in the use area, the terminal operation permission determination unit may allow only one of the communication terminals present in the use area to operate the display device.

[0021] In the above-mentioned terminal operation management device, it can also be configured that when there are multiple communication terminals in the utilization area, the terminal operation permission determination unit individually determines whether to enable the operation of the display device for each communication terminal based on the function of the communication terminal.

[0022] In the above-mentioned terminal operation management device, it can also be constructed so that the communication terminal position identification unit identifies the position of the communication terminal relative to the display device for each of the multiple display devices, and the terminal operation determination unit determines whether the position of the communication terminal relative to the display device is the specified position for each of the multiple display devices, thereby determining whether the communication terminal can operate the display device.

[0023] In the terminal operation management device, the terminal operation permission determining unit may exclude the display device that is not displaying a screen from the determination of whether the communication terminal is operable.

[0024] In the above-mentioned terminal operation management device, it can also be constructed that the specified position is a position inside the utilization area set for each display device around the display device, and the terminal operation management device has a utilization area changing unit, which changes the utilization area according to the number or configuration position of the display devices that are currently displaying the screen.

[0025] In the above-mentioned terminal operation management device, it can also be constructed that the prescribed position is a position inside the utilization area set for each of the display devices around the display device, and for the first display device and the second display device included in the multiple display devices, from the state where the communication terminal is located in the utilization area set for the first display device, that is, the first utilization area, so that the communication terminal can operate the first display device, due to the change in the position of the communication terminal, the position of the communication terminal shifts to the utilization area set for the second display device, that is, the second utilization area, the terminal operation determination unit makes the communication terminal unable to operate the first display device and enables the communication terminal to operate the second display device, and switches the output destination of the content displayed in the first display device from the first display device to the second display device.

[0026] As a second method for achieving the above-mentioned purpose, a terminal operation management method can be cited, which is executed by a computer and includes: a communication terminal position identification step, identifying the position of a communication terminal existing in the periphery of the display device relative to the display device; and a terminal operation feasibility determination step, enabling the communication terminal to operate the display device when the position of the communication terminal relative to the display device is a specified position.

[0027] As a third method for achieving the above-mentioned purpose, a recording medium recording a terminal operation management program can be cited, wherein the terminal operation management program enables a computer to function as a communication terminal position identification unit and a terminal operation feasibility determination unit, wherein the communication terminal position identification unit identifies the position of a communication terminal existing in the periphery of a display device relative to the display device, and the terminal operation feasibility determination unit enables the communication terminal to operate the display device when the position of the communication terminal relative to the display device is a specified position.

[0028] [Effects of the Invention]

[0029] According to the terminal operation management device, the terminal operation management method, and the recording medium recording the terminal operation management program, it is possible to suppress the setting of the combination of the display device and the communication terminal for operating the display device against the user's will. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] Figure 1 This diagram explains how to use the terminal operation management device.

[0031] Figure 2 It is a structural diagram of the terminal operation management device.

[0032] Figure 3 This is a diagram for explaining the usage area set for the display device.

[0033] Figure 4 This is an explanatory diagram of a method of changing the usage range of a display device according to the arrangement position of the display device that performs screen display.

[0034] Figure 5 This is a flowchart of a process for determining whether or not a communication terminal can operate a display device.

[0035] Figure 6 This is an explanatory diagram of an embodiment in which operations using a communication terminal are disabled on a display device in a screen-off state.

[0036] Figure 7 This is an explanatory diagram of an embodiment in which the display device to be operated is switched according to the displacement of the communication terminal and the display of the content is continued.

[0037] Figure 8 This is an explanatory diagram of an embodiment in which a state in which display operations using the communication terminal are enabled is maintained when the communication terminal temporarily moves outside the utilization area.

[0038] Figure 9 This is an explanatory diagram of a situation where a plurality of communication terminals exist within a utilization area. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0039] [1. How to use the terminal operation management device]

[0040] Reference Figure 1 The following describes how to use the terminal operation management device 3 of this embodiment. The terminal operation management device 3 of this embodiment constitutes a functional part of the display control device 2 installed in the vehicle 100. The display control device 2 is, for example, a control unit of a DA (Display Audio) 1 having a display device. The DA 1 includes the display control device 2 and a display device whose image and sound output is controlled by the display control device 2. Figure 1 The diagram shows a situation in which the user U1 is seated in the driver's seat 41 , the user U2 is seated in the passenger seat 42 , the user U3 is seated in the left rear seat 43 , and the user U4 is seated in the right rear seat 44 .

[0041] In this embodiment, vehicle 100 includes, as display devices controlled by display control device 2, a central display device 72 located in the center of the instrument panel, a passenger seat display device 60a located in front of passenger seat 42, a left rear seat display device 60b located in front of left rear seat 43, and a right rear seat display device 60c located in front of right rear seat 44. User U2 holds a communication terminal 50a, user U3 holds a communication terminal 50b, and user U4 holds a communication terminal 50c.

[0042] Hereinafter, the passenger seat display device 60a, the left rear seat display device 60b, and the right rear seat display device 60c are collectively referred to as the display device 60, the communication terminals 50a-50c are collectively referred to as the communication terminal 50, and the users U2-U4 are collectively referred to as the user U. The display device 60 has the function of wirelessly communicating with the communication terminal 50 based on communication standards such as Bluetooth (registered trademark) and UWB (Ultra-Wide Band). The communication terminal 50 includes communication terminals with wireless communication operation functions, such as smartphones, mobile phones, game controllers, and wireless headphones.

[0043] Furthermore, vehicle 100 includes a front seat camera 70 for capturing images of a region including driver's seat 41 and passenger seat 42, and a rear seat camera 71 for capturing images of a region including left rear seat 43 and right rear seat 44. Terminal operation management device 3 executes processing for determining whether or not operation of display device 60 using communication terminal 50 can be performed.

[0044] [2. Structure of Terminal Operation Management Device]

[0045] Reference Figure 2 The structure of the terminal operation management device 3 will be described. The display control device 2 includes a processor 10, a memory 20, a communication unit 30, and the like. The display control device 2 is connected to the front seat camera 70, the rear seat camera 71, the central display device 72, the passenger seat display device 60a, the left rear seat display device 60b, and the right rear seat display device 60c.

[0046] The passenger seat display device 60a includes a communication unit 61a for wireless communication with the communication terminal 50. Similarly, the left rear seat display device 60b includes a communication unit 61b, and the right rear seat display device 60c includes a communication unit 61c. Hereinafter, the communication units 61a, 61b, and 61c will be collectively referred to as the communication unit 61. Furthermore, the communication unit 61 for wireless communication with the communication terminal 50 may be located at a location other than the display device 60. For example, the communication unit 61 may be located at multiple locations within the vehicle, or may be located only at the front of the vehicle (at the location of DA1).

[0047] Communication unit 30 is, for example, a TCU (Telematics Control Unit), and communicates with content server 210 via communication network 200, thereby downloading data for various content (such as games, animations, and music) from content server 210. Memory 20 stores a program 21 for controlling DA1. Program 21 includes the terminal operation management program of the present disclosure.

[0048] The processor 10 reads and executes the program 21 to function as a communication terminal location recognition unit 11, a terminal operation permission determination unit 12, a usage area change unit 13, and a content output unit 14. The communication terminal location recognition unit 11, the terminal operation permission determination unit 12, and the usage area change unit 13 constitute the terminal operation management device 3.

[0049] The processing performed by the communication terminal position identification unit 11 is equivalent to the communication terminal position identification step in the terminal operation management method disclosed in the present invention, and the processing performed by the terminal operation feasibility determination unit 12 is equivalent to the terminal operation feasibility determination step in the terminal operation management method disclosed in the present invention.

[0050] The communication terminal position identification unit 11 identifies the position of each of the multiple display devices 60's surrounding communication terminals 50 relative to the display device 60. The communication terminal position identification unit 11 calculates the distance between the display device 60 and the communication terminal 50 based on the radio wave reception level of the communication unit 61. Furthermore, the communication terminal position identification unit 11 calculates the angle of the direction from the display device 60 toward the communication terminal 50 relative to a reference direction of the display device 60 (e.g., the front direction of the display device 60) based on the combination of the distances between the multiple antennas provided in the communication unit 61 and the communication terminal 50. The communication terminal position identification unit 11 then identifies the position of the communication terminal 50 relative to the display device 60 based on the distance between the display device 60 and the communication terminal 50 and the angle of the direction from the display device 60 toward the communication terminal. The method for identifying the position of the communication terminal 50 relative to the display device 60 is not limited to the method described above; other identification methods, such as calculating the distance or angle based on the time taken from transmission to reception or the time difference or phase difference when receiving signals by multiple antennas, may also be used.

[0051] like Figure 3 As shown, the terminal operation permission determination unit 12 determines whether the position of the communication terminal 50 identified by the communication terminal position identification unit 11 is within the usage area Ar set in front of the display surface 65 of the display device 60. As shown in dialog box B1, when the position of the communication terminal 50 is within the usage area Ar, the terminal operation permission determination unit 12 permits operation of the display device 60 by the communication terminal 50. Here, the terminal operation permission determination unit 12 may display on the display device 60 that operation by the communication terminal 50 is permitted when the communication terminal 50 is determined to be within the usage area Ar. Alternatively, the terminal operation permission determination unit 12 may display on the display device 60 that a specific operation (such as pressing a button or clicking a notification) is performed from the communication terminal 50, and accept the specific operation input from the communication terminal 50 to permit operation of the display device 60 by the communication terminal 50. On the other hand, as shown in dialog box B2, when the position of the communication terminal 50 is outside the usage area Ar, the terminal operation permission determination unit 12 prohibits operation of the display device 60 by the communication terminal 50.

[0052] like Figure 2 As shown, a use area Ara is set for the passenger seat display device 60a, a use area Arb is set for the left rear seat display device 60b, and a use area Arc is set for the right rear seat display device 60c. Figure 2 The example shows a state in which communication terminal 50a can operate passenger seat display device 60a, communication terminal 50b can operate left rear seat display device 60b, and communication terminal 50c can operate right rear seat display device 60c.

[0053] The use area changing unit 13 changes the use area Ar according to the number or arrangement positions of the display devices 60 that perform screen display. Figure 4 The left rear seat display device 60b is displaying content, while the right rear seat display device 60c is not displaying content (screen off state). In this case, the use area changing unit 13 expands the use area Arb set for the left rear seat display device 60b toward the right rear seat display device 60c as shown by arrow E. As a result, for example, the user U3 (refer to Figure 1 ) When the seating position is shifted toward the right rear seat 44 during a break, etc., the user U3 can maintain a state in which he can operate the left rear seat display device 60b through the communication terminal 50b, thereby improving the convenience of the user U3.

[0054] [3. Decision-making process on whether terminal operation is permitted]

[0055] according to Figure 5 The flowchart shown in FIG. 1 illustrates the steps of the terminal operation permission determination process executed by the terminal operation management device 3. When the power supply of DA1 is on, the terminal operation management device 3 repeatedly executes the process for each of the plurality of display devices 60. Figure 5 The processing in the flowchart shown determines whether the display device 60 can be operated via the communication terminal 50 .

[0056] exist Figure 5 In step S1, the communication terminal position recognition unit 11 searches for a communication terminal 50 in the vicinity based on the radio wave reception status of the communication unit 61 of the display device 60. In the following step S2, if the communication terminal 50 is detected, the communication terminal position recognition unit 11 proceeds to step S3; if the communication terminal 50 is not detected, the process proceeds to step S1.

[0057] In step S3, as described above, communication terminal position recognition unit 11 calculates the distance between display device 60 and communication terminal 50 and the angle of the direction from display device 60 toward communication terminal 50 relative to the reference direction. In the following step S4, communication terminal position recognition unit 11 recognizes the position of communication terminal 50 relative to display device 60 based on the calculated distance and angle.

[0058] In the next step S5, as mentioned above Figure 3 As described above, the terminal operation permission determination unit 12 determines whether the position of the communication terminal 50 relative to the display device 60 is within the usage area Ar. Then, the terminal operation permission determination unit 12 advances the processing to step S6 if the position of the communication terminal 50 is within the usage area Ar, and advances the processing to step S7 if the position of the communication terminal 50 is outside the usage area Ar.

[0059] In step S6, the terminal operation permission determination unit 12 enables the communication terminal 50 to operate the display device 60. Figure 3 As shown in the dialog box B1 in , the display device 60 is in a state where it can be operated via the communication terminal 50 .

[0060] [4. Other Implementation Methods]

[0061] Reference Figures 6 to 9 , another embodiment of the process of determining whether the communication terminal 50 can operate the display device 60 is described.

[0062] Figure 6 The case where the left rear seat display device 60b displays content and the right rear seat display device 60c does not display content (screen-off state) is shown. In this case, the terminal operation permission determination unit 12 excludes the right rear seat display device 60c in the screen-off state from the judgment object of whether the communication terminal 50 can be operated. As a result, the left rear seat display device 60b that is displaying content can be operated by the communication terminal 50b that is within the utilization area Arb set for the left rear seat display device 60b. In contrast, the right rear seat display device 60c in the screen-off state is in a state where it cannot be operated by the communication terminal 50c that is within the utilization area Arc set for the right rear seat display device 60c. As a result, for example, in the case of the user U4 (refer to Figure 1 ) when riding in the vehicle 100, it is possible to avoid the following situation: against the will of the user U4, the communication terminal 50c is automatically enabled to operate the right rear seat display device 60c and start displaying content on the right rear seat display device 60c.

[0063] Figure 7 The following is shown: the user U3 (see FIG. 5 ) holding the communication terminal 50b and sitting in the left rear seat 43 Figure 1 ) moves to the right rear seat 44, and the communication terminal 50b shifts from the usage area Arb set for the left rear seat display device 60b to the usage area Arc set for the right rear seat display device 60c. Figure 7 In this example, the left rear seat display device 60b corresponds to the first display device of the present disclosure, and the usage area Arb corresponds to the first usage area of ​​the present disclosure. Furthermore, the right rear seat display device 60c corresponds to the second display device of the present disclosure, and the usage area Arc corresponds to the second usage area of ​​the present disclosure. In this case, the terminal operation permission determination unit 12 disables the communication terminal 50b from operating the left rear seat display device 60b, as shown in dialog box B7, and enables the communication terminal 50b to operate the right rear seat display device 60c, as shown in dialog box B8.

[0064] Furthermore, as shown in dialog box B9, the terminal operation permission determination unit 12 switches the output destination of the content output by the content output unit 14 to the left rear seat display device 60b and displayed on the right rear seat display device 60c. This allows the user U4, who has moved from the left rear seat 43 to the right rear seat 44, to continue viewing the content previously viewed on the left rear seat display device 60b on the right rear seat display device 60c.

[0065] Figure 8 The figure shows a case where a communication terminal 50, which was within the usage area Ar set for the display device 60, temporarily moves outside the usage area Ar. In this case, the terminal operation permission determination unit 12 maintains the state in which the display device 60 can be operated via the communication terminal 50 until a predetermined time has elapsed from the time the communication terminal 50 moves outside the usage area Ar. This prevents, for example, a situation in which the user U is unable to operate the display device 60 via the communication terminal 50 while temporarily moving relative to their seat, thereby improving the convenience of the user U.

[0066] Figure 9 FIG. 4 shows a case where a plurality of communication terminals exist in the usage area Ar set for the display device 60. Figure 9 , a case is shown where, as communication terminals, in addition to the above-mentioned communication terminal 50 , a game controller 90 and a wireless headset 91 are present in the utilization area Ar.

[0067] In this case, the terminal operation permission determination unit 12 may execute the following multiple terminal handling processes 1 to 3.

[0068] Multiple terminal handling 1 ... The terminal operation permission determination unit 12 makes multiple communication terminals (in the use area Ar) Figure 9 In the figure, the communication terminal 50, the game controller 90, and the wireless headset 91 are all capable of operating the display device 60.

[0069] Multiple Terminals 2 ... The terminal operation permission determination unit 12 enables only any one of the multiple communication terminals present in the utilization area Ar to operate the display device 60. For example, the terminal operation permission determination unit 12 enables only the communication terminal detected first to operate the display device 60. Alternatively, the terminal operation permission determination unit 12 may enable only the communication terminal that first performed a specific operation (button pressing, clicking, etc.) to operate the display device 60.

[0070] Multiple terminals cope with 3… The terminal operation permission determination unit 12 determines whether the display device 60 can be operated for multiple communication terminals according to the functions of each communication terminal. For example, when the user U displays the content of the game on the display device 60 to play the game, the terminal operation permission determination unit 12 can enable the game controller 90 with a dedicated function corresponding to the game operation to operate the display device 60, and disable the communication terminal 50 and the wireless headset 91 from operating the display device 60. Alternatively, for communication terminals with different functions and types, only one of them can be enabled to operate the display device 60. Figure 9 In the example, different types of communication terminals for one user, such as one game controller 90, one wireless headset 91, and one communication terminal 50 (smartphone, etc.), can operate the display device 60.

[0071] In the above embodiment, the communication terminal position recognition unit 11 recognizes the position of the communication terminal 50 relative to the display device 60 based on the communication status between the communication terminal 50 and the communication unit 61 of the display device 60. In another embodiment, the communication terminal position recognition unit 11 may also recognize the position of the communication terminal 50 relative to the display device 60 based on images captured by the front seat camera 70 and the rear seat camera 71. In this case, the communication terminal position recognition unit 11 recognizes the position of the communication terminal 50 relative to the passenger seat display device 60a by extracting the image portion of the communication terminal 50 located around the passenger seat display device 60a from the image captured by the front seat camera 70. Furthermore, the communication terminal position recognition unit 11 recognizes the position of the communication terminal 50 relative to the left rear seat display device 60b by extracting the image portion of the communication terminal 50 located around the left rear seat display device 60b from the image captured by the rear seat camera 71. Furthermore, the communication terminal position recognition unit 11 recognizes the position of the communication terminal 50 relative to the right rear seat display device 60 c by extracting the image portion of the communication terminal 50 that exists around the right rear seat display device 60 c from the image captured by the rear seat camera 71 .

[0072] in addition, Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram showing the structure of the terminal operation management device 3 and the vehicle 100 according to the main processing content in order to facilitate understanding of the present invention. The structure of the terminal operation management device 3 and the vehicle 100 can also be constructed by other divisions. In addition, the processing of each component can be executed by one hardware unit or by multiple hardware units. In addition, Figure 5 The processing of each component shown may be executed by one program or by a plurality of programs.

[0073] [5. Structure supported by the above-mentioned embodiment]

[0074] The above-mentioned embodiment is a specific example of the following structure.

[0075] (Structure 1) A terminal operation management device, which comprises: a communication terminal position identification unit, which identifies the position of a communication terminal existing in the periphery of a display device relative to the display device; and a terminal operation permission determination unit, which enables the communication terminal to operate the display device when the position of the communication terminal relative to the display device is a specified position.

[0076] According to the terminal operation management device of structure 1, the communication terminal is enabled to operate the display device when the position of the communication terminal relative to the display device is a specified position, thereby preventing the combination of the display device and the communication terminal operating the display device from being set against the user's wishes.

[0077] (Structure 2) The terminal operation management device according to Structure 1, wherein the operation of the display device by the communication terminal includes an operation for utilizing content displayed on the display device.

[0078] According to the terminal operation management device of the second configuration, it is possible to suppress a situation in which a communication terminal that performs an operation for utilizing content displayed on a display device is selected against the user's will.

[0079] (Structure 3) A terminal operation management device according to Structure 1 or Structure 2, wherein a communication terminal position identification unit identifies the position of the communication terminal relative to the display device based on measurement information of the distance between the display device and the communication terminal, and the angle of the direction from the display device toward the communication terminal relative to a prescribed reference direction.

[0080] According to the terminal operation management device of Configuration 3, by using parameters such as distance and angle, it is possible to simplify the process of measuring the position of the communication terminal relative to the display device and reduce the amount of required information.

[0081] (Structure 4) The terminal operation management device according to any one of Structures 1 to 3, wherein the predetermined position is a position inside a utilization area set around the display device.

[0082] According to the terminal operation management device of the fourth configuration, when a user using a communication terminal is located in the area surrounding the display device, the display device can be operated via the communication terminal.

[0083] (Structure 5) The terminal operation management device according to Structure 4, wherein the utilization area is set on one side of a display screen of the display device.

[0084] According to the terminal operation management device of the fifth configuration, the use area can be set to be limited to the range where the user operating the communication terminal can see the display device.

[0085] (Structure 6) A terminal operation management device according to Structure 4 or Structure 5, wherein, when the position of the communication terminal becomes outside the utilization area while the communication terminal is located in the utilization area and is in a state where the communication terminal is able to operate the display device, the terminal operation feasibility determination unit maintains the state where the communication terminal is able to operate the display device until a prescribed time has passed from the moment when the position of the communication terminal becomes outside the utilization area, or until the user of the communication terminal performs a prescribed release operation.

[0086] According to the terminal operation management device of configuration 6, when a user holding a communication terminal temporarily moves away from the vicinity of the display device, the communication terminal is maintained in a state where the display device can be operated, thereby improving the convenience of the user.

[0087] (Structure 7) A terminal operation management device according to any one of Structures 4 to 6, wherein, when there are multiple communication terminals in the utilization area, the terminal operation permission determination unit enables all the communication terminals present in the utilization area to operate the display device.

[0088] According to the terminal operation management device of Configuration 7, a user can operate the display device using a plurality of communication terminals. In addition, a plurality of users can individually operate the display device using the communication terminals owned by each user.

[0089] (Structure 8) A terminal operation management device according to any one of Structures 4-7, wherein, when there are multiple communication terminals in the utilization area, the terminal operation permission determination unit only enables any one communication terminal existing in the utilization area to operate the display device.

[0090] According to the terminal operation management device of the eighth configuration, it is possible to avoid competition in operations among a plurality of communication terminals and enable any one communication terminal to operate the display device.

[0091] (Structure 9) A terminal operation management device according to any one of Structures 4 to 8, wherein, when there are multiple communication terminals in the utilization area, the terminal operation feasibility determination unit determines individually for each communication terminal whether to enable the display device to be operated based on the functions of the communication terminal.

[0092] According to the terminal operation management device of structure 9, for example, for multiple communication terminals with different functions, any communication terminal is enabled to operate the display device, and for multiple communication terminals with common functions, only any one communication terminal is enabled to operate the display device, which can improve the user's freedom in selecting a communication terminal.

[0093] (Structure 10) A terminal operation management device according to any one of Structures 1 to 9, wherein the communication terminal position identification unit identifies the position of the communication terminal relative to the display device for each of the plurality of display devices, and the terminal operation feasibility determination unit determines whether the position of the communication terminal relative to the display device is the specified position for each of the plurality of display devices, thereby determining whether the communication terminal is enabled to operate the display device.

[0094] According to the terminal operation management device of structure 10, in a utilization environment equipped with multiple display devices, a communication terminal capable of operating each display device is automatically set according to the position of the communication terminal relative to the display device. Therefore, the user does not need to perform setting operations for the communication terminal combined with multiple display devices, which can improve the convenience of the user.

[0095] (Structure 11) The terminal operation management device according to Structure 10, wherein the terminal operation permission determination unit excludes the display device that is not displaying a screen from the determination target of whether the communication terminal can be operated.

[0096] According to the terminal operation management device of structure 11, it is possible to avoid the following undesirable situations: making a display device that is assumed to be not used by the user because it does not display the screen into a state where it can be operated by the communication terminal, automatically starting the screen display, or starting the processing for accepting the operation of the communication terminal, thereby consuming wasted electricity.

[0097] (Structure 12) A terminal operation management device according to structure 10 or structure 11, wherein the specified position is a position inside a utilization area set for each of the display devices around the display device, and the terminal operation management device includes a utilization area changing unit that changes the utilization area according to the number or configuration position of the display devices that are currently displaying a screen.

[0098] According to the terminal operation management device of configuration 12, by changing the use area according to the number or arrangement of display devices displaying screens, it is possible to prevent a situation where a user cannot operate a display device visible to the user using the communication terminal.

[0099] (Structure 13) A terminal operation management device according to any one of structures 10 to 12, wherein the prescribed position is a position inside a utilization area set for each of the display devices around the display device, and for a first display device and a second display device included in the plurality of display devices, when the communication terminal is located in the utilization area set for the first display device, i.e., the first utilization area, so that the communication terminal can operate the first display device, and when the position of the communication terminal shifts to the utilization area set for the second display device, i.e., the second utilization area, due to a change in the position of the communication terminal, the terminal operation possibility determination unit disables the communication terminal from operating the first display device and enables the communication terminal to operate the second display device, and switches the output destination of the content displayed in the first display device from the first display device to the second display device.

[0100] According to the terminal operation management device of configuration 13, when the display device visible to the user is switched due to the user moving the communication terminal, the output destination of the content viewed by the user before the movement is switched to the display device visible after the movement. Thus, the user can continue to view the content even after the movement.

[0101] (Structure 14) A terminal operation management method, which is executed by a computer, includes: a communication terminal position identification step for identifying the position of a communication terminal existing in the periphery of a display device relative to the display device; and a terminal operation feasibility determination step for enabling the communication terminal to operate the display device when the position of the communication terminal relative to the display device is a specified position.

[0102] By executing the terminal operation management method of configuration 14 on a computer, the same operational effects as those of the terminal operation management device of configuration 1 can be obtained.

[0103] (Structure 15) A recording medium having a terminal operation management program recorded thereon, wherein the terminal operation management program enables a computer to function as a communication terminal position identification unit and a terminal operation feasibility determination unit, wherein the communication terminal position identification unit identifies the position of a communication terminal existing in the periphery of a display device relative to the display device, and the terminal operation feasibility determination unit enables the communication terminal to operate the display device when the position of the communication terminal relative to the display device is a specified position.

[0104] The configuration of the terminal operation management device of configuration 1 can be realized by executing the terminal operation management program of configuration 15 on a computer.

[0105] Description of Reference Numerals

[0106] 1…DA, 2…display control device, 3…terminal operation management device, 10…processor, 11…communication terminal position identification unit, 12…terminal operation permission determination unit, 13…usage area change unit, 14…content output unit, 20…memory, 21…program, 30…communication unit, 50 (50a, 50b, 50c)…communication terminal, 60 (60a, 60b, 60c)…display device, 70…front seat camera, 71…rear seat camera, 72…central display device, 90…game controller, 91…wireless headset, Ar (Ara, Arb, Arc)…usage area, U (U1, U2, U3)…user.

Claims

1. A terminal operation management device, comprising: a communication terminal position recognition unit that recognizes the position of a communication terminal existing around the display device relative to the display device; and A terminal operation permission determination unit enables the communication terminal to operate the display device when the position of the communication terminal relative to the display device is a predetermined position.

2. The terminal operation management device according to claim 1, wherein: The operation of the display device by the communication terminal includes an operation for utilizing content displayed on the display device.

3. The terminal operation management device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The communication terminal position recognition unit recognizes the position of the communication terminal relative to the display device based on the distance between the display device and the communication terminal and measurement information of the angle of the direction from the display device toward the communication terminal relative to a predetermined reference direction.

4. The terminal operation management device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The predetermined position is a position inside a usage area set around the display device.

5. The terminal operation management device according to claim 4, wherein: The utilization area is set on one side of the display screen of the display device.

6. The terminal operation management device according to claim 4, wherein: When the position of the communication terminal becomes outside the utilization area while the communication terminal is within the utilization area and is in a state in which the communication terminal is able to operate the display device, the terminal operation feasibility determination unit maintains the state in which the communication terminal is able to operate the display device until a prescribed time has passed from the moment when the position of the communication terminal becomes outside the utilization area, or until the user of the communication terminal performs a prescribed release operation.

7. The terminal operation management device according to claim 4, wherein: When a plurality of the communication terminals are present in the utilization area, the terminal operation permission determination unit enables all the communication terminals present in the utilization area to operate the display device.

8. The terminal operation management device according to claim 4, wherein: When a plurality of the communication terminals exist in the utilization area, the terminal operation permission determination unit allows only one of the communication terminals existing in the utilization area to operate the display device.

9. The terminal operation management device according to claim 4, wherein: When a plurality of the communication terminals exist within the utilization area, the terminal operation permission determination unit determines individually for each communication terminal whether to enable the display device to be operated based on the function of the communication terminal.

10. The terminal operation management device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The communication terminal position recognition unit recognizes the position of the communication terminal relative to each of the plurality of display devices. The terminal operation permission determination unit determines whether the position of the communication terminal relative to the display device is the predetermined position for each of the plurality of display devices, thereby determining whether to enable the communication terminal to operate the display device.

11. The terminal operation management device according to claim 10, wherein: The terminal operability determination unit excludes the display device that is not displaying a screen from the determination of whether the communication terminal can be operated.

12. The terminal operation management device according to claim 10, wherein: The predetermined position is a position within a usage area set for each display device around the display device. The terminal operation management device includes a use area changing unit that changes the use area according to the number or arrangement positions of the display devices that are performing screen display.

13. The terminal operation management device according to claim 10, wherein: The predetermined position is a position within a usage area set for each display device around the display device. For the first display device and the second display device included in the multiple display devices, when the communication terminal is located in the utilization area set for the first display device, that is, the first utilization area, so that the communication terminal can operate the first display device, and due to the change in the position of the communication terminal, the position of the communication terminal shifts to the utilization area set for the second display device, that is, the second utilization area, the terminal operation determination unit makes the communication terminal unable to operate the first display device and enables the communication terminal to operate the second display device, and switches the output destination of the content displayed in the first display device from the first display device to the second display device.

14. A terminal operation management method, the terminal operation management method being executed by a computer, comprising: a communication terminal position identification step of identifying the position of a communication terminal existing around the display device relative to the display device; as well as The terminal operation permission determination step enables the communication terminal to operate the display device when the position of the communication terminal relative to the display device is a predetermined position.

15. A recording medium having a terminal operation management program recorded thereon, the terminal operation management program causing a computer to function as a communication terminal position recognition unit and a terminal operation permission determination unit. The communication terminal position recognition unit recognizes the position of a communication terminal existing around the display device relative to the display device, The terminal operation permission determination unit enables the communication terminal to operate the display device when the position of the communication terminal relative to the display device is a predetermined position.

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