Using a determination device

Abstract

To provide a use determination device for determining the use of fixtures without the need for a user possessing a portable terminal to perform complicated procedures.SOLUTION: A use determination device 1 includes: a service provision unit 11 configured to provide a predetermined service to a portable terminal 3; a fixture 2 having an identification information communication unit 112 configured to acquire or provide terminal identification information or fixture identification information by communicating with the portable terminal 3 when the service provision unit starts providing the service; and a server 12 having a use determination unit 121 configured to receive use start request information including the terminal identification information and the fixture identification information, and determine that a user possessing a portable terminal identified with the terminal identification information has started using the fixture identified with the fixture identification information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a usage determination device, and more particularly to a usage determination device that can determine whether a fixture is being used without requiring a user to go through complicated procedures. [Background technology]

[0002] A conventional method of using an information system to support check-in procedures at hotels and other accommodation facilities is the reservation check-in method described in Patent Document 1. The reservation check-in method described in Patent Document 1 issues a reservation code when a user applies for a reservation, and determines whether the user who made the reservation has started using the facility by comparing the reservation code with an accommodation procedure facility code that indicates the facility where the check-in procedure will be carried out. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2017-91116 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Recently, work styles in companies have changed, and employees are increasingly being given free space rather than fixed work rooms or desks. Conventional technology is useful for supporting this type of work style with information systems.

[0005] Furthermore, by determining the start of use of facilities, equipment, or other fixtures using conventional technology or other information systems, it is possible to start a predetermined activity using the start of use of the fixtures as a trigger.Schools and other educational institutions are required to provide a curriculum suited to each learner, and in such cases, there is also a need for information systems to support usage determination.

[0006] On the other hand, conventional technology for determining usage usually requires users to access a server and follow a set procedure to determine usage, which is cumbersome for users and hinders their use.

[0007] In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a usage determination device that can determine whether a fixture is being used without requiring a user to go through complicated procedures. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The usage determination device of the present invention, which has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, is a usage determination device that determines the usage of fixtures by a user who possesses a mobile terminal, and is characterized by comprising: a service provision unit that provides a specified service to the mobile terminal possessed by the user who uses the fixture; a specific information communication unit that is provided in the service provision unit and communicates with the mobile terminal when the provision of the specified service begins, and acquires or provides terminal identification information that identifies the mobile terminal or fixture identification information that identifies the fixture; and a usage determination unit that receives usage start request information that includes the terminal identification information and the fixture identification information, and determines that a user who possesses the mobile terminal identified by the terminal identification information has begun using the fixture identified by the fixture identification information.

[0009] The usage determination device of the present invention may be configured so that the specific information communication unit provides the fixture identification information to the mobile terminal, and the mobile terminal includes a service detection unit that detects that provision of the specified service has begun, a fixture identification information acquisition unit that acquires the fixture identification information provided by the specific information communication unit when the start of supply of the service is detected, and a usage start request unit that transmits usage start request information to the usage determination device that includes the received fixture identification information and the terminal identification information that identifies the mobile terminal.

[0010] The usage determination device of the present invention may be configured such that, when the specific information communication unit acquires the terminal identification information from the mobile terminal, it transmits usage start request information to the usage determination unit, the request information including the acquired terminal identification information and the fixture identification information that identifies the fixture, and the mobile terminal is equipped with a service detection unit that detects that provision of the specified service has started, and a terminal identification information providing unit that provides the terminal identification information to the specific information communication unit when the start of supply of the service is detected.

[0011] In the usage determination device according to the present invention, the specific information communication unit may acquire or provide the terminal specific information or the fixture specific information between the mobile terminal and the device through short-range wireless communication.

[0012] In the usage determination device according to the present invention, the predetermined service may be a charging service that supplies power to the mobile terminal, and the service providing unit may include a charging unit that supplies power to the mobile terminal.

[0013] In the usage determination device according to the present invention, the charging unit may include a charging cable capable of supplying the power via a power connector provided in the mobile terminal.

[0014] The usage determination device according to the present invention may further include a housing that houses the specific information communication unit and on which the portable terminal is placed.

[0015] The usage determination device according to the present invention may further include a power supply unit capable of supplying power to the main body unit, and the charging unit may supply the power supplied from the power supply unit to the mobile terminal.

[0016] In the usage determination device according to the present invention, the fixture may be a desk with a top board, and the charging unit and the specific information communication unit may be provided at predetermined positions on the underside of the top board. [Effects of the Invention]

[0017] According to the configuration of the present invention, when a predetermined service provided by a service providing unit installed on a fixture used by a user is started, fixture identification information that identifies the fixture or terminal identification information that identifies the mobile terminal is provided or acquired between the identification information communication unit and the mobile terminal, and it is determined that a user holding a mobile terminal identified by the terminal identification information has started using the fixture identified by the fixture identification information based on usage start request information including the fixture identification information and the terminal identification information. With this configuration, the user can have their usage determined by the usage determination device simply by receiving the predetermined service, without having to go through complicated procedures for usage determination. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a usage determination device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a service providing unit in a usage determination device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the flow of a usage determination process in the usage determination device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a usage determination device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a service providing unit in a usage determination device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the flow of a usage determination process in a usage determination device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a usage determination device according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a service providing unit in a usage determination device according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the flow of a usage determination process in a usage determination device according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a service providing unit in a usage determination device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a service providing unit in a usage determination device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] Hereinafter, examples of embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a usage determination device 1 in a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Fig. 1, the usage determination device 1 in the first embodiment is installed in each of one or more fixtures 2, and is composed of a service providing unit 11 that provides a charging service as a predetermined service to mobile terminals 3 carried by one or more users who use the fixtures 2, and a server 12 that has a usage determination unit 121.

[0020] 2 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the service providing unit 11 in the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the service providing unit 11 includes a housing 111 having a specific information communication unit 112, a charging unit 113, and a power supply unit 114.

[0021] The specific information communication unit 112 is installed on the fixture 2, and when provision of a charging service to the mobile terminal 3 as a predetermined service begins, it communicates with the mobile terminal carried by the user and acquires or provides terminal identification information that identifies the mobile terminal 3 or fixture identification information that identifies the fixture 2. In the first embodiment, the specific information communication unit 112 is made up of an IC tag that performs short-range wireless communication with the mobile terminal 3 according to the NFC standard, and the first embodiment is configured to use a unique ID recorded in the IC tag as the fixture identification information. Note that the IC tag in the first embodiment is an electronic device equipped with an IC chip, and may be a card-shaped device such as a so-called IC card, or may be a sheet-shaped device such as a seal or sticker with an adhesive layer.

[0022] In the communication between the specific information communication unit 11 and the mobile terminal 3, the specific method for providing or acquiring the terminal identifying information or the fixture identifying information may be selected arbitrarily depending on the protocol and method of the communication. As described above, in the first embodiment, the communication is near-field wireless communication according to the NFC standard, and the fixture identifying information, which is a unique ID recorded in the IC tag, is provided to the mobile terminal 3 from the specific information communication unit 112 by the mobile terminal 3 acting as an IC reader transmitting a request signal to the IC tag, the IC tag receiving the transmitted request signal transmitting the unique ID to the mobile terminal 3, and the mobile terminal 3 receiving the ID transmitted from the IC tag. Note that, in the communication between the specific information communication unit 11 and the mobile terminal 3, whether the terminal identifying information or the fixture identifying information is used, and whether the specific information communication unit 112 provides information to the mobile terminal 3 or acquires information from the mobile terminal 3 may be selected arbitrarily depending on the communication method and the configuration of the usage determination device 1.

[0023] The housing 111 is a cradle-shaped member that houses the specific information communication unit 112 and places the mobile terminal 3 on it. In the first embodiment, a charging unit 113 (described later) is connected to a power supply unit 114 (described later) inside the housing 111.

[0024] Furthermore, any specific method may be selected for providing specific information communication unit 112 in housing 111. While specific information communication unit 112 in the first embodiment is configured by an IC tag capable of communication according to the NFC standard, a seal or sticker having an IC tag may be attached to housing 111 as specific information communication unit 112, or, when a card having an IC chip as an IC tag is used as specific information communication unit 112, a card holding unit may be provided in housing 111, and specific information communication unit 112 may be held by the card holding unit.

[0025] The charging unit 113 provides a charging service to the mobile terminal 3 as a predetermined service provided by the service providing unit. The charging unit 113 in the first embodiment is configured with a charging cable 113b having a USB Type-C connector 113a and a charging cable 113d having a Lightning (registered trademark) connector 113c.

[0026] The specific configuration of charging unit 113 may be selected arbitrarily, and for example, a USB Type-C connector or a Lightning (registered trademark) connector may be directly disposed in a position on housing 111 that corresponds to the power connector when portable terminal 3 is placed thereon, or a contactless charger may be used instead of wired charging cables 113b and 113d. In this case, the contactless charger may be configured to be housed inside housing 111, and charging by charging unit 113 may be performed when portable terminal 3 is placed on housing 111.

[0027] The power supply unit 114 supplies power to the charging unit 113. In the first embodiment, the power supply unit 114 is made up of a power cable 114a that receives a supply of 100V AC power, and an AC adapter 114b that converts the power supplied by the power cable 114a into 5V DC power.

[0028] In addition, in the usage determination device 1 in the first embodiment, the server 12 includes a usage determination unit 121, a user database 122, a fixture database 123, and a usage history database 124. The server 12 is configured using a well-known server computer.

[0029] The usage determination unit 121 receives the usage start request information described below, and determines from the terminal identification information and fixture identification information contained in the received usage start request information that a user using the mobile terminal 3 identified by the terminal identification information has started using the fixture 2 identified by the fixture identification information.

[0030] In the first embodiment, the usage determination unit 121 is configured as software by a program executed by the server 12. The program is stored in advance in a storage device such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) of the server 12, and the stored program is loaded into the memory of the server device and executed by a CPU (Central Processing Unit), thereby causing the server 12 to function as the usage determination unit 12.

[0031] In the first embodiment, the server 12 is provided with a user database 122, a fixture database 123, and a usage history database .

[0032] The user database 122 is a database that manages users who use the fixtures 3 and terminal identification information that identifies the mobile terminals 3 that the users possess. Specifically, the user database 122 is an RDBMS (Relational Database Management System) constructed on the server 12, and stores a user ID that identifies the user and the terminal identification information that identifies the mobile terminal 3 in association with each other. Any information may be selected as the terminal identification information, but in the first embodiment, a number of a predetermined number of digits that is assigned to each mobile terminal 3 is used.

[0033] The fixture database 123 is a database that manages the fixtures 3 and the fixture identification information that identifies the fixtures 3. Like the user database 122, the fixture database 123 is also an RDBMS constructed on the server 12, and the ID unique to the IC tag of the specific information communication unit 112 is used as the fixture identification information, and the type of fixture 3, its installation location, available hours, and other information are linked to and recorded in the ID.

[0034] The usage history database 124 is a database that manages the user's usage history of the fixtures 3. Like the user database 122 and the fixture database 123, the usage history database 124 is also an RDBMS constructed on the server 12, and records a user ID that identifies the user and fixture identification information that identifies the fixture 3, along with usage start date and time information and usage end date and time information.

[0035] In the first embodiment, as described above, the user database 122, the fixture database 123, and the usage history database 124 are each configured as an RDBMS on the server 12, but the method of configuring the databases may be selected arbitrarily. For example, each of the databases 122 to 124 may be configured as a table on a single RDBMS constructed on the server 12, or some or all of the databases 122 to 124 may be configured using a server computer different from the server 12.

[0036] The fixtures 2 are facilities, equipment, and other fixtures for which usage for each user is to be determined. The fixtures 2 for which usage is to be determined may be, for example, desks or chairs, or may be a workroom, study room, or other private room used by a single user. In the first embodiment, usage for each user is determined for each of two or more fixtures 2. However, when determining usage for a single fixture 2, the usage determination device 1 may be configured so that all components are included in the service providing unit 11, rather than being divided into the service providing unit 11 and the server 12. Even when determining usage for two or more fixtures 2, any of the two or more service providing units 11 provided for each fixture 2 may be configured to include the usage determination unit 121 and each of the databases 122 to 124, thereby eliminating the need for the server 12.

[0037] The mobile terminal 3 is a mobile terminal owned by a user. Specifically, the mobile terminal 3 in the first embodiment is a smartphone, tablet PC, or other mobile terminal owned by a user. A program that enables the smartphone, tablet PC, or other mobile terminal owned by a user to perform the functions described below is installed in advance, and the smartphone, tablet PC, or other mobile terminal is configured to function as the mobile terminal 3 in the first embodiment by executing the program.

[0038] In the first embodiment, the mobile terminal 3 includes a service detection unit 31, a fixture specification information acquisition unit 32, and a usage start request unit 33.

[0039] The service detection unit 31 detects that the charging unit 113 has started supplying power to the mobile terminal 3 as a predetermined service provided by the service providing unit.

[0040] When power supply from charging unit 113 to mobile terminal 3 begins, fixture identification information acquisition unit 32 acquires fixture identification information that identifies fixture 2 from the aforementioned identification information communication unit 112. As described above, the identification information communication unit 112 in the first embodiment is equipped with an IC tag conforming to the NFC standard, and in communication with identification information communication unit 112 equipped with the IC tag, mobile terminal 3 functions as a so-called reader and acquires the ID recorded in the IC tag as fixture identification information.

[0041] The usage start request unit 3 transmits usage start request information including the fixture identification information that identifies the fixture 3 acquired by the fixture identification information acquisition unit 32 and the terminal identification information that identifies the mobile terminal 3 to the usage determination unit 13 of the usage determination device 1. When the fixture identification information acquisition unit 32 receives the fixture identification information, it generates usage start request information that includes the received fixture identification information and the terminal identification information that identifies the mobile terminal 3 and transmits it to the usage determination unit 121.

[0042] In the first embodiment, the mobile terminal 3 carried by the user and the server 12 including the usage determination unit 121 are communicatively connected via a network 4. The specific configuration of the network 4 may be selected arbitrarily, and may be, for example, the Internet or other wide area networks, a LAN (Local Area Network) to which the mobile terminal 3 and the server 12 can be connected, or a VPN (Virtual Private Network) constructed on a LAN. The network 4 may be a wired network or a wireless network.

[0043] The above is the configuration of the usage determination device 1 in the first embodiment. Next, we will explain the flow of usage determination processing using the usage determination device 1 in the first embodiment. Figure 3 is a flow diagram showing the flow of usage determination processing in the first embodiment.

[0044] When a user uses the fixture 2, a charging service for the mobile terminal 3 carried by the user is provided as a predetermined service by the usage determination device 1. As described above, the charging service in the first embodiment uses the charging cable 113b or 113d of the charging unit 113 depending on the power connector of the mobile terminal 3.

[0045] When a user connects either charging cable 113b or 113d to the power connector of mobile terminal 3, charging unit 113 starts supplying power to mobile terminal 3, and service detection unit 31 of mobile terminal 3 detects that the power supply has started as a predetermined service (step S11). As described above, in the first embodiment, mobile terminal 3 is a smartphone, tablet PC, or other device owned by a user, with a program pre-installed thereon, but the specific method for starting execution of the program may be selected arbitrarily. For example, mobile terminal 3 may be configured to have the program pre-executed in the background, or the program may be executed when power supply is started.

[0046] When the service detection unit 31 detects that the supply of power has started as a predetermined service, the fixture specification information acquisition unit 32 of the portable terminal 3 checks whether the communication function for communicating with the specification information acquisition unit 112 in the portable terminal 3 is enabled (step S12). As described above, the portable terminal 3 and the specification information communication unit 112 in the first embodiment communicate by short-range wireless communication according to the NFC standard. In step S12, it is checked whether the communication function is enabled in the portable terminal 3.

[0047] It is well known that smartphones, tablet PCs, and other well-known mobile devices have the ability to enable or disable communication functions such as NFC, wireless LAN, Bluetooth (registered trademark), and other communication functions individually, or all or some of the communication functions collectively. This is used to extend the operating time of the mobile device 3 by disabling functions that the user does not use regularly, or when the user is on an airplane or other vehicle where there is a risk of malfunction due to electromagnetic waves. If the communication function is not enabled in step S12, the fixture identification information acquisition unit 32 enables the communication function of the mobile device 3 (step S13). If the communication function of the mobile device 3 is already enabled, the processing of step S13 is skipped.

[0048] Once the communication function is enabled in the mobile terminal 3, the fixture identification information acquisition unit 32 then acquires the fixture identification information transmitted by the identification information communication unit 112 (step S14). The specific procedure for transmission and reception may be selected arbitrarily depending on the communication protocol and other factors, but as described above, the first embodiment uses short-range wireless communication based on the NFC standard, and communication is performed in the following procedure: the mobile terminal 3 acting as a reader transmits a request signal to the IC tag of the identification information communication unit 112, the IC tag of the identification information communication unit 112 receiving this transmits the ID recorded in the IC tag, and the mobile terminal 3 receives the transmitted ID as fixture identification information.

[0049] Next, the mobile terminal 3 generates and transmits start-of-use request information by the start-of-use request unit 33 (step S15). In the first embodiment, the start-of-use request information is information including the fixture identification information received in the above-mentioned step S14 and terminal identification information that identifies the mobile terminal 3. The start-of-use request unit 33 generates the start-of-use request information including the fixture identification information and the terminal identification information pre-recorded in the mobile terminal 3 in step S14, and transmits it to the server 12 that constitutes the usage determination device 1.

[0050] The usage start request information transmitted in step S15 described above is received by the usage determination unit 121 of the server 12, and the usage determination unit 121 determines that a user possessing a mobile terminal 3 identified by the terminal identification information included in the usage start request information has started using the fixture 2 identified by the fixture identification information included in the usage start request information (step S16). As described above, in the first embodiment, the server 12 includes a user database 122, a fixture database 123, and a usage history database 124. The usage determination unit 121 obtains, from the user database 122, a user ID linked to the terminal identification information included in the usage start request information, i.e., a user ID identifying a user possessing a mobile terminal 3 identified by the terminal identification information, and generates usage start history information including the user ID, the fixture identification information included in the usage start request information, and usage start date and time information, and records the information in the usage history database 124. In the first embodiment, the use start date and time information is information that indicates the date and time when the server 12 receives the use start request information as the use start date and time.

[0051] This concludes the description of the first embodiment. As mentioned above, smartphones and tablet PCs are used as the mobile terminals 3 carried by users, but it is well known that many users desire facilities for charging the mobile terminals 3 to ensure the operating time of their smartphones and tablet PCs. In the first embodiment, by providing a charging service for the mobile terminals 3 as a predetermined service, the use of the usage determination device 1 by users is encouraged, and the use of the fixtures 2 can be determined without performing complicated procedures.

[0052] Note that, after it is determined in step S16 that the user has started using the fixture 2, if the user removes the charging cable 113b or 113d from the mobile terminal 3, it may be determined that the user has finished using the fixture 2. In this case, for example, it may be configured to determine that the user has finished using the fixture 2 when the supply of power to the mobile terminal 3 is stopped for more than a predetermined time, and the predetermined time may be set to several minutes to several tens of minutes if short phone calls or breaks are permitted, or the predetermined time may be set to zero if no leaving the seat is permitted.

[0053] Furthermore, in the first embodiment, the communication function of the mobile terminal 3 according to the NFC standard is enabled in step S13 described above, but the communication function of the mobile terminal 3 may be disabled at any timing, for example, after step S16 is completed or at other times. In this case, the state of the communication function acquired in step S12 may be stored in the mobile terminal 3, and the communication function may be restored to the state stored in step S12 when step S16 is completed.

[0054] Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the first embodiment, the specific information communication unit 112 provided in the usage determination device 1 is an IC tag, and the portable terminal 3 that communicates with it plays the role of a so-called reader in the communication, but in the second embodiment, the roles of the tag and reader are reversed, and the specific information communication unit 112a plays the reader and the portable terminal 3 plays the tag.

[0055] Fig. 4 is a diagram showing the configuration of a usage determination device 1a according to a second embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Fig. 4, the usage determination device 1a according to the second embodiment includes a specific information communication unit 112a that acquires terminal identification information instead of the specific information communication unit 112 that provides fixture identification information. The mobile terminal 3 that communicates with the specific information communication unit 112a includes a terminal identification information providing unit 34 that provides terminal identification information that identifies the mobile terminal 3 instead of the fixture identification information acquisition unit 32 and the usage start request unit 33 that acquire the fixture identification information.

[0056] As described above, in the second embodiment, the roles of the reader side and tag side of the NFC communication in the first embodiment are reversed, with the specific information communication unit 112a of the usage determination device 1a acting as the reader side and the terminal specific information providing unit 34 of the mobile terminal 3 acting as the tag side. The terminal specific information identifying the mobile terminal 3 may use a number assigned to each mobile terminal 3, as in the first embodiment. However, when the mobile terminal 3 functions as the tag side of the NFC communication standard, the mobile terminal 3 functioning as the tag side has a unique ID, and in the second embodiment, this ID is used as the terminal specific information. Furthermore, in the first embodiment, the ID of the IC tag constituting the specific information communication unit 112 is used as the fixture specific information identifying the fixture 2. However, in the second embodiment, instead of the ID, a number assigned to each fixture 2 may be used.

[0057] Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing a state in which service providing unit 11a in the second embodiment is installed on furniture 2. Service providing unit 11a in the first embodiment includes housing 111 serving as a cradle for placing mobile terminal 3 thereon, but in the second embodiment, as shown in Fig. 5, furniture 2 is a desk, and box-shaped housing 111a is provided on the underside of desk top 21, which is furniture 2. Note that, as in the first embodiment, mobile terminal 3 communicates with specific information communication unit 112a by near-field wireless communication in accordance with the NFC standard, and insertion holes 211 for inserting charging cables 113b and 113d of charging unit 113 are provided at predetermined positions on table 21. Furthermore, a placement indicator 212 is provided at a position on the surface of table 21 corresponding to service providing unit 11a, encouraging the user to place mobile terminal 3 at that position. The placement indication 212 may be written directly on the top panel 21, or a seal or sticker bearing the placement indication 212 may be attached to the top panel 21. In addition, if the top panel 21 is made of a translucent material, the message 212 may be provided on the housing 111a of the service providing unit 11a instead of the top panel 21.

[0058] 6 is a diagram showing the flow of usage determination processing in Example 2. As described above, the second example has a configuration in which the roles of the reader side and the tag side of the NFC standard communication in Example 1 are reversed, and when the service detection unit 31 detects the start of provision of a charging service as a predetermined service (step S21), the terminal identification information providing unit 34 checks the NFC communication function (step S22), and if it is invalid, it is enabled and the portable terminal 3 functions as an IC tag (step S23).

[0059] As described above, the specific information communication unit 112a in the second embodiment is configured to function as the reader side in NFC standard communication, and constantly searches for IC tags within a predetermined distance range upon receiving a supply of driving power from the power supply unit 114. In this state, when the portable terminal 3 functions as an IC tag in step S23, the specific information communication unit 112a detects the portable terminal 3 functioning as an IC tag, and acquires an ID unique to the portable terminal 3 as terminal identification information from the terminal identification information providing unit 34 of the portable terminal 3 (step S24).

[0060] After acquiring the terminal identification information from the mobile terminal 3 in step S24, the identification information communication unit 112a then generates and transmits usage start request information (step S25).

[0061] The usage start request information in the second embodiment has the same information configuration as that of the first embodiment, but whereas in the first embodiment the usage start request information was generated using fixture identification information acquired from the identification information communication unit 112 in the mobile terminal 3 and terminal identification information that identifies the mobile terminal 3, in the second embodiment the identification information communication unit 11a generates usage request information including the terminal identification information acquired from the mobile terminal 3 and fixture identification information that identifies the fixture 2 in which the service providing unit 11a is installed, and transmits it to the usage determination unit 121. The processing after the usage determination unit 121 receives the usage start request information is the same as that of the first embodiment.

[0062] This completes the description of the second embodiment of the present invention. As described above, in the short-range wireless communication between the specific information communication units 112, 112a and the portable terminal 3, it may be arbitrarily selected which one is configured as the tag side and which one is configured as the reader side.

[0063] Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the first and second embodiments, a charging service is provided by the charging unit 113 as a predetermined service provided by the usage determination device. In this embodiment, instead of a charging service, a network connection service via wireless communication is provided as a predetermined service.

[0064] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the configuration of a usage determination device 1b in a third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the appearance of a service providing unit 11b in the third embodiment.

[0065] As mentioned above, the third embodiment provides a network connection service via wireless communication as a specified service instead of the charging service in the first and second embodiments, and the service providing unit 11b of the usage determination device 1c has an access point unit 115 that has a sheet-shaped antenna 115a in part of the cradle-shaped housing 111b.

[0066] The access point unit 115 provides a network connection service to users of the fixtures 2 by providing an access point to which the mobile terminals 3 can connect. In the third embodiment, the access point unit 115 is equipped with a sheet-shaped antenna 115a, and is configured so that the range in which communication with the access point unit 115 is possible is limited to devices in contact with the antenna 115a.

[0067] Furthermore, while the power supply unit 114 in the first embodiment is configured to supply power to the charging unit 113, the power supply unit 114 in the third embodiment supplies drive power to the access point unit 115 described above.

[0068] In the third embodiment, an ID that identifies an access point provided by the access point unit 115 is used as the fixture identification information that identifies the fixture 2. The specific standard and method of wireless communication provided by the access point unit 115 may be selected arbitrarily. For example, if the access point unit 115 provides a network connection service using Wi-Fi (registered trademark) or other wireless LANs, an SSID (Service Set Identifier) ​​may be used as the ID that identifies the access point. The identification information communication unit 112b in the third embodiment is part of the access point unit 115, and is configured to provide the fixture identification information to the mobile terminal 3 by notifying the mobile terminal 3 that is in contact with the antenna 115a of the SSID.

[0069] 9 is a diagram showing the flow of the usage start process in Example 3. As described above, the access point unit 115 is restricted so that only devices in contact with the antenna 115a can receive the network connection service provided by the access point unit 115. When a user places a mobile terminal 3 owned by the user on the service providing unit 11b installed in the fixture 2 to be used, and the mobile terminal 3 comes into contact with the antenna 115a, the specific information communication unit 121b provides the SSID, which is fixture specific information, to the mobile terminal 3, and the mobile terminal 3 connects to the network 4 via the provided SSID.

[0070] When the mobile terminal 3 is connected to the network 4 via an access point provided by the access point unit 115, the service detection unit 31b detects that the provision of a network connection service has begun as a predetermined service (step S31).

[0071] Next, the mobile terminal 3 acquires, via the fixture identification information acquisition unit 32b, fixture identification information that identifies the fixture (step S32). As described above, the fixture identification information in the third embodiment is the SSID of the access point provided by the access point unit 115, and the fixture identification information acquisition unit 32 acquires, as the fixture identification information, the SSID of the access point used to connect the mobile terminal 3 to the network 4.

[0072] The processing after acquiring the fixture identification information in step S32 is the same as in the first embodiment, where the usage start request unit 33 generates usage start request information including the acquired fixture identification information and terminal identification information identifying the mobile terminal 3 and sends it to the server 12 (step S33), and the usage determination unit 121 of the server 12 determines that the user who possesses the mobile terminal 3 identified by the terminal identification information has started using the fixture 2 identified by the fixture identification information (step S34).

[0073] This completes the description of the third embodiment of the present invention. A smartphone or tablet PC owned by a user and used as a mobile terminal 3 is connected to the Internet or other networks using a mobile communication service provided by a mobile communication carrier, and such mobile communication service is usually charged on a pay-as-you-go basis, where a usage fee is added according to the amount of communication. In the third embodiment, a network connection service via an access point by access point unit 115 is provided as a predetermined service, so that the user can use the network without worrying about communication fees.

[0074] In the third embodiment, as described above, a network connection service is provided as a predetermined service, but the charging service in the first and second embodiments may also be provided. In the first and second embodiments, the NFC communication function of the portable terminal 3 is enabled when the service detection unit 31 of the portable terminal 3 detects the start of the charging service, but in the case where the charging service is further combined with the third embodiment, when the service detection unit 31 of the portable terminal 3 detects the start of the charging service, the wireless LAN function of the portable terminal 3 may be enabled if it is disabled, and the portable terminal 3 may be connected to the network 4 via an access point provided by the access point unit 115.

[0075] Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. The fourth embodiment provides a service of disinfecting a mobile terminal 3 in addition to the configuration of the second embodiment. Fig. 10 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a service providing unit 11c in the fourth embodiment. As shown in Fig. 10, the service providing unit 11c in the fourth embodiment includes a housing 111c that is substantially oval in plan view.

[0076] A substantially oval slit 116 is provided on the flat side of the housing 111c, and a charging unit 113 is provided on the bottom side of the slit 116, and a sterilization unit 117 made up of a UV (ultraviolet) light is provided on the inner wall side of the slit 116. Note that while the charging unit 113 in the second embodiment includes charging cables 113b and 113d, the charging unit 113 in the fourth embodiment is provided with a USB Type-C or Lightning (registered trademark) power connector on the bottom side of the slit 116, and is configured to connect to the power connector of the mobile terminal 3 inserted into the slit 116, and to start supplying power from the charging unit 113.

[0077] The use start determination process in the fourth embodiment is configured to include steps S21 to S26 in the second embodiment, plus a step of starting sterilization by sterilization unit 117. The timing for starting the sterilization step may be selected arbitrarily. For example, the execution of step S23 may be used as a trigger to cause sterilization unit 117 to emit UV light, so that when mobile terminal 3 is inserted into housing 111c and charging is started, sterilization service by sterilization unit 117 is provided. Alternatively, the voltage or current applied to the power pin or GND pin of the power connector described above may be detected, and sterilization by sterilization unit 117 may be started in parallel with steps S21 to S26.

[0078] This concludes the description of the fourth embodiment. Recently, disinfection of hands and fingers is often required in schools, workplaces, and other facilities as a measure against viruses and other infectious diseases. In the fourth embodiment, a service for disinfecting a mobile terminal 3, which is expected to be carried and frequently used by a user, is provided. This allows the user to disinfect not only their own hands but also the mobile terminal 3 upon entering the facility or at other times, thereby enabling the user to use the facility with peace of mind. As described above, the fourth embodiment is configured to further provide a service for disinfecting the mobile terminal 3 in addition to the configuration of the second embodiment. However, the disinfection service may be provided as a predetermined service instead of the charging service in the second embodiment. For example, instead of the housing 111c, a known sterilization device equipped with a UV light emitting device and / or an ozone generator may be used in a housing that houses a smartphone or tablet PC, and steps S22 to S26 may be executed upon detecting the start of sterilization by the sterilization device. In this case, the method for detecting the start of sterilization and the roles of the reader and tag sides in the NFC communication function may be selected arbitrarily. For example, if the start of sterilization is detected by the portable terminal 3, the portable terminal 3 may be configured as the reader side as in the first embodiment, or if the switch operation or power of the above-mentioned sterilization device is detected, the portable terminal 3 may be configured as the tag side as in the second embodiment.

[0079] Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described. The fifth embodiment provides a service that blocks radio waves from a mobile terminal 3 in addition to the configuration of the second embodiment. Fig. 11 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a service providing unit 11d in the fifth embodiment. As shown in Fig. 11, the service providing unit 11d in the fifth embodiment includes a housing 111d that is substantially elliptical in plan view.

[0080] The housing 111d has slits 118 formed on the flat surface and the side surface thereof, and the slits 118 form a substantially U-shape in side view.

[0081] Shields 118a that block radio waves are provided on each of a pair of opposing inner wall surfaces of slit 118 of housing 111d, and the portable terminal 3 inserted into slit 118 is configured to be unable to transmit or receive radio waves to or from an external device through shield 118a. Note that, although specific information acquisition unit 112a in the fifth embodiment functions as a reader in accordance with the NFC standard, antenna unit 119 in the electronic circuit that constitutes specific information acquisition unit 112a is configured to be positioned midway between shield 118a and portable terminal 3 so that communication with the portable terminal 3 is not blocked by shield 118a. Furthermore, shield 118a may be made of any material that blocks radio waves; for example, shield 118a may be made of aluminum foil or other metal foil provided on the inner wall side of slit 118.

[0082] As described above, in the fifth embodiment, the antenna unit 119 of the specific information communication unit 112a is positioned between the shield 118a provided on the housing 111d and the mobile terminal 3, so that the mobile terminal 3 can perform short-range wireless communication with the specific information communication unit 112a according to the NFC standard via the antenna unit 119, while communication with other devices etc. is blocked by the shield 118a.

[0083] In the fifth embodiment, the shield 118a is used to block radio waves from the mobile terminal 3. However, if the mobile terminal 3 has a so-called silent mode, airplane mode, or other operation mode, the operation mode of the mobile terminal 3 may be changed to the silent mode, airplane mode, or other operation mode at any timing in steps S21 to S26 in the second embodiment, instead of using the shield 118a.

[0084] This concludes the description of the fifth embodiment of the present invention. In cinemas, theaters, classrooms, and other facilities, or when boarding an airplane, there are cases where it is required to block the transmission and reception of radio waves that may cause telephones to ring or malfunction. By using the usage determination device of the fifth embodiment to perform procedures such as entering the facility or boarding the airplane, the user can receive radio wave blocking services simply by inserting the mobile terminal 3 into both determination devices 1d, and usage determination can be performed without performing complicated procedures.

[0085] Although the description of the embodiments of the present invention has been given above, the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to this. For example, in the first and second embodiments, the specific information communication units 112 and 112a that provide or acquire terminal specific information or fixture specific information by short-range wireless communication of the NFC standard, the charging cable 113b having the USB Type-C connector 113a, and the charging unit 113 having the Lightning (registered trademark) connector 113d are provided, but for example, instead of the charging cables 113b and 113d, the charging unit 113 may be configured to include a communication cable capable of data communication, and the mobile terminal 3 and the specific information communication units 112 and 112a may communicate via the communication cable in accordance with the USB standard or other communication protocols.

[0086] Other specific configurations are not limited to those of the present embodiment, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0087] 1 Usage determination device 11 Service Provision Department 111 Cabinet 112 Ministry of Information and Communications 113 Live parts 114 Power supply section 12 Servers 121 Usage Judgment Department 122 User Database 123 Fixtures Database 124 Usage History Database 2 Fixtures 3. Mobile devices 31 Charge detection unit 32 Fixture specific information acquisition unit 33 Usage start request section 4 Network

Claims

1. A usage determination device that determines the usage of fixtures by a user who possesses a mobile terminal, a service providing unit that provides a predetermined service to the mobile terminal carried by the user who uses the fixture; a specific information communication unit that is provided in the service providing unit and that communicates with the mobile terminal when provision of the predetermined service is started, and acquires or provides terminal identification information that identifies the mobile terminal or fixture identification information that identifies the fixture; a usage determination unit that receives usage start request information including the terminal identification information and the fixture identification information and determines that a user who possesses the mobile terminal identified by the terminal identification information has started using the fixture identified by the fixture identification information; A usage determination device comprising:

2. The specific information communication unit provides the fixture specific information to the mobile terminal, The mobile terminal a service detection unit that detects that provision of the predetermined service has started; a fixture specification information acquisition unit that acquires the fixture specification information provided by the specification information communication unit when the start of the service supply is detected; a usage start request unit that transmits usage start request information including the received fixture identification information and the terminal identification information that identifies the mobile terminal to the usage determination device; 2. The usage determination device according to claim 1, comprising:

3. When the specific information communication unit acquires the terminal identification information from the mobile terminal, it transmits to the usage determination unit usage start request information including the acquired terminal identification information and the fixture identification information that identifies the fixture; The mobile terminal a service detection unit that detects that provision of the predetermined service has started; a terminal identification information providing unit that provides the terminal identification information to the identification information communication unit when start of supply of the service is detected; 2. The usage determination device according to claim 1, further comprising:

4. The specific information communication unit acquires or provides the terminal specific information or the fixture specific information between the mobile terminal and the specific information communication unit through short-range wireless communication.

4. The usage determination device according to claim 1, wherein the usage determination device is a device for determining whether or not a user is using a service.

5. the predetermined service is a charging service that supplies power to the mobile terminal, The service providing unit includes a charging unit that supplies power to the mobile terminal.

5. The usage determination device according to claim 1, wherein the usage determination device is a device for determining whether or not a user is using a service.

6. The charging unit includes a charging cable that can supply the power via a power connector provided in the mobile terminal.

6. The usage determination device according to claim 5.

7. The usage determination device further includes a housing that houses the specific information communication unit and on which the mobile terminal is placed.

7. The usage determination device according to claim 1, wherein the usage determination device is a device for determining whether or not a user is using a service.

8. the usage determination device further includes a power supply unit capable of supplying power to the main body unit, The charging unit supplies the power supplied from the power supply unit to the mobile terminal.

8. The usage determination device according to claim 7.

9. The fixture is a desk having a top board, and the charging unit and the specific information communication unit are provided at predetermined positions on the underside of the top board.

9. The usage determination device according to claim 1, wherein the usage determination device is a device for determining whether or not a user is using a service.

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