Navigation system

Abstract

To provide a navigation system capable of more reliably guiding a user to a destination. [Solution] The navigation system comprises a wireless communication terminal and an information processing device connected for communication with the wireless communication terminal. The information processing device includes an acquisition unit that acquires destination information indicating the destination input into the user's terminal device, and a control unit that switches the operating mode of route guidance from the current location of the terminal device to the destination between a first mode that executes route guidance based on GPS signals and a second mode that executes route guidance based on wireless signals transmitted from a wireless communication terminal installed at the destination or in the vicinity of the destination. The control unit executes route guidance in the first mode until the terminal device arrives at the vicinity of the destination, and controls the device to switch from the first mode to the second mode when the route guidance in the first mode ends when the terminal device arrives at the vicinity of the destination, or when the terminal device enters a range reachable by wireless signals from a wireless communication terminal installed at the destination or in the vicinity of the destination.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a navigation system. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there is known a system that uses a GPS (Global Positioning System) signal receiving function installed in a mobile terminal, etc. to guide a user to a destination. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a system that uses GPS signals to navigate a user to a destination, and when the position of the user's mobile terminal approaches a specific traffic light controller at a pedestrian crossing, the system outputs a drive signal to the specific traffic light controller to drive an acoustic traffic light located on the user's route. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Special Publication No. 2015-521319 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in a system that uses GPS signals to guide a user to a destination, such as the system disclosed in Patent Document 1, the route guidance may end when the user arrives near the destination, and in such a case, the user may not be able to accurately reach the destination.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a navigation system that can more reliably guide a user to a destination. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, the navigation system of the present invention comprises: a wireless communication terminal; an information processing device communicatively connected to the wireless communication terminal, The information processing device includes: an acquisition unit that acquires destination information indicating a destination input to a terminal device of a user; a control unit that switches an operation mode of route guidance from the current position of the terminal device to the destination between a first mode that performs route guidance based on a GPS (Global Positioning System) signal and a second mode that performs route guidance based on a wireless signal transmitted from the wireless communication terminal installed at or near the destination, The control unit executes route guidance in the first mode until the terminal device arrives in the vicinity of the destination, and controls the terminal device to switch from the first mode to the second mode when the route guidance in the first mode ends as the terminal device arrives in the vicinity of the destination, or when the terminal device enters a range where a wireless signal from the wireless communication terminal installed at the destination or in the vicinity of the destination can reach.

[0007] According to this configuration, when route guidance using GPS signals is terminated, route guidance using wireless signals transmitted from a wireless communication terminal installed at or near the destination is started, thereby more reliably guiding the user to the destination. Furthermore, even if the destination is a location that cannot be reached in the first mode using GPS signals, such as indoors or underground where GPS signals cannot reach, the user can still be guided to the destination. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to more reliably guide a user to a destination. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a navigation system according to an embodiment. [Figure 2]FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining an outline of the route guidance provided by the navigation system shown in FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining route guidance in the beacon mode provided by the navigation system shown in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram showing the flow of operations when route guidance is performed by the navigation system shown in FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining an example (part 1) in which route guidance is performed by the navigation system shown in FIG. 1 using a plurality of beacons. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining an example (part 2) in which route guidance is performed by the navigation system shown in FIG. 1 using a plurality of beacons. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] [Navigation System Overview] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A navigation system according to an embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The navigation system according to an embodiment of the present invention provides a user with route guidance from a current location to a destination.

[0011] Fig. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a navigation system 1 according to an embodiment. As shown in Fig. 1, the navigation system 1 includes one or more beacons 10 (an example of a wireless communication terminal), a server 11 (an example of an information processing device), a base station 12, and a terminal device 20. The server 11 is communicatively connected to each beacon 10 via an external network 13. The server 11 is communicatively connected to the base station 12 via the external network 13.

[0012] The terminal device 20 is a smartphone, tablet, laptop computer, personal computer, or the like operated by a user, and has a display unit such as a touch display. The terminal device 20 also provides the user with route guidance as described below by executing a predetermined application program installed via a platform that distributes apps, for example.

[0013] The terminal device 20 may be configured to execute software for browsing websites, that is, a program acquired via a web browser, instead of executing an application program.

[0014] The beacon 10 is a communication terminal that is powered by being connected to, for example, a USB port and is capable of transmitting and receiving wireless signals. The beacon 10 detects the terminal device 20 located within a range that can be reached by the wireless signal from the beacon 10, and transmits detection information indicating the current location of the terminal device 20 and identification information of the terminal device 20 to the server 11.

[0015] The server 11 includes a communication unit (acquisition unit) 31, a control unit 32, a storage unit 33, and a memory 34. The communication unit 31 functions as an interface for the server 11 to communicate with external devices such as the base station 12 and the beacon 10.

[0016] The storage unit 33 includes a storage device such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or a flash memory. Specifically, the storage unit 33 stores programs for the server 11 to execute various processes, beacon information indicating the correspondence between the identification information of each beacon 10 and the installation location, and the like.

[0017] The memory 34 includes a storage device such as a read only memory (ROM) or a random access memory (RAM).

[0018] The control unit 32 is a processor including, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), an MPU (Micro Processing Unit), a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), etc. The control unit 32 performs various controls related to the provision of route guidance.

[0019] Fig. 2 is a diagram for explaining an outline of route guidance provided by the navigation system 1 shown in Fig. 1. As shown in Fig. 2, the terminal device 20 has a function of receiving GPS (Global Positioning System) signals transmitted from a plurality of satellites 41 and detecting the current position of the terminal device 20 based on the received GPS signals.

[0020] 1 again, the terminal device 20 accepts a destination input by the user and transmits destination information indicating the destination and identification information of the terminal device 20 to the server 11 via the base station 12. The user inputs the destination to the terminal device 20 by inputting the place name, facility name, address, etc. of the destination. The user may also input the destination by voice input, etc.

[0021] When the communication unit 31 in the server 11 receives the destination information and the identification information from the terminal device 20, it outputs the destination information and the identification information to the control unit 32. Then, the control unit 32 associates the destination information with the identification information and stores them in the memory 34. Furthermore, when the control unit 32 receives the destination information and the identification information from the terminal device 20 via the communication unit 31, it transmits a control signal to the terminal device 20 via the communication unit 31 and the base station 12, the control signal instructing the execution of route guidance based on GPS signals.

[0022] When the terminal device 20 receives the control signal from the server 11, it detects the current location of the terminal device 20 based on the GPS signal and extracts a route from the detected current location to the destination. Then, as shown in Fig. 2, the terminal device 20 displays the extracted route on the display unit of the terminal device 20. Such an operating mode of route guidance based on the GPS signal is hereinafter referred to as "GPS mode" (first mode).

[0023] Here, in the GPS mode, when the user's terminal device 20 arrives near the destination, the route guidance may end even if the user has not yet arrived at the destination.

[0024] In contrast, in the navigation system 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, when route guidance in GPS mode ends because the terminal device 20 has arrived near the destination, route guidance based on the wireless signal transmitted from the beacon 10 is started. Hereinafter, the operation mode of route guidance based on the wireless signal transmitted from the beacon 10 is referred to as the "beacon mode" (second mode).

[0025] Referring again to FIG. 1, in more detail, when route guidance in GPS mode is to end, the terminal device 20 transmits, for example, a GPS mode end notification indicating that route guidance in GPS mode is to end to the server 11 via the base station 12.

[0026] In this case, the control unit 32 in the server 11 switches the operation mode of route guidance in the terminal device 20 from GPS mode to beacon mode. At this time, a screen indicating that route guidance in beacon mode will start is displayed as a pop-up on the display unit of the terminal device 20, as shown in Fig. 2, for example. In addition, sound, vibration, or the like may be output to notify the user that route guidance in beacon mode will start.

[0027] FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining route guidance in the beacon mode provided by the navigation system 1 shown in FIG.

[0028] 1 and 3, when route guidance in the beacon mode is started, the control unit 32 in the server 11 identifies the destination input to the terminal device 20 by checking the destination information associated with the identification information of the terminal device 20. Then, the control unit 32 causes the beacon 10 to perform route guidance from the current position of the terminal device 20 detected by the beacon 10 to the destination.

[0029] Specifically, the control unit 32 extracts a route from the current location of the terminal device 20 to the destination, and transmits route information indicating the extracted route to the beacon 10. Then, when the beacon 10 receives the route information from the server 11, it transmits the route information to the terminal device 20 by wireless signal.

[0030] When the terminal device 20 receives the route information transmitted from the beacon 10, it outputs the route indicated by the route information. For example, as shown in Fig. 3, in the terminal device 20, a message saying "Turn right 5 meters ahead" is displayed on the display unit and the message is output by voice. Then, when the user arrives at the destination by moving according to the message, a message saying, for example, "You have arrived at your destination" is displayed on the display unit and the message is output by voice.

[0031] In this way, the terminal device 20 outputs a route to a specific location that the user wants to reach, such as the entrance of a destination house or the entrance of a destination facility. This makes it possible to more reliably guide the user to the destination.

[0032] [Route guidance operation flow] Next, we will explain the flow of operations of the navigation system 1. Fig. 4 is a sequence diagram showing the flow of operations when route guidance is performed by the navigation system 1 shown in Fig. 1.

[0033] 1 to 4, first, when the terminal device 20 accepts a destination input by the user (step S11), the terminal device 20 transmits destination information indicating the destination and its own identification information to the server 11 via the base station 12 (see FIG. 1) (step S12).

[0034] Next, when the control unit 32 in the server 11 receives the destination information and identification information transmitted from the terminal device 20 via the communication unit 31, the control unit 32 associates the destination information with the identification information and stores them in the memory 34 (step S13). Then, the control unit 32 transmits a control signal to the terminal device 20 via the base station 12 to instruct the terminal device 20 to execute route guidance in GPS mode (step S14).

[0035] Next, when the terminal device 20 receives the control signal transmitted from the server 11, it executes route guidance in the GPS mode (step S15). That is, the terminal device 20 extracts a route from the current position to the destination based on the GPS signal, and displays the route on the display unit of the terminal device 20.

[0036] Next, assume that the user arrives near the destination and the route guidance in the GPS mode ends on the terminal device 20 (step S16). In this case, the terminal device 20 transmits a GPS mode end notification indicating that the GPS mode has ended to the server 11 via the base station 12 (step S17).

[0037] Next, upon receiving the notification of the end of the GPS mode, the control unit 32 in the server 11 switches the operation mode of route guidance for the terminal device 20 from the GPS mode to the beacon mode (step S18).

[0038] Next, the control unit 32 refers to the destination information stored in the memory 34 to identify the destination input to the terminal device 20. The control unit 32 also refers to the beacon information stored in the storage unit 33 to identify the destination or the beacons 10 installed in the vicinity of the destination (step S19).

[0039] Then, the control unit 32 extracts a route from the current location of the terminal device 20 detected by the identified beacon 10 to the destination, and transmits route information indicating the extracted route and identification information of the terminal device 20 to the beacon 10 (step S20).

[0040] When the beacon 10 receives the route information and the identification information transmitted from the server 11, the beacon 10 transmits the route information to the terminal device 20 corresponding to the identification information by using a wireless signal (step S21).

[0041] Next, when the terminal device 20 receives the route information transmitted from the beacon 10, it displays a message or the like indicating the route to the destination on the display unit based on the route information (step S22).

[0042] Next, suppose that the user performs an end operation to end the route guidance after arriving at the destination. In this case, the terminal device 20 accepts the end operation by the user (step S23). Then, the terminal device 20 transmits a route guidance end notification instructing the end of the route guidance in the beacon mode and the identification information of the terminal device 20 to the beacon 10 that was the source of the route information (step S24).

[0043] Next, when the beacon 10 receives the route guidance end notification and the identification information of the terminal device 20 from the terminal device 20, the beacon 10 transmits the route guidance end notification and the identification information to the server 11 (step S25).

[0044] The control unit 32 in the server 11 then receives the route guidance end notification and the identification information of the terminal device 20 from the beacon 10 via the communication unit 31. The control unit 32 then performs an end process, such as deleting the destination information corresponding to the identification information of the terminal device 20 from the destination information stored in the memory 34 (step S26). This ends the route guidance by the navigation system 1.

[0045] The server 11 may switch to the beacon mode (step S18) before the end of route guidance in the GPS mode on the terminal device 20. For example, the server 11 can switch from the GPS mode to the beacon mode when the terminal device 20 is detected by a beacon 10 installed at or near the destination.

[0046] More specifically, the beacon 10 can detect the current location of the terminal device 20 that is located within a range reachable by a wireless signal from the beacon 10 and is executing a predetermined application program for route guidance. When the beacon 10 detects the terminal device 20, the beacon 10 transmits, for example, detection information indicating the current location and identification information of the terminal device 20 to the server 11.

[0047] When the control unit 32 in the server 11 receives the detection information of the terminal device 20 from the beacon 10 via the communication unit 31, the control unit 32 refers to, for example, the beacon information stored in the storage unit 33 and the destination information stored in the memory 34. Then, when the control unit 32 determines that the terminal device 20 has been detected by the beacon 10 installed at the user's destination or in the vicinity of the destination, the control unit 32 switches from the GPS mode to the beacon mode.

[0048] Furthermore, the control unit 32 may be configured to accept a user's selection as to whether or not to start route guidance in the beacon mode before switching from the GPS mode to the beacon mode (step S18). For example, as shown in Fig. 2, when the control unit 32 receives a notification of termination of the GPS mode from the terminal device 20, the control unit 32 can cause the terminal device 20 to display a guidance start button B1 for instructing the start of route guidance in the beacon mode.

[0049] In this case, when the user performs an operation to select the guidance start button B1, route guidance in the beacon mode is started. Alternatively, the route guidance by the navigation system 1 may be configured to end if the user does not perform an operation to select the guidance start button B1 for a predetermined period of time after the guidance start button B1 is displayed.

[0050] Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to a configuration in which the server 11 executes the termination process (step S26) when the user performs a termination operation (step S23) on the terminal device 20. For example, the control unit 32 may execute the termination process (step S26) when it determines that the current location of the terminal device 20 indicated by the detection information from the beacon 10 matches the destination.

[0051] [Show call button] Referring again to Figures 1 to 3, the control unit 32 in the server 11 can cause the terminal device 20 to display a call button for calling a device associated with the destination (hereinafter referred to as a "compatible device") while route guidance in beacon mode is being executed.

[0052] 2 and 3, while route guidance in the beacon mode is being performed, a call button B2 for calling a compatible device is displayed on the display unit of the terminal device 20. In addition, the terminal device 20 may output a message such as "If you want to call someone at your destination, press the call button."

[0053] Then, suppose that the user performs an operation to select the call button B2 displayed on the terminal device 20. In this case, the terminal device 20 transmits operation information indicating the operation content by the user to the beacon 10 used in the beacon mode, i.e., the beacon 10 that is closest to the current location of the terminal device 20.

[0054] When the beacon 10 receives operation information indicating that an operation of selecting the call button B2 has been performed from the terminal device 20, the beacon 10 transmits the operation information and the identification information of the terminal device 20 to the server 11, for example.

[0055] Here, a compatible device is set for each location that can be set as a destination, such as a home or facility. The memory unit 33 in the server 11 stores peripheral device information indicating the correspondence between each location and the compatible device. For example, a room master unit is set as a compatible device for each of a plurality of homes. Furthermore, for example, a control room master unit installed in a control room is set as a compatible device for each of a plurality of facilities.

[0056] When the control unit 32 (see FIG. 1) in the server 11 receives operation information indicating that the call button B2 has been selected and the identification information of the terminal device 20, the control unit 32 refers to the destination information stored in the memory 34 and identifies the destination entered in the terminal device 20.

[0057] In addition, the control unit 32 refers to the peripheral device information stored in the memory unit 33, identifies the compatible device set for the destination, and transmits call destination information indicating the compatible device to the beacon 10 via the communication unit 31.

[0058] When the beacon 10 receives the call destination information transmitted from the server 11, it transmits a wireless signal to, for example, the compatible device indicated by the call destination information. As a result, a communication connection between the terminal device 20 and the compatible device is established via the beacon 10, and the user can use the terminal device 20 to talk to a person at the destination.

[0059] When the distance between the terminal device 20 and the compatible device is short, a voice call may be made directly between the terminal device 20 and the compatible device without going through the beacon 10. In this case, the control unit 32 of the server 11 identifies the destination input to the terminal device 20 based on receiving operation information indicating that the call button B2 has been selected and the identification information of the terminal device 20, and can transmit a wireless signal directly to the compatible device corresponding to the identified destination without going through the beacon 10.

[0060] As described above, in the navigation system 1 of the present invention, the call button B2 is displayed on the terminal device 20, and the user can make a call to a person at the destination using the terminal device 20. Therefore, even if the user is not yet within reach of the door unit of the destination home or facility and is unable to press the call button on the door unit, the user can easily make a call to a person at the home.

[0061] Furthermore, visually impaired people may have difficulty pressing the intercom call button even when they arrive at the front door of a house or facility. On the other hand, visually impaired people often obtain information by using the voice output function of their own terminal device 20, and often use the terminal device 20 when they are out and about.

[0062] Therefore, as described above, the configuration that allows easy communication with people at the destination by using the terminal device 20 can reduce the psychological barriers that even visually impaired people face when going out, and can increase their motivation to go out.

[0063] [Example of route guidance] (Example when the destination is a detached house) For example, suppose that the user inputs the address of a detached house as the destination into the terminal device 20. In this case, route guidance in GPS mode is executed from the current location of the terminal device 20 to the vicinity of the detached house. Then, when the user arrives at the vicinity of the detached house, the GPS mode is ended and route guidance in beacon mode is started.

[0064] In route guidance in the beacon mode, for example, route information indicating a detailed route to the entrance of a detached house that is the destination is transmitted from the beacon 10 provided in the entrance slave of the detached house to the terminal device 20.

[0065] Furthermore, while route guidance in the beacon mode is being performed, a call button B2 is displayed on the terminal device 20, which can call, for example, a room master unit (an example of a compatible device) of a detached house that is the destination. When the user performs an operation to select the call button B2 on the terminal device 20, a communication connection is established between the terminal device 20 and the room master unit via the entrance slave unit in which the beacon 10 is provided. This allows the user to use the terminal device 20 to talk to someone in the detached house that is the destination.

[0066] The beacon 10 is not limited to being provided in the front door slave unit, and may be provided, for example, in a tablet or the like provided near the front door slave unit. However, if the beacon 10 is provided in the front door slave unit, route guidance to the destination front door can be more reliably provided. Furthermore, if the beacon 10 is provided in the front door slave unit, communication connection between the terminal device 20 and the room master unit corresponding to the front door slave unit on which the beacon 10 is provided can be easily achieved. For this reason, it is preferable that the beacon 10 be provided in the front door slave unit.

[0067] (Example when the destination is a room in an apartment building) (a) Route guidance to the meeting entrance For example, suppose that the user inputs the address of a room in an apartment building or other collective housing unit as the destination into the terminal device 20. In this case, route guidance in GPS mode is executed from the current location of the terminal device 20 to the vicinity of the collective housing unit. Then, when the user arrives at the vicinity of the collective housing unit, the GPS mode is ended and route guidance in beacon mode is started.

[0068] In route guidance in beacon mode, for example, route information indicating a detailed route to the collective entrance of an apartment building is transmitted from a beacon 10 installed in a collective entrance device or the like to a terminal device 20.

[0069] Furthermore, while route guidance is being performed in the beacon mode, a call button B2 that can be used to call a management room master unit (an example of a compatible device) of an apartment building is displayed on the terminal device 20. When the user performs an operation to select the call button B2 on the terminal device 20, a communication connection is established between the management room master unit in which the beacon 10 is installed and the terminal device 20. This allows the user to use the terminal device 20 to talk to the manager of the apartment building in which the room is located, which is the destination.

[0070] When the user performs an operation to select the call button B2, a communication connection may be established between the room master unit of the destination room and the terminal device 20 via a control device or the like provided in the apartment building entrance unit, the management room master unit, or the intercom device of the apartment building. In this case, the user can use the terminal device 20 to talk to a person in the destination room.

[0071] (b) Route guidance using multiple beacons The beacon 10 may be installed in the entrance slave unit of each of the multiple rooms in the apartment building. In this case, in the route guidance in the beacon mode, the navigation system 1 can provide the user with detailed route guidance to the entrance of the room, which is the destination, by switching the beacon 10 used for route guidance in accordance with the movement of the terminal device 20.

[0072] Fig. 5 is a diagram for explaining an example (part 1) in which route guidance is performed by the navigation system 1 shown in Fig. 1 using a plurality of beacons 10. More specifically, the storage unit 33 of the server 11 (see Fig. 1) stores beacon information indicating the correspondence between the position of each room in the apartment building and the identification information of the beacon 10 provided in the entrance slave unit of each room.

[0073] When the control unit 32 in the server 11 receives the detection information of the terminal device 20 from the beacon 10, the control unit 32 refers to, for example, the destination information stored in the memory 34. Then, the control unit 32 identifies the room that is the destination input to the terminal device 20, and extracts a route from the current location of the terminal device 20 indicated by the detection information to the room. Then, the control unit 32 transmits route information indicating the extracted route to the terminal device 20 via the beacon 10.

[0074] When the terminal device 20 approaches another beacon 10 as the user moves, new detection information from the beacon 10 closest to the current location of the terminal device 20 is transmitted to the server 11, and the above operation is performed again.

[0075] For example, as shown in Fig. 5, after the GPS mode is terminated, the route to the apartment entrance is guided via a beacon 10A1 provided on the apartment entrance device until the user arrives at the apartment entrance. Specifically, a message such as "The apartment entrance is 3 meters ahead on the right" is displayed on the display unit of the terminal device 20, and the message is also output by voice.

[0076] When the user arrives at the common entrance, for example, beacon 10A1 provides guidance on the route to room R1, which is located between the current location of terminal device 20 and the destination room R2. Specifically, a message such as "You have arrived at the common entrance. Go through the automatic doors in front of you and take the elevator on your right to the third floor" is displayed on the display unit of terminal device 20, and the message is also output by voice.

[0077] When the user arrives near living room R1, beacon 10A2, for example, provided in the entrance slave unit of living room R1, provides guidance on the route from the current location of terminal device 20 to the destination, living room R2. Specifically, a message such as "You have reached the third floor. Please go straight ahead" is displayed on the display unit of terminal device 20, and the message is also output by voice.

[0078] When the user arrives at the destination, room R2, beacon 10A3, for example, provided in the entrance slave unit of room R2, notifies terminal device 20 that the user has arrived at the entrance of room R2, the destination. Specifically, a message such as "Arrived at room R2" is displayed on the display unit of terminal device 20, and the message is also output by voice.

[0079] In this way, the server 11 sequentially switches the beacons that provide route guidance, and provides detailed route guidance to the destination, room R2. This allows the user to be guided to the destination even if the end position where the GPS mode ends is far from the destination.

[0080] In addition, the control unit 32 in the server 11 may be configured not only to transmit route information to the terminal device 20 via the beacon 10 while route guidance is being performed in beacon mode, but also to control the opening and closing of automatic doors and elevators via the beacon 10.

[0081] (Example of a commercial facility) (a) Route guidance to the facility entrance For example, suppose that the user inputs the name of a store in a commercial facility as a destination into the terminal device 20. In this case, route guidance in GPS mode is executed from the current location of the terminal device 20 to the vicinity of the commercial facility. Then, when the user arrives at the vicinity of the commercial facility, the GPS mode is terminated and route guidance in beacon mode is started.

[0082] In route guidance in the beacon mode, for example, route information indicating a detailed route to the entrance is transmitted from a beacon 10 provided at a door slave or the like at the entrance of a commercial facility to the terminal device 20.

[0083] Furthermore, while route guidance is being performed in the beacon mode, a call button B2 that can be used to call a management room master unit (an example of a compatible device) of the commercial facility is displayed on the terminal device 20. When the user performs an operation to select the call button B2 on the terminal device 20, a communication connection is established between the management room master unit and the terminal device 20, for example. This allows the user to use the terminal device 20 to talk to a manager or the like of the commercial facility.

[0084] When the user selects the call button B2, a communication connection may be established between a communication device installed in the destination store and the terminal device 20 via the control room master unit. In this case, the user can use the terminal device 20 to talk to a clerk at the destination store.

[0085] (b) Route guidance using multiple beacons A beacon 10 may be installed in each communication device of a plurality of stores in a commercial facility. In such a case, in route guidance in the beacon mode, the navigation system 1 can provide the user with detailed route guidance to the store, which is the destination, by switching the beacon 10 used for route guidance in accordance with the movement of the terminal device 20.

[0086] Fig. 6 is a diagram for explaining an example (part 2) in which route guidance is performed by the navigation system 1 shown in Fig. 1 using a plurality of beacons 10. More specifically, the storage unit 33 of the server 11 (see Fig. 1) stores beacon information indicating the correspondence between the position of each store in the commercial facility and the identification information of the beacon 10 provided in the communication device of each store.

[0087] When the control unit 32 in the server 11 receives the detection information of the terminal device 20 from the beacon 10, the control unit 32 refers to the destination information stored in the memory 34, for example. Then, the control unit 32 identifies the store that is the destination input to the terminal device 20, and extracts a route from the current location of the terminal device 20 indicated by the detection information to the store. Then, the control unit 32 transmits route information indicating the extracted route to the terminal device 20 via the beacon 10.

[0088] When the terminal device 20 approaches another beacon 10 as the user moves, new detection information from the beacon 10 closest to the current location of the terminal device 20 is transmitted to the server 11, and the above operation is performed again.

[0089] For example, as shown in Fig. 6, after the GPS mode is ended, until the user arrives at the entrance of the commercial facility, the route to the entrance of the commercial facility is guided via the beacon 10B1 provided in the entrance slave unit at the entrance of the commercial facility. Specifically, a message such as "The main entrance of the shopping town is 5 meters ahead" is displayed on the display unit of the terminal device 20, and the message is also output by voice.

[0090] Then, when the user arrives at the entrance of the commercial facility, for example, the beacon 10B1 provides guidance on a route to store Sp1 located between the current location of the terminal device 20 and the destination store Sp2. Specifically, a message such as "Please proceed to store Sp1, which is at the end of the road 3 meters ahead" is displayed on the display unit of the terminal device 20, and the message is also output by voice.

[0091] Then, when the user arrives near the store Sp1, for example, a beacon 10B2 provided in a communication device of the store Sp1 provides guidance on the route to the destination store Sp2 from the current location of the terminal device 20. Specifically, a message such as "You are in front of the store Sp1. Turn left and go straight for 10 meters" is displayed on the display unit of the terminal device 20, and the message is also output by voice.

[0092] Then, when the user arrives near the store Sp2, which is the destination, a beacon 10B3 provided in a communication device of the store Sp2, for example, notifies the terminal device 20 that the user has arrived at the store Sp2, which is the destination. Specifically, a message such as "You have arrived at store Sp2" is displayed on the display unit of the terminal device 20, and the message is output by voice.

[0093] In this way, the server 11 sequentially switches the beacons that provide route guidance, and provides detailed route guidance to the destination store Sp2. This allows the user to be guided to the destination even if the end position where the GPS mode ends is far from the destination.

[0094] As described above, in the navigation system 1 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, the communication unit 31 in the server 11 acquires destination information indicating a destination input to the user's terminal device 20. The control unit 32 switches the operation mode of route guidance from the current location of the terminal device 20 to the destination between a first mode (GPS mode) that is performed based on a GPS signal and a second mode (beacon mode) that is performed based on a wireless signal transmitted from a wireless terminal device (e.g., a beacon 10) installed at or near the destination. The control unit 32 also performs control to execute route guidance in the first mode until the terminal device 20 arrives at or near the destination, and switches from the first mode to the second mode when the route guidance in the first mode ends as the terminal device 20 arrives at or near the destination, or when the terminal device 20 enters a range within reach of a wireless signal from a wireless terminal device installed at or near the destination.

[0095] Here, in the first mode of route guidance using GPS signals, when the user arrives near the destination, the route guidance may end even if the user has not yet arrived at the destination.

[0096] In contrast, when route guidance using GPS signals is terminated as described above, route guidance using radio signals transmitted from a wireless terminal device installed at or near the destination is initiated, thereby more reliably guiding the user to the destination.

[0097] Furthermore, even if the destination is a location that cannot be reached in the first mode using GPS signals, such as indoors or underground where GPS signals cannot reach, the user can be guided to the destination.

[0098] In the navigation system 1, the wireless communication terminal is a beacon 10. In the route guidance in the second mode, the control unit 32 causes the beacon 10 that has detected the position of the terminal device 20, out of one or more beacons 10, to perform route guidance.

[0099] With this configuration, compared to when a wireless communication terminal using other communication standards such as Wi-Fi is used, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of radio wave interference and provide stable route guidance to the terminal device 20.

[0100] Furthermore, in the navigation system 1, the control unit 32 causes the terminal device 20 to display a call button for calling a device associated with the destination while route guidance in the second mode is being performed.

[0101] With this configuration, even if the user has not yet reached the destination, by operating the terminal device 20, it is possible to establish a communication connection with a room master unit in the destination home or a control room master unit installed in the control room of the destination facility.

[0102] Furthermore, for visually impaired users, even when they reach their destination, it may be difficult to press an intercom or the like installed at the destination. However, as described above, this is particularly effective because it allows users to talk to people at their destination by operating their terminal device 20.

[0103] In the navigation system 1, the wireless communication terminal is provided at a door sub-unit of a home or facility that is the destination, or at a collective door sub-unit of an apartment building.

[0104] This configuration allows for more reliable route guidance to the entrance of the destination. Also, it is possible to easily establish a communication connection between the terminal device 20 and a master unit corresponding to an entrance slave unit or a collective entrance unit in which a wireless communication terminal is installed.

[0105] The navigation system 1 also includes a plurality of wireless communication terminals. In the route guidance in the second mode, the control unit 32 switches the wireless communication terminal used for route guidance to the terminal device 20 according to the movement of the terminal device 20.

[0106] With this configuration, even if the end position where the first mode ends and the destination are far apart, the user can be guided to the destination.

[0107] In the navigation system 1, the plurality of wireless communication terminals are provided as entrance slave units in the plurality of rooms in the apartment building.

[0108] With this configuration, if the destination is one of the rooms in the apartment building, the user can be guided to the destination room.

[0109] In the navigation system 1, the plurality of wireless communication terminals are provided in communication devices in the plurality of stores included in the commercial facility.

[0110] With this configuration, if one of the stores in the commercial facility is the destination, the user can be guided to the store that is the destination. [Explanation of symbols]

[0111] 1. Navigation system 10, 10A1 to 10A3, 10B1 to 10B3 Beacons (examples of wireless communication terminals) 11 Server (an example of an information processing device) 12 base station 13 External Network 20 Terminal equipment 31 Communication Department (Acquisition Department) 32 Control Unit 33 Storage section 34 memory 41 satellite

Claims

1. a wireless communication terminal; an information processing device communicatively connected to the wireless communication terminal, The information processing device includes: an acquisition unit that acquires destination information indicating a destination input to a terminal device of a user; a control unit that switches an operation mode of route guidance from the current position of the terminal device to the destination between a first mode that performs route guidance based on a GPS (Global Positioning System) signal and a second mode that performs route guidance based on a wireless signal transmitted from the wireless communication terminal installed at or near the destination, The control unit executes route guidance in the first mode until the terminal device arrives in the vicinity of the destination, and controls to switch from the first mode to the second mode when the route guidance in the first mode ends because the terminal device has arrived in the vicinity of the destination, or when the terminal device enters a range in which a wireless signal from the wireless communication terminal installed at the destination or in the vicinity of the destination can reach.

2. the wireless communication terminal is a beacon, The navigation system according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit, in the route guidance in the second mode, causes the beacon that has detected the position of the terminal device to execute route guidance among the one or more beacons.

3. The navigation system according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit causes the terminal device to display a call button for calling a device associated with the destination while the route guidance in the second mode is being executed.

4. 2. The navigation system according to claim 1, wherein the wireless communication terminal is provided in a door unit of a home or facility that is the destination, or in a collective door unit of an apartment building.

5. the navigation system includes a plurality of the wireless communication terminals, The navigation system according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit switches the wireless communication terminal used for route guidance to the terminal device in accordance with movement of the terminal device in the route guidance in the second mode.

6. The navigation system according to claim 5, wherein the plurality of wireless communication terminals are provided at entrance units of a plurality of rooms included in an apartment building.

7. The navigation system according to claim 5, wherein the plurality of wireless communication terminals are provided in communication devices of a plurality of stores included in a commercial facility.

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