Wireless communication system, wireless communication device, wireless communication method, and wireless communication program

Abstract

To measure the position of an object to be measured even if an obstacle exists between the object and a device to be measured.SOLUTION: A wireless communication system of the present invention includes a transmitting unit that outputs a wireless signal, a measuring unit that measures the position of a measured device based on the wireless signal and a response signal from the measured device that has received the wireless signal, a reflecting unit that reflects the wireless signal toward a predetermined area, a storage unit that stores the range of the predetermined area and the range of a projection area, and an executing unit that executes a predetermined process when the measured position of the measured device is within the predetermined area or the projection area.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a wireless communication system, a wireless communication device, a wireless communication method, and a wireless communication program.

Background Art

[0002] In recent years, the position of an object has been measured using wireless signals. In such measurements, for example, Ultra-Wide Band (UWB) is used (see Patent Documents 1-4).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

Patent Document 4

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Services such as unlocking a door or settling a payment for a product are used according to the position of the object to be measured. However, when there is an obstacle such as a person between the wireless device and the object to be measured, the obstacle may prevent the wireless signal from reaching the object to be measured, and thus the position of the object to be measured may not be measured.

[0005] One aspect of the disclosed technology aims to provide a wireless communication system, a wireless communication device, a wireless communication method, and a wireless communication program that can measure the position of an object to be measured even when there is an obstacle between the device and the object to be measured.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] One aspect of the disclosed technology is illustrated by the following wireless communication system. This wireless communication system includes a transmission unit that outputs a wireless signal, a measurement unit that measures the position of the user terminal based on the wireless signal and a response signal from the user terminal that has received the wireless signal, a reflection unit that is disposed outside a line segment connecting the user terminal and the transmission unit and reflects the wireless signal toward the predetermined area, a storage unit that stores the range of the predetermined area and the range of a projection area that is set at a line-symmetric position of the predetermined area with respect to the reflection unit, and an execution unit that executes predetermined processing when the measured position of the user terminal is within the predetermined area or within the projection area.

Advantages of the Invention

[0007] According to the disclosed technology, the position of the device to be measured can be measured even when there are obstacles between the device to be measured and the measuring device.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] <Embodiment> Hereinafter, an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a settlement system 100 according to an embodiment. The settlement system 100 is installed within a store 500. The settlement system 100 includes a register 1, a reflecting wall 2, and a user terminal 3. FIG. 1 is a view looking down on the store 500 from above.

[0010] Store 500 is, for example, a retail store that sells various products to customer C1 who visits the store. The settlement system 100 is, for example, a system used at the time of settlement of purchased products in store 500.

[0011] Register 1 is, for example, a Point Of Sale (POS) register installed in store 500. Register 1 transmits a wireless signal in all directions in which antenna 121 can transmit using antenna 121. The wireless signal is, for example, a pulse signal. Register 1 receives a response signal from user terminal 3 that has received the wireless signal via antenna 121. Register 1 measures the position of user terminal 3 based on the received response signal. Register 1 executes settlement with user terminal 3 when the measured position is within the settlement area R1. The settlement area R1 is set, for example, as an area where the operator of store 500 or the like desires to execute settlement. For example, UWB is used for Register 1 to measure the position of user terminal 3. Register 1 is an example of a "computer".

[0012] User terminal 3 is a portable wireless terminal held by customer C1. User terminal 3 is exemplified by, for example, a smartphone and a wearable computer. User terminal 3 is also an information processing device having a processor and a storage unit. A settlement application program is installed in user terminal 3, and settlement is performed by wireless communication with register 1. When user terminal 3 receives a wireless signal related to position measurement from register 1, it transmits a response signal as a response. User terminal 3 is an example of a "device to be measured".

[0013] User terminal 3 is, for example, stored in a bag carried on the back by customer C1 or in the back pocket of customer C1's pants. Therefore, when customer C1 faces the direction of register 1 for settlement, customer C1 will be interposed between user terminal 3 and register 1.

[0014] The reflection wall 2 is a wall that reflects the wireless signal from the register 1 towards the settlement area R1. The reflection wall 2 may be made of any material as long as it can reflect the wireless signal. The reflection wall 2 may be a mirror or a metal plate. The reflection wall 2 may, for example, utilize the wall of the store 500, or may be newly installed within the store 500 to reflect the wireless signal from the register 1. The reflection wall 2 is, for example, arranged at a position deviated from the line segment connecting the register 1 and the user terminal 3. The reflection wall 2 is an example of a "reflection part".

[0015] The settlement area R1 is an area determined within the store 500. In the present embodiment, when the user terminal 3 exists within the settlement area R1, settlement is executed between the register 1 and the user terminal 3. The projection area R2 is an area set at a position line-symmetric to the settlement area R1 with respect to the reflection wall 2. The settlement area R1 is an example of a "predetermined area". The projection area R2 is an example of a "projection area".

[0016] <Antenna Arrangement of User Terminal 3> An example of the antenna arrangement of the user terminal 3 will be described. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the antenna arrangement of the user terminal 3 according to the embodiment. In FIG. 2, the antennas 311, 312, 313, 321 arranged within the housing 310 are illustrated by dotted lines. In FIG. 2, the thickness direction of the housing 310 is the Z direction, the width direction of the housing 310 is the X direction, and the height direction is the Y direction.

[0017] The user terminal 3 includes antennas 311, 312, 313 whose main radiation direction is oriented in the Z direction and an antenna 321 whose main radiation direction is oriented in the X direction. The antennas 311, 312 are arranged side by side in the Y direction. Also, the antennas 312, 313, 321 are arranged side by side in the X direction.

[0018] The user terminal 3 can change the radio wave radiation direction within a predetermined range (for example, a range from ±30 degrees to 60 degrees) in the Y direction by beamforming using the antennas 311 and 312. Also, the user terminal 3 can change the radio wave radiation direction within a predetermined range (for example, a range from ±30 degrees to 60 degrees) in the X direction by beamforming using the antennas 312 and 313. Note that the antenna 321 is an approximately omnidirectional antenna.

[0019] <Hardware Configuration of Register 1 and User Terminal 3> FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of register 1 and user terminal 3 according to the embodiment. First, with reference to FIG. 3, the hardware configuration of register 1 will be described. Register 1 includes a CPU 101, a main memory unit 102, an auxiliary storage unit 103, a transceiver unit 104, an antenna 121, a connection bus B1, and a connection bus B2. The CPU 101, the main memory unit 102, the auxiliary storage unit 103, and the transceiver unit 104 are interconnected by the connection bus B1. The antenna 121 and the transceiver unit 104 are interconnected by the connection bus B2.

[0020] The CPU 101 is also called a microprocessor unit (MPU) or a processor. The CPU 101 is not limited to a single processor and may have a multi-processor configuration. Also, a single CPU 101 connected by a single socket may have a multi-core configuration. At least a part of the processing executed by the CPU 101 may be performed by a processor other than the CPU 101, for example, a dedicated processor such as a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), a Graphics Processing Unit (GPU), a numerical operation processor, a vector processor, an image processing processor, etc. Also, at least a part of the processing executed by the CPU 101 may be executed by an integrated circuit (IC) or other digital circuits. Also, an analog circuit may be included in at least a part of the CPU 101. The integrated circuit includes a Large Scale Integrated circuit (LSI), an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), and a programmable logic device (PLD). The PLD includes, for example, a Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA). The CPU 101 may be a combination of a processor and an integrated circuit. The combination is called, for example, a microcontroller unit (MCU), a System-on-a-chip (SoC), a system LSI, a chipset, etc. In register 1, the CPU 101 expands the program stored in the auxiliary storage unit 103 to the work area of the main storage unit 102 and controls the peripheral devices through the execution of the program. Thereby, register 1 can execute processing that meets a predetermined purpose. The main storage unit 102 and the auxiliary storage unit 103 are recording media readable by register 1.

[0021] The main storage unit 102 is exemplified as a storage unit directly accessible from the CPU 101. The main storage unit 102 includes a Random Access Memory (RAM) and a Read Only Memory (ROM).

[0022] The auxiliary storage unit 103 reads and writes various programs and various data to and from a recording medium. The auxiliary storage unit 103 is also called an external storage device. The auxiliary storage unit 103 stores an operating system (OS), various programs, various tables, etc. The OS includes a communication interface program for transferring data to and from external devices, etc. External devices, etc. include, for example, other information processing devices and external storage devices connected via a computer network, etc. Note that the auxiliary storage unit 103 may be a part of a cloud system, which is a group of computers on a network, for example.

[0023] The auxiliary storage unit 103 is, for example, an Erasable Programmable ROM (EPROM), a Solid State Drive (SSD), a Hard Disk Drive (HDD), etc. Also, the auxiliary storage unit 103 is, for example, a Compact Disc (CD) drive device, a Digital Versatile Disc (DVD) drive device, a Blu-ray (registered trademark) Disc (BD) drive device, etc. Also, the auxiliary storage unit 103 may be provided by a Network Attached Storage (NAS) or a Storage Area Network (SAN).

[0024] The transmission and reception unit 104 is an interface for performing wireless communication via, for example, the antenna 121. The transmission and reception unit 104 transmits and receives wireless signals by UWB via, for example, the antenna 121. The transmission and reception unit 104 is an example of a "transmission unit".

[0025] Subsequently, the user terminal 3 includes a CPU 301, a main storage unit 302, an auxiliary storage unit 303, a transmission and reception unit 304, an antenna 321, a connection bus B3, and a connection bus B4. The housing 310 includes antennas 311, 312, 313, 321. The CPU 301, the main storage unit 302, the auxiliary storage Each of the memory unit 303, the transceiver unit 304, the antenna 321, the connection bus B3, and the connection bus B4 is the same as the CPU 101, the main memory unit 102, the auxiliary storage unit 103, the transceiver unit 104, the antenna 121, the connection bus B1, and the connection bus B2 of the register 1, and thus the description thereof is omitted. The register 1 and the user terminal 3 transmit and receive wireless signals and response signals via, for example, the wireless link L1.

[0026] <Processing block of register 1> FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a processing block of the register 1 according to the embodiment. The register 1 includes a measurement unit 11, a determination unit 12, a settlement unit 13, and a management unit 14. The CPU 101 of the register 1 executes a computer program developed executable in the main memory unit 102, thereby executing the processing of the register 1 as each of the measurement unit 11, the determination unit 12, the settlement unit 13, the management unit 14, and the like.

[0027] The management unit 14 stores the ranges of the settlement area R1 and the projection area R2 determined within the store 500. For example, information indicating the range of the settlement area R1 and information indicating the range of the projection area R2 are registered in the management unit 14 when the register 1 and the reflection wall 2 are installed in the store 500. The management unit 14 is an example of a "memory unit".

[0028] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the management table 141 stored in the management unit 14 in the embodiment. The management table 141 has items of "settlement area" and "projection area". Information indicating the position of the settlement area R1 is stored in the "settlement area". Information indicating the position of the projection area R2 is stored in the "projection area". Each of the information indicating the position of the settlement area R1 and the information indicating the position of the projection area R2 is information indicating a relative position based on the register 1. The information indicating a relative position based on the register 1 includes, for example, the distance and angle from the register 1.

[0029] Returning to FIG. 4, the measurement unit 11 measures the position of the user terminal 3 using UWB. In the position measurement using UWB, the measurement unit 11 causes the transmission / reception unit 104 to transmit a pulse signal. The user terminal 3 that has received the transmitted pulse signal transmits a response signal to the pulse signal. The response signal transmitted by the user terminal 3 is received by the transmission / reception unit 104. The measurement unit 11 can measure the distance to the user terminal 3 by multiplying the speed of light by the time from the transmission of the pulse signal to the reception of the response signal. That is, the measurement unit 11 measures the distance to the user terminal 3 by the Time of Arrival (TOA) method. Further, the measurement unit 11 measures the direction from the register 1 to the user terminal 3 based on the arrival angle of the response signal.

[0030] FIG. 6 is a first diagram schematically showing the measurement of the distance to the user terminal 3 by the measurement unit 11. In FIG. 6, for simplicity, the radio signal transmitted by the register 1 is illustrated by an arrow (S11), but the register 1 transmits the radio signal in all directions in which the antenna 121 can transmit, and does not transmit in a specific direction. In the example of FIG. 6, the user terminal 3 is held, for example, in the hand of the customer C1, and the customer C1 does not intervene between the register 1 and the user terminal 3. In such a case, the pulse signal S1 transmitted from the transmission / reception unit 104 reaches the user terminal 3 without being obstructed by the customer C1. Also, the response signal S12 from the user terminal 3 that has received the pulse signal S1 reaches the register 1 without being obstructed by the customer C1. Therefore, the measurement unit 11 measures the distance from the register 1 to the user terminal 3 based on the time from the transmission of the pulse signal S11 to the reception of the response signal S12 and the speed of light. Also, the measurement unit 11 measures the direction from the register 1 to the user terminal 3 based on the arrival angle of the response signal S12.

[0031] FIG. 7 is a second diagram schematically showing the measurement of the distance to the user terminal 3 by the measurement unit 11. In FIG. 7, for simplicity, the radio signal transmitted by the register 1 is an arrow (S21) Although exemplified in , the register 1 transmits a radio signal in all directions in which the antenna 121 can transmit, rather than in a specific direction. In the example of FIG. 7, the user terminal 3 is housed, for example, in the back pocket of the trousers of customer C1, and customer C1 is interposed between the register 1 and the user terminal 3. In such a case, even if the pulse signal S11 is transmitted toward the direction of the settlement area R1, the pulse signal does not reach the user terminal 3. Therefore, the response signal S12 from the user terminal 3 is not transmitted.

[0032] In the present embodiment, a part of the pulse signal transmitted by the transmission / reception unit 104 travels toward the reflection wall 2 as exemplified by the arrow (S21). The pulse signal directed toward the reflection wall 2 is reflected by the reflection wall 2. The pulse signal transmitted by the transmission / reception unit 104 is reflected by the reflection wall 2 and reaches the user terminal 3 within the settlement area R1.

[0033] The user terminal 3 that has received the pulse signal S22 transmits a response signal S23. Here, the user terminal 3 transmits the response signal S23 in the direction in which the pulse signal S22 arrives. That is, the user terminal 3 transmits the response signal S23 toward the reflection wall 2. The response signal S23 reaches the reflection wall 2. The response signal S24, which is the response signal S23 reflected by the reflection wall 2, is received by the transmission / reception unit 104.

[0034] The measurement unit 11 measures the distance from the register 1 to the user terminal 3 based on the time from when the pulse signal S21 is transmitted until the response signal S24 is received and the speed of light. Further, the measurement unit 11 measures the direction from the register 1 to the user terminal 3 based on the arrival angle of the response signal S24. The position of the user terminal 3 measured by transmitting the pulse signal S21 is a position that is line-symmetrical with the user terminal 3 with respect to the reflection wall 2 (illustrated as the projected terminal 3R in FIG. 7). When the user terminal 3 exists within the settlement area R1, the position of the user terminal 3 measured by transmitting the pulse signal S21 is within the projected area R2. The measurement unit 11 is an example of a "measurement unit".

[0035] Returning to FIG. 4, the determination unit 12 determines whether the position of the user terminal 3 measured by the measurement unit 11 is within the settlement area R1. When the position of the user terminal 3 measured by the measurement unit 11 using the pulse signal transmitted toward the settlement area R1 is within the settlement area R1 stored in the management unit 14, the determination unit 12 determines that the user terminal 3 is within the settlement area R1. Also, when the position of the user terminal 3 measured by the measurement unit 11 using the pulse signal transmitted toward the reflection wall 2 is within the projection area R2 stored in the management unit 14, the determination unit 12 determines that the user terminal 3 is within the settlement area R1.

[0036] When the determination unit 12 determines that the position of the user terminal 3 is within the settlement area R1, the settlement unit 13 executes contactless settlement processing by exchanging wireless signals between the register 1 and the user terminal 3. The settlement unit 13 executes the settlement processing by transmitting a wireless signal in the transmission direction of the pulse signal whose position of the user terminal 3 is measured by the measurement unit 11. The settlement processing by the settlement unit 13 is, for example, cashless settlement. The determination unit 12 and the settlement unit 13 are examples of an "execution unit".

[0037] <Processing block of user terminal 3> FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a processing block of the user terminal 3 according to the embodiment. The user terminal 3 includes a response unit 31 and a settlement unit 32. The user terminal 3 executes processing as each unit such as the response unit 31 and the settlement unit 32 of the user terminal 3 by the CPU 301 executing a computer program developed executable in the main storage unit 302.

[0038] The response unit 31 transmits a response signal in response to the pulse signal from the register 1. The response unit 31 transmits the response signal, for example, in a direction corresponding to the arrival angle of the pulse signal.

[0039] The settlement unit 32 executes contactless settlement processing by exchanging wireless signals with the settlement unit 13 of the register 1. The settlement unit 32 executes the settlement processing by transmitting a wireless signal with respect to the arrival angle of the pulse signal.

[0040] <Processing flow> FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of the processing flow of register 1 according to the embodiment. Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 9, an example of the processing flow of register 1 will be described.

[0041] In step T1, preparations are made. As preparations, for example, the installation of the reflection wall 2 and the registration to the management unit 14 of the settlement area R1 and the projection area R2 are performed. Note that if these preparations have already been completed, the processing in step T1 is omitted.

[0042] In step T2, the measurement unit 11 transmits a pulse signal. In step T3, the measurement unit 11 determines whether or not a response signal to the pulse signal transmitted in step T2 has been received. When a response signal from the user terminal 3 is received (''YES'' in step T3), the processing proceeds to step T4. When a response signal from the user terminal 3 is not received (''NO'' in step T3), the processing is terminated.

[0043] In step T4, the measurement unit 11 measures the position of the user terminal 3. In step T5, the determination unit 12 determines whether or not the position of the user terminal 3 measured in step T4 is within the settlement area R1. When it is within the settlement area R1 (''YES'' in step T5), the processing proceeds to step T6. When it is not within the settlement area R1 (''NO'' in step T5), the processing is terminated.

[0044] In step T6, the settlement unit 13 executes a settlement process with the settlement unit 32 of the user terminal 3.

[0045] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the processing flow of the process of determining whether or not the user terminal 3 is within the settlement area R1. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the details of the processing in step T5 of FIG. 9. Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 10, an example of the processing flow of the process of determining whether or not the user terminal 3 is within the settlement area R1 will be described.

[0046] In step T11, the measurement unit 11 determines whether the arrival angle of the received response signal is any of θ1, θ2, and θ3. Here, θ1 exemplifies the angular range from register 1 to the settlement area R1 (see FIG. 1), and θ2 exemplifies the angular range from register 1 to the projection area R2 (see FIG. 1). Also, θ3 exemplifies an angular range different from both θ1 and θ2. When the arrival angle is within the range of θ1 ("θ1" in T11), the process proceeds to step T12. When the arrival angle is within the range of θ2 ("θ2" in T11), the process proceeds to step T15.

[0047] In step T12, it is determined whether the distance to the user terminal 3 measured based on the response signal is within the settlement area R1. When the area of the settlement area R1 is an ellipse as exemplified in FIG. 1, the distance determined to be within the settlement area R1 varies according to the angle determined in step T11. Therefore, the management unit 14 may simply store, in association with each angle within the angle θ1, the distance determined to be within the settlement area R1. When it is within the distance determined to be within the settlement area R1 ("YES" in step T12), the process proceeds to step T13. When it is not within the distance determined to be within the settlement area R1 ("NO" in step T12), the process proceeds to step T14.

[0048] In step T13, the measurement unit 11 determines that the user terminal 3 exists within the settlement area R1 to be. In step T14, the measurement unit 11 determines that the user terminal 3 exists outside the settlement area R1.

[0049] In step T15, it is determined whether the measured distance to the user terminal 3 is within the projection area R2. When the area of the projection area R2 is an ellipse as illustrated in FIG. 1, the distance considered to be within the projection area R2 varies according to the angle determined in step T11. In such a case, the management unit 14 may simply store, in association with each angle within the angle θ2, the distance determined to be within the projection area R2. If it is within the distance considered to be within the projection area R2 ( "YES" in step T15), the process proceeds to step T13. If it is not within the distance considered to be within the projection area R2 ( "NO" in step T15), the process proceeds to step T14.

[0050] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of the processing flow of the user terminal 3 according to the embodiment. The processing illustrated in FIG. 11 is repeatedly executed while the user terminal 3 is activated. Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 11, an example of the processing flow of the user terminal 3 will be described.

[0051] In step T21, the user terminal 3 determines whether it has received a pulse signal from the register 1. If received ( "YES" in step T21), the process proceeds to step T22. If not received ( "NO" in step T21), the process ends.

[0052] In step T22, the user terminal 3 transmits a response signal to the received pulse signal. The response signal is transmitted, for example, with respect to the arrival angle of the received pulse signal.

[0053] <Operational effects of the embodiment> It is conceivable that the pulse signal transmitted by the register 1 does not reach the user terminal 3 directly from the register 1 because the customer C1 is interposed between the register 1 and the user terminal 3. In the present embodiment, even in such a situation, by reflecting the pulse signal by the reflecting wall 2, it is possible to avoid the customer C1 and cause the pulse signal to reach the user terminal 3. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, even when an obstacle exemplified by the customer C1 exists between the register 1 and the user terminal 3, the pulse signal from the register 1 can reach the user terminal 3, and thus the position of the user terminal 3 can be measured.

[0054] In the present embodiment, the TOA method is adopted for measuring the position of the user terminal 3. The TOA method can measure the position of the user terminal 3 with higher accuracy than Signal Strength Ranging (SSR) that calculates the distance based on the radio wave intensity. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the position of the user terminal 3 can be measured with higher accuracy.

[0055] In the present embodiment, the user terminal 3 includes antennas 311, 312, 313 having a main radiation direction in the Z direction and an antenna 321 having a main radiation direction in the X direction. By providing the user terminal 3 with two sets of antennas whose main radiation directions are orthogonal to each other, even when the customer C1 exists between the user terminal 3 and the register 1, at least one of the antennas 311, 312, 313 and the antenna 321 can be directed in a direction where the wireless communication with the register 1 is not disturbed by the customer C1. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the position measurement of the user terminal 3 can be realized with a higher probability in various positional relationships among the register 1, the user terminal 3, and the customer C1.

[0056] <First Modified Example> In the embodiment, the configuration in which one reflecting wall 2 is arranged has been described. In the first modified example, the configuration in which a plurality of reflecting walls 2 are arranged will be described. The same reference numerals are given to the components common to the embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted. Hereinafter, the first modified example will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0057] FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of a payment system 100A according to the first modification. The payment system 100A further includes a reflecting wall 2A in addition to the reflecting wall 2, includes a register 1A instead of the register 1, and includes a user terminal 3A instead of the user terminal 3. The payment system 100A further has tags 21 and 21A provided on the reflecting wall 2 and the reflecting wall 2A, respectively.

[0058] The tag 21 is arranged on the reflecting wall 2. The tag 21 is arranged on the surface of the reflecting wall 2 on the payment area R1 side. The tag 21 is, for example, a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag. The tag 21 is attached with a unique tag identifier, and transmits a notification signal including the tag identifier indicating the tag 21 in response to a search signal from the user terminal 3A.

[0059] The reflecting wall 2A is provided on the wall 501 located at the innermost position when viewed from the register 1 within the store 500. In the first modification, by providing the reflecting wall 2A, a projection area R2A is added which is set at a position line-symmetrical to the payment area R1 with respect to the reflecting wall 2A. Also, a tag 21A is arranged on the surface of the reflecting wall 2A on the payment area R1 side. The tag 21A is, for example, an RFID tag similar to the tag 21. The tag 21A is attached with a unique tag identifier, and transmits a notification signal including the tag identifier indicating the tag 21A in response to a search signal from the user terminal 3A.

[0060] The user terminal 3A transmits a search signal to the tags 21 and 21A, and acquires the tag identifiers of the tags 21 and 21A, respectively. When the user terminal 3A receives a pulse signal from the register 1A, it transmits a response signal including the tag identifiers indicating the reflecting walls 2 and 2A that reflected the pulse signal.

[0061] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of the processing block of the register 1A according to the first modification. The register 1A is different from the register 1 according to the embodiment in that it includes a determination unit 12A instead of the determination unit 12 and includes a management unit 14A instead of the management unit 14.

[0062] The management unit 14A manages by associating the tag identifiers of the tags 21 and 21A with the projection areas R2 and R2A. FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of the management table 141A stored in the management unit 14A in the first modification. The management table 141A has columns of "settlement area", "projection area 1", and "projection area 2". Since the "settlement area" is the same as the "settlement area" of the management table 141, its description is omitted. Information indicating the position of the projection area R2 is stored in the "projection area 1". Information indicating the position of the projection area R2A is stored in the "projection area 2". When three or more projection areas are set by adding the reflection wall 2, the number of columns may be increased such as "projection area 1", "projection area 2", ···, "projection area N (N is an integer of 3 or more)".

[0063] FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of the tag management table 142 stored in the management unit 14A in the first modification. The tag management table 142 has columns of "tag identifier" and "projection area". The tag identifiers of the tags 21 and 21A are stored in the "tag identifier". Information indicating the projection area R2 or the projection area R2A is stored in the "projection area". In the tag management table 142, the tag identifiers of the tags 21 and 21A are associated with the projection areas R2 and R2A.

[0064] Returning to FIG. 13, the determination unit 12A determines whether or not the position of the user terminal 3 measured by the measurement unit 11 is within the settlement area R1. When the position of the user terminal 3 measured by the measurement unit 11 is within the settlement area R1 stored in the management unit 14, the determination unit 12A determines that the user terminal 3 is within the settlement area R1.

[0065] Further, when the determination unit 12A detects that the identification signals of tags 21 and 21A are included in the response signal from the user terminal 3A, the determination unit 12A obtains the identification signal from the response signal. The determination unit 12A specifies the projection area corresponding to the identification signal obtained by referring to the tag management table 142. The determination unit 12A specifies the range of the specified projection area by referring to the management table 141. When the position of the user terminal 3 measured by the measurement unit 11 is within the range of the specified projection area, the determination unit 12A determines that the user terminal 3 is within the settlement area R1.

[0066] FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an example of a processing block of the user terminal 3A according to the first modification. The user terminal 3A is different from the user terminal 3 according to the embodiment in that it includes a response unit 31A instead of the response unit 31 and further includes a search unit 33 and a management unit 34.

[0067] The search unit 33 transmits search signals in each direction by beamforming. The search unit 33 transmits the search signals at a predetermined interval, for example. When the search unit 33 receives a notification signal from tags 21 and 21A for the search signal, the search unit 33 associates the arrival angle of the received notification signal with the tag identifier included in the notification signal and stores the result in the management unit 34.

[0068] The management unit 34 manages the tag identifiers of tags 21 and 21A in association with the arrival angles of the notification signals including the tag identifiers. FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an example of a tag management table 341 stored in the management unit 34 in the first modification. The tag management table 341 has columns for "tag identifier" and "arrival angle". Since the "tag identifier" is the same as the "tag identifier" in the tag management table 142, its description is omitted. The "arrival angle" stores the arrival angle of the notification signal that notified the tag identifier.

[0069] When the response unit 31A receives the pulse signal from the register 1, it measures the arrival angle of the pulse signal. The response unit 31A refers to the tag management table 341 to obtain the tag identifier corresponding to the measured arrival angle of the pulse signal. The response unit 31A transmits a response signal including the obtained tag identifier in the direction of the measured arrival angle. Note that when the tag identifier corresponding to the measured arrival angle does not exist in the tag management table 341, the response unit 31A transmits a response signal without including the tag identifier in the direction of the measured arrival angle.

[0070] Note that the areas where the tags 21 and 21A are provided are part of the areas of the reflection walls 2 and 2A. Therefore, there may be a "shift" between the arrival angle of the pulse signal and the arrival angle of the notification signal. Thus, the response unit 31A may obtain the tag identifier corresponding to an angle within a predetermined allowable range from the arrival angle of the pulse signal.

[0071] FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an example of the processing flow of the register 1A according to the first modification. Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 18, an example of the processing flow of the register 1A will be described.

[0072] In step T5A, the determination unit 12A determines whether the position of the user terminal 3 measured in step T4 is within the settlement area R1. When the received response signal does not include a tag identifier, and when the position of the user terminal 3 is within the settlement area R1, the determination unit 12A determines that the user terminal 3 is within the settlement area R1. When the received response signal includes a tag identifier, the determination unit 12A specifies the projection area corresponding to the tag identifier, and when the position of the user terminal 3 is within the specified projection area, the determination unit 12A determines that the user terminal 3 is within the settlement area R1. If it is within the settlement area R1 (in step T5A, "YES"), the process proceeds to step T6. If it is not within the settlement area R1 (in step T5A, "NO"), the process ends.

[0073] FIG. 19 is a diagram showing an example of the processing flow of the search unit 33 of the user terminal 3A according to the first modification. It is a diagram showing an example. Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 19, an example of the processing flow of the search unit 33 will be described.

[0074] In step T31, the search unit 33 transmits search signals in each direction by beamforming. In step T32, the search unit 33 determines whether or not it has received a notification signal from the tags 21, 21A. If received (YES in step T32), the process proceeds to step T33. If not received (NO in step T32), the process returns to step T31 after a predetermined time.

[0075] In step T33, the search unit 33 acquires a tag identifier from the notification signal received in step T32. The search unit 33 stores the acquired identifier in the tag management table 341 in association with the arrival angle of the notification signal received in step T32.

[0076] In the first modification example, when a plurality of reflection walls 2, 2A are arranged in the store 500, the projection areas R2, R2A can be managed in association with each of the reflection walls 2, 2A. For example, when the position of the user terminal 3A measured by the pulse signal reflected by the reflection wall 2 is within the projection area R2A, it is considered that the actual position of the user terminal 3A is not within the settlement area R1. In the first modification example, since the reflection walls 2, 2A and the projection areas R2, R2A are managed in association with each other, such false detection can be suppressed.

[0077] In the first modification example, it is also conceivable that the position of the user terminal 3A measured by transmitting a pulse signal to the reflection wall 2 is within the projection area R2, and the position of the user terminal 3A measured by transmitting a pulse signal to the reflection wall 2A is within the projection area R2A. In such a case, the settlement unit 13 of the register 1 and the settlement unit 32 of the user terminal 3A may execute the settlement process, giving priority to a path where the transmission of the radio signal is closer.

[0078] Note that although the reflection wall 2A is provided on the wall 501 in the first modification example, the reflection walls 2, 2A may be provided on the ceiling of the store 500. The installation locations of the reflection walls 2, 2A can be determined as appropriate.

[0079] <Other variations> In the embodiments and the first modification example described above, the position of the user terminal 3 was measured and the settlement process was executed. However, the technology described in this embodiment and the first modification example may be applied to processes other than the settlement process. Examples of processes other than the settlement process include unlocking a door.

[0080] In the embodiments and the first modification example described above, for simplicity, the technology for measuring the position of the user terminal 3 in the two-dimensional space has been described with reference to the view from above. However, the technology described in this embodiment and the first modification example is also applicable to the three-dimensional space. When applying to the three-dimensional space, the measurement unit 11 may measure the arrival angles of the response signal from the user terminal 3 in three directions: the X direction, the Y direction, and the Z direction.

[0081] The embodiments and modification examples disclosed above can be combined with each other.

[0082] <Computer-readable recording medium> An information processing program for causing a computer or other machine or device (hereinafter referred to as a computer or the like) to realize any of the above functions can be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium. Then, by causing the computer or the like to read and execute the program of this recording medium, the function can be provided.

[0083] Here, a computer-readable recording medium accumulates information such as data and programs by an electrical, magnetic, optical, mechanical, or chemical action, and a computer or the like It refers to a recording medium that can be read from. Among such recording media, those removable from a computer or the like include, for example, flexible disks, magneto-optical disks, Compact Disc Read Only Memory (CD-ROM), Compact Disc-Recordable (CD-R), Compact Disc-ReWriterable (CD-RW), Digital Versatile Disc (DVD), Blu-ray Disc (BD), Digital Audio Tape (DAT), 8mm tapes, flash memories, external hard disk drives, Solid State Drives (SSD), and the like. Also, as recording media fixed to a computer or the like, there are built-in hard disk drives, SSDs, ROMs, and the like.

Explanation of Signs

[0084] 1 ··· Register 1A ··· Register 2 ··· Reflective wall 2A ··· Reflective wall 3 ··· User terminal 3A ··· User terminal 3R ··· Projection terminal 11 ··· Measuring unit 12 ··· Judgment unit 12A ··· Judgment unit 13 ··· Settlement unit 14 ··· Management unit 14A ··· Management unit 21 ··· Tag 21A ··· Tag 31 ··· Response unit 31A ··· Response unit 32 ··· Settlement unit 33 ··· Search unit 34 ··· Management unit 100 ··· Settlement system 100A ··· Settlement system 101 ··· CPU 102 ··· Main memory unit 103 ··· Auxiliary memory unit 104 ··· Transmission / reception unit 121 ··· Antenna 141··Management Table 141A··Management Table 142··Tag Management Table 301··CPU 302··Main Memory Unit 303··Auxiliary Memory Unit 304··Transmission / Reception Unit 321··Antenna 310··Housing 311··Antenna 312··Antenna 313··Antenna 321··Antenna 341··Tag Management Table 500··Store 501··Wall B1··Connection Bus B2··Connection Bus B3··Connection Bus B4··Connection Bus C1··Customer R1··Settlement Area R2··Projection Area R2A··Projection Area

Claims

1. A transmitting unit that outputs a wireless signal, a measuring unit that measures the position of the device under measurement based on the wireless signal and a response signal from the device under measurement that has received the wireless signal, a reflecting unit that is disposed outside a line segment connecting the device under measurement and the transmitting unit and reflects the wireless signal toward a predetermined area, a storage unit that stores the range of the predetermined area and the range of a projection area set at a position that is line-symmetric with respect to the predetermined area based on the reflecting unit, and an execution unit that executes a predetermined process when the measured position of the device under measurement is within the predetermined area or within the projection area. A wireless communication system.

2. The measuring unit measures the position of the device under measurement based on the time from when the wireless signal is transmitted until the response signal is received and the arrival angle of the response signal. The wireless communication system according to claim 1.

3. A plurality of the reflecting units are arranged, tags are arranged on each of the plurality of reflecting units, the device under measurement stores the identifier of the tag in association with each of the plurality of reflecting units, includes the identifier of the tag arranged on the reflecting unit arranged in the direction of the arrival angle of the wireless signal from the device under measurement in the response signal, the storage unit stores the identifier in association with each of the projection areas set by the reflecting unit on which the tag of the identifier is arranged, and the execution unit executes the predetermined process when the position of the device under measurement is within the projection area associated with the identifier included in the response signal. The wireless communication system according to claim 1.

4. The predetermined process includes a settlement process. The wireless communication system according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. A transmitting unit that outputs a wireless signal, a measuring unit that measures the position of the device under measurement based on the wireless signal and a response signal from the device under measurement to the wireless signal, a storage unit that stores the range of a predetermined area and the range of a projection area set at a position that is line-symmetric with respect to the predetermined area based on a reflecting unit that is disposed outside a line segment connecting the device under measurement and the transmitting unit and reflects the wireless signal toward the predetermined area, and an execution unit that executes a predetermined process when the measured position of the device under measurement is within the predetermined area or within the projection area. A wireless communication device.

6. A computer performs a transmission process for outputting a wireless signal, A measurement process for measuring the position of the device under measurement based on the wireless signal and a response signal to the wireless signal by the device under measurement; A storage process for storing in a storage unit a range of a predetermined area and a range of a projection area set at a line-symmetric position of the predetermined area with reference to a reflection unit that is disposed outside a line segment connecting the device under measurement and the computer and that reflects the wireless signal toward the predetermined area; An execution process for executing a predetermined process when the measured position of the device under measurement is within the predetermined area or within the projection area; A wireless communication method.

7. Causing a computer to perform a transmission process for outputting a wireless signal, perform a measurement process for measuring the position of the device under measurement based on the wireless signal and a response signal to the wireless signal by the device under measurement, perform a storage process for storing in a storage unit a range of a predetermined area and a range of a projection area set at a line-symmetric position of the predetermined area with reference to a reflection unit that is disposed outside a line segment connecting the device under measurement and the computer and that reflects the wireless signal toward the predetermined area, and perform an execution process for executing a predetermined process when the measured position of the device under measurement is within the predetermined area or within the projection area; A wireless communication program.

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