Unauthorized-person-terminal communication detector

Abstract

[Problem] To provide an unauthorized-person-terminal communication detector that does not change a threshold value stored in a storage device in order to determine whether communication is performed between an unauthorized-person terminal and a wearable terminal, can reduce cost, and can be easily managed. [Solution] Provided is an unauthorized-person-terminal communication detector for detecting whether communication by an examinee terminal 16 is being performed, the unauthorized-person-terminal communication detector comprising: an auxiliary storage device 51, which is provided to a body 63 and in which a program and a threshold value are stored; a control circuit 50 provided to the body 63, the control circuit 50 reading the program and executing a process; and an alert generator 55 provided to the body 63. The control circuit 50 constitutes a portable detector 12 that executes a first process for comparing the radio wave intensity between the examinee terminal 16 and wearable terminals 17, 18 with a threshold value to determine whether communication has been performed between the examinee terminal 16 and the wearable terminals 17, 18, and a second process for causing an alert to be generated by the alert generator 55 when it is determined that communication has been performed between the examinee terminal 16 and the wearable terminals 17, 18.

Description

Communication detector for unauthorized terminals

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a communication detector for a malicious terminal that detects whether communication is taking place at a malicious terminal within a specific area.

[0002] An example of a communication detection system for a rogue terminal that detects communications of the rogue terminal occurring within a specific area is described in Patent Document 1. The communication detection system described in Patent Document 1 includes multiple radio wave detection devices (communication detectors) and electronic devices. The multiple radio wave detection devices are installed within a specific area where wireless communication using a first communication method is prohibited or restricted. Each radio wave detection device includes a detection unit that detects radio waves from wireless communication using the first communication method, a transmission unit that transmits a report signal using a second communication method that includes device identification information for uniquely identifying the radio wave detection device and the detection result of the detection unit, and a threshold setting unit that sets a threshold. The detection unit also includes a reception unit that receives radio waves from wireless communication using the first communication method, and a determination unit that determines that wireless communication using the first communication method is occurring if the signal strength based on the radio waves received by the reception unit is equal to or greater than a threshold.

[0003] Each radio wave detection device is placed at either end of the examinee's desk in the examination venue. The examinee's desks are arranged in a matrix in the examination venue. The electronic device is placed on the examiner's desk in the examination venue. Wireless communication is possible between the electronic device and the radio wave detection device. When the radio wave detection device determines that the examinee is using a mobile terminal (fraudulent terminal) to communicate wirelessly with the outside world using a first communication method, i.e., a cellular method, it transmits a report signal including the determination result to the electronic device.

[0004] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2022-139436

[0005] The inventor of the present application recognized the following problems with the communication detection system described in Patent Document 1: the strength of the incoming radio waves (downstream radio waves) that an unauthorized terminal receives from an external base station varies depending on factors such as the distance between the unauthorized terminal and the base station, and the judgment unit that detects the upstream radio waves emitted from the unauthorized terminal needs to change the threshold value used for judgment depending on the strength of the upstream radio waves; a radio wave detection device must be installed on each desk, increasing costs; and threshold values ​​must be set for all radio wave detection devices, making management cumbersome.

[0006] The object of this embodiment is to provide a communication detector for a fraudulent terminal that does not require changing the threshold value stored in a memory device to determine whether communication is taking place between the fraudulent terminal and a wearable terminal, that can reduce costs, and that is easy to manage.

[0007] This embodiment discloses a communication detector for a fraudulent terminal that detects whether or not communication has occurred by a fraudulent terminal carried by a fraudulent person within a specific area, and includes: a main body carried by a monitor who moves within the specific area to monitor the fraudulent person; a memory device provided in the main body and storing a program, and storing a threshold for determining whether or not communication has occurred between the fraudulent terminal and a wearable terminal worn by the fraudulent person; a control circuit provided in the main body and reading the program stored in the memory device and executing processing; and an alert generator provided in the main body, wherein the control circuit performs a first process of determining whether or not communication has occurred between the fraudulent terminal and the wearable terminal by comparing the communication strength between the fraudulent terminal and the wearable terminal with the threshold, and a second process of generating an alert in the alert generator when it is determined that communication has occurred between the fraudulent terminal and the wearable terminal.

[0008] In this embodiment, since the communication strength between the fraudulent terminal and the wearable terminal is constant, the communication detector for the fraudulent terminal does not need to change the threshold stored in the memory unit to determine whether communication is taking place between the fraudulent terminal and the wearable terminal, the number of communication detectors for the fraudulent terminal can be reduced, which reduces costs, and since the thresholds stored in the memory units of a large number of communication detectors do not need to be changed, the communication detectors can be easily managed.

[0009] It is a block diagram showing an example of a communication detector, a communication detection computer, and a communication detection system for a fraudulent terminal. It is a plan view showing an example of an examination hall as an example of a specific area. It is a flowchart showing an example of a communication management method performed in a communication detection system.

[0010] (Background) Technologies for detecting the communication status of mobile phone terminals have been disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 2010-68461, 2010-109913, and 2011-24131. These documents, around the time when bank transfer fraud became a social problem, describe a mobile phone sensing device that would detect radio waves emitted from a mobile phone terminal and issue a warning announcement from a built-in speaker. In particular, refund fraud was caused by people being lured by mobile phone to a nearby ATM (Automatic Teller Machine) corner and then being lured to perform a bank transfer. Therefore, if someone was talking on a mobile phone at the ATM corner, the device would detect radio waves from the uplink channel (CH) of a mobile phone installed on the wall and issue an alert.

[0011] However, the strength and compatibility of the radio waves of the uplink channel emitted from a mobile phone terminal vary depending on the downlink radio wave environment of the mobile phone base station. For example, if the incoming radio waves from the base station are weak, the strength of the uplink channel radio waves will be strong, and conversely, if the incoming radio waves from the base station are strong, the strength of the uplink channel radio waves will be weak. Therefore, to maintain this function, it is necessary to change the threshold to an optimal value for each ATM corner in response to changes in the radio wave environment from surrounding base stations. If the threshold is not changed each time the radio wave strength changes, the device will also detect radio waves from mobile phones used by passersby outside the ATM corner, resulting in a situation where warning announcements will not stop, making the device ineffective. The communication detector disclosed herein provides technology that addresses this issue.

[0012] (Summary of the Present Application) In this embodiment, an example of a communication detector, a communication detection computer, and a communication detection system for a fraudulent terminal is described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1 , the communication detection system 10 is an fraudulent communication detection system that detects whether short-range wireless communication has been performed between a fraudulent terminal and a wearable terminal. The communication detection system 10 includes a communication detection computer 11 and a portable detector 12, which is an example of a communication detector for a fraudulent terminal. Bidirectional communication is possible between the communication detection computer 11 and the portable detector 12. Multiple monitors 14 can move within a specific area, for example, within an examination hall 13 shown in FIG. 2 . Each of the multiple monitors 14 carries a portable detector 12. The communication detection system 10 detects whether short-range wireless communication, e.g., radio wave communication, has been performed between an examinee terminal (fraudulent terminal) 16 carried by an examinee 15 and wearable terminals 17 and 18. The communication strength of the short-range wireless communication between the examinee terminal 16 and the wearable terminals 17 and 18 is approximately constant. Therefore, there is no need to change the threshold value stored in the memory device of the portable detector 12 in order to determine whether short-range wireless communication has been performed between the examinee terminal 16 and the wearable terminals 17 and 18.

[0013] (Examination Venue) FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an example of an examination venue 13. The examination venue 13 is located within a building. The examination venue 13 is a space partitioned by a first side wall 21, a second side wall 22, a third side wall 23, and a fourth side wall 24. FIG. 2 shows an example in which the first side wall 21 and the third side wall 23 are arranged parallel to each other, and the second side wall 22 and the fourth side wall 24 are arranged parallel to each other. When viewed from directly above, the examination venue 13 has a quadrilateral shape, such as a rectangle or a square. In the examination venue 13, multiple table rows A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, and A6 are arranged between the second side wall 22 and the fourth side wall 24. Each of the table rows A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, and A6 has multiple tables 25 arranged at intervals between the first side wall 21 and the third side wall 23.

[0014] A passage 26 is provided between each of the table rows. The passages 26 are arranged along the second side wall 22 and the fourth side wall 24. A passage 27 is provided between the first side wall 21 and the table rows A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, and A6. A passage 28 is provided between the second side wall 22 and the table row A6. A passage 29 is provided between the third side wall 23 and the table rows A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, and A6, and a passage 30 is provided between the fourth side wall 24 and the table row A1.

[0015] Furthermore, repeaters 31 shown in FIG. 1 are provided at multiple different locations in the examination venue 13, for example, at the four corners of the examination venue 13. The repeaters 31 are short-range wireless repeaters, and include, for example, Wi-Fi (registered trademark) access points, beacons, etc. Wi-Fi access points transmit and receive radio signals conforming to the wireless LAN standard. Beacons transmit and receive short-range radio signals, for example, radio signals conforming to the Bluetooth (registered trademark) standard.

[0016] (Examinee) Examinee 15 is restricted from bringing electronic devices into the examination venue 13, and is therefore required to turn off the electronic devices and store them in his / her bag. The electronic devices carried by examinee 15 include examinee terminal 16, wearable terminals 17 and 18, etc. Wearable terminals 17 and 18 are communication devices capable of short-range wireless communication with examinee terminal 16. Wearable terminals 17 and 18 may be either worn on the body of examinee 15 or placed on table 25. Examinee terminal 16 includes mobile phones, smartphones, tablet terminals, etc. Examinee terminal 16 is a computer having a control circuit, a display unit, an operation unit, a communication device, a storage device, etc.

[0017] The communication device is capable of Wi-Fi communication with the repeater 31. The storage device stores non-transient programs, non-transient applications, and various types of information and data that are read by the control circuit. The display unit is, for example, a display, and displays text, videos, images, etc. The operation unit is operated by the examinee 15. The control circuit performs various processes, judgments, controls, etc. in accordance with the non-transient programs, non-transient applications, various types of information and data stored in the storage device, and the operation content of the operation unit, and processes the display content of the display unit and input and output signals of the communication device.

[0018] The wearable terminal 17 is an electronic device capable of mutual communication with the repeater 31, and includes, for example, a camera watch, a camera ring, a camera necklace, a camera pendant, a camera pen, etc. The wearable terminal 17 is controlled by the examinee terminal 16. The wearable terminal 17 can convert images captured by the camera into radio signals and send them to the examinee terminal 16.

[0019] The wearable terminal 18 is an electronic device that can communicate with the examinee terminal 16 without going through the repeater 31. The wearable terminal 18 is controlled by the examinee terminal 16. The wearable terminal 18 includes, for example, audio earphones that output audio. The wearable terminals 17 and 18 are devices that can be worn on the body of the examinee 15. The examinee terminal 16 can also communicate with a helper terminal 33 via a base station 32 installed outside the examination venue 13. The helper terminal 33 is a computer operated by a helper located outside the examination venue 13.

[0020] Therefore, the examinee 15 can take pictures of the exam questions with the camera included in the wearable terminal 17 and send the video to the helper terminal 33 via the base station 32. The helper can send answers to the exam questions, such as videos, images, text, and audio, from the helper terminal 33 to the examinee terminal 16 via the base station 32. The examinee 15 can operate the examinee terminal 16 to commit fraud, such as visually checking the answers or listening to the audio of the answers through the earphones of the wearable terminal 18.

[0021] (Communication Detection Computer) The communication detection computer 11 is operated by the examination administrator. The communication detection computer 11 is a computer equipped with a control circuit 40, an auxiliary storage device 41, a communication device 42, an operation unit 43, etc. The communication detection computer 11 may be in any form, such as a server, a workstation, a mainframe, or a supercomputer. The communication detection computer 11 may also be either a singular computer or a distributed computer. The communication device 42 is a wireless communication device that receives and transmits radio waves, electricity, or light to perform two-way communication with the portable detector 12 via a network.

[0022] The auxiliary storage device 41 stores non-transient applications, non-transient programs, various types of information and data, etc. The various types of information and data include information about the examination venue 13 and examinee information. The information about the examination venue 13 includes a schematic diagram of the examination venue 13 viewed from directly above, the number of rows of tables arranged in the examination venue 13, the positions of each row of tables, the number and positions of each table 25 in each row of tables, and a table identification number assigned to each table 25. Each table 25 has a different table identification number, and each table 25 can be identified by the table identification number.

[0023] The examinee information also includes the examinee number and name of each examinee 15 seated at each table 25 in each table row. The examinee number is different for each examinee 15, allowing each examinee 15 to be identified. The examinee information for each examinee 15 is associated with the identification number assigned to each table 25. Therefore, even if multiple examinees 15 are seated in chairs corresponding to the same table 25, each table 25 and examinee 15 can be identified. The operation unit 43 is operated by the examination administrator. The examination administrator can operate the operation unit 43 to update, change, correct, etc. the information about the examination venue 13 and the examinee information.

[0024] The control circuit 40 includes an arithmetic processing circuit, a main memory device, input ports, output ports, etc. The control circuit 40 can communicate with the operation unit 43, the auxiliary memory device 41, and the communication device 42. The control circuit 40 reads non-transient applications, non-transient programs, etc. stored in the auxiliary memory device 41 to perform various processes, such as judgment, comparison, and control, and stores the results of various processes in the auxiliary memory device 41. Various information and data are accumulated in the auxiliary memory device 41.

[0025] In order to perform various processes, the control circuit 40 comprises an information processing section 44 and a repeater control section 45. The information processing section 44 processes information on the examination venue 13, examinee information, information acquired from the portable detector 12, information to be sent to the portable detector 12, etc.

[0026] (Portable Detector) The portable detector 12 is configured with a size and weight that allows each monitor 14 to carry it and move, i.e., walk, within the examination venue 13. The portable detector 12 has a structure that allows it to be attached to and detached from a part of the monitor's 14's body, such as a clothing pocket or a clothing belt. The portable detector 12 is a computer that includes a main body 63, a control circuit 50, an auxiliary storage device 51, a communication device 52, an operation unit 53, an antenna 54, an alert generator 55, a power supply 56, etc. The main body 63 is a casing made of synthetic resin or metal, and the control circuit 50, the auxiliary storage device 51, the communication device 52, the operation unit 53, the antenna 54, the alert generator 55, and the power supply 56 are provided in the main body 63.

[0027] The communication device 52 is a wireless communication device that receives and transmits radio waves, electricity, or light, and performs two-way communication with the communication detection computer 11 either via the repeater 31 or without the repeater 31. The auxiliary storage device 51 stores non-transient applications, non-transient programs, various information and data, etc. The various information and data stored in the auxiliary storage device 51 include information and data obtained from the communication detection computer 11, information and data detected by the portable detector 12, and information and data that is not obtained from the communication detection computer 11 but is stored in advance.

[0028] The operation unit 53 is operated by the monitor 14. When the monitor 14 operates the operation unit 53, the threshold value to be stored in the auxiliary storage device 51 can be set. The threshold value is a reference value used to determine whether or not the portable detector 12 has received a radio signal. The portable detector 12 can also execute a process to store the threshold value obtained from the communication detection computer 11 in the auxiliary storage device 51. The antenna 54 is connected to the control circuit 50 and can receive upstream and downstream radio signals between the examinee terminal 16 and the wearable terminals 17 and 18. The upstream radio signals are radio signals sent from the wearable terminals 17 and 18 to the examinee terminal 16. The downstream radio signals are radio signals sent from the examinee terminal 16 to the wearable terminals 17 and 18.

[0029] The control circuit 50 includes an arithmetic processing circuit, a main storage device, input ports, output ports, etc. The control circuit 50 can communicate with the operation unit 53, the auxiliary storage device 51, the alert generator 55, and the communication device 52. The control circuit 50 loads and starts non-transient applications, non-transient programs, etc. stored in the auxiliary storage device 51, and performs various processes, such as judgment, comparison, and control, based on thresholds stored in the auxiliary storage device 51, the operation details of the operation unit 53, the radio signal received by the antenna 54, information and data acquired from the communication detection computer 11, etc., and stores the results of the various processes in the auxiliary storage device 51.

[0030] The control circuit 50 can detect the presence or absence of at least one of the radio wave signals (downstream) transmitted from the examinee terminal 16 to the wearable terminals 17 and 18 and the radio wave signals (upstream) received by the examinee terminal 16 from the wearable terminals 17 and 18. The control circuit 50 can also determine whether the strength of the actual detected radio wave signal exceeds a threshold stored in the auxiliary storage device 51. The control circuit 50 also controls the alert generator 55. The control circuit 50 can constantly send information and data, including the results of the processing, control, and judgments it has performed, to the communication detection computer 11.

[0031] The control circuit 50 comprises an information processing unit 57, a radio signal processing unit 58, and an alert control unit 62 to perform various processes, controls, judgments, etc. The information processing unit 57 processes information about the examination venue 13, examinee information, etc. The radio signal processing unit 58 processes radio signals received by the antenna 54. The alert control unit 62 causes the alert generator 55 to generate an alert when communication via radio signals is performed between the examinee terminal 16 and the wearable terminals 17, 18.

[0032] The alert generator 55 includes a display unit 59, a vibration motor 60, an earphone 61, etc. The display unit includes a display, a light-emitting diode (LED) lamp, etc. The display can display information and data about the examination venue 13, commands obtained from the communication detection computer 11, etc. The vibration motor 60 is an electric motor that vibrates the main body 63 when power is supplied. The earphone 61 is connected to the communication device 52 wirelessly or via a wire. The earphone 61 is worn on the ear of the monitor 14. The earphone 61 outputs audio corresponding to a signal output from the communication device 52. The earphone 61 may also be a bone conduction earphone with a vibration function. The power source 56 is a battery that supplies power to electronic components mounted on the main body 63, such as the vibration motor 60 and the display unit 59. The battery is a secondary battery that can be charged and discharged.

[0033] (Communication Detection Method) The flowchart in FIG. 3 is an example of a communication detection method executed by the communication detection system 10. In step S10, the communication detection computer 11 sends various information, data, control signals, etc. to the portable detector 12. In step S10, the communication detection computer 11 sends, for example, information about the examination venue 13 and examinee information to the portable detector 12. In addition, in step S10, the communication detection computer 11 can acquire and process various information, data, etc. from the portable detector 12. In step S10, the communication detection computer 11, for example, acquires and processes position information of the monitors 14 from each portable detector 12, and stores the position information of each monitor 14 in the auxiliary storage device 41. Note that the communication detection computer 11 can always perform the processing of step S10.

[0034] The location information of each monitor 14 includes information identifying each monitor 14 carrying a portable detector 12 in the examination venue 13 shown in FIG. 2 , the current location of each monitor 14, and the movement route of each monitor 14. The information identifying each monitor 14 includes the number of monitors 14 in the examination venue 13, an identification code identifying each monitor 14, an identification code identifying the portable detector 12 carried by each monitor 14, etc. The current location of each monitor 14 is the location where each monitor 14 is located within the examination venue 13. The current location of each monitor 14 includes, for example, which of the aisles 26 between the table rows A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, and A6 each monitor 14 is located in, which of the aisles 27, 28, 29, and 30 each monitor 14 is located in, and between which two tables 25 each monitor 14 is located. The movement route of each observer 14 is determined from the movement history of the current position of each observer 14 .

[0035] The movement path of the monitor 14 means which table rows the monitor 14 moved between, which aisle the monitor 14 moved through, and in what direction the monitor 14 moved. The movement direction of the monitor 14 includes a first direction B1 in which the monitor 14 moves from the first side wall 21 toward the third side wall 23, a second direction B2 in which the monitor 14 moves from the third side wall 23 toward the first side wall 21, a third direction B3 in which the monitor 14 moves from the second side wall 22 toward the fourth side wall 24, and a fourth direction B4 in which the monitor 14 moves from the fourth side wall 24 toward the second side wall 22.

[0036] In step S20, the monitor 14 operates the portable detector 12 to set a threshold value and stores the set threshold value in the auxiliary storage device 51. The portable detector 12 also sends the threshold value to the communication detection computer 11. The communication detection computer 11 stores the acquired threshold value in the auxiliary storage device 41. The threshold value is the radio wave strength (dBm: decibels relative to a milliwatt) of the wireless signal and is a reference value for determining whether communication is occurring between the examinee terminal 16 and the wearable terminals 17 and 18. For example, if the radio signal frequency is 2.4 GHz, the threshold value can be set to "-65 dBm," and if the radio signal frequency is 5.0 GHz, the threshold value can be set to "-60 dBm." After performing the operation in step S20, the monitor 14 moves, i.e., walks, around the examination venue while carrying the portable detector.

[0037] In step S21, the portable detector 12 acquires various information, data, control signals, etc. from the communication detection computer 11. In step S21, the portable detector 12 acquires, for example, information about the examination venue 13 and examinee information from the communication detection computer 11, processes the information, and stores it in the auxiliary storage device 51. In step S21, the portable detector 12 sends various information, data, etc. to the communication detection computer 11. In step S21, the portable detector 12 generates position information of the monitor 14, for example, while the examination is being taken, stores the generated position information in the auxiliary storage device 51, and sends it to the communication detection computer 11. Note that the portable detector 12 can constantly execute the processing of step S21.

[0038] The current location included in the location information of the monitor 14 can be determined based on, for example, the strength of the radio signals received by the portable detector 12 from the multiple access points included in the repeater 31, the difference in the arrival time of the radio signals from each access point to the portable detector 12, etc. Also, the current location of the monitor 14 can be determined based on the strength of the signals received by the portable detector 12 from the multiple beacons included in the repeater 31, the difference in the arrival time of the signals from each beacon to the portable detector 12, etc.

[0039] In step S22, the portable detector 12 determines whether or not a radio signal has been detected. If the determination in step S22 is Yes, the portable detector 12 outputs, in step S23, the fact that a radio signal has been detected and its location on the display unit 59. The detection of the radio signal is indicated, for example, by lighting up a light-emitting diode lamp included in the display unit 59.

[0040] In addition, in step S24, the portable detector 12 determines whether or not a radio wave signal is detected when the monitor 14 walks along each of the aisles 26, 30 on either side of the table 25 located ○th from the first side wall 21 in any one of the table rows, for example, table row A1, in at least one of the first direction B1 and the second direction B2.

[0041] Here, it does not matter whether the supervisors 14 who walked along the aisles 26, 30 on either side of a given table 25 were the same person or different people. The portable detector 12 makes the determination in step S24 based on the movement history of the supervisor 14. The determination in step S24 makes it possible to identify the single table 25 at which the examinee 15 communicating with the examinee terminal 16 is located. If the portable detector 12 determines Yes in step S24, it then determines in step S25 whether the strength of the detected radio signal exceeds a threshold, i.e., whether or not communication is occurring via the examinee terminal 16. The threshold used in the determination in step S25 is the one set in step S20.

[0042] If the portable detector 12 determines "Yes" in step S22, it can proceed to step S25 without executing step S24. Furthermore, if the communication detection computer 11 acquires information for which the determination in step S22 is "Yes" from a portable detector 12 located in an aisle on one side of one of the tables 25 in step S10, it can send a command signal to the other portable detectors 12 saying, "Please walk in the aisle on the opposite side of the table 25." The monitor 14 carrying the portable detector 12 that receives this command signal can walk in the "aisle on the opposite side of the table 25" in accordance with the command.

[0043] If the portable detector 12 determines "Yes" in step S25, i.e., if it determines that communication has occurred with the examinee terminal 16, it generates an alert in step S26. The alert generated by the portable detector 12 may be any of the following: blinking of the light-emitting diode lamp, lighting of the light-emitting diode lamp, vibration of the main body of the portable detector 12 by the vibration motor 60, vibration of the bone-powered earphone included in the earphone 61, audio output from the earphone 61, etc. If the alert generated by the portable detector 12 is lighting or blinking of the light-emitting diode lamp, the number of light-emitting diode lamps that are turned on may be varied depending on the radio wave signal strength. For example, the number of light-emitting diode lamps that are turned on may be increased as the detected radio wave strength increases.

[0044] The supervisor 14 can identify the examinee 15 who communicated the radio signal using the examinee terminal 16 by bringing the portable detector 12 close to the body or bag of the examinee 15 sitting at the table 25 nearest to the current position where the alert generator 55 issued the alert. Once the examinee 15 has been identified, the portable detector 12 sends information about the identified examinee 15, i.e., the fraudulent examinee information, to the communication detection computer 11, and the process proceeds to step S22. The fraudulent examinee information includes the examinee number and name.

[0045] If the portable detector 12 determines No in step S22, or No in step S24, or No in step S25, that is, if it determines that no communication is taking place at the examinee terminal 16, it proceeds to step S22. In step S11, the communication detection computer 11 obtains and processes the fraud information from the portable detector 12 and stores it in the auxiliary storage device 41.

[0046] (Application Examples) Application examples of the communication detection method performed by the communication detection system 10 include the following. For example, the communication detection computer 11 can also make the decisions in steps S22, S24, and S25 of Figure 3. Specifically, if the portable detector 12 makes a Yes decision in step S22, the portable detector 12 sends information indicating this fact, as well as other information, to the communication detection computer 11. Then, in step S10 of Figure 3, the control circuit 40 of the communication detection computer 11 obtains from the portable detector 12 information that "radio communication has been carried out at the examinee terminal 16."

[0047] Then, after step S10, the communication detection computer 11 makes the determinations of step S24 and step S25, and if the communication detection computer 11 determines Yes in step S25, the communication detection computer 11 again sends a control signal to generate an alert to the portable detector 12 in step S10. The portable detector 12 then executes the process of step S26. Note that if multiple portable detectors 12 receive radio signals in the aisles on both sides of the table 25, the communication detection computer 11 sends control signals to each of the multiple portable detectors 12 in step S26.

[0048] Effect of the embodiment The strength of the communication radio waves between the base station 32 and the examinee terminal 16, specifically the incoming radio waves (downstream), fluctuates depending on the environment, for example, the distance between the base station 32 and the examinee terminal 16, the presence or absence of obstacles between the examinee terminal 16 and the base station 32, the number of obstacles, the density of the obstacles, the height of the obstacles, the weather, etc. Therefore, if the examinee terminal 16 attempts to determine whether or not communication is occurring between the examinee terminal 16 and the base station 32 by comparing the actual strength of the incoming radio waves received from the base station 32 with a threshold, the threshold must be changed depending on the environment, and the determination of whether or not communication is occurring between the examinee terminal 16 and the base station 32 may be inaccurate.

[0049] In contrast, the portable detector 12 of this embodiment compares the strength of the radio wave communication between the examinee terminal 16 and the wearable terminals 17, 18 with a threshold stored in the auxiliary storage device 51 to determine whether communication is taking place between the examinee terminal 16 and the wearable terminals 17, 18. The examinee terminal 16 and the wearable terminals 17, 18 are located within the same examination venue 13 and perform short-range communication. Therefore, the strength of the communication radio waves between the examinee terminal 16 and the wearable terminals 17, 18 is approximately constant. Therefore, it is not necessary to change the threshold stored in the auxiliary storage device 51 of the portable detector 12 that detects whether communication is taking place between the examinee terminal 16 and the wearable terminals 17, 18, and the accuracy of determining whether communication is taking place between the examinee terminal 16 and the wearable terminals 17, 18 can be maintained.

[0050] Since the monitor 14 can move around the examination venue 13 carrying the portable detector 12, he or she can approach the examinee 15 suspected of cheating. This allows the monitor 14 to accurately identify the examinee 15 who is cheating, and prevents the examinee 15 who is not cheating from being mistaken for the examinee 15 who is cheating. Furthermore, the alert generated by the alert generator 55 is unlikely to be noticed by the examinee 15. This prevents the examinee 15 from being disturbed during the examination and from losing their concentration. Furthermore, if the portable detector 12 makes a determination of Yes in step S24 and then makes a determination in step S25, misidentification can be reliably prevented.

[0051] Furthermore, because the monitor 14 can move around the examination venue 13 carrying the portable detector 12, the number of portable detectors 12 can be reduced compared to when a detector is provided at each table 25. This reduces the manufacturing costs of the portable detectors 12 and the construction costs of the communication detection system 10. Furthermore, because the number of portable detectors 12 is reduced, management of the portable detectors 12 is easier than in conventional techniques in which a communication detector is provided at every table and the thresholds stored in the memory units of all communication detectors are changed individually. Furthermore, because the number of portable detectors 12 is reduced, the processing load of the communication detection computer 11, which processes and stores information and data obtained from the portable detectors 12, is reduced, and the amount of information and data stored in the auxiliary storage device 41 is reduced. This therefore speeds up processing in the communication detection computer 11 and reduces the capacity of the auxiliary storage device 41.

[0052] Furthermore, if information about the examination venue 13 and part of the location information of each monitor 14 is stored in advance in the auxiliary storage device 51 of the portable detector 12, it is not necessary to obtain information about the examination venue 13 and the location information of each monitor 14 from the communication detection computer 11 in step S21 of Figure 3. In other words, the portable detector 12 can execute the communication detection method of Figure 3 without obtaining information and control signals from the communication detection computer 11. This reduces the amount of processing by the control circuit 50, which processes and stores the information and data obtained by the portable detector 12, and reduces the amount of information and data stored in the auxiliary storage device 51. This makes it possible to speed up processing in the portable detector 12 and reduce the capacity of the auxiliary storage device 51.

[0053] (Supplementary Explanation) An example of the technical meaning of the matters disclosed in this embodiment is as follows: The portable detector 12 is an example of a communication detector for a cheater terminal. The main body 63 is an example of a main body. The auxiliary memory device 51 is an example of a memory device. The control circuit 50 is an example of a control circuit. The alert generator 55 is an example of an alert generator. The antenna 54 is an example of an antenna. The examination venue 13 is an example of a specific area. The examinee 15 is an example of a cheater. The examinee terminal 16 is an example of a cheater terminal. The wearable terminals 17 and 18 are examples of wearable terminals.

[0054] The determinations of steps S22, S24, and S25 are an example of a first process executed by the control circuit. The process of step S26 is an example of a second process executed by the control circuit. The process of step S21 is an example of a third process executed by the control circuit. The process of step S24 is an example of a fourth process executed by the control circuit. The process of step S22 is an example of a fifth process executed by the control circuit.

[0055] This embodiment is not limited to the one disclosed using the drawings, and various modifications are possible within the spirit and scope of the present invention. The specific area may be a space not partitioned by a side wall or other obstruction. For example, if an examinee is temporarily permitted to leave the examination hall and go to a restroom, an observer carrying a portable detector can move through a corridor, staircase, passageway, etc. to detect radio communication between the examinee's examinee terminal and a wearable terminal using the portable detector, thereby executing the communication detection method shown in FIG. 3 and executing the communication detection method responding to the application example of FIG. 3 . In such a case, the corridor, staircase, passageway, restroom, etc., corresponds to the specific area. Furthermore, the presence or absence of a table is not an issue. In other words, if the movement of users within the specific area is restricted, i.e., if the user's location is fixed, the communication detector, communication detection computer, and communication detection system can identify a single user communicating radio signals from an unauthorized user terminal.

[0056] Furthermore, the radio wave communication standard between the examinee terminal and the wearable terminal detected by the portable detector may be a standard other than Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, such as WIMAX (registered trademark, Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access).Furthermore, the short-range wireless communication detected by the portable detector may be a communication other than radio wave communication, such as infrared communication.

[0057] The examinations described in this embodiment include university entrance exams, high school entrance exams, junior high school entrance exams, etc. as well as qualification exams, promotion exams, regular exams, etc. In addition, in a plan view of the examination venue, the examination venue may have any shape, such as a circle, an oval, a triangle, a pentagon, a hexagon, etc. In addition, the examination venue may be located either inside or outside a building.

[0058] The "communication detection computer" disclosed in this embodiment and the drawings can also be defined as a "fraudulent information processing computer." Furthermore, the "processing unit" can also be defined as a "processing circuit." Furthermore, the "storage device" can also be defined as a "storage circuit." Furthermore, the "control unit" can also be defined as a "control circuit." Furthermore, the "operation unit" can also be defined as an "operator." Furthermore, the "wearable terminal" can also be defined as a "wearable computer." Furthermore, the "examinee terminal" can also be defined as an "examinee computer."

[0059] This embodiment also discloses the following communication detection computer and communication detection system. For example, the communication detection computer is connected to a communication detector for a fraudulent terminal carried by a monitor present in a specific area to detect the presence or absence of communication by the fraudulent terminal carried by the fraudulent within the specific area, and includes a storage device storing a program, and a control circuit that reads the program stored in the storage device and executes processing, wherein the control circuit processes information obtained from the communication detector for the fraudulent terminal to execute a first process of determining the presence or absence of communication between the fraudulent terminal and a wearable terminal worn by the fraudulent, and a second process of sending a control signal to the communication detector for the fraudulent terminal to cause the communication detector to generate an alert when it is determined that communication has occurred between the fraudulent terminal and the wearable terminal.

[0060] Also disclosed is a communication detection system comprising: a communication detector for an unauthorized user terminal provided within a specific area to detect whether or not communication has occurred via an unauthorized user terminal carried by an unauthorized user within the specific area; and a communication detection computer that performs two-way communication with the communication detector for the unauthorized user terminal. The communication detection computer comprises a storage device that stores a program, and a control circuit that reads the program stored in the storage device and executes processing. The communication detector for the unauthorized user terminal is carried by a monitor who moves within the specific area to monitor the unauthorized user, and is equipped with an alert generator. The control circuit processes information obtained from the communication detector for the unauthorized user terminal to perform a first process of determining whether communication has occurred between the unauthorized user terminal and a wearable terminal worn by the unauthorized user, and a second process of sending a control signal to the communication detector for the unauthorized user terminal to cause the alert generator to generate an alert when it is determined that communication has occurred between the unauthorized user terminal and the wearable terminal.

[0061] This embodiment can be used as a communication detector for a malicious terminal that determines whether communication has taken place between a malicious terminal and a wearable terminal within a specific area.

[0062] 10...Communication detection system, 11...Communication detection computer, 12...Portable communication detector, 16...Examinee terminal, 17, 18...Wearable terminal, 50...Control circuit, 41, 51...Auxiliary storage device, 54...Antenna, 55...Alert generator, 63...Main body

Claims

1. A communication detector for detecting the presence or absence of communication by an illegal terminal held by an illegal person within a specific area, comprising: a main body held by a monitor moving within the specific area for monitoring the illegal person; a storage device provided in the main body, storing a program and a threshold value for determining whether communication has occurred between the illegal terminal and a wearable terminal worn on the body of the illegal person; a control circuit provided in the main body, reading the program stored in the storage device and executing processing; and an alert generator provided in the main body. The control circuit executes a first process of determining whether communication has occurred between the illegal terminal and the wearable terminal by comparing the communication strength between the illegal terminal and the wearable terminal with the threshold value, and a second process of generating an alert with the alert generator when it is determined that communication has occurred between the illegal terminal and the wearable terminal. A communication detector for an illegal terminal.

2. The communication detector for an illegal terminal according to claim 1, wherein the control circuit further executes a third process of identifying each of a plurality of tables placed in the specific area, and a fourth process of identifying a table used by an illegal person holding the illegal terminal with which communication has occurred with the wearable terminal among the plurality of tables. A communication detector for an illegal terminal.

3. The communication detector for an illegal terminal according to claim 2, wherein an antenna for receiving a radio wave signal communicated between the illegal terminal and the wearable terminal is further provided in the main body, the control circuit further executes a fifth process of determining a movement path of the monitor within the specific area, and the fourth process executed by the control circuit identifies the table used by the illegal person when the monitor moves on both sides of a predetermined table and the antenna receives radio wave signals on both sides of the predetermined table. A communication detector for an illegal terminal.

4. The communication detector for an illegal terminal according to claim 1, wherein the specific area includes an examination venue, and the illegal person includes an examinee. A communication detector for an illegal terminal.

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